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Members of the UKDSP are in constant conversation about the best guidance towards good lighting practice for both individuals and organisations.
The basics are:
- Aim light Only where needed and never above the horizontal
- Use sensors to ensure lights are only on when needed
- Minimise the number and brightness of lights
- Avoid lights of a colour temperature above 3000K
The UKDSP has released a document ‘Towards A Dark Sky Standard’. This is the product of our partnerships technical groups conversations with lighting professionals to provide a resource that encourage good lighting decision making before the installation or planning process.
Towards Legislation
Poor-quality lighting has been proliferating in the United Kingdom for many decades now. Efforts so far to reverse its negative effects by environmentalists, dark-sky campaigners and a growing body of lighting professionals have led to damage limitation rather than solutions. Light pollution is a causal factor in both the current climate emergency and world biodiversity collapse. France, Mexico, South Korea and other countries and regions have enacted legislation to curb the misuse of light. The UKDSP believes that the UK government should urgently follow their example. When choosing whether to light or which light to use, the scientific Precautionary Principle should be applied, especially in the case of blue-rich LED lighting: if it’s possible that there’s something wrong with it, don’t proceed until the negative aspect is corrected. | https://ukdarkskies.org.uk/current-initiatives |
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-066299, filed Mar. 12, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a package for, for example, a semiconductor device, and, more particularly, to a plastic package using a multilayer substrate.
FIG. 10
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shows a conventional package for a semiconductor device, for example, a PPGA (Plastic Pin Grid Array) package. A semiconductor chip is located at the center portion of a plastic package body (hereinafter called “package body”) comprising a multilayer substrate. Formed on the package body around the semiconductor chip is a first interconnection pattern to which, for example, a ground potential is supplied. Formed around the first interconnection pattern is a second interconnection pattern to which, for example, a power supply potential is supplied. A plurality of bonding pads as signal input/output leads are laid around the second interconnection pattern , and a plurality of pads are laid around those bonding pads . Those pads are connected to the first and second interconnection patterns and and the bonding pads by wires (not shown).
FIG. 11
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is a cross-sectional view along the line — in FIG. . As shown in , the first and second interconnection patterns and are connected to a plurality of grounding bonding pads (not shown) and a power-supply bonding pad (not shown) by bonding wires and . This connection of the first and second interconnection patterns and to the grounding bonding pads provided on the semiconductor chip is made to supply a stable ground potential and power-supply potential to the semiconductor chip . The bonding pads are connected by bonding wires to signal bonding pads (not shown) that are laid around the semiconductor chip .
FIGS. 10 and 11
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As apparent from , the conventional package for a semiconductor device has the first and second interconnection patterns and and the plurality of pads arranged concentrically around the semiconductor chip . The distances between the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip and the first and second interconnection patterns and and the pads naturally differ from one another. This necessitates that the bonding wires , and which respectively connect the first and second interconnection patterns and and the pads to the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip have different loops. That is, the conventional package for a semiconductor device requires three types of bonding loops be designed.
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The conventional structure uses the three types of bonding wires , and of different lengths. If the number of bonding wires is increased, therefore, the bonding wires are likely to contact one another, producing defects.
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Further, the use of multiple long bonding wires increases the resistance and inductance of the wires. This reduces the transfer speed for high-frequency signals and thus degrades the characteristics of the semiconductor chip .
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Furthermore, as the first and second interconnection patterns and are laid out linearly around the semiconductor chip , the first and second interconnection patterns and do not have distinctive shapes. This leads to a lower precision of the position detection by the bonding machine at the time of wire-bonding the first and second interconnection patterns and .
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a package for a semiconductor device, which reduces the number of kinds of loop designs for bonding wires, prevent degradation of the electric characteristics and improve the alignment precision at the time of wire-bonding.
To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a package for a semiconductor device comprising a substrate having a center portion on which a semiconductor chip is to be mounted; a first interconnection pattern formed on the substrate at a position around the semiconductor chip and having a continuous first interconnection main portion and a plurality of first projections protruding from the first interconnection main portion at approximately equal intervals; and a second interconnection pattern formed on the substrate at a position around the semiconductor chip and apart from the first interconnection pattern by a predetermined distance and having a continuous second interconnection main portion and a plurality of second projections so formed as to protrude from the second interconnection main portion at approximately equal intervals and to be engaged with the first projections of the first interconnection pattern in a non-contact manner.
The first and second projections of the first and second interconnection patterns are provided at approximately equal distances from a periphery of the semiconductor chip.
The base portions of the first and second projections of the first and second interconnection patterns may be rounded.
According to the second aspect of this invention, there is provided a package for a semiconductor device comprising a substrate having a center portion on which a semiconductor chip is to be mounted; a first interconnection pattern formed on the substrate at a position around the semiconductor chip and having a continuous first interconnection main portion and a plurality of first projections protruding from the first interconnection main portion at approximately equal intervals; a second interconnection pattern formed on the substrate at a position around the semiconductor chip and apart from the first interconnection pattern by a predetermined clearance and having a continuous second interconnection main portion and a plurality of second projections so formed as to protrude from the second interconnection main portion at approximately equal intervals and to be engaged with the first projections of the first interconnection pattern in a non-contact manner; and a third interconnection pattern laid between the first and second projections of the first and second interconnection patterns.
The first and second projections of the first and second interconnection patterns are provided at approximately equal distances from a periphery of the semiconductor chip.
The base portions of the first and second projections of the first and second interconnection patterns may be rounded.
According to the third aspect of this invention, there is provided a package for a semiconductor device comprising a substrate having a center portion on which a semiconductor chip is to be mounted; a first interconnection pattern formed on the substrate at a position around the semiconductor chip and having a continuous first interconnection main portion and a plurality of first projections protruding from the first interconnection main portion at approximately equal intervals; and a plurality of second interconnection patterns formed on the substrate at a position around the semiconductor chip and laid between the first projections of the first interconnection pattern.
The first projections of the first interconnection pattern and the second interconnection patterns are provided at approximately equal distances from a periphery of the semiconductor chip.
The base portions of the first projections of the first interconnection pattern may be rounded.
As described above, the present invention provides a package for a semiconductor device, which reduces the number of kinds of loop designs for bonding wires, prevent degradation of the electric characteristics and improve the alignment precision at the time of wire-bonding.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1
is a plan view schematically illustrating a first embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2
FIG. 1
is a plan view showing the essential portions of what is shown in ;
FIG. 3
FIG. 2
is a plan view showing the essential portions of what is shown in ;
FIG. 4
FIG. 3
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is a cross-sectional view along the line — in ;
FIG. 5
is a plan view illustrating the essential portions of a second embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 6
is a plan view showing the essential portions of a third embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 7
is a plan view showing the essential portions of a fourth embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 8
FIG. 7
is a plan view showing the essential portions of what is shown in ;
FIG. 9
is a plan view depicting the essential portions of a modification of this invention;
FIG. 10
is a plan view showing a conventional package for a semiconductor device; and
FIG. 11
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is a cross-sectional view along the line — in FIG. .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
FIGS. 1 through 4
FIG. 1
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illustrate a package for a semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention, for example, a PPGA (Plastic Pin Grid Array) package. As shown in , an opening is formed in the center of a package body comprising a multilayer substrate, with a semiconductor chip retained in the opening . A first interconnection pattern is formed on the package body around the semiconductor chip . The first interconnection pattern , which has, for example, a comb shape, comprises a ring-shaped interconnection main portion positioned around the semiconductor chip and projections protruding sideward from the interconnection main portion . A second interconnection pattern is laid around the first interconnection pattern at a predetermined distance therefrom. The second interconnection pattern , which has, for example, a comb shape, comprises a ring-shaped interconnection main portion positioned around the first interconnection pattern and projections protruding sideward from the interconnection main portion . The first interconnection pattern is connected to, for example, the ground potential, and the second interconnection pattern is connected to, for example, the power-supply potential.
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A plurality of bonding pads are laid on the package body around the second interconnection pattern . Those bonding pads are used for, for example, signal input/output to and from the semiconductor chip .
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A plurality of pads are arranged on the package body around the bonding pads . Those pads are connected to the associated first and second interconnection patterns and and the associated bonding pads via an interconnection pattern which is formed in the package body .
FIG. 2
FIG. 3
FIGS. 2 and 3
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shows the essential portions of what is shown in FIG. and depicts the essential portions of what is shown in FIG. . As shown in , the projections of the first interconnection pattern are engaged with the projections of the second interconnection pattern without having any contact. Those projections and are laid out at approximately equal distances from the bonding portion of the semiconductor chip . Between the first and second interconnection patterns and is formed an insulating film of, for example, polyimide. Likewise, an unillustrated insulating film is formed on the surface of the package body at other portions than where the bonding pads and the pads are located.
FIGS. 3 and 4
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As shown in , the interconnection main portion of the first interconnection pattern are connected to another interconnection pattern , formed in the package body , via a plurality of contact portions which are formed in the package body .
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FIGS. 3 and 4
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In the above-described structures, a plurality of bonding pads (not shown) which are formed on the surface of, and around, the semiconductor chip are connected to the first and second interconnection patterns and and the bonding pads by bonding wires. Specifically, as shown in , the projections of the first interconnection pattern are connected to unillustrated associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip by bonding wires , and the projections of the second interconnection pattern to unillustrated associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip by bonding wires . Further, the bonding pads are connected to unillustrated associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip by bonding wires .
FIG. 3
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In , marks “x” indicate bonding points. As apparent from , the distance from the bonding points of the semiconductor chip to the projections is set nearly equal to the distance from the bonding points of the semiconductor chip to the projections . The difference between those two distances lies within 10% of, for example, the length of the wires. If the difference between those two distances is within 10%, nearly equal to the distance. This can provide the same advantages as the first embodiment. This makes it possible to use the same loop design for the bonding wires and . Therefore, the first embodiment uses two kinds of loop designs for the bonding wires: one for the bonding wires and and the other for the bonding wires .
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According to the first embodiment, the comb-shaped first and second interconnection patterns and are formed on the package body at positions around the semiconductor chip , and their projections and are engaged with each other without having any contact. This makes it possible to set the distance between the projections and the associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip equal to the distance between the projections and the associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip . It is therefore possible to use the same loop design for the bonding wires for connecting the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip to the associated projections and . This structure can therefore require fewer kinds of loop designs than the prior art.
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This structure can also shorten the length of the bonding wires that connect the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip to the second interconnection pattern as compared with the prior art. This can shorten the bonding time and speed up the bonding work.
What is more, the shorter bonding wires can reduce contacts between the bonding wires, thus suppressing the production of defects.
Shorting the bonding wires provides such an advantage as to reduce the resistance and inductance of the wires, thus preventing the transfer delay of high-frequency signals which would otherwise affect the performance of the semiconductor chip.
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As the projections and of the first and second interconnection patterns and become targets for position detection at the time of bonding, it is possible to improve the precision of position detection of the bonding machine.
Second Embodiment
FIG. 5
illustrates the second embodiment of this invention. Like or same reference numerals are given to those components which are the same as the corresponding components of the first embodiment, and the following discusses only the difference between those embodiments.
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According to the second embodiment, a plurality of interconnection patterns are formed at positions corresponding to those of the projections of the first interconnection pattern in the first embodiment. Those interconnection patterns are laid between, and isolated from, the projections of the second interconnection pattern . The interconnection patterns are connected to the interconnection pattern formed in the package body via the contact portions as in the structure shown in FIG. .
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The second embodiment makes it possible to set the distance between the individual interconnection patterns and the associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip equal to the distance between the projections of the second interconnection pattern and the associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip . It is therefore possible to use the same loop design for the bonding wires that are connected to the interconnection patterns and the bonding wires that are connected to the projections . This can provide the same advantages as the first embodiment.
Third Embodiment
FIG. 6
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illustrates the third embodiment of this invention. Like or same reference numerals are given to those components which are the same as the corresponding components of the first embodiment. According to the third embodiment, a plurality of interconnection patterns are formed at positions corresponding to those of the projections of the second interconnection pattern in the first embodiment as opposed to the interconnection patterns of the second embodiment. Those interconnection patterns are laid between, and isolated from, the projections of the first interconnection pattern . The interconnection patterns are connected to the interconnection pattern formed in the package body via the contact portions as in the structure shown in FIG. .
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The third embodiment makes it possible to set the distance between the individual interconnection patterns and the associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip equal to the distance between the projections of the first interconnection pattern and the associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip . It is therefore possible to use the same loop design for the bonding wires that are connected to the interconnection patterns and the bonding wires that are connected to the projections . This can provide the same advantages as the first embodiment.
Fourth Embodiment
FIG. 7
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illustrates the fourth embodiment of this invention. Like or same reference numerals are given to those components which are the same as the corresponding components of the first embodiment. According to the fourth embodiment, third interconnection patterns are formed between, and isolated from, the projections of the first interconnection pattern and the projections of the second interconnection pattern .
FIG. 8
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depicts the essential portions of what is shown in FIG. . As shown in , the third interconnection patterns are connected to interconnection patterns , formed in the package body , via contact; portions formed in the package body . The interconnection patterns are supplied with, for example, signals. In this embodiment, the area of the interconnection pattern is reduced to secure the space for the interconnection patterns .
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According to the fourth embodiment, the third interconnection patterns are formed between the first interconnection pattern to which the ground potential is supplied and the second interconnection pattern to which the power-supply potential is supplied. This can allow the distance between the individual interconnection patterns and the associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip equal to the distances between the projections and of the first and second interconnection patterns and and the associated bonding pads of the semiconductor chip . It is therefore possible to use the same loop design for bonding wires that are connected to the interconnection patterns and the bonding wires and that are connected to the projections and . This can provide the same advantages as the first embodiment.
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Further, the interconnection patterns for signals can be connected to the third interconnection patterns in the fourth embodiment. The third interconnection patterns may be used as lines for supplying the ground potential or may be used as lines for supplying the power-supply potential. This structure can flexibly cope with different specifications of the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip .
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Although the projections and of the first and second interconnection patterns and are formed to have sharp extremity portions and base portions in the first to fourth embodiments, their shapes are not limited to the details given above. For instance, the projections and of the first and second interconnection patterns and may have extremity portions and base portions formed to be round. As the base portions of the projections and of the first and second interconnection patterns and are rounded, it is possible to suppress the concentration of the heat stress on the base portions . This can contribute to preventing cracks from being formed by such stress.
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Although the projections and of the first and second interconnection patterns and all have the same shapes, the shape is not restrictive. For example, the shapes of the projections and corresponding to the edge portion of one side of the semiconductor chip may differ from those corresponding to the edge portion of another side of the semiconductor chip . Treating the modified projections and as the bonding start positions can facilitate the position detection at the time of bonding, thus resulting in faster bonding.
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The connecting relationship between the first and second interconnection patterns and and the bonding pads and the other interconnection patterns is not limited to those of the individual embodiments discussed above. For instance, the second interconnection pattern may be connected to the bonding pads as shown in FIG. .
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. | |
Student Evaluations: Feared, Loathed, and Not Going Anywhere. Janet Wilson has a number burned into her mind: 4.7. That’s the average student-evaluation score, on a five-point scale, that she has to reach to feel safe. Her score helps to determine her fate as a full-time, non-tenure-track professor at her West Coast research university. “Everybody in my department is obsessed,” says Ms. Wilson, a teacher in the humanities for more than a decade. (This is not her real name: Fearing career repercussions, she asked that a pseudonym be used.) “We talk about how we get into that 4.7-and-above range. Often, rather than discuss challenges in the classroom, Ms. She and her colleagues have shared other tips, too: —Hand out evaluation forms when the most irascible student in class is absent.
—Be sure that the only assignment you give right before the evaluation is a low-stakes one. —Don’t leave the classroom while the evaluations are being filled out — even if you’ve been told that you’re supposed to do so. Is the Customer Always Right? Michael P. Mr. Ms. Ms. European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning. Manisha Domun [[email protected]], Lifelong Learning Cluster, Goonesh K Bahadur [[email protected]], Virtual Centre for Innovative Learning Technologies, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius [ One of the most effective tools in e-learning is the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) and research has shown that students need to accurately assess their own performance thus improving their learning. The study involved the design and development of a self-assessment tool based on the Revised Blooms taxonomy Framework.
As a second step in investigating the effectiveness of the SAT, 1st year student of the BSC Educational Technology program from the VCILT, University of Mauritius were used as testing sample. At this stage the SAT was provided to only half of the sample who were randomly chosen and placed into a treatment group. The remaining half (Control Group) had the normal conditions on the E-learning platform. The theoretical framework Relevancy. Grading | TILT. On Moving from “Rigor” to “Vigor” – and Breaking the Bell Curve As a starting out teacher, I often ended a term by bringing an assortment of student course work portfolios to a department chair’s office.
The collection was to include three portfolios of student work with peer, student and teacher comments on major graded assignments, one folder each for the course highest, midpoint, and lowest grade. These weren’t meetings like the regular meet ups in the department where teachers brought a portfolio or two to share as part of a “grade norming” or calibrating session that helped us develop new assignments, apt assessments, and agile responses for the range of students needing feedback while completing major assignments. Nope. This was an end-of-the-term call to demonstrate that my students really had earned that “high number” of A and B grades, that none of my students really should have been “given” a failing course grade. So, what’s this got to do with higher education right now? A. I recently had a discussion with a colleague who wanted to explore ways to keep his students engaged (and attending) his large lecture class. We started talking about adapted forms of discussion that could work in a relatively large lecture class, when he pointed out that the students do discussion in their section with the GSI’s (TA’s as they are called at many other universities), so that would not be fitting in the large lecture.
I have mixed feelings on the generalization that one pedagogical technique can only be used in one teaching setting in a class, however I understand and appreciate the reasoning behind the generalization. Assuming what’s done in section should not be replicated in lecture, then what kinds of active learning can/should be used in the large class to engage students in learning and meaning making of the subject matter—keeping in mind a certain amount of material needs to be covered and lecture is the most efficient way to do this? Were We in the Same Class?: Interpreting Responses on Student Evaluations of Teaching.
It is not news to anyone teaching in higher education that Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) are a hotly debated topic. Their validity and reliability are often called into question, particularly since they are typically the primary source of evidence used for merit and promotion decisions in regard to one’s teaching effectiveness. Even I have weighed in on this issue along with Philip Stark, Chair of Statistics. Regardless of how they are used, the fact remains that they are used and they can provide valuable formative insights into one’s teaching...if you know how to interpret them. This is a question I’m often asked. So, instead of accepting the praise with nothing more than a proud smile, or dismissing the criticism with a wave of the hand (and turn of the cheek), try some of these tips to garner the most valuable information from SET’s that can inform your teaching now and beyond. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Tips #1, 3, 4 and 5 have been adapted from Davis’ (2009) Tools for Teaching. | http://www.pearltrees.com/lmdouko82/student-evaluations-feedback/id14256485 |
Senior: My experience was different depending on the situations somedays it was amazing spending time with friends ,and being around people with familiar and even unfamiliar and other days it could be an extremely toxic environment again depending on the people not the school as a whole. My experience is not finished because it’s my senior year. Something I would change is dress code rules and violations ,and getting people to involve other people more highschool isn’t that fun going through it alone .
- 5 Total Schools
- 2,165 Students
Lyons Central School District
- School District
- LYONS, NY
- Rating 3.2 out of 5 5 reviews
Senior: I like the school, due to it being small and being able to connect with all the teachers and students. We can always come together and support the things we love like basketball. Though there are issues with disipline it still is an overall great school and it always makes me feel at home.
- 3 Total Schools
- 919 Students
Clyde-Savannah Central School District
- School District
- CLYDE, NY
- Rating 3.33 out of 5 6 reviews
Alum: Overall Clyde-Savannah was pretty good. Every school has a few bad staff and a few cliques, but Clyde had quite a few redeeming qualities. The atmosphere there was very inviting, I moved there in 7th grade and had found 2 friends in 3 days. I'm now a sophomore in college and am still friends with one of them! Partially due to how small the school is, everyone knows everyone and very little bullying occurs (because you see every single person in the hallways). I had the opportunity to take college credits and graduated with 28 credits through FLCC and 6 more through SU. The cafeteria food wasn't the best but what high school has good food? Overall it was a pretty great run.
- 3 Total Schools
- 816 Students
North Rose-Wolcott Central School District
- School District
- WOLCOTT, NY
- Rating 3.5 out of 5 2 reviews
Alum: I would like to see that the students have the ability to take more college level courses. I would also like to see more involvement in extracurriculars, like sports. It seems like the teams have kept getting smaller and less competitive. | https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-school-districts/t/lyons-wayne-ny/ |
Gender And Agricultural Development
Gender issues receive considerable attention throughout this text, for two reasons, namely,
(a) discrimination on the basis of gender is very widespread in developing agriculture, and
(b) in addition to questions of justice and fairness, the evidence is now clear that gender biases against women hinder agricultural development and reduce the nutritional status of rural households.
Gender bias is manifested in many different ways, including diminished access to land and credit, little attention to women's needs as producers by agricultural research and extension services, exclusion from most decision-making regarding irrigation systems, and less access than men have to agricultural inputs.12 Bias sometimes is embodied in legal codes that, for example, may recognize only the head of household for many purposes, or which give women unequal inheritance or divorce rights. Equally, bias is present in traditional, unwritten codes of conduct and conflict resolution. It is frequently found in the design and implementation of agricultural services and projects. Agricultural extension services, for example, typically deal almost exclusively with male farmers, and extension agents do not schedule their visits at a time which is convenient for women in light of the many household duties that women shoulder in addition to work in the fields. Many examples of this bias are cited in succeeding chapters (especially in Chapters 5, 7 and 8). Typical illustrations, characteristic of many countries, are found in Uganda and India:
. .. civil law in Uganda provides for equal rights in divorce - but customary law prevails in the division of conjugal property, and divorced women are unable to retain access to land.13
.. . most daughters in all Indian States do not inherit land, though legally eligible. ... in Bihar, India, some Ho women remain unmarried to keep this access.14
Studies have shown that rural women's time is exceedingly scarce and therefore is valuable. As a consequence, agricultural research that is directed toward ways of reducing the time requirements of household duties results in higher agricultural growth rates because more women's time is liberated for agricultural labor (Chapter 8). Country-level studies have shown that:
by hindering the accumulation of human capital in the home and the labor market, and by systematically excluding women or men from access to resources, public services, or productive activities, gender discrimination diminishes an economy's capacity to grow and
12. See, for example, FAO, SEAGA Macro Handbook: Gender Analysis in Macroeconomic and Agricultural Sector Policies, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, draft, March 2002, pp. 39-40.
13. The World Bank, Engendering Development - Through Gender Equality in Rights, Resources and Voice, Policy Research Report, The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA, 2002, p. 16.
14. IFAD, Rural Poverty Report 2001: The Challenge of Ending Rural Poverty, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 2001, p. 86.
raise living standards In households in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Kenya more equal control of inputs and farm income by women and men could raise farm yields by as much as a fifth of current output.15
Women's education is one of the key factors in reducing undernourishment and increasing economic growth:
... a recent study by IFPRI, which examines the relationship between a variety of factors and reductions in the number of underweight children in 63 developing countries between 1970 and 1995 . .. indicates that the statistical explanation of lower numbers of underweight children centers on [among other factors] level of women's education (43 percent). . . [and] women's status in society (12 percent).16
Low investment in female education also reduces a country's overall output. One study estimates that if the countries in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa had started with the gender gap in average years of schooling that East Asia had in 1960 and had closed that gender gap at the rate achieved in East Asia from 1960 to 1992, their income per capita could have grown by 0.5-0.9 percentage points higher per year.17
In the long run, some observers feel economic development itself helps correct gender inequalities:
Rising income and falling poverty levels tend to reduce gender disparities in education, health and nutrition. Higher productivity and new job opportunities often reduce gender inequalities in employment. And investments in basic water, energy, and transportation infra structure help reduce gender disparities in workloads.18
However, to reduce gender bias in the short and medium term, and also reduce its drag on economic growth, fundamental reforms are required in institutions and legislation, in ways of designing and carrying out programs and projects in rural areas, and in monitoring and evaluation of those activities and policy reforms. Large-scale training and capacity building efforts are required in order to effect these changes, accompanied by a strong political commitment Isolated projects for gender improvement may not be useful because other barriers to women's participation remain in place. Therefore the only viable approach is gender mainstreaming, starting with comprehensive gender analyses of the sector.19
The importance of capacity building cannot be overemphasized:
Although most governments and their partners have explicit commitments to the integration of gender into agricultural strategies, there has been little capacity building in gender analysis for the agricultural sector as a whole. Many of the gender inputs are oriented to micro level issues without linkage to overall agricultural priorities and processes. There is still a need to strengthen sector-wide gender capacity in most Ministries of Agriculture and among the policy formulation and management units of donor institutions. A recent review by the World Bank20 shows that gender analysis capacity is generally weak in Ministries of Agriculture. A gender-sensitive institutional analysis of Ministries of Agriculture should assess their capacity to integrate gender into the agricultural policy process (research and
16. FAO, The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2001, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2001, p. 7.
20. The World Bank, Gender, Growth and Poverty Reduction, Washington, DC, USA, 1999.
strategy setting, policy formulation and implementation).21
One of the most valuable steps that international development organizations can take in the gender area is to ensure that the design of all of their projects commences with a gender analysis of constraints and issues in the domain of operation of the project. The concluding section of Chapter 5 presents a partial list of the kinds of questions that a proper gender analysis would confront in regard to land tenure issues. Through measures such as gender analysis, a much greater awareness of the seriousness of gender constraints can be developed, and building awareness is the first step to solving the problem. | https://www.progressivegardening.com/agricultural-development/gender-and-agricultural-development.html |
The circular and climate communities brought together
In mid-April 2021 I had the pleasure to be the co-host of another World Circular Economy Forum event, this time focusing especially on the potential of circularity in tackling climate change. I found it especially remarkable how the WCEF+Climate event brought together – maybe for the first time – the circular and climate communities. Almost every single speaker underlined how a circular economy is not only a crucial part in achieving our climate goals but an opportunity for increased well–being across societies.
We know that the path to a circular economy will not be the same everywhere and its concept differs among societies leaning heavily on primary production compared to service-based societies. Therefore, the opportunities it offers are different, such as increasing working environments in the informal market, building economic growth based on services and producer ownership models and addressing the alarming fact that man-made mass has exceeded living biomass.
Circular economy is smart
Our current linear economic system has turned out to be problematic in numerous ways and it requires profound reshaping. It has brought us to the situation where, to be blunt, we can say that the current economic system is bad for the climate, biodiversity and society and it’s also bad for the economy itself.
We know we have to tackle climate change, improve biodiversity and reduce the overconsumption of natural resources. Like Executive Director of UNEP Inger Andersen said at WCEF+Climate: “We must make peace with nature”. To truly address the multiple and complex challenges, the tools we use must make economic sense to ensure they don’t compromise social well-being. The value of a circular economy lies in its potential to support a future within the planetary boundaries without compromising economic growth.
Regulations and trade policies in scaling up the transition
Regarding the circular transition, I want to underline the importance of policies and regulations. Market regulations and trade policies can create a favourable environment for the circular economy. In today’s global economy it is obligatory for us to look at trade if we wish to scale up circularity. Circular trade policies facilitate the adoption of circular solutions. In addition to looking at the trade of products and materials, we should focus on services which are important in keeping materials in use. Decision-makers play an important role in this by laying grounds for circular businesses to succeed over linear business models.
While trade policies can embed circularity across global value chains, public procurement is an example of an efficient tool to push for circular solutions on a national level. Through public procurement, the public sector has power to direct the use of funds from linear based products to circular products and services, for example by setting clear minimum criteria on the materials used, the life cycles of procured products and by using products-as-a-service over purchases. This has a clear impact – in Finland alone, public procurement was estimated to have a value of 35 billion euros and cover almost 20% of GDP in 2016.
The future is built together
Platforms for collaboration such as the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF), the Global Alliance for a Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE) and the Platform for Accelerating a Circular Economy (PACE) are crucial. As working together is in the DNA of Sitra and is the backbone of the WCEF, I am glad to be able to contribute on these crucial topics also as a member of the PACE board. The Action Agendas PACE recently published provide an in-depth viewpoint of the actions needed to speed up the transition to a circular economy in key sectors. Our work at Sitra manages to cover a few of these calls to action, but the crucial point is that we all must do our part to achieve this transition.
The WCEF is a platform for stakeholders to communicate the priorities and actions across the whole circular community. I also see it as a way to bring parties together and to build on each other’s work. With excitement I am turning my eyes to a new continent for the WCEF2021 and inviting all to take part in the annual event on 13-15 September 2021, hosted by the Government of Canada and Sitra.
Sitra’s vision and way forward
In the light of the future endeavours, I want to bring up Sitra’s new strategy, published in December 2020, which will guide our work through the coming years. Our goal is to ensure that economic growth improves biodiversity and is in balance with the environment. We will focus on three interlinked themes: sustainability solutions, a fair data economy, and democracy and inclusivity. These themes are closely connected: the urgency to live within our planetary boundaries and the ongoing digital transition will shape our future in unexpected ways.
The circular economy is part of the glue that binds together the need to tackle climate change, the loss of biodiversity and the overconsumption of natural resources with an inclusive democracy, economic growth and increasing social well-being. Data and digital solutions are crucial in ensuring that economic development is in line with the planetary boundaries.
Leaning on our strategy and the valuable work our partners are doing, we aim to remain in the frontline of change and invite everyone to join us. | https://www.sitra.fi/en/blogs/circular-economy-makes-business-sense-and-can-help-tackle-global-crises/ |
An ambitious freshly developed strategy for the construction and installation company required new management skills and quality strategic management. The decision to postpone the execution of the strategy for the period the strategic management was created was not welcomed by the shareholders. Working with an insufficient level of strategic management created the risk of strategy execution failure and loss of market advantages.
Approach
To build strategic management system, we used the strategy execution approach of David Norton and Robert Kaplan, widely known in Russia as the authors of a balanced scorecard. The approach is based on the connection of operational activities with the strategy and allows to create a high-quality and reliable multi-level system of strategy execution.
Recommendations
In the process of implementing the strategy, a strategic management system was developed and built in parallel. Acumen Partners took over the functions and processes that are absent in the company at that moment. As the strategic management system was built, functions and processes were transferred to company management. | https://acumen-partners.ru/en/cases/strategy-execution.html |
Last update:
Physics news
Using time dilation to measure curvature of space-time
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New insight into the internal structure of the proton
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New photonic technology effect could speed drug development
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Right now, we are facing trying times as we enter a new normal thanks to COIVID-19. Nevertheless, the current pandemic is a worrisome experience for many because of the threats to our daily lives and the U.S. economy.
Dealing with Stressful Conditions
The required social distancing during the pandemic has created new social constraints for people and generated frustration and stress with the convergence of work and home. Many now find themselves working while being simultaneously involved in child care and domestic chores with little opportunity to entirely focus on a single task for their work as they have been accustomed to doing. Other impediments may also occur, such as internet problems or delays in communications. These changes have affected people’s abilities to be productive, as well as adding to their stress. Still, there are ways in which you can stay focused on what is necessary.
Listing necessary goals for the day: Writing down a realistic accounting of what must be done is an essential step in accomplishing your goals for the day and the week. Having specific goals allows you to maintain your focus and accomplish tasks.
Not allowing distractions to interfere with productivity: While it is tempting to check the news for updates, maintaining focus reduces errors and allows you to achieve your daily goals. Scheduling a break for a specific time may also prevent distractions from stalling productivity.
Establishing a routine: Just as there are procedures that followed at work, individuals should arrange their daily workload in a systematic pattern. By doing this, you can reduce your stress levels because you know the direction work workday will take at the beginning of the day. With an early start, too, you can be more productive.
Avoid distractions and remain organized: Staying off social media and personal emails until work is finished will save time and help with maintaining your focus on what is necessary. Sticking to a routine keeps you organized.
Review the workday: When finished with work, you should evaluate yourself objectively on how many tasks you were accomplished and how focused you were when doing so. Making notes on what you wish to improve during the next day will save time. After reaching all the daily goals, you can reward yourself; breaks and personal enjoyment are essential to staying healthy and reducing stress. | https://jamesdurkin.net/keeping-your-edge-how-not-to-burn-out-on-the-job/ |
[as of 5/26/20 – subject to change]
The Libraries are dedicated to providing library resources and services to faculty, students and staff for the remainder of the spring semester. Visit Library Services Update – May 2020 for latest news about restoring services not currently available.
For your convenience, below is a list of links to our online services, online forms and contact information.
For research assistance, our virtual Research Help service hours are posted on the Ask A Librarian webpage.
Our online collections, including e-books, databases, online journals, video and other online resources, are available off-campus. Visit our subject guides to learn about resources by topic. We have an extensive ebook collection – see our Finding and using ebooks guide. If you have access issues, visit our Technical Help webpage.
Many publishers are providing free access to additional academic resources to assist with online courses and research. Visit our guide Additional Resources Available during COVID-19.
We are able to process requests for electronic articles and book chapters via ILLiad and can deliver your requests to your ILLiad account.
Visit our Coronavirus – Library Services FAQ webpage for questions about print Interlibrary Loans and book returns.
As a courtesy, the Libraries have extended all loan periods until September 2. You have the option to return items at any SUNY Library (check to see if they are open) and they will be returned on your behalf.
If you have questions or are experiencing a problem with your patron account regarding fines, fees or holds please email [email protected].
Course Reserves will continue to provide support for digitizing of course materials. There may be delays in processing due to current work situation.
All library locations are closed until further notice. | https://libnews.binghamton.edu/news/2020/03/12/library-services-for-spring-semester-2020/ |
A Los Angeles Police Department airplane made an emergency landing on a busy California highway on Monday without crashing or injuring anyone, according to NBCNews.
Aaron Figueroa, a dispatcher with the California Highway Patrol, said the plane touched down shortly before 7 p.m. local time on U.S. 101 approximately 35 miles north of Los Angeles.
Only the pilot was on board and luckily, nobody was injured, Figueroa stated.
It has not yet been made clear as to why the plane made an emergency landing and Los Angeles police did not immediately respond to request for comment.
In a video that was posted to social media, the plane was seen driving on a major thoroughfare surrounded by cars. Another image showed it on the side of the highway. | https://thetotalplug.com/news/plane-makes-emergency-landing-on-california-highway-823 |
Available as an ebook at:
Amazon Kindle
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble Nook
Google Play
Kobo
|
|
Chamber Music: An Essential History
University of Michigan Press, 2012
eISBN: 978-0-472-02811-5 | Cloth: 978-0-472-07165-4 | Paper: 978-0-472-05165-6
Library of Congress Classification ML1100.R34 2012
Dewey Decimal Classification 785.009
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | TOC | REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Intended for the music student, the professional musician, and the music lover, Chamber Music: An Essential History covers repertoire from the Renaissance to the present, crossing genres to include string quartets, piano trios, clarinet quintets, and other groupings. Mark A. Radice gives a thorough overview and history of this long-established and beloved genre, typically performed by groups of a size to fit into spaces such as homes or churches and tending originally toward the string and wind instruments rather than percussion. Radice begins with chamber music's earliest expressions in the seventeenth century, discusses its most common elements in terms of instruments and compositional style, and then investigates how those elements play out across several centuries of composers- among them Mozart, Bach, Haydn, and Brahms- and national interpretations of chamber music. While Chamber Music: An Essential History is intended largely as a textbook, it will also find an audience as a companion volume for musicologists and fans of classical music, who may be interested in the background to a familiar and important genre.
See other books on: Chamber | Chamber music | Essential History | Genres & Styles | Music
See other titles from University of Michigan Press
|
|
Nearby on shelf for Literature on music / History and criticism / Instruments and instrumental music: | https://press-bv2.uchicago.edu/BV.book.epl?ISBN=9780472051656 |
Jets Celebrate Super Bowl III 50th Anniversary
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of their Super Bowl victory against the heavily favored Indianapolis Colts, the New York Jets and Marvel released a digital comic book with the storyline following Super Bowl III to the present-day team.
Saturday evening, the legends walked the green carpet before attending an Anniversary celebration for the 1969 Super Bowl at Metlife Stadium presented by BankUnited, Pepsi and ShopRite.
Joe Namath was in attendance with his granddaughter Emma, who walked alongside of her grandfather on the green carpet.
“Teams change, players change, coaches change, ownership changes, but the fans have been here since the Titans were bought and we started the Jets,” Namath said. “The Jets fans have been strong, they’ve been loyal. We haven’t had a lot of winning seasons and haven’t won a championship, but we’re pulling for them. You dream about it, it can happen.”
When asked about this year’s team, he added, “It is a team game. They need more pieces to be able to compete on a championship level. They’re growing, and we’ll see what happens. They just have to build this year and keep getting better.”
Today, the Super Bowl III team sat down for a pregame breakfast for Jets Rewards Members at the stadium. They will then be honored on the field during halftime of the Jets game against, none other than the Indianapolis Colts. There will be a special unveiling to commemorate the Super Bowl title.
| |
How can I grow a kid’s garden? I told my students that they needed to grow a kid’s garden with a team of elementary students. They would put together the plans and lead a group of eager kids on a gardening adventure! There was a lot of excitement and a lot of uncertainty in their eyes as they thought about how they would tackle the assignment.
I learned a lot about planting a kid’s garden over the course of the year as I observed my students and the elementary kids garden together! Getting kids interested in gardening requires understanding a few basic principles that I am excited to share following our project.
I have already posted an article that described what we learned from our partnership with a kindergarten and pre-kindergarten group. This article will focus on the lessons we learned from older students, primarily 6-10 year olds.
It became clear quickly that gardening with this age group was something that was done together. The groups who had the most success made it a partnership between themselves and the elementary kids. I learned that this is something you do together.
We also learned that half of the kids’ engagement came from the ninth graders excitement and half came from their own interest in the project. Younger kids drew most of their interest in gardening off of the older kids. Not as true at this age.
There were many successful gardens and a few gardens that turned into piles of weeds by the end of the year. As you look at growing a kids’ garden yourself, I hope you can take advantage of what we learned!
The Basic Rules:
1. A decent balance of play and work.
Upper elementary students need it to be fun, but they are also quite willing to put in some work to accomplish something important. Ninth graders that treated gardening like the most important assignment they had ever received in biology class had elementary partners that were only engaged when the older kids pressured them. This was especially true by the end of the year. Other ninth graders modeled a gardening approach that involved only play. They laughed at the weeds and dismissed the plants that dried up due to lack of care. Those kids played each week we got together, but their gardens fell apart (as did their interest in the project).
2. The tools keep you clean.
3. Add some space.
The garden is a special place. When the plants were piled on top of each other, with each square inch full, the kids saw a mess instead of a special place. The gardens that allowed some space for movement and exploration saw kids more interested in maintaining the garden. I came to believe that adding some space in the kids’ garden helps create a more inviting spot for kids this age. Younger kids need space to play and explore. Kids this age need space to increase order and make it feel more special.
4. A few flowers that bloom, a few that are always blooming.
When we would ask the elementary kids what they wanted to grow, they would always say flowers. A few of the groups took that and planted flowers that would bloom at certain times and only for a short while. These aren’t flowers to elementary kids. The best gardens had some annuals that were blooming all summer long and had some larger flowers that the kids watched with anticipation. This way, there is something to see every week and something to look forward to.
As we worked with the kids, we realized that it was very important to make the right choices when it came to selecting plants for the kids’ gardens. At the beginning, all plants are pretty equal. However, having the right plants in the kids’ garden maintains their interest and acted as a multiplier for the next year. Here is what we learned:
5. Grow some things you can cook with and some things you can eat!
Kids love to grow things they can eat. They really love growing things they like to eat. The gardens that grew watermelon had excited kids and kids that became more excited as the watermelons ripened. Kids that grew tomatoes were excited, but it waned since they did not want to pick and eat a tomato. Growing food was great, but they had to want to eat it.
A garden that grew things used for cooking intrigued the kids. The benefits of this comes through quality time spent with the ingredients grown. A parent of one of the elementary kids contacted me thankful for a really pleasant evening with their fourth grader spent making bruschetta.
“My child had no clue what brushetta was, but they were so excited to cook with the basil they had grown at school. We had the best time cooking together and she was so happy to eat a food she had never tried before. I don’t think she would have ever tried that if it had not been made with something she had grown herself! Thank you for thinking to have my child grow something they could bring home and cook with!”
Plant some basil, herbs, peppers or onions for cooking. Plant sweet corn, watermelon, cucumbers, or strawberries to eat.
6. Grow something you can arrange in a bouquet and smell.
The little ones wanted to smell everything in our gardens. Kids who were a bit older really got into the idea of growing flowers they could arrange in a bouquet. This added a whole layer to the idea of growing flowers. The increased complexity made kids engage in growing flowers even more. When selecting your flowers, this will also help your child be a part of the decisions and provides context. “What do you think we could put into a bouquet?” Then, as the flowers grow, you can compare them to each other and talk about the bouquet you will make.
7. Grow something you can give.
I believe that this is an important part of any kids’ garden. If kids know that some aspect of what they are doing will be used to make another person happy, then they get excited. Upper elementary age kids were very thoughtful about who they wanted to give a gift to and what they wanted to give. One fifth grader told me that he looks forward to our weekly gardening times so he can check on the lavender he plans to give his grandma. Very cool kid and I wish I could have been there when he presented her with the gift of his garden!
8. Add something fun.
I have heard some great ideas when it comes to adding something fun to a kid’s garden. One family arranged some chair around their garden so they could have a special place they read through a book together over the summer. The dad told me that their child would ask to go read their garden book every day!
Adding birdhouses provides another level of interaction with nature and kids like seeing the birds. Keeping it stocked with bird food is another way to increase the play/work balance, because it is a responsibility to keep the bird feeder full, but it feels more like to play to watch the birds come in.
Another family told me that they got special bowls and spoons and called them their garden dishes. They would take ice cream or popcorn out in the evenings and have a garden snack in the kids’ garden with their garden dishes. The family shared that their children loved the garden for that reason if nothing else. It created a really positive connection to the garden.
Gardening can be a great way to connect with your child. It can be fun, exciting, and create some great memories. I hope the lessons we learned working with some upper elementary age students can help you create the best experience possible for your own child as you grow a kid’s garden of your own.
Here is a summary of the article.
- Some Basic Rules
- A decent balance of play and work.
- Add some space. You don’t want a big patch of plants. You need some space to keep the garden as a special place.
- A few all summer flowers, a few flowers that bloom
- The tools keep you clean
- Grow something you can cook with and some things you can eat!
- Basil or other herbs
- Peppers, onions, etc.
- Sweet Corn
- Watermelon, cucumber
- Grow something you can arrange in a bouquet and smell!
- Big Flowers
- Small Flowers
- All about putting multiple different flowers together and creating a bouquet
- Grow something you can give!
- Flowers for grandma
- Tomatoes for the neighbor
- Add something fun
- A spot to read together in or near the garden
- A birdhouse you keep stocked with birdseed
- A hummingbird feeder
- A few special tea cups that you can take with you for tea parties in your garden (or ice cream dishes for ice cream in your garden) just something that your older kid will connect specially with the garden. | https://plantaddicts.com/blog/growing-a-kids-garden-with-510-year-olds/ |
Coming Up...
Biosphere Events in your
Environment
Please visit our events calendar for full details of all of the events listed below
April
Weds 6th April (11.00-13.00) -
Biosphere Woodland Health Walk
, Stanmer Park, free (
BLD Biosphere
)
Fri 8th April (10.00-12.30) -
Wheatears wildlife walk
, Lewes, £3 (SWT)
Sun 17th April (16.00) -
Beaver talk
, Linklater Lewes Railway Land, donations (RLWT)
Weds 20th April (10.30-12.30) -
Wildflower seed-sowing
, Preston Park, free (BHFP)
Weds 20th April - 25th May (10.30-12.30) (6 sessions) -
Nature Tots
, for 3-5 yr olds, Stanmer Park, £54 (SWT)
Fri 22nd April (18.00-21.00) -
Earth Day film screening
, Brighton, free (BHESCO/BCAN)
Sun 24th April (10.30-16.00) -
Saddlescombe Farm open day
, Poynings, £5 (NT)
May
Fri 6th May (09.15-12.45) -
Wildlife Walk
, near Lewes, £3 (SWT/SDNPA)
Sun 15th May (10.30-12.30) -
Big Five Butterflies walk
, Mill Hill nr Shoreham, free (BC)
Biosphere Here
April 2016
Rain Gardens to soak up April Showers
Dear <<Name>>
April has arrived, bringing with it the customary changeable weather and some times heavy downpours - the proverb "
April showers bring May flowers
" holds true to help our gardens and farmers' fields to grow, but can also pose a risk of local flooding.
Water generally, and flood risk from surface water (see '
WoW
' section, below left) in particular, is a key priority for our Biosphere's programme of environmental improvements. We seek to help tackle flood risk through natural approaches where possible - using our "green infrastructure" of green spaces alongside the urban 'grey' infrastructure of engineered drainage.
Guided by this approach, we have just completed a pilot project to create the first ever "
Rain Gardens
" in our Biosphere area, with
two schemes established in parks in Portslade
by Brighton & Hove City Council, aided by grant support from the Environment Agency. We hope that not only will these rain gardens help to alleviate the threat of localised flooding there, but also that they can reduce pollution of the underground chalk aquifer from urban runoff. We are planting the sites with native wildflowers typical of both wetlands and local chalk grasslands to attract wildlife and give colour and pleasure to people.
Whilst a novel idea for our area, rain gardens have a longer pedigree 'over the pond' in the USA - most notably in Portland on the Pacific coast (which gets a lot more rain that we do!). Rain garden expert Gary Grant, who designed our local schemes and is the author of various books on the subject, gives us as a potted history as this month's guest author of our
Bio Blog
(below right).
Our rain gardens make up one of the urban projects of the '
CHAMP
' initiative to protect and improve the quality of our chalk aquifer, from which all of our drinking water is supplied. We are also working to teach school children about our local water cycle through the innovative "
Our Water Matters
" environmental education programme, combining learning using our virtual (Minecraft) Biosphere with good old outdoor wet & wild activities!
Speaking of getting outdoors, take a look at both our monthly
'
Nature Now
'
diary and events
Calendar
(list, left) to get you inspired with things you can see and do during the Easter school holidays and beyond, such as the National Trust's annual open day at Saddlescombe Farm for example.
Lastly, if you can spare an hour a week through the summer season and are interested in butterflies, please
get in touch
about walking a regular monitoring route - to give important information as a 'citizen scientist' on how they are faring.
Stay dry between the showers!
Rich Howorth
Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere Partnership
Window On
Our World
Forms of Flooding
Flood risk takes varied forms in
our Biosphere area
, ranked in the top ten most vulnerable places nationally:
~
Surface
water - "muddy flooding" runoff from the Downs and over urban surfaces
e.g. at Bevendean
~
Ground
water - rising up from the chalk aquifer in wet winters e.g. at Patcham
~
River
water
- spreading over the floodplains of the Adur and especially the Ouse river in winter
~
Coastal & Tidal
- exacerbated by high spring tides, storm surges and rising sea levels
Bio Blog
Rise of the Rain Gardens
From Portland (US) to Portslade (UK), Rain Gardens are now appearing in our Biosphere - following their pioneering evolution in the US.
A “
rain garden
” is simply a low-lying planted wetland area, designed to receive and retain rainfall running off hard surfaces and so help to alleviate local flooding from heavy rainfall events – a phenomenon increasing with climate change.
This "green infrastructure" can also help to filter pollution, create wildlife habitats, and add urban colour – making them multifunctional in nature…
read full blog
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|
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|
forward to a friend
Copyright © 2016 Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere, All rights reserved. | https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=13ef0dd309780145124e9534f&id=a5cde18618 |
The key to advancing the DX strategy is organizing and enabling the function of a digital leadership team that actually makes decisions. Here, a group that consists of management committee members and is tasked with making DX-related decisions is called a leadership team.
Naturally, digital knowledge within the team is a crucial factor in determining the performance of the entire company. On the other hand, ABeam Consulting's survey results highlight the reality that more than 40% of people who do not have digital knowledge are decision makers, and there are many cases in which the digital background at the leadership level is inadequate.
Although efforts are made to invite CDOs (Chief Digital Officers) from outside and launch a DX promotion organization, active support by the leadership team is essential.
In addition, in order to promote DX in the future, which demands further initiatives toward business model transformation, it is necessary to exert a strong driving force while overcoming internal and external pressures. This makes it important to not only make leaders of individual digital experts, but also work as a team in a monolithic manner.
In this regard, ABeam Consulting believes that it is important to properly design the elements below in order to ensure that the members function as a team.
Figure 1 Five Design Elements of Digital Leadership Team
1. Set goals with joint responsibility
It is important to organize not only DX measures in each field of responsibility, but also the priorities and dependencies of each measure based on a company-wide DX strategy, and clearly define the items for which all members are jointly responsible.
The key point is whether or not it is possible to set items unified as a team beyond the scope of responsibility of each individual leadership member. Items having joint responsibility cannot be resolved individually and require cooperation, making it necessary to set a theme relatable by all members.
Asking the question, "What are the DX measures for which the team is jointly responsible?" in individual member interviews conducted in the process of team building makes it possible to confirm the variation in recognition and identify the current situation.
2. Establish a digital skills matrix
For CEO (Chief Executive Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer), and other members having an elevated level of responsibility, confirmation that the skills necessary to achieve management goals are properly mixed has traditionally been considered an important factor in personnel selection. It is also necessary to design how digital skills are to be met.
The CIO (Chief Information Officer) and CDO (Chief Digital Officer) play a central role in supplying digital skills to management committee members, but it is desirable that other members also have a certain level of background. In particular, the understanding of the digital by CEOs and CFOs is extremely important for making appropriate investment decisions.
Regarding this point, creating a matrix of members and necessary digital skills makes it possible to grasp the current degree of sufficiency.
3. Implement data-driven decision-making
For leadership teams that direct data utilization, it is important to clearly design and operate the decision-making process based on data, even in the sense of setting an example.
Even if so-called data-driven business management mechanisms are introduced, it is important to deal with operational aspects as well.
First, the data itself needs to be available. Data availability, while also an issue related to IT infrastructure, needs to be addressed as a prerequisite for data utilization.
In addition, attention should be paid to the analysis of the data. Analysis by experts such as data analysts is important and yet, at the same time, reading the analysis results by members who understand the business of the company is also important. While it is difficult to upgrade the quality of analysis, it is important to specifically share the required level and the way analysis works, such as sharing expected analysis examples and successful case examples as knowledge.
Regarding this point as well, the current situation can be recognized by asking "Is the decision-making process in the team digitalized?" and "Have the required data skills been acquired?" in individual interviews or the like.
4. Establish a leadership style/culture
In the digital field where trial and error through rapid hypothesis testing and learning is important, it is important to establish a vision-based coaching type leadership style.
In general, leadership styles are defined as relationship-oriented/democratic, coercive, etc., in addition to the vision-based coaching type, but the relationship-oriented/democratic style may delay decision-making and lead to an unclear division of responsibilities, making such a style inappropriate. In addition, the coercive style is also likely to hinder onsite ingenuity and unlikely to lead to results, making such a style non-functional in the digital field.
With the adoption of a vision-based coaching style, it is important to encourage onsite ingenuity while ensuring psychological safety.
Regarding this point, by having the subordinates of the leadership team members evaluate the leadership style, it is possible to understand the current situation and understand the characteristics of the organizational culture of the company.
5. Operate on an appropriate member scale
The mission of the leadership team is to make decisions, but in some cases, it is important to narrow down the members, as a large number of members often hinders quick decision-making. In general, it is thought that decision-making is affected when the number of people exceeds ten, and ideally a single-digit number of people is desirable.
The formation of a digital leadership team, which is the core of the DX strategy, has become a major issue for many companies, and its design is the job of top management. It may be time to check the current digital leadership team from the above perspectives and embark on full-scale reform. | https://www.abeam.com/th/en/topics/insights/dx_column08 |
On November 19, 2015, in Depomed, Inc. v. Horizon Pharma plc, the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara granted Depomed’s request for a preliminary injunction to enjoin Horizon’s hostile exchange offer to acquire Depomed. The injunction was issued based on Horizon’s misuse of Depomed’s confidential information under a pre-existing confidentiality agreement. Less than one hour after the ruling was issued, Horizon withdrew its bid to acquire Depomed. The outcome highlights the importance of careful drafting of confidentiality agreements, and the need for companies to regularly monitor compliance with their obligations under pre-existing agreements.
Background: In 2013, Horizon and Depomed each sought to purchase the U.S. rights to a pain drug called NUCYNTA® from Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Both companies signed nondisclosure agreements with Janssen and, subject to the terms of those agreements, were given access to highly confidential information about NUCYNTA for the purpose of investigating a potential acquisition of NUCYNTA from Janssen. At the conclusion of the bidding process, Depomed was the winning bidder and Horizon a losing bidder. In connection with the NUCYNTA acquisition, Janssen assigned to Depomed all of Janssen’s rights under the pre-existing confidentiality agreement between Janssen and Horizon. Less than two months after Depomed completed its acquisition of NUCYNTA, Horizon launched an unsolicited proposal to acquire Depomed in a stock-for-stock transaction. The Depomed Board of Directors rejected the offer, and over the next few months, Horizon continued its pursuit of Depomed through public proposals and ultimately launching an exchange offer and proxy contest to remove and replace the Board of Directors of Depomed at a special shareholder meeting.
Judicial Action: Depomed filed a complaint against Horizon seeking a preliminary injunction to enjoin Horizon’s unsolicited bid to acquire Depomed, which Depomed alleged was predicated on Horizon’s improper and unlawful use of confidential information in violation of the non-disclosure agreement that Horizon executed in connection with its due diligence efforts regarding NUCYNTA. Among other things, Horizon argued that Depomed was not a third-party beneficiary of the Horizon-Janssen non-disclosure agreement and that Depomed did not have the right to enforce any breach of the confidentiality agreement by Horizon.
Judicial Resolution: In granting the preliminary injunction, the court found that Depomed had demonstrated that it is likely to prevail on its claim that Horizon breached the confidentiality agreement and that although there may be some harm to Horizon from a delay in the special meeting to consider the replacement of Depomed’s directors, the balance of harms weighed in favor of a preliminary injunction because a takeover would leave Depomed with no remedy.
Takeaway: This decision serves as an important reminder for M&A participants that non-disclosure agreements matter. Even when a bidder has not previously entered into a traditional standstill provision with a target company, the bidder may still be restricted from taking certain actions. M&A participants must continue to pay careful attention to “use of information” restrictions in non-disclosure agreements. Restrictions on the use of confidential information may apply beyond the initial target company, including to future companies that acquire assets that are the subject of information obtained pursuant to a confidentiality agreement. In this case, Horizon acquired confidential information about NUCYNTA in connection with Horizon’s potential acquisition of that product. When Depomed acquired NUCYNTA, Horizon’s use of information regarding the product ultimately led to an injunction preventing Horizon from pursuing an acquisition of Depomed.
Companies should continuously monitor their obligations under pre-existing confidentiality obligations with third parties, particularly when considering potential hostile bids. The use of “clean teams,” different outside advisors, and restrictions on the use of previously acquired confidential information may help mitigate the risk of potential breaches and failed M&A opportunities.
Gibson Dunn represented Depomed in its defense against the Horizon bid.
The preceding post is based on a memorandum from Gibson Dunn, which was published on November 20, 2015 and is available here. | http://clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2015/11/23/depomed-decision-highlights-importance-of-careful-monitoring-of-ma-non-disclosure-use-obligations/ |
In a country lacking any sense of internal social cohesion, the introduction of new national education policies, designed to promote efficiency and to settle many old scores, may well create as many new problems for future generations as the old problems it sought to legislate out of existence.
As Queen Victoria lay dying it seems that ministers just didn’t realise that Morant was the mole who had plunged them into such confusion. All they knew was that Morant was extremely efficient, worked prodigiously hard and was completely dedicated to traditional forms of education. At a time of indecisive parliamentary leadership, surely Morant was the man to sort all this out? So, seven years after being appointed a very junior assistant, Morant, at the prime minister’s personal request, was appointed Permanent Secretary1. Such promotion was unprecedented. It was already July, and children would soon be sitting in desks, and teachers had to be employed. Morant bought time. He persuaded the cabinet (he actually sat in on its discussions) to approve temporary legislation to pay these costs for a single year on condition that all parties came to an agreement on how schools would be administered in the future.
The bare bones of the 1902 Act amount to this; the three separate agencies of Education, Art, and Science and the Charity Commissioners, were combined into a single Department of Education and Science2. This involved no loss of status by the Charity Commissioners who already worked closely with the schools, but the merger of the Department of Art and Science, which had previously been controlled by the Board of Trade, pressaged still more difficult times ahead for the teaching of science and technology. The Act limited elementary education to pupils below the age of fourteen. It abolished the school boards, and passed all their assets and responsibilities — including the levying of rates — to the newly created county councils and borough councils (350 of them in total). In future education would be funded from a general rate that would also be used to support the cost of roads, sewers, libraries, cemeteries and public amenities. To the fury of those who objected to any form of church involvement, government would now contribute to the cost of these church schools, just as they did to the former board schools. “Religion on the rates” became their rallying call.
The passing of the Act involved some of the most heated and vehement debates ever heard in the House of Commons: issues of religion mixed themselves with economic theory; nationalism vied with the rights of the individual, and unresolved conflicts of more than a century came to the surface. Of the contentious religious settlement Lloyd George3, the Welshman who had a verbal image for every occasion, cast himself in the role of an Old Testament prophet warning that “the clergyman would come down to the school like a roaring lion, seeking out what little non-conformist he could devour at the expense of the rate payer”. Herbert Asquith4, himself shortly to be prime minister, argued long and hard for the retention of the board schools warning, “You will put an end to the existence of the best, the most fruitful and the most beneficial educational agencies that ever existed in this country”. Many never forgave Morant. Of the hundreds of people who could have studied those old files, it was only he who had seen the loopholes that led to the destruction of the school boards. They were left in little doubt that this was Morant’s own personal vendetta. More than forty years later Winston Churchill ‘shuddered’ as he remembered the bitterness of those debates in which he himself had been the youngest member.
Morant had then to formulate a policy for secondary education; back-stairs influence again took over. The public school headmasters had been strong enough, Morant determined enough, and the Prime Minister politically astute enough, to keep the public schools totally out of any formal national structure for secondary education. As all the former board schools had been defined as being elementary, and the public schools deemed not to be any part of the equation, Morant was left with a tiny rump of some 400 mainly small grammar schools across the entire country, out of which to create a national system5. Within six years 245 new ‘provided’ grammar schools would be built and the number of secondary school places (which now included significant numbers of girls) would almost double by 1910 to 150,000, which was a far smaller proportion than had been accommodated in the upper forms of the recently abolished board schools.
They were to have a strictly classical curriculum — more time had to be allocated to learning languages than to study science; even less for technology6. Latin had also to be taught, uniforms had to be worn and rugby was given precedence over football. Pupils were taught to think and act as if they were associate members, but always inferior, of a great public school. The culture should reflect Winchester and Eton, not Manchester, Newcastle or Birmingham. The whole system elevated the role of the secondary school at the expense of the elementary, an attitude which has affected every single inhabitant of this country ever since. A hundred years on, and the dust has still not settled on the events of 1902. Did Morant consciously suffocate what could have become an English version of what we now understand as the Finnish7 all-through school, or was he the long awaited genius that eventually gave England a national education system? Was it dirty work at the cross-roads, or the action of a brilliant administrator? | http://21learn.org/archive/the-99-theses/thesis-56-triumph-of-the-conventional/ |
Background Neuromuscular alterations have been reported for patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joint; however, the underlying cause associated with altered gluteus medius muscle function has not been examined. This study assessed electromyographic amplitudes of the gluteus medius muscles during function in patients with unilateral end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip joint compared to controls. Methods Patients with unilateral end-stage hip joint osteoarthritis (n = 13) and asymptomatic control participants (n = 17) participated. Average root-mean squared muscle amplitudes represented as a percent of maximum voluntary isometric contraction for both the involved and uninvolved limb gluteus medius muscles were analyzed during step up, step down, and gait. The association between muscle activation and impact forces during stepping tasks was assessed. Findings Patients with hip osteoarthritis exhibited increased gluteus medius muscle electromyographic amplitudes bilaterally during stair ascent, stair descent, and gait compared to controls, regardless of which limb they led. Involved limb muscle activity was inversely related to impact force during step down onto the ipsilateral limb. Interpretation Patients with hip osteoarthritis demonstrated increased gluteus medius muscle activation levels during stepping tasks and gait when compared to controls. The increased activation is most likely a compensatory response to muscle weakness. Therefore, application of strengthening exercises which target the gluteal muscles should assist in neuromuscular control and result in improved strength for patients with hip joint osteoarthritis. | https://ucdavis.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/comparison-of-gluteus-medius-muscle-activity-during-functional-ta |
Update: A pause for science secrecy bill in California
Update #2 (5/3/19): The Reporters Committee welcomes the announcement from California that the sponsor of legislation (AB 700) to shield communications and other information related to scientific research will not bring the bill up for a vote in the full Assembly this year.
We thank Assemblymember Laura Friedman for listening and committing to improving the legislation.
We and other groups argued the bill as written would shield too much from public scrutiny. “Over the past month, I’ve heard from a number of organizations and advocates about their concerns and outright opposition to the bill,” Friedman wrote in a Facebook post on May 2. ”AB 700 was never intended to obscure animal research, sexual harassment, or professional wrongdoing. That’s why I’m putting a hold on the bill for this year.”
The Reporters Committee will continue working with the bill’s sponsors and supporters to identify narrower changes to existing law as needed.
Update (4/23/19): AB700 has been pulled from the agenda of the Assembly Appropriations Committee meeting for April 24, 2019.)
(Originally posted 4/22/19)
The California legislature is set to advance a well-intentioned but ill-considered bill (Assembly Bill 700) that would, if enacted, prevent discovery of wrongdoing in and undue influences on scientific research at California colleges and universities, and affiliated centers.
The bill’s purpose of protecting science from abusive records requests is understandable, but this bill would do more to perpetuate malignant influences than to inoculate science from them.
Allegations of sexual misconduct in the lab, or undisclosed financial ties between a researcher or an organization affiliated with a public university and a private entity could go undiscovered.
We encourage the legislature to press the pause button for this session on this hasty effort until it can find better, narrower solutions allowing researchers independence while ensuring disclosure of misconduct allegations and undisclosed financial ties that may influence scientific progress.
Rather than limiting itself to protecting the confidentiality of the unpublished research data and notes, the bill casts a wide net in several respects. Its provisions apply broadly in two ways. First, as written, AB 700 broadly covers any researcher working at or in affiliation with a public postsecondary educational institution in California. Second, it allows confidentiality for any information relating to a researcher or their research “protected by patent, trademark, copyright, license, or any other effort that is reasonable under the circumstance to maintain its secrecy” (emphasis added). This could be interpreted to mean that the only standard that would be used to determine whether records would be disclosed is whether the confidentiality was reasonable to protect the information, regardless of any public interest in disclosure.
In recent weeks, sponsors added a white list of information that could not be kept secret. Those changes would still, however, allow allegations of workplace misconduct to stay secret until disciplinary action is taken against a researcher, and only then if the discipline relates to the research. What does that mean for allegations of discrimination or of pressuring a colleague for sex if the academic institution does nothing? Such stories would be harder to bring to the public if this legislation becomes law.
The California News Publishers Association argues the bill creates a broad exemption from disclosure to address the narrow problem of groups targeting researchers using public records requests. We agree. We join them in committing to working to improve this legislation.
For now, as written, the legislation does not reflect the presumption of transparency that California (and federal) open records law starts from, the narrow approach that any exemption from public disclosure should take, and the public’s interest in knowing how research institutions around the U.S. operate as workplaces and in pursuit of their lofty scientific missions. | https://www.rcfp.org/do-no-harm-california-press-pause-on-science-secrecy-bill/ |
Friends of Gibraltar – Bringing Gibraltar's Friends Together!
We are the Society for people in Britain who are interested in Gibraltar. Most of our members know the Rock already — many are Gibraltarians — but membership is open to everyone who wants to support Gibraltar and share our interest in its past, present and future. The annual subscription is only £15. [See membership link for application form].
In the UK we run a programme of meetings in London with VIP speakers from Gibraltar, an annual dinner and seminar, varied social events, and visits to places of interest connected with Gibraltar. We also arrange an annual members’ visit to Gibraltar, with local meetings and tours to suit the party’s interests. Our current programme of events can be found on this web site, as can the various editions of Rock Talk, our regular newsletter.
The origin of the Society was as a charity devoted to the history and heritage of Gibraltar. Our charitable income is still mostly spent on restoring buildings and monuments of historical importance there, particularly ones which mark the Rock’s connection with Britain and with the Armed Forces. A list of our grants to Gibraltar projects can be found by using the links.
The Society’s interests now extend to all aspects of Gibraltar’s present and future also — including culture, business, and recreation. Most especially, we celebrate and foster the link between the Rock and the United Kingdom. Please join in. | https://friendsofgibraltar.org.uk/ |
We are very proud of our school which has been serving our local community for over 40 years.
Our caring and distinctive ethos is based on our ‘CHARACTER’ values and a belief that every child has the potential to succeed. Our strap line, ‘Success for Life' is at the heart of all the school's work.
We are committed to excellence and passionately believe in providing our young people with the best opportunities to develop and achieve both academically and personally.
We are very proud of our Ofsted ‘Good’ status, which we received in 2014 and again in 2018 and were delighted on both occasions that the inspection teams recognised the actions taken by senior leaders, staff and trustees to further improve the quality of education provided.
Our curriculum provides students with a good academic grounding together with ample opportunities to become well-rounded individuals. Developing ‘CHARACTER’ values is a key focus of our work, and we encourage our students to embrace these values to become Confident, Happy, Articulate, Resilient, Ambitious, Courageous, Tolerant, Empathetic and Respectful individuals. Students are given opportunities to thrive and grow, through an array of extra-curricular activities (ie sports clubs, expressive arts clubs, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Combined Cadet Force) and in-school leadership positions (ie, school council, house council, subject ambassadors).
We have excellent links with a number of local businesses which provide superb opportunities for young people to develop a passion and interest for the STEM subjects. The school has a strong sporting tradition and plays an active part in a number of county fixtures; opportunities to play sport overseas have been introduced in recent years, past trips include Paris, Greece and Malta. Our art, music and drama departments make valuable contributions to school life including annual productions; past performances include: ‘Oliver’, ‘We will rock you’ and ‘Hairspray’. We have a partnership with Pangbourne College and have a ‘Combined Cadet Force’ which enables our young people to develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, resilience, resourcefulness, endurance, and perseverance.
Our Languages, Business and Travel Faculty offers a wide range of languages: French, Spanish and German and opportunities for visits to help children practice language skills and to experience the culture of countries they are studying.
As a school, we celebrate diversity and inclusion, whereby students look at Black History Month and LGBTQ+ History Month.
Since January 2012 the school has operated as a standalone Academy Trust School. Academy schools are free from Local Authority control but directly accountable to the Secretary of State for Education. Academy status has benefited the school considerably and has enabled us to bid for a number of capital grants to improve the buildings and learning environment. To date, we have received £3 million of funding which has been used to extensively improve our estate. Recent projects include boilers, refurbishing the reception area, enhancing classroom areas, upgrading security and IT infrastructure and of course we have seen the arrival of the much-anticipated 3G pitch.
I am very proud to be Chair of the Trust Board at Denefield. The Trustees are very committed to supporting the school and working with the staff to offer the best education for the young people in our local community. As a parent of three children, who have completed their education at the school; I have been delighted with the quality of education and the excellent support they have received. | https://www.denefield.org.uk/page/?title=Trustees&pid=20 |
They said Republicans and Democrats could never work together in Congress to impact the climate change crisis. But last week, three Republicans and three Democrat members of Congress did just that.
On November 27, Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Frances Rooney (R-FL), Rep. Charlie Christ (D-FL), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) made history when they co-sponsored a bill that would apply a fee on greenhouse gas emissions. Since then another Republican has been added as a co-sponsor, Rep. Dave Trott (R-MI). California’s own Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) joined as co-sponsor as well.
The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, (HR 7173) outlines a specific plan that many economists, scientists and policymakers believe will stimulate the transition to cleaner energy sources and business practices.
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) is among the bill’s sponsors.
It is well established that greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons (used in refrigerants, solvents, aerosol sprays as well as blowing agents for foam and packing materials) have created the pattern of global warming that has contributed to recent monster storms and fires, air pollution, drought, sea level rise, melting permafrost, mosquito proliferation and more.
HR 7173 calls for a starting fee of $15/ton of CO2 on oil, gas, and coal based on the greenhouse gas emissions they produce. The fee for chlorofluorocarbons would be lower. The money from the fees would be allocated equally and directly to all American households as a monthly rebate or “dividend”.
The fee would gradually rise, signaling businesses that they need to start changing their policies and allowing them time to adjust to the fee. To protect U.S. manufacturers and jobs, goods imported from countries that do not have an equivalent carbon price will pay a border carbon adjustment. Goods exported from the United States to such countries will receive a refund under this policy.
Some compromises were made to create a bill that could be supported by a broad bipartisan audience. For example, there are exceptions on fees for gases produced by the agriculture industry. The policy also prevents additional regulations on covered CO2 emissions, as long as emission targets are met.
If emissions targets are not met after 10 years, the EPA regulatory authority over these emissions would be restored. Regulations based on other pollutants will not be affected, nor will regulations such as auto mileage standards, water quality, and others.
“To let the free market price out coal, we should consider value pricing carbon. A revenue-neutral carbon fee is an efficient, market-driven incentive to move towards natural gas and away from coal, and to support emerging alternate sources of energy,” explained Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL).
In the San Joaquin Valley, we have already felt the effects of the warming temperature patterns. Even people without known breathing problems have struggled recently due to poor air quality from all the fires. Our snow recreation industry took a hard hit and the increase in summer temperatures is allowing more mosquitoes to breed.
Valley farmers are having to reconsider what they grow. Studies are showing that climate change is likely to wreak havoc on our crops such as almonds, wheat, and corn. Fruit yields will be even more severely affected. A 2017 study in the journal Agronomy found that the Central Valley will become unsuitable for growing apples, cherries and pears by mid-century if greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically cut.
To learn more about the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, you can visit energyinnovationact.org.
Andrea Farber De Zubiria is a licensed physical therapist who lives and works in the Central Valley. She is a mother and grandmother as well as a volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby Fresno. | https://gvwire.com/2018/12/25/opinion-bipartisan-bill-promises-climate-policy-breakthrough/ |
Milk Solutions is made in South Africa and has been specifically formulated to address the everyday exposure of the skin of the hands and feet to some of the harshest and most visibly damaging environmental elements.
Combining traditional and non-traditional beauty ingredients with advanced scientific technologies and processes, each Milk Solutions product has been developed to deliver effective, visible results that actively address the variety of hand, feet and nail concerns experienced by women of different ages, ethnicities and lifestyles.
No products were found matching your selection. | https://www.mm-monroes.co.za/brand/milk-solutions/?add_to_wishlist=51711&add-to-cart=51673 |
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97653
Archaeology Study of Soul Houses in Ancient Egypt on Five Models in the Grand Egyptian Museum
Authors:
Ayman Aboelkassem
,
Mahmoud Ali
Abstract:
Introduction: The models of soul houses have appeared in the prehistory, old kingdom and middle kingdom period. These soul houses represented the imagination of the deceased about his house in the afterlife, some of these soul houses were two floors and the study will examine five models of soul houses which were discovered near Saqqara site by an Egyptian mission. These models had been transferred to The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) to be ready to display at the new museum. We focus on models of soul houses (GEM Numbers, 1276, 1280, 1281, 1282, 8711) these models of soul houses were related to the old kingdom period. These models were all made of pottery, the five models have an oval shape and were decorated with relief. Methodology: The study will focus on the development of soul houses during the different periods in ancient Egypt, the function of soul houses, the kind of offerings which were put in it and the symbolism of the offerings colors in ancient Egyptian believe. Conclusion: This study is useful for the heritage and ancient civilizations especially when we talk about opening new museums like The Grand Egyptian Museum which will display a new collection of soul houses. The study of soul houses and The kinds of offerings which put in it reflect the economic situation in the Egyptian society and kinds of oils which were famous in ancient Egypt.
Keywords:
archaeology study
,
Grand Egyptian Museum
,
relief
, | https://panel.waset.org/abstracts/97653 |
There are numerous similarities between how religion and philosophy view the world. For instance, both areas of study deal with the nature of morality, the definition of ‘good’ and what it means to live a ‘good life’. Due to these numerous similarities, it is safe for one to say that religion can be philosophy (although not necessarily so) and philosophy can also be religious (again, not necessarily so). However, besides these numerous similarities between how philosophy and religion view the world, there are even more differences between the two. These differences are the subject of this article.
The first of these differences between how philosophy and religion view the world is in the rituals that are involved. In a nutshell, religion has rituals while philosophy does not have any of these. In Catholicism, rituals such as Mass and taking the sacrament are necessary. In Islam, taking ablution before observing the five daily prayers is mandatory. In Judaism, there are ceremonies to be observed such as Bar Mitzvah and Hanukah. However, in philosophy, there are absolutely no rituals. One needs not take of his or her shoes to study the works of Renes Descartes. A teacher in philosophy needs not to utter some words prior to teaching his or her students about John Stuart Mill.
The second difference is perhaps the most important difference between the two thoughts. This difference is in reasoning. Religion relies on reasoning to a lesser extent than philosophy does. Most of the world’s religions rely on faith more than they do on reason. There are some things in religion that may seem ‘unreasonable’ to a neutral observer. For instance, the very foundation of religion – the existence of a supernatural deity, can be termed ‘unreasonable’. In major religions such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism, this deity, God, is usually invisible. Some supernatural abilities are attributed to him such as the power to see everything (all seeing) and know everything (omnipotent).
To a philosopher, these views are unreasonable and can be termed unacceptable. The first question a philosopher may ask himself or herself about religion is, “How can one worship that which he has never laid eyes on?” Philosophy relies on empirical evidence, reasoning and arriving on conclusions this way, much like science does. This is where the clash between religion and philosophy arises. Many religions rely on faith without necessarily reasoning, like the existence of a hereafter and life after death. These are things that no one has experienced before and no test can be performed to determine their validity. It is for this reason that most of the world’s famous philosophers were atheists. This long list of atheist philosophers includes people like Karl Marx, Democritus, Bertrand Russell, Friedrich Nietzsche and Alexandr Zinvovyev among many others.
Another important difference between religion and philosophy is in miracles. Religions usually base some of their arguments on events and happenings that are out of the ordinary, events that cannot be explained scientifically. For instance, religion views the world as having started from absolutely nothing. Many religions claim that the world was started by the mere will of a deity. This is a claim that philosophy refutes. Philosophers do not believe in such things as virgin births and making the lame walk again, religious miracles such as dividing the water of the red sea and turning water into wine are not acceptable.
Even though religious views of the world and philosophical views of the world are different, they are not entirely independent. There are many similarities between the two as discussed in the first paragraph. There is such a thing in theory as ‘the God of the gaps’. This is a theory used by religious people to refute many philosophical claims about the non existence of a deity. The God of the gaps is described as the link between what philosophers and scientists cannot explain i.e. the gaps. For instance, philosophers claim that there is no such thing as God since he cannot be seen by the naked eye nor can his voice be heard by the ear. However, these same philosophers cannot explain what gives the human brain the power to reason and even though they believe in evolution, they cannot explain how the big bang started. These gaps are used by religious parties to advocate the existence of a supernatural being controlling such events. | https://quality-essay.com/essay-samples/contrast/contrast-between-religious-and-philosophical.html |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actualize a playback function providing a KARAOKE singer with information by using a small memory capacity.
SOLUTION: When a singing voice signal is inputted, a scoring part 3 scores the singing voice. A sound recording part 5 records the section of the highest points and the section of the lowest points in the music as a result of the scoring each for approximately 10 seconds. After the performance of the KARAOKE music ends, the highest-point section and lowest-point section recorded by the sound recording part 5 are outputted to an amplifier 6 and reproduced. Consequently, the most featured parts of the singing of the singer can be reproduced by recording the highest-point section and lowest-point section each for about 10 seconds to give the singer information for his practice.
COPYRIGHT: (C)1999,JPO | |
The Sports Law team advises a range of sport entities including national governing bodies, clubs, teams, sponsors and commercial partners.
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We have assisted sporting bodies to re-draft their rules, regulations and constitutional documents to reflect the modern world of professional sport and improve their organisational structures to align with regulatory requirements.
Some members of our team sit as board members of sporting organisations and have first-hand experience of the administrative, governance and compliance issues that sporting bodies are required to address. Our considerable experience in this area will ensure that you receive appropriate advice in the most straightforward and practical terms.
Our areas of legal expertise include:
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Clare provides advice to the boards of national governing bodies
Legal Commentry
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"Adrian Oliver often advises the firm's impressive roster of sports clients on regulatory and contractual matters." | https://www.dolmans.co.uk/sports-law |
Principal's Message:
I want to personally welcome you to Rural Special Elementary – a place committed to student success. At Rural Special we understand the importance of the student as an individual and thus strive to provide a variety of educational opportunities to help each student develop academically, socially, and emotionally. By working closely with the parents and the community as viable stakeholders, Rural Special Elementary consistently proves itself to be at the forefront of opportunities.
Recognized by The Office of Educational Policy as one of the Highest Performing Elementary Schools in Northeast Arkansas
As a professional learning community, those of us at Rural Special are committed to working together to provide challenging educational opportunities for all students and to ensure that our school is a safe and secure environment for learning. To be successful as a learning community, we need everyone’s help, and collaboration/communication are the keys. We encourage all parents, family members, and community members to take an active role at Rural Special. Please contact myself or Kayla Knapp to learn more about ways you can become involved!
Together, we can continue to make Rural Special a place that prepares students for success in life! | https://www.mves.k12.ar.us/o/rss/page/principal-s-message |
Mosaic pavements constitute a shared inheritance from the Roman and Byzantine world throughout the Mediterranean region. Due to the vast number of mosaics presently at risk, there is an urgency to determine common problems, to promote the exchange of information, and to coordinate efforts in exploring means of better conserving these important historic documents and artistic creations of the past. Working toward these goals, the objective of the Mosaics in Situ project is to enhance the capacity of national authorities and individuals to conserve mosaics in the Mediterranean region through:
- contributing to a better understanding of the causes of deterioration of in situ mosaics and the development of methods and approaches to their maintenance and conservation;
- improving the skills of professionals and technicians in the areas of maintenance, conservation, and management planning for mosaics;
- disseminating widely the results of the project
Project Overview
The Mosaics in Situ project addresses a number of topics related to the conservation and management of ancient mosaic pavements in situ. Aimed principally at the Mediterranean region, the project began in 1998, building upon and furthering the goals of previous GCI activities in this area—specifically the 1990 and 1993 international courses on conservation and management held in Paphos, Cyprus; a 1995 conference on the conservation of archaeological sites in the Mediterranean;
a 2000 workshop on management planning for archaeological sites, held in Corinth, Greece; and co-sponsorship of the 1996 conference of the International Committee for the Conservation of Mosaics (ICCM), held in Nicosia, Cyprus.
The project is currently built on partnerships with three national authorities in three countries. The research program involves collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and English Heritage (EH). On-going training in Tunisia is a collaboration with the Institut National du Patrimoine (INP).
In recent years the fundamental goal of preserving ancient mosaics has manifested itself through shared objectives and complementary efforts with other GCI departments and other Getty entities. From 2007-2009, the GCI’s Education Department undertook capacity building in site management for mosaic sites in Tunisia and in 2006 the J. Paul Getty Museum mounted an exhibition at the Getty Villa on the mosaics of Tunisia. The catalogue from the exhibition, Stories in Stone, as well as the publication of Tunisian Mosaics, Treasures from Roman Africa in the GCI’s Cultural Heritage series have highlighted the importance of these masterpieces of the ancient world. In 2008 the GCI and the Getty Foundation, in collaboration with ICCROM and ICCM, launched a major initiative,MOSAIKON, to enhance capacity in the conservation and management of mosaics in the Mediterranean region. | http://www.aiellomosaics.com/blog/restoration-of-mosaics-in-situ/ |
5 July 2016 - In 2015, coca bush cultivation declined 1 per cent in Bolivia compared to the previous year, according to the latest Coca Crop Monitoring Survey launched today in La Paz by UNODC and the country's Government. In this period the surface under cultivation declined from 20,400 hectares (ha) to 20,200 ha. The surface under coca cultivation in 2015 is the lowest since UNODC began its monitoring survey in 2003.
Satellite imaging and field monitoring revealed minor reductions between 2014 and 2015 in the Yungas de La Paz and Trópico de Cochabamba regions, from 14,200 to 14,000 ha and from 6,100 to 6,000 ha respectively. These two regions account for 99 per cent of the areas under coca cultivation in the country. In the Norte de La Paz provinces the cultivation area increased from 130 to 150 ha.
The potential coca leaf production in the country was estimated to be 32,500 tons in 2015. However, there is evidence suggesting that the production of coca leaf in Yungas de La Paz has been under-estimated due to a failure to update coca crop yield factors (expressed in tons of coca leaf per hectare of crops). In this regard, the report recalls the need to periodically update coca crop yield factor studies in order to produce a more accurate estimate of the national coca leaf production. In addition, the report stresses the importance of carrying out a study on the coca/cocaine conversion factor in order to estimate the potential production of this substance in Bolivia.
The total value of the coca leaf production in Bolivia declined from $282 to $273 million compared to 2014. This amount represents 0.8 per cent of Bolivia's overall gross domestic product (GDP) and 8.1 per cent of its agricultural sector GDP.
These figures reflect the main findings of the 2015 Coca Crop Monitoring Survey in Bolivia, carried out in the framework of the UNODC Support Programme for the Implementation of the Action Plan of the Strategy Against Drug Trafficking and for the Reduction of Surplus Coca Cultivation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, with support from the European Union and Denmark.
Additional data showed that the amount of coca leaf traded in the two authorized markets in the country - Villa Fátima and Sacaba - was around 21,201 tons in 2015, equivalent to 65 per cent of the potential production of coca leaf. 93 per cent of the legally traded coca leaf was marketed in Villa Fátima, and the other 7 per cent in Sacaba. The average weighted price of coca leaf in these authorized markets increased 13 per cent, from $8.3/kg in 2014 to $9.4/kg in 2015.
According to data from the Directorate General for Coca Leaf Trading and Industrialisation, the main destinations of legally traded coca leaf in Bolivia were the departments of Santa Cruz, accounting for 37 per cent of the total amount of coca leaf traded nationwide, Tarija with 16 per cent and Cochabamba with 14 per cent, followed by the departments of Potosi and Oruro with 11 and 10 per cent, respectively.
Between 2014 and 2015, the area eradicated declined by 1 per cent at the national level, from 11,144 to 11,020 ha, according to data from the Vice Ministry of Social Defence and Controlled Substances. Meanwhile, at the provincial level, 7,352 ha were eradicated in the region of Trópico de Cochabamba, 3,131 ha in the Yungas de La Paz and Norte de La Paz provinces, and 537 ha in the rest of the country. On this point, the UNODC Representative in Bolivia, Antonino De Leo, highlighted that thanks to the eradication of 11,000 ha in 2015, the country had achieved a net reduction of coca bush cultivation of 200 ha.
In Bolivia, 'rationalization' refers to the reduction of surplus coca crops in authorized cultivation areas, through a dialogue-based process led by the Government involving the participation of coca growers unions in the implementation of the national strategy to reduce surplus coca crops, while 'eradication' refers to the elimination of coca crops in non-authorized cultivation areas.
Speaking to the press, the UNODC Representative highlighted that best practices at the international level recommend a combination of eradication and alternative development policies as essential elements to achieve a sustained reduction of illicit crops, further enhanced when alternative development programmes fully intertwine with broader and more comprehensive development policy frameworks.
In this regard, Mr. De Leo recalled the importance of the outcome document of the Special Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGASS) on the world drug problem, issued in April 2016, which emphasizes "the promotion of inclusive economic growth and support initiatives that contribute to poverty eradication and the sustainability of social and economic development, develop measures for rural development, improving infrastructure and social inclusion and protection".
He also stressed that the inclusion and participation of local communities in the promotion of development initiatives to battle the environmental consequences of illicit crop cultivation and illicit production of narcotic drugs were recommended at UNGASS.
The UNODC Representative added that the fight against the world drug problem together with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should not be understood as two separate courses of action, but as complementary and mutually reinforcing. Echoing the words of UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, Mr. De Leo reminded that efforts against drugs, crime and corruption contribute to the much broader challenge of achieving sustainable development. | https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2016/July/unodc-monitoring-survey-reports-stabilisation-of-coca-bush-cultivation-in-bolivia-during-2015.html?ref=fs3 |
Recurrent neural network architectures: An overview -- Gradient based learning methods -- Diagrammatic methods for deriving and relating temporal neural network algorithms -- An introduction to learning structured information -- Neural networks for processing data structures -- The loading problem: Topics in complexity -- Learning dynamic Bayesian networks -- Probabilistic models of neuronal spike trains -- Temporal models in blind source separation -- Recursive neural networks and automata -- The neural network pushdown automaton: Architecture, dynamics and training -- Neural dynamics with stochasticity -- Parsing the stream of time: The value of event-based segmentation in a complex real-world control problem -- Hybrid HMM/ANN systems for speech recognition: Overview and new research directions -- Predictive models for sequence modelling, application to speech and character recognition.
This book is devoted to adaptive processing of structured information similar to flexible and intelligent information processing by humans - in contrast to merely sequential processing of predominantly symbolic information within a deterministic framework. Adaptive information processing allows for a mixture of sequential and parallel processing of symbolic as well as subsymbolic information within deterministic and probabilistic frameworks. The book originates from a summer school held in September 1997 and thus is ideally suited for advanced courses on adaptive information processing and advanced learning techniques or for self-instruction. Research and design professionals active in the area of neural information processing will find it a valuable state-of-the-art survey. | https://koha.app.ist.ac.at/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=382145 |
What are Separable differential equations?
Back when we first learned about derivatives, we used the formal definition to find the derivatives of certain functions. Then we expanded our "derivative taking skills", using more efficient methods such as the power rule, quotient rule and chain rule. Once we mastered taking derivatives of explicitly defined functions (functions in y= form), we moved onto implicitly defined functions. Here we needed to find a way to take the derivative of functions that had the x's and y's mixed together. Like $sin(xy)=x^2+3y$
This same transition also surfaces with integrals. We began by solving indefinite integrals of basic functions. Then we expanded your ability to find anti-derivatives of explicitly defined functions using the methods(integration by parts, partial fraction and u-substitutions). I am sure you can guess what next on the agenda...
How can we find the integral of an expression where the x's and y's and mixed together? One approach is the technique known as separable differential equations. This is a topic that is part of the AP Calculus curriculum and in differential equations course
What are the steps to solving Separable differential equations?
- Look at the equation and identify the x's and y's
- Treat $dx$ as an x and $dy$ as a y
- Separate the the x's and y's,so that they are on opposite sides of the equation.
- It is very important that one sided of the equation is multiplied by dx and the other by dy . In the end dx and dy should never be in the denominator. | http://www.mathscoop.com/calculus/differential-equations/separable-differential-equations.php |
Book DescriptionA group of film historians chart a map of 1930s British cinema. They reassess the films, stars, genres, and directors omitted from accounts of the decade, and they evaluate its forgotten and recently discovered films. The book includes assessments of the British shocker and the British musical, popular 1930s genres, and views of cinema and national identity.
Buy Unknown 1930s book by Jeffrey Richards from Australia's Online Bookstore, Boomerang Books.
Book DetailsISBN: 9781860646287
ISBN-10: 186064628X
(229mm x 146mm x 25mm)
Pages: 287
Imprint: I.B.Tauris
Publisher: I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd
Publish Date: 12-Jan-2001
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
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Other Editions...
Books By Author Jeffrey Richards
Time, Work and Leisure, Paperback (August 2016)
Explores the major changes in our use of and attitude to time over three centuries. Asks why the 1960s and 1970s expectation that leisure time would increase has failed to come about
Cinemas and Cinemagoing in Wartime Britain, 1939-45, Hardback (June 2016)
During the Second World War, the popularity and importance of the cinema in Britain was at its peak. In this groundbreaking book, Richard Farmer provides a social and cultural history of cinemas and cinemagoing in Britain between 1939 and 1945, and explores the impact that the war had on the places in which British people watched films.
Leisure and Cultural Conflict in Twentieth-Century Britain, Paperback (April 2016)» View all books by Jeffrey Richards
A collection of articles addressing research trends in the history of British leisure while also presenting a wide range of articles on cultural conflict and leisure in the twentieth century. It includes innovative research on a number of topics, including television, cinema, the circus, women's leisure, dance, football and drug culture.
Reviews
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Author Biography - Jeffrey Richards
Jeffrey Richards is Professor of Cultural History at Lancaster University. He is General Editor of the Cinema and Society series.
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For every $20 you spend on books, you will receive $1 in Boomerang Bucks loyalty dollars. You can use your Boomerang Bucks as a credit towards a future purchase from Boomerang Books. Note that you must be a Member (free to sign up) and that conditions do apply. | http://www.boomerangbooks.com.au/Unknown-1930s/Jeffrey-Richards/book_9781860646287.htm |
By John Hugh DeMastri
Leaders in the European Union are intensifying efforts to compete with the U.S. on green energy, after the Biden administration’s signature climate bill was perceived as siphoning manufacturing from Europe, The Associated Press reported Monday.
Ahead of a special economic summit from Feb. 9 – 10, E.U. politicians and diplomats have discussed developing massive subsidies to compete with the $369 billion of subsidies in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), such as electric vehicle tax credits, designed to promote domestic green energy and manufacturing, the AP reported. European and Asian allies, particularly in the automotive industry, have been vocal in their opposition to the law, which they believe unfairly promotes U.S. companies at the expense of foreign firms. (RELATED: Solar Company Joins Multibillion Green Investment Spree In Republican States)
“We need to send a strong message that we will act to safeguard our industrial base. It is crucial that the EU remains an attractive place to invest, innovate and produce,” said E.U. Council President Charles Michel in Stockholm, Monday, the AP reported. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire similarly said that the trading bloc needed to “shock” the system and simplify subsidies to give companies easier access to investments.
“We want state aid that can be much more massive for certain sectors that we clearly identify — hydrogen, electric batteries, solar panels, semiconductors,” Le Maire said, according to the AP. “There is not a moment to lose.”
France and Germany, the two largest economies in the E.U., are leading the charge in calling for subsidies large enough to compete with the IRA and promote green manufacturing in Europe, according to the AP. The E.U. loosened subsidy regulations in 2020 to compensate for the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with more than 75% of the €672 billion (roughly $725 billion) going to France and Germany.
Diplomats from the two E.U. economic titans are scheduled to visit D.C. in February to lobby for exemptions allowing E.U. companies to qualify for the IRA.
The U.S. Treasury Department released several documents detailing proposed guidelines for the implementation of the IRA on December 29, significantly relaxing the eligibility requirements for foreign manufacturers to receive a $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicles. Prior to these guidelines being published, several foreign automakers spent billions investing in factories for electric vehicles and batteries in the U.S., amid a worldwide surge in demand for electric vehicles.
For your convenience, you may leave commments below using Disqus. If Disqus is not appearing for you, please disable AdBlock to leave a comment. | https://globeinfo.live/democrats-climate-bill-sparks-potential-green-trade-war-with-europe/ |
The Aluminium Eurosystem represents a new generation of hollow profile handling systems. This innovative solution presents the combined advantages of conventional steel and aluminium hollow profile.
A graded range of 4 sizes of profile. As for steel sections, the selection of the model will depend on the load capacity and the distance between the suspension points.
AL06, 6.5 kg/m, up to 320 kg.
AL08, 8 kg/m, up to 500 kg.
AL10, 10.6 kg/m, up to 2,000 kg.
AL14, 14.5 kg/m, up to 2,000 kg. | https://www.verlinde.com/en/catalog/jib-cranes-and-travelling-cranes/eurosystem-alu.html |
African Golden Cats are medium sized cats and they have a body length between 61 and 100 cms (24 - 39 inches), a tail length between 16 and 46 cms (6.5 - 18 inches) and they weigh between 5.5 and 16 kgs (12 - 35 lbs).
Andean Cats are small cats and they have a body length between 58 and 64 cms (23 - 25 inches), a tail length between 41 and 48 cms (16 - 19 inches) and they weigh approximately 4 kgs (8.75 lbs).
Asian Golden Cats are a medium sized cat and they have a body length between 75 and 105 cms (29.5 - 41.3 inches), a tail length between 40 and 55 cms (15.7 - 21.7 inches) and they weigh between 6 and 15 kgs (13.2 - 33 lbs).
The Canadian Lynx is a medium sized cat and they have a body length between 0.8 and 1 m (2.5 - 3.3 ft), a tail length between 5 and 14 cms (2 - 5.5 inches) and they weigh between 8 and 14 Kgs (18 - 31 lbs). They are silver grey/brown in colour.
Caracals are labeled as small cats, but they are the heaviest and fastest of all the small cats. Their body length is between 60 and 91 cms (23.5 - 36 inches), their tail length is between 23 - 31 cms (9 - 12 inches) and they weigh between 6 and 19 Kgs (13 - 42 lbs).
Chinese Mountain Cats have a body length between 70 and 85 cms (27.5 - 33.5 inches), a tail length between 30 and 35 cms (11.8 - 13.8 inches) and they weigh between 4.5 and 9 kgs (9.9 - 19.8 lbs).
Colocolos are small cats and they have a body length between 51 and 76 cms (20 - 30 inches), a tail length of 30 cms (12 inches) and they weigh between 3 and 7 kgs (6.6 - 15.4 lbs).
Flat-Headed Cats are small cats, typically around the size of a domestic cat. They have a body length between 41 and 50 cms (16 - 20 inches), a tail length between 13 and 15 cms (5 - 6 inches) and they weigh between 1.5 and 2 kgs (3.25 - 4.5 lbs).
The Iberian Lynx and the Eurasian Lynx are very similar in appearance except the Iberian Lynx is about half the size. They have a body length of between 85 and 110 cms (34 - 43 inches), a tail length of approximately 13 cms (5 inches) and they weigh between 10 and 13 Kgs (22 - 29 lbs).
Jaguarundis are small cats that that appear to be more like mustelids than felids in their overall proportions. They have a body length between 55 and 77 cms (22 - 30 inches), a tail length of between 33 and 60 cms (13 - 23.5 inches) and they weigh between 4.5 and 9 Kgs (10 - 20 lbs).
http://onlinepollservice.com/ trick to get unlimited google plus votes. | http://bib.ge/wildcats/index.php |
Orange background with curve lines and cluster pearls.
The origami measures approximately 1.2×3.8 cm (0.5×1.5 inches). It hangs on 2.0 cm (0.8 inch) 925 silver sterling earring hook and transparent earnuts. The cluster of pearls hangs from the origami 3.0×2.0 cm (1.2×0.8 inch). Total size: 1.2×7.5 cm (0.5×3.0 inches).
Origamis are carefully hand-folded and protected with three layers of varnish applied by hand.
Earrings are delivered in a transparent box designed by Nou cami.
We have more than 120 paper designs. We will be glad to receive your custom order. | https://noucami.fr/en/product/crab-legs-cluster-pearls-origami-earrings/ |
Deontic logic, also referred to as the logic of obligation, is a relatively new branch of logic. The first attempt at constructing a formal system of deontic logic was made by Ernst Mally in 1926. Since then, several attempts followed, of which the most notable is that of G.H. von Wright in his classic paper "Deontic Logic", published in 1951. Von Wright's paper prompted a lot of reaction in the field and has influenced work in deontic logic ever since.
Document Type
Book
Publication Date
1978
Recommended Citation
Azizah Y. al-Hibri, Deontic Logic: A Comprehensive Appraisal and a New Proposal (1978). | https://scholarship.richmond.edu/law-faculty-publications/379/ |
This painting is acrylic on canvas and is 18" x 24". This is the second in a series of paintings of the Eiffel Tower at night and done is Black and White.
This is my second version of "Paris at Night". While it is smaller than the 1st I am very proud of the way it turned out. Again, I tried to capture the beauty of the Eiffel Tower at night and the romance and wonder of Paris in general. | https://www.prospectartworks.com/store/p65/Paris_at_Night_%282%29.html |
This thesis is about how one species can invade an ecosystem and change the whole biological community within a few years. The question is whether such changes can be foreseen or are more or less unpredictable? Biological communities in lakes are vulnerable to fish predation and the zooplankton is strongly affected by the fish types present. Of particular importance is whether they feed on zooplankton (planktivore), benthic animals (benthivore) or are fish eaters (piscivore).
Lake Myravatn in Bergen had for a long time a very rare fish community consisting of only piscivore fish due to the introduction of Northern pike (Esox lucius) about 200 years ago. No other fish survived there except some eel (Anguilla anguilla). The consequence of this was a zooplankton community with large species that are usually eliminated by planktivorous fish. Predation on the zooplankton was caused by an invertebrate, larvae of the phantom midge (Chaoborus flavicans), feeding on small zooplankton individuals.
This situation was completely changed when Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) was illegally introduced by unknown person(s) and for unknown reasons, most likely in autumn 2006. Since studies on the zooplankton were ongoing, the consequences for the zooplankton could be recorded. The monitoring of the lake included both quantitative and qualitative zooplankton sampling and fishing with multi-mesh gill nets and echo-sounding able to discriminate between fish and larvae of phantom midge.
Contemporary theory predicted that the perch would encounter very good conditions in the lake with a superabundance of invertebrate prey of optimal size. Both growth and reproduction would be exceptional and a dense perch population would quickly establish. This would reduce the large zooplankton species in the lake, i.e. Daphnia pulex, D. longispina and the phantom midge larvae. Disappearance of the invertebrate predator, the phantom midge, and the competitors, the daphnids, would give an opportunity for smaller species to flourish. The large zooplankton would try to escape fish predation by undergoing diel vertical migration whereby they hide in the dark at great depths during day time and feed on small zooplankton in the upper water layers only during night.
The predictions were mostly correct. The large zooplankton species more or less disappeared and other species took over. A marked change occurred when the small Bosmina longirostris took over as the most abundant species in 2010. Over time, also rotifers increased in number of species. This was supposed to be an indirect response to changes in the invertebrate predation regime. Diel vertical migration started for the phantom midge larvae coincidentally with the appearance of the perch. This reduced the time the phantom midge could feed and it changed its life history to one generation per year while previously it had two generations per year. Although the Chaoborus started diel vertical migration, their density became very much reduced, and their predator avoidance behaviour was not sufficient for survival. Possibly, over the 200 years without fish predation, they might have lost their ability to go deep enough to avoid the fish.
It was unexpected that it took such long time to change the zooplankton community in Lake Myravatn in spite of the fast development of the perch population. It took three years before B. longirostris appeared, and more changes seem to have occurred after that. The pike in the lake that for long had survived without fish prey, suddenly had a superabundance of new prey when the perch came, but although individual pike increased their growth, a numerical response was not noticeable. This study showed that contemporary theory concerning food-web structure in lakes is mainly correct. However, it is necessary to better quantify the processes involved to foresee the time it takes to cause changes and for predicting the effects on other parts of the freshwater ecosystem than just zooplankton and fish.
Has part(s)
Paper I: Regmi, B. P. & P. Larsson. Development and diet of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) when invading a lake without planktivorous fish (manuscript). Full text not available in BORA.
Paper II: Regmi, B. P., J. S. Wivegh, F. Knudsen & P. Larsson. Vertical distribution and diel migration of phantom midge (Chaoborus flavicans) larvae before and after invasion of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) (submitted). Full text not available in BORA.
Paper III: Regmi, B. P., J. S. Wivegh & A. Hobæk. Population decline and life-cycle adjustment in a phantom midge (Chaoborus flavicans) population after introduction of planktivorous fish (manuscript). Full text not available in BORA.
Paper IV: Regmi, B. P., I. Wathne, J. Giske, A. Hobæk & P. Larsson. From phantom midges (Chaoborus flavicans) to perch (Perca fluviatilis): zooplankton community changes (manuscript). Full text not available in BORA. | http://bora.uib.no/handle/1956/6395 |
Wood: Nunc dimittis in B flat (Latin)
This item will be dispatched within 10 working days.
Choral leaflet
£2.25
QTY
Publisher: Cathedral Music Ltd
ISBN: CM141
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The fear was as real now as it was then. As we look into the future, we can plan our upcoming days by setting writing goals. We are likely to reach our writing goals if we follow a process that breaks down goal setting into a series of steps rather than leaving our goal at the end of a nebulous road and assuming our only job is to stumble upon it.
Today, we panic over the prospect of achieving our writing goals and landing some recognition almost as much as we dread writing naught a word in the coming year and failing terribly at our writing goals. Writing is hard work. Period. To achieve a year’s worth of writing goals requires not a small amount of organization, and the better job we do setting our goals, the more likely we are to achieve them.
,If you have not yet taken the time to reflect back over the previous year, do it now. Looking back over what you accomplished, what you meant to accomplish, what you failed at, and what you learned in the last year can provide invaluable information for how to move forward into the coming months.
Not only can reflecting on the year provide incredible details into how the last year went, but it can guide your writing process for the coming year as well. When you know with certainty where things went well and where they failed, then you can identify corrective procedures for planning a more productive year to come.
After you have finished a thorough reflection on what happened with your writing in the last year, take a serious look at where you are in the here and now. What are you accomplishing right now? What is going well? What is a fabulous disaster? What would you be able to live without? What would cause you to stop breathing tomorrow if you lost (i.e., my backup hard drive)?
Take a close, emotion-free look at where you are right now. This will show you what tools you already have at your fingertips that could support you in achieving this year's goals. It can also help you identify the struggles that you are facing right now that may need to be addressed before moving forward.
Now that you have reflected on where you have been and identified where you are today, plan what is to come. You have a whole year to work with (although please feel free to amend your plan to span only a quarter or a month if that is more comfortable for you).
Having looked at your current projects, what is one large project that you might accomplish in the upcoming year? That big goal might be: writing a best-selling novel, producing 100 blogs, interviewing two dozen artists for an upcoming book on creativity, or publishing ten short stories in national literary magazines.
Whatever your big goal is, set it. Set it on paper. Write it in red ink. Highlight it. Embolden it. Put your heart behind it, and set that goal as though it is the most important thing that you will do with your life.
With your big goal set, you can now create a plan that will support you in achieving that goal. The goal itself is not there just to collect dust, it needs to be active and dynamic as you move together into the upcoming months and collaborate on your engaging project.
The way that we achieve a big goal is by breaking the goal down into small, achievable mini-goals along the path to success. No one decided to earn a PhD, went to the college campus, and left a few hours later with a degree in hand; that achievement was earned after a long series of small goals: community college, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and so on.
Every big goal that we take on in life—remodeling the kitchen, landscaping the yard, replacing a truck engine, and yes, writing a book all require that we take things one step at a time.
To achieve this, we can visualize our big goal in the distance, then lay stepping stones on the path to reach that goals. If I intend to remodel my kitchen, I would conduct significant research, then move onto a planning phase, I would then get all of my information organized, then I would remove the outdated features I wanted to replace, and finally I would install the new features and set out to perfect each one with finishing touches. The end result would be the only piece that anyone else would see—the completed kitchen, but I would know that I walked on dozens of stepping stones to get there.
The same is true of our writing goals. We need to break the large goals into manageable mini-goals. When we do this, we are less anxious about writing and more likely to succeed in achieving the big goals.
So, if I plan to write a book in the coming year, how might I break up that big goal? I may start by conducting an extensive brainstorming session to come up with ideas; this process might include research, interviews, and collaborative brainstorming. Each of these steps (brainstorming, researching, interviewing) would need to be completed before moving onto the next one.
At the end of each step, a celebration might be in order. Doing something to acknowledge the completion of a task can reinforce the motivation to keep going and push morale higher. A simple morning of fun to buy a coffee or browse the bookstore can feel like a nice treat after a creative milestone has been met.
As each step is finished, evaluate its completion, process, and lessons learned. By doing this, the writing process becomes smoother and the overall writing experience tends to speed up. The better job we can do at improving our writing processes, the better job we can do at staying motivated and meeting our writing goals.
Say that I chose five mini-goals that led toward writing a book as my big goal. For each of those mini-goals, I should complete the goal, evaluate it to make sure everything went well, then continue moving forward towards that big goal.
This brainstorming session may include taking my book ideas to a writer’s workshop group where I might share ideas, listen to feedback, and use that feedback to guide which ideas to pursue. With a few good ideas on paper, I have a brainstorm and evaluate the step.
Do I have a completed brainstorm in hand?
Is the book’s focus coming into sight?
Is this step completed or is there more work to do before moving on?
To collect specific information on an aspect of my book, I may conduct an interview with a subject matter expert. The information that I collect during this interview could be used in the book for everything from background content to character development. After completing the interview, I should evaluate the step.
Did I organize the information from the interview into my brainstorm?
Do I need to conduct additional interviews or is this information enough?
In the research step, I may spend time in the library, dig into virtual archives online, and take trips to museums or historical sites related to my book. I would take notes on the research and add it to the information I collected for the book. Before moving on, I would evaluate the step.
Did I add the research into my brainstorm to create a completed brainstorm?
Is additional research needed or does this content give me enough to work with?
Just as with every goal that we set in life, our writing goals need attention and dedication for us to reach them. As we enter a new season, we have an opportunity to set goals for the upcoming year, and the better job we do at setting quality goals, the more likely we are at meeting those goals. Use your journal to keep track of your goal setting and you may find this process supports your writing goals better. | https://www.ondemandinstruction.com/newest-post/journal-writing-for-setting-writing-goals |
One hundred and fifty hands of 85 unselected subjects were studied. Supramaximal nerve stimulation of the median and ulnar nerves at the wrist and elbow were used. The compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB), first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles. In 125 of 150 hands (83.3%), the ulnar to median nerve communication in the hand was demonstrated. The median to ulnar nerve communication in the hand was detected in 65 of 150 hands (43.3%) when recorded the CMAP from the FDI, and was detected in 24 hands (16.0%) when recorded from the ADM. The mean ulnar nerve innervation ratio in the APB was 27.6 ± l6.4% (mean ± S.D.). This mean value was significantly smaller in the American blacks than in the American caucasians or hispanics (mainly born in Cuba). The mean median nerve innervation ratio was 11.4 ± 15.1 and 6.2 ± 14.6% in the FDI and in the ADM muscles, respectively. | https://miami.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/the-hand-neural-communication-between-the-ulnar-and-median-nerves |
Pope Francis’s highly anticipated encyclical—Laudato Si’—is now out.
→ READ or DOWNLOAD here!
Here are 13 things to know and share . . .
1. What are the basic facts about this encyclical?
An encyclical is a teaching document issued by the pope. Encyclicals are among the more solemn and thus more authoritative papal documents. This one is called Laudato Si’ (“Be praised” or “Praise be to you”)—a line from the Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis of Assisi.
It is Pope Francis’s second encyclical. His first was Lumen Fidei, which was largely drafted by his predecessor, Benedict XVI. Laudato Si’ is thus the first encyclical prepared entirely at Pope Francis’s initiative. It is devoted to ecology and related themes.
2. Where can I read it—or just get a summary of it?
You can read it online at the Vatican website here.
There are various summaries of it online, including ones by Edward Pentin and Kevin Cotter.
3. Why did Pope Francis write this encyclical?
Care for creation is something that is close to his heart. You might guess this from the fact that he chose to be called Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, who was famed for his concern for nature (so much so that the Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions it; see CCC 2416).
More fundamentally, Pope Francis believes that there are significant ecological problems today that need to be addressed. They include not only problems in the natural environment but also in the human sphere, particularly among the poorest.
There may also be an evangelistic motive. Pope Francis is convinced that the Church needs to do more with evangelization and engaging people who currently don’t listen to the Church.
4. What is unique about this encyclical?
Several things. First, it is the only encyclical devoted to environmentalism. This topic has been the subject of many papal statements, but Francis is the first pope to devote an encyclical to it.
Third, encyclicals are usually more centered on Catholic doctrine. While Laudato Si’ contains many elements of Catholic teaching, it is not focused on Church doctrine in the same way.
For example, the first chapter is devoted to a summary of the various environmental problems Pope Francis sees the world facing, and his summary is based on scientific studies rather than theological documents.
In this encyclical, I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home.
5. What does the encyclical contain?
The document concludes with two prayers, one that can be said by all who believe in God as the all-powerful Creator and one that is meant to be said specifically by Christians.
6. What does the pope mean by “integral ecology”?
The word integral means “complete.” The idea is that an ecology will be only partial if it focuses on nature and leaves out mankind and his needs.
For an ecology to be integral, or complete, it needs to include “human ecology” as well as natural ecology.
7. What ecological problems does the encyclical focus on?
8. Many in the media have been talking about what the encyclical has to say on global warming. How prominent a theme is this?
While global warming is one of the themes in the document, it would be a mistake to think of this as a “global-warming encyclical.” The document goes into much more than that. As the list of topics covered in chapter one indicates (see previous question), global warming or “climate change” is just part of the first of five major sections dealing with ecological problems that the pontiff sees.
Of the 40,500 words in the official English translation of the document, the word warming occurs nine times and the phrase climate change occurs twelve times. It would be a mistake to portray the document as having nothing to say about global warming, but it would also be a mistake to focus on this one issue to the exclusion of the many others that the document discusses.
However, because the subject has received so much publicity and generated so many questions, we will look further at it.
9. What does the encyclical say about global warming?
A very solid scientific consensus indicates that we are presently witnessing a disturbing warming of the climatic system. In recent decades this warming has been accompanied by a constant rise in the sea level and, it would appear, by an increase of extreme weather events, even if a scientifically determinable cause cannot be assigned to each particular phenomenon. Humanity is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it [LS 23].
The pope thus sees there as being “a very solid scientific consensus” regarding the idea of global warming.
It is true that there are other factors (such as volcanic activity, variations in the earth’s orbit and axis, the solar cycle), yet a number of scientific studies indicate that most global warming in recent decades is due to the great concentration of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides and others) released mainly as a result of human activity. . . . Another determining factor has been an increase in changed uses of the soil, principally deforestation for agricultural purposes [Ibid.].
In contrast to the “very solid scientific consensus” he points to for the fact of warming, he says only that “a number of scientific studies” indicate that “most” recent warming is due to greenhouse gasses, and he also cites deforestation as a contributing cause.
10. Does this mean that Catholics are obliged to believe in manmade global warming?
Properly speaking, no. This is in the scientific section of the encyclical, and the pope points to scientific studies—not religious sources—to back up the views he is proposing.
Whether the Earth is getting warmer and the degree to which we may be responsible for that are matters of science, not faith. They stand or fall by the scientific evidence, which is why the pope appeals to scientific studies.
If good science supports manmade global warming, that gives Catholics (and everyone else) reason to believe it. If good science opposes manmade global warming, that gives everyone reason to disbelieve it.
Furthermore, since the results of science are always provisional and open to revision—with the “scientific orthodoxy” of one generation frequently replaced in the next generation—people on both sides of the question should hold their views with proper reserve and openness to revising them.
This is thus a subject on which there can be a legitimate diversity of opinion among Catholics and among people in general.
11. Why would the pope take up a scientific matter like this?
Because science has practical and moral consequences. If the science of the day points to factors that may cause immense suffering in the future, there is a moral and practical need to address that fact.
Pope Francis feels that present science is sufficiently strong to warrant sounding the alarm bell in this regard.
12. Can I just dismiss the encyclical if I don’t believe in manmade global warming?
If you are a Catholic, no. Even if it deals in part with matters of a scientific nature, it also articulates matters of faith and morals upon which the pope can speak, and is speaking, authoritatively.
Because this document involves more of a mix of the religious and the scientific than most Church documents, believers may need to think more carefully than usual about which propositions belong to which category, but one cannot simply dismiss what the pope says on matters of Church teaching.
Indeed, believers should not adopt a hostile attitude toward this document. Even if they hold different views on some of the scientific matters the pope touches on, they should seek to find as much as possible in the document that is good and useful.
13. Does the pope say things that are critical of the standard secular environmentalism that is popular in the media?
There is much more to be said about Laudato Si’, but because of space restrictions, it must wait for another time.
Article republished with permission. This article originally appeared on Catholic Answers. | https://www.catholic.sg/pope-francis-environmental-encyclical-13-things-to-know-and-share/ |
A recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition finds that eating citrus regularly may potentially lessen the chance of dementia development in elderly adults. The study, conducted from Tohoku University in Japan, evaluated the diets via a Food Frequency Questionnaire of more than 13,300 Japanese adults aged 65 and up, over a five-to-seven-year period.
The research demonstrated that participants who ate citrus fruits nearly every day were 23 percent less likely to develop dementia, compared to seniors who ate citrus two or fewer times per week. Researchers adjusted for additional factors such as general fruit and vegetable consumption and overall health, reporting that the research results were not affected significantly by these elements. Even when broken down into demographics, such as gender, age, other food consumption rates, and chronic conditions, there was still a significant relationship between the reduced risk of dementia and increased citrus consumption.
While previous research has shown that citrus may have preventative effects against cognitive damage, this is the first study to investigate the association of citrus fruit consumption and incident of dementia in an elderly population.
The post An Orange a Day Keeps the Doctor Away: New Study Links Citrus Fruit Consumption to Reduced Risk of Dementia appeared first on Juice Central. | https://sipsmarter.org/juice-nutrition-news/an-orange-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away-new-study-links-citrus-fruit-consumption-to-reduced-risk-of-dementia/ |
My Site Pearson HigherEd Blogs : Planning – in this day and age? Pearson HigherEd Blogs : Planning – in this day and age?
Planning – in this day and age?
Similarly, in our modern society, the cause and the effect are not always connected directly and the links between them may not be visible. Economic downturns are a bit like that. There are many theories, and many suggested causes for the 2007 financial crisis. There is evidence suggesting that wealth and income inequality are dangerous for economic stability and prosperity, and if you get a chance to view this entertaining and informative documentary, you will get plenty of illustrations of how the two are linked. There are other suggestions, such as low interest rates (which Australia is continually lowering, by the way), but it seems that wealth and income inequality is something to watch very carefully. Recently, the OECD published a report exampling how reducing wealth inequality benefits everyone.
Governments can do a lot to tackle inequality. Since the GFC, the US government have been able to prevent further growth in inequality. The government in Australia has tried to do the same, and has had mixed results. On one hand, since the GFC, Australia’s wealth inequality has been reduced a little bit. On the other hand, the share of people in Australia reporting to not afford to buy enough food has risen.
This year, the Australian government is examining the budget and considering tax reforms. Tax reforms are a big deal because they have a huge impact on the economy and nobody wants to mess with that. How do we change the tax system? Well, the International Monetary Fund published a game-changing report about a year ago, saying that increasing the income share of the poor and the middle class actually increases economic growth, and that increasing the income share of the top 20% results in lower growth. While economic growth may not be the best thing anyway, wealth inequality is worth tackling because of its many other negative effects.
The taxation system provides an opportunity to start doing that, for example by revising the tax breaks for negative gearing, of which people who earn more take more advantage of. Another one is revising the superannuation tax concessions, which favours top income earners at the expense of low income earners. There are other suggestions, which can result in a balanced budget and a more equitable and potentially more prosperous system.
But in politics, making changes is not often straightforward. As you’ve seen in the previous chapter, group decisions are complex to make. Making changes in large systems is difficult and planning is something taken very seriously. Let’s check your views on the planning aspect.
What types of planning should the government undertaken prior to the changing the tax system?
What government goals can you identify? Which are the stated goals and which are the real goals? Based on what can you tell them apart?
What elements of strategic planning are evident in the article? What elements are missing? How would you, as a minister in the Turnbull government, use these missing elements? | http://blogs.pearson.com.au/highered/mymanagementlab/planning-%E2%80%93-in-this-day-and-age/ |
Hi everybode,
we are currently facing a constantly increasing overshoot of the x- and y-position of our UAV when using the position hold mode and have not found a solution for this problem yet. Due to the overshooting, the UAV starts circling around the actual position setpoint and thereby tilts in towards the centre of those circles.
We use an UWB tracking system (pozyx) to capture the current flight position and then stream the information from a companion computer via mavros to the /mavros/vision_pose/pose topic.We are using the LPE and the tracked position is send to the FCU at a rate of ~ 10 Hz. The position reliably arrives at the FCU and the local_position follows the vision_position quite well.
At the moment only the position data is fused into the LPE, to determine the orientation we use an external compass. Therefore we set ATT_EXT_HDG_M = 2 and LPE_FUSION = 4. We tested different values for both LPE_VIS_XY and LPE_VIS_Z but could not find suitable values, which would prevent the overshooting.
We use the Intel Aero Drone with the px4 1.7.1 stable build.
Please find a log of a test flight here: https://logs.px4.io/plot_app?log=8b26c834-94b6-4281-a5b7-a8b3e33334a3
I have also attached a picture from the log file. As you can see, some seconds after switching to the position hold mode x- and y-position start oscillating around the corresponding setpoint. The amplitude of the oscillation increases until we have to switch back to the stabilized flight mode to prevent the UAV form crashing into the wall.
Could anyone provide help for this issue? Do we need to perform PID tuning, is there a malfunction of the compass or the like?
Thanks a lot in advance!
Does anyone has some ideas about this behaviour?
Without looking at your log your description sounds very much like "toilet bowling". This can happen if the heading with respect to your reference frame (the one in which you estimate position and velocity) is not estimated well. Did you make sure that your external compass is measuring the correct heading?E.g. if your UWB reference frame north axis is not aligned with the magnetic north axis you could have a problem.
Thanks for the reply.I verified that the measurements of the external compass are correct. But you are right, the reference frame north axis is not aligned with the magnetic north axis. The angle between the two north axis is around 45°.I fear that i lack a bit of understanding at this point. When I set ATT_EXT_HDG_M = 0 is then the external compass used to determine the heading (and I have to make sure, that both north axis are aligned)? Otherwise when I set ATT_EXT_HDG_M = 1, will then the orientation provided by the vision system be taken into account to determine the heading and the data of the external will be ignored?
Im having the same issue. Among others that Ive noted in my "Solid purple light" post. Im a newb and dont have any advice, but willing to try to use mine as a double if you want a confirmation it worked for me too sorta thing.. Ill be following.
How are you providing heading information to the attitude estimator? You said something about a compass. Normally when you use MOCAP the attitude estimator uses the estimated attitude and extracts the heading from that.
When you set ATT_EXT_HDG_M = 0 then the system will use the magnetometer data to estimate the heading. In this case you need to make sure that your X axis from your estimation frame points to magnetic north. Your other option is to adjust the declination parameter of the attitude estimator for the offset. So in your case you would set it to +- 45 degrees. Why don't you give that a try?
Hi,
I adjusted the declination parameter to the actual offset between the two coordinate systems, and it solved the problem!The position hold now works well with the pozyx system and we only need to do some tuning to optimise the deviation from the actual setpoint.Thanks for the help!
@MarLi: which parameter did you use? ATT_MAG_DECL with +/-45 degrees?
@OmarMorandoYes, we adjusted the ATT_MAG_DECL so that the x-axis of our estimation frame points to the magnetic north. But as we couldn't use the compass to determine the orientation we faced a drift in the yaw angle. Therefore we had to use two pozyx-Tags to be able to calculate the orientation of our multicopter. | http://discuss.px4.io/t/increasing-position-overshooting-in-poshold-mode-when-using-an-uwb-tracking-system/5351/8 |
The Department of Hematology, Oncology, Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology at the University Hospital Heidelberg offers the full range of modern diagnostics and treatment of malignant diseases, rheumatic pathologies, including particularly complex clinical cases in these fields. In addition, the department's doctors specialize in stem cell transplantation and occupy leading positions in this field at the international level. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Carsten Müller-Tidow.
The medical team of the department makes every effort to guarantee each patient an individual, first-class treatment, based on the very latest achievements of modern medicine and human respect, understanding of the needs of each patient.
Prof. Dr. med. Carsten Müller-Tidow studied medicine in Aachen, Bonn and the USA. He began his clinical work in Internal Medicine at the University Hospital Muenster and for several years participated in the scholarship program of the German Research Foundation (DFG) in Los Angeles at the University of California (UCLA). After training to become a Medical Specialist in Internal Medicine at the University Hospital Muenster, he became a Fellow of the Heisenberg Foundation of the German Research Foundation.
In 2009, the doctor received the title of a University Professor of Internal Medicine with a focus on Hematology and Oncology, University of Muenster.
From 2014 to 2017, he served as the Head of the Department of Hematology and Oncology and the Head of the Center for Cellular and Gene Therapy at the University Hospital Halle.
Since February 2017, the doctor is the Head of the Department of Hematology, Oncology, Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology at the University Hospital Heidelberg. He is also a Mof the extended presidium of the National Cancer Center (NCT).
The main clinical focuses of Prof. Müller-Tidow cover the treatment of acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, as well as stem cell transplantation. It is important for him not only to adhere to the highest standards in his daily clinical practice, but also to develop new methods of treatment together with the medical team of the department.
The key research focuses are acute myeloid leukemia, epigenetic changes in tumors, stem cell application and genomics. The professor received many awards for his works.
Department of Hematology, Oncology, Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology. | https://bookinghealth.com/university-hospital-heidelberg/departments/26083-department-of-hematology-oncology-rheumatology.html |
Nucleic acids are formed by chains of linked units called nucleotides. Nucleotides are molecules that are joined to create structural units of the nucleic acids ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). A nucleotide includes a phosphate group, a sugar (ribose in the case of RNA and deoxyribose for DNA) and a nucleobase. The nucleobases are used in base pairing of strands of nucleotides to form higher-level structures such as the well-known double helix. The four bases found in DNA are adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). In a DNA double helix, each type of nucleobase on one strand normally interacts with just one type of nucleobase on the other strand, which is known as complementary base pairing. Specifically, A only bonds to T and C only bonds to G. The RNA nucleobases include uracil (U) instead of thymine. Because of the importance of DNA and RNA, knowledge of a DNA or RNA sequence is useful for many purposes including, for example, to identify, diagnose and develop treatments for pathological, contagious or genetic diseases.
Nucleic acid sequencing chemistries include sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) or sequencing-by-ligation (SBL) strategies. These strategies typically use random or ordered two-dimensional (2D) arrays for tracking sequence identity data. These array densities are extremely high, ranging from 105 or 107 features (or higher for single molecule detection). As the nucleotide chain grows from the action of the polymerase (SBS) or ligase (SBL), labels are incorporated and detected by readers. When a base or nucleic acid associated with a label is identified, the base is assigned a feature on the array by capturing a 2D optical image. However, the optical resolution needed to separate spectral data from these high densities arrays requires very long exposure times, resulting in average run times of hours to several days. In addition, the optical images acquired from successive sequencing cycles can easily reach the terabyte size, which creates a huge demand on algorithm computation time and data storage.
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Jnana is knowledge. To know Brahman as one’s own Self is Jnana. To say, “I am Brahman, the pure, all-pervading Consciousness, the non-enjoyer, non-doer and silent witness,” is Jnana. To behold the one Self everywhere is Jnana.
Ajnana is ignorance. To identify oneself with the illusory vehicles of body, mind, Prana and the senses is Ajnana. To say, ” I am the doer, the enjoyer, I am a Brahmin, a Brahmachari, this is mine, he is my son,” is Ajnana. Jnana alone can destroy Ajnana, even as light alone can remove darkness.
Brahman, the Supreme Self, is neither the doer of actions nor the enjoyer of the fruits of actions. The creation, preservation and destruction of the world are not due to Him. They are due to the action of Maya, the Lord’s energy manifesting itself as the world-process.
Just as space appears to be of three kinds – absolute space, space limited by a jar, and space reflected in the water of a jar, – so also there are three kinds of intelligence. They are absolute intelligence, intelligence reflected in Maya, and intelligence reflected in the Jiva (the individual soul). The notion of the doer is the function of intelligence as reflected in the intellect. This, together with the notion of Jiva, is superimposed by the ignorant on the pure and limitless Brahman, the silent witness.
The illustration of space absolute, space limited by a jar and space reflected in water of a jar, is given to convey the idea that in reality Brahman alone is. Because of Maya, however, It appears as three.
The notion that the reflection of intelligence is real, is erroneous, and is due to ignorance. Brahman is without limitation; limitation is a superimposition on Brahman.
The identity of the Supreme Self and the Jiva or reflected self is established through the statement of the Upanishad ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ – ‘That Thou Art’. When the knowledge of the identity of the two arises, then world problems and ignorance, with all their offshoots, are destroyed and all doubts disappear.
Self-realization or direct intuitive perception of the Supreme Self is necessary for attaining freedom and perfection. This Jnana Yoga or the path of Wisdom is, however, not meant for the masses whose hearts are not pure enough and whose intellects are not sharp enough to understand and practice this razor-edge path. Hence, Karma Yoga and Upasana (Bhakti) are to be practiced first, which will render the heart pure and make it fit for the reception of Knowledge.
Brahman is Sat, the Absolute, Reality. That which exists in the past, present and future; which has no beginning, middle and end; which is unchanging and not conditioned by time, space and causation; which exists during the waking, dream and deep sleep states; which is of the nature of one homogeneous essence, is Sat. This is found in Brahman, the Absolute. The scriptures emphatically declare: “Only Sat was prior to the evolution of this universe.”
This phenomenal universe is unreal. Isvara created this universe out of His own body (Maya), just as a spider creates a web from its own saliva. It is merely an appearance, like a snake in a rope or like silver in mother-of-pearl. It has no independent existence.
It is difficult to conceive how the Infinite comes out of Itself and becomes the finite. The magician can bring forth a rabbit out of a hat. We see it happening but we cannot explain it; so we call it Maya or illusion.
Maya is a strange phenomenon which cannot be accounted for by any law of Nature. It is incapable of being described. Its relation to Brahman is like that of heat to fire. The heat of fire is neither one with it nor different from it.
Does Maya really exist or not ? The Advaitin gives this reply: “This inscrutable Maya cannot be said either to exist or not to exist”.
If we know the nature of Brahman, then all names, forms and limitations fall away. The world is Maya because it is not the essential truth of the infinite Reality – Brahman. Somehow the world exists and its relation to Brahman is indescribable. The illusion vanishes through the attainment of knowledge of Brahman. Sages, Rishis and scriptures declare that Maya vanishes entirely as soon as knowledge of the Supreme Self dawns.
Brahman alone really exists. The Jiva, the world and this little “I” are false. Rise above names and forms and kill the false egoism. Go beyond Maya and annihilate ignorance. Constantly meditate on the Supreme Brahman, your divine nature.
The world is unreal when compared to Brahman. It is a solid reality to a worldly and passionate man only. To a realized sage it exists like a burnt cloth. To a Videhamukta (disembodied sage) it does not exist at all. To a man of discrimination it loses its charm and attraction.
Do not leave the world to enter a forest because you now read that the world is unreal. You will be utterly ruined if you do this without proper qualifications. Be first established in the conviction that the world is unreal and Brahman alone is real. This will help you to develop dispassion and a strong yearning for liberation. Stay in the world but be not worldly; strive for liberation by the practice of Sadhana Chatushtaya.
Jnana Yoga of Brahma Vidya or the science of the Self is not a subject that can be understood and realized through mere intellectual study, reasoning, ratiocination, discussion or arguments. It is the most difficult of all sciences.
A student who treads the path of Truth must, therefore, first equip himself with Sadhana Chatushtaya – the “four means of salvation”. They are discrimination, dispassion, the sixfold qualities of perfection, and intense longing for liberation – Viveka, Vairagya, Shad-Sampat and Mumukshutva. Then alone will he be able to march forward fearlessly on the path. Not an iota of spiritual progress is possible unless one is endowed with these four qualifications.
These four means are as old as the Vedas and this world itself. Every religion prescribes them; the names differ from path to path but this is immaterial. Only ignorant people have the undesirable habit of practicing lingual warfare and raising unnecessary questions. Pay no attention to them. It is your duty to try to eat the fruit instead of wasting time in counting the leaves of the tree. Try now to understand these four essential requisites for salvation.
Viveka is discrimination between the real and the unreal, between the permanent and the impermanent, between the Self and the non-Self. Viveka dawns in a man through the Grace of God. The Grace can come only after one has done unceasing selfless service in countless births with the feeling that he is an instrument of the Lord and that the work is an offering to the Lord. The door to the higher mind is flung open when there is an awakening of discrimination.
There is an eternal, changeless principle amidst the ever-changing phenomena of this vast universe and the fleeting movements and oscillations of the mind.
The aspirant should separate himself also from the six waves of the ocean of Samsara – birth and death, hunger and thirst, and exhilaration and grief. Birth and death belong to the physical body; hunger and thirst belong to Prana; exhilaration and grief are the attributes of the mind. The Soul is unattached. The six waves cannot touch Brahman which is as subtle as the all-pervading ether.
Association with saints and study of Vedantic literature will infuse discrimination in man. Viveka should be developed to the maximum degree. One should be well established in it.
Vairagya is dispassion for the pleasures of this world and of heaven. The Vairagya that is born of Viveka is enduring and lasting. It will not fail the aspirant. But the Vairagya that comes temporarily to a woman when she gives birth to a child or when one attends a funeral at a crematorium, is of no use. The view that everything in the world is unreal causes indifference to the enjoyments of this world and the heaven-world also. One has to return from heaven to this plane of existence when the fruits of good works are all exhausted. Hence they are not worth striving for.
Vairagya does not mean abandoning one’s social duties and responsibilities of life. It does not mean abandoning the world, for life in a solitary cave of the Himalayas. Vairagya is mental detachment from all worldly objects. One may remain in the world and discharge all duties with detachment. He may be a householder with a large family, yet at the same time he may have perfect mental detachment from everything. He can do spiritual Sadhana amidst his worldly activities. He who has perfect mental detachment in the world is a hero indeed. He is better than a Sadhu living in a Himalayan cave, for the former has to face innumerable temptations every moment of his life.
The third requisite is Shad-Sampat, the sixfold virtue. It consists of Sama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksha, Sraddha and Samadhana. All these six qualities are taken as one because they are calculated to bring about mental control and discipline, without which concentration and meditation are impossible.
- Sama is serenity or tranquillity of mind which is brought about through the eradication of desires.
- Dama is rational control of the senses.
- Uparati is satiety; it is resolutely turning the mind away from desire for sensual enjoyment. This state of mind comes naturally when one has practiced Viveka, Vairagya, Sama and Dama.
- Titiksha is the power of endurance. An aspirant should patiently bear the pairs of opposites such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain, etc.
- Sraddha is intense faith in the word of the Guru, in Vedantic scriptures and, above all, in one’s own self. It is not blind faith but is based on accurate reasoning, evidence and experience. As such, it is lasting, perfect and unshakable. Such a faith is capable of achieving anything.
- Samadhana is fixing the mind on Brahman or the Self, without allowing it to run towards objects. The mind is free from anxiety amid pains and troubles. There is stability, mental poise and indifference amid pleasures. The aspirant has neither like nor dislikes. He has great inner strength and enjoys unruffled peace of mind, due to the practices of Sama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksha and Sraddha.
Mumukshutva is intense desire for liberation or deliverance from the wheel of births and deaths with its concomitant evils of old age, disease, delusion and sorrow. If one is equipped with the previous three qualifications (Viveka, Vairagya and Shad-Sampat), then the intense desire for liberation will come without any difficulty. The mind moves towards the Source of its own accord when it has lost its charm for external objects. When purification of mind and mental discipline are achieved, the longing for liberation dawns by itself.
The aspirant who is endowed with all these four qualification should then approach the Guru who will instruct him on the knowledge of his real nature. The Guru is one who has a thorough knowledge of the scriptures and is also established in that knowledge in direct experience. He should then reflect and meditate on the inner Self and strive earnestly to attain the goal of Self-realization.
A Sadhaka should reflect and meditate. Sravana is hearing of Srutis, Manana is thinking and reflecting, Nididhyasana is constant and profound meditation. Then comes Atma-Sakshatkara or direct realization.
There are seven stages of Jnana or the seven Jnana Bhumikas. First, Jnana should be developed through a deep study of Atma Jnana Sastras and association with the wise and the performance of virtuous actions without any expectation of fruits. This is Subheccha or good desire, which forms the first Bhumika or stage of Jnana. This will irrigate the mind with the waters of discrimination and protect it. There will be non-attraction or indifference to sensual objects in this stage. The first stage is the substratum of the other stages. From it the next two stages, viz., Vicharana and Tanumanasi will be reached. Constant Atma Vichara (Atmic enquiry) forms the second stage. The third stage is Tanumanasi. This is attained through the cultivation of special indifference to objects. The mind becomes thin like a thread. Hence the name Tanumanasi. Tanu means thread – threadlike state of mind. The third stage is also known by the name Asanga Bhavana. In the third stage, the aspirant is free from all attractions. If any one dies in the third stage, he will remain in heaven for a long time and will reincarnate on earth again as a Jnani. The above three stages can be included under the Jagrat state. The fourth stage is Sattvapatti. This stage will destroy all Vasanas to the root. This can be included under the Svapana state. The world appears like a dream. Those who have reached the fourth stage will look upon all things of the universe with an equal eye. The fifth stage is Asamsakti. There is perfect non-attachment to the objects of the world. There is no Upadhi or waking or sleeping in this stage. This is the Jivanmukti stage in which there is the experience of Ananda Svaroopa (the Eternal Bliss of Brahman) replete with spotless Jnana. This will come under Sushupti. The sixth stage is Padartha Bhavana. There is knowledge of Truth. The seventh stage is Turiya, or the state of superconsciousness. This is Moksha. This is also known by the name Turiyatita. There are no Sankalpas. All the Gunas disappear. This is above the reach of mind and speech. Disembodied salvation (Videhamukti) is attained in the seventh stage.
Remaining in the certitude of Atma, without desires, and with an equal vision over all, having completely eradicated all complications of differentiations of ‘I’ or ‘he’, existence or non-existence, is Turiya.
Purify the Chitta by doing Nishkama Karma for twelve years. The effect of Chitta Suddhi is the attainment of Viveka and Vairagya. Acquire the four qualifications (Sadhana Chatushtaya), – Viveka, Vairagya, Shad Sampat and Mumukshuttva. Then approach a Guru. Have Sravana, Manana and Nididhyasana. Study carefully and constantly the twelve classical Upanishads and Yoga Vasishtha. Have a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the Lakshyartha or indicative (real) meaning of the Maha-Vakya ‘Tat Tvam Asi’. Then, constantly reflect over this real meaning throughout the twenty-four hours. This is Brahma-Chintana or Brahma-Vichara. Do not allow any worldly thoughts to enter the mind. Vedantic realization comes not through mere reasoning but through constant Nididhyasana, like the analogy of Brahmarakita Nyaya (caterpillar and wasp). You get Tadakara, Tadrupa, Tanmaya, Tadiyata, Talleenata (Oneness, identity).
Generate the Brahmakara Vritti from your Sattvic Antahkarana through the influence of reflection on the real meaning of the Maha-Vakyas, ‘Aham Brahma Asmi’ or ‘Tat Tvam Asi’. When you try to feel that you are infinity, this Brahmakara Vritti is produced. This Vritti destroys Avidya, induces Brahma Jnana and dies by itself eventually, like Nirmal seed which removes sediment in the water and itself settles down along with the mud and other dirty matter.
Retire into your meditation chamber. Sit on Padma, Siddha, Svastika or Sukha Asana to begin with. Relax the muscles. Close the eyes. Concentrate on or gaze at the Trikute, the space between the two eyebrows. Repeat ‘Om’ mentally with Brahma-Bhavana. This Bhavana is a sine qua non, very very important. Silence the conscious mind. Repeat mentally, feel constantly:
All-pervading ocean of Light I am OM OM OM
Infinity I am OM OM OM
All-pervading infinite Light I am OM OM OM
Vyapaka Paripoorna Jyotirmaya Brahman I am OM OM OM
Omnipotent I am OM OM OM
Omniscient I am OM OM OM
All Bliss I am OM OM OM
Satchidananda I am OM OM OM
All purity I am OM OM OM
All glory I am OM OM OM
All Upadhis (limiting adjuncts such as body, mind, etc.,) will be sublated. All Granthis (knots of heart, viz., Avidya, Kama and Karma – ignorance, desire and action) will be cut asunder. The thin veil, Avarana, will be pierced. The Pancha Kosha Adhyasa (superimposition) will be removed. You will rest doubtless in Satchidananda state. You will get highest Knowledge, highest Bliss, highest Realization and highest end of life. ‘Brahma Vit Brahmaiva Bhavati’. You will become Suddha Satchidananda Vyapaka Paripoorna Brahman. Nasti Atra Samsayah’, there is no doubt of that.
There is no difficulty at all in Atma-Darshan, in Self-Realization. You can have this within the twinkling of an eye as Raja Janaka had, before you can squeeze a flower with fingers, within the time taken for a grain to fall when rolled over a pot. You must do earnest, constant and intense practice. You are bound to succeed in two or three years.
Now-a-days there are plenty of ‘Talking Brahman’. No flowery talk or verbosity can make a man Brahman. It is constant, intense, earnest Sadhana and Sadhana alone can give a man direct Aparoksha Brahmic realization (Svanubhava or Sakshatkara) wherein he sees Brahman just as he sees the solid white wall in front of him and feels Brahman, just as he feels the table behind him. Practice, practice, practice and become established in Brahman. | https://www.dlshq.org/teachings/jnana-yoga/ |
Cellulitis (sel-u-LI-tis) is a common, potentially serious bacterial skin infection. Cellulitis appears as a swollen, red area of skin that feels hot and tender, and it may spread rapidly.
Skin on lower legs is most commonly affected, though cellulitis can occur anywhere on your body or face. Cellulitis may affect only your skin’s surface, or cellulitis may also affect tissues underlying your skin and can spread to your lymph nodes and bloodstream.
Left untreated, the spreading infection may rapidly turn life-threatening. That’s why it’s important to seek immediate medical attention if cellulitis symptoms occur.
The changes in your skin may be accompanied by a fever. Over time, the area of redness tends to expand. Small red spots may appear on top of the reddened skin, and less commonly, small blisters may form and burst.
It’s important to identify and treat cellulitis early because the condition can cause a serious infection by spreading rapidly throughout your body.
Cellulitis occurs when one or more types of bacteria enter through a crack or break in your skin. The two most common types of bacteria that are causes of cellulitis are streptococcus and staphylococcus. The incidence of a more serious staphylococcus infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasing.
Although cellulitis can occur anywhere on your body, the most common location is the lower leg. Bacteria is most likely to enter disrupted areas of skin, such as where you’ve had recent surgery, cuts, puncture wounds, an ulcer, athlete’s foot or dermatitis.
Certain types of insect or spider bites also can transmit the bacteria that start the infection. Areas of dry, flaky skin also can be an entry point for bacteria, as can swollen skin.
Known injury. Any cut, fracture, burn or even a scrape increases your risk of cellulitis because the injury gives bacteria an entry point.
Weakened immune system. Conditions that weaken your immune system leave you more susceptible to infections, such as cellulitis. Conditions that can weaken your immune system include diabetes, chronic leukemias, HIV/AIDS, chronic kidney disease, liver disease and circulation disorders. The use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, also can weaken your immune system.
Skin conditions. Certain skin disorders, such as eczema, athlete’s foot, chickenpox and shingles, cause breaks in the skin and increase your risk of cellulitis.
Chronic swelling of your arms or legs (lymphedema). Swollen tissue may crack, leaving your skin vulnerable to bacterial infection.
History of cellulitis. People who previously have had cellulitis, especially of the lower leg, may be more prone to develop it again.
Intravenous drug use. People who inject illegal drugs have a higher risk of developing cellulitis.
Obesity. Being overweight or obese increases your risk not only of developing cellulitis but also of having recurring episodes.
This reddened skin or rash may signal a deeper, more serious infection of the inner layers of skin. Once below your skin, the bacteria can spread rapidly throughout your body, entering your lymph nodes and your bloodstream. Recurrent episodes of cellulitis may actually damage the lymphatic drainage system and cause chronic swelling of the affected extremity.
In rare cases, the infection can spread to the deep layer of tissue called the fascial lining. Flesh-eating strep, also called necrotizing fasciitis, is an example of a deep-layer infection. It represents an extreme emergency.
You’re likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. You may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist). If you have a severe infection, you may first be seen by an emergency room doctor. You may also be seen by an infectious disease specialist.
Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment and to know what to expect from your doctor.
Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
Write down key personal information, such as if you’ve had any recent surgeries, injuries, animal bites or insect bites.
Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements you’re taking, along with the dosage.
How might I have gotten this infection?
What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
How long before the treatment starts working?
I have other medical conditions. How do I manage them together?
Are there any alternatives to antibiotics?
How can I prevent this type of infection in the future?
Don’t hesitate to ask any other questions you have.
When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
Do you remember any injuries to that area or insect bites?
How severe is the pain?
Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
Are you allergic to or intolerant of any antibiotics?
Have you had this type of infection before?
You may need a prescription antibiotic to clear your infection. However, until you see your doctor, you can wash the injured area with soap and water and then apply an over-the-counter cream or ointment.
The appearance of your skin will help your doctor make a diagnosis. Your doctor may also suggest blood tests, a wound culture or other tests to help rule out a blood clot deep in the veins of your legs. Cellulitis in the lower leg is characterized by signs and symptoms that may be similar to those of a clot occurring deep in the veins, such as warmth, pain and swelling.
Cellulitis treatment usually is a prescription oral antibiotic. Within three days of starting an antibiotic, let your doctor know whether the infection is responding to treatment. You’ll need to take the antibiotic for up to 14 days. In most cases, signs and symptoms of cellulitis disappear after a few days. If they don’t clear up, if they’re extensive or if you have a high fever, you may need to be hospitalized and receive antibiotics through your veins (intravenously).
Usually, doctors prescribe a drug that’s effective against both streptococci and staphylococci. Your doctor will choose an antibiotic based on your circumstances.
No matter what type of antibiotic your doctor prescribes, it’s important that you take the medication as directed and that you finish the entire course of medication, even if you start feeling better.
Your doctor also might recommend elevating the affected area, which may speed recovery.
Wash your wound daily with soap and water. Do this gently as part of your normal bathing.
Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment. For most surface wounds, a single- or double-antibiotic ointment provides adequate protection.
Watch for signs of infection. Redness, pain and drainage all signal possible infection and the need for medical evaluation.
Inspect your feet daily. Regularly check your feet for signs of injury so you can catch any infections early.
Moisturize your skin regularly. Lubricating your skin helps prevent cracking and peeling.
Trim your fingernails and toenails carefully. Take care not to injure the surrounding skin.
Protect your hands and feet. Wear appropriate footwear and gloves.
Promptly treat any superficial skin infections, such as athlete’s foot. Infections on the surface of the skin (superficial) can easily spread from person to person. Don’t wait to start treatment. | https://pharmacypedia.org/diseases-and-conditions/cellulitis/ |
The 25th of November marked the beginning of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), in South Africa and the world. This is a global, annual campaign that began on November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and runs until 10 December, International Human Rights Day. In South Africa this campaign is referred to as 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. The theme for this year’s campaign is “The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke – 16 Days of Activism – Moving from awareness to accountability”.
According to the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (2021), “The campaign aims to raise awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women and children and to rid society of abuse permanently.” It suggests that GBV “continues to cripple our society, depriving women and children of their right to be safe and continue with their daily lives without fear of being murdered or raped, if not both”. The 16 Days of Activism campaign thus calls on South Africans to be aware of GBV, call out those who commit such violence, and no longer protect those (primarily men) who benefit from the abuse and subordination of women and children. While GBV includes various forms of violence, such as emotional, psychological and physical, a pervasive form of such violence is sexual violence.
Sexual violence continues to increase unabated
In contrast to the campaign’s calls for an end to violence against women, South Africa’s most recent crime statistics reveal that instead of decreasing, sexual violence continues to increase unabated. These statistics show that during the three-month period of 1 July to 30 September 2021, nearly 10 000 people (primarily women) were raped, and of a sample of 6 144 of these cases, 3 951 were committed in the victims’ homes. According to these statistics, there has been a 7.1% increase in the number of rapes committed during this period compared to the previous reporting period. It is well-known, however, that the number of rapes and incidences of GBV that are reported are only a fraction of those that take place. This prevalence of sexual violence has also been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. As an example of this, the South African Police Service (SAPS) received over 2 300 calls during the first week of South Africa’s strict lockdown, alone, related to GBV, and between March and June of 2020, 21 women and children had been killed by intimate partners in South Africa.
While the government has implemented some measures to address issues around sexual and GBV, clearly not enough is being done to deal with the endemic levels of violence against women. Pumla Gqola (2015: 3) refers to the constant threat of violence women in South Africa experience as the ‘female fear factory’. She argues that sexual violence is used to police women’s behaviour in an attempt to ensure that they adhere to the hetero-patriarchal norms that pervade the nation. Within this hetero-patriarchal logic the gains women have made socially, economically, and legally are seen as a threat to the patriarchal foundation and the power it affords men. Consequently, Gqola (2015: 15) asserts that “it is no coincidence that South African women, who, on paper are so empowered and have won so many freedoms, are living with the constant fear of violence”. She further adds that “an effective backlash always does much more than neutralise gains, though, it reverses the gains we see everywhere and it reminds those who might benefit from such gains that they are not quite free”. In other words, sexual and gender-based violence are seen as effective means through which to keep women in positions of subordination and maintain the patriarchal status quo.
So, while it is vital that government create measures that punish perpetrators, and allow for women to leave abusive settings, it is also imperative that the discourse around sexual violence be addressed. Toxic discourse is often used as a means to justify violence, and in patriarchal societies, it is often this kind of discourse that positions women as inferior to men, and women as unworthy of respect. Rape myths and rape culture underlie much of the discourse that allows for rape to be as prevalent as it is in South Africa. Lankster (2019) claims that “these myths include that females are to be blamed for their own rape, that victims ‘ask for it’, and that victims enjoy being raped”. Similarly, much discourse perpetuates the notion that women cannot be raped by their husbands. That is, because they are married, the man is entitled to sex, and therefore, any sex within the marriage is consensual. Clearly then the endemic nature of sexual violence stems from the socio-symbolic positionings of men and women within hetero-patriarchal cultures and their corresponding discourses and ideologies. If sexual violence is to be effectively addressed, then these pervasive and toxic notions need to be challenged and dismantled.
Discourse around sexual violence ignores the perpetrators
Additionally, most of the discourse around sexual violence focuses on the victims / survivors, while ignoring the perpetrators of the violence. The burden is placed on women to avoid situations that might be dangerous, leave abusive relationships, and “break the silence” (Gqola, 2015: 15) around sexual violence. The responsibility for preventing and combating sexual violence is thus removed from men, who are the primary perpetrators, and women are impelled to ‘protect themselves’ from these seemingly abstract figures who commit such violence. As such, a shift to a discourse that places the onus on men to call out other men, reflect on their own attitudes and behaviours towards women and to actively work to put an end to sexual violence needs to occur. President Cyril Ramaphosa (2021), asserted that “this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign aims to shift from awareness to accountability and create an environment for men to play a greater role in GBV prevention.” However, while the government impels the members of the nation to move towards accountability, the government itself perhaps needs to take heed of its own advice.
As recently as the 16 November 2021, Icosa leader, Jeffrey Donson, a man convicted of rape, was elected to the position of mayor within the Kannaland Municipality. This was done with the support of the ANC. After outcries around Donson being elected mayor, the ANC has now claimed it will “review its decision to form a coalition with Icosa”, however, this has not led to Donson’s removal from the mayoral post or seemingly led to much concern from the government as to how such a person is eligible for this position to begin with. The government claims it is against sexual and GBV, and urges us to hold men accountable, and yet, they have endorsed the placement of a man charged with rape into a powerful governmental position (something that is not altogether unfamiliar with many positions of authority in South Africa).
Greater accountability is needed from the government
In order to address GBV, greater accountability is needed from the government, along with a much stronger stance on gender-based and sexual violence. As Gqola (2015: 15) so succinctly states, we need “to pressure the government to create a criminal justice system that works to bring the possibility of justice to rape survivors” – a government that holds itself accountable, a justice system that holds rapists accountable, and a society that holds itself and the men within it accountable.
Overall, while the 16 Days of Activism campaign has admirable intentions (and is used by many rights organisations and NGOs as a means through which to actively create awareness and address violence), one wonders whether this campaign is merely used by the government as a form of political lip service, a way to make it seem as though they care about GBV, when in reality little is being done to combat the war on women’s bodies and the effects this violence has on women’s lived realities, as well as the ways in which violence impacts upon women’s abilities to effectively participate and thrive in the democratic nation. | https://www.womeninscience.africa/16-days-of-activism-against-gbv-is-it-merely-political-lip-service/ |
UCI Health offers its employees a variety of opportunities to improve their skills. The programs offered by the Organizational Effectiveness & Learning team include leadership development, project management, computer-based training and much more.
For questions regarding the UC Learning Center and clinical trainings/certifications, email [email protected].
If you have questions about course offerings or want to discuss a possible team or department intervention, email [email protected].
Our clinical training program is intended to provide and enhance the knowledge and skills of our staff in the areas of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the importance of early defibrillation, post-cardiac arrest care, recognizing cardiovascular emergencies, pediatric assessment, airway management, team dynamics and communication, assessment of patients for risk of escalation and combative behavior, and systematic approaches for intervening during incidents of assault.
For the convenience of our staff, we offer several training and development programs online. You can take courses at your leisure from the comfort of your workstation. | http://www.ucihealth.org/hr/training-development |
My research is focused on how young and small firms can overcome the disadvantages of being new and small and survive to become older and larger. One line of research has investigated the development of reputation in new firms, with a recent focus on how entrepreneurial firms are using social media. Another has examined how small firms successfully enter foreign markets, and how Canadian public policy can best support them. I am also involved in a project studying the financing of social ventures. Some of my recent publications are listed below.
This research has received Best Paper Awards from the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management, the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, the International Council for Small Business, the Canadian Council for Small Business & Entrepreneurship, and the Canadian Bankers Association.
Publications on entrepreneurs’ use of social media
Social Interaction Via New Social Media: (How) Can Interactions on Twitter Affect Effectual Thinking and Behavior? Journal of Business Venturing 26 (1), 1-18. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
Social interaction plays a central role in effectuation processes, yet we know little about the implications for effectuation when an entrepreneur interacts via particular channels such as social media. To address this gap, our paper uses an inductive, theory-building methodology to develop propositions regarding how effectuation processes are impacted when entrepreneurs adopt Twitter. Twitter is a microblogging platform that can facilitate a marked increase in interaction. We posit that Twitter-based interaction can trigger effectual cognitions, but that high levels of interaction via this medium can lead to effectual churn. We also posit that there is one factor, perceived time affordability, that predicts the level of social interaction in which an entrepreneur engages via Twitter. Further, we propose two factors that moderate the consequences of social interaction through Twitter. These factors are community orientation and community norm adherence. Implications for our understanding of effectuation, of social interaction, and of the impact of social media on entrepreneurial firms are discussed.
Publications on reputation development in young firms
When Nobody Knows Your Name: Country-of-Origin as a Reputational Signal for Online Businesses 2011, Corporate Reputation Review 2011, 14(1): 37-51. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
Businesses competing online frequently face crowded markets where customers have low familiarity with most firms. In such markets, does a firm’s country-of-origin constitute a reputational signal that will influence customers? We examine the question in the context of consumers making online product trial decisions on the web site Download.com. We find product risk moderates the relationship between negatively stereotyped country-of-origin signals and product trial, which is taken as a measure of customers’ reputational evaluations. These findings suggest that signals arising from negative country-of-origin stereotypes can be consequential, after controlling for other reputational signals about the firm or its products. The implication for managers is that stereotyping signals can influence customers in online markets, and they should be wary of disclosing any potentially stigmatizing information.
Organizations Behaving Badly: When Are Discreditable Actions Likely to Damage Organizational Reputation? Journal of Business Ethics 2010, 93(1): 39-50. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
Everyday there are revelations of organizations behaving in discreditable ways. Sometimes these actions result in damage to an organization’s reputation; often they do not. In this article, we examine the question of why external stakeholders may overlook disclosed discreditable actions, even those entailing ethical breaches. Drawing on stigmatization theory, we develop a model to explain the likelihood of reputational loss following revelations of discreditable actions. The model integrates four properties of actions (perceived control, perceived certainty, perceived threat and perceived deviance), stakeholder motivation and media coverage. Implications for theory and for practitioners concerned with reputation management are discussed.
Don’t Rest On Your Laurels: Reputational Change and Young Technology-Based Ventures. Journal of Business Venturing 2007, 22 (3): 363-387. (with Eileen Fischer)[click for pdf]
We combine resource-based theory and social cognition theory to investigate the factors both limiting and related to between-period reputational change of young firms in a dynamic technology-based industry. An analysis of computer graphics chipmakers during the period 1992–2003 provides evidence that operational signals are related to reputational change. Specifically, receiving a product award in the current period is associated with positive change and gaps in product announcements are associated with negative change. We find little support for our hypothesis that the reputations of older firms are less likely to change.
The Good, the Bad and the Unfamiliar: The Challenges of Reputation Formation Facing New Firms. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice 2007, 31 (1): 53-75. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
How do new firms first develop reputations among their stakeholders? Past studies offer insights on positive signals that a new firm can send, but say little about how stakeholder group members process such signals and come to share beliefs that a new firm possesses a desirable set of attributes. This process is particularly important to understand given that both negative and positive signals are often received about new firms. Our article draws on social cognition theories to develop insights regarding the process by which stakeholder groups develop reputational beliefs about new firms and to identify factors that facilitate or impede the development of reputations.
The Company You Keep: How Young Firms in Different Competitive Contexts Signal Reputation Through Their Customers. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice 2005, 29 (1): 57-78. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
This article explores how young firms, across different competitive contexts, signal reputation through their customers. Four distinct competitive contexts were differentiated based on whether the complexity of the customer’s purchase process was high or low and whether the product/service was customized or standardized. CEOs of young firms operating in each of the four contexts were interviewed to discern patterns, both within and across contexts, in the reputational signals conferred by customers. Analysis of the interview data yields suggestions for how current theory on the exchange partners of young firms can be refined and extended, as well as propositions related to customer-derived reputation in different competitive contexts.
Publications on international entrepreneurship
International Entrepreneurship in Internet-enabled Markets. Journal of Business Venturing 2011, 26 (6): 660-679. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
Despite the increasing numbers of businesses that are already using the internet to pursue international opportunities, and the latent potential for such activity from rising internet adoption levels, the international entrepreneurship literature has paid limited attention to the phenomenon. To address this gap, we review past research in international entrepreneurship, as well as the broader fields of entrepreneurship, international business, marketing, management and management information systems, to identify firm-level resources that are associated with the successful pursuit of international opportunities in internet-enabled markets. We identify three such internet-related firm-level resources: online reputation, online technological capabilities, and online brand communities. We develop a propositional inventory of the expected relationships, identify measures expected to be useful to future scholars in this area, and present the implications of our review for future international entrepreneurship research.
Signaling reputation in international online markets, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal 3 (4), December 2009: 369-386. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
Although online technology enables young and small firms to gain access to buyers in foreign markets efficiently, it does not overcome the liability of being an unknown seller among a sea of largely unknown firms. In order to internationalize effectively through online markets, such firms need to establish an online reputation within a context where there are a large number of competitors, most of (or all of which) are relatively unfamiliar to customers. The purpose of this article is to explore how they might do so. Drawing on economics-based signaling theory as well as past research in the areas of strategic management, marketing, and MIS, we hypothesize that firm-controlled reputation signals with credible commitments—price, advertising, and umbrella branding—will impact reputational performance and moderate the impact of user-generated reputation signals. We test the hypotheses using data collected about software products sold on the web site Download.com. Our results show that signaling by advertising and umbrella branding affects reputational performance. The article provides insights about signaling in online markets for managers developing reputation-building strategies, as well as for international entrepreneurship researchers.
Survival of the Fittest: Which SMEs Internationalize Most Extensively and Effectively? Publication 08-338, International Trade and Investment Centre, Conference Board of Canada, December 2008. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for online access]
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have become increasingly integral to the Canadian economy, and are well on their way to becoming the drivers of job creation, innovation, and productivity. SMEs account for 35 per cent of the total value of Canadian exports, and many are now successfully operating in foreign markets. But not all Canadian SMEs are equally poised to succeed in the global economy. Most internationalized SMEs fail to derive significant revenues from foreign sales. The challenges and costs associated with internationalization have forced many SMEs into dire straits and some into bankruptcy. The purpose of this literature review is twofold. First, it identifies and provides insights into the factors that are most significant to the successful internationalization of Canadian SMEs. Second, it recommends that public policy support be targeted only to those Canadian SMEs most likely to benefit from internationalization.
Targeting Export Support for SMEs: Owners’ International Experience as a Segmentation Basis, Journal of Small Business Economics 2003, 20 (1): 69-82. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
This paper addresses the issue of how export support programs can be effectively targeted to SMEs. This paper argues that the normally low awareness and usage of export support programs among SME owners can be countered by segmentation based on their level of export experience. The paper develops a theoretical rationale for this segmentation basis and develops hypotheses related to it. The hypotheses are tested, and largely supported, using data from Canadian SME exporters and pre-exporters. Results indicate that segmentation based on owners= level of export experience can be an effective supplement to current segmentation bases. Implications of the results for providers of export support services are discussed in the concluding section.
Foreign Sales and Small Firm Growth: The moderating role of the management team. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice 2002, 27 (1): 29-46. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
The premise of this paper is that the management team of a small firm plays a key role in internationalization outcomes. Specifically, it is hypothesized that a greater degree of behavioral integration within a small firm’s management team enables it to manage the complexity of foreign sales growth more effectively, leading to greater overall firm growth. Findings, based on data collected from two different industries (software products, food processing), support the hypothesis and indicate that the behavioral integration of the management team moderates the relationship between foreign sales growth and overall firm growth.
Beyond Borders: Canadian Businesswomen in International Trade. Ottawa: Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada, 1999. (with Barb Orser, Eileen Fischer, Sue Hooper and Allan Riding) [click for online access]
This report addresses the issues that confront Canadian women business owners who are actively exporting or planning to engage in global trade.
The Influence of the Management Team’s International Experience on the Internationalization Behaviors of SMEs. Journal of International Business Studies 1997, 28 (4): 807-825. (with Eileen Fischer) [click for pdf]
Why are some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more successful in selling outside their domestic markets than are other SMEs in the same industry? Although the traditional explanation is that firms can gain valuable knowledge and resources as they become older and larger, small and young firms are not necessarily disadvantaged if they develop other mechanisms to acquire the requisite knowledge and resources. We examine the role of the management team=s international experience as such a mechanism, for the internationalization of Canadian software product firms. We show that internationally-experienced management teams have a greater propensity to develop foreign strategic partners and to delay less in obtaining foreign sales after start-up, and that these behaviors are associated with a higher degree of internationalization.
Research Grants (funded since 2000)
Insight Development Grant, SSHRC, Building Brand and Organizational Legitimacy in Digital Markets (with E. Fischer). 2013-15.
Insight Development Grant, SSHRC. An Investigation of Social Venture Funds and Hybrid Social Ventures, 2011-2013.
Michael Lee-Chin Institute for Corporate Citizenship, Rotman School of Management, Hybrid Social Venture Funds. 2011-2012.
AIC Institute for Corporate Citizenship, Rotman School of Management. Factors Influencing the Financing of Social Ventures by Commercial Venture Funds. 2010-2011
Standard Research Grant, SSHRC. An Investigation of the Benefits of Internationalization for Young Firms & Small Firms in Canada (with E. Fischer). 2009-2012.
Standard Research Grant, SSHRC. The Dynamics of Reputation in Young Firms. (with E. Fischer). 2009-2012.
Strategic Knowledge Cluster Grant, SSHRC. International Entrepreneurship Strategic Knowledge Cluster. (Principal investigator is R. McNaughton, University of Waterloo). 2008-2012.
SSHRC Public Outreach Grant. Measuring the Impact of Doing Good (with A. Armstrong). 2008-2011.
AIC Institute for Corporate Citizenship, Rotman School of Management. Social Venture Funds (with E. Kirzner). 2008-2009.
Research Grant, SSHRC. The Development of Reputation in Young Firms (with E. Fischer). 2006-2009.
Multi-Collaborative Research Initiative (MCRI) Grant, SSHRC. Entrepreneurship Research Alliance II: A Collaborative Effort to Create and Disseminate Knowledge about Firm Growth in North America. (Principal investigator is J. Brander, University of British Columbia). 1999-2006. | https://inside.rotman.utoronto.ca/reuber/research/ |
Individual evaluation of a parent or a child that utilizes multiple sources of information, potentially including personality, cognitive, adaptive, parenting, substance abuse screening, and academic test data as well as extensive record review and collateral contacts.
A full psychological report follows these evaluations and includes specific treatment recommendations.
The Parent-Child Attachment Evaluation | Community Funding Required
An Attachment Evaluation is a research-based evaluation of parent-child attachment and caregiving patterns. It identifies health and quality of the child’s attachment to the parent(s) or caregiver, and the results are most often used in the Video-based Attachment Intervention.
It is Intended for permanent placements or those at risk of disruption.
Experiences Build Brain Architecture, Attachment Shapes Brain Circuitry and Toxic Stress Derails Healthy Development
The Multi-Systemic Evaluation | Community Funding Required
A Parenting Evaluation is a psychological evaluation of the individual parent which incorporates standard measures of mental health, cognitive functioning, and parenting competencies.
A Parent Evaluation is most helpful when there are questions regarding mental health diagnosis, cognitive competency, and parenting knowledge. It does not provide the information about the attachment patterns and relationship between parent and child that the Attachment Evaluation provides. | https://www.piprva.com/case-worker-resources |
American University of Sharjah (AUS) and ‘Sheraa’, the new Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre launched recently by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to boost economic development and help create a culture of entrepreneurship in the emirate of Sharjah.
Sheraa, which aims to inspire young people to start their own enterprises and raise the emirate’s profile as a preferred destination for startups, is headquartered in AUS. The entrepreneurship centre supports the development of creative ideas and help entrepreneurs develop them from concepts to practical applications, commercial projects and startups.
Sheraa and AUS will work together to develop a framework to enhance Sharjah’s reputation as an entrepreneurial leader in the field of innovation. The agreement will Sheraa to to tap into the talent pool of the university’s students on campus and help increase students’ chances of entrepreneurial success, by providing them with both the academic and professional support needed to make their dreams a reality.
Sheraa forms part of government plans to transform Sharjah into hotbed of innovation that attracts entrepreneurs. The government also recently established Sharjah Media City Free Zone in an attempt to attract creative and media startups and other SMES (small and medium-sized enterprises) to locate in Sharjah.
One of the first initiatives from the entrepreneurship centre is the Sheraa Innovation Lab, which will provide incubator environment for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. The Lab will help support emerging projects by providing young innovators with the tools and resources required to make their investments fruitful, develop their business skills and help them embrace industry best practices.
American University of Sharjah was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and is a not-for-profit, independent, institution of higher education formed on the American model. The University offers 26 majors and 52 minors at the undergraduate level, plus 14 master’s degrees. AUS is ranked 7th in the 2015 QS University Rankings for the Arab Region. | http://www.sharjahupdate.com/2016/03/aus-and-sheraa-to-help-create-culture-of-entrepreneurship/ |
See all the Reaper’s NBC predictions here.
TV Grim Reaper predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows by the end of the 2015-16 season in May, 2016. (The Reaper Index includes ratings from Sept. 21, 2015 – Nov 15, 2015)
|Program||Status||Reaper Index|
|Truth Be Told (F)||canceled||0.47|
|Undateable (F)||😥 😥||0.55|
|The Player||canceled||0.61|
|Grimm (F)||🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂||0.73|
|The Mysteries of Laura||😳||0.81|
|Heroes Reborn||😐 😐 😐||0.95|
|The Blacklist||1.09|
|Chicago P.D.||renewed||1.11|
|Law & Order: SVU||🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂||1.21|
|Chicago Fire||renewed||1.33|
|Blindspot||renewed||1.75|
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Heroes Reborn has been predicted as a “toss up” for most of the season, that’s where it’s probably staying, minus a sudden relative ratings change up or down, until the reaper makes his final predictions in May.
Heroes Reborn is a 13 episode limited series that would return next season were the ratings good enough. Since it wasn’t expected to receive a “back 9” episode order this season, regardless of its ratings, the NBC #PRJedi will be able to maintain a hopeful future for it until early May.
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Follow TV Grim Reaper on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Email or RSS.
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*shows no longer on the air have their Reaper Index “frozen” at the point they left the schedule.
Notes:
|😳||certain to be cancelled by May, 2016|
|😥 😥||more likely to be cancelled than renewed by May, 2016|
|😐 😐 😐||toss up between renewal or cancellation by May, 2016|
|🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂||more likely to be renewed than cancelled by May, 2016|
|certain to be renewed by May, 2016|
–
The Reaper Index is the ratio of a scripted show’s new episode adults 18-49 ratings relative to the new episode ratings of the other scripted shows on its own network. It’s calculated by dividing a show’s new episode Live+Same Day adults 18-49 average rating by the Live+Same Day new episode average of all the new scripted show episodes on the show’s own network. The network’s average ratings in the calculation are not time weighted (ex. hour long shows are not weighted twice what 30 minute shows are).
(F) -Fridays: Shows airing on Fridays were renewed with significantly lower than average Indexes.
How good have TV Grim Reaper’s predictions been in past seasons? See his past prediction record here. | https://www.tvgrimreaper.com/2015/11/17/nbc-predictions-heroes-reborn-still-a-toss-up-to-be-canceled-or-renewed/750/ |
Country report: France
Simon Frost looks at the country with the world’s highest share of nuclear generation, as France transforms its energy mix to meet ambitious carbon targets.
Host of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), at which the landmark Paris Agreement was finalised, France is a prominent, pace-setting nation in the global charge to reduce carbon emissions.
In 2015, only 47% of its energy came from fossil fuels, but 46% of the energy mix was fulfilled by nuclear energy, which accounted for a staggering 78% of its electricity generation in 2016 – the highest share worldwide by some margin. Ukraine, in second, generates 56% of its electricity with nuclear power. At 63GW, France’s total nuclear capacity is second only to the USA, whose 80GW accounts for just 19.5% of domestic generation.
But this is set to change – France’s Energy Transition for Green Growth Act, enacted shortly before COP21 in August 2015, includes an ambitious target to reduce the nuclear share of its electricity generation to 50% by 2025, as its ageing fleet is decommissioned, while increasing the same statistic for renewables from 16.5% in 2015 to 40% by 2030. For the Act’s targets to be met, the next decade will require an upheaval of its energy grid.
‘France has to implement nothing less than a transformation of its energy system and power market,’ said Paul Simons, Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) at the launch of the Energy Policies of IEA Countries: France 2016 Review.
In that report, the IEA suggests five ways France can facilitate this transition – tracking progress along robust scenarios, continuing with clear, long-term carbon pricing guidelines, taking timely decisions on the safe and long-term operation of nuclear reactors, reducing barriers to renewable deployment and, finally, strengthening market opening, competition and consumer choice.
Renewing the mix
Renewable energy in France is dominated by its well-established hydroelectric sector, which accounts for 62% of renewable generation and is second only to nuclear in the country’s entire share. 433 hydroelectric plants operate throughout France, the largest of which by far is the pumped-storage plant at the Grand’Maison Dam in the southeastern department of Isère, boasting a capacity of 1,800MW.
Like the Grand’Maison, more than half of France’s hydropower supply is flexible – lake/reservoir/pumped-storage, rather than the intermittent run-of-river type – making it an important reserve for balancing the electricity network in times of high demand or in cold weather, with extra power that can be mobilised in minutes..
However, while hydrothermal power plays a significant role in the energy mix, its capacity of 25.3GW is targeted to grow only marginally compared with other constituents of its renewable mix, with less than 1GW to be added in the best case by 2023.
Onshore wind is key to France’s renewable development, and has steadily grown from 148MW installed in 2002 to just over 12GW in 2016. It now has the seventh-highest installed wind capacity worldwide and is on course to meet the targets of 15GW by 2018 and 21.8–26GW in 2023 set out in the Green Growth Act.
While all of the country’s current wind power facilities are onshore, in December 2016 the Ministry of Environment, Energy and the Sea began the procedure to select potential developers and define an area for offshore wind farms off Dunkirk, part of France’s third round of tenders for offshore wind sites, which is supported by the region’s elected officials. France aims to install 500MW of offshore wind by 2018 and at least 3,000MW by 2023.
Sun in the south
Solar PV is where France hopes to make the other most significant increase, and like wind, it has steadily bolstered its capacity to become the seventh-highest producer in the world – from 104MW in 2008 to 6,549MW in 2015, with targets of 10,200MW in 2018 and 18,200MW–20,200MW in 2023.
A 2.5km2 installation near Bordeaux developed by Noeon and connected to the grid in December 2015, the Cestas solar farm is the most significant array in the country and, indeed, the continent of Europe, with a peak capacity of 300MW and providing power to 300,000 homes.
In February 2017, SunPower, USA, announced that it would supply its E-Series monocrystalline photovoltaic cells for seven power plants in France – a total of 64.4MW added capacity, while First Solar, USA, announced it would supply 106.5MW-worth of thin film modules for 14 new plants.
Of course, France’s energy policy is subject to change when President François Hollande, a vocal champion of renewable energy, is replaced in May. Emmanuel Macron, the candidate for social liberal party En Marche! invited climate scientists in the USA to move to France in February, in response to President Trump’s vocal scepticism of climate change and appointment of climate science deniers to high offices. | https://www.iom3.org/materials-world-magazine/news/2017/mar/01/country-report-france |
As a result of an overwhelming lack of requests, and with research help from a renowned scientific journal, I am pleased to present the following scientific analysis of the alleged phenomenon of Santa Claus.
1. No known species of reindeer can fly; however, there are 300,000 species of living organisms yet to be classified. Most of these are insects and germs, but this does not completely rule out the possibility of flying reindeer.
2. There are just over two billion children (defined as persons under the age of 18) in the world. Since Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews don't celebrate Christmas, Santa's work load is reduced by 85%, which means that he has 378,000,000 children to take care of. At an average (census) rate of 3.5 children per household, that's 91,800,000 homes. For the sake of argument, we will assume that each and every one of those households has at least one good child in it.
3. If Santa makes a list and checks it twice - a list that names each and every one of those 378,000,000 children - and spends only one second on each child, he will spend 24
4. Arguably, Santa has 31 hours of "Christmas" to work with (6:00 pm on Christmas Eve until 6:00 am on December 26, and taking into account time zones and the rotation of the earth, and assuming additionally that he travels east to west). This works out to 882.6 homes visited per second. For each Christian household, Santa has just over .001 seconds to
5. If we assume that Santa has worked out a route in advance which will make the most efficient use of his time, and if we further assume that each of the 91,800,000 homes at which Santa must stop is an average of 50 feet from the next house on his route (an assumption that we know is false, but we will indulge it for the time being), then Santa will travel a total distance of 869,318 miles (the equivalent of going all the way around the planet 35 times). His average speed will be 28,042 mph (7.79 miles per second) - about 37 times the speed of sound.
6. The payload on the sleigh adds another interesting element. Assuming that each child receives presents weighing a total of one pound, Santa's sleigh is carrying 189,000 tons of cargo (not counting the weight of Santa himself, who is invariably described as overweight). This is more than twice the weight of the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth.
7. One conventional reindeer can pull, at most, 300 pounds; Santa would therefore need 1,260,000 reindeer to pull his sleigh. Assuming that Santa harnessed them two by two, the reindeer would stretch 835 miles in front of the sleigh, and would add some 94,500 tons to the weight of the entire rig. If Santa were parked on a rooftop in Dallas with his rig pointed west, Rudolph would be somewhere in New Mexico. If Santa, seated in his sleigh, shouted, "Rudolph, let's go!" the sound of his voice would take just over an hour to reach the red-nosed reindeer (he would have to yell very, very loudly).
8. The real problem is that 189,000 tons traveling at 28,042 mph creates tremendous air resistance. It would heat up the reindeer in much the same fashion as a spacecraft re-entering the earth's atmosphere; in other words, one million reindeer would burst into flames (Rudolph and the two lead reindeer first) and would create deafening sonic booms in their wake. The entire reindeer team would be vaporized in approximately four seconds. Santa himself, if he could survive the air friction, would be subjected to forces several thousand times greater than gravity.
9. Without more evidence than what we have, we must conclude that Santa Claus does not exist or, if he does, that he is not capable of the Christmas activities that are attributed to him.
Frankly, we always suspected that it was your parents putting those toys under the tree. | http://thanks-mucho.com/santaclaus.html |
What's the actual difference between a hydrogen bomb and an atomic bomb?
Fission vs. fusion.
KELLY DICKERSON & DAVE MOSHER, BUSINESS INSIDER
4 FEB 2017
A hydrogen bomb is different than a regular atomic bomb, like the ones the US dropped on Japan near the end of World War II. Collectively, the two A-bombs that the US detonated over Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed more than 200,000 people.
But an H-bomb is an entirely different beast. It can be up to 1,000 times more powerful than an A-bomb, according to nuclear experts. Here's why.
North Korea tested atomic bombs back in 2006, 2009, and 2013. Their blasts were created using fission - the splitting of atoms into smaller ones.
Heavy, radioactive forms of elements like plutonium and uranium are especially susceptible to do this.
Every fission or split of an atom releases a huge amount of energy. It's the same thing nuclear power plants use to generate energy for your home.
However, if the atoms are quickly squashed very close together, a runaway effect can happen that rapidly splits many, many atoms almost all at once - and releases a catastrophic blast of energy.
Below is a Reuters illustration that shows two different models of atomic bombs. The goal of each is detonate traditional explosives (tan) to squeeze a fissionable material, like plutonium-239 (teal) or uranium-235 (yellow), into a 'supercritical' mass that splits atoms like crazy:
Reuters
The device on the left is an implosion-type fission bomb, like the Fat Man bomb detonated over Nagasaki, and it compresses everything inward.
The one of right is a gun-type fission bomb, like Little Boy detonated over Hiroshima, which shoots the missing piece of a nuclear core right into the centre to make it go supercritical.
Hydrogen bombs do something even more extreme.
They rely on combining two or more atoms together in a reaction called fusion. Fusion is what powers stars like our Sun to make them so hot and bright, to give you an idea of the potential power of a fusion bomb.
Below is a second graphic showing a boosted atomic bomb and a hydrogen bomb. A special form of 'heavy' hydrogen or deuterium (green), is key to both weapons.
It causes more fissionable atoms to split, and thus release more energy all at once:
Reuters
In order to trigger fusion, however, you need a tonne of energy - which is why a fission bomb has to detonate first. So H-bombs are really made of two bombs: a fission bomb and a fusion bomb:
Inside an H-bomb, a 'boosted' fission bomb releases a blast of powerful X-ray radiation, which is focused precisely onto the fusion bomb.
This happens before the shockwave can blow apart an H-bomb, by the way, since X-rays travel at light-speed and blast shockwaves do not.
That X-ray blast then sets off the fusion bomb, creating an explosion powerful enough to merge a bunch of atoms, convert some of that material into pure energy, and trigger a blast that's frighteningly more powerful than an atomic bomb's. | |
Jay's post on the personal impact of the Senate's current health care reform proposals was an excellent example showing people what they could gain from the current proposals. Lots of people make around $54,000 a year and have a family of four. It's a great snapshot of the effect of subsidies. If you get free money from someone else, what's not to like?
In my mind, the real problem is not just that they are proposing taking from the
rich to give to the
poor. It's the incentives that this system sets up. Suppose you are a hard working employee in a stable job making $54,000 a year supporting your family of four, just like one in the example. You have a few more dollars in your pocket thanks to passage of this bill. According to the chart, reproduced here, you have either $9,000 or $4500 more in your pocket than if no bill had passed. Now suppose that you have an opportunity to earn more money, say another $30,000, by working harder and smarter, getting a raise, moving to a more challenging but rewarding position, having your spouse go back to work, or otherwise trying to improve your lot in life. What happens to your after tax, after subsidy, take home pay? From what I've heard about the health care bill, the subsidy decreases as your income goes up, disappearing by around $88,000 per year. Are you any better off than you were making $54,000? A little bit, but almost all your increase in earnings is absorbed by the decrease in subsidy, increase in tax rates, and other government takings. Why should you bother to work harder if you get no more money in your pocket? The answer is, for the majority of moderately hard working people, you won't. And American will become a nation of people who have no incentive to work harder. That is a very scary thing to contemplate.
Greg Mankiw recognized this issue two months ago:
Jim Capretta looks at the Baucus healthcare bill and concludes that, because the subsidies phase out as income rises, it imposes an effective marginal tax rate on income of about 30 percent for many families. Add that figure to the income tax, the payroll tax, and the phase-out of the EITC and "the effective, implicit tax rate for workers between 100 and 200 percent of the federal poverty line would quickly approach 70 percent -- not even counting food stamps and housing vouchers."Greg goes on to recognize that the marginal tax rate, if you consider the removal of subsidies a tax, reaches 75% on those making the common amount of $54,000 per year for a family of four. If they take advantage of very generous federal higher education subsidies available to them at this level of earnings, the rate can reach 100% with no trouble at all. We will create a permanent underclass of dependent citizens who fear working harder because any additional income will vanish into the air.
Indeed, Jim seems to understate matters, as he includes only the employee half of the payroll tax. Including both the employee and employer halves, as economic theory says is appropriate, appears to give a marginal tax rate closer to 80 percent. And, of course, many states impose income and sales taxes as well, and these would further raise the overall marginal tax rate. | http://wizbangblog.com/content/2009/12/17/more-true-colors-subsidies-that-vanish.php |
Driving through the freshly extruded suburbs in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, with freshly painted (computer generated?) subdivision names on entrance street corners, I was struck by just how far we’ve fallen into the hands of the developer/realtor driven subdivision craze. Almost all of these single family houses and townhouse subdivisions still require an automobile trip to buy a loaf of bread or jug of milk.
There are notable exceptions to this pattern, but those developments that are within walking distance to local shops and services are usually condos, a pattern of living that is dominated by 1 and 2 bedroom units, making them difficult living spaces for larger families, or those more accustomed to, or a lifestyle that requires having more space.
With average home prices still climbing in the Lower Mainland, and the price of gas hovering around $1.30 a litre, (as well as predicted food price increases and likely interest rate rises) you’d think that there would be a gradual move away from expensive housing to cheaper. Around here it hasn’t come yet. South of the border, in America, the economic situation is less promising and housing has definitely lost it’s shine as an investment asset. As a result, demand for rent is playing against the trend of decreasing housing prices, showing in some reports up to 15% increase in rental cost since 2007.
In cities, the majority ofrental stock is often in townhouses and apartments, typically located closer to commercial centres and public transit. Perhaps part of the increase in rental cost is also a conflicting demand with a portion of home owners wanting to “move back to the city”, buying condos and other higher density properties, possibly putting pressure on rental stock.
When we were moving from Castlegar to Langley, we looked at apartment living as an option in an effort to reduce our transportation costs as a family. However, the fact that three bedroom units are scarce and before we take the step “down” to a two bedroom unit, we really need to downsize some of our “stuff”. As a result, we ended up in a beautiful three bedroom house in the suburbs, a twenty minute walk to work and the shops. I’ve come to accept that there are always compromises in where we live and what housing stock we can afford.
A survey of national American rental stats pulled up the following conclusion, seeing the biggest growth in rental prices in studio apartments and 5 bedroom houses…
“This is a telling trend which may indicate a growing demand for rental housing among first-time renters and larger families,” the company notes in the report.
Indeed, during this period national homeownership rates plummeted, and so did the cost of buying a home as many Americans remained hesitant about committing to property long term in the aftermath of the housing market’s collapse.
The downside to this trend is that consumers may not only see higher price tags for rentals, but an increase in competition as well, compared with the peak of the recession. As a result, it will become increasingly important to have a good credit report, and perhaps even to appeal to landlords by agreeing to move in earlier or pay more money upfront to land the apartment or home rental you really want.
Source: The Street – Rental Prices up 6.7% in 2011
The “traditional” perspective, that renting is for those who cannot own a house, is being challenged as demand increases. There are more people who don’t want to own a house, or have got out of home ownership seeing reduced housing values on the horizon, as well as those who have lost their hold on the real estate market due to foreclosure.
More Americans are renting instead of owning these days, with the national home ownership rate slipping to 66.4% in the first quarter of 2011 from a peak of 69.1% six years ago, according to the Census Bureau.
Source: The Street – Renting Post-Recession: What You Should Know
Of concern is affordability…
One in every four renters in the U.S., or about 10 million households, currently spends more than half of their income on rent and utilities, while another 26% of renters spend between 30%-50% of their income on rental costs, according to a report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, and the situation will likely only continue to worsen in the near future.
Here’s a video taking a positive spin on this situation for those who are interested in investing in rental properties, as with every financial transaction, someone wins, the question is, by how much.
Some questions:
- What do you think the long-term outlook for rental housing is in Canada?
- Rent or own? What recommendation would you give to someone moving to your town? | https://urbanworkbench.com/rental-housing/ |
I’m certified as both an ACSM-CPT and W.I.T.S. certified personal trainer. Additional, I'm a physical therapy technician/personal trainer at Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. I enjoy training all types and levels of individuals, but I have additional training, experience, and knowledge when worki... moreI’m certified as both an ACSM-CPT and W.I.T.S. certified personal trainer. Additional, I'm a physical therapy technician/personal trainer at Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. I enjoy training all types and levels of individuals, but I have additional training, experience, and knowledge when working with seniors, post-rehab and obese clients. I use the knowledge that I've learned from the physical rehab world and incorporate it into the strengthening world.
I remember what it was like for me when I first decided that I wanted to achieve a better level of fitness for myself. And my story is much the same as many others. I was eager to learn but also needed the benefit of patience, guidance and motivation from my instructors once the glow of a new fitness program wore off. My experience has taught me that what works best is when an instructor is sincere in his love of teaching and genuinely engaged with his clients. | https://pro.ideafit.com/profile/gregory-slocum?publicPath=gregory-slocum |
Alicia is a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. She received her BS in Exercise Science, Master’s and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Saint Louis University. She has treated patients in a variety of outpatient settings, and worked as a personal trainer prior to becoming a PT. In addition to specializing in the treatment of all orthopedic conditions, she has specific post-grad training and experience in treating back and neck pain, MSI, musculoskeletal injuries, balance disorders, and Work Comp injuries.
She is an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor and ACE Certified Personal Trainer. Alicia sees patients throughout the APG network of facilities, but mainly from the Swansea office.
Alicia Borawski, DPT, OCS
Maria Cunningham, PT, MPT
Physical Therapist
Maria Cunningham earned her Masters of Physical Therapy at University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. She spent more than seven years caring for patients with joint replacements, musculoskeletal issues, burns and cardiac issues in the acute setting. She has also served patients as a manager of an orthopedic outpatient facility, focusing on neck pain, headaches, shoulder issues, and back pain.
In addition, Maria brings her extensive experience working in a comprehensive Pain Management program to APG. She embraces the APG TEAM approach of medical, chiropractic and physical therapy and enjoys collaborating with her colleagues “under one roof” to deliver outstanding patient care.
Maria Cunningham, PT, MPT
Derek Harrington, DPT
Physical Therapist
Derek Harrington DPT completed his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Missouri, and his undergraduate work in Health Sciences. Prior to joining APG, Derek provided oversight and implementation of treatment plans for a wide range of non-surgical and post-surgical orthopedic conditions as a contract therapist at Scott Air Force Base. Derek also was a staff therapist at SSM Physical Therapy serving the south division of the Greater St. Louis Metro Area.
Derek is professionally trained in Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, and is certified in CPR and AED.
Derek will be seeing patients mainly in our O’Fallon office and assisting with cases from Scott Air Force base. He will also see patients in rotation at our other offices.
Derek Harrington, DPT
Jessica Zimmerman, PT, MPT, OCS
Physical Therapist
Jessica received a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Maryville University in 2008 and became a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist in 2016.
Since that time, she has worked primarily in orthopedic outpatient settings. She has completed advanced training in vestibular rehabilitation, women’s health, with main education lying in manual based treatment for cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine, and SIJ dysfunction. | http://www.associatedphysicians.com/physical-therapists/ |
What Type of Patient Relationship Distinguishes a Health-Centered Dental Practice?
I think all dentists would agree that mutually beneficial and enjoyable relationships with patients are key to a dental practice’s long-term success. But what does that “relationship” look like in a health-centered practice?
To some, a good relationship represents two people who get along and perhaps enjoy being in each other’s company. But I would argue this is not enough to build a successful health-centered dental practice. Getting along and even enjoying the presence of another person alone doesn’t go deep enough. It only addresses good rapport, and good rapport is only the starting point of a truly helping relationship. We need more to help patients achieve optimal oral health.
The More We Need
We need shared values, shared understanding, and shared goals. And to a large degree, we also need a shared vision of a preferred future so that all the goals are oriented in a specific mutually agreed upon direction. That vision must largely originate from the patient because it is their water to carry, and not ours. We can facilitate the development of the patient’s vision, but we cannot realize it for them.
This type of relationship is often called “patient-centered” or “client-centered.” And it is only possible through mutual trust — and a lot of it at that. We must have enough trust present within the relationship to allow for open and transparent communication to occur. This type of communication is much deeper.
The Deeper Communication We Need
Communication that is deeper includes discussions around:
- concerns,
- personal challenges,
- barriers,
- fear,
- short-term agendas, and
- longer-term goals.
When a patient trusts us, they are essentially allowing themselves to be vulnerable to our actions, which could, if something went wrong, harm them physically, emotionally, and/or financially.
A first sign of trust is the willingness to have these types of discussions.
Some patients will trust us quickly because we have big capital letters after our name, but this de facto trust is becoming rare. We must EARN our patient’s trust through the quality of the relationships we build, our attitude, our philosophy, and our actions that lead to deep communication and development of shared understanding and goals.
I would argue that meaningful conversations around important issues are what distinguishes a “health-centered” or “patient-centered” dental practice from one that is an attractive and pleasant place where dental services are provided in exchange for money. A key metric to monitor in each patient record is whether the deeper discussions are taking place. A key objective is to schedule time to gently have those discussions. | https://pankeygram.org/what-type-of-patient-relationship-distinguishes-a-health-centered-dental-practice/ |
For this role we will be considering a range of experience levels from associate to Software Engineers.
At Liberty Mutual, technology isn't just a part of our business, it's what drives us forward. We deliver our customers peace of mind every day by helping them protect what they value most. Our passion for placing the customer at the center of everything we do is driving a transformational shift at Liberty Mutual. Operating as a tech startup within a Fortune 100 company, we are leading a digital disruption that will redefine how people experience insurance.
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Collaborate closely with a team of Technologists, Analysts, Engineers and Test Engineers iterative development that delivers a high-quality product
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Drive full cycle end to end development from design through implementation.
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The role requires hands-on development, problem resolution and knowledge of various horizontal and vertical packages - spanning across all layers of our technical stack.
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In an Agile environment, work with business team members, end users, product owners, and other software engineers to review and qualify business requirements, functional specifications, use-cases, and test plans.
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Design, prototype and author code for software components and applications based on functional specification and optimize them for system performance.
- Bachelor's Degree in technical discipline preferably computer science or software development.
- Generally, 3+ years of professional development experience.
- Moderate knowledge of IT concepts, strategies, methodologies, architectures and technical standards.
- Excellent analytical, problem solving, and communication skills.
- Collaboration, prioritization, and adaptability skills required.
- Experience with layered system architectures and layered solutions; understanding of shared software concepts.
- Java development experience
- Experience working with agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, XP) and cross-functional teams (Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Engineers, Designers, Test Engineers)
- Ideally familiar with Design Thinking, Behavior and Test-Driven Development
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Employee Testimonials
"The biggest misconception about Tech at Liberty Mutual is that the technology shop here is outdated, boring and lacks opportunity. There is a strong push for failing fast, going agile, building microservices, using the latest technology tools and building a culture of innovation."
"I like working at Liberty Mutual because they treat their employees very well. Liberty understands the importance of a work-life balance. Because I have significant vacation time, and a flexible workplace schedule, I come to work happier every day. I don't feel the pressure that I may be fired if I need to take a few days off or can't make it into the office due an appointment."
"I immensely enjoy what I get to work on every day. Reading about machine learning and applying it in a way that has actual business value is great."
"We are working with top notch technologies and we get to live a little. We have the best of both worlds here."
"The sense of community working here has been a lot different than I expected at a big company. Everyone is helpful and looking to make sure you have the resources you needed to grow in the company." | https://venturefizz.com/jobs/o/software-engineer-at-liberty-mutual-insurance-3 |
New York federal prosecutors have issued a subpoena to #DonaldTrump’s inaugural committee for documents related to donors, vendors, and finances, CNN reports.
On Monday, Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office filed a subpoena requesting Trump’s committee turn over documents related to nearly all of its donor’s attendees at a committee event, pieces of paperwork related to the legal requirements attached to donations as well as “the possibility of” donations made by foreign nationals.
The subpoena states it will be investigating a variety of concerns surrounding potential crimes which include conspiracy against the US, false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, inaugural committee disclosure violations, and violations of laws prohibiting contributions by foreign nations and contributions in the name of another person, also known as straw donors. Additionally, it demands the committee release documents that are connected to any “benefits” offered to donors, including “tickets, photo opportunities, and/or small group receptions.” The committee will also be required to turn over information about donations made directly to vendors, as well as communications discussing that possibility, according to CNN.
These actions come as a result of federal prosecutor’s investigation into the committee’s possible involvement in the financial abuse of power related to the more than $100 million in donations raised for Trump’s inauguration, CNN has reported.
A spokesperson for the committee said Monday: “We have just received a subpoena for documents. While we are still reviewing the subpoena, it is our intention to cooperate with the inquiry.” The Manhattan US attorney’s office declined to comment. | http://balleralert.com/profiles/blogs/federal-prosecutors-send-subpoena-to-donald-trumps-inaugural-committee/ |
DePaul, Hawbaker intended to study English literature, history and photography,
but she wasn’t passionate about her academic path. Then, as she browsed
classes, the course book fell open to the costume design program in The Theatre School. “I saw classes in
playwriting, design, the history of costume and Shakespeare,” Hawbaker says.
Suddenly, she realized the connective thread among her areas of interest. “I
liked those subjects because they were expressions of character, and that’s
what costume design is all about.”
Now, as an assistant costume
designer based in Los Angeles, Hawbaker’s credits include Mad Men, True Blood, Argo and the upcoming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of
Justice. She
also worked on American Hustle with costume designer Michael Wilkinson,
spending three months conceptualizing the sumptuous fur coats, slinky dresses
and plunging necklines that earned the film an Academy Award nomination in
costume design. “It was truly a dream script. Nothing about those characters
was clichéd,” Hawbaker says. Consequently, she avoided stereotypical ’70s
references in favor of aspirational and fresh pieces perfectly suited to the
film’s themes of projection, reinvention and the long con.
According to Hawbaker, the
process of bringing characters to life through costume occurs in phases.
“Typically, you start with a script and a conversation with the director, their
take on the characters, what they’re trying to evoke, their vision,” she says.
“Next up is the research period where you gather images and items that will
help you refine those ideas with the director.” Illustrations, full-size
renderings and on-set adjustments follow.
That said, the process
differs by director; when Hawbaker collaborates with Terrence Malick, as she did on The Tree of Life and Knight of Cups, standard operating
procedure goes out the window. “There’s no research, there’s no script,”
Hawbaker explains, noting that she has learned to trust her instincts in
developing designs that assist the actors in creating their characters.
“Costume design comes from a much deeper place than most people realize. At
some level, it’s a gut understanding of how people project themselves.”
Originally published in DePaul Magazine.
The Theatre School at DePaul University
2350 N. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
Administration: (773) 325-7917
Admissions: (773) 325-7999
Box Office: (773) 325-7900
[email protected]
The Merle Reskin Theatre
60 E. Balbo Ave. | https://theatre.depaul.edu/alumni/Pages/jr-hawbaker.aspx |
How to stay Happy, Healthy and Productive while working from a Serviced Apartment during Quarantine
Well, working from home (serviced apartment) has its comforts like peace, quietness, no other mentors around, comfortable clothes and home-cooked meals, this all sounds so good! But, every situation comes with challenges and in this one, you’ll likely face isolation, loneliness, lack of routine and work-life balance. If you find yourself facing such situations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, then you must be concerned about how to curb them, especially when the government is also recommending “social distancing”.
However, people living in serviced apartments may be in another city or even a country must be facing a dilemma. Being away from family members, relatives at this time when the whole world is lockdown gives another level of anxiety. But, don’t worry! We have clubbed some of the best tips on how to stick to your daily work routine while combating the stress levels and maintaining sanity.
Tip 1- Maintain a morning routine
Yeah! It is tempting to stay in bed till 11, but you need to keep up with your normal morning routine. It should include setting an alarm, taking a shower and changing your pajamas into daytime (but comfortable) clothes, making coffee along with a healthy breakfast, you might include a workout routine also - do things as if you were going into the office. This will help you to get a more deliberate start, signal to yourself that it’s time to be productive.
Tip 2 - Protect your Mental Health
As if a lethal pandemic was not enough to set off anxiety and depression, according to research remote workers are more likely to experience high-stress levels than office workers. Maybe this is due to misinterpreted emails, work interference in family life and remote workers often clock more hours. After switching off your laptop at the end of the day, make sure you do pleasurable activities for mood elevation like a workout, watch web series on Netflix, listening to podcasts or creative or intellectual pursuits.
Tip 3 - Sit near a window while working
Psychology says that humans are more comfortable sat with backs to the wall and a view of the door or window. We prefer these sittings because these factors contribute to our survival by being the safest places we could be. A beautiful view or even a scenery on your wall can help combat anxiety and stress levels. If you find a room with more light and a big window in your serviced apartment then try to sit there and work, because it can reduce blood pressure and helps to focus.
Well, there are more points to this list like you can indulge in learning a whole new language, or do an online meeting or conference call to your family and friends, keep hydrating yourself, stick to a schedule and add some background noise for a feel. Work is likely to slow down during quarantine, but think it as an opportunity because you might never get this kind of window to learn something new again, use it well! Stay at home and stay healthy! | https://www.thetreaten.com/blog/how-to-stay-happy-healthy-and-productive-while-working-from-a-serviced-apartment-during-quarantine |
Spatial analysis is the use of models that quantify the interactions of behavioral, biological, and physical relationships using spatial data. The purpose of this paper is to highlight examples of spatial analysis carried out at the Bank and to describe how some recent advances in these techniques are being utilized in several on-going projects. After a brief introduction to spatial data and spatial analysis, the paper provides short descriptions of eight examples of spatial analysis carried out at the Bank. Next, it discusses three larger modeling efforts designed to produce decision support systems that include a spatial component - RAINS-ASIA (Regional Air Pollution Informtion System for Asia), DSS/IPC (Decision Support System for Industrial Pollution), and MEDUSA (Multi-objective environmentally-sustainable development Using Systems Analysis). In the final section, it discusses ways to improve the contribution of spatial analysis to Bank operations focusing on trends in data collection, data management, and analytical techniques.
Details
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Author
Nelson, Gerald C. Gray, David A.
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Document Date
1997/09/30
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Document Type
Departmental Working Paper
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Report Number
18259
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Volume No
1
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Total Volume(s)
1
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Country
-
Region
South Asia, Latin America & Caribbean, Africa, East Asia and Pacific,
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Disclosure Date
2010/07/01
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Doc Name
The use of spatial analysis at the World Bank
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Keywords
spatial analysis;emissions from point sources;socially sustainable development;land use;Demographic and Health Survey;land use planning;effects of policy changes;cultivation of tree crop;increase in energy consumption;degree of market concentration;impact of policy change;land information system;soil erosion;Country Assistance Strategies;country assistance strategy;sulfur dioxide emission;land resource assessment;public works program;approach to mitigation;natural resource endowment;proximity to market;decision support system;soil erosion control;prices of input;exposure to pollution;benefit of pollution;rates of return;conversion of forest;environmental economics;limited dependent variable;economically viable alternative;environmental action plan;basis for investment;primary energy production;gross domestic product;annual crop production;economic growth forecast;ground water recharge;agriculture and industry;water resource planning;concentration of pollution;high opportunity cost;alternative energy development;production of output;total energy demand;soil moisture content;body of water;Southern and Eastern;local land use;yield loss;soil loss;property right;road alignment;Environmental Assessment;supply curve;analytical techniques;sulfur deposition;pollution control;access road;industrial pollution;residential area;soil type;base case;hot spot;biomass availability;satellite image;
- See More
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Language
English
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Major Sector
(Historic)Multisector
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Sector
(Historic)Non-sector specific
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Topics
Biodiversity, Energy and Extractives, Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy, Erosion,
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Historic Topics
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Historic SubTopics
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing, Biodiversity, Global Environment Facility, Energy Demand, Energy and Environment, Energy and Mining, Global Environment, Natural Disasters,
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Unit Owning
Climate Policy & Finance (CPF)
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Originating Unit
Climate Policy & Finance (CPF)
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Version Type
Final
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Series Name
Environment Department working papers , no. 56. Environmental economics series,
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COMPLETE REPORT
Official version of document (may contain signatures, etc)
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Citation
Nelson, Gerald C. Gray, David A. | https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/253801468772159144/the-use-of-spatial-analysis-at-the-world-bank |
Today’s top story: To raise financially savvy kids, give money lessons a reboot. Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on 2021 money goals, how to discuss family finances in a crisis, and giving your wallet a good cleaning.
To Raise Financially Savvy Kids, Give Money Lessons a Reboot
Going beyond the piggy bank.
Smart Money Podcast: How You Can Achieve Money Goals in 2021
Starting off on the right foot.
How to Discuss Family Finances in a Crisis
Honesty is key.
Take These Cards Out of Your Wallet Right Now
Give your wallet some breathing room. | https://asklizweston.com/tag/crisis/ |
Aircraft Overview: Embraer Praetor 500 and 600
The Praetor 500 and 600 are, respectively, midsize and super-midsize business jets that are produced by Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. Announced by the company on Oct. 14, 2018, the Praetor 500 is an updated version of the company’s Legacy 450 (EMB-545 type), while the Praetor 600 represents an upgraded Legacy 500 (EMB-550 type). The upgrades incorporated into the Praetor airframes include increased fuel capacity, maximum weights and range, with the first Praetor 600 being delivered in June 2019 to a European customer. In addition to newly built Praetor 500 airframes, existing Legacy 450s can also be converted to the Praetor 500 standard. However, because of changes made to a number of systems, EMB-550 airframes that use the Legacy 500 commercial designation cannot be similarly upgraded to the Praetor 600 standard.
Cabin
According to the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency [Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil (ANAC)] type certificate data sheet (TCDS) that includes both the EMB-545 and EMB-550 types, the EMB-550 type has a maximum passenger capacity of 12, which matches the maximum passenger capacity advertised for the Praetor 600. Comparatively, Embraer promotes the Praetor 500 as having a nine-passenger maximum capacity, one less than the 10-passenger maximum certified capacity of the EMB-545 type. The respective cabin lengths of the Praetor 500 and 600 are 24 ft. and 27 ft. 6 in., with 150 ft.3 of baggage capacity available on the former airplane and 155 ft.3 of capacity on the latter airplane. Other cabin features include a flat-floor cabin that has a height of 6 ft. and a 5,800-ft. cabin altitude at the maximum operating altitude.
Avionics
The two required pilots operate both Praetor variants using Collins Aerospace’s Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics system that features four 15.1-in. high-resolution liquid crystal displays (LCD).
Mission and Performance
Despite any differences between the Praetor airframes, both the EMB-545 and EMB-550 types share several common operating limitations, including a 45,000-ft. maximum operating altitude and a maximum operating speed (MMO) of 0.83 Mach between 30,000 ft. and 45,000 ft. Performance figures that differ include the ranges of the Praetor 500 and 600, with the latter having 4,018-nm range based on that airframe’s long-range cruise speed, while carrying four passengers and with National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) instrument flight rules (IFR) reserves and a 200-nm alternate airport. Assuming the same criteria, the range of the Praetor 500 is 3,340 nm. In comparison to the Praetor 600, the Praetor 500 needs less distance for takeoff and landing, with a 4,222-ft. takeoff distance possible at the airframe’s maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), sea-level altitude and in standard conditions. The unfactored landing distance of that Praetor variant—which assumes NBAA IFR reserves, a landing weight with four 200-lb. passengers, sea-level altitude and in standard conditions—is 2,086 ft. Based on the same criteria, the takeoff distance and unfactored landing distance of the Praetor 600 are 4,717 ft. and 2,165 ft., respectively.
Unlock the data behind the charts with Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s Fleet & Data Services. Learn more at aviationweek.com/bcaaircraftoverview.
Air Charter Guide has full listings of all available Embraer charter aircraft. See the up-to-date list of aircraft and base locations on Air Charter Guide.
Variants
While both the Praetor 500 and 600 are powered by two Honeywell HTF7500E engines (AS907-3-1E), Embraer states that the amount thrust produced by the engines that power those airframes differs by nearly 1,000 lbf. Specifically, the Praetor 600’s HTF7500E engines are able produce 7,528 lbf. of thrust, a figure that the Praetor 500’s engines reduce to 6,540 lbf. Also differentiating these commercial designations of the EMB-545 and EMB-550 types are the total fuel capacities of 13,050 lb. for the Praetor 500 and 16,137 lb. for the Praetor 600, with those figures also representing increases in comparison to the Legacy 450 and 500. In terms of maximum payload, the Praetor 500 retains the 2,921 lb. maximum of the Legacy 450, while the 4,001-lb. maximum payload of the Praetor 600 represents an increase of 1,201 lb. in comparison to the same figure for the Legacy 500. Beyond the increases in maximum weights and fuel capacities that help to distinguish the Praetor 500 and 600 from the Legacy 450 and 500, both Praetor variants also feature new winglets. | https://m.atwonline.com/business-aviation/aircraft-overview/aircraft-overview-embraer-praetor-500-600 |
India needs to focus on predictability and preparedness of projects, in order to make the full use of overseas development assistance (ODA) offered by Japan, an official from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said on Friday.
"We need accountability for our Japanese taxpayers. We also need good preparedness on land acquisition, environment impact assessment, budget, and a detailed project report...Coordination should also be given high priority," said Sakamoto Takema, Director General, South Asia department, JICA.
He also said that it is crucial for India to maintain good track record for projects as JICA has accountability to tax payers in Japan.
Sakamoto was speaking at a webinar on Japan ODA to India organized by the International Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
"We can work together to address India’s private sector’s concerns in sectors such as infrastructure, regulations and human resources, creating a balanced society for sustainability by focussing on environment, gender, vulnerability. The same can be achieved through innovation of technology in the social and technology sector," he said.
JICA is the world's largest bilateral development agency, with India being it's most prominent partner in the world.
India has been the top recipient of yen loans from Japan since 2003 surpassing China, which had been holding that position for many years. Over the last decade, Japan has committed a total of Japanese Yen 3.1 trillion for a wide variety of infrastructure projects in India.
Japan is closely working with India in the north eastern region, with biodiversity conservation and forest management in Sikkim, support to the water supply and sewage projects in Guwahati. JICA is also involved in the north east road network connectivity across Assam and Meghalaya, among other important initiatives at Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.
“As the largest recipient of Japan’s ODA, India has become an important strategic international partner to Japan. Japan being the largest source of ODA for India supports the strategic vision of Japan extending its reach further in ASEAN and the South Asia region….Japan’s ODA can
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/527,181 filed on Jun. 30, 2017, which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to high-speed, low-latency, and high accuracy accumulation circuits of floating-point numbers. More particularly, the present invention relates to accumulation circuits that sum up floating-point numbers by non-floating-point adders for vector processors used in many applications.
In the digital world, a number may be represented by a fixed-point format or a floating-point format. A floating-point format is defined as having three fields, including a sign, a significand (or called “mantissa”), and an exponent. With these fields, a floating-point format provides a higher dynamic range than a fixed-point format in terms of representing a number.
Addition of two floating-point numbers is achieved by two steps. The first step is to align the floating-point number having a smaller exponent with the floating-point number having a larger exponent by shifting the significand bits of the floating-point number having the smaller exponent. The second step is to sum up the significand bits after the two floating-point numbers have been aligned. Since lower-order bits less than machine epsilon will be rounded off, there will be relative error. The relative error is pronounced when summing up a number that is much greater than the other (e.g. when a first number has an exponent larger than a second number by more than the number of significand bits, the summation of the two numbers would be the first number. It means that the second number cannot be summed up). The relative error is also pronounced when summing up a long sequence of floating point numbers (e.g. a summation of a big number followed by 1000 of smaller numbers). Some floating-point software algorithm sorts the floating-point numbers from least to greatest and then sums them up to increase the accuracy. However, sorting consumes extra time and perhaps more hardware circuitry and/or more program instructions.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
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Yet another problem of summing up a long sequence of floating point numbers is that a complicated feedback circuit is required. illustrates an example of a conventional floating-point accumulation circuit for accumulating a sequence of floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, . . . that are inputted continuously. The floating-point accumulation circuit comprises an adder tree circuit and a feedback circuit . In this example, the adder tree circuit has 7 floating-point adders arranged in three levels. A floating-point adder is a complicated circuit that has a long datapath. Hence, to speed up the operations of the floating-point accumulation circuit , each floating-point adder is designed with multiple pipeline stages (e.g. two pipeline stages as shown in ). As each floating-point adder has multiple pipeline stages (e.g. two pipeline stages as shown in ), the feedback circuit must have multiple floating-point adders (e.g. two floating-point adders as shown in ) and a delay circuit D to achieve accurate accumulation (i.e. previous partial sum value is fed-back to add with current partial sum value).
Therefore, a high-speed, low-latency, and high accuracy accumulation circuit of floating-point numbers is desired in today's vector processors.
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To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides an accumulation circuit, which comprises 2first format converters, an adder-tree circuit, a feedback adder, and a second format converter. The parameter N is a positive integer. Each of the first format converter converts a floating-point number to a non-floating-point number. The adder-tree circuit is arranged in N levels, wherein the ilevel has 2non-floating-point adders, and the variable i is an integer and ranges from 1 to N. The 2non-floating point adders of the first-level sum up every two of the 2non-floating-point numbers and produce 2outputs. The non-floating-point adders in each of the rest levels sum up every two of the outputs from the previous level. The non-floating-point adder in the Nlevel outputs a current partial sum value, which is a summed value of 2inputs (i.e. 2non-floating-point numbers). If the input vector length is longer than 2(i.e. the input sequence has more than 2floating-point numbers to be accumulated), the input sequence needs to be broken into batches of 2numbers except the last batch which may be less than 2numbers. For those scenarios, there need to be more than one iteration of summing up each batch. The summation of each batch is called ‘partial sum value.’ The feedback adder is designed to sum up a previous accumulation value and the current partial sum value (i.e. the summation of the current 2non-floating-point numbers) as an updated accumulation value. The second format converter is coupled to the feedback adder and converts the updated accumulation value to a floating-point accumulation value in a floating-point format.
N
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The present invention provides another accumulation circuit, which comprises 2first format converters, an adder-tree circuit, and a second format converter. The parameter N is a positive integer. Each of the first format converter converts a floating-point number to a non-floating-point number. The adder-tree circuit is arranged in N levels, wherein the ilevel has 2non-floating-point adders, and the variable i is an integer and ranges from 1 to N. The non-floating-point adders in the first level sum up every two of the non-floating-point numbers and produce 2outputs. The non-floating-point adders in each of the rest levels sum up every two of the outputs from the previous level. The non-floating-point adder in the Nlevel outputs an accumulation value. The second format converter converts the accumulation value to a floating-point accumulation value in a floating-point format.
As described in previous paragraphs, an accumulation circuit of the present invention converts the floating-point numbers into the non-floating-point numbers so that the non-floating-point numbers can be accumulated by the non-floating-point adders of the adder-tree circuit. For the accumulation circuit that comprises the feedback adder, the feedback adder further sums up a previous accumulation value and the current partial sum value as an updated accumulation value. The non-floating-point adders of the adder-tree circuit and the feedback adder are all in full-precision. After accumulating all the numbers, the accumulation circuit converts the (updated) accumulation value (which is still a non-floating-point number) to the floating-point format. Non-floating-point adders in this invention are not only full-precision adders but also have simple design and short datapath. Therefore, the floating-point numbers can be accumulated more accurately by shorter pipeline stages.
The detailed technology and preferred embodiments implemented for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention.
In the following descriptions, the accumulation circuits of the present invention will be explained with reference to embodiments thereof. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to any specific environment, applications, or particular implementations described in these embodiments. Therefore, description of these embodiments is only for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the scope of the present invention. It should be appreciated that, in the following embodiments and the attached drawings, elements unrelated to the present invention are omitted from depiction. In addition, dimensions of and dimensional relationships among individual elements in the attached drawings are provided only for purpose of illustration but not to limit the scope of the present invention.
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FIG. 2
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A first embodiment of the present invention is an accumulation circuit for accumulating a sequence of floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, and a schematic view of which is illustrated in . The accumulation circuit comprises 2first format converters , , , , , , , , an adder tree circuit , a feedback adder , and a second format converter , wherein the parameter N is 3. Please note that the parameter N may be any positive integer in other embodiments.
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The first format converters , , , , , , , are of the same type, and the second format converter is an inverse converter of any of the first format converters , , , , , , , . The adder tree circuit is arranged in N levels, wherein the ilevel has 2 non-floating-point adders, and the variable i is an integer and ranges from 1 to N. Each of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit is full-precision and the feedback adder is also full-precision. The non-floating-point adders of the adder tree circuit and the feedback adder providing full-precision means that throughout the accumulation, there is no sacrifice in accuracy in the accumulated result. They also in general have simple design and short datapath. Hence, the accumulation performed by the accumulation circuit can be achieved by shorter pipeline stages (e.g. they are so high-speed, one pipeline stage can even contain consecutive two levels of the adder tree circuit ).
FIG. 2
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As shown in , the inputs of the first level of the adder tree circuit are coupled to the outputs of the first format converters , , , , , , , one-on-one, while the inputs of each of the rest levels of the adder tree circuit are coupled to the output(s) of the corresponding previous level one-on-one (e.g. the inputs of the second level are coupled to the outputs of the first level one-on-one). An input of the feedback adder is coupled to an output of the Nlevel of the adder tree circuit and another input of the feedback adder is coupled to its output. An input of the second format converter is coupled to the output of the feedback adder .
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th
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Each of the first format converter , , , , , , , converts a floating-point number to a non-floating-point number. For example, at some instant, the first format converter , , , , , , , convert the floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, Ito a plurality of non-floating-point numbers. The first level (i.e. the non-floating-point adders of the first level) of the adder tree circuit sums up every two of the non-floating-point numbers outputted from the first format converters , , , , , , , and derives a plurality of outputs. Each of the rest levels (i.e. the second level to the Nlevel) of the adder tree circuit sums up the outputs from the corresponding previous level (i.e. the non-floating-point adders in each of the rest levels sums up every two of the outputs from the previous level). For example, the second level of the adder tree circuit sums up the outputs from the first level. The Nlevel of the adder tree circuit outputs a current partial sum value .
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If the input vector length is longer than 2(i.e. the input sequence has more than 2floating-point numbers to be accumulated), the input sequence needs to be broken into batches of 2numbers except the last batch which may be less than 2numbers. For those scenarios, there need to be more than one iteration of summing up each batch. The summation of each batch is called ‘partial sum value.’ The feedback adder sums up a previous accumulation value of the feedback adder and the current partial sum value as an updated accumulation value . The second format converter then converts the updated accumulation value to a floating-point accumulation value in a floating-point format.
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Please note that the type of the first format converters , , , , , , , , the type of the second format converter , and the type of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit and the feedback adder are related.
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In some embodiments, each of the first format converter , , , , , , , converts a floating-point number to a 2's complement number, each of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit is a 2's complement adder, the feedback adder is a 2's complement adder, and the aforementioned previous accumulation value , current partial sum value , and updated accumulation value are 2's complement numbers.
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In some other embodiments, each of the first format converter , , , , , , , converts a floating-point number to a 1's complement number, each of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit is a 1's complement adder, the feedback adder is a 1's complement adder, and the aforementioned previous accumulation value , current partial sum value , and updated accumulation value are 1's complement numbers.
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Yet in some other embodiments, each of the first format converter , , , , , , , converts a floating-point number to a negabinary number, each of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit is a negabinary adder, the feedback adder is a negabinary adder, and the aforementioned previous accumulation value , current partial sum value , and updated accumulation value are negabinary numbers.
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According to the above descriptions, the accumulation circuit converts the sequence of floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, . . . into the non-floating-point numbers so that the non-floating-point numbers can be accumulated by the non-floating-point adders of the adder tree circuit and the feedback adder , which are all full-precision. After accumulating the sequence of floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, . . . , the accumulation circuit converts the updated accumulation value (which is still a non-floating-point number) to the floating-point accumulation value in a floating-point format. The non-floating-point adders of the adder tree circuit and the feedback adder are all full-precision, and they also have short datapath. Therefore, the sequence of floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, . . . can be accumulated more accurately by shorter pipeline stages.
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FIG. 3
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A second embodiment of the present invention is an accumulation circuit for summing up a plurality of floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, Iand a schematic view of which is illustrated in . The main difference between the accumulation circuit and the accumulation circuit is that the accumulation circuit does not have the feedback adder coupled to the adder tree circuit . The accumulation circuit comprises 2first format converters , , , , , , , , an adder tree circuit , and a second format converter , wherein the parameter N is 3. Please note that the parameter N may be any positive integer in other embodiments.
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Similar to the first embodiment, the first format converters , , , , , , , are of the same type, and the second format converter is an inverse converter of any of the first format converters , , , , , , , . The adder tree circuit is arranged in N levels, wherein the ilevel has 2non-floating-point adders, and the variable i is an integer and ranges from 1 to N. Each of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit is full-precision. The non-floating-point adders of the adder tree circuit providing full-precision means that throughout the accumulation, there is no sacrifice in accuracy in the accumulated result. They also in general have simple design and have short datapath. Hence, the summation performed by the accumulation circuit can be achieved by shorter pipeline stages (e.g. they are so high-speed, one pipeline stage can even contain consecutive two levels of the adder tree circuit ).
FIG. 3
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As shown in , the inputs of the first level of the adder tree circuit are coupled to the outputs of the first format converters , , , , , , , one-on-one, while the inputs of each of the rest levels of the adder tree circuit are coupled to the output(s) of the corresponding previous level one-on-one (e.g. the inputs of the second level are coupled to the outputs of the first level one-on-one). An input of the second format converter is coupled to an output of the Nlevel of the adder tree circuit .
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Each of the first format converter , , , , , , , converts a floating-point number to a non-floating-point number. For example, at some instant, the first format converter , , , , , , , convert the floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, Ito a plurality of non-floating-point number. The first level (i.e. the non-floating-point adders of the first level) of the adder tree circuit sums up every two of the non-floating-point numbers outputted from the first format converters , , , , , , , and derives a plurality of outputs. Each of the rest levels (i.e. the non-floating-point adders of each of the second level to the Nlevel) of the adder tree circuit sums up the outputs from the corresponding previous level (i.e. the non-floating-point adders in each of the rest levels sums up every two of the outputs from the previous level), e.g. the second level of the adder tree circuit sums up the outputs from the first level. The Nlevel of the adder tree circuit outputs an accumulation value . The second format converter then converts the accumulation value to a floating-point accumulation value in a floating-point format.
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Please note that the type of the first format converters , , , , , , , , the type of the second format converter , and the type of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit are related.
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In some embodiments, each of the first format converter , , , , , , , converts a floating-point number to a 2's complement number, each of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit is a 2's complement adder, and the accumulation value is a 2's complement numbers.
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In some other embodiments, each of the first format converter , , , , , , , converts a floating-point number to a 1's complement number, each of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit is a 1's complement adder, and the accumulation value is a 1's complement numbers.
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Yet in some other embodiments, each of the first format converter , , , , , , , converts a floating-point number to a negabinary number, each of the non-floating-point adders in the adder tree circuit is a negabinary adder, and the accumulation value is a negabinary numbers.
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According to the above descriptions, the accumulation circuit converts the floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, Ito the non-floating-point number so that the non-floating-point numbers can be summed up by the non-floating-point adders of the adder tree circuit which are all full-precision. After summing up the floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, the accumulation circuit converts the accumulation value (which is still a non-floating-point number) to the floating-point accumulation value in a floating-point format. The non-floating-point adders of the adder tree circuit are all full-precision, and they also have simple design and have short datapath. Therefore, the floating-point numbers I, I, I, I, I, I, I, Ican be accumulated more accurately by shorter pipeline stages.
The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
Descriptions of the Related Art
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
1
illustrates an example of a conventional floating-point accumulation circuit ;
FIG. 2
2
illustrates the accumulation circuit of the first embodiment; and
FIG. 3
3
illustrates the accumulation circuit of the second embodiment. | |
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. If standards are met, accredited status is granted by the agency. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an organisation that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Get data regarding Education Loan according to AISHE survey. Government of India in consultation with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Bankers Association (IBA) has framed a Comprehensive Educational Loan Scheme to provide Interest Subsidy to ensure that no deserving student in the Country is deprived of higher education for want of finances. The new scheme covers all type of courses including professional courses in schools and colleges in India.
Get data on Availability of Infrastructure in College/Institution according to AISHE Survey.
The data provides the details of male and female teachers in position on Full time or Para/Contract basis in Rural/Urban/Total area at All India level in all the 35 states. Para Teachers are those teachers who have been appointed in primary and upper primary schools either on contract or on terms and conditions different from the regular teacher cadre.
The class wise enrolment refers to the admission of students in all the classes from I to XII. The data is related to number of students enrolled across different education level or class in Rural/Urban/Total Area at all India level in all the 35 states. It also includes gender(Boys/Girls) based enrolment at all the school levels
The data refers to the availability of facilities within school premises in different categories of schools(Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary and higher Secondary School). It provides details of availability of drinking water, Urinal and playground in schools in different Area Name, Total/Rural/Urban at all India Level.
The data refers to number of schools according to school building in which majority of classes are held. It provides details of availability of infrastructural facilities such as pucca, partly pucca, Kuchcha, tent, open Space in different categories of schools. A school building is to be treated as pucca if it has its wall made of Burnt Bricks, stones, cement, concrete or timber, plywood, artificial wood of synthetic material and PVC, and roof made of brick, stones,timber,plywood, bamboo, artificial wood of synthetic material etc.
The authority, which runs a school, determines its type of management.
School category is determined as per state pattern on the basis of the highest class in a school. According to the national pattern, A school having classes up to V is termed as Primary School, class from VI to VIII is termed as Upper Primary School, Class from IX to X is termed as Secondary and Class XI-XII is termed as Higher Secondary. | https://data.gov.in/ministrydepartment/ministry-human-resource-development?page=2 |
It's that time of the year--Come to the HLAA National Convention 2014 and meet other people with hearing loss and attend communication-accessible workshops and sessions:
Over forty communication-accessible workshops and demonstrations on topics such as employment, advocacy, hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive technology, and relationships. There are also dynamic and interactive workshops for leaders of HLAA Chapters and State Associations;
Event
This is the 5th reunion for the TSD Class of 1942. On Thursday, June 26th there will be tours of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, morning or afternoon. On Friday night, a 2-hr Tennessee Riverboat cruise complete with prizes and dinner will board at 6:30 pm and return at 9:00 pm. On Saturday, there will be both morning and afternoon tours of the TSD campus. Then Saturday night, there will be a banquet dinner at the Knoxville Marriott at 6:00 pm. See contacts listed for questions and/or more information.
Event
On May 3rd, 2014, Bridges will start a new tradition and throw a Kentucky Derby Party, Nashville Style. The Inaugural Music City Derby Day will be an afternoon to remember with mint juleps, finger sandwiches, fancy hats, stick horse races, live music and of course, complete coverage of the Kentucky Derby!
Event
Please join us at the 2014 AHEAD Conference, being held in conjunction with the pepnet 2 Training Institute (PTI). We will take an in-depth look at strategies that disability services providers can use to increase opportunities to enhance access and engagement, while introducing diversified perspectives and directions at institutions of higher education regardless of office size or geographic location.
Event
- Learn the advanced principles, concepts, and techniques of Auditory-Verbal Therapy as it relates to infants and toddlers.
- Learn to assess infants/toddlers and formulate family-centered goals.
- Learn specific auditory-verbal techniques for structured and natural environment activities that establish early listening and spoken communication.
- Learn strategies and techniques for Parent Training.
- Earn 0.6 ASHA CEUs!
Presenter: Pratibha Srinivasan, Au.D., CCC-A, LSLS-Cert.AVT
Event
- Learn how to plan auditory activities efficiently using a limited set of materials ("toolsets")
- Learn how to use each toolset for varied auditory skill levels (e.g., pattern perception, word-level, connected language, etc.)
- Learn how to use the same toolset for different auditory skill types (e.g., auditory feedback, discrimination, comprehension, etc.)
- Learn how activity templates can simplify planning and preparation for large caseloads
- Earn 0.4 ASHA CEUs!
Event
- Examine the foundational auditory skills that can lead to higher levels of academic achievement
- Learn to plan auditory activities that focus on these foundational skills while developing vocabulary, targeting spoken language and building curricular concepts
- Connect specific auditory skills to connected spoken language used in academic learning e.g. explanations, discussions, and factual information
- Learn how to plan a session that develops listening and spoken language using cross-curricular academic content
- Earn 0.4 ASHA CEUs!
Event
- Learn how CI differs from hearing aids; Expectations for children.
- Learn how to interpret the processor map in terms of speech acoustics.
- Learn how to use therapy to ensure that the CI is adjusted appropriately.
- Learn how to customize auditory activities for children with a CI.
- Earn 0.4 ASHA CEUs!
Presenter: Pratibha Srinivasan, Au.D., CCC-A, LSLS-Cert.AVT
Event
- Learn how children with hearing loss develop intelligible spoken language through audition
- Learn about the acoustic cues for speech that are available for auditory-verbal development
- Learn auditory strategies and techniques for developmental as well as remedial instruction
- Learn a basic hierarchy of auditory skills specific to phonetic level development
- Examine a variety of listening activities for varying stages of development, as well as strategies for generalization of skills
- Earn ASHA CEUs! | https://tndeaflibrary.nashville.gov/event-region/national?mini=2021-01&page=18 |
Composting: An Alternative for Livestock Manure Management and Disposal of Dead Animals
This publication compares composted and uncomposted manure; explains the composting process; describes equipment and strategies for composting; and lists uses, advantages, and drawbacks of compost. Discusses regulations, and briefly mentions methods for composting animal carcasses.
Compost for blueberry plants: testing and tips
Compost is an acceptable amendment for blueberry plants, but it's important to test it before you apply it. Pay attention to pH and nutrient levels, and watch out for weeds. | https://extension.oregonstate.edu/search?search=soil&search-filter%5B0%5D=keyword%3Acompost&search-filter%5B1%5D=topic%3AFood%20Safety%20and%20Storage&search-filter%5B2%5D=topic%3Aorganic%20agriculture&search-filter%5B3%5D=topic%3Apesticide%20safety%20and%20education |
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]
Dec-06-19
Seirawan vs Comet, 1996
GlennOliver
: I'm really not seeing what in this position forced a move-19 resignation by Black. I can see it is possible to analyse a White win over another 50+ moves, but do not see any immediate coup forcing resignation. What am I missing, please?
Nov-28-19
Geller vs Portisch, 1967
GlennOliver
: The alternate defence, 22. ... Re6, falls to the Knight mate - 22. Qf6 Re6 23. Qh8+ Ke7 24. Nf5#
Sep-21-19
Tartakower vs R Broadbent, 1946
GlennOliver
: Inspired attack AND defence, a lesser player than Tartakower might well not have seen this continuation through to the victory.
Jul-28-19
Schlechter vs Swiderski, 1903
GlennOliver
: This is a win for Black, but it is by no means trivial to complete that win. Without precise play by Black, White has a number of opportunities to grasp the draw.
Apr-18-19
Ljubojevic vs A Planinc, 1971
GlennOliver
: The degree of innovation is almost suggestive of a composition rather than the over-the-board game which it actually was. Kudos to Planinc for such a brilliancy.
Apr-17-19
T Malhotra vs T C O'Neill, 2009
GlennOliver
: 31. Ra7 loses the tempo and the game to 31. ... Rxg3+
Apr-16-19
Staunton vs Anderssen, 1851
GlennOliver
: If 29. ... Kh8 rather than the text 29. ... Kf7, White has an advantage but the win over the board would not have been trivial.
Apr-05-19
Glucksberg vs Najdorf, 1929
GlennOliver
: The initial Ng6 is readily recognised as a viable move, but the full continuation requires Najdorf's genius.
Mar-25-19
A Esipenko vs Volodar Murzin, 2019
GlennOliver
: Young Andrey Esipenko is a very innovative player, with potential to compete at the highest level.
Mar-25-19
T Baron vs K Piorun, 2019
GlennOliver
: The game gives the impression that White was quickly outside his theoretical repertoire and never really gained a first foothold. After the most obvious continuation, 24. Qc5+, White gains the Knight in the exchange but is still a major piece down.
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F.A.Q. | https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessuser?uname=GlennOliver |
In their second estimate of the US GDP for the fourth quarter of 2014, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that the economy was growing at a +2.18% annualized rate, down roughly a half percent (-0.46%) from the +2.64% previously reported and down -2.78% from the growth rate reported for the prior quarter.
The downward revisions were in several of its components: lower inventory growth removed -0.70% from the headline growth rate, slower consumer goods spending removed another -0.19%, and imports took yet another -0.19%.
Consumer services spending was revised upward +0.15%, and non-residential fixed investment was reported to be +0.34% higher than previously published.
Real annualized per capita disposable income was revised downward by -$33 (now reported to be $37,742 per annum). This is down $90 per year from the 4th quarter of 2012. The household savings rate improved +0.1% for the quarter to 4.7%.
As mentioned last month, plunging energy prices during the quarter were likely playing havoc with many of the numbers in this report. US “at the pump” gasoline prices fell 33% quarter-to-quarter — pushing all consumer oriented inflation indexes firmly into negative territory. During the fourth quarter (i.e., from October through December) the seasonally adjusted CPI-U index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was solidly dis-inflationary at a -2.47% (annualized) rate, and the price index reported by the Billion Prices Project (BPP — which arguably more fully reflected the “at the pump” impact on American households) was significantly more dis-inflationary, dropping a full -2.14% quarter-to-quarter (an astounding -8.30% annualized rate during the quarter).
Yet for this report the BEA still assumed a very mildly dis-inflationary annualized deflator of only -0.14%. The disparity between the BEA’s and the BLS’s “deflators” raises some serious consistency issues. Over reported inflation (or under reported dis-inflation) will result in a more pessimistic growth data, and if the BEA’s “nominal” numbers were corrected for inflation using the line-item appropriate BLS CPI-U and PPI indexes, the economy would be reported to be growing at an implausibly high 6.52% annualized rate. Clearly the BEA’s deflator is troubling, but using the more reasonable deflators from the BLS generates nonsensical growth rates when applied to the BEA’s nominal data — suggesting that the BEA’s initial nominal data may be more overstated (or guesstimated) than reasonable deflators can handle.
Among the notable items in the report :
- The headline contribution from consumer expenditures for goods was +1.01% (down -0.19% from the prior estimate).
- The contribution made by consumer services spending to the headline increased to +1.82% (up +0.15% from the previous report). The combined consumer contribution to the headline number was 2.83%, down -0.04% from the prior estimate.
- Commercial private fixed investments provided +0.71% of the headline number (up +0.34% from the previous report, but down -0.50% from the 1.21% in the 3rd quarter), and this drop was nearly all in heavy equipment (industrial and transportation). The reported growth came almost entirely from IT spending and intellectual property.
- Inventories contributed +0.12% to the headline number (down a full -0.70% from the prior estimate).
- Governmental spending removed -0.32% from the headline (up +0.08% from the previous report but down -1.12% from the 3rd quarter). As mentioned last month, the prior quarter’s growth in Federal spending was in fact entirely spurious: spending pulled forward from the 4th quarter as a result of fiscal year-end budgetary maneuvers.
- Exports are now reported to be contributing +0.42% to the headline growth rate (up +0.05% from the previous estimate).
- Imports subtracted -1.58% from the headline number (down -1.74% from the prior quarter).
- The annualized growth rate for the “real final sales of domestic product” is now reported to be +2.06% (down -2.93% from the prior quarter). This is the BEA’s “bottom line” measurement of the economy.
- And as mentioned above, real per-capita annual disposable income was revised downward by -$33 per year. The new number represents an annualized growth rate of +2.95%. Real disposable income is still down -$90 per year from the fourth quarter of 2012 (before the FICA rates normalized) and it is up only +2.90% in total since the second quarter of 2008 — a pathetic +0.44% annualized growth rate over the past 6 and a half years.
The Numbers, As Revised
As a quick reminder, the classic definition of the GDP can be summarized with the following equation :
GDP = private consumption + gross private investment + government spending + (exports – imports)
or, as it is commonly expressed in algebraic shorthand :
GDP = C + I + G + (X-M)
In the new report the values for that equation (total dollars, percentage of the total GDP, and contribution to the final percentage growth number) are as follows :
GDP Components Table
|Total GDP||=||C||+||I||+||G||+||(X-M)|
|Annual $ (trillions)||$17.7||=||$12.1||+||$3.0||+||$3.2||+||$-0.6|
|% of GDP||100.0%||=||68.4%||+||16.7%||+||18.0%||+||-3.1%|
|Contribution to GDP Growth %||2.18%||=||2.83%||+||0.83%||+||-0.32%||+||-1.16%|
The quarter-to-quarter changes in the contributions that various components make to the overall GDP can be best understood from the table below, which breaks out the component contributions in more detail and over time. In the table below we have split the “C” component into goods and services, split the “I” component into fixed investment and inventories, separated exports from imports, added a line for the BEA’s “Real Final Sales of Domestic Product” and listed the quarters in columns with the most current to the left :
Quarterly Changes in % Contributions to GDP
Summary and Commentary
The revisions in this report are relatively minor, and probably should be considered just “noise” in the context of an economy with a slowing growth rate. Among our observations about this report are:
- At face value, the +2.06% “bottom line” Real Final Sales growth rate seems plausible for the US economy during the fourth quarter of 2014.
- The reported strong growth in fixed investment occurred primarily in two areas: IT spending and the recently added (and very fuzzy) arena of “intellectual property.”
- Rampant or rouge deflators are likely as much a factor in the headline number as real growth.
Looking forward, we are often told that “bad weather” is a major factor in first quarter economic data — keeping shoppers home and suppressing construction work. Given the quarter-to-quarter weakening already evident in the GDP numbers, the first quarter probably wasn’t going to be particularly pleasant even before the recent record snowfalls. It could now be getting just as nasty as the weather itself. | https://econintersect.com/a/blogs/blog1.php/personal-income-limiting-gdp-growth |
This collection includes video documentation of the Sasi language of Botswana, collected by Chris Collins of New York University. The materials were mostly created during the academic year 2019-2020 for the ELDP funded research project “Documenting Sasi”.
Group represented
Sasi is a language whose speakers are found in southeastern Botswana in and around Mokgenene, Poloka, Dibete and nearby cattle posts. The speakers themselves refer to the language as nǃaˤa. As of 2020, there were approximately 20 remaining speakers, all of whom are over 60.
Language information
Sasi is closely related to ǂHoan which is spoken in the area south and east of the Khutse game reserve (e.g., Khekhenye, Dutlwe, Shorilatholo). Together with ǂHoan it forms the ǂʔamkoe branch of Kx’a (Northern Khoisan). Sasi has syntactic features characteristic of the non-central Khoisan languages, which include languages of the Kx’a, !Ui and Tuu groups. For example, Sasi has a rich system of verbal compounds (also known as serial verb constructions). Sasi marks (non-direct object) dependents of the verb with oblique marking (also called the linker). Lastly, Sasi has a complicated system of nominal plural marking and verbal pluractionality marking. For a preliminary grammatical description of Sasi, and a discussion of its relation to ǂHoan, see Collins and Gruber 2014.
Collection contents
This collection includes around 48 hours of audio and video recordings of the Sasi language. Of the total, there are 38 oral texts (3.5 hours) that have been fully transcribed, glossed and translated into both English and Setswana, using FLEx and ELAN.
The videos recorded were from a wide variety genres, including personal anecdotes (e.g., cattle theft), personal grievances (e.g., lack of a house and other amenities), procedures (e.g., making traditional beer, farming), life histories, historical events (e.g., the attack of the Ndebele), folktales, issues affecting the village (e.g., the lack of a village borehole, the issue of farmland), conversations, bartering, traditional ceremonies (e.g., marriage), descriptions of people (e.g., Mr. Tarr, the Basarwa), descriptions of places (e.g., Dinokwe, a historical trading post), descriptions of children’s games and attitudes towards the Sasi language. Also recorded were a few interviews with the non-Sasi speaking children of the consultants.
Many of the oral texts are also recorded in Setswana and English (usually in an additional video in the session/bundle), so even if they are not transcribed viewers can understand them.
Special Characteristics
These oral texts provide detailed information about the lives and history of the Sasi, a minority group in Botswana. Although they would be labeled as Baswarwa in Botswana, they do not consider themselves to be Basarwara or to speak Sesarwa (the language of the Basarwa). They view themselves to be historically connected to the Bakwena, with an oral history of migrating from Molepolole.
Collection history
Chris Collins started documenting Sasi in 1996-1997 and the summer of 1998 as part of a project looking at the syntax of ǂHoan. He then returned to do further documentation of Sasi (and other Khoisan languages) during 2011-2012 and 2015-2016, both times collaborating with Andy Chebanne of the University of Botswana. The ELAR collection mostly contains video footage gathered during 2019-2020.
Other information
The bundles/sessions are named in the following manner. Typically, several oral texts were recorded on a single day. So, each bundle/session is of the form: 20200112_01. This means the following: The oral text was recorded on January 12th, 2020. It is the first oral text recorded on that day.
Acknowledgement and citation
Many people deserve thanks for their help in carrying out this documentation project. First and foremost is my wife, Akuwa Collins, who has always shown an interest in my work with the Khoisan languages, encouraging me when I have felt overwhelmed and accompanying me on many trips into the field. Andy Chebanne of the University of Botswana has been my long-term collaborator on Sasi. I have benefited much from his knowledge of Botswana and the Khoisan languages. Blesswell Kure and Morgan Chebani deserve thanks for their help as translators and research assistants, helping out in many unexpected ways (e.g., strapping water containers to the top of my 4×4). Zach Wellstood made various valuable contributions to the project, including shooting some video in 2016 and helping with the creation of the Sasi spelling primer. Bonny Sands has been a source of constant support, especially in helping me to find documents. Most importantly, I thank the village elders for their good humor and unbounded patience in collaborating with me on the documentation of their language.
Collins, Chris. 2020. Documenting Sasi. Endangered Languages Archive. Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/2196/caad62bf-2302-429d-a65f-23008f7b118f. Accessed on [insert date here]. | https://www.elararchive.org/dk0617/ |
Following the success of prominent feature films shot on location, including Tolkien’s wildly popular The Lord of the Rings, New Zealand boasts an impressive film tourism industry. This book examines the relationship between New Zealand’s cinematic representation—as both a vast expanse of natural beauty and a magical world of fantasy on screen—and its tourism imagery, including the ways in which savvy local tourism boards have in recent decades used the country’s film representations to sell New Zealand as a premiere travel destination. Focusing on the films that have had a strong impact on marketing strategies by local tourist boards, Touring the Screen will be of interest to all those working and studying in the fields of cinema, postcolonial history, and tourism studies.
231 pages | 20 halftones, 10 tables | 7 x 9 | © 2011
Travel and Tourism: Travel Writing and Guides
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Scope of the study
Film, tourism and postmodernism
Chapter outline
Notes
Early New Zealand Films and Western Voy(ag)eurs
Introduction
New Zealand, or the "world in a nutshell"
New Zealanders: "eternal tourists and proud pioneers"
The Maori: between ethnographic and tourist romance
Empty landscapes and (post)colonial enterprises
1940–1990: New Zealand Film Landscapes for Prospective ’Cinenauts’
Introduction
From the National Film Unit to the Film Commission
Mapping New Zealand landscapes
Place versus space
Escape from the narrative space
Transitional space, porous space: the road
The city, or New Zealand dystopia
Natural places and natural spaces: the mountain and the bush
Journey to the centre of the film: the ’cinenauts’
The Legacy of The Piano: Film-Tourist Geographies and the Aesthetic of the Sublime
Introduction
Methodological premises
Ada McGrath: a Victorian adventure tourist in New Zealand
Nature, space and narrative
Locations and national identity
Framing the beach
Return to the beach: Memory and Desire
Conclusions
From Ngati to Whale Rider: The Filmic Journey of the Indigenous Traveller
Introduction
Fourth Cinema
Whale Rider: indigenous locations and global imaginary
Whangara: between reality and hyper-reality
Ethnographic, neo-colonial and tourist gazes
The indigenous traveller
The hybrid traveller
The Western traveller
Conclusions
From Mt. Fuji to Mt. Taranaki: Dépaysement and Celebrity Worship in The Last Samurai
Introduction
The Last Samurai in Taranaki
The Last Samurai and tourist imagination
From Mt. Taranaki to Mt. Fuji: negotiating the meaning of place
Celebrity worship
The management of film-induced tourism: critical factors
Conclusions
’Welcome to New Zealand, Home of Middle Earth’: Heterotopian Impulse, Western Anxiety and Spatial Identity in The Lord of the Rings
Introduction
The Lord of the Rings: merchandising and film franchise
Style, narrative and space in The Lord of the Rings
9/11 and Western anxiety
New Zealand
Conclusions
Conclusions
Filmography
Bibliography
Be the first to know
Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists! | https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/T/bo12321531.html |
The Manager Security (BlueCities) oversees and monitors the security activities to ensure that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is conforming to security operations at each JetBlue station of operation. The Manager monitors the conduct of all Company security processes and procedures being carried out at the BlueCities.
Essential Responsibilities
-
- Maintain effective working relations with external stakeholders including the TSA and local law enforcement authorities in relation to any security related issues at the BlueCities station
- Collaborate with all JetBlue internal stakeholders, ensuring that any security related issues are addressed in a timely and effective manner
- Report all facts and data relevant to security in a concise and accurate fashion to management in written and verbal form
- Prepare and maintains updated emergency security plans and contingency plans for all JetBlue properties
- Identify security vulnerabilities/issues at the BlueCities and prepares redress reports
- Supports Director in the accomplishment of additional security audit tasks as may be assigned
- Ensure adherence to all Safety and Security regulations
- Other duties as assigned
Minimum Experience and Qualifications
- High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)
- Five (5) years of experience in law enforcement or private security sector
- Five (5) years of supervisory experience
- Experience in staffing and scheduling, incident response, and creating reports
- Proficient with Microsoft Office suite
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Take a significant role in the development of crewmembers to support the engagement, growth, goal achievement
- Pass a ten (10) year background check and pre-employment drug test
- Legally eligible to work in the country in which the position is located
Preferred Experience and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Demonstrate competencies in leadership – mentoring and staff development
- Exceptional project management skills
- Proficient with web based integrated secondary programs such as Perspective, CCure, Indigo, Sabre
- Ability to interface with all JetBlue operational components
Crewmember Expectations:
- Regular attendance and punctuality
- Potential need to work flexible hours and be available to respond on short-notice
- Well-groomed and able to maintain a professional appearance
- When working or traveling on JetBlue flights, and if time permits, all capable crewmembers are asked to assist with light cleaning of the aircraft
- Must be an appropriate organizational fit for the JetBlue culture, that is, exhibit the JetBlue values of Safety, Caring, Integrity, Passion and Fun
- Must fulfill safety accountabilities as prescribed by JetBlue’s Safety Management System
- Promote JetBlue’s #1 value of safety as a Safety Ambassador, supporting JetBlue’s Safety Management System (SMS) components, Safety Policy and behavioral standards
- Identify safety concerns, issues, incidents or hazards that should be reported and report them whenever possible and by any means necessary including JetBlue’s confidential reporting systems (Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) or Safety Action Report(SAR))
- Responsible for adhering to all applicable laws, regulations (FAA, OSHA, DOT, etc.) and Company policies, procedures and risk controls
- Uphold JetBlue’s safety performance metric goals and understand how they relate to their duties and responsibilities
- Identify and recall JetBlue’s Safety Management System (SMS), Safety Policy, Security Policy and behavioral standards
Equipment:
- Computer and other office equipment
Work Environment:
- Normal Office Environment
- Airports Environment
- Hangar Environment
- Able to work flexible hours and be available for emergency response and on short notice
Physical Effort: | https://careers.jetblue.com/job/Fort-Lauderdale-Manager-Security-FL-33315/729245600/ |
A documentary that reflects upon the importance of learning black history in the U.S. in order to shape a better future for our young black citizens, starting with Chicago.
Synopsis
Sankofa, a word in the Twi language of Ghana, means, “Go back and fetch it”. Put simply, it is the practice of going into the past in order to learn from it and reclaim one’s essence. In this sixty-minute documentary, Chicago’s past and present-day black community will be explored and reflected upon, with the aim of inspiring and guiding the next generations of black people living in the city.
With Sankofa, the filmmakers want to start a dialogue with the black community about their future and the ways in which progress can be made. The history of Chicago’s black community is important for young children to learn from, as they may one day be essential in finding solutions for future generations. How important is it for black children to learn their history? Sankofa posits that by knowing their past, these children can open doors towards a better, safe future.
GET INVOLVED
Sankofa Chicago is a sponsored project through FRACTURED ATLAS, a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Sankofa Chicago must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only, and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. | https://tellersuntold.com/documentary-film/ |
mathematical models of dynamic systems based on the ob-served data from the systems It is an iterative process and the initial step in the model-based control design To design the controller, the mathematical mode l of the system (ie, the servo motor and the ball screw) has to ,
A new mathematical model for grinding the ball part of a ball end mill is proposed The complete process for manufacturing a ball end mill is formulated, including processes such as modeling the rake and clearance fac The helical flute surface of the ball end mill is analytically calculated and verified by means of simulation and experiment
CiteSeerX - Document Details (Isaac Councill, Lee Giles, Pradeep Teregowda): Abstract: The advantages of use closed circuit grinding cement clinker and additives into a ball mill shown A mathematical model of the process separation of fine powders in view of the separation of air flow turbulence, allowing to investigate the separation process based on the fractional composition of the .
Abstract Abstract 1 This paper presents a mathematical model for Tube-ball mills which is developed based on the previous work The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method is used to identify the unknown parameters of the coal mill model with the on-line measurement data provided by EDF Energy
From the operation mechanism of the ball mill with double inlets and outlets, this paper gives a research work to the simulation of the ball mill with doub Research of Mathematical Model of the Ball Mill with Double Inlets and Outlets - IEEE Conference Publication
May 01, 2014· A mathematical model for simulating and manufacturing ball end mill A mathematical model for simulating and manufacturing ball end mill Nguyen, Hien; Ko, Sung-Lim 2014-05-01 00:00:00 The performance of ball end mill cutters in cutting operations is influenced by the configuration of the rake and clearance faces in the ball component From the mathematical design ,
Civil Engineering Institute, Kharkov Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemyh, No 4, pp 87–90, July–August, 1980
The ball and beam system can usually be found in most university control labs since it is relatively easy to build, model and control theoretically The system includes a ball, a beam, a motor and several sensors The basic idea is to use the torque generated from motor to the control the position of the ball on the beam The ball rolls on the
MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR CALCULATING SCALLOP HEIGHT OF TOROIDAL CUTTER IN FIVE-AXIS MILLING Hendriko Hendriko Politeknik Caltex Riau, Pekanbaru, Riau Indonesia , produces smaller scallops as compared to ball-end mill Other studies [9 -13] proposed method for calculating the scallop height for ball-end mill to achieve optimal tool path Ozturk .
An Introduction to Mathematical Modelling by Michael D Alder An Introduction to Mathematical Modelling , Mathematical models do not replace words and pictures, they sharpen them , and just the right weight cannon ball to lob the ball over a castle wall without blowing up the gun, then you have a system And you’d better have
Simple mathematical model for a bouncing ball Ask Question Asked 3 years, 8 months ago , I'm also not very math or physics-savvy, so if you can explain it in a way that a law student would understand or link me to some appropriate material, I'd appreciate it a lot
in modeling and control of the grinding process in industrial ball mills Basic kinetic and energy models of the grinding process are described and the most commonly used control strategies are analyzed and discussed Keywords: , mathematical models and control methods are ,
A Mathematical Model is an abstraction of a real-life scenario, system or event that uses mathematical language to describe and predict the behavior, dynamics and evolution of said scenario, system or event Mathematical Modelling is thus the step.
semi-industrial ball mill which operates in a closed circuit He evaluated performance of a ball mill circuit by varying the L/D ratio, ball charge filling ratio, ball size and residence time and determined their optimum value Kawatra etal used mathematical model to study methods for optimizing
cement mill mathematical model ebook cement process technology optimization pdf vibratory screen support design in san francisco used primary crushers for sale cement grinding process cement plant cement plant equipment cement mill mathematical model ebook allafrica i delivered hammer mills to liato s list of cement grinding unit in south indias most best stone
Modeling and Simulation of Whole Ball Mill Grinding Plant for Integrated Control , the model for the ball mill and hydrocyclone are , universally applicable mathematical model of the .
Mathematics and Control Engineering of Grinding Technology Ball Mill Grinding Authors: Keviczky, L, Hilger, M, Kolostori, J Free Preview
The mathematical model is transparent with the respect to engineering process as all the parameters of the model have their specified physics meaning The mathematical model has been implemented on-line and is used for condition monitoring II DEVELOPMENT OF A TUBE-BALL MILL MATHEMATICAL MODEL A tube-ball mill structure is illustrated in Figure 1
Developed a mathematical model for a ball mill to predict product size distribution using population balance modeling and integrated the model with the existing classifier model
Business Insider/Andy Kiersz, odds and prizes from Powerball At first glance, we end up with a positive expected value of $072 That seems as though it might make sense to buy a ticket, but .
Geometallurgy relates to the practice of combining geology or geostatistics with metallurgy, or, more specifically, extractive metallurgy, to create a spatially or geologically based predictive model for mineral processing plants It is used in the hard rock mining industry for risk management and mitigation during mineral processing plant design It is also used, to a lesser extent, for .
Jul 17, 2013· To address this problem, a new mathematical model of the flute parameters in terms of the dimensions and the set-up angle of the 4Y1 wheel is formulated, thus, the 4Y1 wheel can be used in flute grinding This work lays a foundation of using complex wheels to grind flutes with more shapes in order to improve the end-mill's cutting ability
mathematical models to assist in the design and optimization of AG/SAG mill operations The existing mathematical models to date are incapable of dealing with multi-component feeds In other words, they consider a homogenous feed, which is an unrealistic scenario for some mining operations
balance could be used for modelling of the grinding circuit Then, models for each unit in the circuit were developed by using mass balanced data The models used are the perfect mixing model for ball mills and the efficiency curve model for separators Ball mill model for steady state operations includes two sets of model parameters.
The performance of ball end mill cutters in cutting operations is influenced by the configuration of the rake and clearance faces in the ball component From the mathematical design of a cutting ed.
We propose the fundamental conditions that must govern the engagement between the grinding wheel and the designed rake face in order to avoid interference while machining a ball end mill As a result, a new mathematical model for determining the wheel location and a software program for simulating the generation of the rake face of a ball end .
A new mathematical model for grinding the ball end mill is proposed • The rake face of ball end mill is modeled as a developable surface • The conditions of engagement between wheel and the rake face are established • The configuration of the flute surface was directly computed
A multi-segment mathematical model for Tube-Ball mill is developed and the unknown parameters were identified using on-site measurement data from Cottam power plant, in which evolutionary computation techniques are adopted The mill model has been verified by comparing the model ,
The time history of ball impact force was estimated using three existing models and two new models A new mathematical model that took into account a rapid change in ball surface area and heterogeneous ball deformation showed a distinctive advantage to estimate the peak forces and its occurrence times and to reproduce time history of ball .
The paper presents an original mathematical model for describing the model of object crushing at impact mills The mathematical model of a to-be-ground object flow, that had deduced previously,, allows obtaining an insight into both to-be-ground objects and their multitude and their movements before and after grinding Crushing the mass of to-be-ground objects is reasonable to be characterizing.
We have set up a team with hundreds of technical engineers to resolve a series of problems during project consultation, on-site surveys, sample analysis, program design, installation, commissioning and maintenance guidance. | http://service-truck.pl/9412.html |
Retrospective At Yeshiva University Museum: Moritz Daniel Oppenheim
Many of these paintings I do not like. Some I do. All of them are very important for us to look at and understand since Oppenheim’s work represents the seminal encounter between Jewish tradition and the challenges of the modern world.
This exhibition, Moritz Daniel Oppenheim: Jewish Identity in Nineteenth Century Art, presents over 90 paintings of the first and perhaps most famous Jewish artist of the 19th century. It presents all aspects of his very successful career and for the first time shows his depth and skill as a portraitist and as a genre painter. The exhibition at Yeshiva University Museum on 16th Street is beautifully hung and designed by Oliver Hirsch of Hirsch & Associates Fine Art Services. The show was organized by the Judisches Museum der Stadt Frankfurt am Main under the patronage of the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and is accompanied by a definitive catalogue raisonne published by the Frankfurt Jewish Museum. It must be seen by anyone interested in Jewish Art.
Who is this man Moritz Oppenheim (1800-1882)? He was the first Jewish painter of the 19th century to work within the German non-Jewish world and still affirm his Jewishness. As far as we know he remained observant and was within the community of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch in Frankfurt, Germany.
He was eighteen when he painted the aggressive Moses with the Law. It is a wall sized evocation of our Teacher pointing at “You shall have no other gods…” within the Ten Commandments, that maintains respect and piety in both the powerful depiction of Moses and the avoidance of using God’s name fully spelled out. The emphasis on the second commandment by the artist shows a subtlety well beyond his years.
His work as a portraitist of prominent gentiles and Jews was the work that gained him well-deserved universal celebration. Throughout his career, his portraits are convincing encounters with real people. Both the serious and evocative 1822 Self-Portrait and Ludwig Borne (1831), of the apostate journalist and poet who worked for Jewish emancipation, show Oppenheim as a master of romantic brushwork and direct observation. His portraits of the elder Hanna Baer and Joseph Baer, both from 1840, have a dignity and simplicity of the Golden Age of Dutch portraits.
The more complex paintings he did of members of the Rothschild family over a twenty year period rise above simply competent society portraits. His bridegroom portrait of Lionel Nathan von Rothschild (1836) exudes a confidence in which all things seem possible. Oppenheim seems to genuinely share the optimism of his sitter posed in a classic triangular composition in perfect balance before a subdued and stately landscape. The painting celebrating the marriage of Charlotte von Rothschild to her cousin Lionel is a much more studied affair that attempts an early Renaissance style. Oppenheim is always a stronger painter when he is simpler. The masterful portrait of Adolph Carl von Rothschild (1851) is a tour de force about power, privilege and wealth. Simple, direct and regal, the painting has an empathic quality that tells us that Oppenheim saw his own success and fate bound up with these very successful fellow Jews.
And rightfully so since he had been a successful portrait painter since his twenties, winning competitions, and finally meeting the leading figure of German culture, Goethe, and illustrating his works. He was commissioned to paint the portraits of Kaiser Otto IV and Joseph II in 1839 and was finally granted a prized citizenship of Frankfurt in 1852, quite an accomplishment for a Jew in those times.
His humble origins in the ghetto of Hanau, Germany were most prominently explored in the genre work he did in the last twenty years of his life. The extensive series, Scenes from Traditional Jewish Family Life, seen here in three original oil paintings and a seven grisailles (painted in gray to accommodate mass reproduction) documents for the first time German Jewish family life cycle events. The series is presaged by Oppenheim’s purported masterpiece, Return of the Jewish Volunteer from the Wars to his Family still Living in Accordance with Old Customs (1834). This painting is the first of the Jewish family life series and it shares with the later series many of their problems and difficulties.
Many of these works exhibits obsession with detail, sentimentally exaggerated gestures, and rolling eyes typical of theatrical moral parables. They are illustrations of set themes such as the values of hearth, family and country or superficial piety. They illustrate the Jewish yearly events in a literal description of each event. Objects tend to be arranged as isolated things (or predetermined symbols) rather than composed into meaningful relationships with one another. These paintings do not evoke by pictorial metaphors the complexities of the human relationships rather they remind one of silent movie stills where exaggerated gestures, caught in mid-action, attempt to replace actual speech. As a result, most of the power, honesty and insight he exhibited in his portraits is lost or obscured.
At the same time these paintings are enormously important to understand in their social context. They reflect the efforts of Oppenheim to address and solve the dilemma that German Jews found themselves in the mid 19th century. The struggle to maintain a Jewish identity, whether as observant Jews or not, was constantly challenged by the powerful forces of assimilation and nationalism. The pressure to demonstrate that they were good and upstanding members of the growing German nation was overwhelming. Many Jews were unable to resist and converted to Christianity. Oppenheim, in this series of paintings depicting idealized late 18th century Jewish life in the ghetto argues for a pride in the collective Jewish past and the possibility of a Jewish future as an integral part of the German world. The
overt sentimentality of these paintings reflects the gnawing fact that the sureties of the past were gone forever and had been replaced by a modern reality that constantly challenged their faith and values.
Both The Wedding (1861) and The Rabbi’s Blessing (1871) are exceptions to the bane of illustration that mars the later work. They are self-assured, composed and allow the color and light to narrate their themes. The Wedding, with its golden glow and Venetian color, is especially impressive as an exotic 19th century Romantic view into another world.
Moritz Oppenheim confronted with his art a world with enormous parallels to our own. He knew how important it was to remain within the folds of the observant community even as he achieved great success beyond. His struggle to guide his fellow Jews is a fitting model for any Jewish artist working today. I would only hope that artists today would attempt to forge a future rather than simply confirm a past.
Yeshiva University Museum – Center for Jewish History
West 16th Street , New York, N.Y. | https://richardmcbee.com/writings/moritz-daniel-oppenheim-retrospective/ |
If you updated your iPhone iPad to the latest iOS 12 or iOS 12.1 and lost some important data, don’t worry, you can get 3 easy methods to recover lost data after iOS 12 update.
After updating to iOS 12 or iOS 12.1, find data lost? Like messages, photos, contacts, notes, and more other important data disappeared. Just have a try on PhoneRescue for iOS to get back your lost data with and without backup.
The official version of iOS 12 is open to the public, lots of iPhone or iPad users can’t wait to try out the new iOS to enjoy the new features. But while updating to the iOS 12 or iOS 12.1, some people met problems and bugs and then lost important data from their iPhone iPad.
If your iPhone iPad lost data after iOS 12 update also, you can opt out for the 3 most effective methods in the following guide to get your lost data back.
Once iPhone iPad lost data after iOS 12 or iOS 12.1 update, the first idea comes to your mind must be restoring data from backup. If you backed up your device before upgrading to iOS 12, then you’re lucky enough to follow Method 1 and Method 2 to recover lost data from backup. If you didn’t make a backup, then you can go to Method 3 to recover lost iOS 12 data without any backup. Let’s check.
If you made a backup of your iDevice with iTunes before updating to iOS 12, then you can follow the steps below to restore lost data from iTunes backup.
Step 1 Launch iTunes in your computer and connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer with USB cable.
Step 2 Click your iDevice icon when it appears in iTunes.
Step 3 Click Summary > Click “Restore Backup”.
Step 4 Check the backup info and select the backup you made before you upgrade your device to iOS 12. If you didn’t make the backup and have old backups, choose the latest one and click “Restore”.
Restoring from iTunes will erase all the existing data on your device, if your backup is complete, you can choose this method. Otherwise, it is better to opt for a smart restoring method that won’t cause data loss.
If you backed up your iDevice to iCloud before updating to iOS 12, then you can follow steps below to restore lost or missing data from iCloud backup.
Before proceeding, you need to clear that restoring data from iCloud backup requires to erase all contents and settings of your device. If you don’t want to do so, you can recover from iCloud without resetting.
Step 1 On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Find and tap Reset > Tap on Erase All Content and Settings > Enter your password. Then your iDevice will be reset to factory settings.
Step 2 After setting your iPhone. When you reach on the “Apps & Data” screen, tap “Restore from iCloud Backup”.
Step 3 Sign-in to your iCloud account. Tap “Choose backup” and then select the backup you made before in iCloud and tap “Restore”. Then wait for the restoration process to get complete.
When the disaster of data loss happens, if there is an iTunes or iCloud backup can be restored, that is the best. However, what if there’s no backup? This method is right here to help users recover lost data after iOS 12 update without any backup. What you need is a useful iOS data recovery tool PhoneRescue for iOS.
Since the missing data is only hidden somewhere in the device and waiting to be erased by new data, so, some best iPhone iPad data recovery tools can help you find and recover lost data before they’re been overwritten. Now, let’s see how to recover lost/disappeared data from iPhone iPad after iOS 12 update, even without backup.
Step 1 Download and install PhoneRescue for iOS on your computer > Connect your iOS device to the computer with USB cable > Click the arrow button to proceed.
Step 2 Select the type of data you want to recover and click on OK.
Step 3 Preview and select the data you want to recover > Click the To Device or To Computer button to recover selected files to your iPhone iPad or to the computer according to your needs. | https://www.imobie.com/support/lost-data-after-ios-12-update.htm |
INTRODUCTION {#s1}
============
Improvements in the walking ability of patients with hemiplegic stroke remain one of the important issues in rehabilitation. Interventions that aim to improve the walking ability of patients with stroke have been reported in many studies. According to a study by Kwakkel G et al.[@r1]^)^, among the patients who underwent normal physical and occupational therapies, those who performed exercises for the lower limbs (i.e. a 30-min period of ambulatory exercise) had improved walking ability than those who performed additional exercises for the upper limbs, or patients who did not perform any additional exercise. In a study by Dean CM et al.[@r2]^)^, patients who performed circuit exercises, which involved mainly muscle strengthening exercises for the lower limbs, demonstrated improved walking speeds and endurance compared to patients who performed additional exercises for the upper limbs. In addition, ambulatory exercise has been reported to improve walking speed and endurance compared to other forms of exercise[@r3]^)^. Peiris C et al.[@r4]^)^ performed a meta-analysis on hospitalized patients with stroke who were in the acute and subacute phases, and reported that increased physical therapy exercises shortened the duration of hospitalization and contributed to the improvement in walking ability of these patients. However, to our knowledge, similar studies have not been performed in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.
In Japan, the fee-for-service system for rehabilitation was revised in 2006, resulting in removal of the daily upper limits on the number of exercise sessions for a patient in a convalescent rehabilitation ward. The daily exercise sessions were increased from 6 sessions (2 hr) to 9 sessions (3 hr). Furthermore, the upper limit (3 exercise sessions totaling 1 hr per day) was abolished and replaced with physical, occupational, and speech-language-hearing therapies. The belief that increasing the amount of exercise duration leads to better outcomes should be verified.
Depending on the differences in the maximum number of exercise sessions limited by the medical insurance system, we examined the effects of increasing the amount of physical therapy exercise on the improvement in walking ability of patients with stroke.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS {#s2}
====================
This study included patients with hemiplegic stroke who were hospitalized in and discharged from our convalescent rehabilitation ward, and underwent the "FIT program"[@r5]^)^ rehabilitation system that was developed by our hospital. We included 239 patients who completed a maximum of 6 daily exercise sessions (hereinafter called the "first term group") and 707 patients who completed a maximum of 9 daily exercise sessions (hereinafter called "the latter term group"). These exercise limits were specified by the medical insurance system between April 2005 and March 2006 for the first term group, and between April 2010 and March 2015 for the latter term group. In the first term group, 128 patients completed a mean number of physical therapy exercises fewer than 2.5, and were excluded from the study. In the latter term group, 619 patients were excluded from the study as they completed a mean number of physical therapy exercises fewer than 4.5. Furthermore, in order to equalize and compare the patient characteristics at admission between both groups, the patients whose period from onset to admission to the ward was \<14 days or ≥61 days, as well those patients whose length of stay in the ward was \<28 days, were also excluded from the study. These excluded patients included 20 patients in the first term group and 2 patients in the latter term group. As a result, the final study subjects consisted of 91 and 86 patients in the first (PT3unit group) and latter term groups (PT6unit group), respectively ([Table 1](#tbl_001){ref-type="table"}Table 1.Demographic and clinical data of all the subjectsPT6unit GroupPT3unit GroupNumber of patients8691Age (years)65.2±12.668.3±11.2Gender (Male, Female)47, 3952, 39Diagnosis (Hemorrhage, Infarction)43, 4346, 45Paralytic side (Right, Left)26, 6026, 65Time after onset (days)31.1±11.534.0±11.9Number of days spent in ward (days)72.8±20.569.1±23.2Gain of FIMW score2.5±0.9\*1.9±1.1^\*^p \< 0.05). The attending physicians explained the study to all patients and their families, and obtained consent from them. This study was performed after an approval by the ethics committee of our hospital.
The requirement for admission to the convalescent rehabilitation ward was at the discretion of the physicians of the rehabilitation department. Patients were discharged from the ward if their dysfunction and disability had improved and their condition remained steady. The number of exercise sessions was determined based on the physicians' prescriptions rather than randomization. For patients who needed speech-language-hearing therapy, the required number of exercise sessions was set aside for speech-language-hearing therapy, while the remainder of the 6 or 9 exercise sessions focused on physical or occupational therapies, depending on the ratio of the number of hospitalized patients to the number of therapists. The prescribed physical therapy (PT) consisted mainly of range of motion, muscle strengthening, maintenance of standing up and standing positions, ambulatory, and stepping exercises. In addition, for patients who required orthosis for the lower limb, these were manufactured and used during the exercises. No changes were made to the prescription policies for the upper limits of 6 and 9 exercise sessions.
PT exercises were performed based on the risk management instructions provided by the attending physicians.
The following information was extracted from the hospital's patient database: age at admission; gender; diagnosis; paralytic side; period between onset of stroke and admission to our convalescent rehabilitation ward (hereinafter called "time after onset"); number of days spent in the ward; functional independence measure[@r6]^)^ scores, which evaluates the patients' walking ability (hereinafter called "FIMW") during admission, 2 and 4 weeks after admission, and at discharge; and hip-flexion, knee-extension, and foot-pat tests for motor function of the paralyzed lower limbs in the stroke impairment assessment set (SIAS)[@r7]^)^.
To compare the FIMW courses, the total scores of the 3 motor function items for the paralyzed lower limbs at admission (hereinafter called "SIAS for the paralyzed lower limbs") were calculated and stratified into the following classes: complete paralysis (0 points), severe paralysis (1--5 points), moderate paralysis (6--10 points), and mild paralysis (11--15 points). Bonferroni test was used for intra-group comparisons. Mann-Whitney test was used for comparisons between groups at each period. In addition, the score gain (hereinafter called "FIMW-gain") obtained by subtracting the score at admission from the FIMW score at discharge was calculated and compared between the groups. The Mann-Whitney test was used for comparisons of age, time after onset, and the number of days spent in the ward between the groups. The χ^2^ test was used for comparisons of the gender, paralytic side, and percentage of diagnosis between the groups. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS version 16.0, and the statistical significance level was set at \<5%.
RESULTS {#s3}
=======
The FIMW scores are shown in [Table 2](#tbl_002){ref-type="table"}Table 2.The course of the FIMWAdmission2 week4 weekDischargeAllPT6unit Group3 (3.0±1.2)4 (3.7±1.3)5 (4.4±1.3)6 (5.5±0.9)A^\*\*^, B^\*\*^, C^\*\*^, D^\*\*^, E^\*\*^, F^\*\*^PT3unit Group3 (3.3±1.4)4 (3.9±1.5)5 (4.4±1.6)5 (5.2±1.3)A^\*\*^, B^\*\*^, C^\*\*^, D^\*\*^, E^\*\*^, F^\*\*^SIAS0PT6 unit Group1 (1.6±0.8)2 (2.2±1.2)3 (2.7±1.1)4 (4.5±0.8)B^\*^, C^\*\*^, E^\*^, F^\*^PT3 unit Group1 (1.0±1.0)1 (1.2±0.4)1 (1.3±0.5)\*2.5 (2.3±1.2)\*SIAS1--5PT6 unit Group3 (2.6±0.9)4 (3.4±1.2)4 (4.2±1.3)6 (5.5±0.7)A^\*\*^, B^\*\*^, C^\*\*^, D^\*\*^, E^\*\*^, F^\*\*^PT3 unit Group3 (2.6±1.1)3 (3.3±1.1)4 (3.6±1.1) \*5 (4.9±1.0)\*A^\*\*^, B^\*\*^, C^\*\*^, D^\*^, E^\*\*^, F^\*\*^SIAS6--10PT6 unit Group4 (3.2±0.9)4 (4.2±0.6)5 (4.7±0.6)6 (5.6±0.6)A^\*\*^, B^\*\*^, C^\*\*^, E^\*\*^, F^\*\*^PT3 unit Group4 (3.7±1.1)5 (4.3±0.9)5 (4.9±1.2)6 (5.5±1.0)A^\*\*^, B^\*\*^, C^\*\*^, D^\*^, E^\*\*^, F^\*^SIAS11--15PT6 unit Group4 (4.1±0.6)5 (5.0±1.1)6 (5.8±0.8)6 (6.1±0.6)C^\*\*^, E^\*\*^PT3 unit Group4 (4.3±1.3)5 (5.0±1.1)6 (5.7±1.1)6 (6.0±0.9)A^\*\*^, B^\*\*^, C^\*\*^, D^\*^, E^\*\*^A: Significant differences between the admission and 2 wee. B: Significant differences between the admission and 4 week. C: Significant differences between the admission and Discharge. D: Significant differences between the 2 week and 4 week. E: Significant differences between the 2 week and Discharge. F: Significant differences between the 4 week and Discharge. ^\*^p \< 0.05. ^\*\*^p \< 0.01. In SIAS0 and SIAS1--5, It showed a difference between the groups in 4 weeks and in Discharge.. In the PT6unit group, the FIMW scores in all classes improved compared to the admission score, according to the degree of paralysis. In contrast, the complete paralysis class showed no improvement in the FIMW score compared to the FIMW score at admission in the PT3unit group. The rest of the classes showed significant improvements. In the patients with complete paralysis and severe paralysis, the FIMW scores at 4 weeks and discharge were significantly higher in the PT6unit group than in the PT3unit group. [Table 3](#tbl_003){ref-type="table"}Table 3.Demographic and clinical data of the subjects stratified to four groupsSIAS0SIAS1--5SIAS6--10SIAS11--15PT6 unit GroupPT3 unit GroupPT6 unit GroupPT3 unit GroupPT6 unit GroupPT3 unit GroupPT6 unit GroupPT3 unit GroupNumber of patients116303335261030Age (years)60.7±9.1\*76.3±7.462.5±12.267.0±9.269.1±12.868.0±11.262.7±11.368.0±13.0Gender (Male, Female)5, 63, 317, 1322, 1116, 1915, 109, 115, 15Diagnosis (Hemorrhage, Infarction)6, 54, 216, 1416, 1712, 2312, 139, 116, 14Paralytic side (Right, Left)2, 90, 67, 239, 2414, 219, 163, 79, 21Time after onset (days)33.9±11.031.7±8.231.5±12.837.7±12.529.2±11.436.4±13.731.2±9.031.0±11.7Number of days spent in ward (days)87.8±17.188.8±21.281.5±20.283.0±17.066.9±18.264.0±22.449.2±16.154.0±19.5Gain of FIMW score3.0±0.6\*2.3±1.22.9±0.9\*2.2±1.12.1±0.81.8±1.12.0±0.71.7±1.1\*p \< 0.05 shows a comparison of age, diagnosis, affected side, time after onset, number of days spent in ward, and the FIMW-gain between the groups. In the complete paralysis class, age was significantly lower in the PT6unit group than in the PT3unit group.
DISCUSSION {#s4}
==========
This study revealed that patients who increased their number of PT exercise from 3 to 6 exercise sessions demonstrated improvement in their walking ability, especially in the patients with complete paralysis or severe paralysis of the lower limbs.
Previous studies have shown that walking ability can be improved by various physical therapy interventions[@r1],[@r2],[@r3], [@r8],[@r9],[@r10],[@r11]^)^. In our study, physical therapy was performed based on movement exercises consisting mainly of general function exercises and walking, without any special procedures. Therefore, it was believed that this study could be used in order to determine simply how an increase in the exercise amounts influenced improvements in walking ability.
In the complete paralysis class where the patients had motor palsy in their lower limbs (SIAS score of 0 points for the paralyzed lower limbs), the median FIMW score at admission was 1 point in both groups. In a study by Tanino et al.[@r12]^)^, the authors reported that improving the FIMW score of 1 point at admission was difficult for patients with stroke in the convalescent rehabilitation ward. The median FIMW score at discharge was 2 points for patients that were paralyzed in both lower limbs. In our study, the improvements in FIMW score that were observed in the PT3unit group were equivalent to those reported in previous publications[@r12]^)^, while the PT6unit group showed great improvements beginning at the 4th week of admission. This suggests that the increased amount of PT exercise contributed to improvements in the walking ability of patients with hemiplegic stroke. Patients with more severe disorders have a fear of falling, and they need assistance to maintain their postures. Therefore, the amount of exercise decreases[@r13]^)^. Increases in the total amount of physical therapy exercise were assumed to result in sufficient time for ambulatory exercises, and this promoted motor learning.
In addition, for patients in this class with lower activities of daily living (ADL) raised concerns about progression of disuse muscle atrophy since they had the tendency to be inactive with lower amount of daily exercise (e.g., resting in bed)[@r14]^)^. Nevertheless, by performing high intensity exercises, the PT9unit group improved their walking ability without disuse muscle atrophy. For patients with stroke who were in the convalescent phase, Nobotachi et al. pointed out the difficulties of detecting differences in the recovery of motor functions in patients with severe paralysis based on the effects of increased amount of exercise[@r15]^)^. The increased physical therapy exercise may be effective for promoting motor learning for walking, rather than for improving motor function.
Additionally, the increase in amount of exercise was clearly effective in patients with severe paralysis of the lower limbs (SIAS score of 1--5 points for the paralyzed lower limbs). For this class, increasing the number of exercise sessions has been reported to improve the motor function of the proximal paralyzed lower limbs, particularly the hip and knee joints[@r15]^)^. Motor palsy of the lower limbs may influence the improvement in walking ability of patients with hemiplegic stroke[@r16], [@r17]^)^. The function of the hip and the knee joints are believed to be important for the attachment of an ankle foot orthosis. In the subjects from the PT6unit group in the present study, we believe that increased amount of exercise improved the proximal motor function in the subjects' paralyzed lower limbs, resulting in improvements in their walking abilities.
In contrast, for the patients in the moderate (SIAS score of 6--10 points for the paralyzed lower limbs) and mild (SIAS score of 11--15 points for the paralyzed lower limbs) classes, no apparent differences were found in the walking ability associated with increased amount of physical therapy exercise. All median FIMW scores at admission of the subjects in these classes were 4 points. Since the degree of independence in the patients was relatively high in these classes, the patients performed stand-up and ambulatory exercises voluntarily after physical therapy, and actively performed exercises in the ward with assistance from the ward staff and the their families. Therefore, the additional effects of voluntary training[@r18]^)^ that influenced the amount of PT exercise were difficult to determine.
This study had some limitations. We considered the amount of exercise as the total amount, and did not perform content analysis of the physical therapy exercises. The present study was also not stratified according to higher brain dysfunction. In addition, although the subjects of the two groups of PT3unit group and PT6unit group were respectively selected from two year intervals of 2005--2006 and 2010--2015 under the each condition, the number of patients of the two year intervals was different and we had more patients in the 2nd year interval. While the number of PT3unit group patients cover a higher percentage of the whole patients of the 1st year interval, the number of PT6unit group patients include a lower percentage of the large number of patients in the 2nd year interval. In future, examining these issues is necessary because of the potential for bias. Because of the low percentage of reporting from the acute-care hospital to the convalescent rehabilitation ward, we were unable to classify the type of stroke. When the profiles of patients with complete paralysis in both groups were compared, the ages of patients in the PT6unit group were significantly lower than that of patients in the PT3unit group. After investigation of the association between the increased amount of exercise and the age-specific ADL improvement in patients with stroke in the convalescent ward, it was found that the ADL was greatly improved in patients who were aged in their 60s with low ADL compared to patients who were 70 years or older[@r19]^)^. Although the age differences may influence these results, these issues will be addressed in future studies because we did not examine them in this study, due to the small sample sizes.
In the future, we will analyze details such as the contents of the physical therapy exercise and the exercise time distribution, in order to add to the discussion, and examine data that is stratified according to age and stroke type.
| |
- Social Principles | This 64-page booklet is a tool designed to help individuals and small groups study The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church. It contains the official text of The Social Principles from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016 along with exercises for individuals or small groups, a topical index, and Social Creed. Studying the Social Principles provides opportunities to examine your own theology and ethics and to practice discipleship.
- UMC Commission on Religion and Race | http://www.gcorr.org | GCORR is building the capacity of The United Methodist Church to be contextually relevant and to reach more people, younger people, and more diverse people as we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
- Religion and Race Resources | http://www.gcorr.org/resources
- WNC Justice and reconciliation | https://www.wnccumc.org/justice-reconciliation
- Vital Conversations | http://www.gcorr.org/vital-conversations
- Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin | http://www.gcorr.org/stereotypes-vs- generalizations/
- Meaningful Conversations about Race | http://www.gcorr.org/video/meaningful-conversations- about-race-featuring-rev- dr-hooker- 2
- Building the Beloved Community | http://www.gcorr.org/video/church-building- beloved-community
- Justice and reconciliation | https://www.wnccumc.org/justice-reconciliation
- Courageous Conversations | https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/topics/courageous-conversations | Courageous Conversations is more than website. It is a toolbox that local churches can use to inspire and encourage the church and individuals to participate in conversations that might seem difficult
- Stereotypes vs Generalizations | http://www.gcorr.org/stereotypes-vs- generalizations
- United Methodist Church on Immigration
- Resolution 119 - Refugees, Immigrants, and Visitors to the United States of America
- Resolution 265 - Immigrants and Refugees: To Love the Sojourner Resolution for the Protection of Immigrant Families and Children. Council of Bishops – The United Methodist Church
Books
- Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism by Drew G.I. Hart. An analysis of racial injustice within the current American culture. Offers concrete practices for churches that are committed to racial justice and solidarity with the oppressed.
- The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege by Ken Wytsma, founder of the Justice Conference. An introduction to the reality of inequality and privilege present in our society. Helps the reader gain understanding of the issues, as well as the role believers should play in reconciliation.
- America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America by Jim Wallis. An examination of the deeply ingrained system of racism in America, with a call to action urging white Christians to embrace racial justice and healing.
- Freedom Walkers – The story of the Montgomery boycott by Russell Freedman. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus and give up her seat to a white man. This refusal to give up her dignity sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, which eventually ended segregation on buses. But the boycott did not start or end there, and here Russell Freedman breathes life into all the key personalities and events that contributed to the yearlong struggle, a major victory in the civil rights movement For children age – 8th grade
- Walking in the Wind- a Memoir of the Movement by John Lewis. One of our most important records of the American civil rights movement. Told by John Lewis. This is a gripping first-hand account of the fight for civil rights and the courage it takes to change a nation; the journey led him to the Washington as the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th district.
- With Head and Heart – The Autobiography of Howard Thurman A black minister, philosopher, and educator whose vitality touched live of all races, faiths and cultures
- Meditations of the Heart by Howard Thurman. Meditations of the Heart is a beautiful collection of meditations and prayers by one of our greatest spiritual leaders. Howard Thurman, the great spiritualist and mystic, was renowned for the quiet beauty of his reflections on humanity and our relationship with God. This collection of fifty-four of his most well-known meditations features his thoughts on prayer, community, and the joys and rituals of life.
- White Awake by Daniel Hill. An introduction to white privilege and understanding both
personal and social realities in the areas of race, culture, and identity. Contains a discussion
guide for each chapter.
- Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces That Keep Us Apart by Christena Cleveland of Duke Divinity School. Written from the unique perspective of a social psychologist, theologian, and professor looking at the latest studies and research about the unseen dynamics which tend to separate us. Contains a discussion guide for each chapter.
- Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah. A prophetic exposition of the book of Lamentations which calls the Church to repentance, lament, and a true commitment to justice and reconciliation.
- Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Hwang.
- Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible by M. Daniel Carroll R.
Bible Studies
- Holding Up Your Corner: Talking About Race in Your Community by Willis F. Johnson. A DVD study which can be used for a seminar or a series of conversations. Contains practical, biblical guidance for empowering churches towards understanding racial injustice, and taking action.
- The Love Walk by Amanda Beth is a fifteen-week devotional created to encourage and support you in your love walk. Each devotional focuses on a different characteristic of love as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Each chapter includes an encouragement, a prayer, verses to meditate on, and one verse to memorize to support you in your love walk. Additionally, at the end of each chapter there are questions to reflect on for personal evaluation or group study.
- Roadmap to Reconciliation: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil. A Bible study and small group discussion guide which lays out guidelines for moving a faith community to next steps in the journey towards unity, wholeness, and racial justice.
Pastoral /Preaching Aids
- Who Lynched Willie Earle? Preaching to Confront Racism by William Willison. This book helps pastors (especially of white, mainline Protestant churches) preach effectively in situations of racial violence and unrest.
Websites
- Christians and Racial Justice | https://sojo.net/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/DG_racialjustice.pdf
- American Immigration Council | https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org
- Southern Poverty Law Center | https://www.splcenter.org | The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality.
Equity Organizations (Local)
- Building Bridges of Asheville | http://www.bbavl.org | Bridges hosts two nine-week educational sessions on black-and- white racism in Asheville each year.
- Pisgah Legal | http://www.pisgahlegal.org | A nonprofit that provides free civil legal aid to the most vulnerable people in WNC: disadvantaged children, seniors, at risk families, domestic violence victims.
- Consumer Credit Counseling | https://ontrackwnc.org | OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling (OnTrack WNC) is a private non-profit, community-supported, United Way agency. Since 1973 they have fulfilled their mission by helping people manage their money and credit through education programs, individual counseling appointments, and debt management programs.
- Asheville Buncombe Institute for Parity Achievement (ABIPA) | http://abipaasheville.wixsite.com/abipa | Serves African Americans and all people of color in the following ways:
- Locate: From the barber shop to the fellowship hall, ABIPA goes into communities of color to reach people where they are.
- Educate: ABIPA speaks in ways that are culturally relevant and sensitive. They encourage participants to ask questions and get information in an environment of trust.
- Navigate: ABIPA serves as guides and companions to individuals navigating a complex health care system.
- Advocate: ABIPA empowers individuals to take control of their own health.
- Compañeros Inmigrantes de las Montañas en Accion | http://colawnc.org | CIMA continues to fight for immigrant rights in Western North Carolina by standing on the values that were founded by the organization. These values being:
- That grassroots communities have the wisdom and experience to direct their future.
- That the organization is best guided by full participation of it’s members.
- That all people should be treated with respect and dignity.
- CIMA believes in equal opportunities, equal rights and in fair and just laws
- CIMA believes in the strength of diversity and multi-lingual spaces
If you would like to recommend resources, please submit the form below. | https://www.blueridgedistrictumc.org/resourcesforjustice |
Background of the invention
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Concentrations Variations
This invention relates to a method and system of improving the fluid blending performance of a pumping system.
There are a number of applications in which fluids must be blended in a highly precise manner. This is particularly true in the case of liquid chromatography in which high pressure liquid metering pumps typically are used. Several liquids, each from separate reservoirs, are blended together in a mixer. The blend then flows to a pump for passage to a chromatograph separating column. Each liquid before entering the mixer first passes through a filter to remove solid particulates.
Fluid blending or proportioning is accomplished by means of plural valves (usually solenoid operated) positioned between each reservoir and the mixer. The valves operate during a valve cycle, typically between 5 and 7 seconds. Each valve is open a certain fraction of the valve cycle time T". In the case of four valves, A, B, C, D, while the valve for liquid A is open, the valves for the liquids B, C, and D are closed and so on. The fraction of time each valve is open each valve cycle determines the average concentration of that liquid exiting the mixer.
The pump typically consist of two or more positive displacement pump heads, each operating out of phase to maintain a smooth flow profile. If three pump heads are used, each head's piston is 120° out of phase with the two other pistons. For each pump head, the piston displacement is a sinusoidal function of time. The pump period is determined by the pump delivery volume per cycle divided by the volumetric throughput rate. The inlet and outlet of the pump heads are joined at manifolds, which divide the flow at the pump inlet and combine the flow at the pump outlet. The flow into each pump head is pulsatile, i.e., when liquid is drawn into a pump head cavity by retraction of the piston, there is no flow out of the given cavity, and when liquid is forced out of the cavity by the advancing piston there is no flow into it. This type of operation is obtained by inlet and exit check valves on each pump head to assure that the heads are drawing and delivering fluids at the proper time in the cycle. Under these conditions the three pump heads, for example, produce six flow pulsations into and out of the pump for each pump cycle.
While these positive displacement pumps are quite capable of providing a highly accurate and reproducible flow rate of the pumped fluids, a problem has arisen in that an interaction can occur between the pump cycle and the valve cycle. This interaction results in a very slow, long-term variation in the concentration of the mixed liquids which is too long to be attenuated by the mixer. In the case of liquid chromatography, the blending error of the different liquids should be less than 0.15% and in all cases must be less than 0.5%. Unfortunately, in typical cases, these blending errors far exceed these limits and hence are an undesirable feature of liquid blending systems. This is particularly true when used in those areas such as liquid chromatography in which a high degree of accuracy in required.
US-A-4,128,476 discloses a method and system for controlling the composition of a liquid chromatographic carrier wherein the output pressure of the positive displacement pump is sensed to measure onset of output flow as a time lag from the beginning of the output stroke to give an estimate of the input filling time lag from the beginning of the fill stroke. This estimate is used to recompute a proportional module output for controlling the timing of a porportioning valve at the inlet of the displacement pump so as to bring the actual operating conditions of the pump fill cycle into correspondence with the predetermined demanded ratios of the components. This prior art method and system require a complicated computer system and a periphery because the carrier flow has to be sensed in order to measure the various time periods which are to be processed. This prior art method is complicated further by the necessity to repeat the computation at appropriate intervals during a run to recalibrate the system.
The invention as claimed in claims 1 and 6 solves the problem of how to control the blend of fluid components in a pumping system accurately in a simple manner.
In a preferred embodiment, the computer means stores constants defining plural straight line segments representing the non-interacting relationship between the pump frequency and valve cycle frequency, and calculates the valve period for a selected pump frequency by adding the base point of a valve period segment to the product of the slope of that segmental relationship times the difference beween the base point of pump frequency for that valve period segment and the selected pump frequency in order to ascertain the desired valve period. The exact values of the constants are arbitrary, but they must not produce line segments containing points which can be described by the laterative relationwhere fp is the pump frequency or inverse of the pump period, Tpr I is the number of pump heads in the pump, n and m are low valued integers, Ty is the valve period, and k is a conversion factor.
When only two fluids are blended, the ratio of the pump period to the valve period can be selected so that the fluid flow harmonics coincide with the missing harmonics in the flowrate of the fluid flowing from the reservoir.
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a liquid blending system constructed in accordance with this invention;
Figure 2 is a drawing illustrating several of the flow wave forms resulting from fluid flows in the system of Figure 1 together with valve periods;
Figures 3a and 3b are drawings of the synchronization lines between valve period and motor rate depicting arbitrarily selected line segments which will permit the system of Figure 1 to avoid deleterious interaction between the pump and valves; and
Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing the manner in which the computation of asynchronous operating valve periods is obtained.
The detailed operation of the method and system described briefly above can best be understood by reference to the following figures in which:
Although this invention has application with any fluid blending system, it will be described with reference to a particular blending system that finds use in liquid chromatography in which highly precise blends and flow rates must be maintained. Such a system is depicted in Figure 1. In this system, there is shown a number of reservoirs 10, each holding a different mixable liquid or fluid A, B, C, D. These liquids are to be blended or mixed together in prescribed proportions. To this end, these fluids are each directed to a mixing chamber 12 through conduits 16 and respective solenoid valves 14 denoted A, B, C, D, corresponding to each of the fluid reservoirs 10. Before passing to the mixing chamber, each fluid A, B, C, D is passed through a filter (not shown) which removes solid particulates. Each of the solenoid valves 14 uses a fast acting solenoid which either permits or bars flow along its respective conduit 16.
v
A blend is forged by periodically opening each valve 14 for a period of time during the total valve period proportional to the fraction of that liquid desired. For example, if a 75% blend of fluid A and 25% blend of fluid B were desired, the A valve 14 would be open for 4.5 seconds and then the B valve 14 open for 1.5 seconds for a total valve period ofTy of 6 seconds. This cycle is repeated each valve period T". Only one valve is open at a given time. Typically a 5-7 second valve cycle T is used in liquid chromatography although other periods can be used as desired.
0
From the mixing chamber 12, which is conventional as are the solenoids 14, the blended fluid is passed to a pump 18 which includes an inlet manifold 20, an outlet manifold 22 and three pump heads 24, 26 and 28. It is to be understood of course that a pump with one, two or any other number of heads may be used as desired. Typically, however, a three-headed pump is preferred since it provides a more constant level output flow rate, This pump preferably is a positive displacement pump and operated with the heads 120 out of phase. Since this pump is conventional and available commercially it need not be described further. For each pump, the piston displacement is a sinusoidal function of time. The pump period is determined by the pump delivery volume for one cycle of each pump head divided by the volumetric throughput rate of the system.
Inlet and exit check valves on each pump head (not shown) ensure that each head delivers fluid at the proper times in the pump cycle. Thus it may be seen that the inlet and outlet of the pump heads 24, 26 and 28 are joined by the manifolds 20 and 22 which divide the flow at the pump inlet and combine the flow at the outlet. Because of the check valves, the flow into the fluid cavity of each pump head 24, 26 and 28 is pulsatile, i.e., when liquid is drawn into the cavity by retraction of the piston there is no flow out of the given cavity, and when the liquid is forced out of the cavity by the advancing piston, there is no flow into it. The precise characteristics of the flow pulsations depend upon the driving mechanism of the pistons, on the fluid compressibility, and on the check valve response time. Therefore, the three pistons produce six flow pulsations into and out of the pump for each pump cycle an example of which may be seen in the pump flow illustration of Figure 2.
The controller 32 includes a pump drive control 34 which actuates a pump drive 40, and which in turn drives through the linkages 42 the respective pump heads 24, 26 and 28. The pump drive control 34 operates in response to the desired flow rate information 36 which in turn is set typically by the operator of the system on the control panel 30. The operator also sets the blend composition information 37 which is transferred to a solvent ratio controller 38 by the control panel 30. The open and closed time of each vlave is determined by the controller 38 and implemented by energizing the several solenoids 14 at their proper times through control lines 44. Thus far the system described is conventional and may, for example, be that sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DE as their Model 850 HPLC system.
v
v
In accordance with this invention, the problem resulting from the periodicity of the pump flow interacting with the periodicity of the solenoid valves to produce slow unexpected variations in the fluid blends is solved. The solution includes modification of the valve period T based upon motor rate information obtained by the solvent ratio control 38 from the pump drive control 34. An example of this undesirable interaction may be seen in Figure 2 where the valves A and B are illustrated as being cycled open and closed over the period T during the pump flow period Tp. Under these conditions, the valves provide a 67% A 33% B blend. The pulsations of the pump and valves are illustrated as being in perfect synchronization such that maximum flow rate occurs when the valve A is open. Conversely, the minimum flow occurs when the valve B is open since the pump flow was at a minimum during the opening of the valve B. As a result, the blend contains more of component A than expected from the valve period. In actual practice the exact synchronization between the pump period and valve period seldom occurs. Rather there is a slow fluctuation in concentration as the valves and flow pulsations move in and out of phase.
According to the method of this invention, errors in such blending are reduced or eliminated by selecting valve periods which do not cause interaction beween the respective valve periods and flow periods. Preferably errors are avoided by setting the valve period to be a function of the flow rate. More specifically the cyclic rate, of the pump is adjusted to provide a desired flow rate and then the time proportioning cyclic rate of the valves is adjusted to be non-harmonic with the pump cyclic rate and the larger pump rate harmonics. In this manner the makeup of the components and the fluid stream is accurately and consistently maintained.
l
v
There may be seen in Figures 3A and 3B a graphical representation of the resonance relationships between the valve ratefT and the pump or motor rate and for selected major harmonics between the valve rate and the motor rate. These relationships are those at which the undesired interactions occur between the pump rate and valve period for a particular pump. Thus the dashed lines 60 bearing the designations 1/ 2, 2/3, 3/4, 1/1, etc. represent the regions at which the valve period and the motor rate will interact to cause slowly varying concentrations.
In accordance with this invention, valve periods are selected which do not lie near these interaction or resonance lines. More specifically, blend concentration errors are avoided by delinerately setting the valve period as specified functions of the flow rate, i.e., the motor rate. These specified functions or nonresonant regions are denoted by straight line segments 62 (solid lines) drawn in the graph of Figures 3A and 3B. The straight line segments denote safe operating regions for the valve period as a function of motor rate for every motor rate that would typically be used in a particular pumping system. It is noted that as motor rates increase, different harmonics of the valve rates and motor rate interact. It will be appreciated, of course, that the relationship illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B are for a specific pump, in this case the pump used in the Du Pont Model 850 HPLC unit. Formulas for determining these relationships are discussed below.
m
Each line segment 62, representing a safe non-harmonic operating region, is defined by the formulawhere VPS(I), MS(I), MRS(I) are constants described in Table 1 below, depending on the motor rate segment and f is the desired motor rate. These motor rate segments ranging from 80 Hz to 4050 Hz are shown tabulated in the following table.
The base or starting point of these straight line segments is selected so that each line is mutually exclusive and does not overlap any other line. The solvent ratio control 38 stores this table and solves the formula using the stored constrants for each selected pump rate (motor rate-MRS.) and controls the valve switching accordingly.
m
v
In order to perform this calculation, the solvent ratio control 38 (Figure 1) has a microprocessor which computes following the flow chart depicted in Figure 4 in which the flow rate and desired fluid composition are inputs from the operator at the control panel 30. The pump drive control 34 calculates the motor rate needed to achieve such flow and controls the pump drive 40 accordingly for operating the pump heads 24, 26 and 28 at the desired rate. Next, the valve rate needed for nonharmonic or noninteractive operation in accordance with this invention is computed by the solvent ratio control 38. This is accomplished by looking up the necessary constants of stored Table 1 for the motor rate f corresponding to that desired flow rate to calculate the valve period T and from that the open time for each valve. The output valve data is then used during the operating cycle to control the valves 14 to provide the desired blend. At this point the program stops until a new input flow rate and desired blend is inputed into the controller 32 by the operator.
The system of this invention utilizing the controller 32 operates in essentially the same manner as the method just described utilizing the controller with its microprocessor (not shown) which functions with the flow rate and desired blend as inputs to control the pump drive 34 and the solvent ratio control 38.
Alternatively, the controller 32 instead of using a table lookup, may actually compute the valve period from the basic formula. This basic formula may be derived from the followiing analysis.
m
m
If three positive displacement pumps are used in a 120° out-of-phase setup to drive the fluid, then the volumetric flow rate profile Q(t) has a period Tp/3, where Tp is the period of each pump and Q(t) can be represented bywhere Q is the average flow rate through the system, the constants e are the positive Fourier components of the flow rate and a are phase constants.
v
p
v
v
v
p
It can be shown that slowly modulating concentration fluctuations occur of amplitude Aa given bywhere the sum on I is over positive integers such that n*I*a is not an integer. Here a is the mean concentration of the liquid in question in the pump effluent. The integers n and m are identified by having no common integer factors other than unity andwhere Tp and T are the pump and valve cycle periods respectively. The two positive integers n and m thus determine the slow concentration modulation interactions between the pump flow cycle (period T/3) and the input concentration valve cycle with period T. Since the period of the concentration modulation T can be made large compared with the mean residence time TM in the mixer, it follows that these lines (n, m) in T―T space must be avoided. High frequency concentration fluctuations are damped by the mixer.
m
m
m
v
n
m
m
v
v
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To avoid slowly modulating concentration fluctuations, one must relate a motor rate frequency f to the pump piston period Tp by the equationThe number is a constant which is a function of the motor used, i.e., in this case the Du Pont Model 850. Then the (n, m) resonance or interaction lines, very close to which the concentration of a liquid in the effluent of the LC system slowly modulates, are given by the relationwhere n and m have no common integer factors other than unity. Recall (see Equation 2) that for a liquid with mean concentration a in the pump effluent, such resonance lines yield slowly modulating concentration fluctuations of amplitude a given bywhere ε are the normalized Fourier coefficients of the outlet flow given in Equation (1). Although the magnitude of such concentration fluctuations does depend on a, it is neglected in discussing this dependence here. These modulation relationships may be calculated using the above formula and the valve period adjusted to avoid modulation using a computer. Preferably, however, as described previously, to avoid these slow modulation lines for moderate sized integers n and m, a piecewise linear relationship between the motor rate f and the valve period T of the formis chosen where VPS(I), MS(I), MRS(I) are constants depending on the motor ratio segment I. These motor rate segments ranging from 80 Hz to 4050 Hz are shown tabulated in Table 1. The end points of these straight line segments are calculated from the relationshipwhere m and n have moderate values and thus come close enough to the resonance line (n, m) to avoid crossing other resonance lines with moderate values of (n, m). At the same time the approximating segments are far outside the resonance line width discussed above. The constants k, are chosen to ensure the latter. Figures 3A and 3B show the calculation graphically with the dashed curves denoting different (n, m) resonance curves and the solid straight line segments the safe (f, T) relationship of Table 1 and Equation 6. Staying on the solid lines 62 gives a valve period T between 5 and 7 secs. appropriate for any motor rate f between 80 Hz and 4050 Hz that will avoid slowly modulating concentration variations.
There has thus been described a novel method and system for avoiding slow concentration modulations caused by interacting valve and pump periods. | |
TECHNICAL FIELD
BACKGROUND ART
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
Means for Solving the Problems
Effects of the Invention
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
The present invention relates to a heat collecting device which collects solar heat by means of multiple heliostats, and more particularly relates to a method and an apparatus for correcting a heliostat which reflects solar heat.
Recently, due to soaring prices of fossil fuels and for the protection of global environment, research and development on clean energy not derived from fossil fuels have been actively carried out. As such clean energy, power generation utilizing wind power or solar heat has been started to be implemented.
In particular, much attention has been paid to a solar thermal power generation system in which a heat medium is heated by collecting solar heat so as to generate steam with the heat medium as a thermal source for driving a steam turbine, thereby generating electricity. This is because the solar thermal power generation system is capable of being operated using a power generation facility similar to that for conventional thermal power generation while being capable of achieving high output.
As such a solar thermal power generation system capable of achieving high output, a solar thermal power tower system and a beam-down system for solar thermal power generation have been known (refer to the Patent Document 1 and the Non-patent Document 1, for example).
In the solar thermal power tower system described above, multiple heliostats having planar reflecting mirrors are arranged around a tower having a heater made of a heat medium provided in an upper part thereof, and the multiple planar reflecting mirrors are adjusted so that solar heat can be concentrated into the heater.
In the beam-down system for solar thermal power generation described above, multiple heliostats having planar reflecting mirrors are arranged around a tower having a hemispherical center reflector provided in an upper part thereof, and a heater made of a heating medium provided below the reflector plate to collect solar heat reflected from the multiple reflecting mirrors.
Further, each heliostat is provided with a tracking device sensing the movement of the sun, and is controlled so as to irradiate the heater or the center reflector with solar heat.
Meanwhile, the adjustment of the heliostat described above has been carried out as follows: first, an orientation angle and an elevation angle are roughly adjusted on the basis of calculated values obtained from numerical values specified in design drawings, and then the orientation angle and the elevation angle are further adjusted on the basis of calculated values obtained from numerical values derived from measurement of the actually-used heliostat.
Patent Document 1: Japanese patent application Kokai publication No. 2005-106432
Non-Patent Document
Non-patent Document 1: Solar Energy, Volume 62, Number 2, February 1998, pp. 121-129(9)
In the case of the solar thermal power tower system and the beam-down system for solar thermal power generation described above, a variation and/or a deviation in a direction of the solar heat irradiation occur due to measurement errors, since the orientation angle and the elevation angle of the heliostat are adjusted on the basis of the calculated values derived from design drawings and of measurement as described above.
In this regard, it may also seem plausible that multiple workers track the sunlight position while looking in a telescope for the purpose of improving the adjustment accuracy of the orientation angle and the elevation angle of a heliostat. However, such an operation is not practical as the checking has to be carried out whenever the heliostat is adjusted, thus involving a large amount of time, effort, and labor costs.
Furthermore, solar thermal power tower systems and beam-down systems for solar thermal power generation are built in desert areas and the like in Middle Eastern countries and the like, where the difference in temperature between day and night is large and the solar thermal power tower systems and the beam-down systems for solar thermal power generation are exposed to gale force wind. Therefore, there has been a problem that large mirror plates (facets) disposed on the heliostat are dislocated. That is, there has been a problem that the heat collecting efficiency gradually decreases from the time when the power generation systems are first installed.
Focusing on such problems having arisen in the past, the present invention has an object to provide a correcting method and a correcting apparatus, the method and the apparatus being capable of adjusting a heliostat on site while actually measuring that an optical axis of facets disposed on the heliostat and an optical axis of an upper focus of the center reflector are in alignment.
A method for correcting a heliostat according to the present invention is configured as follows so as to achieve the above-described object.
1) The method for correcting a heliostat, in a heat collecting device including: a center reflector provided in an upper portion thereof; a heat receiving part provided in a lower part thereof; and a plurality of heliostats arranged around the center reflector, is characterized by comprising the steps of: providing an irradiation device irradiating an upper focal point of the center reflector and the heliostat with laser beams, respectively; and adjusting an elevation angle and/or a turning angle of the heliostat so that a reflected light of the laser beam applied on the heliostat forms a same axial line as the laser beam applied on the upper focal point of the center reflector.
An apparatus for correcting a heliostat according to the present invention is configured as follows.
2) The apparatus for correcting a heliostat, in a heat collecting device including: a center reflector provided in an upper portion thereof; a heat receiving part provided in a lower part thereof; and a plurality of heliostats arranged around the center reflector, is characterized by comprising an irradiation device irradiating the center reflector and the heliostat with laser beams, respectively, the irradiation device being provided on a light path connecting an upper focal point of the center reflector and the heliostat to each other.
3) The apparatus for correcting a heliostat is characterized by comprising: a light receiving device detecting a reflection laser beam reflected from the heliostat, the light receiving device being provided in the vicinity of the laser irradiation device side-by-side therewith; and an adjusting device which turns and elevates the irradiation device and the light receiving device.
4) The apparatus for correcting a heliostat is characterized in that the laser irradiation device is attached to and detached from the correcting apparatus by attachment and detachment means, and is driven by a storage battery.
5) The apparatus for correcting a heliostat is characterized in that the laser irradiation device irradiates the upper focal point of the center reflector with a laser beam having a wavelength in a range of 500 nanometers to 590 nanometers.
6) The apparatus for correcting a heliostat is characterized in that the light receiving device is a sun tracking device.
The irradiation device which irradiates an upper focal point of the center reflector and the heliostat with laser beams, respectively, is provided. The elevation angle and/or the turning angle of the heliostat is adjusted so that a reflected light of the laser beam applied on the heliostat forms the same axial line with the laser beam applied on the upper focal point of the center reflector. Therefore, correction at an extremely high accuracy can be achieved in comparison with adjusting methods based on measurement and adjusting methods in which workers carry out adjustment by looking in a telescope.
Further, since the laser irradiation device can be attached and detached, multiple heliostats can be corrected sequentially with the single irradiation device. Therefore, installation costs of the irradiation device can be reduced.
Furthermore, since the correction operation can be carried out even by one person, the efficiency can be improved significantly compared to an adjustment operation carried out by multiple persons upon spending time and effort.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described on the basis of the attached drawings.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
30
31
20
30
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33
33
is a schematic configuration diagram of a solar thermal power generation system A in which a correcting apparatus according to the present invention is used. As shown in , the solar thermal power generation system A is provided with a disc-shaped center reflector supported on an upper part of a supporting column and a heliostat arranged around the center reflector . Beneath the center reflector , a receiver which collects solar heat is provided. A power generation system (not shown in the drawing), such as a steam turbine using molten salt heated by the receiver as a thermal source, is also provided.
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The heliostat described above has multiple facets arranged therein in three rows, and the facets are linked together via a link A of an elevating device so that the elevation angles of the respective facets can be adjusted. Also, the turning angle of the heliostat can be adjusted with a turning device .
Next, a correcting apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 2
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As shown in , a correcting apparatus includes: an irradiation device on which laser oscillators A and B are formed in such a manner as to respectively extend linearly from both sides of a flange-shaped attachment F, and a light receiving device which is disposed in the vicinity of the irradiation device to detect a reflected light L of a laser beam. Further, the irradiation device and a light receiving device are fixed to a fixing plate so that respective axial lines can be parallel to each other.
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The fixing plate is pivoted on two arm parts erected on a bed plate D, and can be fixed at a specific elevation angle by placing a positioning bolt A through a circular bolt hole. Further, the bed plate D is fixed to a plate-shaped base part with a bolt A, and a bolt hole for the bolt A also has a circular shape so that the bed plate D can be fixed rotatably. In addition, the bed plate D can be subjected to fine adjustment with a slow-motion stage provided below the base part .
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Furthermore, a horizontal adjusting device and a vertical adjusting device are provided. A member, such as a micrometer head, which is capable of carrying out fine adjustment is used for these adjusting devices.
FIG. 3
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As shown in , the irradiation device is provided with the laser oscillators A and B respectively provided on both sides of a flange-shaped attachment F so that laser beams L and L respectively irradiated from the laser oscillators A and B can come on a same axial line. A side surface of the attachment part F is formed on a reference plane f so that the irradiation device can be parallel to the light receiver when attached to the fixing plate .
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Further, the light receiver serves as a sun tracking sensor. When normal power generation is carried out, the turning device and the elevating device of the heliostat are controlled so that a reflected light r from the heliostat can be the maximum value.
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Next, a correcting method for the heliostat using the correcting apparatus thus configured will be described.
FIG. 4
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is a schematic drawing showing a state in which the heliostat is being corrected by adjusting the orientation angle and the elevation angle of the facet disposed on the heliostat .
1
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The correcting apparatus according to the present invention is arranged on a light path c connecting the center reflector and the heliostat to each other, and is disposed in the vicinity of the facet disposed on the heliostat .
1
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The correcting apparatus is provided in the vicinity of the facet . This is because the low height of the light path c at the position from ground ensures a stable operation to be carried out on a work table as small as a trolley. Further, the correcting apparatus is provided in such a position because the position is suitable to adjust the elevation angle and the orientation angle of the heliostat .
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For correction of the heliostat , first, the irradiation device is fixed to the fixing plate , to which the light receiver serving as a sun tacking device is fixed, to obtain the correcting apparatus . Next, the laser beam L is irradiated from the correcting apparatus toward an upper focal point p of the center reflector .
20
1
Since the distance between the upper focal point p and the heliostat varies in a range of tens of meters to hundreds of meters depending on the scale of the solar thermal power generation system, a laser beam having a wavelength which is easily visually recognizable even from far is used as the laser beam L being irradiated.
1
The wavelength of the beam light is preferably in a range of 500 nanometers to 590 nanometers. In the present embodiment, a green light having a wavelength in the vicinity of 555 nanometers (532 nanometers), which human eyes can perceive most strongly, is used as an example. This enables easy visual observation to check whether the laser beam L is applied on the upper focal point p.
9
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If the irradiation position is dislocated, the irradiation position is adjusted by operating the slow-motion stage , the elevation adjusting knob , or the like. By this operation, a dislocation of the light receiver serving as a sun tracking device can be corrected.
FIG. 5A
FIG. 5B
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Then, as shown in and , the elevating device and the turning device of the heliostat are adjusted so that the reflected light L, which is a reflected light of the laser beam L applied on the facets disposed on the heliostat , can enter the light receiver . By this operation, so-called origin alignment of the heliostat is completed; therefore, the direction of the facet is corrected.
3
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As described above, the sun tracking sensor (the light receiving device ) and the facet can be corrected on site while carrying out actual measurement. Thus, correction at an extremely high accuracy can be achieved in comparison with correction carried out on the basis of workers' sense based on visual observation and of measurement.
2
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Also, since the laser irradiation device can be attached and detached, multiple heliostats can be adjusted sequentially with the single irradiation device . Therefore, installation costs of the irradiation device can be reduced.
Furthermore, since the correction operation can be carried out even by one person, the efficiency can be improved significantly compared to the case where adjustment is carried out by multiple persons on the basis of their sense upon spending time.
Incidentally, the solar thermal power generation system in the present embodiment is a beam-down system for solar thermal power generation. However, the correcting apparatus according to the present invention may be applied to a solar thermal power tower system as well.
In other words, the correcting apparatus according to the present invention may be used for any other system than a solar thermal power generation system as far as such a system is configured to collect solar heat into a predetermined position by means of reflecting mirrors of multiple heliostats or the like.
A solar thermal power generation system
1
correcting apparatus
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laser irradiation device
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light receiving device
20
heliostat
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facet
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elevating device
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turning device
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center reflector
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receiver (heat receiving part)
c light path
p upper focal point
1
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L, L irradiated laser beams
4
L reflected light of laser beam
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic configuration diagram of a solar thermal power generation system.
FIG. 2
is a schematic configuration diagram of a correcting apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a schematic drawing of a laser irradiation device.
FIG. 4
is a drawing showing a method for correcting a heliostat using the correcting apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5A
shows the relation between movement of a facet disposed on the heliostat and the correcting apparatus during correction.
FIG. 5B
shows the relation between movement of the facet disposed on the heliostat and the correcting apparatus after completion of the correction. | |
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The Schoenly Preschool Program has adopted the Tools of the Mind curriculum to develop problem solving skills and encourage personal growth in our young learners. In kindergarten and first grade, teachers use balanced literacy, the GoMath! program, and hands-on learning in science and social studies in order to engage each child in the classroom. Students are encouraged to construct understanding of content through active and cooperative learning. We also embrace Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as a schoolwide community. Our goal as a school is to provide a nurturing and productive educational environment that supports students as they develop the skills, abilities, and attitudes needed to succeed in school and in life. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is embedded throughout the school day and in all content areas.
At this primary level, extra curricular activities center around strengthening ties both inside and outside of the school community. Students have multiple opportunities to volunteer and give back to the community from showing appreciation to first responders to running several fundraisers throughout the year. Our C.A.R.E.S. Before and After School Program provides supervision and enrichment for our students outside of the typical school day. The program encourages social interaction and incorporates various developmentally appropriate recreation activities to do so. Our school also engages in several activities with Spotswood High School and Memorial Middle School students to provide our young learners with mentorship and positive role models.
Students may participate in the Spotswood C.A.R.E.S. program, a structured before and after-school environment where students have the opportunity to engage in educational and recreational activities. First grade students may participate in Kids Create, an after-school art enrichment program led by Spotswood High School volunteers. The Spotswood PTA offers enrichment and recreational activities for our students and their families throughout the school year.
Schoenly staff members are lifelong learners. They have multiple opportunities to participate in professional development. Teachers may learn and collaborate in monthly PD Academy sessions, Professional Learning Communities, Focused Professional Learning Cohorts (FPLC), Inservice trainings, and peer observations. New teachers participate in a four year Induction Program aligned with our Stronge+ Evaluation rubrics and research of best practices in education.
Schoenly''s Child Study Team (CST) provides consultative, evaluative, and prescriptive service to teachers and parents with regards to students who are experiencing school challenges. Services provided to eligible students include speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, social skills and ESL. Classroom settings vary including general education, self-contained, resource room, and in-class support in order to provide the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for students.
Students in kindergarten and first grade are provided with two sessions a week of physical education and 22 minutes every day for recess. Additionally, classrooms often use kinesthetic learning to keep our students moving throughout the day.In October, students celebrate "Healthy Choices Week" where students are encouraged to stay active, eat well-balanced meals, and take care of their bodies. Annually, a pediatric dentist presents to students about maintaining good dental hygiene.
The PTA is incredibly supportive of our school. The annual Teacher Wish Lists provide over $18,000 in donations. The PTA plans various activities for students and staff to celebrate our community. The Spotswood Education Foundation (SEF) provides grants for teachers to advance student learning. To date, the SEF has granted teachers throughout the district over $89,000. Our school also forms strong ties with our community through special events such as the Spotswood Tree Lighting Ceremony.
The G. Austin Schoenly School building is nestled in a residential neighborhood in Spotswood, New Jersey. The building was initially built in 1958 and later expanded in 1974 and 2004. In 2016, the HVAC system was upgraded, and the entire school is now air conditioned. The school utilizes a large All-Purpose Room, a media center, 20 multi-purpose classrooms, an outdoor courtyard, and a fenced in playground area.In the summer of 2019, a secure vestibule was installed at the main entrance of the building to provide a single point of entry for all visitors. Upon entering the secure vestibule, all visitors are required to check in via the Lobby Guard Visitor Management System.
Spotswood School District understands that the health and safety of our students is paramount in creating an environment in which all of our members feel safe and secure. To ensure this, the Spotswood School District utilizes a comprehensive approach to school safety and security with a focus on the following areas:* Security Coordination* Communications and Alerts* Training and Drills* Plan Review/Climate Assessment.The administration of the Spotswood School District works closely with the Spotswood Police Department through our School Resource Officer, who works with all school administration. Additionally, monthly meetings are held to review all district security matters with District and Spotswood community leaders.
At G. Austin Schoenly School, we encourage our students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers through exploration and project based learning. At this early childhood level, we encourage student inquiry and experimentation as they create meaning of the world around them. In our curriculum, we dedicate ample time for students to play, create, build, and explore. These experiences prepare our young learners for future scientific discovery and independent thinking. We utilize various technological resources to meet the needs of our diverse learners including the use of iPads in preschool, Chromebooks in kindergarten and first grade, and interactive projection software for each classroom. Furthermore, various educational applications are used to deliver and enrich instruction. Teachers embrace technology throughout the entire educational process to keep instruction innovative and engaging.
Our school is home to a full-day preschool program offering a transitional, a self contained, and five integrated classrooms. Our preschool is funded both locally and by tuition. We utilize the Tools of the Mind curriculum to promote cognitive development, self regulation, socio-emotional skills and a strong foundation in academics. Students also receive weekly instruction in visual arts, performing arts, yoga, and physical education to enrich their educational experience.
We are known as "The Little School with the Big Heart" because of the nurturing learning environment that we provide for our young learners. We have a staff of incredibly dedicated and passionate individuals who make our school a home for each child that walks in our doors. As a primary school, we recognize the importance of providing students with a strong foundation and confidence to achieve lofty goals. We understand that for many students, Schoenly School is their first experience with school. We strive to make this first impression one that will make them fall in love with learning for many years to come. | https://njschoolexplorer.com/elementary-schools/g-austin-schoenly-elementary-school-3rrxyy3 |
CONTACT:
Kim Pozniak
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
(571) 263-1193
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, April 16, 2020 (updated April 23, 2020) – Catholic Relief Services (CRS) joins a network of local, national and international non-profits calling for the protection of homeless, migrant and refugee populations amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic. Those without a safe shelter to call home around the world are among the most vulnerable people exposed to COVID-19.
“People living in precarious situations are at greater risk for disease in normal times and need even more protection now,” said Jennifer Poidatz, vice president of CRS’ humanitarian response department. “They often lack even the most basic of necessities, including clean water, food and proper sanitation.”
CRS is one of more than 80 organizations around the world working with vulnerable populations who have signed a statement calling for the provision of adequate housing, food, access to basic hygiene and sanitation, and protective equipment for the displaced and those assisting them. Adequate COVID-19 testing is also urgently needed to mitigate the spread and provide treatment.
With more than 70 million people displaced from their homes around the world, CRS sees this as more than a public health emergency: COVID-19 can cause massive disruptions to the livelihoods, safety and social cohesion of people in extremely tenuous circumstances – threatening their already limited access to shelter, food, education and ability to work.
“Given the conditions so many men, women and children find themselves in after being displaced from their homes could mean this virus spreading like wildfire through shelters and camps, claiming many more lives and putting many more at risk,” Poidatz said.
For refugees living in a camp, the congested environment and limited access to hygiene items like clean water and soap can make it difficult to follow the guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Hygiene supplies, clear information and social distancing practices are critical in camp environments. The ability to isolate and care for those who are sick is also essential during this crisis.
In Mexico and El Salvador, for example, migrant shelters are closing for new arrivals, leaving people homeless and without support. In the Philippines and Indonesia, thousands still live in emergency shelters after being displaced by deadly storms and need to be moved into spaces with the possibility of social distancing and isolation. In Myanmar, people living in camps urgently need shelter, safe water and sanitation.
CRS and its partners in more than 30 countries are expanding and adapting programming to prevent the spread and reduce the risk of COVID-19. This include prioritization of areas with ongoing emergency relief efforts – including in refugee and internally displaced settlements – given people’s existing high level of vulnerability and needs well before this pandemic.
“CRS teams are racing against the clock to design triage centers for health facilities and temporary centers for isolation,” Poidatz said. “We are also looking at modifications to shelters to allow spaces for quarantine where possible.”
###
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org and follow Catholic Relief Services on social media in English at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; and in Spanish at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Online Tools: | https://www.crs.org/media-center/news-release/crs-calls-protection-homeless-migrants-and-refugees-during-pandemic |
A protective order violation in Maryland is a very serious criminal charge. If you have been arrested or charged with violating a protective order in Westminster, Carroll County, then you need to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney.
How is a Protective Order Violation Prosecuted in Maryland?
The maximum penalty for violating a peace order is 90 days incarceration and/or a $500.00 fine.
In order to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the State’s Attorney’s Office has to prove that a protective order was in place and that you knowingly violated its conditions. Typically, a person allegedly violates a protective order by contacting the victim either by telephone or in-person.
These charges are very serious because it is an alleged direct violation of the Court’s order to not do something. Furthermore, the State’s Attorney’s Office assigns these cases to its Domestic Violence Unit where the prosecutors focus solely on these types of crimes.
Baltimore City Protective Order Violation Case
I handled a case where the client was charged with violating a protective order, harassment, and telephone misuse. The Assistant State’s Attorney’s plea offer was to the violation of the protective order and a 90 day suspended sentence and one year of probation. My client instructed me to turn down the guilty plea and take this case to trial.
At trial, I was able to successfully get the harassment and telephone misuse charges dismissed at the end of the State’s case. I argued that the State did not proven the elements of these offenses and the Court agreed. However, the Court denied my motion for judgment of acquittal on the violation of protective order. Now, it was time to put on the defendant’s case.
My client chose to testify and the case turned into a he-said/she-said case. Unfortunately, the Court determined that the victim credible and found my client guilty at the conclusion of the trial. The prosecutor did an excellent job and the Court gave my client a fair hearing.
At sentencing, my client received no jail time and one year of supervised probation. I believe this was an appropriate sentence considering the facts of the case and my client’s criminal record.
Schedule a Free Protective Order Violation Consultation
Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Ross W. Albers is a former Baltimore City prosecutor. Contact the Law Office of Ross W. Albers to schedule a free consultation if you have been charged with violating a protective order in Maryland. | https://www.rossalbers.com/protective-order-violation-maryland/ |
GRA commissioned Monash University to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on early Intervention and prevention for problem gambling.
The purpose of the study was to determine which primary prevention measures work, which do not work and why. A literature search was conducted to identify trials investigating the effectiveness of primary interventions on problem gambling. Using a systematic review approach, researchers assessed the eligibility and relevance of studies thereby reducing errors and results that may be due to chance or bias.
Summary
Thirteen studies were included in the review with a total of 20 outcomes recorded. However, only four of the outcomes were derived from sufficient similarity in intervention, sample and result area to be included in the meta-analysis. A meta-analysis was performed subsequently. Interventions used in the studies were delivered through a range of formats.
The findings of the study showed that
- interventions should be psycho-educational in order to increase awareness of risks associated with gambling and help develop coping and problem resolution skills
- the most promising and effective form of intervention was considered the video-activity lecture combination
- appropriate trained personnel are required to implement the intervention.
The authors caution (page 59 of the report) that the results from this study should be treated with caution as they are based on a small number of methodologically flawed studies. | https://www.gamblingresearch.org.au/publications/systematic-review-and-meta-analysis-studies-early-intervention-and-prevention-problem |
13 Results for "stress"
4 Self-Care Myths We Need to Eradicate—Right Now
Work and school are stressful, and it's easy to get burnt out—self-care is important in combating burnout, but we need to address some of the myths about self-care that exist, too.
5 Strategies to Beat Workplace Burnout
The World Health Organization now classifies workplace burnout as a “syndrome” connected to “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Here, we address the five stages of burnout and the five actions you can take to build resilience to it.
4 Ways to Lessen Business Travel Stress
Here are four ways you can turn a business trip into a serene journey—from departure lounge to your return flight.
5 Lifestyle Issues to Consider Before Working in IT
Some aspects of the IT lifestyle are very different from what you might expect. Here are five issues to consider before deciding to work in IT.
8 Signs Job-Related Stress Is Hurting Your Health
When your stress level at work rises too high, it can impact your health. Here are eight signs that stress is affecting your body.
How to Stop Worrying About Interviews and Learn to Lessen Your Stress
Many people stress out about interviews and experience stress in interviews. Here are three simple tips for reducing that stress, if not getting rid of it all.
10 Signs You're Becoming a Work Martyr
Work martyrs live in a constant state of stress, afraid to take time off for fear of not being seen as valuable.
5 Ways to Tell If Your Job Is Hurting Your Health
how to know if your job is making you sick
How to Remain Stress-Free in the Workplace
Are you worried about burning out at work before the holidays? Check out our infographic for specific strategies to remain stress-free during this hectic time. | https://www.vault.com/blogs/tag/stress |
Forming in 2016, Fall and Resist create music that speaks to their audience. Their sound is essentially a mongrel of sorrowful melody and hostile aggression. With blistering drums, driving song structures, hook-filled melodies and the occasional clean interlude, Fall and Resist have begun to develop their style into an energetic powerhouse. Their commanding stage presence creates an energy that their audience feeds on, making their live performances engaging to say the least.
Their first offering ‘Buried Beneath’ showcases their breadth of music ability and taste. The four tracks capture the energy and grit of the band and the artwork details the essential theme of the EP.
Currently recording their debut album set to be released in the latter part of 2018, Fall and Resist are eager to become involved in high calibre shows that will help to spread their unique brand of Melodeath. | http://www.fallandresist.com/epk |
The NewKnowledge team is having a busy summer full of side projects and travel. In the month of July, Rebecca Norlander has been working with the Innovation Lab, led by the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The Lab offers a unique opportunity to work with leading thinkers and practitioners in exhibit design, media, technology, and more.
The Lab draws a diverse mix of international professionals and students to collaboratively re-imagine possibilities for exhibition design. Each group tackles new challenges set by institutions like the Met and MoMA in different “studios”. Each studio considers the same design challenge but approaches it from a distinct framework and perspective, working with an eye to the constraints and opportunities in the real-world application of the challenge.
Rebecca Norlander is taking part in the Innovation Lab as a Studio Lead to facilitate creative thinking through the lens of evaluation. She is drawing on her perspective as a NewKnowledge researcher and experience thinking about informal learning and user experience in museums. We are excited to root on Rebecca as she supports new collaborative ways to approach public learning and engagement with science and the humanities. | https://www.newknowledge.org/culture/team-members-join-in-nyu-innovation-innovation-lab/ |
V4W.ENKO – media project of Evgeniy Vaschenko, started in 2007 as live electronics, working with sound and visual streams.
Based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Sound and video streams are being realised in real time by manipulating of self programmed algorithms. Parts of algorithms have simple form and are correlated one with another by simple rules. One of the fields of the processes are generative audio and video exploration, accurate and spontaneous composition, absolute live improvisation with self programmed algorithms. Another one is abstract and minimalistic approaches wich are directed to create spaces through the sound and visual materials. Working with, Andrey Kiritchenko, Kotra, Zavoloka, Alla Zagaykevych, .At/on, D`Incise, Ujif_Notfoound, AIUTO, Sanmi.
Since 2007 V4W.ENKO released over 10 solo and some collaborative albums (on CD and net-releases) as well as participated in more than 12 compilations (included Vague Terrain, submitted by Kim Cascone; Qwartz 7 compilation). Produced more than 14 solo video works as well as produced several abstract audiovisual works in collab with Ukrainian visual artist AIUTO. Worked with labels and platforms of contemporary arts such as Kvitnu, Nexsound, Electroton, 0 Bis, Microsound, Digitalbiotope, Entity, JNN, Clear Magazine.
In 2011 the audio/visual CD album “Harmonic Ratio”(2009) was mentioned by “Qwartz Awards” (under direction by Alva Noto and Matali Crasset) as nomination in “Discovery” category. | https://www.restingbell.net/artists/v4w-enko |
… durch planmässiges Tattonieren.
[… through systematic, palpable experimentation.]
—Johann Karl Friedrich Gauss [asked how he came upon his theorems]
On this chapter, you will get deeper knowledge of PyTables internals. PyTables has many tunable features so that you can improve the performance of your application. If you are planning to deal with really large data, you should read carefully this section in order to learn how to get an important efficiency boost for your code. But if your datasets are small (say, up to 10 MB) or your number of nodes is contained (up to 1000), you should not worry about that as the default parameters in PyTables are already tuned for those sizes (although you may want to adjust them further anyway). At any rate, reading this chapter will help you in your life with PyTables.
Understanding chunking¶
The underlying HDF5 library that is used by PyTables allows for certain datasets (the so-called chunked datasets) to take the data in bunches of a certain length, named chunks, and write them on disk as a whole, i.e. the HDF5 library treats chunks as atomic objects and disk I/O is always made in terms of complete chunks. This allows data filters to be defined by the application to perform tasks such as compression, encryption, check-summing, etc. on entire chunks.
HDF5 keeps a B-tree in memory that is used to map chunk structures on disk. The more chunks that are allocated for a dataset the larger the B-tree. Large B-trees take memory and cause file storage overhead as well as more disk I/O and higher contention for the metadata cache. Consequently, it’s important to balance between memory and I/O overhead (small B-trees) and time to access data (big B-trees).
In the next couple of sections, you will discover how to inform PyTables about the expected size of your datasets for allowing a sensible computation of the chunk sizes. Also, you will be presented some experiments so that you can get a feeling on the consequences of manually specifying the chunk size. Although doing this latter is only reserved to experienced people, these benchmarks may allow you to understand more deeply the chunk size implications and let you quickly start with the fine-tuning of this important parameter.
Informing PyTables about expected number of rows in tables or arrays¶
PyTables can determine a sensible chunk size to your dataset size if you
help it by providing an estimation of the final number of rows for an
extensible leaf 1. You should provide this information at leaf creation
time by passing this value to the
expectedrows argument of the
File.create_table() method or
File.create_earray() method (see
The EArray class).
When your leaf size is bigger than 10 MB (take this figure only as a reference, not strictly), by providing this guess you will be optimizing the access to your data. When the table or array size is larger than, say 100MB, you are strongly suggested to provide such a guess; failing to do that may cause your application to do very slow I/O operations and to demand huge amounts of memory. You have been warned!
Fine-tuning the chunksize¶
Warning
This section is mostly meant for experts. If you are a beginner, you must know that setting manually the chunksize is a potentially dangerous action.
Most of the time, informing PyTables about the extent of your dataset is enough. However, for more sophisticated applications, when one has special requirements for doing the I/O or when dealing with really large datasets, you should really understand the implications of the chunk size in order to be able to find the best value for your own application.
You can specify the chunksize for every chunked dataset in PyTables by passing the chunkshape argument to the corresponding constructors. It is important to point out that chunkshape is not exactly the same thing than a chunksize; in fact, the chunksize of a dataset can be computed multiplying all the dimensions of the chunkshape among them and multiplying the outcome by the size of the atom.
We are going to describe a series of experiments where an EArray of 15 GB is written with different chunksizes, and then it is accessed in both sequential (i.e. first element 0, then element 1 and so on and so forth until the data is exhausted) and random mode (i.e. single elements are read randomly all through the dataset). These benchmarks have been carried out with PyTables 2.1 on a machine with an Intel Core2 processor @ 3 GHz and a RAID-0 made of two SATA disks spinning at 7200 RPM, and using GNU/Linux with an XFS filesystem. The script used for the benchmarks is available in bench/optimal-chunksize.py.
In figures Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4, you can see how the chunksize affects different aspects, like creation time, file sizes, sequential read time and random read time. So, if you properly inform PyTables about the extent of your datasets, you will get an automatic chunksize value (256 KB in this case) that is pretty optimal for most of uses. However, if what you want is, for example, optimize the creation time when using the Zlib compressor, you may want to reduce the chunksize to 32 KB (see Figure 1). Or, if your goal is to optimize the sequential access time for an dataset compressed with Blosc, you may want to increase the chunksize to 512 KB (see Figure 3).
You will notice that, by manually specifying the chunksize of a leave you will not normally get a drastic increase in performance, but at least, you have the opportunity to fine-tune such an important parameter for improve performance.
Finally, it is worth noting that adjusting the chunksize can be specially important if you want to access your dataset by blocks of certain dimensions. In this case, it is normally a good idea to set your chunkshape to be the same than these dimensions; you only have to be careful to not end with a too small or too large chunksize. As always, experimenting prior to pass your application into production is your best ally.
Accelerating your searches¶
Note
Many of the explanations and plots in this section and the forthcoming ones still need to be updated to include Blosc (see [BLOSC]), the new and powerful compressor added in PyTables 2.2 series. You should expect it to be the fastest compressor among all the described here, and its use is strongly recommended whenever you need extreme speed and not a very high compression ratio.
Searching in tables is one of the most common and time consuming operations that a typical user faces in the process of mining through his data. Being able to perform queries as fast as possible will allow more opportunities for finding the desired information quicker and also allows to deal with larger datasets.
PyTables offers many sort of techniques so as to speed-up the search process as much as possible and, in order to give you hints to use them based, a series of benchmarks have been designed and carried out. All the results presented in this section have been obtained with synthetic, random data and using PyTables 2.1. Also, the tests have been conducted on a machine with an Intel Core2 (64-bit) @ 3 GHz processor with RAID-0 disk storage (made of four spinning disks @ 7200 RPM), using GNU/Linux with an XFS filesystem. The script used for the benchmarks is available in bench/indexed_search.py. As your data, queries and platform may be totally different for your case, take this just as a guide because your mileage may vary (and will vary).
In order to be able to play with tables with a number of rows as large as possible, the record size has been chosen to be rather small (24 bytes). Here it is its definition:
class Record(tables.IsDescription): col1 = tables.Int32Col() col2 = tables.Int32Col() col3 = tables.Float64Col() col4 = tables.Float64Col()
In the next sections, we will be optimizing the times for a relatively complex query like this:
result = [row['col2'] for row in table if ( ((row['col4'] >= lim1 and row['col4'] < lim2) or ((row['col2'] > lim3 and row['col2'] < lim4])) and ((row['col1']+3.1*row['col2']+row['col3']*row['col4']) > lim5) )]
(for future reference, we will call this sort of queries regular queries). So, if you want to see how to greatly improve the time taken to run queries like this, keep reading.
In-kernel searches¶
PyTables provides a way to accelerate data selections inside of a single table, through the use of the Table methods - querying iterator and related query methods. This mode of selecting data is called in-kernel. Let’s see an example of an in-kernel query based on the regular one mentioned above:
result = [row['col2'] for row in table.where( '''(((col4 >= lim1) & (col4 < lim2)) | ((col2 > lim3) & (col2 < lim4)) & ((col1+3.1*col2+col3*col4) > lim5))''')]
This simple change of mode selection can improve search times quite a lot and actually make PyTables very competitive when compared against typical relational databases as you can see in Figure 5 and Figure 6.
By looking at Figure 5 you can see how in the case that table data fits easily in memory, in-kernel searches on uncompressed tables are generally much faster (10x) than standard queries as well as PostgreSQL (5x). Regarding compression, we can see how Zlib compressor actually slows down the performance of in-kernel queries by a factor 3.5x; however, it remains faster than PostgreSQL (40%). On his hand, LZO compressor only decreases the performance by a 75% with respect to uncompressed in-kernel queries and is still a lot faster than PostgreSQL (3x). Finally, one can observe that, for low selectivity queries (large number of hits), PostgreSQL performance degrades quite steadily, while in PyTables this slow down rate is significantly smaller. The reason of this behaviour is not entirely clear to the authors, but the fact is clearly reproducible in our benchmarks.
But, why in-kernel queries are so fast when compared with regular ones?. The answer is that in regular selection mode the data for all the rows in table has to be brought into Python space so as to evaluate the condition and decide if the corresponding field should be added to the result list. On the contrary, in the in-kernel mode, the condition is passed to the PyTables kernel (hence the name), written in C, and evaluated there at full C speed (with the help of the integrated Numexpr package, see [NUMEXPR]), so that the only values that are brought to Python space are the rows that fulfilled the condition. Hence, for selections that only have a relatively small number of hits (compared with the total amount of rows), the savings are very large. It is also interesting to note the fact that, although for queries with a large number of hits the speed-up is not as high, it is still very important.
On the other hand, when the table is too large to fit in memory (see Figure 6), the difference in speed between regular and in-kernel is not so important, but still significant (2x). Also, and curiously enough, large tables compressed with Zlib offers slightly better performance (around 20%) than uncompressed ones; this is because the additional CPU spent by the uncompressor is compensated by the savings in terms of net I/O (one has to read less actual data from disk). However, when using the extremely fast LZO compressor, it gives a clear advantage over Zlib, and is up to 2.5x faster than not using compression at all. The reason is that LZO decompression speed is much faster than Zlib, and that allows PyTables to read the data at full disk speed (i.e. the bottleneck is in the I/O subsystem, not in the CPU). In this case the compression rate is around 2.5x, and this is why the data can be read 2.5x faster. So, in general, using the LZO compressor is the best way to ensure best reading/querying performance for out-of-core datasets (more about how compression affects performance in Compression issues).
Furthermore, you can mix the in-kernel and regular selection modes for evaluating arbitrarily complex conditions making use of external functions. Look at this example:
result = [ row['var2'] for row in table.where('(var3 == "foo") & (var1 <= 20)') if your_function(row['var2']) ]
Here, we use an in-kernel selection to choose rows according to the values of the var3 and var1 fields. Then, we apply a regular selection to complete the query. Of course, when you mix the in-kernel and regular selection modes you should pass the most restrictive condition to the in-kernel part, i.e. to the where() iterator. In situations where it is not clear which is the most restrictive condition, you might want to experiment a bit in order to find the best combination.
However, since in-kernel condition strings allow rich expressions allowing the coexistence of multiple columns, variables, arithmetic operations and many typical functions, it is unlikely that you will be forced to use external regular selections in conditions of small to medium complexity. See Condition Syntax for more information on in-kernel condition syntax.
Indexed searches¶
When you need more speed than in-kernel selections can offer you, PyTables offers a third selection method, the so-called indexed mode (based on the highly efficient OPSI indexing engine ). In this mode, you have to decide which column(s) you are going to apply your selections over, and index them. Indexing is just a kind of sorting operation over a column, so that searches along such a column (or columns) will look at this sorted information by using a binary search which is much faster than the sequential search described in the previous section.
You can index the columns you want by calling the
Column.create_index()
method on an already created table. For example:
indexrows = table.cols.var1.create_index() indexrows = table.cols.var2.create_index() indexrows = table.cols.var3.create_index()
will create indexes for all var1, var2 and var3 columns.
After you have indexed a series of columns, the PyTables query optimizer will try hard to discover the usable indexes in a potentially complex expression. However, there are still places where it cannot determine that an index can be used. See below for examples where the optimizer can safely determine if an index, or series of indexes, can be used or not.
Example conditions where an index can be used:
var1 >= “foo” (var1 is used)
var1 >= mystr (var1 is used)
(var1 >= “foo”) & (var4 > 0.0) (var1 is used)
(“bar” <= var1) & (var1 < “foo”) (var1 is used)
((“bar” <= var1) & (var1 < “foo”)) & (var4 > 0.0) (var1 is used)
(var1 >= “foo”) & (var3 > 10) (var1 and var3 are used)
(var1 >= “foo”) | (var3 > 10) (var1 and var3 are used)
~(var1 >= “foo”) | ~(var3 > 10) (var1 and var3 are used)
Example conditions where an index can not be used:
var4 > 0.0 (var4 is not indexed)
var1 != 0.0 (range has two pieces)
~((“bar” <= var1) & (var1 < “foo”)) & (var4 > 0.0) (negation of a complex boolean expression)
Note
From PyTables 2.3 on, several indexes can be used in a single query.
Note
If you want to know for sure whether a particular query will use indexing
or not (without actually running it), you are advised to use the
Table.will_query_use_indexing() method.
One important aspect of the new indexing in PyTables (>= 2.3) is that it has been designed from the ground up with the goal of being capable to effectively manage very large tables. To this goal, it sports a wide spectrum of different quality levels (also called optimization levels) for its indexes so that the user can choose the best one that suits her needs (more or less size, more or less performance).
In Figure 7, you can see that the times to index columns in tables can be really short. In particular, the time to index a column with 1 billion rows (1 Gigarow) with the lowest optimization level is less than 4 minutes while indexing the same column with full optimization (so as to get a completely sorted index or CSI) requires around 1 hour. These are rather competitive figures compared with a relational database (in this case, PostgreSQL 8.3.1, which takes around 1.5 hours for getting the index done). This is because PyTables is geared towards read-only or append-only tables and takes advantage of this fact to optimize the indexes properly. On the contrary, most relational databases have to deliver decent performance in other scenarios as well (specially updates and deletions), and this fact leads not only to slower index creation times, but also to indexes taking much more space on disk, as you can see in Figure 8.
The user can select the index quality by passing the desired optlevel and
kind arguments to the
Column.create_index() method. We can see in
figures Figure 7 and Figure 8
how the different optimization levels affects index time creation and index
sizes.
So, which is the effect of the different optimization levels in terms of query times? You can see that in Figure 9.
Of course, compression also has an effect when doing indexed queries, although not very noticeable, as can be seen in Figure 10. As you can see, the difference between using no compression and using Zlib or LZO is very little, although LZO achieves relatively better performance generally speaking.
You can find a more complete description and benchmarks about OPSI, the indexing system of PyTables (>= 2.3) in [OPSI].
Indexing and Solid State Disks (SSD)¶
Lately, the long promised Solid State Disks (SSD for brevity) with decent capacities and affordable prices have finally hit the market and will probably stay in coexistence with the traditional spinning disks for the foreseeable future (separately or forming hybrid systems). SSD have many advantages over spinning disks, like much less power consumption and better throughput. But of paramount importance, specially in the context of accelerating indexed queries, is its very reduced latency during disk seeks, which is typically 100x better than traditional disks. Such a huge improvement has to have a clear impact in reducing the query times, specially when the selectivity is high (i.e. the number of hits is small).
In order to offer an estimate on the performance improvement we can expect when using a low-latency SSD instead of traditional spinning disks, the benchmark in the previous section has been repeated, but this time using a single SSD disk instead of the four spinning disks in RAID-0. The result can be seen in Figure 11. There one can see how a query in a table of 1 billion of rows with 100 hits took just 1 tenth of second when using a SSD, instead of 1 second that needed the RAID made of spinning disks. This factor of 10x of speed-up for high-selectivity queries is nothing to sneeze at, and should be kept in mind when really high performance in queries is needed. It is also interesting that using compression with LZO does have a clear advantage over when no compression is done.
Finally, we should remark that SSD can’t compete with traditional spinning disks in terms of capacity as they can only provide, for a similar cost, between 1/10th and 1/50th of the size of traditional disks. It is here where the compression capabilities of PyTables can be very helpful because both tables and indexes can be compressed and the final space can be reduced by typically 2x to 5x (4x to 10x when compared with traditional relational databases). Best of all, as already mentioned, performance is not degraded when compression is used, but actually improved. So, by using PyTables and SSD you can query larger datasets that otherwise would require spinning disks when using other databases
In fact, we were unable to run the PostgreSQL benchmark in this case because the space needed exceeded the capacity of our SSD., while allowing improvements in the speed of indexed queries between 2x (for medium to low selectivity queries) and 10x (for high selectivity queries).
Achieving ultimate speed: sorted tables and beyond¶
Warning
Sorting a large table is a costly operation. The next procedure should only be performed when your dataset is mainly read-only and meant to be queried many times.
When querying large tables, most of the query time is spent in locating the interesting rows to be read from disk. In some occasions, you may have queries whose result depends mainly of one single column (a query with only one single condition is the trivial example), so we can guess that sorting the table by this column would lead to locate the interesting rows in a much more efficient way (because they would be mostly contiguous). We are going to confirm this guess.
For the case of the query that we have been using in the previous sections:
result = [row['col2'] for row in table.where( '''(((col4 >= lim1) & (col4 < lim2)) | ((col2 > lim3) & (col2 < lim4)) & ((col1+3.1*col2+col3*col4) > lim5))''')]
it is possible to determine, by analysing the data distribution and the query
limits, that col4 is such a main column. So, by ordering the table by the
col4 column (for example, by specifying setting the column to sort by in the
sortby parameter in the
Table.copy() method and re-indexing col2 and
col4 afterwards, we should get much faster performance for our query. This
is effectively demonstrated in Figure 12,
where one can see how queries with a low to medium (up to 10000) number of
hits can be done in around 1 tenth of second for a RAID-0 setup and in around
1 hundredth of second for a SSD disk. This represents up to more that 100x
improvement in speed with respect to the times with unsorted tables. On the
other hand, when the number of hits is large (> 1 million), the query times
grow almost linearly, showing a near-perfect scalability for both RAID-0 and
SSD setups (the sequential access to disk becomes the bottleneck in this
case).
Even though we have shown many ways to improve query times that should fulfill the needs of most of people, for those needing more, you can for sure discover new optimization opportunities. For example, querying against sorted tables is limited mainly by sequential access to data on disk and data compression capability, so you may want to read Fine-tuning the chunksize, for ways on improving this aspect. Reading the other sections of this chapter will help in finding new roads for increasing the performance as well. You know, the limit for stopping the optimization process is basically your imagination (but, most plausibly, your available time ;-).
Compression issues¶
One of the beauties of PyTables is that it supports compression on tables and arrays 2, although it is not used by default. Compression of big amounts of data might be a bit controversial feature, because it has a legend of being a very big consumer of CPU time resources. However, if you are willing to check if compression can help not only by reducing your dataset file size but also by improving I/O efficiency, specially when dealing with very large datasets, keep reading.
A study on supported compression libraries¶
The compression library used by default is the Zlib (see [ZLIB]). Since HDF5 requires it, you can safely use it and expect that your HDF5 files will be readable on any other platform that has HDF5 libraries installed. Zlib provides good compression ratio, although somewhat slow, and reasonably fast decompression. Because of that, it is a good candidate to be used for compressing you data.
However, in some situations it is critical to have a very good decompression speed (at the expense of lower compression ratios or more CPU wasted on compression, as we will see soon). In others, the emphasis is put in achieving the maximum compression ratios, no matter which reading speed will result. This is why support for two additional compressors has been added to PyTables: LZO (see [LZO]) and bzip2 (see [BZIP2]). Following the author of LZO (and checked by the author of this section, as you will see soon), LZO offers pretty fast compression and extremely fast decompression. In fact, LZO is so fast when compressing/decompressing that it may well happen (that depends on your data, of course) that writing or reading a compressed dataset is sometimes faster than if it is not compressed at all (specially when dealing with extremely large datasets). This fact is very important, specially if you have to deal with very large amounts of data. Regarding bzip2, it has a reputation of achieving excellent compression ratios, but at the price of spending much more CPU time, which results in very low compression/decompression speeds.
Be aware that the LZO and bzip2 support in PyTables is not standard on HDF5, so if you are going to use your PyTables files in other contexts different from PyTables you will not be able to read them. Still, see the ptrepack (where the ptrepack utility is described) to find a way to free your files from LZO or bzip2 dependencies, so that you can use these compressors locally with the warranty that you can replace them with Zlib (or even remove compression completely) if you want to use these files with other HDF5 tools or platforms afterwards.
In order to allow you to grasp what amount of compression can be achieved, and how this affects performance, a series of experiments has been carried out. All the results presented in this section (and in the next one) have been obtained with synthetic data and using PyTables 1.3. Also, the tests have been conducted on a IBM OpenPower 720 (e-series) with a PowerPC G5 at 1.65 GHz and a hard disk spinning at 15K RPM. As your data and platform may be totally different for your case, take this just as a guide because your mileage may vary. Finally, and to be able to play with tables with a number of rows as large as possible, the record size has been chosen to be small (16 bytes). Here is its definition:
class Bench(IsDescription): var1 = StringCol(length=4) var2 = IntCol() var3 = FloatCol()
With this setup, you can look at the compression ratios that can be achieved in Figure 13. As you can see, LZO is the compressor that performs worse in this sense, but, curiously enough, there is not much difference between Zlib and bzip2.
Also, PyTables lets you select different compression levels for Zlib and bzip2, although you may get a bit disappointed by the small improvement that these compressors show when dealing with a combination of numbers and strings as in our example. As a reference, see plot Figure 14 for a comparison of the compression achieved by selecting different levels of Zlib. Very oddly, the best compression ratio corresponds to level 1 (!). See later for an explanation and more figures on this subject.
Have also a look at Figure 15. It shows how the speed of writing rows evolves as the size (number of rows) of the table grows. Even though in these graphs the size of one single row is 16 bytes, you can most probably extrapolate these figures to other row sizes.
In Figure 16 you can see how compression affects the reading performance. In fact, what you see in the plot is an in-kernel selection speed, but provided that this operation is very fast (see In-kernel searches), we can accept it as an actual read test. Compared with the reference line without compression, the general trend here is that LZO does not affect too much the reading performance (and in some points it is actually better), Zlib makes speed drop to a half, while bzip2 is performing very slow (up to 8x slower).
Also, in the same Figure 16 you can notice some strange peaks in the speed that we might be tempted to attribute to libraries on which PyTables relies (HDF5, compressors…), or to PyTables itself. However, Figure 17 reveals that, if we put the file in the filesystem cache (by reading it several times before, for example), the evolution of the performance is much smoother. So, the most probable explanation would be that such peaks are a consequence of the underlying OS filesystem, rather than a flaw in PyTables (or any other library behind it). Another consequence that can be derived from the aforementioned plot is that LZO decompression performance is much better than Zlib, allowing an improvement in overall speed of more than 2x, and perhaps more important, the read performance for really large datasets (i.e. when they do not fit in the OS filesystem cache) can be actually better than not using compression at all. Finally, one can see that reading performance is very badly affected when bzip2 is used (it is 10x slower than LZO and 4x than Zlib), but this was somewhat expected anyway.
So, generally speaking and looking at the experiments above, you can expect that LZO will be the fastest in both compressing and decompressing, but the one that achieves the worse compression ratio (although that may be just OK for many situations, specially when used with shuffling - see Shuffling (or how to make the compression process more effective)). bzip2 is the slowest, by large, in both compressing and decompressing, and besides, it does not achieve any better compression ratio than Zlib. Zlib represents a balance between them: it’s somewhat slow compressing (2x) and decompressing (3x) than LZO, but it normally achieves better compression ratios.
Finally, by looking at the plots Figure 18, Figure 19, and the aforementioned Figure 14 you can see why the recommended compression level to use for all compression libraries is 1. This is the lowest level of compression, but as the size of the underlying HDF5 chunk size is normally rather small compared with the size of compression buffers, there is not much point in increasing the latter (i.e. increasing the compression level). Nonetheless, in some situations (like for example, in extremely large tables or arrays, where the computed chunk size can be rather large) you may want to check, on your own, how the different compression levels do actually affect your application.
You can select the compression library and level by setting the complib and complevel keywords in the Filters class (see The Filters class). A compression level of 0 will completely disable compression (the default), 1 is the less memory and CPU time demanding level, while 9 is the maximum level and the most memory demanding and CPU intensive. Finally, have in mind that LZO is not accepting a compression level right now, so, when using LZO, 0 means that compression is not active, and any other value means that LZO is active.
So, in conclusion, if your ultimate goal is writing and reading as fast as possible, choose LZO. If you want to reduce as much as possible your data, while retaining acceptable read speed, choose Zlib. Finally, if portability is important for you, Zlib is your best bet. So, when you want to use bzip2? Well, looking at the results, it is difficult to recommend its use in general, but you may want to experiment with it in those cases where you know that it is well suited for your data pattern (for example, for dealing with repetitive string datasets).
Shuffling (or how to make the compression process more effective)¶
The HDF5 library provides an interesting filter that can leverage the results of your favorite compressor. Its name is shuffle, and because it can greatly benefit compression and it does not take many CPU resources (see below for a justification), it is active by default in PyTables whenever compression is activated (independently of the chosen compressor). It is deactivated when compression is off (which is the default, as you already should know). Of course, you can deactivate it if you want, but this is not recommended.
Note
Since PyTables 3.3, a new bitshuffle filter for Blosc compressor has been added. Contrarily to shuffle that shuffles bytes, bitshuffle shuffles the chunk data at bit level which could improve compression ratios at the expense of some speed penalty. Look at the The Filters class documentation on how to activate bitshuffle and experiment with it so as to decide if it can be useful for you.
So, how does this mysterious filter exactly work? From the HDF5 reference manual:
"The shuffle filter de-interlaces a block of data by reordering the bytes. All the bytes from one consistent byte position of each data element are placed together in one block; all bytes from a second consistent byte position of each data element are placed together a second block; etc. For example, given three data elements of a 4-byte datatype stored as 012301230123, shuffling will re-order data as 000111222333. This can be a valuable step in an effective compression algorithm because the bytes in each byte position are often closely related to each other and putting them together can increase the compression ratio."
In Figure 20 you can see a benchmark that shows how the shuffle filter can help the different libraries in compressing data. In this experiment, shuffle has made LZO compress almost 3x more (!), while Zlib and bzip2 are seeing improvements of 2x. Once again, the data for this experiment is synthetic, and shuffle seems to do a great work with it, but in general, the results will vary in each case 3.
At any rate, the most remarkable fact about the shuffle filter is the relatively high level of compression that compressor filters can achieve when used in combination with it. A curious thing to note is that the Bzip2 compression rate does not seem very much improved (less than a 40%), and what is more striking, Bzip2+shuffle does compress quite less than Zlib+shuffle or LZO+shuffle combinations, which is kind of unexpected. The thing that seems clear is that Bzip2 is not very good at compressing patterns that result of shuffle application. As always, you may want to experiment with your own data before widely applying the Bzip2+shuffle combination in order to avoid surprises.
Now, how does shuffling affect performance? Well, if you look at plots Figure 21, Figure 22 and Figure 23, you will get a somewhat unexpected (but pleasant) surprise. Roughly, shuffle makes the writing process (shuffling+compressing) faster (approximately a 15% for LZO, 30% for Bzip2 and a 80% for Zlib), which is an interesting result by itself. But perhaps more exciting is the fact that the reading process (unshuffling+decompressing) is also accelerated by a similar extent (a 20% for LZO, 60% for Zlib and a 75% for Bzip2, roughly).
You may wonder why introducing another filter in the write/read pipelines does effectively accelerate the throughput. Well, maybe data elements are more similar or related column-wise than row-wise, i.e. contiguous elements in the same column are more alike, so shuffling makes the job of the compressor easier (faster) and more effective (greater ratios). As a side effect, compressed chunks do fit better in the CPU cache (at least, the chunks are smaller!) so that the process of unshuffle/decompress can make a better use of the cache (i.e. reducing the number of CPU cache faults).
So, given the potential gains (faster writing and reading, but specially much improved compression level), it is a good thing to have such a filter enabled by default in the battle for discovering redundancy when you want to compress your data, just as PyTables does.
Using Psyco¶
Psyco (see [PSYCO]) is a kind of specialized compiler for Python that typically accelerates Python applications with no change in source code. You can think of Psyco as a kind of just-in-time (JIT) compiler, a little bit like Java’s, that emits machine code on the fly instead of interpreting your Python program step by step. The result is that your unmodified Python programs run faster.
Psyco is very easy to install and use, so in most scenarios it is worth to
give it a try. However, it only runs on Intel 386 architectures, so if you
are using other architectures, you are out of luck (and, moreover, it seems
that there are no plans to support other platforms). Besides, with the
addition of flexible (and very fast) in-kernel queries (by the way, they
cannot be optimized at all by Psyco), the use of Psyco will only help in
rather few scenarios. In fact, the only important situation that you might
benefit right now from using Psyco (I mean, in PyTables contexts) is for
speeding-up the write speed in tables when using the Row interface (see
The Row class). But again, this latter case can also be accelerated
by using the
Table.append() method and building your own buffers 4.
As an example, imagine that you have a small script that reads and selects data over a series of datasets, like this:
def read_file(filename): "Select data from all the tables in filename" fileh = open_file(filename, mode = "r") result = for table in fileh("/", 'Table'): result = [p['var3'] for p in table if p['var2'] <= 20] fileh.close() return result if __name__=="__main__": print(read_file("myfile.h5"))
In order to accelerate this piece of code, you can rewrite your main program to look like:
if __name__=="__main__": import psyco psyco.bind(read_file) print(read_file("myfile.h5"))
That’s all! From now on, each time that you execute your Python script, Psyco will deploy its sophisticated algorithms so as to accelerate your calculations.
You can see in the graphs Figure 24 and Figure 25 how much I/O speed improvement you can get by using Psyco. By looking at this figures you can get an idea if these improvements are of your interest or not. In general, if you are not going to use compression you will take advantage of Psyco if your tables are medium sized (from a thousand to a million rows), and this advantage will disappear progressively when the number of rows grows well over one million. However if you use compression, you will probably see improvements even beyond this limit (see Compression issues). As always, there is no substitute for experimentation with your own dataset.
Getting the most from the node LRU cache¶
One limitation of the initial versions of PyTables was that they needed to load all nodes in a file completely before being ready to deal with them, making the opening times for files with a lot of nodes very high and unacceptable in many cases.
Starting from PyTables 1.2 on, a new lazy node loading schema was setup that avoids loading all the nodes of the object tree in memory. In addition, a new LRU cache was introduced in order to accelerate the access to already visited nodes. This cache (one per file) is responsible for keeping up the most recently visited nodes in memory and discard the least recent used ones. This represents a big advantage over the old schema, not only in terms of memory usage (as there is no need to load every node in memory), but it also adds very convenient optimizations for working interactively like, for example, speeding-up the opening times of files with lots of nodes, allowing to open almost any kind of file in typically less than one tenth of second (compare this with the more than 10 seconds for files with more than 10000 nodes in PyTables pre-1.2 era) as well as optimizing the access to frequently visited nodes. See for more info on the advantages (and also drawbacks) of this approach.
One thing that deserves some discussion is the election of the parameter that
sets the maximum amount of nodes to be kept in memory at any time.
As PyTables is meant to be deployed in machines that can have potentially low
memory, the default for it is quite conservative (you can look at its actual
value in the
parameters.NODE_CACHE_SLOTS parameter in module
tables/parameters.py). However, if you usually need to deal with
files that have many more nodes than the maximum default, and you have a lot
of free memory in your system, then you may want to experiment in order to
see which is the appropriate value of
parameters.NODE_CACHE_SLOTS that
fits better your needs.
As an example, look at the next code:
def browse_tables(filename): fileh = open_file(filename,'a') group = fileh.root.newgroup for j in range(10): for tt in fileh.walk_nodes(group, "Table"): title = tt.attrs.TITLE for row in tt: pass fileh.close()
We will be running the code above against a couple of files having a
/newgroup containing 100 tables and 1000 tables respectively. In addition,
this benchmark is run twice for two different values of the LRU cache size,
specifically 256 and 1024. You can see the results in
table.
|
|
Number:
|
|
100 nodes
|
|
1000 nodes
|
|
Mem & Speed
|
|
Memory (MB)
|
|
Time (ms)
|
|
Memory (MB)
|
|
Time (ms)
|
|
Node is coming from…
|
|
Cache size
|
|
256
|
|
1024
|
|
256
|
|
1024
|
|
256
|
|
1024
|
|
256
|
|
1024
|
|
Disk
|
|
14
|
|
14
|
|
1.24
|
|
1.24
|
|
51
|
|
66
|
|
1.33
|
|
1.31
|
|
Cache
|
|
14
|
|
14
|
|
0.53
|
|
0.52
|
|
65
|
|
73
|
|
1.35
|
|
0.68
From the data in table, one can see that when the number of objects that you are dealing with does fit in cache, you will get better access times to them. Also, incrementing the node cache size effectively consumes more memory only if the total nodes exceeds the slots in cache; otherwise the memory consumption remains the same. It is also worth noting that incrementing the node cache size in the case you want to fit all your nodes in cache does not take much more memory than being too conservative. On the other hand, it might happen that the speed-up that you can achieve by allocating more slots in your cache is not worth the amount of memory used.
Also worth noting is that if you have a lot of memory available and
performance is absolutely critical, you may want to try out a negative value
for
parameters.NODE_CACHE_SLOTS. This will cause that all the touched
nodes will be kept in an internal dictionary and this is the faster way to
load/retrieve nodes.
However, and in order to avoid a large memory consumption, the user will be
warned when the number of loaded nodes will reach the
-NODE_CACHE_SLOTS
value.
Finally, a value of zero in
parameters.NODE_CACHE_SLOTS means that
any cache mechanism is disabled.
At any rate, if you feel that this issue is important for you, there is no
replacement for setting your own experiments up in order to proceed to
fine-tune the
parameters.NODE_CACHE_SLOTS parameter.
Note
PyTables >= 2.3 sports an optimized LRU cache node written in C, so you should expect significantly faster LRU cache operations when working with it.
Compacting your PyTables files¶
Let’s suppose that you have a file where you have made a lot of row deletions on one or more tables, or deleted many leaves or even entire subtrees. These operations might leave holes (i.e. space that is not used anymore) in your files that may potentially affect not only the size of the files but, more importantly, the performance of I/O. This is because when you delete a lot of rows in a table, the space is not automatically recovered on the fly. In addition, if you add many more rows to a table than specified in the expectedrows keyword at creation time this may affect performance as well, as explained in Informing PyTables about expected number of rows in tables or arrays.
In order to cope with these issues, you should be aware that PyTables includes a handy utility called ptrepack which can be very useful not only to compact fragmented files, but also to adjust some internal parameters in order to use better buffer and chunk sizes for optimum I/O speed. Please check the ptrepack for a brief tutorial on its use.
Another thing that you might want to use ptrepack for is changing the compression filters or compression levels on your existing data for different goals, like checking how this can affect both final size and I/O performance, or getting rid of the optional compressors like LZO or bzip2 in your existing files, in case you want to use them with generic HDF5 tools that do not have support for these filters.
- 1
CArray nodes, though not extensible, are chunked and have their optimum chunk size automatically computed at creation time, since their final shape is known.
- 2
Except for Array objects.
- 3
Some users reported that the typical improvement with real data is between a factor 1.5x and 2.5x over the already compressed datasets.
- 4
So, there is not much point in using Psyco with recent versions of PyTables anymore. | http://www.pytables.org/usersguide/optimization.html |
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