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Journal Articles
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (2019) 31 (2): 262–277.
Published: 01 February 2019
FIGURES | View All (5)
AbstractView article PDF
The neural dynamics underpinning binary perceptual decisions and their transformation into actions are well studied, but real-world decisions typically offer more than two response alternatives. How does decision-related evidence accumulation dynamically influence multiple action representations in humans? The heightened conservatism required in multiple compared with binary choice scenarios suggests a mechanism that compensates for increased uncertainty when multiple choices are present by suppressing baseline activity. Here, we tracked action representations using corticospinal excitability during four- and two-choice perceptual decisions and modeled them using a sequential sampling framework. We found that the predictions made by leaky competing accumulator models to accommodate multiple choices (i.e., reduced baseline activity to compensate increased uncertainty) were borne out by dynamic changes in human action representations. This suggests a direct and continuous influence of interacting evidence accumulators, each favoring a different decision alternative, on downstream corticospinal excitability during complex choice.
Journal Articles
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (2007) 19 (3): 513–524.
Published: 01 March 2007
AbstractView article PDF
Many studies have shown that visuospatial orienting attention depends on a network of frontal and parietal areas in the right hemisphere. Rushworth et al. [Rushworth, M. F., Krams, M., & Passingham, R. E. The attentional role of the left parietal cortex: The distinct lateralization and localization of motor attention in the human brain. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 13 , 698–710, 2001] have recently provided evidence for a left-lateralized network of parietal areas involved in motor attention. Using two variants of a cued reaction time (RT) task, we set out to investigate whether high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS; 5 Hz) delivered “off-line” in a virtual lesion paradigm over the right or left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) would affect performance in a motor versus a visual attention task. Although rTMS over the DLPFC on either side did not affect RT performance on a spatial orienting task, it did lead to an increase in the RTs of invalidly cued trials in a motor attention task when delivered to the left DLPFC. The opposite effect was found when rTMS was delivered to the PPC: In this case, conditioning the right PPC led to increased RTs in invalidly cued trials located in the left hemispace, in the spatial orienting task. rTMS over the PPC on either side did not affect performance in the motor attention task. This double dissociation was evident in the first 10 min after rTMS conditioning. These results enhance our understanding of the networks associated with attention. They provide evidence of a role for the left DLPFC in the mechanisms of motor preparation, and confirm Mesulam's original proposal for a right PPC dominance in spatial attention [Mesulam, M. M. A cortical network for directed attention and unilateral neglect. Annals of Neurology, 10 , 309–325, 1981].
Journal Articles
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (2004) 16 (5): 839–847.
Published: 01 June 2004
AbstractView article PDF
Saccadic chronostasis refers to the subjective temporal lengthening of the first visual stimulus perceived after an eye movement, and is most commonly experienced as the “stopped clock” illusion. Other temporal illusions arising in the context of movement (e.g., “intentional binding”) appear to depend upon the volitional nature of the preceding motor act. Here we assess chronostasis across different saccade types, ranging from highly volitional (self-timed saccades, antisaccades) to highly reflexive (peripherally cued saccades, express saccades). Chronostasis was similar in magnitude across all these conditions, despite wide variations in their neural bases. The illusion must therefore be triggered by a “lowest common denominator” signal common to all the conditions tested and their respective neural circuits. Specifically, it is suggested that chronostasis is triggered by a low-level signal arising in response to efferent signals generated in the superior colliculus. | https://direct.mit.edu/jocn/search-results?f_Authors=Kielan+Yarrow |
Job Summary: EA is seeking a qualified Bridge/Structural Design Engineer to supplement our existing staff. This candidate will be responsible for leading the development of bridge and structural design plans, specifications, and cost estimates for a variety of projects to meet the requirements of our clients.
These projects may include performing engineering/design calculations from project inception to completion, developing structural plans, using structural design software, performing bridge load ratings, bridge inspections, proposal preparation, cost estimates, interfacing with clients to determine specific structural requirements and occasional inspection of client facilities. You will be challenged and grow with a broad variety of projects and clients. Projects include ODOT bridges, water and wastewater treatment building and concrete tank design, and structural evaluations of manufacturing facilities/projects.
You will supervise the preparation of project plans by CAD operators and prepare CAD plans. You will collaborate with other project designers to cohesively coordinate structural project details with other aspects of the project.
Project management responsibilities include supervision of CAD staff, managing project scope, budget, and schedule, preparation of fee proposals, attend project meetings, interact with clients, and develop all structural requirements for our clients.
This position is mainly an office position with occasional travel.
Job Requirements:
• Ohio Professional Engineers License.
• ODOT Level II Bridge Design Prequalification.
• Experience with ODOT Bridge Design Manual and AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification.
• Minimum of 7 years of bridge/structural design experience.
• Computer Skills: MicroStation and AutoCAD, Microsoft Office Suite, bridge design software
• Experience using structural design analysis software: AASHTOWare BrR, Merlin DASH, LEAP.
Preferred Attributes:
• ODOT Level I Bridge Inspection.
• Experience analyzing and designing concrete tankage.
• Experience analyzing and designing single-story buildings.
• Experience with Ohio Building Code. | https://app.joinhandshake.com/jobs/6431671/share_preview |
Our architect dream
When Louis Cloete Sr. created the respected firm of architects that carry his name, he dreamed of a world in which great architectural design can enhance people’s lives and coexistence by marrying form and function in seamless unity.
But as much as this 51-year-old firm understands the necessity of combining function and art, Louis Cloete Incorporated (LCI) has always ensured that function itself is never compromised for artistry alone.
Buildings and the environment in which they appear have to live harmoniously together, creating living and working spaces for people to arrive, connect and depart within a realm of possibility.
Architecture, town planning, landscaping and the environment thus synchronizes to motivate people to come together, live together and work together and when they depart, this synchronicity compels them to be reminded of their human experiences within a harmonious world.
This is our dream and with our professional assistance, we can make this dream come true. For you.
Our history
LCI was established in Pretoria in January 1961 by Louis Martin Cloete. After completing his studies as an architect, he identified the need and opportunities for a firm directed towards specific areas of expertise. He also qualified as a town- and regional planner, as well as becoming landscape architect.
Over the last 51 years LCI has grown into a multi-disciplinary professional service provider built on the foundations of tradition, expertise, experience and competition.
The company today consists of a core of 10 people. LCI also has a network of close associations with various other consultants and is able to service a wide range of projects ranging in size and complexity.
LCI is actively involved with the rendering of architectural services as a community service to previously disadvantaged communities. | https://louiscloete.co.za/architect/ |
The Endangered dryas monkey (Cercopithecus dryas), endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one of Africa's most mysterious primates. The discovery of the dryas monkey killed by a hunter in the buffer zone of Lomami National Park in 2014 has prompted field research of this small species (5-7 pounds). However, they are difficult to detect because they live in dense vegetation in secondary forest thickets.
Using non-invasive research and no-flash camera traps from 2014 to 2019, scientists from Florida Atlantic University in collaboration with researchers from the FZS-Lomami Project, Democratic Republic of the Congo, now have picture-perfect details on this elusive species. They have confirmed the occurrence of the dryas monkey at seven locations in both Lomami National Park and its buffer zone spanning a total area of 3,453 square kilometers, based on opportunistic reports provided by local village residents and park patrols.
Their findings, published in Oryx--The International Journal of Conservation, indicate that Lomami National Park and its buffer zone contain the greatest extent of the species' known range, and Lomami is the only national park with a confirmed population.
Although camera traps - a method for capturing wild animals on film when researchers are not present - are widely used to detect and survey cryptic species, the FAU scientists had to develop specific camera trap methods and placements to reliably detect the dryas monkeys.
Daniel Alempijevic, M.S., first author and a doctoral student at FAU, and Kate Detwiler, Ph.D., senior author and an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology in FAU's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, developed a species-specific multi-strata (0 to 29 meters) camera-trap technique to detect the species with a placement of three camera traps at each survey point, one each monitoring the ground, understory and canopy.
Alempijevic positioned the camera traps on game paths (0.2 to 0.5 meters above ground), shrubs and liana tangles (1.5 to 10 meters), and horizontal limbs (14.9 to 29 meters) forming pathways to adjacent tree crowns. He used a single rope technique to access the canopy, and a double-rope technique to move to the desired camera-trap location when needed. With the solicited information on the dryas monkeys from the residents of villages, he selected specific sites for camera-trap surveillance.
"We selected Bafundo Forest in the buffer zone for camera-trap surveillance, starting at the location where the first reported dryas monkey was killed by a hunter," said Detwiler. "We established the second survey site 40 kilometers west of Bafundo Village, at Camp Bartho in Lomami National Park after a ranger patrol team saw a dryas monkey there in 2014."
Camera traps accumulated 1,742 trap days on the ground, 2,821 trap days in the understory and 2,927 trap days in the canopy. Understory camera traps recorded 32 dryas monkey events, canopy camera traps detected a single event, and dryas monkeys were not detected by camera traps at ground level. The cameras that detected the species most frequently were those in the lower strata of the canopy and understory, at 2 to 10 meters above ground. At least 365 trap days are required to achieve a 95 percent detection probability, although dryas monkeys may be detected sooner in suitable habitats.
"Our camera-trap placements detected dryas monkeys almost exclusively in the understory across all surveys, regardless of canopy structure, which supports our hypothesis that the species appear to prefer structurally complex understories and forest edges," said Alempijevic. "Because our camera traps on the ground did not detect dryas monkeys, it seems unlikely that they travel on the ground. Only one camera trap in the canopy detected a dryas monkey, suggesting that they rarely travel in the upper canopy."
The researchers note that high heterozygosity and low inbreeding measures from genomic analysis of a hunter-killed dryas monkey (collected on Oct. 26, 2014) from Bafundo Forest suggest that it was a representative of a larger contiguous population.
"We recommend that researchers and conservationists working in the central basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo mobilize local knowledge to identify other areas where the dryas monkey occurs and confirm any reports using our species-specific camera-trap placement technique," said Detwiler.
###
Study co-authors are John A. Hart, Ph.D., and Terese B. Hart, Ph.D., Frankfurt Zoological Society, FZS-Lomami Project, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
L'Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature granted research permission to work in Lomami National Park. The local chiefs of Bafundo, Likandjo and Bote villages and the Balanga sector chief of Maniema Province granted permission to access the forest.
Funding for this research was generously provided by the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Mohammed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, FAU, Primate Conservation Incorporated, the Lukuru Foundation, International Primatological Society, Dynamic Youth Community and Indigogo crowd funding.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit http://www. | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/fau-ppc042021.php |
Recent studies have described a reduced incidence or the regression of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in HIV-infected patients treated with the highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) that contains at least one inhibitor of the HIV protease (HIV-PI) such as Indinavir. Experimental studies have shown that part of the anti-KS actions of HIV-PI are not related to their antiretroviral actions, but, at least in part, to their capability of blocking angiogenesis and tumor growth.
This study will be conducted on HIV-negative (classical) KS patients to prove that Indinavir has anti-angiogenic and anti-KS effects in humans independently of its antiretroviral activity.
|Condition or disease||Intervention/treatment||Phase|
|Classical Kaposi's Sarcoma||Drug: indinavir||Phase 2|
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare vascular tumor affecting elderly individuals from Mediterranean countries (CKS), post transplant patients and, with increased incidence and aggressiveness, HIV-infected individuals (AIDS-KS). No definitive cure has been established for KS and all conventional therapies result in low response rate, high toxicity and tumor relapse.
Antiretroviral therapies including a HIV protease inhibitor (HIV-PI) have reduced AIDS-KS incidence and induce KS regression in treated patients. This cannot be explained solely with drug-mediated HIV suppression and immune reconstitution. We have shown that HIV-PI such as Indinavir or Saquinavir block KS-like lesions in mice by inhibiting angiogenesis and tumor cell invasion through a blockade of matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP2) proteolytic activation.
Based on these data, a proof-of-concept clinical study on HIV-negative (classic) KS (C-KS) patients was planned to prove that Indinavir has anti-angiogenic and anti-KS effects in humans independently of its antiretroviral activity.
Recent concepts in the evaluation of non cytotoxic anti-cancer drugs such as anti-angiogenic agents suggest novel criteria for the design of clinical studies due to the specific mechanism of action of these drugs. In particular, the use of the conventional evaluation criteria based on cytotoxic actions may mislead the interpretation of the therapeutic efficacy of non cytotoxic agents. The study was therefore designed to compare the clinical response to Indinavir in early-stage vs. late-stage KS and by relating it to key biological endpoints and plasmatic drug concentrations. This was also motivated by the rareness of C-KS and by ethical reasons which prevented the inclusion of a control group.
Patients will be treated per os with 800 mg x 2/daily of Indinavir for 12 months. Follow-up will be one year.
Primary objectives:
Evaluation of the tumor response rate (complete response, partial response, improved disease and stable disease) to indinavir in the treatment of mild or severe classical KS patients; Evaluation of the duration of response in indinavir-treated patients.
Secondary objectives:
Evaluation of Indinavir safety in classical KS population; Determination of the pharmacokinetic profile of Indinavir; Evaluation of key Kaposi's sarcoma biological endpoints including markers of angiogenesis and tumor invasion, Th1 and Th2 polarization of the immune response, immunoactivation, and immune responses to HHV8, herpesviruses and common pathogens.
|Study Type :||Interventional (Clinical Trial)|
|Enrollment :||28 participants|
|Allocation:||Non-Randomized|
|Intervention Model:||Single Group Assignment|
|Masking:||None (Open Label)|
|Primary Purpose:||Treatment|
|Official Title:||A Phase II Trial With the HIV Protease Inhibitor Indinavir for the Treatment of Classical Kaposi's Sarcoma|
|Study Start Date :||June 2003|
|Study Completion Date :||July 2007|
- Assessment of clinical response every 3 months during treatment and every 6 months during follow-up based on the recommendations of ACTG.
- Monthly evaluation of toxicity and of biological endpoints every 3 months and their correlation with drug plasma levels
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:||18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)|
|Sexes Eligible for Study:||All|
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:||No|
Inclusion Criteria:
- Have a documented diagnosis of classical KS
- Be HIV-negative
- Be 18 years old and over
- Have one or more of the following: a minimum of 3 measurable progressive lesions; all stages of complicated KS, i.e. showing functional impotency of the affected limbs, lymphedema, lymphorrea or pain; visceral disease; lack of response to conventional therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy); contraindication to conventional therapies-
Exclusion Criteria:
- Presence of life-threatening lesions or other concomitant illness, neoplasia or any other clinical condition threatening the health of the patient or his compliance to the treatment
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Concomitant treatment (within 30 days of initiating study treatment) with systemic immunomodulatory agents (e.g., glucocorticoids as immunosuppressive agents, interferons) or chemotherapy
- Pregnancy
- Impaired clinical conditions (Karnofsky's index <60
- Diabetes, history of nephrolithiasis or monolateral nephropathy
- Difficulty swallowing capsules/tablets
-
Any clinically significant laboratory findings obtained during screening, including:
- Alkaline phosphatase (AP) >2 fold upper limit of normal (ULN)
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
- Alkaline aminotransferase (ALT)
- Gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) or total bilirubin >3 fold the ULN
- Serum creatinine >1.2 mg/d for women and >1.4 mg/dL for men or creatinine clearance > 100 +/- 25
- Pancreatic amylase >1.5 folds ULN
- Hemoglobin <10.0 g/dL for males, <9.0 g/dL for females
- Platelet count <75.000/cubic millimeter (mm3)
- Neutrophil count <850/mm3
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor. | https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00362310?order=78 |
In an innovative move, the sixth Trilateral Forum Tokyo brought together representatives from not only Japan, the United States, and Europe but also Australia and India on one stage to discuss challenges in the Indo-Pacific. This made the forum a unique Quad+ Europe platform. Quite often Europe seems removed from geopolitics playing out in the Indo-Pacific. This forum challenged that notion by highlighting the common challenges all these like-minded countries face, underscored that Europe’s security and prosperity are very much affected by developments in the Indo-Pacific, and highlighted areas of cooperation Europe, Japan, and other Asian partners can build on.
A key theme of the forum was China’s regional strategy and the changing balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. While European policy makers don’t yet use the term “Indo-Pacific,” European governments and publics are increasingly aware of the China challenge—both on the continent and increasingly also in Asia. The forum provided an opportunity to take stock of challenges posed by China’s rise, particularly as it continues to violate international norms and rules.
A key contribution of the forum was a practical discussion on how the Quad partners and Europe can enhance coordination and work together in dealing with these challenges. While the South China Sea remained a crucial area for cooperation, the forum also underscored the importance of the Indian Ocean region. Many trends now associated with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) initially manifested themselves in the Indian Ocean—including an influx of Chinese capital and investments, debt traps, and fiscal instability, increasing Chinese influence in domestic politics, and a growing footprint of the PLA navy.
All of these are visible from Pakistan and Sri Lanka to quite a few ASEAN countries. The Quad partners envision a greater role for Europe in the Indian Ocean in particular, which carries a majority of European trade and constitutes its “extended neighborhood.” Burden sharing in security, particularly in protecting crucial sea lanes and choke points in the Indian Ocean, was highlighted as an area where Europe can contribute to the efforts of its Asian partners.
Another fruitful area of cooperation between Japan, United States, and Europe the forum highlighted was regional connectivity. While many associate infrastructure investments with BRI, “connectivity” is not a Chinese invention, and both Japan and Europe are longstanding players in this field. For decades, Japan has played a crucial role in Southeast Asia, whereas Europe has been building infrastructure networks in its neighborhood.
On September 27 Prime Minister Abe and President Juncker signed the EU-Japan Connectivity Partnership based on “sustainability, quality infrastructure and a level playing field” in Brussels. The EU and Japan pledged to work on joint projects in third countries while “fully taking into account partners’ needs and demands” and paying attention to “fiscal capacity and debt-sustainability.” This focus on sustainability, both fiscal and environmental, on local needs, and on providing quality infrastructure is a clear sign this initiative aims to provide an alternative to BRI, although neither China nor BRI are mentioned even once in the statement.
While no other initiative can match BRI dollar for dollar, having alternatives is extremely important. It will give smaller countries a choice. It may also improve their ability to bargain and negotiate for better conditions within BRI projects and contracts. In this sense, this connectivity partnership has huge potential. It will aim at the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Indo-Pacific, and Africa. It will ensure Europe and Japan play a crucial role in reinforcing international norms and standards.
Thirdly, and arguably one of the most important contributions of the forum, was to foster a discussion on new challenges where forms of cooperation don’t yet exist—particularly political influencing efforts and geopolitical competition on technology. Here, having participants from Australia included in the forum was a real asset, as they were able to share experiences of dealing with Chinese political influencing attempts as well as the role of state-affiliated companies like Huawei in advancing China’s influence abroad. Journalists and policymakers from each region shared their experiences of uncovering targeted campaigns, and the forum highlighted the need to better understand these policy areas in order to come up with more effective responses.
In conclusion, over two days of intense discussions and exchanges the forum highlighted that the Indo-Pacific is not a region too far from Europe. There are many avenues where greater coordination and collaboration between Japan, Europe and the United States is vital. While previous forums have seen some disagreements and different priorities of partners on security challenges in their respective regions, this year’s conversations showed a lot of convergence between the three regions. Europe is set to play a greater role in Asia. This is evident in its changed line on China, which looks at China as a systemic rival and economic competitor. It is also visible in the EU’s new strategy identifying India as a crucial pillar in a multipolar Asia, in the pathbreaking connectivity partnership with Japan to provide viable, sustainable and quality infrastructure in the region, and in the EU’s intent to play a greater security role in Asia.
Taken together all of these constitute the building blocks of a European approach to the Indo-Pacific. This forum played a crucial role in highlighting that regional partners and Japan would welcome a growing European role in the Indo-Pacific.
Dr. Garima Mohan is a fellow in the GMF’s Asia Program. Based in Berlin, she focuses on European policy in Asia, Indian foreign and security policy, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. Prior to joining GMF, she was the acting team leader and coordinator for the EU’s Asia-Pacific Research and Advice Network (APRAN), which supports EU policymakers on issues concerning the Asia-Pacific. She also led the Global Orders program at the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin. | https://www.tokyofoundation.org/research/detail.php?id=707 |
# ZipcodeZoo
ZipcodeZoo was a free, online encyclopedia intended to document all living species and infraspecies known to science. It was compiled from existing databases. It offered one page for each living species, supplementing text with video, sound, and images where available. ZipcodeZoo was integrated into an app called Lookup Life. As of 2019 the site no longer works.
ZipcodeZoo was an online database that collected the natural history, classification, species characteristics, conservation biology, and distribution information of thousands of species and infraspecies. It included over 800,000 photographs, 50,000 videos, 160,000 sound clips, and 3.2 million maps describing nearly 3.2 million species and infraspecies. Its content is now only available on the Internet Archive
The site and its sister site lookup.life included a number of specialized search functions, such as identifying a bird species from its color, shape and other traits, including where it was seen; or generating a list of plants or animals likely to be found in or near a specific location (a zipcode, state, country, latitude/longitude, etc.). The searches could be restricted to specific taxa, or broad categories like reptiles or fish. A sound trainer could play multiple bird song recordings simultaneously.
ZipcodeZoo drew on the Catalogue of Life for its basic species list, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility for its maps, Flickr for many of its photos, YouTube for videos, Xeno-canto for some of its sound recordings, the IUCN for conservation status, and other major sources.
All the pages were published under one of the Creative Commons licenses. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZipcodeZoo |
Ferula gummosa World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World (version Mar. ). In: Roskov Y., Abucay L., Orrell T. J Diet Suppl. Nov;13(6) doi: / Epub Apr Ferula gummosa, a Traditional Medicine with Novel. 1. Ferula gummosa species, eudicots.
|Author:||Shale Moogull|
|Country:||Dominica|
|Language:||English (Spanish)|
|Genre:||Career|
|Published (Last):||20 January 2015|
|Pages:||305|
|PDF File Size:||10.32 Mb|
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|ISBN:||254-8-45174-227-6|
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For other uses, see Ferula gummsoa. The Latin name Ferula derives in part from Ferule which is a schoolmaster’s rod, such as a cane, stick, or flat piece of wood, used in punishing children. Many plants of this genus, especially F.
Ferula gummosa – Wikipedia
The whole plant, but especially the root, contains the gum resin ‘galbanum'. Please view the copyright link for more information.
Ferula gummosa Galbanum PFAF Plant Database
This page was last edited on 11 Octoberat Ferjla cannot grow in the shade. Herbaceous slopes in steppes.
The initial notes are a very bitter, acrid, and peculiar scent followed by a complex green, spicy, woody, balsamlike fragrance. Mon Feb 26 Ferula gummosa – Boiss. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by mobile phone smartphone cameras.
Gummosa is a endemic plant of Iran Lar valley.
Ferula gummosa
Copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, website, magazines, newspaper etc and even t-shirts. We are currently updating this section. Plant them out into their permanent positions whilst still small because the plants dislike root disturbance.
New plant species in Romania”. Galbanum resin has a very intense green scent accompanied by a turpentine odor. The leaves are tripinnate or even more finely divided, with a stout basal sheath clasping the stem. When gummisa the scent of galbanum has variously been described as reminiscent of pine due to the pinene and limonene contentevergreen, green bamboo, parsley, green apples, musk, or simply intense green.
Give the plants a protective mulch for at least their first winter outdoors. In the Book of Exodus This article needs additional citations for verification. Plants are intolerant of root gummoza due to their long taproot. The gummy resin of many species of Ferula is used for medical or culinary purposes:.
The PFAF Bookshop
Galbanum is an aromatic gum resin and a product of certain umbelliferous Persian plant species in the genus Ferulachiefly Ferula gummosa synonym F. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It occurs usually gummoda hard or soft, irregular, more or less translucent and shining lumps, or occasionally in separate tears, of a light-brown, yellowish or greenish-yellow colour, and has a disagreeable, bitter taste, a peculiar, somewhat musky odour, an intense green scent, and a specific gravity of 1.
Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. For more information about QR Codes click here.
It is used internally in the treatment of chronic bronchitis, asthma and other chest complaints[4, ]. Fegula Learn how and when to remove this template message. The aromatic gum resin ‘Galbanum’ is obtained from wounds made in the stem. | https://www.costaalegre.info/ferula-gummosa-63/ |
Corporate-Community Dialogue: An Introduction from ACCESS Facility on Vimeo.
About the Series
This documentary series looks at how companies and communities have resolved disputes over corporate activities on three specific projects in Nigeria, Peru and the Philippines. The series includes one overview film of all the stories, and one film per story. These films tell the story of what happened on the ground in the words of the people who experienced it – the local community, the company and the dialogue facilitators that were asked to help.
In all three films, we hear stories from companies and communities that have found themselves in varying degrees of conflict and looked for a way out through dialogue. In each instance, the parties in conflict used a neutral third-party mediator to help them craft a process through which they could address concerns and progressively resolve their core conflicts.
Each film is about 40 minutes and they are hosted by ACCESS Facility. The individual films share the following stories:
Company-Community Dialogue: An Introduction: provides an overview of all three stories and finds common themes. Click embedded video above or follow this link to view directly on Vimeo.
Making Monkey Business: Building Company/Community Dialogue in the Philippines shares the story of a dispute resolution process with communities that were impacted by the building of the Ambuklao and Binga hydroelectric power plants in the Benguet Province of the Philippines. The mediated dialogue was facilitated by the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsmanof the World Bank Group and the mediation was conducted by the Conflict Resolution Group in the Philippines. Click embedded video below or follow this link to view directly on Vimeo.
Putting Ourselves in their Shoes: The Dialogue Table of Tintaya tells of the rising resentments among indigenous community members about a copper mine in the Peruvian Andes initially owned by the government and then owned by BHP Billiton (and now by Glencore Xstrata). It relates the process by which non-governmental organizations such as Oxfam Australia, Oxfam America, CooperAccion and Corecami entered the picture, and the important roles they played in helping give birth to the process and supporting the communities’ ability to engage effectively. Click embedded video below or follow this link to view directly on Vimeo.
The Only Government We See: Building Company-Community Dialogue in Nigeria tells the story of the negotiation of General Memoranda of Understanding (GMOUs) between Chevron and communities in the Niger Delta around its facilities. The process began after violent conflict in the region in 2003 led to the withdrawal of the company and the destruction of property, including schools and hospitals the company had built for communities. The film relates the role played by the head of the New Nigeria Foundation, a local NGO that came in to mediate the dialogue and help build the foundations for increased trust between those involved and addresses how and why the communities decided to engage in the dialogue, what progress and challenges emerged along the way, and the outcomes that have been achieved. Click embedded video below or follow this link to view directly on Vimeo.
These films were produced by the Corporate Responsibility Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School on behalf of the mandate of the former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie. The films were produced with the generous support of the Government of Norway, the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman of the World Bank Group, the International Bar Association and the Government of Germany. The films are MATCH productions.
In November 2012 the series won “best communication or publication” award at the biennial Centre for Effective Dispute Resolutions awards ceremony held in London. | https://shiftproject.org/resource/corporate-community-dialogue-documentary-series/ |
Plant morphology and gas exchange in Hesperaloe: Influence on its adaptation for cultivation.
AuthorRavetta, Damián Andres.
Issue Date1994
Committee ChairMcLaughlin, Steven P.
MetadataShow full item record
PublisherThe University of Arizona.
RightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
AbstractThe working hypothesis for this dissertation was that the contrasting plant architecture, and the distinct native environments of Hesperaloe funifera and H. nocturna should be reflected in differences in their eco-physiological responses, and that these, in turn, would determine these species' adaptability limits and productivity under cultivation. The objective of this dissertation project was to evaluate plant morphological characteristics and their effect on physiological processes, and how environmental factors interact with these processes in H. funifera and H. nocturna. Common to both Hesperaloe funifera and H. nocturna is the possession of constitutive crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). The major implication of CAM is a prominent water use efficiency (WUE). Although instantaneous net CO₂ uptake rates of both Hesperaloe funifera and H. nocturna are low when compared with C₃ plants, integrated 24-hr net CO₂ uptake rates are within the lower range of C₃ species. Because there is a relatively large range of conditions in which photosynthesis occurs (i.e., both Hesperaloe species have a long growing season), net CO₂ uptake in Hesperaloe integrated throughout the year may reach or surpass that of C₃ crops. Daily integrated CO₂ uptake during late fall, winter and early spring were similar in Hesperaloe funifera and H. nocturna. A major peak in CO₂ uptake was found during the fall for H. funifera but not for H. nocturna. Also, no reduction in integrated CO₂ uptake was found in H. nocturna during the summer months, while H. funifera showed a considerable reduction in CO₂ uptake during this season. The increase in photosynthetic activity in H. nocturna coincided with the emergence of the inflorescence. Contrastingly, flowering did not appear to increase net CO₂ uptake in H. funifera. In this species a flush of new leaf production (increased sink demand) coincides with the observed increase in photosynthesis during the fall. The late fall peak of CO₂ uptake found in H. funifera could also be caused by a photoperiodic stimulation of CO₂ uptake. Significant differences in WUE between the two Hesperaloe species were found. These differences were, at least, partially explained by contrasting plant architecture and differences in leaf morphology.
Typetext
Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic)
Degree NamePh.D. | https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/186643 |
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/501,002, filed Feb. 9, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,913.
Not Applicable
The present invention is generally directed to the processing of a microelectronic workpiece. More particularly, the present invention includes a method and apparatus for processing a microelectronic workpiece at an elevated temperature.
For purposes of the present application, a microelectronic workpiece is defined to include a workpiece formed from a substrate upon which microelectronic circuits or components, data storage elements or layers, and/or micro-mechanical elements are formed. Although the present invention is applicable to this wide range of products, the invention will be particularly described in connection with its use in the production of interconnect structures formed during the production of integrated circuits on a semiconductor wafer. Still further, although the invention is applicable for use in connection with a wide range of metal and metal alloys as well as in connection with a wide range of elevated temperature processes, the invention will be particularly described in connection with annealing of electroplated copper and copper alloys.
In the production of semiconductor integrated circuits and other microelectronic articles from microelectronic workpieces, such as semiconductor wafers, it is often necessary to provide multiple metal layers on a substrate to serve as interconnect metallization that electrically connects the various devices on the integrated circuit to one another. Traditionally, aluminum has been used for such interconnects, however, it is now recognized that copper metallization may be preferable. Copper interconnects can help alleviate many of the problems experienced in connection with the current aluminum technology.
The microelectronic fabrication industry has sought to use copper as the interconnect metallization by using a damascene and/or patterned plating electroplating process where holes, more commonly called vias, trenches and other recesses are used to produce the desired copper patterns. In the damascene process, the wafer is first provided with a metallic seed layer and barrier/adhesion layer that are disposed over a dielectric layer into which trenches are formed. The seed layer is used to conduct electrical current during a subsequent metal electroplating step. Preferably, the seed layer is a very thin layer of metal that can be applied using one of several processes. For example, the seed layer of metal can be laid down using physical vapor deposition or chemical vapor deposition processes to produce a layer on the order of 1000 angstroms thick. The seed layer can also be formed of copper, gold, nickel, palladium, and most or all other metals. The seed layer is formed over a surface that is convoluted by the presence of the trenches, or other device features, which are recessed into the dielectric substrate.
In single damascene processes using electroplating, a process employing two electroplating operations is generally employed. First, a copper layer is electroplated onto the seed layer in the form of a blanket layer. The blanket layer is plated to an extent which forms an overlying layer, with the goal of completely providing a copper layer that fills the trenches that are used to form the horizontal interconnect wiring in the dielectric layer. The first blanket layer is then subject, for example, to a chemical mechanical polish step in which the portions of the layer extending above the trenches are removed, leaving only the trenches filled with copper. A further dielectric layer is then provided to cover the wafer surface and recessed vias are formed in the further dielectric layer. The recessed vias are disposed to overlie certain of the filled trenches. A further seed layer is applied and a further electroplated copper blanket layer are provided that extend over the surface of the further dielectric layer and fills the vias. Again, copper extending above the level of the vias is removed using, for example, chemical mechanical polishing techniques. The vias thus provide a vertical connection between the original horizontal interconnect layer and a subsequently applied horizontal interconnect layer. Electrochemical deposition of copper films has thus become an important process step in the manufacturing of high-performance microelectronic products.
Alternatively, the trenches and vias may be etched in the dielectric at the same time in what is commonly called a “dual damascene” process. These features are then processed, as above, with barrier layer, seed layer and fill/blanket layer that fill the trenches and vias disposed at the bottoms of the trenches at the same time. The excess material is then polished, as above, to produce inlaid conductors.
The mechanical properties of the copper metallization can be quite important as the metal structures are formed. This is particularly true in connection with the impact of the mechanical properties of the copper metallization during chemical mechanical polishing. Wafer-to-wafer and within wafer grain size variability in the copper film can adversely affect the polish rate of the chemical mechanical processing as well as the ultimate uniformity of the surfaces of the polished copper structures. Large grain size and low variations in grain size in the copper film are very desirable.
The electrical properties of the copper metallization are also important to the performance of the associated microelectronic device. Such devices may fail if the copper metallization exhibits excessive electromigration that ultimately results in an open or short circuit condition in one or more of the metallization structures. One factor that has a very large influence on the electromigration resistance of sub-micron metal lines is the grain size of the deposited metal. This is because grain boundary migration occurs with a much lower activation energy than trans-granular migration.
To achieve the desired electrical characteristics for the copper metallization, the grain structure of each deposited blanket layer is altered through an annealing process. This annealing process is traditionally thought to require the performance of a separate processing step at which the semiconductor wafer is subject to an elevated temperature of about 400 degrees Celsius. The relatively few annealing apparatus that are presently available are generally stand-alone batch units that are often designed for batch processing of wafers disposed in wafer boats.
The present inventors have recognized substantial improvements over the foregoing processes and apparatus currently suitable for annealing of metal microstructures. To this end, they have developed an improved annealing apparatus that may be readily integrated into a processing tool incorporating a number of other processing reactors, including, for example, an electroplating reactor.
An apparatus for thermally processing a microelectronic workpiece is set forth. The apparatus comprises a first assembly and a second assembly, disposed opposite one another, with an actuator disposed to provide relative movement between the first assembly and second assembly. More particularly, the actuator provides relative movement between at least a loading position in which the first assembly and second assembly are in a state for loading or unloading of the microelectronic workpiece, and a thermal processing position in which the first assembly and second assembly are proximate one another and form a thermal processing chamber. A thermal transfer unit is disposed in the second assembly and has a workpiece support surface that is heated and cooled in a controlled manner. As the first assembly and second assembly are driven to the thermal processing position by the actuator, an arrangement of elements bring a surface of the microelectronic workpiece into direct physical contact with the workpiece support surface of the thermal transfer unit.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the thermal transfer unit comprises a heater having a top surface forming the wafer support surface of the thermal transfer unit, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The thermal transfer unit also includes a cooling chuck having a surface proximate the bottom surface of the heater. Various methods and arrangements are set forth to effectively isolate the cooling chuck from the heater during a heating sub-cycle of a complete thermal processing cycle and to conduct heat from the heater to the cooling chuck during a cooling sub-cycle of the thermal processing cycle.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to the construction of the heater. In accordance with one embodiment, the heater is constructed as a thick film heater that comprises one or more ceramic substrate layers and a layer of high electrical resistance traces, with optional vacuum circuit channels formed in one or more of the layers. The traces of the layer of high electrical resistance traces may be optimized to the shape of the microelectronic workpiece, thereby transferring thermal energy to the microelectronic workpiece in an efficient and uniform manner. The vacuum circuit channels may be ported through the top substrate layer to ensure uniform contact between the workpiece and the top surface of the thick film heater. Further, the vacuum circuit channels may be ported through the lower layer to ensure uniform contact between the heater and the cooling chuck.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the thermal reactor at an annealing station of a processing tool. In accordance with one embodiment, the reactor is integrated in the processing tool along with one or more processing stations used to electrochemically deposit a metal layer, such as copper, on the surface of the microelectronic workpiece. In accordance with another embodiment, the reactor is provided in a separate module having its own robotic wafer transfer mechanism. This latter embodiment allows the annealing station to be provided to an end user as an add-on or upgrade.
The present invention is described here in the context of its use in annealing copper that has been electroplated onto the surface of a microelectronic workpiece. The description in this context is made without limitation of the applicability of the invention to other processes, microelectronic products, or materials. It will be recognized, however, that the application of the disclosed thermal reactor in this context is particularly novel and non-obvious.
FIG. 1A
Before a metal layer or structure can be annealed in the thermal reactor of the present invention, the metal layer or structure must first be deposited on the surface of the microelectronic workpiece. In connection with the deposition of copper, the preferred method is electroplating. To this end, shows various components of a processing station suitable for electroplating a metal, such as copper, onto a microelectronic workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer. It will be recognized, however, that a wide variety of processing station configurations may be used to deposit the metal before it is annealed in the disclosed reactor and that the specific construction of the station is merely exemplary. For example, such a processing station may merely comprise an anode, one or more wafer contacts to render the wafer a cathode, a plating chamber having a plating bath that contacts both the wafer and the anode, and a source of plating power. Various configurations of these elements may be employed.
FIG. 1A
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With reference to , there is shown a reactor assembly for electrochemically processing a microelectronic workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer . The particular reactor shown here is configured to execute an electroplating process on the workpiece .
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FIG. 1A
Generally stated, the reactor assembly is comprised of a reactor head and a corresponding reactor base, shown generally at and described in detail below, in which the electroplating solution is disposed. This type of reactor assembly is particularly suited for effecting electroplating of semiconductor wafers or like workpieces, in which an electrically conductive, thin-film layer of the wafer is electroplated with a blanket or patterned metallic layer. It will be recognized, however, that the general reactor configuration of is suitable for other workpiece processes as well.
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The reactor head of the electroplating reactor is preferably comprised of a stationary assembly and a rotor assembly . Rotor assembly is configured to receive and carry an associated wafer or like workpiece, position the wafer in a process-side down orientation within reactor container , and to rotate or spin the workpiece while joining its electrically-conductive surface in the plating circuit of the reactor assembly . The rotor assembly includes one or more cathode contacts that provide electroplating power to the surface of the wafer. In the illustrated embodiment, a contact assembly is shown generally at and is described in further detail below. It will be recognized, however, that backside contact may be implemented in lieu of front side contact when the substrate is conductive or other means are used to make electrical contact between the front and back sides of the workpiece.
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The reactor head is typically mounted on a lift/rotate apparatus which is configured to rotate the reactor head from an upwardly-facing disposition in which it receives the wafer to be plated, to a downwardly facing disposition in which the surface of the wafer to be plated is positioned so that it may be brought into contact with the electroplating solution in reactor container , either planar or at a given angle. A robotic arm, which preferably includes an end effector, is typically employed for placing the wafer in position on the rotor assembly , and for removing the plated wafer from within the rotor assembly. The contact assembly may be operated between an open state that allows the wafer to be placed on the rotor assembly , and a closed state that secures the wafer to the rotor assembly and brings the electrically conductive components of the contact assembly into electrical engagement with the surface of the wafer that is to be plated.
Processing Container
FIG. 1B
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illustrates the construction of one type of processing container . As illustrated, the processing container generally comprises a main fluid flow chamber , an antechamber , a fluid inlet , a plenum , a flow guide separating the plenum from the antechamber , and a nozzle/slot assembly separating the plenum from the main chamber . These components cooperate to provide a flow (here, of the electroplating solution) at the wafer with a substantially radially independent normal component. In the illustrated embodiment, the impinging flow is centered about central axis and possesses a nearly uniform component normal to the surface of the wafer . This results in a substantially uniform mass flux to the wafer surface that, in turn, enables substantially uniform processing thereof.
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Processing fluid is provided through inlet disposed at the bottom of the container . The fluid from the inlet is directed therefrom at a relatively high velocity through antechamber . In the illustrated embodiment, antechamber includes an accelerated region through which the processing fluid flows radially from the fluid inlet toward fluid flow region of antechamber . Fluid flow region has a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section that is substantially wider at its outlet region proximate flow guide than at its inlet region proximate region . This variation in the cross-section assists in removing any gas bubbles from the processing fluid before the processing fluid is allowed to enter the main chamber . Gas bubbles that would otherwise enter the main chamber are allowed to exit the processing container through a gas outlet disposed at an upper portion of the antechamber .
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Processing fluid within antechamber is ultimately supplied to main chamber . To this end, the processing fluid is first directed to flow from a relatively high-pressure region of the antechamber to the comparatively lower-pressure plenum through flow guide . Nozzle assembly includes a plurality of nozzles or slots that are disposed at a slight angle with respect to horizontal. Processing fluid exits plenum through nozzles with fluid velocity components in the vertical and radial directions.
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Main chamber is defined at its upper region by a contoured sidewall and a slanted sidewall . The contoured sidewall assists in preventing fluid flow separation as the processing fluid exits nozzles (particularly the uppermost nozzle(s)) and turns upward toward the surface of wafer . Beyond breakpoint , fluid flow separation will not substantially affect the uniformity of the normal flow. As such, sidewall can generally have any shape, including a continuation of the shape of contoured sidewall . In the specific embodiment disclosed here, sidewall is slanted and, as will be explained in further detail below, is used to support one or more anodes.
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In those instances in which the processing base forms part of an electroplating reactor, the processing base is provided with one or more anodes or other electrically conductive elements. In the illustrated embodiment, a principal anode is disposed in the lower portion of the main chamber . If the peripheral edges of the surface of the wafer extend radially beyond the extent of contoured sidewall , then the peripheral edges are electrically shielded from principal anode and reduced plating will take place in those regions. However, if plating is desired in the peripheral regions, one or more further anodes may be employed proximate the peripheral regions. Here, a plurality of annular anodes are disposed in a generally concentric manner on slanted sidewall to provide a flow of electroplating current to the peripheral regions. An alternative embodiment would include a single anode or multiple anodes with no shielding from the contoured walls to the edge of the wafer.
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The anodes , may be provided with electroplating power in a variety of manners. For example, the same or different levels of electroplating power may be multiplexed to the anodes , . Alternatively, all of the anodes , may be connected to receive the same level of electroplating power from the same power source. Still further, each of the anodes , may be connected to receive different levels of electroplating power to compensate for the variations in the resistance of the plated film. An advantage of the close proximity of the anodes to the wafer is that it provides a high degree of control of the radial film growth resulting from each anode. Preferably, electrical connection to the anodes , are established through connector elements .
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Anodes , may be consumable, but are preferably inert and formed from platinized titanium or some other inert conductive material. However, as noted above, inert anodes tend to evolve gases that can impair the uniformity of the plated film. To reduce this problem, as well as to reduce the likelihood of the entry of bubbles into the main processing chamber , processing container includes several unique features. With respect to anode , a small fluid flow path is provided between the underside of anode and antechamber . This results in a Venturi effect that causes the processing fluid proximate the surfaces of anode to be drawn into antechamber and, further, provides a suction flow that affects the uniformity of the impinging flow at the central portion of the surface of the wafer.
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As illustrated, the overall reactor assembly is comprised of the processing container along with a corresponding exterior cup . Processing container is disposed within exterior cup to allow exterior cup to receive spent processing fluid that overflows from the processing container . A flange extends about the assembly for securement with, for example, the frame of the corresponding tool.
FIGS. 2A-2G
FIG. 2A
FIG. 2B
FIG. 2C
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illustrate one method of filling a trench and via formed on the surface of a semiconductor wafer wherein the electrochemically deposited copper layer may be applied using the apparatus described in connection with FIG. . illustrates a second assembly having an area that is to be connected by copper metallization. In a layer of dielectric material, such as silicon dioxide or a low-K dielectric material, is deposited over the second assembly including over area . Through a photoresist process and reactive ion etch or the like, selective portions of layer are removed to form, for example, a trench and via into which copper metallization is to be deposited. The end structure is shown in the perspective view of wherein the via overlies connection area and trench overlies via . Connection area may be, for example, a metallization feature above the substrate.
FIG. 2D
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As shown in , a barrier layer and seed layer may be disposed on the surface of dielectric layer . The barrier layer may be, for example, tantalum or titanium nitride. The barrier layer is typically used when the structure is susceptible to contamination from copper or the seed layer metal, and/or when the seed layer metal or copper may readily migrate through the dielectric layer and contaminate other portions of the microelectronic circuit. As such, barrier layer should be sufficiently thick along the contour of the trenches and vias to act as a diffusion barrier. Layer may also function as an adhesion layer to facilitate binding between the seed layer and the dielectric . If, however, the structure is not susceptible to such contamination, there is sufficient adhesion, and the dielectric layer itself acts as a barrier layer, then a separate barrier layer may not be necessary. The seed layer may, for example, be a copper layer or other conductive metal layer and is preferably at least 200 Angstroms thick at its thinnest point. Sidewalls of the trench and via as well as the bottom of via should be covered by the seed layer and barrier layer to facilitate a subsequent electrochemical copper deposition step. The seed layer may be deposited through, for example, a CVD or PVD process.
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FIG. 2E
The semiconductor wafer with the seed layer is subject to a subsequent electrochemical copper deposition process. The electrochemical copper deposition process is executed so as to form numerous nucleation sites for the copper deposition to thereby form grain sizes that are substantially smaller than the characteristic dimensions of the via and trench . An exemplary structure having such characteristics is illustrated in wherein layer is a layer of copper metallization that has been deposited using an electrochemical deposition process.
FIG. 2E
FIGS. 2A-2F
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As shown in , the copper metallization formed in the electrochemical deposition process is deposited over the seed layer and extends a distance above the surface of dielectric layer . Since the only features that are to contain the metallization are the via and trench , excess copper above the dielectric layer must be removed. Removal of the excess copper above the upper surface of the dielectric layer may be executed using a chemical mechanical polish technique. An exemplary structure in which such removal has taken place is illustrated in FIG. F. After such removal, a capping barrier layer may be disposed, for example, over the entire surface of the wafer, or the processes set forth in may be repeated without a capping barrier layer whereby the trench , now filled with copper metallization, corresponds to the structure that further copper metallization is to contact.
FIGS. 2A-2G
FIGS. 2A-2F
FIGS. 2A-2F
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The process illustrated in indicates that the via and trench are formed together. However, it will be recognized that the structures may be generally formed and filled separately in accordance with the single-damascene process described above. In such instances, the via is first plated in accordance with the steps set forth in while the trench is subsequently plated in accordance with the steps set forth in after plating of the via has been completed. In effect, the via corresponds to the structure during plating of the trench . The thermal reactor and associated methods disclosed herein are suitable for use in both single-damascene and multi-damascene processes.
FIGS. 2E and 2F
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A comparison between reveals that an increase in the grain size of the copper layer has taken place. This change in the grain size is purposely accelerated in accordance with the present invention by subjecting the microelectronic workpiece to an annealing process in the thermal reactor disclosed below. In such an annealing process, the wafer is raised to an elevated temperature that is above the ambient temperature conditions normally found in a clean room. The annealing preferably takes place at a temperature at or below about 250-300 degrees Celsius, or at least below the temperature at which the material used for the dielectric layer begins to degrade. Annealing at these temperatures is particularly advantageous when the dielectric layer is formed from a low-K dielectric material since such materials may begin to degrade at elevated temperatures above 300 degrees Celsius.
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Annealing is particularly advantageous when used prior to chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). CMP involves the use of mechanical and chemical forces to remove copper that is deposited in excess of what is desired for interconnects (see FIGS. E and F). In accordance with the present invention, the accelerated annealing process stabilizes the grain structure of the copper film by significantly reducing the amount of time required for film re-crystallization to occur (i.e. transforming many small grains into fewer large grains). The accelerated annealing process, in accordance with the present invention, also minimizes the variation in the grain size distribution which is seen to occur during a room-temperature self-annealing process. The CMP polish rate, or removal rate, is seen to vary as a direct result of the grain size of the copper film. The initial, small grained (i.e. many grain boundaries) films are seen to polish slower (at least with a particular CMP slurry) than large grained films. Similarly, the uniformity of the CMP polish is seen to vary as a direct result of the grain size uniformity of the copper film. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the accelerated annealing process reduces the time required for the CMP process, while improving its uniformity, predictability and repeatability.
FIGS. 3A and 3B
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illustrate a thermal reactor, shown generally at , that is constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Generally stated, the thermal reactor includes a first assembly , a second assembly , and one or more actuators that are connected to provide relative movement between the first assembly and second assembly . The configuration of the thermal reactor shown here may be constructed to occupy a minimal amount of space, thereby making it particularly suitable for incorporation as one of a plurality of processing stations in an integrated microelectronic workpiece processing tool.
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In the illustrated embodiment, second assembly includes one or more components that are adapted to receive a single wafer W from an automated wafer transfer mechanism, such as a robot having an end effector that can grasp and release the wafer W. To this end, second assembly may comprise a second assembly housing having an upper rim from which one or more wafer support members extend. Wafer support members may take on a number of different forms. For example, a single wafer support member may be formed as a continuous ring having a lip or the like upon which the wafer W is set by the wafer transfer mechanism. Alternatively, a plurality of wafer support members may be in the form of discrete fingers disposed at various angular positions corresponding to the peripheral edge of the wafer W, the angular positions being chosen to ensure access by the wafer transfer mechanism. Other configurations for the wafer support may likewise be suitable.
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Second assembly of the illustrated embodiment has an interior region in which a thermal transfer unit is disposed. Thermal transfer unit , in turn, comprises a heater and a cooling chuck , the operation of which will be set forth in further detail below. Heater preferably has a relatively low thermal mass so that its temperature response time is fast enough for thermally processing the workpiece within a reasonably defined time period. In contrast, cooling chuck preferably has a high thermal mass when compared to the heater so that the cooling chuck may cool the heater (as will be set forth below) within a reasonably defined time period.
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As noted, actuator provides relative movement between the first assembly and the second assembly . In the illustrated configuration, actuator is connected to move the first assembly to and from engagement with the second assembly . More particularly, actuator includes a lower portion that is in fixed positional alignment with the second assembly since both are secured to a common deck . A transversely extending arm extends from an upper portion of the actuator and engages the first assembly . Actuator is configured to drive the transversely extending arm and the first assembly between a first position in which the wafer W can be loaded onto the second assembly by an automated wafer transfer mechanism, and a second position in which the first assembly and second assembly are disposed proximate one another to form a space or chamber in which the wafer W is processed.
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In operation, actuator initially drives the first assembly to the first position, as illustrated in FIG. A. While in this position, the wafer W is placed onto the wafer support members of the second assembly by an automated wafer transfer mechanism, such as an articulated robot having an end effector carrying the wafer W.
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FIG. 3B
Once the wafer W has been loaded onto wafer supports , actuator drives first assembly toward second assembly to the second position illustrated in FIG. B. The wafer support members translate congruently with the first assembly , through contact with the lower surface of the first assembly or through independent actuation. As illustrated in , the wafer W is deposited directly onto the surface of thermal transfer unit , where it will be thermally processed. Generally, the upper surface of wafer W will be the device side of the workpiece while the non-device, lower surface of wafer W will be placed in contact with the upper surface of thermal transfer unit . To secure wafer W to the upper surface of thermal transfer unit during processing, thermal transfer unit may include one or more apertures (described in detail below) that are connected to a vacuum that suctions the lower surface of wafer W against the upper surface of thermal transfer unit .
FIG. 3B
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In the position of , the lower portion of housing may engage the upper portion of second assembly housing to form a thermal processing chamber , which may or may not be substantially gas-tight. When the thermal reactor is used, as here, for annealing the workpiece, the thermal processing chamber is continuously purged with an inert gas to minimize the level of any oxidizing agents that may form an undesirable oxide with the copper. To facilitate this purge, first assembly may be provided with one or more gas inlet ports and one or more gas outlet ports . Gas inlet port may open to a manifold in housing that, in turn, opens to a plurality of holes disposed through a lower surface of housing . Gas mixtures that are particularly suitable for reducing oxidizing agents in the processing chamber include nitrogen or hydrogen forming gases (5% hydrogen/95% argon). The inert process environment inhibits surface film oxidation of the wafer at elevated temperatures, which can be enhanced by the oxygen-gettering effects of hydrogen forming gas. In processes other than annealing, ports and may be used to provide an inlet and outlet for other gases used to process wafer W.
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Other enhancements may be incorporated into the thermal reactor to make it particularly well-suited for single workpiece annealing. For example, the volume of the processing chamber formed by the cooperation of the first assembly and second assembly may be minimized, which makes it more efficient to purge and, thereby, minimizes the consumption of high-purity, inert process gas. In addition, first assembly may be provided with one or more cooling fluid inlet ports and one or more cooling fluid outlet ports that provide a flow of cooling fluid to a lower surface of the housing proximate wafer W that, in turn, assists in cooling the wafer W. Still further, the first assembly housing may contain internal flow channels for re-circulating fluid, to maintain the lower surface of the housing at a specified temperature.
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It will be recognized that various fluid inlet and outlet ports may also be affixed to the second assembly . For example, fluid ports may be affixed to the second assembly for use in connection with the cooling chuck . More particularly, a flow of cooling fluid may be provided directly to the cooling chuck or to other structures of the second assembly for cooling of the cooling chuck . Furthermore, one or more exhaust ports may be disposed in the second assembly for supply and/or venting of process gases. This arrangement in which the ports are affixed to the second assembly has the benefit of minimizing the amount of movement imparted to the ports and corresponding connectors, thereby increasing in the overall reliability of the corresponding connections.
FIGS. 3C and 3D
FIGS. 3A and 3B
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illustrate a further embodiment of a thermal reactor constructed in accordance with the present invention. In many respects, this embodiment is somewhat similar to the embodiment set forth above in connection with . They differ, however, in that the wafer supporting components are disposed on the first assembly as opposed to the second assembly . As such, an automated robot servicing the thermal reactor embodiment of these figures is controlled to place and remove the workpiece to and from the first assembly when the first and second assemblies are in the relative wafer loading position.
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In each of the foregoing reactor embodiments, once the wafer W is secured to the thermal transfer unit and the processing chamber has been purged, the heater of thermal transfer unit is directed to ramp up to the target process temperature. Preferably, heating power is provided to heater in the form of electrical energy by a controller using one or more temperature feedback signals for closed-loop control. The wafer W is then held at the processing temperature for a specified length of time. After the expiration of the specified length of time, power is shut off to the heater and the cooling chuck is engaged. In accordance with one manner in which the cooling process takes place, the cooling chuck remains engaged until the temperature drops below a predetermined temperature threshold, such as 70 degrees Celsius, after which the cooling chuck may be disengaged. As such, the wafer W is cooled to a temperature that allows it to be safely handled by the wafer transfer mechanism as well as in subsequent processing chambers. Further, the wafer W is cooled to a temperature at which the electroplated metal is less susceptible to oxidizing agents in the ambient atmosphere before it is removed from the inert atmosphere of the processing chamber .
560
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500
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FIG. 3A
FIG. 3C
FIGS. 3A and 3B
FIG. 3C
Upon completion of the cool-down cycle, the vacuum circuit that is used to secure wafer W against thermal transfer unit is deactivated and the actuator drives first assembly back to the position illustrated in or , depending on the particular embodiment. As the first assembly is raised in the embodiment of , wafer support members naturally engage or are otherwise directed to engage and lift wafer W from the surface of the thermal transfer unit . The automated wafer transfer mechanism then removes wafer W from wafer support members , thereby leaving the thermal reactor ready for accepting and processing another wafer W. While thermal reactor is waiting to accept another wafer W, heater may be directed to begin ramping to the desired processing temperature, or some intermediate temperature, to thereby reduce the overall time required to thermally process the next microelectronic workpiece. Similarly, wafer support members of the embodiment shown in are directed to release the wafer W to the automated wafer transfer mechanism thereby leaving the reactor in a state in which it is ready to receive a further wafer.
FIGS. 4A-4F
565
565
565
565
510
illustrate different embodiments of the heater , employing different substrate configurations. Preferably, heater is constructed as a thick film heater (i.e., a heater that is constructed using thick film patterning techniques) having a low thermal mass. Each thick film heater configuration can accommodate a high power density within a thin physical profile, resulting in a low thermal mass with fast thermal response (i.e. faster heating and cooling). Given the low thermal mass of such thick film heater configurations, the thick film heater should be thermally isolated from other structures in the second assembly .
FIG. 4A
565
600
605
illustrates a basic thick film heater. As shown, the thick film heater is comprised of a high resistance layer that is disposed between two ceramic substrate layers .
FIG. 4B
FIGS. 4A and 4B
565
565
600
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603
604
603
607
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illustrates a further construction of the thick film heater . As shown, thick film heater may be fabricated by forming a layer having a circuit pattern of high resistance traces between two or more thin ceramic substrates , with optional vacuum distribution circuit channels embedded between the high electrical resistance traces . When employed, the vacuum distribution circuit channels are connected to an exterior vacuum supply . The high resistance traces may be formed in a pattern that tailors the power distribution to the shape of the microelectronic workpiece so that the workpiece is uniformly heated. The optional vacuum circuit channels are connected to apertures in the top substrate layer, thereby providing suction to the lower surface of the microelectronic workpiece. The embodiments illustrated in are particularly suited for those instances in which a ceramic interface is desired between the heater and the cold chuck .
FIG. 4C
565
565
605
600
565
601
604
603
605
illustrates a third manner in which the thick film heater may be constructed. As shown, the thick film heater may be fabricated with two or more layers of thin ceramic substrate that sandwich a layer of vacuum circuit channels, with a layer of high electrical resistance traces deposited onto the bottom surface of the thick film heater . A layer of dielectric overglaze is deposited over the high electrical resistance traces for protection and electrical isolation. This embodiment is relatively easy to manufacture since the vacuum distribution channels may be cut completely through the second ceramic layer and have the rear side thereof sealed by a lower, adjacent ceramic layer.
FIG. 4D
565
565
605
605
600
605
603
565
570
illustrates a fourth manner in which the thick film heater may be constructed. As shown, thick film heater may be fabricated with three or more laminated layers of thin ceramic substrate that sandwich a layer of vacuum circuit channels between two or more thin ceramic substrates , and a lower layer of high electrical resistance traces between a different pair of ceramic substrates . Again, this embodiment is relatively easy to manufacture since the vacuum distribution channels are cut completely through the second ceramic layer and are sealed by a lower, adjacent ceramic layer. Further, this embodiment is particularly well-suited for those instances in which it is desired to have a ceramic interface between the heating chuck and the cold chuck .
FIG. 4E
565
565
605
600
565
601
604
565
570
606
565
illustrates a fifth manner in which the thick film heater may be constructed. As shown, thick film heater may be fabricated with one layer of thin ceramic substrate , with a layer of high electrical resistance traces deposited onto the bottom surface of the thick film heater . A layer of dielectric overglaze is deposited over the high electrical resistance traces for protection and electrical isolation. The void between the bottom surface of the thick film heater and the top surface of the cooling chuck serves as a vacuum reservoir for the apertures that extend through the thick film heater .
FIG. 4F
565
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570
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609
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565
570
a
illustrates an embodiment of heater that may be used to provide good thermal contact between the upper surface of heater and the wafer W during a heating cycle and the lower surface of the heater and the cooling chuck during a cooling cycle. To this end, the second of the ceramic layers is provided with at least one set of vacuum distribution channels . The vacuum distribution channels are in fluid communication with one or more apertures disposed through the upper ceramic substrate that is used to contact the wafer W. The vacuum distribution channels are also in fluid communication with one or more apertures disposed through a lower surface of the heater . Vacuum equipment operates during both the heating and the cooling cycles. During the cooling cycle, the vacuum provided through apertures assists in establishing thermal contact between the lower surface of the heater and the cooling chuck .
603
607
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565
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565
Alternatively, separate vacuum distribution channels may be connected to separately operable vacuum sources and . In such instances, the first vacuum source and corresponding vacuum distribution channels may be used to bring the wafer W into firm thermal contact with the upper surface of the heater while the second vacuum source and corresponding vacuum distribution channels may be used to bring the cooling chuck into firm thermal contact with the lower surface of the heater during a cooling cycle.
FIGS. 4G-4J
FIGS. 4B-4F
FIG. 4G
600
604
611
611
603
4
604
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613
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619
are exemplary plan views of various elements used in the thick film heaters shown in . is a plan view of an exemplary layout for the high resistance layer . As illustrated, the exemplary layout comprises a plurality of concentric high resistance traces that are separated from one another by corresponding concentric isolation regions. Isolation regions may be comprised of a dielectric material, such as ceramic or air. When air is used as the dielectric material, isolation regions may be used as the vacuum distribution channels of an embodiment such as the one illustrated in FIG. B. Each of the high resistance traces includes electrical nodes that are isolated from one another by corresponding isolation regions . Isolation regions may be comprised of a dielectric material, such as ceramic or air. Additionally, the conductors may be provided with power on an individual basis, or may be provided with power supplied on a common power bus .
FIG. 4H
FIGS. 4C
603
605
4
4
603
614
614
617
603
603
is an exemplary plan view of the layout of vacuum distribution channels formed in the second ceramic layer of an embodiment such as the one illustrated in , D and F. Again, the vacuum distribution channels are formed in a concentric arrangement that are generally isolated from one another by corresponding isolation regions . Isolation regions include one or more fluid passage channels that provide areas of fluid communication between the distribution channels so that the vacuum provided by a vacuum source connected to one or more of the distribution channels may be communicated to all of the distribution channels.
FIG. 4I
605
606
605
603
606
is a top plan view of an exemplary layout for the uppermost ceramic layer . As illustrated, apertures may be formed in the upper ceramic layer at locations disposed immediately above the vacuum flow channels (shown in phantom outline). With respect to the exemplary layout shown here, the apertures are arranged in concentric circles at equal angular intervals.
FIG. 4J
604
604
611
611
603
illustrates a further configuration for the high resistance traces . As shown, the traces are organized in the form of a continuous spiral separated by a isolation regions that, as noted above, can be formed from a solid dielectric material or air. When air is employed, regions , in certain of the foregoing embodiments, can function as the vacuum flow channels .
FIGS. 5-8
FIGS. 5A and 5B
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5
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5
565
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illustrate various embodiments of the thermal transfer unit employing different interfaces between the thick film heater and cooling chuck . In the embodiment shown in , solid/solid conduction is used as the primary mode of heat transfer from the thick film heater to the cooling chuck as well as for the heat transfer between the heater and wafer W. During thermal processing of the wafer W, the thermal transfer unit is in the heating state illustrated in FIG. A. In the heating state, the top surface of cooling chuck is offset from the lower surface of the thick film heater and the volume between them is filled with a relatively low thermal conductivity gas, such as nitrogen, which thermally insulates the elements from one another. Isolating the thick film heater from the cooling chuck in this manner facilitates a fast heat up to the desired process temperature, because there is minimal heat loss. The cool-down state is illustrated in FIG. B. In this state, the thick film heater is deactivated and the thick film heater and cooling chuck are moved relative to one another so that the lower surface of thick film heater engages the upper surface of cooling chuck . Such relative movement may be provided, for example, by opposing inflatable, flange seals that are actuated to impart vertical movement to the cooling chuck .
FIGS. 6A and 6B
FIG. 6A
FIG. 6B
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illustrate an embodiment of the thermal transfer unit in which solid/gas/solid conduction is used as the primary mode of heat transfer from the thick film heater to the cooling chuck . In this embodiment, the thick film heater and cooling chuck are permanently offset from one another by a very small distance (i.e., 0.020 inches). While in the heating state illustrated in , the volume between the thick film heater and the cooling chuck is purged with a relatively low thermal conductivity gas to thermally insulate the elements from one another. When in the cooling state illustrated in , the thick film heater is deactivated and the volume between the thick film heater and the cooling chuck is purged with a relatively high thermal conductivity gas, such as helium, which serves as the medium for conducting heat from the thick film heater to the cooling chuck . This approach provides efficient use and transfer of thermal energy, with no moving parts. Notably, inlet and outlet ports for the gases must be provided in thermal reactor .
FIGS. 7A and 7B
FIG. 7A
FIG. 7B
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569
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569
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illustrate an embodiment of thermal transfer unit that makes use of forced convection and boiling as the primary modes to transfer heat from the thick film heater to the cooling chuck . Again, the thick film heater and cooling chuck are permanently offset from one another by a small distance (i.e., 0.020-0.040 inches). While in the heating state illustrated in , the volume between the thick film heater and cooling chuck is purged with a relatively low thermal conductivity gas to thermally insulate the elements from one another. When in the cooling state illustrated in , the thick film heater is deactivated and the volume between the heating chuck and the cooling chuck is filled with an impinging, high-speed flow of heat transfer fluid (i.e., water or glycol), which serves as the medium for convecting heat away from the thick film heater to the cooling chuck . The cooling chuck in this instance may be formed to serve as a sparger shower assembly, uniformly delivering the heat transfer fluid through a manifold of flow jet apertures in the upper surface of the cooling chuck, and locally draining the fluid through an interspersed manifold of exit holes . Alternatively, spent cooling fluid may be directed to exit radially in the channel between the heating and cooling chucks. This overall approach provides efficient use and transfer of thermal energy, again with no moving parts.
FIGS. 8A and 8B
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633
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illustrate yet a further embodiment of the thermal transfer unit . In this embodiment, the wafer W, thick film heater and cooling chuck are in constant contact during the entire thermal processing cycle. A thin layer of insulating material is used to thermally insulate the thick film heater from the cooling chuck . The material used for layer and the thickness thereof are chosen to yield an optimal balance between the performance of the thermal transfer unit that is exhibited during the heating and cooling sub-cycles of the overall thermal processing cycle. This design offers the advantage of design simplicity, in that there are no moving parts and no thermally insulating/conducting gases needed.
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In each of the foregoing embodiments in which the cooling chuck directly contacts the heater , an optional, high thermal conductivity material may be disposed between the contact surfaces during the cooling cycle. The material disposed between the contact surfaces preferably is resiliently deformable in response to the pressure applied when the heater and cooling chuck are in direct thermal contact with one another. In this way, a more uniform thermal transfer medium exists between the heater and cooling chuck since air pockets or the like that may otherwise occur if the heater and cooling chuck surfaces were in direct physical contact are substantially eliminated.
500
FIGS. 9 and 10
Due to its ready implementation in a compact architecture, thermal reactor may be integrated with a wet-chemical processing tool that is capable of electrochemical deposition of a metal, such as copper. One such processing tool is the LT-210™ electroplating apparatus available from Semitool, Inc., of Kalispell, Mont. illustrate such integration.
FIG. 9
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1
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The system of includes a plurality of processing stations . Preferably, these processing stations include one or more rinsing/drying stations and one or more electroplating stations (including one or more electroplating reactors such as the one illustrated in FIGS. A and B), although further wet-chemical processing stations may also be employed. The system also preferably includes an annealing station, such as at , that includes at least one thermal reactor, constructed in accordance with one or more of the foregoing embodiments, for executing an annealing process on each workpiece. The workpieces are transferred between the processing stations and the annealing station using one or more robotic transfer mechanisms that are disposed for linear movement along a central track .
FIG. 10
FIG. 9
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illustrates a further manner in which an annealing station , located in portion , that includes at least one thermal reactor, may be integrated in a wet-chemical processing tool set. Unlike the embodiment of , in this embodiment, at least one thermal reactor is serviced by a dedicated robotic mechanism . The dedicated robotic mechanism accepts workpieces that are transferred to it by the robotic transfer mechanisms . Transfer may take place through an intermediate staging door/area . As such, it becomes possible to hygienically separate the annealing portion of the processing tool from other portions of the tool. Additionally, the illustrated annealing station may be implemented as a separate module that is attached to upgrade an existing tool set.
FIG. 11
FIGS. 9 and 10
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illustrates one manner in which two or more thermal reactors constructed in accordance with one or more of the foregoing embodiments may be consolidated at a single annealing station, such as at station of FIG. and station of FIG. . In this embodiment, the thermal reactors are disposed in a stacked configuration within a housing unit . Housing unit includes a plurality of chamber units , each including a single thermal reactor. The chamber units are defined by upper and lower horizontal walls and , and one or more sidewalls . One or more sidewalls of each chamber unit may include an automated door or mail slot opening that isolates each chamber unit from the surrounding environment and provides the wafer transfer mechanism with access to the thermal reactors during wafer loading and unloading operations. Processed wafers may be transferred directly to a chemical mechanical polishing tool from either of the processing tools of .
FIG. 12
FIGS. 4B-4F
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is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a programmable control system that may be used to control the thermal reactor assembly in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention. The control system, shown generally at , comprises a programmable controller , such as a programmable logic controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, etc. Controller receives data and communicates data to and from a plurality of peripheral components that are used to monitor and control the thermal reactor. For example, controller is in communication with an automated gas flow meters/valve system . The automated gas flow meters/valve system controls the flow of various gases, such as the purging gases, that are provided to the thermal reactor. The automated gas flow system may also be used to control the operation of the vacuum equipment and/or shown in , turning the equipment on and off at the appropriate times.
905
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905
FIGS. 4A-4F
Control of the annealing temperature within the thermal reactor may also be controlled by the controller through a corresponding interface with a chuck temperature sensor/supply system . The chuck temperature sensor/supply system includes a plurality of temperature sensors that are used to monitor the temperature within the thermal reactor. The system also comprises a power supply that provides the necessary electrical power to the electrical traces () of the high resistance layer in response to data communicated from the controller . Various known temperature control algorithms may be employed within the programmable controller to facilitate this function.
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FIGS. 3A-3D
Element drive system and chuck cooling assembly are used to operate the drive () and the cooling chuck , respectively. More particularly, drive system operates the drive to move the first and second assemblies , with respect to one another for loading/unloading and processing of the wafer W in response to commands received from programmable controller . The drive system may also communicate positional information to the controller indicative of the relative position of the first and second assemblies , , which may be used by the controller to properly position the assemblies during operation of the thermal reactor.
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Chuck cooling assembly system may serve a dual purpose. First, the system may be used to control the relative movement between the heating chuck and cooling chuck in response to commands received from the controller . Further, system may be used to control the temperature of the cooling chuck by controlling the cooling gases provided to the cooling chuck in response to commands received from the controller . To this end, system may also include one or more temperature sensors that monitor the temperature of the cooling chuck and transmit data to the controller indicative of this temperature. The controller may then use this temperature information to direct system to cool the cooling chuck to the target temperature.
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Controller also communicates with one or more safety shutdown elements . The safety shutdown elements are activated by the controller when the controller detects one or more conditions that compromise the safety of the thermal reactor. For example, the safety shutdown elements may be used by the controller to shutdown the thermal reactor system in response to an over temperature condition of the heating chuck, reactor chamber, etc. It will be recognized in view of these teachings that other safety conditions may also be detected by the controller pursuant to activation of the safety shutdown elements .
Numerous modifications may be made to the foregoing system without departing from the basic teachings thereof. Although the present invention has been described in substantial detail with reference to one or more specific embodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B
illustrate one embodiment of a plating apparatus that may be used to apply an electrochemically deposited metal layer, such as copper, to the surface of a microelectronic workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, the resulting metal layer being suitable for annealing in the thermal reactor of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A-2G
illustrate the various steps used to deposit a metal in microstructures formed in the surface of a microelectronic workpiece, such metal structures being suitable for annealing in the thermal reactor of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A-3D
are schematic block diagrams of thermal reactors constructed in accordance with two embodiments of the present invention.
FIGS. 4A-4F
FIGS. 3A through 3D
are a cross-sectional view of four embodiments of a thick film heater that may be used in the thermal transfer unit of the embodiments of the thermal reactor shown in .
FIGS. 4G-4J
FIGS. 4A-4F
are plan views of various elements that form the thick film heater constructions illustrated in .
FIGS. 5-8
illustrate various manners in which the thick film heater and the cooling chuck may cooperate with one another in the embodiment of the thermal transfer unit.
FIGS. 9 and 10
are schematic diagrams of wet chemical processing tool sets that include one or more annealing stations having thermal reactors constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 11
FIGS. 3A through 3D
illustrates one manner in which a plurality of thermal reactors of the type shown in may be integrated into a single annealing station.
FIG. 12
illustrates one embodiment of a programmable control system that may be used to coordinate the operation of the thermal reactor. | |
open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International Public License (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode), which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Over the last two decades, the association of genetic variation and brain function has received considerable attention. It is well established that most psychiatric and neurological diseases have a substantial genetic contribution. Therefore, investigating the influences of genotypes on brain structure and function should lead to a better understanding of the neurobiology of physiological brain functions and neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroimaging Genetics - Principles and Practices is a comprehensive volume which exhaustively covers this field of imaging genetics. The table of contributors is a who-is-who of top-ranking researchers in the field, and the scientific quality of the single chapters is extraordinary. The book offers an impressive range of thematic fields, spanning from basic neuroscience to clinical implications. Most of the topics are covered with stunning detail, including basically all relevant studies on the respective issue. This makes the volume an important reference book for experienced researchers of the neuroimaging genetics community. Beginners, however, may miss a broader introduction to basic concepts concerning the molecular biology as well as the imaging techniques. Methodological overviews in future editions may render the book more accessible to less specialized readers. In a similar vein, more figures may help to illustrate the content of the text better and help to get a faster insight into the topics.
The interdisciplinary approach of the book is adequate and laudable; the book successfully unites findings from various disciplines such as molecular genetics, neurology, psychiatry, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. Fundamentals of gene influences on neurochemistry are exhaustively covered as well as the neurogenetics of basic cognitive functions. The chapters on the association of genes with psychiatric and neurological disorders form one of the most comprehensive collections of clinical imaging genetics literature and are a must-read for every interested clinical neuroscientist. Of note, the book covers both functional and structural aspects, providing a comprehensive picture. At the advent of individualized medicine, the section on genotype-dependent drug response is of particular relevance. Moreover, the book goes even beyond the classical genotype-disease associations. Remarkable and socially relevant is the section on healthy and pathological processes of cognitive aging. The book also tackles complex multifactorial approaches such as gene-environment interactions and multi-locus models. However, these latter sections could be more comprehensive in future editions, given their importance for overcoming the limitations of traditional study designs. | https://openneuroimagingjournal.com/VOLUME/10/PAGE/125/ |
The government has issued new specific guidance on Green Infrastructure (GI) as part of their National Planning Practice Guidance. It’s been published to help with the implementation of the main national planning document, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for England.
The NPPF defines Green Infrastructure as a network of multi-functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities.
The new guidance extends that definition further: Green infrastructure is not simply an alternative description for conventional open space. As a network it includes parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, but also street trees, allotments and private gardens. It can also include streams, canals and other water bodies and features such as green roofs and walls.
While the NPPF refers to GI in the context of climate change, flooding and coastal change as well as the natural environment, any further details on how to deliver GI have been missing so far.
The new guidance, published on the 11th of February 2016, forms a new dedicated chapter within the Natural Environment Section of the National Planning Policy Guidance (http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/natural-environment/green-infrastructure/). It defines the concept of GI in more detail and clearly sets out its multiple benefits for the individual, society, the economy and the environment. This leads on to how GI can contribute to sustainable development as a whole and specifically help the delivery of a number of other planning policies relating to housing, healthy communities, climate change and flooding, the natural environment as well as building a strong and healthy economy.
Overall, the new guidance gives GI a lot more weight, saying that Green infrastructure should … be a key consideration in both local plans and planning decisions where relevant. The potential benefits of GI are, of course, well known to us and it is great to see them increasingly manifested in national and local planning policy.
As a multi-disciplinary practice, Johns Associates is perfectly placed to maximise the benefits Green Infrastructure can bring to a scheme. | https://www.johnsassociates.co.uk/good-news-for-green-infrastructure/ |
12 Fun Salamander Facts for Kids [Interesting Facts]
Salamanders are fascinating creatures. Even though they resemble lizards, they are not lizards and don’t belong to the reptile family. They play an essential role in the animal kingdom, and there are over 600 salamander species worldwide.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some facts about salamanders, from how they regenerate parts of their bodies to their role in mythology and culture.
Let’s dive right in.
12 Interesting Facts About Salamanders
1. Salamanders can regenerate various parts of their bodies.
One of the most exciting features of salamanders is that they can regenerate their organs and limbs. Much like geckos, salamanders often drop their tails when escaping predators that could potentially harm and kill them. They usually drop their tails for two reasons. The first is because they need to flee quickly, and the second is because a dropped and wriggling tail distracts the predator and helps buy the salamander some time to escape. They also can regenerate their limbs and organs.
2. Salamanders look similar to lizards.
The average salamander looks quite similar to a lizard. It has a long and slender body in the shape of a cylinder, a blunt snout, and four limbs. They do not have scales, and their skin is smooth and moist to the touch. In terms of colors, salamanders differ in color depending on their species. Some of them have bodies in drab colors, while others are brightly colored, exhibiting a variety of spots, stripes, and other noticeable features. Studies have shown that during mating season, male newts, part of the salamander family, change their appearance and become brightly colored, most probably increasing their chances of attracting a mate.
3. A salamander’s appearance changes depending on its species.
An interesting aspect of the salamander’s physical appearance is that it changes depending on the species it belongs to. For instance, salamanders that live in water, like amphiumas and sirens, either do not have hind limbs or hind limbs that are shorter than average. Aquatic salamanders look similar to eels, but their shorter limbs help them move sidewards. It’s also worth noting that the shape of their feet depends on where they live. For instance, salamanders that climb up various surfaces have long toes with square tips, while rock climbing salamanders have bigger feet with short toes. Additionally, some salamanders have webbed feet. These salamanders are typically tree climbers, so their webbed feet suction the trees’ surfaces and allow them to climb more easily.
4. The salamander’s skin plays an interesting role in its body.
A fact that we found pretty interesting is that the salamander can breathe through its skin, thanks to its skin acting as a kind of respiratory membrane. Still, it is essential to note that these creatures also breathe through their mouths and throats. Aside from breathing through their skin, salamanders also eat their skin after its molts. If you have ever touched a salamander, you’ll know that they are pretty moist to the touch. The moistness in their skin is because of glands under their skin that secrete mucus. This mucus helps with respiration, as well as thermoregulation. It makes their skin slippery, making it easy for them to escape predators. Salamanders also have granular glands across the tops of their bodies that secrete a repellent.
5. Salamanders rely heavily on their senses of smell and sight.
Like every other creature on the planet, salamanders also use their senses of smell and sight to their advantage, particularly when it comes to maintaining their territory and identifying predators. In terms of using their sense of smell, these creatures make use of the olfactory epithelium to pick up smells in water and the air. In terms of vision, it’s important to note that they are nocturnal creatures, so their eyes work better at night. Salamanders are similar to frogs in that they don’t actually have ears. However, their other heightened senses allow them to detect sound when it is airborne. Since they cannot hear, they communicate by using their pheromones.
6. Respiration differs among the various salamander species.
As we mentioned before, the average salamander breathes through its skin. However, it’s important to note that some salamanders breathe through their gills or lungs, depending on the species. When examining salamanders that breathe through their gills, we learned that they draw water in through their mouths, after which the water flows out through the gills. It’s also interesting to note that some salamander species like lose their gills during the period of metamorphosis after keeping them their whole lives. Salamander lung sizes differ depending on the species. For example, salamanders that live in cold water have small lungs with smooth walls, while salamanders living in warm water have large lungs with complicated surfaces.
7. Salamanders are predators.
While they might not exist at the top of the food chain, salamanders are predators in their own right. These creatures are opportunistic in nature, meaning they will change their hunting strategy if they come across the wrong type of prey. They are carnivorous amphibians. One of the most interesting features of their diets is that the foods they eat aren’t restricted to a particular set of animals. Salamanders eat almost any creature, as long as it is of an appropriate size. For example, the Japanese giant salamander eats aquatic insects, fish, crabs, and small mammals.
8. Salamanders use their sense of smell to attract mates.
In many salamander species, the males and females look quite similar, making it difficult for them to distinguish between one another. Since salamanders do not communicate with each other vocally, they use their sense of smell and other tactile cues to find a suitable mate. These tactile cues include using their pheromones and other visual cues. Males typically produce pheromones in their cloacal and abdominal glands. If a male salamander finds a suitable female mate, it will use its snout to seek her out.
9. Scientists want to apply salamander limb regeneration to humans.
Scientists have long since been fascinated by salamanders and their ability to regenerate their limbs. Numerous studies have been and continue to be conducted on stem cells and limb regeneration. Researchers hope to find out what the conditions are that are required to grow new limbs. By studying the process of regeneration, researchers hope to replicate the same process in human beings.
10. Salamanders have been depicted in various cultures for hundreds of years.
Aside from their regeneration abilities and unique physical characteristics, salamanders have been a part of various cultures across the world for hundreds of years. For instance, during the Renaissance, salamanders were seen as creatures with the ability to withstand fire; this belief stemmed from witnessing salamanders living in rotting logs of wood that would be used in a fireplace. Additionally, newts, which are a type of salamander, were commonly associated with the practice of witchcraft.
11. Salamanders use a variety of defensive tactics to escape predators.
Even though salamanders might appear to be weak or vulnerable to predators, these creatures have several defense methods that help them stay safe. For instance, the mucus that coats their skin makes it challenging for predators to grab onto them. The mucus also tastes bad and can be toxic to the creatures that catch them. Salamanders also secrete a toxic fluid that wards predators off. Some salamanders also use their brightly colored skin to their advantage when bigger animals attack them. They will flash a brightly colored part of their body, and the attacking animal retreats.
12. Salamanders hibernate when the weather is cold.
When the season changes and the weather gets cold, salamanders go into hibernation. This means that they often bury themselves in leaves or burrow at the bottom of a river. They hibernate because their bodies cannot withstand freezing cold temperatures. Unfortunately, climate change has begun to affect the salamander population.
Conclusion
In this article, we walked you through a list of interesting facts about salamanders. They look similar to lizards but are, in fact, completely different and unrelated to them! These creatures are fascinating and are unfortunately threatened by disease and climate change. We must protect and conserve them! | https://www.coolkidfacts.com/salamander-facts-for-kids/ |
What is the best wood to make a smoking pipe out of?
Brog the majority of our pipes are crafted from Pear and Briar wood, since we believe that they are the best wood for pipes. There are also some other great woods like oak, Cherrywood and Mahogany but Pear and Briar are our favorites.1 мая 2017 г.
How do you make a smoking pipe out of anything?
- Create and fill the bowl. Fashion a bowl using an aluminum foil. …
- Make the carb. Poke a small hole at the bottom of the bottle. …
- Fill the bottle with water. With a finger covering the carb hole, fill the bottle with water up to just a few centimeters from the top.
- Fill with smoke. …
- Begin smoking.
How do you smoke a wooden pipe?
How to Make a Wooden Smoking Pipe
- Introduction: How to Make a Wooden Smoking Pipe. By HPandLOTR Follow. …
- Step 1: Cut Out the Pipe. …
- Step 2: Drilling the Bowl. …
- Step 3: Dig Out the Airway. …
- Step 4: Glue the Two Halves Together. …
- Step 5: Cut Out the Stem. …
- Step 6: Sand the Stem. …
- Step 7: Carving and Sanding the Bowl Section.
How do you fireproof a wooden pipe?
Building a cake a little thicker than an American dime can protect the pipe from heat and fire damage.
- Pinch a small amount of tobacco in your fingers and pack it into the bottom of the pipe bowl. …
- Smoke at least a dozen half-full bowls in the pipe.
How do wooden pipes not burn?
Wood pipes are made of very hard, dense woods. they are not very porous, so little air is available to burn wood cells. The heat generated by smoldering tobacco, between puffs, is not hot enough for long enough to do much more than to char the pipe bowl.
Can you use tissue paper to roll a joint?
Can you use tissue paper to roll a joint? It’s not recommended to use tissue paper to roll a joint. While it’s technically possible, tissue paper is highly fragile and will likely fall apart with any attempt to roll.
What kind of wood is Briar?
Briar wood originates from a shrub-like tree known as Erica Arborea and is actually part of the root structure. It isn’t technically a tree at all, but a large shrub. The plant is native to the Mediterranean Basin, Portugal, The Canary and Madeira Islands.
Can you make a tobacco pipe out of cedar?
Softwoods–the conifers, such as pine, spruce, tamarack, hemlock, and cedar–would probably not be satisfactory for pipes. They would be liable to burn up before forming the cake and would likely taint the taste of the tobacco. With some tobacco blends, the latter might not be undesirable. Some species are toxic. | https://thatcigarplace.com/faq/how-to-make-a-smoking-pipe-out-of-wood.html |
Ocean pollution and contamination of the water are serious problems because of its rapid increase and spread, having a negative effect on people, animals and the environment. Due to this, new technologies to monitor and measure environmental parameters are being developed. Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROVs) have become a commonly used robotic platform in oceanographic monitoring and analysis. The ROVBWSTI, designed by Fraunhofer IOSB-AST Institute, is an underwater modular vehicle capable of fulfilling numerous tasks, especially in the area of environmental sensoring. The motion of the ROV is commanded through a joypad controller, and functional requirements of autonomy are not implemented yet. Motivated by this fact, this master thesis focuses on the modelling of the dynamics of the remotely operated vehicle, considering its motion, existing ocean currents, effects of gravitation and buoyancy. Moreover, the concrete effect of the thrusters on the ROV is analysed and identified. Furthermore, the detailed identification of the dynamic and hydrodynamic parameters required in the model is considered, based on empirical estimations, computational methods and experimental tests. The obtained approach is simulated and optimized, using real motion trials as a reference. After the successful modelling, the design of an essential control system that includes set-point regulation and waypoint tracking is performed and simulated. As a result, it obtains an accurate dynamic model of the remotely operated vehicle that was successfully simulated and compared with real motion tests. On the other hand, the proposed control system applied to the model adequately achieves its purpose of regulation and way point tracking that allows the autonomy of the vehicle. | https://repositorio.pucp.edu.pe/index/handle/123456789/145962 |
In introduction my name is Susan Demeter St. Clair and I am a Canadian based anomalies researcher, editor, writer, webmaster, content manager, database administrator, copy editor, social media manager and information services professional.
Currently I am conducting scholarly research supervised by a Ph.D. qualified sponsor on military and institutional social dynamics.
I have provided the Canadian Forces College, and Department of National Defence with research, editing and proofreading services that utilised my strong understanding and expertise of scientific parapsychology its principals and concepts, anomalies and social dynamics, and how such dynamics may interact with individuals and institutions, such as the military. I have also provided data analysis, and development of a qualitative, and quantitative database for the Department of Defence Studies at the Canadian Forces College.
I have collaborated with the Koestler Unit at the University of Edinburgh on the Europsi research study, including data collection and analysis-qualification of collected reports of perceived exceptional human experiences and anomalies.
Maintain a consistent high level of accuracy and integrity when collecting data on individual and institutional responses to anomalies and exceptional human experiences, through in person, phone, and electronic correspondence interviews, and questionnaires. Utilise my strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively conduct interviews and interact with a wide variety of people following core values of respect and dignity.
Excellent writing, proofreading and editing skills for English language text publications that are designed to reach a wide and diverse potential readership.
Developed and maintained a number of websites, blogs, and set up and maintenance of successful companion social media profiles and online communications for the purpose of information hubs, and as a recruiting tool for military historical re-enactment groups.
My research interests include institutional, and change dynamics, responses to anomalies and how they may interact and enact change within groups, and large institutuions such as the military, and direct experimentation with social PSI. I am currently conducting a series of experiments based in part on the work of the late mathematician Dr A.R.G Owen that will be the focus of a future book on UFOs, social PSI, and Magick.
Co-Collaborator with artist Dora Garcia on a contemporary art exhibition on the theme of exceptional human experience, anomalies, and marginalization. Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Ontario
I have a background in inside sales, marketing, client support, and office administration. My professional experience includes electronic, and print publishing, primarily for insurance and financial publications. I have worked within the music and recording industry in a similar capacity.
Contributed as a technical consultant and segement producer on various media projects including print, electronic, broadcast radio, film and television. In addition, I have been a regular on-air guest contributor to CFRB's Mind Shift with host Errol Bruce Knapp. A complete list can be provided upon request.
My public speaking engagements are varied, and include presentations on folklore, spooklights, and other anomalies for Skeptics Canada, Ontario Institute For Studies & Education, University of Toronto.
In my free time I am a historical re-enactor and interpreter of mostly the Regency era. I currently volunteer with Heritage Mississauga.
My complete CV is available upon request.
Taken June 2015 Regency time tripping, living history volunteer Fort York Toronto Na-Me-Res Pow-Wow with Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation in celebration of National Aboriginal Day.
My inspiration and interests are an eclectic mix and include such diverse subjects as Parapsychology, ParaSociology, social PSI, frontier science, anomalies, unidentified aerial phenomena, Western esoteric knowledge and philosophy, Chaos Magick, memorial art, social history, early female aviators, folklore, synchronicity, reality, time, and the impossible. | http://www.susanstclair.com/index.php/bio |
The April 24 collapse of Bangladesh’s Rana Plaza factory took the lives of 1,127 individuals, and left more than 1000 injured. The tragedy gained significant international attention, shedding light on the global trade of clothing and the inequalities that exist within.
Unfortunately, occurrences such as this are not uncommon. In 2012, 260 people were killed in a factory fire in Pakistan, and later that year a factory fire in Bangladesh killed 112 people. Likewise, just weeks after the massive Rana Plaza collapse, Bangladesh witnessed another factory fire that killed at least 8 people.
The intricacies of the garment industry are entangled within a complex global system. Consumers in Western countries shop for the best price available, and as a result head to Wal-Mart to buy a pair of their $8 Faded Glory Jeans. One thing the consumer may not realize though, is that these $8 jeans are likely made by a factory worker, often in Bangladesh. The workers are required to produce this item every 6 minutes, for up to 12 hours straight. They are paid roughly 24 cents/hour, receive minimal social and health benefits, and work in hazardous working conditions.
A frequent response made by consumers is to boycott the clothes made in these countries. The garment industry in Bangladesh, however, is booming, as the country is the second largest clothing exporter in the world. The industry accounts for 80 percent of the yearly exports and brings in approximately $19 billion per year. Boycotting the industry will take the jobs away from the 4 million employees that work there, and leave the factory workers in even harsher conditions.
Wal-Mart and other large-scale multi national corporations that operate in foreign countries have a duty to ensure the safety of their employees. But when their single-minded goal is to increase profits and provide the most products at the cheapest cost, they conduct skeptical business practices. In order to maximize profits, they outsource their jobs for the cheaper costs of labor overseas and evade domestic taxes, which according to the Organization for Economic Development (OECD), has amounted to a total of $21 trillion lost to home countries.
The 2011 UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights states that it is the duty of the state and the corporations to respect, protect and remedy the human rights of all stakeholders. When the Rana Plaza factory collapsed, Wal-Mart said that the building managers violated building codes and safety regulations. It is true that the Rana Plaza was built on unstable swampland and had multiple stories illegally added to the five-story building. It is the duty of states to ensure the safety of their buildings, but it is also essential that the corporations step up to their responsibility and prioritize the labor rights of all their employees.
Recognition to this issue is underway, and on May 17, a five-year plan was introduced to improve the construction and safety of the buildings, provide independent inspections, and increase the financial role of corporations in these projects. In addition, the program prohibits companies to work in a factory that does not meet these obligations.
Thus far 10 European companies have signed on to the agreement, including big- name retailers such as H&M. However U.S. retailers such as Walmart and Gap refrain, indicating that they will create their own inspections. This is a major drawback to the success of the initiative. Large-scale U.S. companies could set an example for other companies and show solidarity in providing safe working environments for the overseas business operations.
While it is critical that these large-scale corporations step up and take accountability for the lives of their workers, some countries have mobilized and issued their own labor protection organizations. Sri Lanka, for example, created Garments Without Guilt that ensures the provision of the workers and mandates a higher income for the employees. Yes, it is slightly more expensive to produce in Sri Lanka but when the CEO of Walmart is making approximately $20.7 million/year, perhaps some of that money could be reallocated to the approximately $400 yearly wage that the Bangladesh workers receive.
It is unfortunate that a tragedy like the Rana Plaza collapse is what is needed to bring attention to the injustices existing in the garment industry. Hopefully future disasters can be avoided by holding corporations accountable to their duty to protect the human rights of all employees, at home and abroad, even if it means compromising their profits. | https://www.alterinter.org/?Avoiding-Tragedy-A-New-Role-of-Corporate-Involvement-in-the-Aftermath-of-the |
Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India? Discuss.
Yes, the British in India made various positive contributions. The contributions were not intentional but purely the effects of colonial exploitation of the British. The following are the positive contributions made by the British:
(i) Introduction of Railways: The introduction of railways by the British was a breakthrough in the development process of Indian economy. It opened up the cultural and geographical barriers and facilitated commercialization of Indian agriculture.
(ii) Introduction of Commercialization of Agriculture: The introduction of commercial agriculture is an important breakthrough in the history of Indian agriculture. Prior to the advent of the British, Indian agriculture was of subsistence nature. However, with the commercialization of agriculture, the agricultural production was carried out as per the market requirements. It was due to this factor that today India can aimatattaining self-sufficiency in food grains production.
(iii) Introduced Free Trade to India: British forced India to follow free trade pattern during the colonial rule. This is the key concept of globalization today. The free trade provided domestic industry with a platform to compete with the Britain industries. The introduction of free trade led to an increase in the volume of India's export rapidly.
(iv) Development of Infrastructure: The infrastructure developed in India by the British proved as useful tool to check the spread of famines. The telegram and postal services served Indian public.
(v) Promoted Western Culture: English as a language promoted westernized form of education. The English language acted as a window to the outside world. This has integrated India with the rest of the world.
Welcome to Sarthaks eConnect: A unique platform where students can interact with teachers/experts/students to get solutions to their queries. Students (upto class 10+2) preparing for All Government Exams, CBSE Board Exam, ICSE Board Exam, State Board Exam, JEE (Mains+Advance) and NEET can ask questions from any subject and get quick answers by subject teachers/ experts/mentors/students. | https://www.sarthaks.com/107481/were-there-any-positive-contributions-made-by-the-british-in-india-discuss |
Constipation is a common side effect of many medications, especially medications for pain. Regular bowel movements are different for everyone, so there’s no “right answer” when it comes to how often you should have a bowel movement.
Constipation means that you are:
- unable to move your bowels, or
- are having fewer bowel movements than normal, or
- are having to push harder to perform your normal bowel movements, or
- bowel movements are painful and stool very hard
This can be very uncomfortable and make you bloated and less hungry.
Here are 4 important things you can do to help your body and reduce risk of constipation:
To reduce your risk of constipation, eat at regular times each day. Your body will know when food is coming and can get on a schedule.
Also, make sure you are drinking enough fluids. Water is preferable, but juice and tea also count towards fluid intake. Try cutting the juice in half with water or seltzer water and adding lemon slices to unsweetened hot tea.
Add in regular physical activity. One of the key risk factors for constipation (outside of cancer and cancer-related medications) is physical inactivity. Getting active, such as walking 30 minutes per day, can aid digestion and assist in regulating your bowel movements. So, get out there and get moving. It will benefit more than just your bowels!
Increase your fiber! Fiber is found naturally in fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains, but if necessary, you can use over-the-counter products like Metamucil or Konsyl. It is recommended to have 25-35 grams of fiber per day, but make sure that you start slowly and that your doctor and dietitian recommend increasing fiber.
If you are having continuing difficulty with bowel movements and/or are on opioid pain medications (like fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and tramadol), you will need to get on a “bowel management regimen.” Don’t wait too long to talk to your medical team about it as you may need to be on a stool softener or laxative regularly as a preventive measure.
RECAP
- Eat on a schedule, at about the same time every day
- Drink lots of water and other liquids
- Consume adequate fiber, about 25-35g/day
- Avoid foods that increase abdominal gas such as carbonated beverages, broccoli, beans, and cabbage
- Add in regular physical activity
- Talk to your doctors and dietitian about a bowel management plan
Eat Well! | https://cancerdietitian.com/2017/06/tips-combating-cancer-side-effects-constipation.html |
The International Architecture Exhibition 2014 will be directed by Rem Koohlaas and will be held from Saturday 7th June to Sunday 23th November 2014 at the Giardini and Arsenale. The last one (directed by David Chipperfield and entitled Common Ground) attracted 178,000 visitors.
Born in 1944 in Rotterdam, Holland, Koolhaas founded in 1975 the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, OMA. Architect’s architect, he won the renowned Pritzker Price in 2000 and he won the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2010 at the Biennale Architettura 2010. After studying at the Architectural Association in London, and at Cornell and the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in the US, Koolhaas wrote Delirious New York (1978). In his 1995, S,M,L,XL he summarised the work of OMA in 1,200 pages that redefined architectural publishing. Mutations, the first important exhibition he curated in Bordeaux in 1999, examined how urban landscapes are changing worldwide.
Seattle Central Library
This is certainly a dangerous choice, as some have stated online, both because of the edginess of his architecture and his commitment to so many projects, among them the Fondaco (Fontego, in Venetian) dei Tedeschi in Venice (once the main post office of the city) and an area to be transformed by the OMA studio of Rem Koolhaas in La Rinascente, a renowned shopping mall. The blog Storie dell’arte discusses in detail all the cons of the project, that Koolhaas has been forced to modify in major ways to satisfy critics, although it does recognise his qualities as a modern architect. His involvement in this project is profoundly linked to his nomination as Director, some say. While the antiTHeSi website, hosts an article by Sandro Lazier, that very clearly disagrees with Koolhaas as director for 2014. The Il Giornale dell’Architettura, too, talks how Koolhaas hasn’t understood the “soul” of the Fondaco or the intentions of its original architect Fra Giocondo. Built overlooking the Canal Grande, near Rialto in 1505, by Giocondo, one of the most important Renaissance architects and a contemporary of Bramante and Leonardo.
Campus Center, Chicago
What is sure is that the stakes are high for such a renowned and talked-about architect, and that it is not going to be easy to make peace with the recent controversy over the Fondaco in a city that has always safeguarded its antiquity.
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Connect with volunteers who have experienced an acquired brain injury themselves, are trained to support new members, facilitate group conversations, answer questions about brain injury, and can refer survivors to useful community resources. They pass on useful coping techniques and share their experiences with other survivors and their families.
Peer Support allows individuals who have an acquired brain injury to work through their challenges in a supportive and safe environment with mentors that understand what they are going through. We have found peer support to be an extremely useful way to help survivors deal with the repercussions of acquired brain injury.
A Peer Supporter is available Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00am to 3:00pm in our community room
Contact our Inreach Team for an appointment and more information about this program! | https://vbis.ca/peer-support-old/ |
In the face of rising inflation, the Federal Reserve is trying to cool down the economy, raising interest rates by 0.75 percentage point in June, the biggest increase since 1994. Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, has vowed to try to engineer a “soft landing” — in which demand drops, bringing prices down, without tipping the economy into a recession and throwing hundreds of thousands of Americans out of their jobs.
But the Federal Reserve doesn’t have a good track record on pulling off that particular magic trick. Almost every other attempt since the 1950s to reduce inflation by tightening monetary policy has ended in an economic downturn. In congressional testimony late last month, Mr. Powell admitted that a recession was “certainly a possibility.”
“A slowing economy,” Wendy Edelberg, the director of the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution, told me, “is always, in my mind, at risk of going into a recession. It’s just hard for an economy to slow smoothly and without pain.”
Even if the Fed pulls it off, there are plenty of other economic risks that threaten to send us into a recession. The surge in spending that fueled rapid economic growth after the initial pandemic lockdowns stems from pent-up demand created by the combination of Americans staying home and receiving financial assistance from the federal government. But both of those engines are slowing, and with them consumer spending is likely to slow, too — as discretionary spending already has in response to inflation. Not to mention the risks posed by the war in Ukraine and ongoing supply chain snarls.
Given everything that is happening, it is quite probable, if not assured, that the country is headed for an economic downturn in the near future. That makes now the time to prepare so that as few Americans as possible suffer. And there are plenty of things lawmakers can do if they are able to find the political will to act.
Perhaps the program most obviously in need of changes is unemployment insurance. Congress acted to shore up the program in the early days of the pandemic, expanding benefit eligibility to people typically left out, like tipped restaurant workers and gig workers, adding weeks of benefits and increasing them by $600 a week. Without those emergency actions, however, many Americans would most likely have gotten very little pay for a paltry number of weeks — or been unable to qualify at all.
A big problem with unemployment is that it’s not truly one cohesive program, but 53 different ones that vary state to state and territory to territory. “Really your economic security depends on where you live,” Rebecca Dixon, the executive director of the National Employment Law Project, said. States set their own rules for who qualifies, how big benefits are and how long they last. In Mississippi, for example, maximum benefits are $235 a week, compared with $974 in Massachusetts. Congress should set a robust floor for all of those rules. All states used to offer at least 26 weeks of compensation; that could be mandated and even increased. Benefits have to grow as wages do, or they will fail to offer enough of a stopgap to keep workers from slipping into destitution after losing their jobs.
It is crucial to put changes like these in place before a recession so that the program can shield us from financial calamity. But people lose jobs all the time even in a dynamic economy, and they need a baseline of support to turn to until they get back on their feet. “We make temporary stints of unemployment personal financial crises for families in ways that other countries really don’t, and it hurts a lot of people for no real benefit,” said Sharon Parrott, president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The federal government also has to step in and fund the system better. Right now it’s up to states to raise taxes enough on employers in good times to ensure an adequate fund in bad times, but that’s often a hard sell. “It pits employers and their taxes against working people,” Ms. Dixon said. And, of course, as Ms. Parrott noted, “Employers like low taxes.” Lawmakers often respond by lowering taxes and failing to refresh unemployment funds ahead of the next downturn.
“That makes them more reluctant to be more generous when the economy needs the unemployment insurance system to be more generous,” Dr. Edelberg said. The federal government backstops the program, but states have to pay the money back, often leading them to choose between raising taxes and cutting benefits, and many have gone with the latter. If the federal government took over more responsibility for the funding, the incentives would align toward a system adequate enough to support people under all conditions.
More federal money could also help states upgrade their outdated technology systems, which kept crashing at the start of the pandemic. Even changes as small as ensuring that the application sites work on mobile phones or having ways for workers to reset their pins without receiving a new one in the mail could make the system more accessible, especially when thousands of people need to call on it at once.
“We really just need to sit down and take a look and fix it,” Ms. Dixon said of the unemployment system. “It’s not working.”
Another emergency action Congress took early in the pandemic was expanding eligibility for tax credits to make the health insurance that is available on the Affordable Care Act exchanges more affordable. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program also stopped kicking people off for fluctuations in income and personal circumstances, contributing to a 23 percent increase in enrollment in both after two years of declines. If those efforts were extended and the government ensured that people could get Medicaid in states that have refused to expand it, fewer people would be at risk of losing access to health care when economic disaster strikes. “You wouldn’t have to come in and try to do quite so much on an emergency basis,” Ms. Parrott said. “You would have an automatic way to shift people into different kinds of coverage during a recession.”
And then there are income supports like the child tax credit, which was expanded last year to reach all families up to a certain income threshold and send monthly payments based on their children’s ages. The payments helped reduce poverty and financial instability. They expired at the end of last year, but if they were extended permanently, it would mean that “when a recession hits and many more people have no income, the full credit is available to them,” Ms. Parrott said, keeping their families from falling into poverty.
Better still, if it’s an established program that has already enrolled those who are eligible, that makes it easier for Congress to send more money to them in a recession. “It provides a stable and predictable source of income in good times or bad,” said Hilary Hoynes, a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. “It just provides a floor.”
One important overarching change would be to mandate that some of these programs respond automatically to changing economic conditions. Turning them into so-called automatic stabilizers, or benefits that kick into higher gear when the economy flatlines without Congress taking any action, would ensure that a robust safety net is available to catch everyone no matter what the overarching political situation is.
Food stamps already work this way, to some extent. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is an entitlement, which means that as more people experience financial hardship and become eligible, the federal government steps up its spending to make sure they can get benefits. “As your earnings drop down, you automatically gain eligibility, or your benefit increases,” Dr. Hoynes said. Unlike, say, the rigidly block-granted Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance program, SNAP increases quickly and robustly in a downturn.
Still, in both the Great Recession and the pandemic, Congress had to act to increase food stamps to battle such extreme income losses. That could instead be mandated: As the unemployment rate rises, SNAP benefits could automatically increase by certain percentage points. Eligibility restrictions could also automatically loosen to keep families who have suddenly lost income fed while injecting quick stimulus into the economy.
Unemployment insurance could automatically add weeks as unemployment shoots up, given that people will be more likely to be out of work longer in a weak economy. The program already has extended benefits that are meant to be triggered by unemployment reaching certain levels in each state, but those levels are set so high that they rarely, if ever, are met. Rental assistance similar to what Congress offered last year could receive an influx of funding when tenants face mass eviction. More federal funding for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families could automatically be sent to states so that they could help more people. Federal aid to state and local governments could flow based on decreases in taxable income that drain their coffers.
The important thing is to do these things now, not in the middle of an epic economic meltdown. “It is very, very hard to stand up a program in the middle of a crisis,” Dr. Edelberg noted. During the pandemic, rental assistance took months to actually reach tenants as states scrambled to create portals and programs. The Paycheck Protection Program botched many parts of its rollout. “Putting this infrastructure in place ahead of time is critical,” she said.
An adequate response to financial hardship shouldn’t depend on the political alignment of Congress and the White House, but right now it does. Republicans may have been motivated to back the initial rounds of Covid relief because they controlled the Senate and White House and risked shouldering the blame for a poor response. The nature of the crisis was also so widespread and so urgent that it prompted lawmakers to act quickly. Once Republicans were out of power in 2021, however, they refused to vote for any further stimulus. “My worry is that with Congress being so divided, in the next recession they may not be able to agree,” Ms. Dixon said.
The barriers standing in the way of congressional action are not hard to see, however. Once a crisis passes, it’s difficult to get lawmakers to focus their limited attention on fixing systems to be ready for the next one. All of the early pandemic enhancements to unemployment insurance, for example, have expired, and reforming the system didn’t even make it into the ultimately doomed Build Back Better package. Lawmakers may enjoy the opportunity to swoop in during hard times and vote to make changes as a way to show they’re being responsive, an opportunity that would diminish if our systems were set up to respond on their own.
“Congress wants to be seen as saving the day,” Ms. Dixon said. “But increasingly we run the risk of them not being able to agree on what that looks like, and working people are the ones who will suffer.”
Bryce Covert (@brycecovert) is a journalist who focuses on the economy, with an emphasis on policies that affect workers and families.
The post We Are Not Powerless Against Calamity appeared first on New York Times. | https://dnyuz.com/2022/07/02/we-are-not-powerless-against-calamity/ |
There is a wide variety of researh undertaken in the School of Life Sciences. Here are just some examples of the work our postgraduate researchers have undertaken.
Examining the effects of integrative neuromuscular training on fundamental movement skills, physical activity and body fatness in primary school children
PI: Prof Mike Duncan
Highlights: In childhood acquisition of fundamental movement skills (e.g. Catching, throwing, jumping) has important implications for participation in lifelong physical activity. Essentially, if a child does not master the skill of catching they may then avoid all activities that involve that skill. UK data are suggestive that many children are not mastering these skills in primary school. We are working with Prof David Stodden from the University of South Carolina, USA in examining the practicality and effectiveness of a school based training programme involving resistance exercises and skill acquisition sessions on children’s physical activity levels, their mastery of fundamental movement skills, physical fitness and levels of body fatness.
Virulence mechanisms of Propionibacterium acnes in association with lumbar disc herniations
Highlights: The pathogenic role of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) in acne is well documented Evidence now highlights the potential importance of P. acnes in a number of clinical infections including sarcoidosis, sciatica and discitis. Recent work (Coventry University in collaboration with Aston University and the Spine Centre of Southern Denmark) has demonstrated the presence of P. acnes in disc tissue isolated from patients undergoing lumbar discectomy. The research team are currently investigating the pathogenicity traits of P. acnes isolated from lumbar disc herniations compared to P. acnes isolated from the skin. This projects aims to establish if P. acnes infection within ruptured disc tissue can be attributed to vertebrae bone oedema and associated physiological pain. Such findings may inform future NHS treatment options for the treatment of back pain associated with ruptured discs.
Tumorigenesis, why transcription in cancer cells does not respond to extreme stabilisation of mRNAs in the cytoplasm?
PI: Dr. Igor Morozov
Highlights: Cancer is a genetic disease which is caused by deregulation of expression of a plethora of genes at the level of transcription (mRNA production), translation (protein production) and mRNA degradation. Studies in the last five years have revealed three important observations. Firstly, it has also been established for wild type cells that events in the nucleus (e.g. transcription) define the fate of mRNA in the cytoplasm (e.g. mRNA stabilisation, degradation or translation). Secondary, transcription, translation and RNA degradation are all intricately related to each other and deregulation of these processes can lead to cancer. Finally, the level of translation and the rate of mRNA degradation are abnormally altered in cancer cells. Surprisingly, it has also been found that the rate of mRNA degradation in the cytoplasm signals back to the nucleus and regulates the rate of transcription. These data clearly suggest the presence of a novel buffering mechanism in normal cells which maintains the proper level of mRNA for a balanced protein production. We propose that such buffering mechanism which exists in normal cells and allows the nucleus to sense events in the cytoplasm and therefore maintain the correct level of mRNA is broken in the cancer cells. The aim of this project is to identify mRNA decay factor(s) which no longer influence(s) the rate of transcription in cancer cells.
Research on drug-induced cardiac injury
Name of PI: Professor Helen Maddock
Highlights: Professor Maddock and her research team are working on projects which include the development of physiologically relevant non-clinical heart assays and investigation and/or detection of drug-induced cardiac injury including current and novel oncology therapies. Many of these research projects are in collaboration with Cardiology and Oncology clinicians, Clinical Biomedical Scientists and experts within the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Professor Maddock is also founder and Chief Scientific Officer, of InoCardia Ltd, a Coventry University spin-out company. InoCardia supports providing undergraduate and postgraduate commercially aligned learning opportunities to students within the School of Life Sciences and offers placements, internships and job opportunities within the company. Recently Professor Helen Maddock and her team have discovered a method to efficiently test drugs to analyse the risk of side effects to the heart. This breakthrough in how drugs are reliably tested for effects on the heart could save thousands of lives as well as billions of pounds.
Professor Maddock has attracted research funding from the British Heart Foundation, Heart Research UK, British Pharmacological Society, European Regional Development Fund, InnovateUK and the NC3Rs.
Cardioprotection via Late reperfusion activation of adenosine receptors
Highlights: There is evidence to show that the activation of Adenosine receptors can protect the heart from ischaemia / reperfusion injury when administered either before ischaemia or at reperfusion. Preliminary data from our lab suggests that pharmacological activation of A3 adenosine receptors 15 or 30 minutes late in reperfusion can still mediate cardioprotection and has been linked to upregulation of Akt and Erk1/2.
It is possible that adenosine receptor activation could offer a novel modality of cardioprotection that would be of significant benefit in the various treatments of myocardial ischaemia. The study will examine lethal ischaemia/reperfusion injury and determine whether pharmacological agents are able to protect the myocardium when given post-reperfusion and determine the associated roles of cell survival signalling pathways. Data obtained from this project will be used to support a full Grant Application to the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council.
Control of cellular polarity; roles in cellular migration and tissue regeneration
Highlights: Cell polarity has been long established as a key controller of spatial asymmetrical organization of cellular components and having a role at not just the cell but also tissue level, processes such as cell migration and motility are all dependent on cell polarity. Many processes are known to be effected by both diseases such as cancer as well as during ageing and cellular senescence. Crucial to the functionality of cell polarity in both cancer and ageing environments are the apico-basal cell polarity complexes such as human polarity liver kinase (LKB1) and the protein kinases AMPK and Par1 along with intra-cellular G-proteins such as RhoA. Equally, the tight-junction proteins such as the Claudin’s, occludin, and tricellulin and their intra-cellular scaffold proteins ZO-1, 2 and 3 have all be shown to be crucial in maintained function of cell polarity and their differential expression and distribution within disease and aged tissues. Most recently, adhesion molecules such as Jam1 and 2 have been implicated in regulation of stem cell fate. This project stream looks to address some of these issues and interactions in the human liver, both with cell based and clinical samples. | https://www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry/faculties-and-schools/health-and-life-sciences/life-sciences/research/postgraduate-research/ |
Riggers are an important part of many construction sites, particularly in large scale projects. Along with scaffolders, they are responsible for creating the temporary external structures that are used to help erect a building or complete work on its exterior. They operate the machinery used to set up scaffolding and move equipment. They are skilled with clamps, bolts, hooks, knots, pulleys, and bolts for assembling, positioning, and reinforcing these structures. Riggers also attach slings to hoisting equipment to move heavy objects. You’ll need to apply for a licence on completion of your studies in order to work as a rigger.
A rigger’s job is indispensable, particularly in industrial and large commercial or residential construction projects. They erect and extend cranes; install cable and pulley systems; and assemble booms, jibs and derricks used for lifting. They are qualified to operate the rigging gear used to transport, install or reposition heavy loads such as construction equipment, structural steel and concrete slabs.
What skills do I need to be a rigger?
A rigger needs physical agility and strength to assemble, reinforce, and disassemble heavy components of the structures they work with. They must be able to accurately estimate the load-bearing capabilities of their equipment and the size, weight and shape of the objects they are moving. They need keen decision-making abilities and good judgement to ensure the safety of people on the construction site.
Riggers primarily work outdoors on construction sites, but can specialise their skills for working in shipyards, docks, mines, factories or the entertainment industry.
A dockside rigger manufactures a range of safety products through the splicing and braiding of rope and wire. Their output includes hose restraints for high pressure hoses and pipes; all manner of safety and cargo netting; and other items such as embarkation ladders. Their job may also include assembling and installing this rigging equipment in situ.
Scaffolders work closely with riggers to erect and dismantle scaffolding. They fit the steel pipes, clamps, and bases to create foundations for these structures. Their work requires a strong attention to detail to ensure a safe working environment.
A steel fixer can work both off-site and on-sit. Their job is reinforcing the concrete slabs used in large construction projects with steel bars or mesh to improve the strength and stability of concrete structures. The role they perform on-site is to ensure the pre-prepared steel bars or mesh is installed correctly at the job site to allow concrete to be poured, or to install prefabricated slabs.
Begin your career in construction today by joining an accredited training provider to work as a rigger or scaffolder.
Start gaining important construction skills with a recognised qualification.
Develop your knowledge base and pursue targeted training options.
Build on your training to take your career in the right direction.
Riggers must apply for relevant licencing within their state in order to meet building code requirements.
Put your training to good use and get the best professional head start in your rigging career. Emphasise your personal strengths and achievements in your resume and target your cover letter to the job description listed.
The construction industry is currently experiencing a boom, with some growth over the next five years projected for structural steel construction workers, including riggers. | https://studyselect.com.au/careers/how-to-become-a-rigger-in-australia-careers-in-construction/ |
Katherine W. Roche, Ph.D.
BG 35 RM 2C-903
35 CONVENT DR
BETHESDA MD 20814
Dr. Roche received her B.S. from Duke University. In 1995 she received her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, where she worked with Richard Huganir studying the regulation of glutamate receptors. She then did a postdoctoral fellowship with Robert Wenthold in the NIDCD, where she investigated the cell biology of glutamate receptor transport and localization. Dr. Roche joined NINDS as an Investigator in 2001. The main focus of her laboratory is the study of neurotransmitter receptor expression and targeting to the synapse.
Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, and in addition to its central role in fast excitatory signaling it is also involved in synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and the pathogenesis of certain neurologic diseases. Although glutamate acts as a neurotransmitter in all pathways of the central nervous system, the response to glutamate is not uniform at all glutamatergic synapses and varies with the type of glutamate receptor expressed on the postsynaptic membrane. In this context, we are interested in studying synapse-specific expression of postsynaptic NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptors. My laboratory characterizes the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter receptor transport and localization at the synapse using several research strategies which include (1) defining sorting motifs present in neurotransmitter receptor cytosolic domains, (2) isolating neurotransmitter receptor-associated proteins, and (3) determining the role of protein-protein interactions in trafficking and specific synapse localization. Using these cell biological approaches, we hope to elucidate the mechanisms of neurotransmitter receptor trafficking in neurons and the role of accessory proteins at central synapses. | https://research.ninds.nih.gov/researchers/faculty/katherine-w-roche-phd |
Police in Ontario will have to inform people that they don't have to provide identifying information under new regulations the Liberal government says will ban the practice known as carding or street checks.
However, the government admitted it has no idea how much it will cost to train more than 26,000 officers on the regulations, which state that police must provide a reason for requesting identifying information from someone.
"Of course there's costs involved, but we need to make sure that this cost will result in trust and respect between our police and our communities," said Community and Public Safety Minister Yasir Naqvi.
"This is about building safer communities, and I don't think anybody can put a cost or a price point on that very important, fundamental value of our society."
The government is also promising a roundtable of experts to advise the Ontario Police College on the development of new training for officers on racism, bias awareness and discrimination. It said all officers will be trained by Jan. 1.
One of the government's experts, former York Region Police Chief Armand La Barge, refused to answer reporters' questions about the carding regulation or police training even though he attended Naqvi's announcement.
The regulations, which were first posted last October for public comment, set out what Naqvi called "clear and consistent rules" for voluntary police-public interactions in order to end arbitrary stops, especially those based on race.
"This regulation is the first of its kind in our province's history," Naqvi said. "It sets out rights for the individual and clear rules for police officers in an area that never had them before."
Starting Jan. 1, 2017, race is prohibited for being any part of a police officer's reason for attempting to collect someone's identifying information.
Police must tell people they have a right not to talk with them, and refusing to co-operate or walking away cannot then be used as reasons to compel information.
"The police officer must also explain the reason why you are being asked for your information," Naqvi said.
Police can gather personal information during routine traffic stops, when someone is being arrested or detained, or when a search warrant is executed.
The Toronto Police Association had warned in the past that restricting officers from gathering information will hamper investigations, but Naqvi was not concerned.
"We haven't seen any evidence that how carding has been banned in police regulations would impact public safety," he said.
The government said it wanted to ban arbitrary stops after hearing from many people of colour and aboriginal men and women, who said the human rights code was being ignored by police who stopped them for no apparent reason.
Under the new regulations, officers must offer a written record of any interactions with the public, including their name and badge number, along with information on how to contact the independent police review director.
All identifying information collected by officers will have to be submitted within 30 days for review by the local chief of police. At least once a year, chiefs will have to conduct a detailed review of a random sample of entries in their database to verify the information was collected in compliance with the regulation.
Chiefs must also issue an annual public report on the number of attempted collections of personal information, the sex, age and race of the individuals stopped, and the neighbourhoods where the information was collected. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-releases-final-regulations-banning-police-carding/article29324965/ |
Our school offers a senior school curriculum package that is designed to cater for the needs of all students curriculum pathways that they select. They have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate academic excellence, cultural perspectives and global capacities and dispositions.
Senior students can access our: university mentors, Trade School for the Future, Trade Training Centre, transition broker, apprenticeship broker, business partners, employers, work experience and work placement, school based apprenticeships, North East Vocational Opportunities courses, care group programs for each year level, Global Citizens Medal program, and specific senior study areas.
In year 10, students select from a variety of subjects within learning areas as they establish foundations for their senior school pathways. | https://bpihs.sa.edu.au/curriculum/senior-school/year-10/ |
---
abstract: 'We tackle the problem of estimating a location parameter with differential privacy guarantees and sub-Gaussian deviations. Recent work in statistics has focused on the study of estimators that achieve sub-Gaussian type deviations even for heavy tailed data. We revisit some of these estimators through the lens of differential privacy and show that a naive application of the Laplace mechanism can lead to sub-optimal results. We design two private algorithms for estimating the median that lead to estimators with sub-Gaussian type errors. Unlike most existing differentially private median estimators, both algorithms are well defined for unbounded random variables that are not even required to have finite moments. We then turn to the problem of sub-Gaussian mean estimation and show that under heavy tails natural differentially private alternatives lead to strictly worse deviations than their non-private sub-Gaussian counterparts. This is in sharp contrast with recent results that show that from an asymptotic perspective the cost of differential privacy is negligible.'
author:
- 'Marco Avella-Medina [^1]'
- 'Victor-Emmanuel Brunel [^2]'
bibliography:
- 'Biblio.bib'
title: 'Differentially private sub-Gaussian location estimators'
---
Introduction
============
Differential privacy has emerged as a rigorous mathematical approach to privacy that has been extensively studied in the theoretical computer science and machine learning literature following the path breaking work of [@dworketal2006]. In this framework one assumes that there is a trusted curator that holds some data containing some possibly sensitive records of $n$ individuals. The goal of privacy is to simultaneously protect every individual record while releasing global characteristics of the database[@dworkandroth2014].
Even though the machine learning community has been very prolific in developing differentially private algorithms for complex settings such as multi-armed bandit problems [@mishraandthakurta2015; @tossouandimitrakakis2016; @shariffandsheffet2018], high-dimensional regression [@kiferetal2012; @talwaretal2015] and deep learning [@abadietal2016; @lecuyeretal2018], some basic statistical questions are only starting to be understood. For example, the first statistical minimax rates of convergence under differential privacy were recently established in [@duchietal2018; @caietal2019]. Some earlier work framing differential privacy in traditional statistics terms include [@wassermanandzhou2010; @lei2011; @smith2011; @chaudhuriandhsu2012; @karwaandslavkovic2016]. Recent work has also sought to develop differential privacy tools for statistical inference and hypothesis testing [@gaboardi2016; @sheffet2017; @avella2019; @barrientosetal2019]
In this paper we revisit the simple statistical problem of location parameter estimation and study the non-asymptotic deviations of differentially private location parameter estimators. More specifically, we consider the problem of constructing median and mean estimators that achieve sub-Gaussian deviations under heavy tails.
Motivation
----------
It is well known that given a random iid sample $X_1,\dots,X_n$ of sub-Gaussian random variables with ${\mathbb{E}}[X_1]=\mu$ and ${\textrm{Var}}[X_1]=\sigma^2$, the empirical mean $\overline{X}_n=\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^nX_i$ satisfies with probability at least $1-\alpha$ $$\label{mean}
|\overline{X}_n-\mu|\leq \sqrt{\frac{2\sigma^2\log(2/\alpha)}{n}}.$$ The accuracy of the empirical mean estimator expressed in the above deviation inequality is a direct consequence of the sub-Gaussian assumption. In fact the dependence on $2/\alpha$ in the error worsens significantly when the distribution does not have a moment generating function. In particular, when $X_1$ is only assumed to have two finite moments, one cannot get an error whose order is smaller than $\sqrt{2\sigma^2/(n\alpha)}$ as shown in [@catoni2012]. For the empirical median on the other hand, one does not even need to assume any finite moments in order to establish similar sub-Gaussian deviations.
In light of [@caietal2019], one may naturally wonder how differential privacy will affect the deviation bounds discussed above. The statistical minimax rates established in [@caietal2019] show that the rates of convergence of differentially private mean estimators are described by two terms. The first one correspond to the usual parametric $1/\sqrt{n}$ convergence, while the second one is driven by the differential privacy tuning parameters and and is of the order $1/n$. Consequently for large $n$ differential privacy does not come at the expense of slower statistical convergence rates. Even though it seems intuitive that a similar phenomenon from a non-asymptotic deviations perspective deviations there are several technical obstacles that need to be addressed before one can attempt to establish such results.
A notorious technical difficulty that renders the study of non-asymptotic deviations challenging for differentially private mean and median estimators is the vast majority of existing algorithms requires the input data to be bounded; see for example [@dworketal2006; @nissimetal2007; @lei2011; @smith2011; @bassilyetal2014]. This is clearly unsatisfactory from a theoretical and practical perspective as it rules out common distribution used in statistical modelling such as the normal, gamma and t-distributions just to name a few. This is particularly disturbing for median estimators since the usual non-private empirical median does not even need the existence of finite moments in order to exhibit sub-Gaussian deviations.
Our contributions
-----------------
- We derive the first differentially private median estimators with sub-Gaussian type errors under minimal conditions. This should arguably be one of the simplest differentially private estimators for which one can establish sub-Gaussian deviations without assuming bounded variables or the existence of a moment generating function. We attain this objective for two new differentially private median estimators that build on two different carefully calibrated variants of the popular Laplace mechanism. Indeed, the naive Laplace mechanism is not directly applicable to the median when the support of the data is unbounded. The first algorithm adapts the idea of smooth sensitivity calibration introduced in [@nissimetal2007] for our median estimation problem with unbounded data without any finite moment assumptions. This first construction requires a truncation step of the data that can be avoided by our second algorithm. The latter revisits the propose-test-release paradigm introduced in [@dworkandlei2009] and leads to the desired sub-Gaussian deviations while avoiding any truncation. This is achieved by carefully controlling for the occurrence of unfavorable data configurations that are observed with negligible probability.
We would like to highlight that two other mechanisms, essentially tailored for the estimation of location parameters, have also been studied: exponential mechanism [@chaudhuriandhsu2012] and perturbation of the loss function for $M$-estimators [@chaudhurietal2011]. However, these mechanisms seem not to be applicable to either the mean (unless the data are bounded), or the median. Indeed, in the case of the mean, the loss function is not Lipschitz and in the case of the median, the loss function is not smooth, which are two requirements for the validity of these mechanisms. Therefore, it seems that even the seemingly simple problem of estimating the median of unbounded random variables in a differentially private fashion is more involved than one would expect.
- We explore the possibility of constructing differentially private mean estimators with sub-Gaussian type leading errors terms when the underlying distributions are only assumed to have two finite moments. This question is motivated by the significant attention given to the study of sub-Gaussian mean estimators over the last years [@catoni2012; @bubecketal2013; @devroyeetal2016] and the numerous successful extensions of these methods to more complex models including [@hsuandsabato2016; @minsker2018; @avellaetal2018; @lugosiandmendelson2019; @lecueandlerasle2019]. Unlike our private median estimators, natural differential private counterparts of known sub-Gaussian mean estimators fail to yield the desired deviations. This suggests that differentially private mean estimation might come at the expense of worse non-asymptotic high probability deviations.
Preliminaries
=============
Definitions
-----------
For $x=(x_1,\ldots,x_n)\in{\mathbb R}^n$, we denote by $x_{(1)}, \ldots, x_{(n)}$ the reordered coordinates of $x$ in nondecreasing order, i.e. ${\displaystyle}\min_{1\leq i\leq n} x_i=x_{(1)}\leq \ldots\leq x_{(n)}=\max_{1\leq i\leq n} x_i$. We let $\ell=\lfloor n/2\rfloor$ and $\hat m(x)=x_{(l)}$ be the empirical (left) median of $x$.
For $T>0$ and $u\in{\mathbb R}$, let the truncation operator $f_T$ be defined as $f_T(u)=u$ if $|u|\leq T$, $f_T(u)=\mathrm{sign}(u)T$ otherwise. For $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, let $\hat m_T(x)=\hat m(y)$, where $y=(y_1,\ldots,y_n)$ is defined as the truncated version of $x$ at level $T$, i.e., $y_i=f_T(x_i), i=1,\ldots,n$.
For any two vectors $x,x'\in{\mathbb R}^n$, we define their Hamming distance ${\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')$ as the number of coordinates that differ in $x$ and $x'$: ${\displaystyle}{\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')=\#\{i=1,\ldots,n:x_i\neq x_i'\}$, where $\#$ stands for cardinality. Before formally defining $(\varepsilon,\delta)$-differential privacy, we first review some useful notions of sensitivity to the data that will serve as building blocks in the construction of our algorithms.
Let $h:{\mathbb R}^n\to{\mathbb R}$ be a given function.
1. The local sensitivity of $h$ maps any data point $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$ to the (possibly infinite) number $${\mathrm{LS}}_h(x)=\sup\{|h(x')-h(x)|: x'\in{\mathbb R}^n, {\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')\leq 1\}.$$
2. The global sensitivity of $h$ is the (possibly infinite) number $${\mathrm{GS}}_h=\sup_{x\in{\mathbb R}^n}{\mathrm{LS}}_h(x).$$
3. For all $\beta>0$, the $\beta$-smooth sensitivity of $h$ is the mapping $${\displaystyle}{\mathrm{S}}_h^{(\beta)}(x)=\sup_{x'\in{\mathbb R}^n}\left(e^{-\beta {\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')}LS_{h}(x')\right), \quad x\in{\mathbb R}^n.$$
<!-- -->
1. It is easy to see that for all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, the local sensitivity of the empirical median is $${\mathrm{LS}}_{\hat m}(x)=\max\left(x_{(\ell+1)}-x_{(\ell)},x_{(\ell)}-x_{(\ell-1)}\right).$$ Moreover, for all $\beta>0$ and all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, ${\displaystyle}{\mathrm{S}}_{\hat m}^{(\beta)}(x)=\infty$, and ${\mathrm{GS}}_{\hat m}=\infty$.
2. Let ${\displaystyle}\hat \mu(x)=n^{-1}\sum_{i=1}^n x_i, x\in{\mathbb R}^n$ be the empirical mean function. Then, all the above quantities are infinite.
3. Let ${\displaystyle}\hat\mu_T(x)=n^{-1}\sum_{i=1}^n f_T(x_i)$ be the empirical mean of the truncated entries of $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$. Then, for all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, ${\displaystyle}{\mathrm{LS}}_{\hat\mu_T}(x)=n^{-1}\max\left(T-f_T(x_{(1)}),f_T(x_{(n)})+T\right)$. Thus, ${\mathrm{GS}}_{\hat\mu_T}=2T$ and ${\mathrm{S}}_{\hat\mu_T}(x)\leq 2T$, for all $x\in{\mathbb R}^d$.
Let us now compute the smooth sensitivity of the empirical median of truncated numbers.
\[lemma:comput-LS\] Let $T>0$ and $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$. Let $y=(y_1,\ldots,y_n)$ with $y_i=f_T(x_i), i=1,\ldots,n$. For all $k<0$ (resp. $k>n$), set $y_{(k)}=-T$ (resp. $y_{(k)}=T$). Then, for all $\beta>0$, ${\displaystyle}{\mathrm{S}}_{\hat m_T}^{(\beta)}(x)=\max_{k\geq 0}e^{-\beta k}\max_{t=0,\ldots,k+1} \left(y_{(\ell+t)}-y_{(\ell+t-k-1)}\right)$.
This lemma is a direct consequence of [@nissimetal2007]. The same authors also showed that ${\displaystyle}{\mathrm{S}}_{\hat m_T}^{(\beta)}(x)$ can be computed in $O(n\log n)$ operations .
In what follows, we refer as *random function* to any function $\tilde h:{\mathbb R}^n\to{\mathbb R}$ such that for all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, $\tilde h(x)$ is a Borelian random variable. In this paper, we will use the hat sign to denote non-randomized estimators, and the tilde sign to denote their randomized version (e.g., $\hat h$ vs. $\tilde h$).
Let $\varepsilon,\delta>0$. A random function $\tilde h$ is called $(\varepsilon,\delta)$-differentially private if and only if for each pair $x,x'\in{\mathbb R}^n$ with ${\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')\leq 1$ and for all Borel sets $B\subseteq {\mathbb R}$, $${\mathbb{P}}[\tilde h(x)\in B]\leq e^\varepsilon {\mathbb{P}}[\tilde h(x')\in B]+\delta.$$
It is important to note that for all $\beta\geq \beta'>0$, all functions $h:{\mathbb R}^n\to{\mathbb R}$ and all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, it holds that $$\label{eq:order-sens}
{\mathrm{LS}}_h(x)\leq {\mathrm{S}}_h^{(\beta)}(x)\leq {\mathrm{S}}_h^{(\beta')}(x)\leq {\mathrm{GS}}_h(x)\leq \infty.$$ In particular, using the global sensitivity is more restrictive than using the smooth sensitivities, which itself is more restrictive than using the local sensitivity.
Background
----------
The Laplace mechanism is one of the basic tools used in the differential privacy literature in order to construct private algorithms. The basic idea is to make deterministic functions private by adding random noise calibrated using their sensitivity to the data. Let us review some well know results that we will use in the construction of our differentially private estimators. Recall that the Laplace distribution with parameter $\lambda>0$ is the continuous probability distribution with density $(\lambda/2)e^{-\lambda|u|}, u\in{\mathbb R}$. We denote this distribution by $\mathrm{Lap}(\lambda)$.
The following theorem, due to [@dworketal2006], gives a very simple way to make a function $h$ differentially private. However, it requires the very strong assumption that $h$ has a finite global sensitivity.
\[thm:DP-GS\] Let $h:{\mathbb R}^n\to{\mathbb R}$ be a function with finite global sensitivity. Let $Z$ be a Laplace random variable with parameter $1$. For all $\varepsilon>0$, the random function ${\displaystyle}\tilde h(x)=h(x)+\frac{Z}{\varepsilon}{\mathrm{GS}}_h, x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, is $(\varepsilon,0)$-differentially private.
The following result is due to [@nissimetal2007], and allows for less restrictive functions $h$.
\[thm:DP-SS\] Let $h:{\mathbb R}^n\to{\mathbb R}$ and assume that for all $k=1,\ldots,n$ and all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, ${\mathrm{LS}}_h^{(k)}(x)<\infty$. Let $Z$ be a Laplace random variable with parameter $1$. Let $\varepsilon,\delta>0$ and set ${\displaystyle}\beta=\frac{\varepsilon}{2\log(1/\delta)}$. Then, the random function ${\displaystyle}\tilde h(x)=h(x)+\frac{2Z}{\varepsilon}{\mathrm{S}}_h^{(\beta)}(x), x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, is $(\varepsilon,\delta)$-differentially private.
Note that these two versions of the Laplace mechanisms, using either the global, or the smooth sensitivities, cannot be used directly for the empirical mean or the empirical median when the data are unbounded, since the two sensitivities are infinite. In the next section, we first adapt the Laplace mechanism with the smooth sensitivity, by truncating the data in order to ensure a finite smooth sensitivity. Note that the local sensitivity, which is the least restrictive in the sense of , cannot be used directly in a Laplace mechanism, as explained in [@nissimetal2007]. In the second part of next section, we define an estimator that uses some sort of local sensitivity, which is less restrictive than the smooth sensitivity and thanks to which we can avoid truncating the data.
Median estimation {#medians}
=================
In this section we describe two differentially private median estimators. As explained above, the first one uses the Laplace mechanism but forces us to truncate the data, and to assume that the true (and unknown) median of the data is bounded. In the second algorithm, we no longer truncate the data, by using a more subtle approach than the Laplace mechanism. Our differentially private algorithms seem to be the first ones to achieve optimal statistical rates of convergence under no moment assumptions on the data.
Private median via smooth sensitivity calibration {#sec:MedianSS}
-------------------------------------------------
We will only require the following distributional assumption in the derivation of our deviation inequalities for our private median estimators.
\[Ass:1\] The distribution of $X_1$ has a density $f$ with respect to the Lebesgue measure and it has a unique median $m$. Moreover, there exist positive constants $r,L$ such that $f(u)\geq L$, for all $u\in [m-r,m+r]$.
In particular, under this assumption, the cdf $F$ of $X_1$ satisfies the following: $$\label{comment-ass}
|F(u)-F(v)|\geq L|u-v|, \forall u,v\in [m-r,m+r].$$ Even though the existence of a density is not very restrictive in practice, it seems that our results would still be true if we only assumed the existence of a density in the neighborhood $[m-r,m+r]$ of $m$. Moreover, is a natural and standard assumption on the distribution of $X_1$ in order to estimate its population median $m$ at the usual $n^{-1/2}$ rate. Indeed, if does not hold, then the distribution of $X_1$ does not put enough mass around the median, which becomes harder to estimate. For instance, it is well known that the empirical median of iid random variables is only asymptotically normal when the data have a positive density at the true median (the asymptotic variance being $(4f(m))^{-1}$).
We define the randomized estimator of the median as $$\tilde m_T(x)=\hat m_T(x)+\frac{2Z}{\varepsilon}{\mathrm{S}}_h^{(\beta)}(x), x\in{\mathbb R}^n,$$ where ${\displaystyle}\beta=\frac{\varepsilon}{2\log(2/\delta)}$ and $Z$ is a Laplace random variable with parameter $1$. By Theorem \[thm:DP-SS\], $\tilde m_T$ is $(\varepsilon,\delta)$-differentially private, and we have the following theorem.
\[thm:median-SS\]
Let $X=(X_1,\ldots,X_n)$ be a vector of iid random variables satisfying Assumption \[Ass:1\]. Assume that $|m|\leq R$ for some $R>0$ and let $T>R+r$. Let $\alpha\in [8e^{-nL^2r^2/4},1]$. Then, with probability at least $1-\alpha$, $$\begin{aligned}
|\tilde m_T(X)-m| & \leq \sqrt{\frac{2\log\left(\frac{8}{\alpha}\right)}{nL^2}} + \frac{4\log\left(\frac{8}{\alpha}\right)\log\left(\frac{2}{\delta}\right)}{eL\varepsilon^2 n}\left(\log\left\lfloor {Lrn}{2}\right\rfloor+ \log\left(\frac{4}{\alpha}\right)\right) \\
& \hspace{30mm} + \frac{4T\log\left(\frac{4}{\alpha}\right)}{\varepsilon}e^{-\frac{\varepsilon Lrn}{4\log\left(\frac{2}{\delta}\right)}}.\end{aligned}$$
Note that in this theorem, the probability is computed with respect to the joint randomness of the algorithm and of the data. Moreover, our estimator truncates the data but our guarantees do not assume that the data are bounded. Perhaps a drawback of this result is that it assumes that the true median lies in a bounded range.
The proof is decomposed into two parts. First, we bound the smooth sensitivity of $\hat m_T$ evaluated at the random sample $X=(X_1,\ldots,X_n)$ with high probability, using Assumption \[Ass:1\] (Lemma \[lemma:bound-SS\] with $\alpha_2=\alpha/4$). Then, again using this assumption, we bound the deviations of the empirical truncated median $\hat m_T(X)$ (Lemma \[lemma:bound-emp-med\] with $\alpha_3=\alpha/4$). Finally, we get the desired result by using a union bound, where we also control the tails of the Laplace random variable $Z$ and apply the triangle inequality.
\[lemma:bound-SS\]
Let $\alpha_2\in (0,1]$. With probability at least $1-\alpha_2-2e^{-nL^2r^2/4}$, $${\mathrm{S}}_{\hat m_T}^{(\beta)}(X) \leq \frac{1}{eL\beta n}\left(\log\lfloor Lrn/2\rfloor+ \log(1/\alpha_2)\right) +2Te^{-\beta Lrn/2}.$$
\[lemma:bound-emp-med\]
Let $\alpha_3\in [2e^{-nL^2r^2/2},1]$. Then, with probability at least $1-\alpha_3$, $$|\hat m_T(X)-m|\leq \sqrt{\frac{2\log(2/\alpha_3)}{nL^2}}.$$
The restriction on $\alpha_3$ is necessary because Assumption \[Ass:1\] only imposes a control of the cdf $F$ on a neighborhood of $m$ of size $r$.
The first term in the upper bound in Theorem \[thm:median-SS\] is a sub-Gaussian term that comes from the empirical median itself. The other terms, of a smaller order in $n$, are the price to pay in order to apply the Laplace mechanism to the truncated median. Note that $T$ can be chosen as a growing sequence of $n$ so long as the last term does remains very small (while in many applications, $\varepsilon$ may also depend on $n$, making the ratio in the exponential term small).
A propose-test-release approach {#sec:MedianPTR}
-------------------------------
Our second algorithm is inspired by the propose-test-release paradigm introduced in [@dworkandlei2009]. The high level idea of this approach is to propose a bound on the local sensitivity of the desired statistic and test in a differentially private way whether the suggested bound is high enough to ensure privacy. If the proposed bound passes the test then an appropriately calibrated noisy version of the statistic is released. If the proposed bound is not high enough then the algorithm returns “No Reply", which we denote by $\perp$. Our estimator is carefully calibrated so that the resulting algorithm returns a numerical value with high probability while ensuring satisfactory finite sample statistical guarantees. In particular, the leading term in the deviations resulting from this procedure coincides with the usual median sub-Gaussian deviations and dominates the additional error term introduced by the privacy inducing mechanism. We require some additional notation in order to define our estimator. A key component of the algorithm is the quantity
$$\label{Ahat}\hat{A}(x)=\min \left\{k=0,1,\ldots: \exists x'\in{\mathbb R}^n, {\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')=k, \left|\hat m (x)-\hat{m}(x')\right|>\eta\right\}.$$
It is not too difficult to see that the global sensitivity of $\hat{A}$ equals $1$ since for any $x'$ such that ${\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')=1$, the only possible values of $\hat{A}(x')$ are $\hat{A}(x)-1,\hat{A}(x)$ and $\hat{A}(x)+1$. Therefore, by Theorem \[thm:DP-GS\], $\hat{A}$ can be made $(\varepsilon,0)$-differentially private with the Laplace mechanism $$\label{Rhat}
\tilde{A}(x)=\hat{A}(x)+\frac{1}{\varepsilon} Z_1,$$ where $Z_1\sim \mathrm{Lap}(1)$. We introduce another independent random variable $Z_2\sim \mathrm{Lap}(1)$ and define our randomized propose-test-release median estimator as $$\label{PTR}
\tilde{m}(x)=\begin{cases}
\perp &\mbox{ if } \tilde A(x) \leq 1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta) \\
\hat{m}(x)+\frac{\eta}{\varepsilon}Z_2 & \mbox{otherwise}
\end{cases},$$ for all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$. Intuitively, $\tilde{m}(x)$ is more likely to output “No Reply” for less favorable data configurations $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$ that lead to small values of $\hat{A}(x)$. Clearly the choice $\eta$ is critical as it controls the size of $\hat{A}(x)$ and hence the probability of no reply, and also the noise term added to $\hat{m}(x)$ when it is released.
It is interesting to notice that from a computer science perspective $\hat{A}(x)$ can be thought of as the answer to the query: what is the minimum number of observations that we need to change to $x$ before we change the value of the empirical median $\hat{m}(x)$ by at least $\eta$? From a statistical point of view, it is reminiscent of the finite sample breakdown point studied in robust statistics [@donohoandhuber1983; @huberandronchetti2009]. While the finite sample breakdown point is usually defined as the minimum number of points that needs to be moved arbitrarily before an estimator becomes infinite, $\hat{A}(x)$ can be interpreted as a relaxed version of the finite sample breakdown point of the median at the scale $\eta$.
\[thm:PTR\] The randomized estimator $\tilde{m}$ is $(2\varepsilon,\delta)$-differentially private and can be computed in $O(n\log(n))$ time. Furthermore, let $X=(X_1,\ldots,X_n)$ be a vector of iid random variables that satisfy Assumption \[Ass:1\] and let $\alpha\in [8e^{-L^2r^2n/2},1]$ and ${\displaystyle}C=L^{-1}\left(1+\frac{\log(4/\alpha)}{\log(Lrn/2)}\right)$. Then, choosing $\eta=\frac{C\log(n)}{\varepsilon n}\{\log(2/\delta)+\log(8/\alpha)+\varepsilon\}$, with probability at least $1-\alpha$ we have that $$|\tilde{m}(X)-m| \leq \sqrt{\frac{2\log(8/\alpha)}{nL^2}}+\frac{C\log(n)\{\log(2/\delta)+\log(8/\alpha)+\varepsilon\}\log(8/\alpha)}{\varepsilon^2 n}$$
Note that in this theorem (as in Theorem \[thm:median-SS\]), the probability is computed with respect to the joint randomness of the algorithm and of the data. Furthermore, the second term corresponds to a subexponential type error because the dependence on $\log(1/\alpha)$ does not appear inside a square root.
We only highlight the main ideas of the arguments and relegate some technical details to the proofs of Lemmas \[lemma:PTRdp\]-\[lemma:PTRnoreply\] to the Appendix.
The estimator $\tilde{m}$ can be shown to be $(2\varepsilon,\delta)$-differentially private by adapting the arguments used for establishing differential privacy of the propose-test-release median algorithm introduced in [@dworkandlei2009] (Lemma \[lemma:PTRdp\]). Its computation is $O(n\log(n))$ time as it comes down to the complexity of sorting $x=(x_1,\dots,x_n)$ and computing $\hat{A}(x)$ using the sorted $x$ for any $x\in{\mathbb{R}}^n$. Once the data is sorted the computation of $\hat{A}(x)$ can be done in $O(n\log(n))$ computations using an interval halving algorithm (Lemma \[lemma:PTRcomp\]).
For the desired sub-Gaussian deviation inequality we first note that with probability at least $1-\alpha_2-\tau_2$ $$\Big|\hat{m}(X)-m+\frac{\eta}{\varepsilon}Z_2 \Big| \leq \sqrt{\frac{2\log(2/\alpha_2)}{nL^2}}+ \frac{\eta}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\tau_2),$$ where we used the triangle inequality, equation in the Appendix and ${\mathbb{P}}(|Z_2|>t)=e^{-t}$. It therefore remains to verify that the choice of $\eta$ stated in the theorem suffices to establish that the probability that $\tilde{m}$ gives a “No Reply” is at least $\alpha_1+\tau_1$. The main technical obstacle for this is to lower bound $\hat{A}(X)$ with high probability. We establish this result by leveraging Condition 1 in order to control the maximum gap between consecutive order statistics of $X$ in a neighborhood of $\hat{m}(X)$ (Lemma \[lemma:PTRnoreply\]).
\[lemma:PTRdp\] The estimator $\tilde{m}$ is $(2\varepsilon,\delta)-$differentially private.
\[lemma:PTRcomp\] For all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$, the computation of $\tilde{m}(x)$ is $O(n\log(n))$.
\[lemma:PTRnoreply\] Assume that Assumption \[Ass:1\] holds and let $\eta=\frac{C\log(n)}{\varepsilon n}\{\log(2/\delta)+\log(2/\tau_1)+\varepsilon\}$. Then for $\tau_1\in (0,1]$ and $\alpha_1\in(2e^{-\frac{L^2r^2}{2}n},1]$, we have that ${\mathbb{P}}(\tilde{m}(X)=\perp)\leq \tau_1+\alpha_1$.
We note that while the propose-test-release median estimator of [@dworkandlei2009] was shown to converge in probability to the population median, it is easy to see that the resulting estimator converges at the rate $n^{1/3}$. Our estimator allows to take smaller values of $\varepsilon$ and $\delta$ while preserving the finite sample sub-Gaussian deviations of the empirical median under minimal conditions.
Discussion on mean estimation {#others}
=============================
Recall the definition of the median of means function. Let $K\leq n/2$ be integer and let $N=n/K$, which we assume to be an integer, for the sake of simplicity. We partition the set $\{1,\ldots,n\}$ into $N$ groups $B_1,\ldots,B_N$ of identical size $K$. For all $x=(x_1,\ldots,x_n)\in{\mathbb R}^n$ and each group $B_j, j=1,\ldots,N$, we let $\bar x_j=K^{-1}\sum_{t\in B_j}x_t$, the empirical mean of the coordinates of $x$ indexed in $B_j$. We denote by $\bar x_{(j)}, j=1,\ldots,N$ the empirical means reordered in nondecreasing order. The median of means of $x$ is defined as $\hat\mu(x)=\bar x_{(\ell)}$, where now, $\ell=\lfloor N/2\rfloor$.
It is well known that if $X_1,\ldots,X_n$ are iid random variables with only the first two moments assumed to be finite $\mu={\mathbb E}[X_1]$ and $\sigma^2={\textrm{Var}}[X_1]$, then the median of mean estimator $\hat\mu(X_1,\ldots,X_n)$ satisfies the following, for $N=8\log(2/\alpha)$ and $K=n/N$, where $\alpha\in (0,1)$ is a prescribed probability level.
[@bubecketal2013 Lemma 2] With probability at least $1-\alpha$, $$|\hat\mu(X_1,\ldots,X_n)-\mu|\leq 2\sigma\sqrt{\frac{\log(2/\alpha)}{n}}.$$
However, the Laplace mechanism that we have used in Section \[sec:MedianSS\] cannot be applied directly to $\hat\mu$. It is easy to see that the global sensitivity ${\mathrm{GS}}_{\hat \mu}$ is infinite. The local sensitivity is finite as long as the empirical means $\bar x_{(j)}, j=1,\ldots,N$ take at least three different values. In that case, ${\mathrm{LS}}_{\mu}(x)=\max\left(\bar x_{(\ell)}-\bar x_{(\ell-1)},\bar x_{(\ell+1)}-\bar x_{(\ell)}\right)$. However, the $\beta$-smooth sensitivity ${\mathrm{S}}_{\hat\mu}^{(\beta)}(x)$ is infinite, for all $x\in{\mathbb R}^n$.
A natural alternative to $\hat\mu$ consists of truncating the empirical means $\bar x_j, j=1,\ldots,N$, before taking their median, or to first truncate the $x_i$’s, compute the new empirical means on each block and take the median. These two functions are different, but we only focus on the first one, since a similar analysis would hold for the second one (with a different threshold).
For $T>0$, we define $\hat\mu_T(x)=f_T(\bar x_{(\ell)})$.
\[lemma:SS-MedMeans\] Let $\beta>0$. Then, the $\beta$-smooth sensitivity of the function $\hat \mu$ is given by $${\mathrm{S}}_{\hat \mu_T}^{(\beta)}=\max_{0\leq j\leq N}e^{-\beta j} \max_{t=0,\ldots,j+1} \left(f_T(\bar x_{(\ell+t)})-f_T(\bar x_{(\ell+t-j-1)})\right),$$ where we set $\bar x_{(j)}=\infty$ if $j\geq N+1$ and $\bar x_{(j)}=-\infty$ if $j\leq -1$. Moreover, it is bounded from above by $2T$.
The proof of the first this lemma is similar to that of Lemma \[lemma:bound-SS\] and is omitted here. For the second part, it is clear that one can bound ${\mathrm{S}}_{\hat \mu_T}^{(\beta)}$ by $f_T(\bar x_{(N)})-f_T(\bar x_{(1)})$ and this bound is tight up to a constant. In general, unless $T$ is significantly larger than $\sqrt n$, $\bar X_{(N)}\geq T$ and $\bar X_{(1)}\leq -T$ with high probability. Therefore, the Laplace mechanism that we used in \[sec:MedianSS\] will not provide reasonable deviation bound. Actually, the same limitations also hold for the truncated mean estimator studied in [@caietal2019], where the authors deal with a truncation parameter $T$ of order $\log n$ since their data are sub-Gaussian, whereas under the current assumptions, $T$ should be taken of the order of $\sqrt n$. In general, it seems that the usual estimators of the mean under the existence of only low moments (median of means, truncated mean, Catoni’s estimators [@catoni2012; @bubecketal2013; @devroyeetal2016]) can not be adapted in a straightforward way in order to obtain differentially private estimators that admit a sub-Gaussian error plus a term of smaller order.
The propose-test-release approach introduced in \[sec:MedianPTR\] will also fail to give sub-Gaussian type deviations if applied to the median of means function. Indeed in order to obtain inequalities similar to the ones obtained in Theorem \[thm:PTR\] one would have to choose the constant $\eta$ in equation to be of the order $1/n$. However one can show that the expect the empirical means $\bar X_1,\dots,\bar X_n$ are separated by a distance of at least of the order $1/\sqrt{n\alpha}$ with probability $1-\alpha$. Consequently if we choose $\eta$ smaller than $1/\sqrt{n\alpha}$ the probability of “No Reply” of the propose-test-release approach will be too large since we will always have small values of $\hat A(x)$. A similar argument suffices to see that our propose-test-release mechanism will also fail to give the desired deviations for the truncated mean estimator studied in [@caietal2019].
Conclusion
==========
We studied the problem of differentially private location parameter estimation from a non-asymptotic deviations perspective. In particular, we proposed the first private median estimators that exhibit a leading sub-Gaussian error terms with high probability. Our first estimator uses truncation in order to get high probability control of the smooth sensitivity while the second one avoids truncating the data by first identifying in a privacy-preserving fashion whether the data are in a favorable configuration before releasing a noisy version of the desired output.
We showed that differentially private versions of well known sub-Gaussian mean estimators fail to exhibit the optimal deviations of their nonprivate counterparts. A possible explanation for these weaker results for mean estimation is that perhaps one can only expect to obtain sub-Gaussian type deviations for differentially private versions of robust statistics in the sense of [@huberandronchetti2009]. It would therefore be interesting to extend our methods to other robust statistics beyond the median.
Appendix: Differentially private sub-Gaussian location estimators {#appendix-differentially-private-sub-gaussian-location-estimators .unnumbered}
=================================================================
Proof of Lemma \[lemma:bound-SS\] {#proof-of-lemma-lemmabound-ss .unnumbered}
---------------------------------
Let $k_0=\left\lfloor\frac{Lrn}{2}\right\rfloor$. Note that $k_0\leq n/4$, since $2Lr\leq F(m+r)-F(m-r)\leq 1$, by Assumption \[Ass:1\]. We decompose ${\mathrm{S}}_h^{(\beta)}(X)$ into two parts: $$\begin{aligned}
{\mathrm{S}}_{\hat m_T}^{(\beta)}(X) & = \max_{k=0,\ldots,k_0-1}e^{-\beta k}\max_{t=0,\ldots,k+1}\left(Y_{(\ell+t)}-Y_{(\ell+t-k-1)}\right) \nonumber \\
& \quad \quad + \max_{k\geq k_0}e^{-\beta k}\max_{t=0,\ldots,k+1}\left(Y_{(\ell+t)}-Y_{(\ell+t-k-1)}\right) \label{boundSS1}\end{aligned}$$ The second term is upper bounded by $2Te^{-\beta k_0}$. For the first term, we consider the event ${\displaystyle}\mathcal A=\{Y_{(i+1)}-Y_{(i)}\leq \frac{C\log k_0}{n}, \forall i=\ell-k_0,\ldots,\ell+k_0-1\}$, where ${\displaystyle}C=L^{-1}\left(1+\frac{\log(1/\alpha_2)}{\log(k_0)}\right)$. If $\mathcal A$ is satisfied, the first term in is bounded by $$\begin{aligned}
\max_{0\leq k\leq k_0-1} e^{-\beta k}k\frac{C\log k_0}{n} & = \max_{0\leq k\leq k_0-1} e^{-\beta k}\beta k\frac{C\log k_0}{\beta n} \\
& \leq \left(\max_{u\geq 0}e^{-u}u\right)\frac{C\log k_0}{\beta n} = \frac{C\log k_0}{e\beta n},\end{aligned}$$ hence, if $\mathcal A$ is satisfied, yields that $$\label{boundSS2}
{\mathrm{S}}_{\hat m_T}^{(\beta)}(X) \leq \frac{C\log k_0}{e\beta n}+2Te^{-\beta k_0}.$$ Now, we control the probability of the complement of $\mathcal A$. Consider the event $\mathcal B=\{m-r<X_{(\ell-k_0)}\leq X_{(\ell+k_0)}<m+r\}$. By Assumption \[Ass:1\], if $\mathcal B$ is satisfied, it holds that for all $i=\ell-k_0,\ldots,\ell+k_0$, $X_{(i)}=Y_{(i)}$, and for all $i=\ell-k_0,\ldots,\ell+k_0-1$, $$\begin{aligned}
F(X_{(i+1)})-F(X_{(i)}) & \geq L(X_{(i+1)}-X_{(i)}) \\
& = L(Y_{(i+1)}-Y_{(i)}),\end{aligned}$$ hence, if $\mathcal A^{\complement}$ holds together with $\mathcal B$, then $$\begin{aligned}
\max_{i=\ell-k_0,\ldots,\ell+k_0-1} U_{(i+1)}-U_{(i)}\geq \frac{CL\log k_0}{n},\end{aligned}$$ where we have denoted by $U_j=F(X_j), j=1,\ldots,n$. Therefore, $$\begin{aligned}
{\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal A^{\complement}] & = {\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal A^{\complement}\cap \mathcal B] + {\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal A^{\complement}\cap \mathcal B^{\complement}] \nonumber \\
& \leq {\mathbb{P}}\left[\max_{i=\ell-k_0,\ldots,\ell+k_0-1} U_{(i+1)}-U_{(i)}\geq \frac{CL\log k_0}{n}\right] +{\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal B^{\complement}] \nonumber \\
& \leq \sum_{i=\ell-k_0}^{\ell+k_0-1}{\mathbb{P}}\left[U_{(i+1)}-U_{(i)}\geq \frac{CL\log k_0}{n}\right]+{\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal B^{\complement}], \label{boundSS3}\end{aligned}$$ where the last inequality follows from a union bound. By Assumption \[Ass:1\], the $U_j$’s are iid and uniformly distributed in $[0,1]$. Therefore, for all $i=1,\ldots,n-1$, $U_{(i+1)}-U_{(i)}$ has the same distribution as $U_{(1)}$ and Therefore, for all $i=\ell-k_0,\ldots,\ell+k_0-1$, $$\begin{aligned}
{\mathbb{P}}\left[U_{(i+1)}-U_{(i)}\geq \frac{CL\log k_0}{n}\right] & = {\mathbb{P}}\left[U_{(1)}\geq \frac{CL\log k_0}{n}\right] \nonumber \\
& = {\mathbb{P}}\left[U_j\geq \frac{CL\log k_0}{n}, \forall j=1,\ldots,n\right] \nonumber \\
& = {\mathbb{P}}\left[U_1\geq \frac{CL\log k_0}{n},\right]^n \nonumber \\
& = \left(1-\frac{CL\log k_0}{n}\right)^n \leq e^{-CL\log k_0}. \label{boundSS4}\end{aligned}$$ In order to bound the probability of $\mathcal B^{\complement}$, it suffices to note that $$\label{boundSS5}
{\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal B^{\complement}] = {\mathbb{P}}[X_{(\ell+k_0)}>m+r]+{\mathbb{P}}[X_{(\ell-k_0)}<m-r].$$ We only bound the first term in the right hand side of , since the second term can be bounded with similar computations. By definition of the order statistics, $$\begin{aligned}
& {\mathbb{P}}[X_{(\ell+k_0)}>m+r] \nonumber \\
& \quad = {\mathbb{P}}\left[\sum_{i=1}^n \mathds 1_{X_i>m+r} \geq n-(\ell+k_0)+1\right]
\nonumber \\
& \quad = {\mathbb{P}}\left[\sum_{i=1}^n \left(\mathds 1_{X_i>m+r}-(1-F(m+r))\right) \geq n-(\ell+k_0)+1-n(1-F(m+r))\right]
\nonumber \\
& \quad \leq \exp\left(-\frac{n}{2}\left(F(m+r)-\frac{\ell+k_0}{n}\right)^2\right), \label{boundSS6}\end{aligned}$$ where the last inequality follows from Hoeffding’s inequality. By Assumption \[Ass:1\], ${\displaystyle}F(m+r)-\frac{\ell+k_0}{n}\geq F(m)+Lr-\frac{1}{2}-\frac{k_0}{n} = Lr-\frac{k_0}{n}\geq Lr/2>0$. Thus, using , we have that ${\displaystyle}{\mathbb{P}}[X_{(\ell+k_0)}>m+r] \leq e^{-nL^2r^2/4}=: \alpha_1$. Finally, we get that ${\displaystyle}{\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal B^{\complement}]\leq 2\alpha_1$. So, by , $$\begin{aligned}
{\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal A^{\complement}] & \leq 2k_0e^{-CL\log k_0}+2\alpha_1 \\
& = 2k_0^{1-CL}+2\alpha_1 = \alpha_2+2\alpha_1. \end{aligned}$$
This ends the proof of Lemma \[lemma:bound-SS\].
Proof of Lemma \[lemma:bound-emp-med\] {#proof-of-lemma-lemmabound-emp-med .unnumbered}
--------------------------------------
Let $t\in [0,r]$. Then, $$\label{boundemp1}
{\mathbb{P}}[|\hat m(X)-m|>t] = {\mathbb{P}}[\hat m(X)>m+t]+{\mathbb{P}}[\hat m(X)<m-t].$$ Now, we only bound the first term, since the second term would be treated with the exact same arguments. By definition of the empirical median, $$\begin{aligned}
{\mathbb{P}}[\hat m(X)>m+t] & = {\mathbb{P}}[\sum_{i=1}^n \mathds 1_{X_i>m+t}\geq n/2] \\
& = {\mathbb{P}}[\sum_{i=1}^n \left(\mathds 1_{X_i>m+t}-(1-F(m+t))\right)\geq n\left(F(m+t)-1/2\right)] \\
& \leq \exp\left(-\frac{n}{2}(F(m+t)-1/2)^2\right) \\
& \leq e^{-nL^2t^2/2},\end{aligned}$$ where we used Hoeffding’s inequality and Assumption \[Ass:1\]. Therefore, we simply get, from , that $$\label{boundemp3}
{\mathbb{P}}[|\hat m(X)-m|>t] \leq 2e^{-nL^2t^2/2}.$$ Now, since $-T<-R-r\leq m-r\leq m-t\leq m+t\leq m+r\leq R+r<T$, if $|\hat m(X)-m|\leq t$, then it must hold that $\hat m(X)=\hat m_T(X)$, therefore, yields that $${\mathbb{P}}[|\hat m_T(X)-m|>t] \leq {\mathbb{P}}[|\hat m(X)-m|>t] \leq 2e^{-nL^2t^2/2}.$$ This concludes the proof of the lemma, by taking ${\displaystyle}t=\sqrt{\frac{2\log(2/\alpha_3)}{nL^2}}$.
Proof of Lemma \[lemma:PTRdp\] {#proof-of-lemma-lemmaptrdp .unnumbered}
------------------------------
Since $\tilde{m}(x)=\perp \iff \tilde{A}(x)\leq 1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)$ and $\tilde{A}$ is $(\varepsilon,0)$-differentially private, it follows that $$\label{lemma4:noreply}
{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x)=\perp]\leq e^\varepsilon {\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x')=\perp],$$ for all $x,x'$ such that ${\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')\leq 1$. Indeed outputting “No Reply” has the same privacy guarantee as $\tilde A$ because differential privacy is not affected by post-processing [@dworkandroth2014 Proposition 2.1].
Let $x,x'\in{\mathbb R}^n$ with ${\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')\leq 1$. We will now show that for all Borel sets $\mathcal O\subseteq {\mathbb R}$, $$\label{lemma4:reply}
{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x)\in\mathcal{O}]\leq e^{2\varepsilon}{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x')\in \mathcal{O}]+\delta.$$ Note that for $\tilde m(x)$ to be a real number, it has to be that the estimator has outputted a reply, i.e., $\tilde A(x)>1+(1/\varepsilon)\log(2/\delta)$. On the one hand, if $|\hat{m}(x)-\hat{m}(x')|\leq \eta$, we have $$\begin{aligned}
\label{D0}
{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x)\in\mathcal{O}]&={\mathbb{P}}\Big[\hat{m}(x)+\frac{\eta}{\varepsilon}Z_2\in\mathcal{O},~\hat{A}(x)+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1> 1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\Big] \nonumber \\
& ={\mathbb{P}}\Big[\hat{m}(x)+\frac{\eta}{\varepsilon}Z_2\in\mathcal{O}\Big]{\mathbb{P}}\Big[\hat{A}(x)+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1 >1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\Big]\nonumber \\
&\leq e^\varepsilon {\mathbb{P}}\Big[\hat{m}(x')+\frac{\eta}{\varepsilon}Z_2\in\mathcal{O}\Big]e^\varepsilon{\mathbb{P}}\Big[\hat{A}(x')+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1 >1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\Big] \nonumber\\
&=e^{2\varepsilon}{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x')\in \mathcal{O}]\nonumber \\
&\leq e^{2\varepsilon}{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x')\in \mathcal{O}]+\delta,\end{aligned}$$ by the sliding property of the Laplace distribution [@nissimetal2007 Section 2.1.1] and where the second and the last equalities used independence of $Z_1$ and $Z_2$. On the other hand, if $|\hat{m}(x)-\hat{m}(x')| > \eta$ then $\hat{A}(x)=\hat{A}(x')=1$ which in turn entails that $$\begin{aligned}
\label{notD0}
{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x)\in\mathcal{O}]&={\mathbb{P}}\Big[\hat{m}(x)+\frac{\eta}{\varepsilon}Z_2\in\mathcal{O},~\frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1> \frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\Big]\nonumber \\
&\leq {\mathbb{P}}\Big[\frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1 >\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\Big]\nonumber\\
&=\delta \nonumber \\
&\leq e^{2\varepsilon}{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x')\in\mathcal{O}]+\delta\end{aligned}$$ Therefore, combining and yields . Now, let $\mathcal O'$ be a Borel set of the extended real line ${\mathbb R}\cup\{\perp\}$. Then, $\mathcal O'$ is equal to either $\mathcal O$, or $\mathcal O\cup\{\perp\}$, for some Borel set of ${\mathbb R}$. In the former case, concludes the proof of the lemma. In the latter case, we write, for all $x,x'\in{\mathbb R}^n$ with ${\mathrm{d_H}}(x,x')\leq 1$: $$\begin{aligned}
{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x)\in\mathcal{O'}] & = {\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x)\in\mathcal{O}] + {\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x)=\perp] \\
& \leq e^{2\varepsilon}{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x')\in\mathcal{O}]+\delta + e^\varepsilon {\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x')=\perp] \\
& \leq e^{2\varepsilon} {\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(x')\in\mathcal{O'}]+\delta,\end{aligned}$$ thanks to and .
Proof of Lemma \[lemma:PTRcomp\] {#proof-of-lemma-lemmaptrcomp .unnumbered}
--------------------------------
It suffices to show that $\hat{A}(x)$ can be computed in near linear time. For this we can sort $x$ and take the resulting order statistics $x_{(1)},\dots,x_{(n)}$ to compute $\hat{A}(x)=\min\{k \mbox{ s.t. } \max_{0\leq t\leq k+1} ( x_{(m+t)}-x_{(m+t-k-1)})>\eta\}$. For a fixed $k$, solving $\max_{0\leq t\leq k+1} ( x_{(m+t)}-x_{(m+t-k-1)})$ takes at most $O(n)$ operations. Furthermore, using a dichotomy method (which is valid since $\max_{0\leq t\leq k+1} ( x_{(m+t)}-x_{(m+t-k-1)})$ is monotone in $k$), we see that we only need to explore $O(\log(n))$ values of $k$ in order to find $\hat{A}(x)$. Hence for sorted $x$, we showed that $\hat{A}(x)$ can be computed in in $O(n\log (n))$ time. Since the initial sorting step also takes $O(n \log (n))$ operations, the overall algorithm is $O(n\log(n))$.
Proof of Lemma \[lemma:PTRnoreply\] {#proof-of-lemma-lemmaptrnoreply .unnumbered}
-----------------------------------
Using the notation that we used in the proof of Lemma \[lemma:bound-SS\], it follows from the definition of $\tilde{m}(X)$ that $$\begin{aligned}
{\mathbb{P}}[\tilde{m}(X)=\perp] &={\mathbb{P}}\bigg[\hat{A}(X)+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1 \leq 1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\bigg] \\
&\leq {\mathbb{P}}\bigg[\Big\{\hat{A}(X)+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1 \leq 1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\Big\}\cap \mathcal{B}\bigg] +{\mathbb{P}}[\mathcal B^{\complement}]\\
& \leq {\mathbb{P}}\bigg[ \Big\{\frac{\eta n}{C\log(n)}+ \frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1\leq 1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\Big\}\cap \mathcal B\bigg] +\alpha_1\\
& \leq {\mathbb{P}}\bigg[\frac{\eta n}{C\log(n)} + \frac{1}{\varepsilon}Z_1\leq1+\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)\bigg] +\alpha_1 \\
&={\mathbb{P}}\bigg[Z_1\leq \varepsilon\Big(1+ \frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)-\frac{\eta n}{C\log(n)}\Big)\bigg]+ \alpha_1.
\end{aligned}$$ In order to set the above bound equal to $\tau_1+\alpha_1$ we have to use that ${\mathbb{P}}[Z_1\leq -\log(2/\tau_1)]=\tau_1$. This requires that $$-\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\tau_1)=1+ \frac{1}{\varepsilon}\log(2/\delta)-\frac{\eta n}{C\log(n)}$$ from which we obtain that $$\eta=\frac{C\log(n)}{\varepsilon n}\Big(\log(2/\delta)+\log(2/\tau_1)+\varepsilon\Big).$$
[^1]: Columbia University, Department of Statistics, [email protected]
[^2]: ENSAE ParisTech, Department of Statistics, [email protected]
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Brent Davison heads south in an Amarok for the annual pilgrimage to the salt flats Lake Gairdner, where man, machine, and nature collide.
It was my first experience of the frightening majesty of an outback storm and it was nothing less than stunning.
Yesterday, warm, playful zephyrs blew across the broad, flat landscape. Overnight they became strong and bitingly cold winds that whipped-up the sandy surface, the fine grit stinging eyes, abrading skin and depositing dust in ears and noses.
Huge, towering thunderheads rolled across the sky, changing from white to dark grey before transitioning to an indigo canopy, spectacular cloud formations backlit by lightning then shot through by the electricity, crackling and sizzling, streaking to earth.
Nature’s light show could rival any million-dollar, man-made laser spectacular, the rolling thunder a perfect accompaniment and making any air-breathing creature feel incredibly insignificant.
Rain started as the violence raged above. The drops, random at first, plopped lazily onto the desert floor, making tiny craters. Then heavier, striking skin with the force of hail. Then constant, forcing animals of every kind to run for cover.
Sheep and kangaroos headed for the trees, lizards, scorpions and snakes disappeared beneath rocks and humans scurried into anything available, all waiting its passing.
When the fearsome, spectacular attack was over the clouds dissipated, the gentle breeze returned and the sun struck with renewed intensity, making up for time lost behind the storm front.
I’m at Lake Gairdner, one of South Australia’s amazing and vast salt lakes. Located some 550 kilometres north-west of Adelaide, it is one of the main entry points to the lovely and comfortingly lonely Australian outback, a place with a long, fascinating and constantly changing story.
The lake is an interesting and comfortable six-hour drive from the South Australian capital on a highway lazily following St Vincent Gulf’s eastern shore before crossing the top of the South Australian peninsula to kiss Spencer Gulf at Port Pirie then run alongside the water to touch the gulf’s tip at Port Augusta.
After almost four hours driving, ‘Port’ looms as an oasis, a small regional city giving travellers a chance to fuel-up both body and vehicle and stock-up on provisions before going bush.
Port Augusta is a major transport hub with tourists and truckers alike passing through to head almost anywhere on the continent. Broken Hill and the eastern states are a day away and the Eyre Highway finds Ceduna and, eventually, Perth after traversing the Great Australian Bight.
Choosing the B100 a few kilometres out of Port finds Whyalla and Port Lincoln and taking the A87 north brings Coober Pedy, the Northern Territory border, Alice Springs and Darwin.
For me it’s the Eyre Highway towards the Gawler Ranges and Lake Gairdner and soon after leaving town the vista starts to change.
Broad, flat plains run east and west, climbing into vast escarpments and at the roadsides the fingerposts show names most only heard in school.
Alice Springs, Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Woomera, Roxby Downs, Andamooka, Kingoonya and Iron Knob, a name that always makes 14-year-old boys titter uncontrollably.
A right turn off the Eyre Highway, almost opposite the Iron Knob exit, launches travellers onto kilometre after kilometre of fast, well-made gravel road and into a wilderness landscape, a fast track to the outback across flat plains and through stands of stunted trees.
The 125-kilometre run is an easy two-and-a-half hours. Raised cattle grids add interest for drivers and the whole is experience underscored by the happy soundtrack of gravel flicking from the tyres and pinging against the car’s undersides.
... and it was nothing less than stunning.
It is here that mobile phones stop working and a special feeling of ease, unique to the Aussie outback, descends. Time slows, thought and speech becomes more measured and things seem less important. What mattered in Adelaide isn’t important here.
The dust, an entity that seems to find its way into everything, even hermetically sealed, air-conditioned cars, becomes important, the colour denoting the taste. Seriously. Red is slightly metallic, white is chalky and black has a subtle, woody taste. The salt of the lakes is overpowering and more than anyone ever wants on their fish and chips.
Mt Ive Station’s gate is marked by a submarine rising majestically through the desert floor and its northern boundary by Lake Gairdner, another 34 kilometres further on and reached in an easy half-hour.
Gairdner has a sprawling – but incredibly basic - campground. What does ‘incredibly basic’ mean? No levelled and powered campsites, no amenities blocks, no public phone, no rubbish bins, no street lights . . . . basically nothing but red soil and stunted, stumpy trees. Oh, and anything you bring in you must take out.
The lake itself is huge, 160 kilometres long and 50 wide. Those who have ventured far enough onto it say they can see the earth’s curvature as they look across its glittering white surface towards the horizon.
In the early autumn heat the lake’s surface shimmers, the dark and distant hills stand stern and the desert rolls down to the petrified shoreline, the deep ochre landscape flowing into the salt’s rich pearlescence and all of it capped with the lustrous blue of the endless sky.
Viewed up close, the red soil nourishes grey-green foliage and dry grasses. Low-growing trees and bushes providing a protective canopy for the malnourished soil.
Gairdner and the land around it have their own special majesty though, the surrounding ranges stand as a deeply spiritual place for its guardians, the Gawler people. Indeed, two hills are regularly pointed-out to visitors who are expressly asked not to photograph them, such is their cultural significance.
It is hard to visit the lake and not be touched by it, even when – or especially when – Mother Nature conspires with the outback to have some spiteful fun and hurl lightning bolts at the ground to the bass rhythm of rumbling thunder.
Time has stood still for aeons in this beautiful, isolated place. Yes, it has seen the world change but ignored it. To a place this old, one full rotation of the earth around the sun is a mere blink in time.
The low hills, the native wildlife and the scrubby land’s profuse plant life, the somnolence and the overpowering peace and quiet of the desert’s changing seasons: that is the beauty of Lake Gairdner and its magnificent deserted surrounds. | https://www.volkswagen.com.au/en/brand-experience/volkswagen-newsroom/lake-gairdner.html |
The Safety organization shares a common purpose in its drive towards increased reliability and availability of the rail system whilst seeking to continuously improve socially acceptable and reasonably practicable levels of safety. These are the very basic principles of sustainable development which seek to retain a holistic view and maintain risk in balance.
There can never be zero risk and Safety organization's work is about helping the railway to consistently achieve a tolerable level of risk.
Operational Safety
Railway operations are a generic term to define the collection of disciplines and activities associated with the safe preparation and driving of trains. These activities are undertaken by members of the workforce in railway and because their duties directly control the safe movement of trains, all such personnel are deemed to be safety critical. A management system is placed to ensure that all such employees are fit and competent to undertake their duties. The rules, procedures and instructions used by the railway operational workforce have been developed and refined over many years and they include all necessary arrangements to deal with disruption, emergencies and unplanned incidents on the mainline rail system. In the railway operational community, such incidents are referred to as abnormal working.
About Safety Organisation
Safety Organization was created in Indian Railways working system arising out of the recommendations in reports of Inquiries into Serious Train Accidents by Kunzru and Sikri Committees. Initially the Safety Organization was functioning as one of the wings of Operating department. Based on the recommendations of Justice Khanna Committee (Railway Safety Review Committee), a broad-based Safety department was set up with officers and staff drawn from all disciplines concerned with safety in train operations, viz. Operating, Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical and Signal & Telecommunication departments manning the posts.
Levels of Safety Organisation
The Safety Organization functions at all the three levels of organizational structure of the Indian Railways i.e. Railway Board at apex level, Zonal Railways at middle level and Divisions at bottom level.
At the Railway Board level the Safety directorate is headed by an Adviser assisted by Directors, other officers and Inspectors drawn from various disciplines.
At the Zonal Railway level the Chief Safety Officer (CSO) heads the Safety department assisted by officers and supervisory staff from other departments connected with Safety.
At the Divisional level, Safety department is headed by Senior Divisional Safety Officers. An assistant officer is also available in some divisions. Supervisory level staff from all concerned departments is available for providing assistance at Divisional level.
The broad scope and functions of the Safety Department are:
*To sensitize all concerned involving with railway operations on Safety related issues
*To oversee all Safety matters
*To identify Safety related Susceptibilities and Vulnerabilities
*To enable the concerned departments to Deliver
The following activities are undertaken by the Safety Organisation
*Auditing the Safety awareness/consciousness of the Railway employees at all levels through normal and surprise inspections as well as super-checks. This will also include checks on availability and adequacy of rules and procedures laid down by various departments for ensuring safety in train operations and their compliance by various levels of staff.
*Reporting of accidents, conducting accident inquiries, analyze the causes leading to such situations and recommend corrective action so as to prevent such incidents in future.
*Monitoring of Disaster Management mechanism for providing effective response to untoward incidents on the Railways and also coordinating with State Government and other agencies in disaster management activities.
*Creating awareness amongst public for ensuring safety in Railway compartments and at level crossings.
*Creating safety awareness amongst Railway Staff through publication of bulletins, magazines, posters, calendars etc., and also
*Motivating Railway staff, who have acted in manner as to avoid an accident or untoward incident through cash awards and other schemes.
*Follow-up of implementation of recommendations made by the Railway Safety Review Committee, High level committee on Disaster management, and those by the Commissioners of Railway Safety as a result of inquiries into train accidents.
*Monitoring progress of various safety related works and activities, keeping in view the objectives and goals laid down in the Indian Railways Corporate Safety Plan 2003-2013.
STEPS TAKEN TO PREVENT TRAIN ACCIDENTS
Safety Organization has been laying a lot of stress to create safety consciousness among the field staff engaged in train operation duties for improving safety environment to provide a reliable & safe service to the customers. Aiming to reduce any possibility of accidents high priority to safety has been accorded by the division. Safety organization is playing its unique role towards achieving this goal by consistently adopting a number of measures like
1. A no. of Safety drives at regular intervals are carried out by officers and supervisors to improve awareness among staff to prevent accidents. During the drive officers and supervisors travel extensively during night and day, by engines as well as in guard vans. They meet staff working in the field and explain finer aspects of safety.
2. A no. of Safety seminars are conducted on various safety sensitive subjects to improve awareness among Railway staff as accident prevention measure.
3. In House Safety bulletins are published, in which finer aspects of safety are discussed in detail.
4. Special drives are conducted to counsel, educate and improve awareness among general public regarding prevention of accidents at unmanned level crossings.
5. Printed hand outs/Pamphlets are distributed among road users near unmanned level crossings, petrol pumps and villages about unmanned level crossings.
6. Advertisements are regularly published in newspapers to educate and improve awareness among public on Rail Safety Issues.
7. Advertisements are also displayed in electronic media as well as in film theatres on Railway Safety Issues.
Improved safety in Train operations is one of the Mission areas of South Central Railway.
South Central Railway is committed for ‘Accident Free train services’.
Public can help us to achieve this goal by following acts of precautions which will save passengers from any accident.
FIRE ACCIDENTS
1. To prevent fire accidents do not carry inflammable/Combustible articles like petrol, kerosene oil, diesel, films, fire works, gas cylinders etc.
2. Do not light a cigarette in trains. Smoking is prohibited in trains and stations.
3. Do not block the pathways in coaches with heavy luggages. In case of emergency like fire even you cannot come out of the coach quickly.
UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS:
1. Be alert and reduce your speed while approaching Railway unmanned level crossing.
2. Stop your vehicle at the foot of the stop board.
3. Look at either side of the track personally or ask your assistant to do so.
4. Do not cross if you see any train/trolley approaching the gate or hear the sound of a train/trolley.
5. Never guess the speed of the train.
6. Cross only when no train/trolley is coming.
7. If you are negligent in crossing unmanned level crossing you may be punished with imprisonment up to one year as per section 160 of Indian Railway Act 1989.
MANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS:
1. Do not try to cross the level crossing gate when it is closed.
2. Do not compel the gateman to open the gate when it is closed for train movement.
RUN OVER ACCIDENTS:
1. Do not travel on footboard. You can miss the train not your future.
2. Do not enter/get down from running trains. | https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE%E2%8C%A9=0&id=0,1,291,358,1069 |
The word “Statistics” which comes from the Latin word status, meaning a political state. It originally meant information useful to the state, such as information about the sizes of populations and armed forces.
The word statistics also refers to “numerical facts systematically arranged” in the first place. That’s why the word statistics is always used in plural.
To appreciate nature of statistics, it may want to know important characteristics of statistics as a subject. Some of its important characteristics are given below:
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Statistics deals with patterns and trends of aggregates or large groups of data. It has nothing to do with what is happening to a particular individual or object of the aggregate.
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Statistics deals with the aggregates of observations of the same kind rather than isolated figures.
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No two objects in this universe are exactly alike. If they were, there would have been no statistical problem. Therefore, statistics deals with variability that obscure underlying patterns.
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Statistics deals with uncertainties as every process of getting observed whether controlled or uncontrolled, involves deficiencies or chance variation. That is why we have to talk in terms of probability.
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Statistics deals with those features of things which can be described numerically either by counts or by measurements.
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Statistics deals with those aggregates which are subject to a number of random cause, e.g. the heights of persons are subject to a number of causes such as race, ancestry, age, diet, habits, climate and so forth.
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Statistical laws are valid on the average or in the long run. There is no guarantee that a certain law will hold in all cases. Statistics inference is therefore made in the face of uncertainty.
- Statistical results might be misleading and incorrect if some mistakes are made in collecting, processing and interpreting the data.
Few Examples of Statistics in Everyday Life
- Children who play with their toys with brand XYZ toys have 60% fewer countries.
- The Bureau of census projects, the population of certain country to be 170.1 million in the year 2010.
- The prevalence of diabetes is nearly 3 times as high in over weight people as compared to normal weight people.
- In 1980 it was estimated that 0.1% of people had tried any sort of drug; where as in 2008 it was estimated that 10% had done so. | https://datalya.com/blog/business-statistics/things-you-must-know-about-statistics |
Investing in international small-cap equities offers a unique opportunity to gain exposure to a large investment universe of highly differentiated and idiosyncratic companies operating in niche market segments. The sector continues to generate increasing interest among investors and asset managers, with small/mid-cap funds seeing far greater inflows as a percentage of AUM over the past decade than larger funds. In this paper, we examine the relative risks and opportunities associated with smaller companies compared to their larger counterparts and detail how the long-term performance advantage and diversification benefits can help to optimize investors’ risk and return profiles.
The asset class is particularly well suited to active management. With more than 2,000 companies at the index level, the depth and widespread availability of research in the investment universe is rarely exhaustive, creating opportunities for focused active management, specifically bottom-up stock pickers, to add value in a way that more broad passive strategies cannot. Structured fundamental research and a bottom-up stock selection process are core to our approach at Barings, and we take advantage of the wide and diverse opportunity set to select our favored investment ideas. The large number of index constituents means that no individual company is regarded as a ‘must-hold’ for risk-reduction purposes, thereby allowing us to follow our conviction to build a portfolio of the best ideas for clients.
International smaller company indexes have tended to outperform their larger-cap counterparts over the long term, registering higher returns in 14 out of 19 calendar years since the turn of the century.
By their nature, smaller companies—typically defined as companies with market capitalizations of between $250 million and $6 billion, although the benchmark’s constituents currently range from about $100 million to $10 billion—may not enjoy the scale advantages of their larger counterparts, but it is precisely this smaller size that grants the asset class an inherent growth potential and performance advantage over the longer term. | https://www.barings.com/global/guest/viewpoints/an-active-approach-to-international-smaller-companies |
Researchers have demonstrated how to recycle nanowires from the electronic circuits after their lifetime.
Recycling and reusing electronic materials is important as it reduces the waste in landfills and maximizes the use of some rare or costly materials. Researchers across the globe are trying to develop recyclable electronic circuits. Recently, researchers from the North Carolina University have suggested a low-cost technique for retrieving nanowires from electronic devices that have reached the end of their utility. The retrieved nanowires can be used in new devices. According to the researchers, this is a big step towards sustainable electronics.
“Our recycling technique differs from conventional recycling,” says Yong Zhu, corresponding author of the paper and the Andrew A. Adams Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State. “When you think about recycling a glass bottle, it is completely melted down before being used to create another glass object. In our approach, a silver nanowire network is separated from the rest of the materials in a device. That network is then disassembled into a collection of separate silver nanowires in solution. Those nanowires can then be used to create a new network and incorporated into a new sensor or other devices.”
The first step towards making recyclable nanowires is to design a device using polymers that are soluble in solvents that will not also dissolve the nanowires. After the device has completed its lifetime, the polymer consisting of the nanowire is dissolved, which leaves behind the nanowire network. The retrieved network is placed in another solvent and hit with an ultrasound to disperse them from the network.
For the proof of theory, they made a wearable patch that could be used to track a patient’s temperature and hydration. It consisted of silver nanowires onto a polymer material. After their usage, the researchers performed the recycling process, and made a new sensor out of it. They observed a minor degradation in the properties of the nanowire network after each life cycle. Moreover, they figured out that the nanowires can be recycled four times before significant degradation happens.
After four cycles, the performance of the nanowire network can be improved by introducing new silver nanowires into the mix.
“The approach we’ve demonstrated here could be used to recycle other nanomaterials—such as nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, other types of nanowires, and two-dimensional materials—as long as they are used in the form of a network,” Zhu says.
The work is published in the journal Advanced Electronic Materials. | https://www.electronicsforu.com/technology-trends/research-papers/recycling-nanowires-in-electronics |
CORPEUM WEBSITE PRIVACY NOTICE
At CORPEUM, we put great stock in data protection. In this Privacy Notice, you will find all information on how we guarantee the privacy of both our customers and users of our website, www.CorPeuM.com.
If you still have questions after reading this agreement or if you experience problems with our services or website, you are always welcome to contact us.
This Privacy Notice applies to data processing by CorPeuM International S.A. , with registered office in 7, rue des Mérovingiens, L-8070 Bertrange, R.C.S. Luxembourg B 160.271, registered at the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under the number 0464.642.569 (hereafter referred to as “CORPEUM”) and all its associated companies (within the meaning of article 11 of the Companies Code) that make use of the data or information collected via the following address: www.CorPeuM.com (hereafter referred to as the “Website”), as well as via any potential sub-domains of this Website.
This Privacy notice applies to the personal data we collect about you for the purpose of offering you our products and services. If you use our Website as a visitor, if you subscribe or register via the Website, if you sign up for our newsletter, make an inquiry via the contact form or use our Website in any other way, we will collect and process all data you share with us and based on which we can identify you (the “personal data”) in accordance with the Privacy Notice and the applicable regulation.
By using the CORPEUM website or by sharing your personal data with us, you accept this Privacy Notice. If you do not agree with this Privacy Notice, you should refrain from using the website and from sharing any personal data with us.
CORPEUM may change this Privacy Notice at any time, without prior notice, to comply with its legal obligations and/or to improve its services. We recommend that you consult this Privacy Notice regularly, to ensure that you are aware of potential changes and always know how your personal data may be used.
With “data processing”, we refer to storing, collecting, processing, copying, transferring and removing data.
The controller for the processing of data is CORPEUM itself.
We collect your name and your contact information, including your post address, email address, phone number, mobile phone number, fax number, etc. We also retain data we receive via third parties, as well as from contracts, contact forms, surveys, contests, promotions, business campaigns, payment data, orders, (online) purchases, etc. We may also collect data about you via the use of our websites, social media, email response, cookies, click-through data, navigation data and other technologies. For professional clients or companies we (may) start a collaboration with, we also retain the details of the contact persons. Possible interests that our services and activities may be able to cater to, are retained as well. In short:
We may also come in possession of personal data when taking over other companies.
CORPEUM will never intentionally request or collect personal data from children under the age of 12. If CORPEUM finds out that it accidentally collected data from a child under the age of 12, it will remove the personal data of the respective child from its files as rapidly as reasonably possible.
CORPEUM does not store the collected personal data for more than five years, and never longer than what is legally authorised or required to meet the objectives specified in this Privacy Notice.
CORPEUM collects personal information that is needed to guarantee the optimal functioning of the website. CORPEUM may use this information for actions or messages of an informative nature. CORPEUM also collects information in log files. This information is used for internal purposes, including traffic and profile analysis. This allows us to further perfect the services provided by the website.
CORPEUM collects and uses personal data strictly for the purpose the data were obtained for. CORPEUM may use your personal data for all or some of the following purposes:
Websites: to enhance and personalise your experience on our websites, through the use of data like login details, technical computer information and/or information on prior use of the website;
Products and services: to improve the products and services of CORPEUM, to better adjust them to your needs and to come up with new ideas. This includes the use of demographic information, details on consumer profiling and consumer feedback; and
Advertising based on interests: to show you advertisements that are adjusted to your interests. One of the ways CORPEUM does this, is by linking the activities or information collected on the CORPEUM sites to data that have been collected about you on the websites of third parties. Such advertising is also known as “targeted advertising” or “online behavioural advertising”. This type of personalisation is commonly achieved via cookies or similar technologies.
Community functions on an CORPEUM site
When visiting an CORPEUM site with a community function and sharing photos, videos, illustrations or other content, CORPEUM may use and show the personal data you shared on such websites.
Viral website functions
CORPEUM may use your personal data to offer you viral website functions, including a “tell-a-friend” programme, allowing you to share certain news reports, product information, promotions and other content with family and friends.
Personal contact information (including names and email addresses) must typically be collected and used for this purpose, allowing the respective message / content to be delivered to the recipients.
Social networks of third parties
CORPEUM may use your personal data when you use social network functions of third parties, such as “Facebook Connect” or “Facebook Like”. These functions may be integrated in the CORPEUM sites, for purposes of organising contests, among others, and to allow you to share content with friends.
When you use these functions, CORPEUM may obtain certain personal data about you via the respective social network. More information on how these functions work and the profile data CORPEUM may obtain about you, can be found on the website of the respective social network.
Other specific purposes
We may use your personal data for other specific business purposes, including the day-to-day functioning and safety of the CORPEUM sites, to perform demographic studies or audits and to contact you for consumer surveys.
CORPEUM is committed to processing your data in a confidential manner and does not sell your personal data to third parties, either in part or as a whole.
Still, CORPEUM may share your data with service providers it uses to administer the website or to perform services on behalf of CORPEUM. These service providers may therefore have access to and may make use of your personal data, to the extent this is required for them to perform their duties.
With respect to your data, CORPEUM will act in accordance with the Belgian laws on personal data protection.
All visitors of the Website have the right to inspect, copy, modify, correct and remove their data, at no cost to them.
You can exercise all of these rights by sending us a request.
7.1. Right to inspect, copy and correct
You have the right to request access to your personal data. If CORPEUM is unable to let you access your personal data, it will inform you of the reason for this.
You also have the right to request for CORPEUM to rectify inaccuracies in your personal data, or to supplement incomplete personal data.
7.2. Right to erase data and to limit processing
You have the right to request for your data to be erased, when they are not or no longer needed for the objectives pursued by CORPEUM, when you withdraw your authorisation or when the processing would be unlawful.
In that case, you should send a signed and dated request to CORPEUM accompanied by a copy of your identity card.
CORPEUM may refuse to erase the data in the context of a legal action or to safeguard the rights of others.
In that case, you may request a limitation of the data processing.
7.3. Right to unsubscribe from advertising messages
You have the right to unsubscribe from advertising messages regarding CORPEUM (“opt-out”) and may do so by following the instructions in the respective advertising message or by sending us a request.
7.4. Right to data transferability
You have the right to transfer personal data from CORPEUM to a different controller in a convenient manner.
7.5. Right to file a complaint
If you experience problems while attempting to exercise your rights or if you believe that CORPEUM is not fulfilling its obligations, you may file a complaint with the Privacy Commission (www.privacycommission.be).
CORPEUM uses the conventional techniques in accordance with the current technological developments to protect the information shared by visitors from loss, wrongful use, alteration or destruction.
CORPEUM has taken a number of measures to protect your personal data, including:
Please note that these safeguards do not apply to personal data you share in public areas, such as community websites.
To the maximum extent practicable, CORPEUM takes all reasonable measures to guarantee the confidentiality of the personal data consumers share with CORPEUM. Still, each visitor should recognise that the provision of personal data via the Internet is never without risk. The visitor therefore acknowledges that potential direct or indirect damage he or she would suffer as a result of illicit or wrongful use of his or her personal data by third parties that have not been authorised to do so, cannot be attributed to CORPEUM nor can CORPEUM be held responsible for this, unless such damage was caused undeniably and primarily by an intentional act or gross negligence on account of CORPEUM.
CORPEUM will notify all involved parties of any problem arising with the protection of data of natural persons within 72 hours.
CORPEUM makes every effort to solve such problems as promptly as possible and regularly updates its safety policy to prevent this type of problems in the future.
As a user, you may file a complaint with the Privacy Commission (www.privacycommission.be), as explained above.
This Privacy Notice is governed by Belgian law.
Any potential dispute or litigation falls under the jurisdiction of the courts of Brussels.
CORPEUM acts as the “controller” for the personal data it processes in the context of this Privacy Notice. If you have any questions or comments regarding this Privacy Notice or the way CORPEUM collects personal data, do not hesitate to contact us via: | https://www.corpeum.com/terms-conditions/ |
Seating in each area is on a first come, first seated basis.
Highlights
⭐ Attend a very special lecture by Dr. Zahi Hawass, the world’s most celebrated archaeologist
📜 Learn about the secrets of ancient Egypt
🤩 Hear about incredible new discoveries and the latest research from ongoing archaeological projects
🗨️ Be a part of the Q&A session and get your book signed!
General Info
📅 Dates: January 12, 2023
🕒 Times: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
📍 Location: American Conservatory Theater
👤 Age requirement: all ages welcome
Description
The world’s most famous archaeologist is coming to San Francisco! Attend this unique lecture by Dr. Zahi Hawass and discover the secrets of ancient Egypt. Hear him discuss some of the greatest mysteries in history such as the death of King Tutankhamun and the tunnels under the Great Sphinx. Learn about his most famous discoveries including the Lost Golden City and the mummy of Queen Hatshepsut. Stay for the Q&A session and ask Dr. Hawass about his ongoing archaeological projects like the excavation in the Valley of the Kings. Get your tickets for A Golden Evening with Dr. Zahi Hawass in San Francisco! | https://feverup.com/m/123080?utm_content=things-to-do-in-january&utm_source=secretsanfrancisco&utm_medium=post&utm_term=cta10&utm_campaign=123080_sfo |
UNC Anthropology graduate student Orisanmi Burton describes the efforts of intellectuals and activists on the inside who seek to change the American approach to incarceration.
Monthly Archives: May 2014
Archaeology to guide us in the future
Jeff Altschul, President of the Society for American Archaeology, made these remarks reflecting on how archaeology can help us address urgent matters related to climate change.
Breaking: new archaeological discoveries before they’re published
The Society for American Archaeology has a new outlet that is meant for ongoing research. Current Research Online is the place to go to find out about exciting research first.
What are you going to do with an anthropology major? Anything! | https://agbedavies.web.unc.edu/2014/05/ |
EPOS - Evolving Personal to Organizational Knowledge Spaces
The objective of EPOS is to leverage a user’s efforts for his personal knowledge management for his own benefit as well as to evolve this within the organization. To reach this goal, EPOS addresses the following topics:
- modeling user's workspace, techniques for user observation and context identification - click for more details on that project line.
- description of information needs, query modification for collaborative information retrieval
- communication structures in interacting knowledge workspaces
- leveraging individual native information structures to models and ontologies, evidence calculation for ontology creation
- communication and negotiation protocols on the meta-level
- ontology-based visualization components, configuration rules for task-specific information-visualization
The EPOS project is successor of the FRODO (Framework for Distributed Organizational Memories) project and a lot of basic assumptions, methods, and techniques are grounded there. Here you can find resources on the DFKI homepage.
The project team:
The project has finished. The successor projects are:
- EU Integrated Project Nepomuk
- MyMory
- ADIB - Adaptive Information Delivery
- lots of components are published as open source at OpenDFKI
- well, and finally also a DFKI spin-off the gnowsis.com
2016: Research at DFKI goes on. Latest projects are: | http://www.dfki.uni-kl.de/epos/ |
This is an additional add-in that can be loaded when necessary. It is not installed by default.
The Solver add-in allows you to perform "what if" calculations based on several variables.
This add-in can be used to solve formulas that contain several variables and is an extension to the built-in Goal Seek (one variable) functionality.
The Goal Seek command can be used for finding simple target values but this add-in can be used for more complex problems
This add-in also allows you to provide one or more constraints (*i.e. conditions) that must be met for the solution to be valid.
This add-in has several uses, one of which is to solve both linear equations.
It is important to remember that finding a solution to solve your formulas is not always possible.
Is it Installed ?
Data Tab, Analysis group, Solver
Differences between Solver and Goal Seek
1) Solver can solve formulas (or equations) which use several variables whereas Goal Seek can only be used with a single variable.
2) Solver will allow you to vary the values in up to 200 cells whereas Goal Seek only allows you to vary the value in one cell.
3) It is possible to save one (or more) models with Solver.
4) Solver allows you to add constraints that must be true for the solution to be valid.
5) Solver can be used to find the value of the variables that give a formula a maximum or minimum value as well as a specifc value.
New Features in 2010
Three different solving methods: Simplex method, GRG Nonlinear and Evolutionary
Three new reports have been added: Linearity, Feasibility and Population
Add-in Location
Excel 365 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Library\SOLVER.XLAM | SOLVER32.DLL
Excel 2021 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\Library\Solver\SOLVER.XLAM | SOLVER32.DLL
Excel 2019 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\Library\Solver\SOLVER.XLAM | SOLVER32.DLL
Excel 2016 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Library\SOLVER.XLAM | SOLVER32.DLL
Solver Add-in Dialog Box
Set Target as - Specifies the target cell that you want to set to a certain value or that you want to maximize or minimize. This cell must contain a formula.
Equal To - Specifies whether you want the target cell to be maximized, minimized, or set to a specific value. If you want a specific value, type it in the box.
By Changing Cells - Specifies the cells that can be adjusted until the constraints in the problem are satisfied and the cell in the Set Target Cell box reaches its target. The adjustable cells must be related directly or indirectly to the target cell.
Guess - Guesses all nonformula cells referred to by the formula in the Set Target Cell box, and places their references in the By Changing Cells box.
Subject to the Constraints - Lists the current restrictions on the problem.
Add - Displays the Add Constraint dialog box.
Change - Displays the Change Constraint dialog box.
Delete - Removes the selected constraint.
Solve - Starts the solution process for the defined problem.
Close - Closes the dialog box without solving the problem. Retains any changes you made by using the Options, Add, Change, or Delete buttons.
Options - Displays the Solver Options dialog box, where you can load and save problem models and control advanced features of the solution process.
Reset All - Clears the current problem settings, and resets all settings to their original values.
Using the Add-in
SS - solver parameters dialog
Provide 4 items of information
1) Objective
2) Target Cell - Solver adjusts the values based on this formula.
set target cell (F9) mimising the total expenditure
3) Variables / Adjustable Cells - Solver changes these cells to new values.
the number of ads in each publication (E3: E8)
4) Constraints - Solver adjusts the values according to these conditions.
total expenditure must be less that the budget available (F8 <= G13)
Define the target cell and its value
Add / Specify the constraints
SS - Add constraint
SS - Solver results
Keep Solver Solution -
Restore Original Value -
Important
If you want to limits the changes that Excel can make to a cell value or a target value you can add a constraint.
This can also be used to find combinations of variables that may provide a maximum or minimum result.
This add-in is licensed to Microsoft by Frontline Systems Inc. (solver.com) and you can obtain more information about this add-in from their web site.
You only need to add constraints to cells which are going to be changed.
This add-in is extremely useful for finding the roots of equations. | https://bettersolutions.com/excel/data-analysis/solver-add-in.htm |
About France :
France officially the French Republic is a sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and divided into 18 administrative regions. It has a total population of 67 million with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. Throughout its long history France has been a leading global center of culture making significant contributions to Art, Science and Philosophy. It hosts Europe's third-largest number of cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites (after Italy and Spain) and receives around 83 million foreign tourists annually, the most of any country in the world. France remains a great power with significant cultural, economic, military, and political influence. It is a developed country with the world's sixth-largest economy. It also possesses the world's largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ). French citizens enjoy a high standard of living and the country performs well in international rankings of education, health care, life expectancy, civil liberties, and human development. France is a founding member of the United Nations where it serves as one of the five permanent members. It is a founding and leading member state of the European Union (EU) as well. France has a mixed economy that combines extensive private enterprise with substantial state enterprise and government intervention.
About the Institution :-
EM Strasbourg Business School is a French business school created in 1919 in Strasbourg, Alsace. Since 2000 it is one of the elite grandes écoles in France, ranking in the top 15 business schools in the nation. It is the only French Business School to operate under the umbrella of a traditional University - the University of Strasbourg. This model, inspired by US and other international references, enables the school to benefit from the multidisciplinary academic research conducted at the University of Strasbourg, a strong support from the public sector and solid partnerships with the private sector. The school is the only one in France to be ranked in the Shanghai academic ranking of world Universities through its affiliation with the University of Strasbourg. EM Strasbourg educates students in an international environment to be effective and globally aware business managers. Throughout the entire EM Strasbourg experience, students are provided with the capacity to continuously evolve in complex and varied settings, particularly through the inculcation of the three core values of diversity, sustainable development, and ethics.
Advantages of studying in France :-
Ø Quality education in safe and modern environment.
Ø English taught courses.
Ø Schengen Visa.
Ø High rate of success of Application and Visa.
Ø Recent funds Accepted for Visa.
Ø International students are allowed to work part time.
Ø IELTS Waiver possible.
Ø Internship opportunities available.
Ø 2 years post study work visa.
Programs offered:-
Bachelors Programs -
Ø Bachelors in International Business
Total Tuition Fees : 6050 Euros (Rs. 4,53,750 approx.) per year
Application Fees
: 120 Euros (Rs. 9000 approx.)
Duration
: 3 years
Intake
: September
Currency Conversion : 1 Euro = Rs. 75 approx.
Application Deadline : 10th June
Masters Programs -
Ø Masters In Management
Total Tuition Fees : 8500 Euros (Rs. 6,37,500 approx.) per year
Application Fees : 170 Euros (Rs. 12,750 approx.)
Duration
: 2 years
Intake
: September
Currency Conversion : 1 Euro = Rs. 75 approx.
Application Deadline : 10th June
Documents Required for Applying: | http://www.omvisas.in/2017/02/study-in-europe-via-om-international_27.html |
Obama To Target Latinos in ACA Enrollment Push
On Thursday, President Obama will appeal directly to Latino U.S. residents to enroll in the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges during a town hall co-hosted by the "Get Covered" campaign and Spanish-language media outlets, Politico reports (Cheney, Politico, 3/3).
Three of the largest Spanish-language media outlets in the country -- La Opinion-impreMedia, Telemundo and Univision -- will broadcast the town hall meeting (Easley, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 3/3).
According to federal officials, during the first part of the meeting Obama will answer questions attendees have submitted in advance. During the second part, a panel of experts will answer more detailed questions about the ACA.
Finally, the panel will discuss the law's effect on the Latino community, which has the highest number of uninsured individuals in the U.S. (Politico, 3/3). According to "Healthwatch," about 10.2 million uninsured Latinos are eligible for coverage under the ACA, and of those, about 8.1 million are likely eligible for tax subsidies ("Healthwatch," The Hill, 3/3).
Final Push
The event is part of the administration's final push to bolster enrollment in the exchanges with just weeks left in the initial open enrollment period (Politico, 3/3). According to the Los Angeles Times' "Politics Now," Obama, Vice President Biden and first lady Michelle Obama are all "scheduling public events and interviews across the country," joining several other senior federal officials participating in events aimed at increasing awareness of the upcoming open enrollment deadline among specific demographics (Parsons, "Politics Now," Los Angeles Times, 3/3).This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription. | https://californiahealthline.org/morning-breakout/obama-to-target-latinos-in-aca-enrollment-push/ |
NEW YORK (Reuters) – As China and the United States argue at the United Nations this week over COVID-19 and the climate, one of the world’s smallest countries pleaded for détente.
“Micronesia asks our American and Chinese friends to strengthen their cooperation and friendship with one another … to achieve the best for our global community,”
Micronesia – with a population of around 113,000 – and its neighbors on the Pacific Island have long been in a diplomatic tug-of-war between the world’s largest economic powers as China takes over US influence in a region Washington has viewed as a backyard since World War II.
During his Friday address to the meeting of world leaders taped due to the pandemic, Panuelo admitted that the competition has been beneficial for some people in the Pacific.
He warned, however, that the effort “may also threaten the destruction of longstanding alliances within our Pacific community and become counterproductive to our collective desire for regional solidarity, security and stability”.
The US-China showdown is now playing out at the 193 members of the United Nations, where Beijing has pushed for greater multilateral influence to challenge traditional US leadership. The tensions between the two superpowers have reached the boiling point on the world body because of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Micronesia’s plea was conspicuous during the annual but virtual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations this week, because while most countries called for unity to fight COVID-19, other indications were US and Chinese friction generally askew.
Richard Gowan, UN director of the International Crisis Group, said most leaders want to avoid getting caught up in the tension.
“Many UN members consider the USA to be destructive and China to be greedy for power. They don’t find that very appealing either, ”he said. “Ambitious Europeans like (French President Emmanuel) Macron see an opportunity to fill the leadership gap and are ready to challenge Beijing and Washington.”
RIVALRY
Macron spoke to the General Assembly Tuesday after US President Donald Trump called for China to be held accountable for “unleashing” COVID-19 on the world and leading Beijing to accuse him of “lying” and the Abusing UN platform to provoke a confrontation.
“The world as it is today cannot be the result of a simple rivalry between China and the United States, regardless of the global weight of these two great powers, regardless of the history that holds us together,” said Macron.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also warned that the world is headed in a dangerous direction and “cannot afford a future in which the two largest economies divide the globe in a large fraction – each with their own trade and financial rules, as well as internet and artificial intelligence capacities. ”
In the Pacific, China forged closer economic ties with small island nations and pulled countries out of their long-term alliances with Taiwan in an attempt to win Kiribati and the Solomon Islands last year.
China regards Taiwan as its own territory with no right to state relations. Four of Taiwan’s remaining 15 diplomatic allies are in the Pacific – Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands. All four countries spoke out in favor of Taiwan in their leaders’ addresses to the United Nations.
Although the landmass is tiny, the Pacific states control large swaths of highly strategic waters and form a border between America and Asia. When the oceans warm up and sea levels rise, they are also at the forefront of the global climate crisis.
“I hope that the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China will work together on global issues of global solidarity and cooperation, from climate change to COVID-19,” said Panuelo. | https://howtotechglitz.com/as-the-us-china-is-fighting-against-the-united-nations-a-plea-and-a-warning-from-one-of-the-smallest-states-in-the-world/ |
Our physical space-time reality isn’t really "physical" at all, its apparent solidity of objects, as well as any other associated property such as time, is an illusion. As a renowned physicist Niel Bohr once said: "Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.” But what's not an illusion is your subjective experience, i.e., your consciousness; that's the only "real" thing, according to proponents of Experiential Realism, also referred to as Conscious Realism.
by Alex Vikoulov
"Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with the absolute truth." -Simone de Beauvoir
Absolute truths are hard to come by, which is the basic premise of ‘hyper-perspectivism’. Rather, truths are always in the eyes of the beholder, truths are always observer-relative, truths are “made” by a “truth-maker.” You can approach our multifaceted reality from an incredibly large number of angles. Everything is perspectival, in other words, it all depends on your perspective, your frame of reference. Since our informational world is of mental abstractive construction (as I make my case in the present book), it’s always up to you to decide what’s real to you – everything you find real is indeed real to you, not necessarily real to others who are at the same time, for a lack of a better word, your past and future incarnations. We all are different points of view on oneself, within our own holographic self-reflection. We all are like droplets on the cobweb of reality reflecting one another. That said, like any other ideology or methodology, science is not always to be taken for absolute truth – it’s a collection of systematized up-to-date knowledge with provisional models of reality.
by Alex Vikoulov | Foreword to "More Than An Algorithm" by Antonin Tuynman, PhD
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” -Albert Einstein
As a little kid I remember hearing from my father all kinds of stories sort of like this one: A father wanted to test the intelligence of his two sons. He assigned to each of them the task of looking after a cherry tree, and promised to reward the boy whose tree would yield the best berry when harvested.
The Paradigms of Ascension to the Transcendental Attractor: What Is My Reality Anyway?
6/7/2019
by Antonin Tuynman, PhD | Foreword to "The Syntellect Hypothesis: Five Paradigms of the Mind's Evolution" by Alex M. Vikoulov
"At a deep level all things in our Universe are ineffably interdependent and interconnected, as we are part of the Matryoshka-like mathematical object of emergent levels of complexity where consciousness pervades all levels." -Alex Vikoulov, The Syntellect Hypothesis
If you picked up this book, it is not unlikely that you may have heard of the early 20th century philosophical movement of Cosmism. This movement, which originated in Russia, was striving for conquering the planets and stars, for radical life extension, immortality and resurrection of our loved ones by the means of technology. Perhaps one of its most important pioneers was Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, whose aspirations did not only venture into the realm of the Macro, but also explored the Micro. He spoke of the atomic world as being animated and can thus be considered a kind of cosmist-panpsychist.
by Alex Vikoulov
"It will remain remarkable, in whatever way our future concepts may develop, that the very study of the external world led to the conclusion that the content of the consciousness is an ultimate reality." -Eugene Wigner
We can’t help but anthropomorphize the notion of objective reality. As I make my case in the new book, The Syntellect Hypothesis: Five Paradigms of the Mind’s Evolution, objective reality does not exist, what exists instead is subjectivity, intersubjectivity (or “consensus” reality) and supersubjectivity (overmind, The Omega Hypermind in the book). This extraordinary claim apparently demands an explanation, so let’s get to it.
by Alex Vikoulov
"Time isn't the main thing. It's the only thing." -Miles Davis
In our day and age when the science and philosophy of information start to eclipse traditional disciplines on all fronts, the importance of asking the right kinds of questions in light of a new rhetoric cannot be overestimated. Hereafter you can find three videos with their transcripts related to D-Theory of Time, or Digital Presentism, that I cover extensively in my new book The Syntellect Hypothesis: Five Paradigms of the Mind's Evolution, as well as in my just-released ebook The Physics of Time: D-Theory of Time & Temporal Mechanics.
by Antonin Tuynman, PhD
“Time is a moving image of eternity.” -Plato
TIME, the reef upon which all our frail mystic ships are wrecked, has remained an elusive notion over the ages. Sages, philosophers and scientists have ventured a countless number of times into the dark arena of the hourglass in an attempt to tame the indomitable vortex of this indefinite stream.
Chronos, the most fearful of Gaia's and Ouranos' children, mightily wields his scythe as he reaps the memories that we have left behind during our ephemeral stay on the stage of continuous metamorphosis.
What is time? Does anyone really know? Is it a physical dimension? Is it merely a measure of recurrence? Is it a mental mechanism to be able to make sense out of everything happening simultaneously? Is it an artefact or collateral damage of consciousness trying to observe its inner workings? | https://www.ecstadelic.net/top-stories/category/psychology |
An accessible and elegant guide to Tate Modern, this book provides an essential introduction to the extraordinary building and highlights some of the remarkable artwork on display. Revised and updated for 2019, it highlights an intriguing selection of artworks from Tate’s twentieth century and contemporary collections.
The artworks included provide an immediate introduction to the gallery and mirrors Tate Modern’s aims in promoting not only the very best-known works in the collection but also highlighting pieces by emerging and under-represented artists.
Tate Modern is the world’s most visited museum of modern and contemporary art, with its pioneering collection, ground-breaking international exhibitions, innovative commissions and inspiring events. Since its opening in 2000 it has transformed attitudes to the visual arts, and its exciting expansion in 2016 has reinforced its reputation as one of the UK’s most important sites for visitors.
Simon Bolitho is Curator, Interpretation/Learning at Tate Modern. | https://davidkrutbookstores.com/product/tate-modern-highlights/ |
Often asked: How To Fix No Bake Cookies That Won’t Harden?
Is there a way to harden No bake cookies?
Most no – bake cookies have some sticky ingredient to hold it together. If you used something sticky like butter, peanut butter, melted marshmallows or melted chocolate I would pop them in the fridge, so they firm up. If that doesn’t help, I would completely dip them in melted chocolate and let them harden in the fridge.
Can you put no bake cookies in the fridge to harden?
Can you put no bake cookies in the fridge to harden? You shouldn’t need to put your no bake cookies in the fridge to firm up. BUT, if for some reason your cookies don’t set up after 20-30 minutes, you can stick them in the fridge at that point and everything will turn out fine.
Why are my no bakes sticky?
If your no bake cookies are sticky and gooey, then they were not boiled quite long enough. On the flip side, if your no bake cookies are dry and crumbly, they were boiled a tad too long. You should let the mixture come to a full rolling boil and then time exactly 1 minute from there.
Why won’t my cookies harden?
You probably have too much flour in the recipe. The excess flour caused too much gluten to form, preventing the cookie from softening and spreading.
How long does it take for no bakes to harden?
How long does it take no bake cookies to harden? I like to either leave them on the counter for about 30-45 minutes or pop them in the fridge for 15 if I’m feeling impatient!
Why do my No Bake Cookies come out dry?
A: Chances are if the no – bakes turned out dry and crumbly it was because you overcooked them. While we call them cookies, oatmeal no – bakes are really more of a confection or fudge with oats stirred in. When it comes to candy, the longer it is cooked, the drier and harder it becomes.
How do you soften cookies that are too soft?
One common trick to hardening soft cookies is to simply stick them back in the oven for a little bit longer. You will want to keep a close eye on them to make sure that they only harden and that they do not begin to overbake and burn.
How long are no bake cookies good for?
No bake cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for about a week, or two weeks in the refrigerator. You can also refrigerate no bake cookies to help them cool faster, but that is not required.
Can you freeze unbaked cookies?
Can you freeze no bake cookies? Yes, you absolutely can freeze these cookies! For best results, place the cookies on a plate or cookie sheet, not touching, and chill for about two hours. Once frozen, transfer cookies to a sealed container or Ziploc bag.
How do you fix no bakes that didn’t set?
How to Fix No – Bake Cookies. If your cookies are too wet and don’t set, try boiling the mixture a little longer. Don’t start timing until it is at a full boil, and then it should be about 1-2 minutes of boiling. If your No Bakes are crumbly and dry, stick closer to 1 minute.
How do you fix sticky cookies?
If your cookie dough feels gooey and greasy because of too much butter, try adding more flour until it thickens. If chilling the dough doesn’t do the trick, double-check the recipe. It’s possible you didn’t put in enough flour. Keep adding flour little by little until the consistency improves.
What can you do with bad cookies?
Here are five ways to put stale cookies to use. Throw them in a milkshake. blacktapnyc. Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer. Make a cookie pie crust. PIN IT. Emma Lally. Add them to a chocolate bark. PIN IT. Analiese Trimber. Elevate your batch of brownies. PIN IT. Alison Mally. Make homemade cookie butter. PIN IT. Jennifer Nigro.
Will cookies harden as they cool?
It is important to note that, most of the time, a cookie isn’t completely done cooking until up to 20 minutes after it comes out of the oven: as it cools it firms up, sets, and finishes baking.
Why is my cookie too soft?
If the dough seems too soft, chill it for 10 to 15 minutes before portioning. Putting raw dough on cookie sheets still warm from the oven can cause them to begin spreading, leading to burnt edges. Always allow baking sheets to cool completely before adding more batches. | https://www.yellowbellycafe.com/faq/often-asked-how-to-fix-no-bake-cookies-that-wont-harden.html |
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Held at Headquarters, New York, on 21 November 2001, at 10 a.m.
1. Ms. Tallawy (Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)) introduced the note by the Secretary-General attaching the report prepared by ESCWA on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (A/56/90-E/2001/17), and said that the situation had further deteriorated since the period covered by the report. In its resolution 1322 (2000), the Security Council had also expressed its deep concern over the tragic events that had taken place since 28 September 2000 that had led to numerous deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinians.
2. In considering the report, the Committee would undoubtedly wish to bear in mind the basic principles of international law and jurisprudence relating to self-determination and the occupation of territory by force, in particular the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
3. Delays in the implementation of peace agreements or the partial implementation of such agreements, together with the expansion of settlements, the closure of “safe passage” routes, the excessive use of military weapons and the demolition of houses, continued to contribute to the deterioration of the living conditions of the Palestinian people. According to the report, 59 per cent of the West Bank, 20 per cent of the Gaza Strip and 30 per cent of East Jerusalem were still under exclusive Israeli control. Moreover, the Israeli Government had set no restrictions on settlement expansion. On the contrary, the number of settlements was constantly increasing and Israel applied discriminatory measures that severely restricted the growth of Palestinian communities and the movement of the Palestinian people.
4. The pollution from Israeli settlements was a growing problem. Various waste products, including industrial waste, were dumped on Palestinian land, contaminating water resources and producing a disastrous effect on public health. Israel’s control of the water supply also created a severe water shortage and several ongoing waste-treatment projects financed by the European Union had been put on hold indefinitely. In addition, the Israeli army and Jewish settlers had uprooted over half a million fruit trees, mainly olive trees, while more than 80 per cent of the deforestation of land was attributable to Israeli occupation, in particular settlement building and the establishment of military bases.
5. As the report showed, Israeli occupation had inhibited investment and growth, while restrictions on the movement of people had led to the loss of jobs and trade revenues. Moreover, owing to border closures, the average monthly unemployment rate among Palestinians amounted to more than 38 per cent, with lost wages estimated at $60 million. The number of people living below the poverty line had increased by 50 per cent and infrastructure, private property and agricultural land had suffered damage amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. In the occupied Syrian Golan, employment opportunities for the Arab population continued to be extremely restricted. Furthermore, in addition to the substantial wage differences which prevailed, Arab employees had no access to social benefits, health insurance or unemployment compensation.
6. In conclusion, she said that Israeli activities in the occupied areas were inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations and with Security Council resolutions. The findings of the report underlined the need to discontinue the collective punishment of an entire people through border closures, the withholding of resources, the destruction of property and the illegal establishment of settlements. Moreover, such policies, which disregarded international norms and undermined the objectives set forth in international conventions, posed a serious threat to peace and security in the entire region.
7. Mr. Al-Haddad (Yemen) stressed that the situation in the Palestinian territory remained extremely tense. Israeli acts of aggression, in particular the continued destruction of property and clampdown on demonstrations led to deaths, including those of women and children. Such practices constituted a major obstacle to peace in the region.
8. The Economic and Social Council had also reaffirmed that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan, were illegal and an obstacle to economic and social development. Furthermore, in its resolution 55/209, the General Assembly had reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources and called upon Israel not to endanger those resources.
9. The underlying causes of the deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinians included the increase in restrictions on the mobility of the Palestinians. As a result of the closure of the “safe passage” route between the West Bank and Gaza in October 2001, for instance, students from the Gaza Strip had been unable to attend classes in the West Bank. The closure of the Gaza International Airport and border crossings had also hindered Palestinian foreign trade.
10. In addition to the expansion of settlements in the occupied territories, the shortage of water was a critical issue which further exacerbated the suffering of the Palestinians. Over 150 villages were not connected to any water supply. In June 2000, the Israeli authorities had sabotaged 20 ancient water cisterns situated on Islamic Waqf land. Waste and sewage from Israeli settlements continued to be dumped on agricultural land, sometimes contaminating springs with disastrous consequences for the health of the Palestinian population. In the occupied Syrian Golan, thousands of hectares of land had been seized and settlement expansion was ongoing. The members of the Arab population of the Golan were only able to obtain unskilled or semi-skilled jobs and they had only limited access to education.
11. He emphasized the need for compliance with all the Security Council resolutions relating to the Middle East peace process and with the General Assembly resolution which reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan over all their natural and economic resources.
12. Mr. Al-Dhanhani (United Arab Emirates) said that, despite the appeals of the international community and the General Assembly resolutions calling on the Israeli Government to end the occupation of the Palestinian and Arab territories, that Government was continuing its policy of violence and settlement expansion by using, inter alia, arms prohibited by international conventions. The acts of violence committed against Palestinians during the past 13 months amply demonstrated the true intention of the Israeli Government to drive Palestinians from their territory in order to replace them with Jewish settlers. What other explanation could there be for the shellings, the murder of women and children, the assassination of Palestinian leaders, the closure of towns and the destruction of infrastructure and holy sites? Such acts were nothing more than part of a genuine colonialist scheme.
13. In addition, Israel looted the natural and water resources of the Palestinians and contaminated water cisterns. Owing to the restrictions on the water supply from those cisterns, farmers were unable to provide sufficient irrigation for their land and agricultural production was limited. The Israeli army and Jewish settlers had uprooted thousands of fruit trees, mainly olive trees, in order to establish settlements and military bases. The pollution caused by the dumping of industrial and military waste in the occupied territories had a disastrous impact, both on the health of the Palestinian population and on the environment.
14. He strongly condemned such violations of international humanitarian law, in particular of the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and affirmed that Israel was responsible for the ensuing humanitarian and economic consequences. He called on the United Nations and the Security Council to adopt immediate measures to put an end to such aggression against the Palestinian people and guarantee the protection of their property and natural resources, as well as their right to free movement and self-determination, in accordance with the principle of land for peace.
15. Mr. Al-Hadid (Jordan) said that, in its resolution 55/209, the General Assembly had reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources and called upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit or endanger those resources. It also recognized the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any loss or depletion of those natural resources, in accordance with the provisions of resolution 2000/31 of the Economic and Social Council, which also stated that Israeli settlements in that territory were illegal and an obstacle to economic and social development.
16. Throughout the years of occupation, Israel had established approximately 170 settlements in the West Bank. In addition, approximately 180,000 Israelis resided in East Jerusalem and 7,500 settlers lived in the Gaza Strip, all of which had an adverse effect on the living conditions of the population. The geographical distribution of those settlements restricted the free movement of goods and people and posed an obstacle to the development of the occupied territories. The sewage and industrial waste which they produced also continued to contaminate the region’s water resources, degrading the condition of the water in the River Jordan, with dire consequences for the water life. In that regard, it should be noted that, in Israel, the cost of waste disposal was three to six times higher than in the Palestinian territory. Israel also consumed 80 per cent of the water resources in the West Bank.
17. In addition, 80 per cent of the deforestation of land in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was attributable to the Israeli occupation, which also inhibited economic growth and investment, a situation which was further aggravated by Israeli-imposed restrictions on the movement of goods and people that prevented trading activities between Palestinians and neighbouring Arab countries.
18. Employment opportunities for the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan continued to be restricted in view of the lack of freedom of movement. The employment available was unskilled or semi-skilled and, in addition, the Israeli taxation policy furthered the deterioration of the financial situation of the Arab population.
19. He hoped that all illegal occupation of the occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and all damage to Muslim and Christian holy sites would cease. In his view, the Israeli practice of settlement expansion hampered the peace process and constituted a flagrant violation of the rules of international law and of the Security Council resolutions. The establishment of peace was fully linked to Israel’s withdrawal from its settlements and to respect for the principle of land for peace.
20. Mr. Zeidan (Lebanon) regretted that the Committee should once again be obliged to appeal for an end to the daily atrocities inflicted by Israel on the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and on the population in the occupied Syrian Golan.
21. There was much talk about the creation of the long-awaited Palestinian State, a goal towards which the Palestinians had long been working, but the operation and survival of a Palestinian State depended on various factors. By freezing economic development in the occupied territory, however, the Israeli occupation prevented the necessary conditions from being met and placed the Palestinian economy “under siege” while the world stood watching. The situation, which was equally deplorable in the occupied Syrian Golan, was further inhibited by Israeli-imposed measures that restricted the expansion of education.
22. The report (A/56/90-E/2001/17) indicated that the Israeli authorities had increased their harassment of Palestinians, in particular by denying their right to free movement and communication. Since 28 September 2000, the situation had deteriorated: their land had been confiscated, their houses demolished, their rights flouted and their economic development blocked. Through its policy of closure, Israel was attempting to destroy the entire basis of the life of the Palestinians, as in southern Lebanon, where the economic and social consequences continued to exact a high price.
23. The intifadah was a cry from the Palestinian people for justice and the right to self-determination. During the current session, Israel, a State Member of the United Nations, would probably attempt to undermine the work of the Committee by insisting that the report (A/56/90-E/2001/17) was one-sided, notwithstanding that the situation which it described was alarming. He wondered whether the international community would once again allow the same occupying Power to perpetrate the same horrendous acts.
24. On countless occasions, his delegation had called for the immediate implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978) and it would continue to do so until it was heard. He stressed that Israel’s withdrawal from all the occupied Arab territories was the only way to achieve lasting peace and security, both in the area and worldwide.
25. Ms. Rasheed (Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine) deplored the fact that, for over 30 years, Israel had exploited the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and other Arab territories by denying the Palestinian people the right of control over those resources and by pursuing its ongoing construction of illegal settlements. In 2000, the Israeli authorities had again uprooted fruit trees, razed agricultural land, confiscated land and demolished homes as part of their destructive policies, which had a negative impact on the general situation and on natural resources and development in particular.
26. The Israeli authorities had not altered their policies in regard to water since 1967 and the resulting shortage of water in the occupied territories had led to a decline in agricultural output. Israel continued to steal the natural heritage of the Palestinian people (by sabotaging water cisterns, dumping solid and chemical waste and polluting water resources). Those practices, which were insensitive to the environment, threatened the quality of life of the Palestinian people in those territories.
27. Despite any recent positive developments in that regard, Israel persisted in pursuing the same policy of exploiting natural resources, which it justified under various pretexts, thereby hampering economic development in the territories and undermining the efforts of the international donor community. The international community should therefore treat the matter with greater concern and call for an end to such practices, which undermined what remained of the peace process.
28. The report (A/56/90-E/2001/17) confirmed that the situation had deteriorated, particularly since the military campaign launched on 28 September 2000. It indicated that the expansion of settlements and the closures imposed by Israel had been among the primary causes of the current crisis. It also condemned Israel’s violations of international law and international humanitarian law, in particular the fourth Geneva Convention, which was applicable to all territories occupied by Israel since 1967. The international community had always affirmed the illegality of such practices, and it was important to recall that it had also affirmed the right of the Palestinian people to restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources (General Assembly resolution 55/209).
29. The General Assembly should both reaffirm and seek to ensure the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and of the population in the other occupied territories. It should also exert pressure on Israel to cease all practices which exacerbated the situation and undermined the potential for the socio-economic development of the Palestinian people.
30. Mr. Megiddo (Israel) said that the issues dealt with by the Committee affected the well-being of the human race and that there was a consensus concerning the basic goals of international cooperation in regard to matters such as poverty and food security. Unfortunately, however, some sought to divert the discussion from those issues and detract from the ability to reach a consensus.
31. His delegation could have chosen to respond in detail to every aspect of the report (A/56/90-E/2001/17) but would refrain from doing so in order to save the Committee’s valuable time. He nonetheless wished to point out that the report was one-sided; it ignored the fact, for instance, that in accordance with the agreements already reached, the Palestinian Authority exercised jurisdiction over its natural resources. The report also referred to issues which the parties had agreed to settle through direct bilateral negotiations. Throughout the past decade, five consecutive Israeli Governments had sought to achieve peace. At the Camp David meeting held in July 2000 between Mr. Barak and Mr. Arafat, his Government had demonstrated its willingness to make concessions in order to achieve peace. The summit meeting, however, had failed, even though Israel had offered virtually all of the land to the Palestinians.
32. The failure of the negotiations did not justify acts of terrorism, which were an obstacle to the conclusion of an agreement. Such violence, which cost lives on both sides, was intended to coerce Israel into making further concessions and to allow the Palestinians to make political gains. It should therefore be clearly stressed that terror would not succeed and that, as long as it persisted, Israel would be obliged to defend itself.
33. In the future, as a basis for negotiations, the plan of the Mitchell Commission recommended that the parties should commence with a cessation of violence with a view to establishing confidence-building measures and then move on to political negotiations. Israel was willing to agree to a total ceasefire and would take action to end the hostilities in the same determined manner in which it had sought to achieve peace in the region. Since the future of the region was dependent on cooperation among its peoples and in all aspects of life, he hoped that the Palestinians and all Israel’s neighbours would join in the efforts to achieve peace, development and prosperity.
34. Mr. Stanislavov (Russian Federation) said that, in its resolution 55/209, the General Assembly had reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water. It had also called upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; recognized the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources; and expressed the hope that the issue would be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. The living conditions of the Palestinian people however, continued to deteriorate. It had emerged from the report (A/56/90-E/2001/17) that the deteriorating situation and the Israeli-imposed closure of borders and crossing points, together with the expansion of settlements, had delayed the implementation of the agreements concluded between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. A growing proportion of the Palestinian population lived below the poverty line as a result of the occupation and the crisis that had resulted. Clearly, such problems could not be resolved until a comprehensive solution could be found to the Middle East conflict.
35. The confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians, which had continued for more than a year, were extremely worrying. The tense and dangerous situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was marked by the growing number of terrorist acts which provoked reprisals. Despite numerous efforts, the peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians had been set back. The Palestinian Authority should take the necessary measures to put an end to terrorist activities, as the situation would never return to normal as long as terrorist attacks were being carried out. For their part, the Israeli authorities should refrain from sending their troops into the Palestinian territory and should also cease their campaign of firing on the people.
36. Since the start of the conflict, his country had taken measures aimed at putting an end to the violence and ensuring the resumption of the peace process, a goal that was central to the foreign policy of the Russian Government, which was stepping up contacts with the United Nations, United States and Israeli leaders and the representatives of the Palestinian people. The Minister for Foreign Affairs had been particularly active in his discussions with the various mediators and with the Israelis and the Palestinians. Urgent steps should be taken towards a political settlement of the conflict on the basis of dialogue and cooperation. Measures should also be adopted to guarantee the implementation of the recommendations of the Mitchell Commission, which both parties had accepted and which constituted a key stage in the resumption of negotiations. His country was determined to do its utmost to ensure the resumption of the peace process, in accordance with the principles set forth in Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
37. Mr. Fahmy (Egypt) said that the current agenda item had been under consideration by the Committee for several years and that he wavered between moments of optimism over the peace process and periods of difficulty and frustration, such as the present time. There had been no significant improvement in the capacity of the people living under Israeli occupation to exploit their natural resources. The occupation authorities had continued their harmful practices of expanding settlements and exploiting natural resources without taking into account the rights of the Palestinians and the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan, despite the many United Nations resolutions which deemed that the Israeli settlements were illegal and an obstacle to economic and social development. The occupation forces were responsible for polluting the environment and water resources and, in addition, they prevented activities such as livestock raising, agriculture and trade, as well as some types of employment, and limited the educational opportunities of the people living under occupation.
38. Israel considered itself to be above the law and the jurisdiction of the United Nations and its practices were incompatible with the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War. Although the third millennium ushered in the concept of good governance on the basis of respect for rights, a colonial Power which was a throwback to a regrettable colonial era of oppressive, racist and discriminatory practices nevertheless remained.
39. He called on all countries to promote human rights and not to remain passive in the face of a situation which affected the economic and social rights of the peoples under occupation. States should not adopt a one-sided policy on the pretext that the situation had political implications. He hoped that new prospects for peace would emerge during the coming year, together with the liberation and independence of the Palestinian people.
40. Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) said that the latest report submitted by the Secretary-General (A/56/90-E/2001/17) gave fresh examples of the suffering of the Palestinians and the Arab populations who were the victims of Israel’s occupation. In the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the international community had affirmed the need to establish a just and lasting peace and to guarantee human dignity in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. It had also affirmed that it would continue, through the resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Economic and Social Council, to reaffirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the populations of the occupied Arab territories, in particular their right over their natural resources. Israel nevertheless continued to flout international law and the resolutions that had been adopted by continuing to establish settlements and confiscate land from Arab families which were evicted. The current Israeli Prime Minister had even declared that the Israeli settlement of the Golan was one of the greatest successes of Zionism, in defiance of the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular resolutions 446 (1979), 465 (1980) and 487 (1981).
41. Not satisfied with stepping up its settlement activities, Israel continued to impose its policy by means of force, acts of terrorism, assassinations and massacres, while giving free rein to its blind military machine, which made no distinction between women, children and old people, who were directly targeted by aircraft, tanks and cannons. Israel violated all international norms and values and through its policies was attempting to alter the demographic situation and was unfairly exploiting the natural resources. Its policy of murder and massacre, moreover, impeded any peace in the Middle East. The current crisis and tensions were the result of Israel’s policy, which rejected the Madrid peace principles. In view of the present circumstances, the international community should take decisive action to implement the United Nations resolutions in accordance with international law and humanitarian law.
42. Mr. Al-Dosari (Qatar) said that the report (A/56/90-E/2001/17) showed the adverse effects of the Israeli occupation on the daily life of the people concerned and on the environment and natural resources. The occupation authorities continued their attacks on mosques and cultural sites, in addition to which they confiscated natural resources, in particular agricultural land and water, without regard for the right of the Palestinians, whom they drove from their homes and replaced with thousands of Jews from all parts of the world. The report showed that more settlements were being established and that that prevented the Palestinian Authority from exercising its full sovereignty and impeded the growth of industry, particularly in the fishing and tourism sectors, in an already weakened economy. The occupation forces imposed severe restrictions, prevented the Palestinians from having access to water resources and destroyed wells and water cisterns. Furthermore, they were responsible for excessive pollution and the degradation of the environment; that was detrimental to public health and a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights recognized in international law. There were numerous other examples, particularly in the occupied Syrian Golan. Generally speaking, the settlements reduced the population and destabilized the social and economic situation.
43. In his address to the General Assembly on 10 November 2001, Sheikh bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, had said that the time for an end to the tragedy suffered by the Palestinian people as a result of the Israeli occupation was well overdue and that the international community should assume its responsibilities and provide the necessary protection for a people that was a victim of unwarranted and unacceptable aggression. He also drew attention to the final communiqué of the ninth extraordinary session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Doha on 10 October 2001, which had welcomed the United States statements concerning the right of the Palestinians to establish their own State. Those statements, which had been supported by the Russian Federation, the European Union, China, Japan, several African States and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, represented a positive development which was consistent with international law and took into account the strategic objective of a lasting peace.
44. The occupation forces were responsible for the current situation and committed flagrant violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949. He called on the United Nations to do its duty towards the Palestinians and secure their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources, freedom of movement, a peaceful life and the establishment of an independent State with Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital. He also called for Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan and the occupied Lebanese territories in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and General Assembly resolution 194 (III).
45. Mr. Sivagurunathan (Malaysia) said that, during its 34-year occupation, Israel had clearly established a range of civilian and military installations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and that settlement sites had been built by civilian and military bodies representing the Government of Israel, as well as by Israeli civilians empowered to do so by their Government. Such activities were in clear violation of the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, the principle of land for peace and the agreements reached between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The lifting of the ban on new construction in the territory of the occupied Syrian Golan would continue to pose further difficulties for the Arab population in that area. He therefore hoped that the Committee would adopt a resolution on the subject in order to demonstrate that the international community disapproved of Israel’s conduct. He also called on Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem.
46. His Government continued to recognize the right of the inhabitants of the occupied territories to claim restitution for any loss caused by such illegal activities. A comprehensive and lasting solution was only possible through a negotiated political settlement, which should include Israel’s complete withdrawal from all Arab and Palestinian land occupied since 1967, including Al-Quds al-Sharif. He also reaffirmed his country’s support for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, with Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital. Only the implementation of all international resolutions on the question of Palestine could guarantee lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. He called on Israel to comply with all the relevant resolutions and looked forward to the prompt return of the Syrian Golan.
47. Mr. Hassan (Pakistan) said that the relentless occupation of the Palestinian territory had led to serious economic, social and environmental repercussions for the people of Palestine, who were denied their legitimate rights in their homeland. The psychological impact of violent coercion was even more far-reaching. In addition, the Israeli occupation and the frequent border closures of the Palestinian territory had had a severe impact on the economic and social development of the Palestinian people.
48. The geographical distribution of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had severely restricted the growth of Palestinian communities. Those settlements posed threats to the environment; the wildlife and rich biodiversity of the area was harmed by the use of heavy military vehicles and tanks; and deforestation was continuing to the detriment of the Palestinians, who were unable to live on their land and enjoy their natural resources. Many were also detained because of their attempts to cultivate their own land. The macroeconomic impact of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory inhibited investment and growth, as investors were unlikely to come to the rescue of the Palestinians as long as there was no final status agreement. Moreover, the weak legal and institutional environment constituted a continuing obstacle to investment.
49. The situation in the occupied Syrian Golan was no different. The Arab population faced the further deterioration of their living conditions as a result of the restrictions on employment and unreasonable taxation policies. The unequal distribution of land had also aggravated the situation.
50. The volatile situation in Palestine warranted urgent measures. The international community should take immediate steps to facilitate the resumption of the peace process and to bring an immediate end to the violence, heavy-handedness and coercion in the occupied territories. A durable peace, however, could not be established to the detriment of the weaker party. The disproportionate use of force against the Palestinian people and the unabated settlement activities undermined the prospects for peace. The current situation in Palestine therefore demanded the active intervention of the international community to reverse that dangerous trend.
51. For its part, Pakistan extended its unequivocal support to the just struggle of the Palestinian people for the realization of their inalienable rights and reaffirmed its solidarity with them. History bore witness to the fact that the struggle of people against foreign occupation and for the realization of their right to self-determination could not be suppressed for long. No country should be permitted to occupy and exploit the resources of any territory against the wishes of its people. It was therefore incumbent on the international community to ensure the end of foreign occupation in all parts of the world. All those living under such occupation should be given an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination.
52. Ms. Rasheed (Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine), speaking in exercise of the right of reply in accordance with rule 115 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, said that numerous other reports in addition to the one just issued, in particular the report of the Commission on Human Rights, were critical of the extremely serious situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. She condemned the myth as repeated in the statement of the Israeli representative and propagated by the Israeli authorities that Israel had offered at Camp David to return the occupied territories in return for peace; no such offer had been made. On the contrary, a genuine offer on the part of the occupying Power would be for it to cease the occupation of the territories occupied since 1967 and join in seeking ways of resolving the outstanding strategic problems, including Jerusalem, the refugees and the modalities of the final status agreement. Instead, violence and terror were continuing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and it was for Israel to put and end to them. All such issues were matters of strategic concern. Instead of seeking to resolve those issues, Israel was pursuing a policy of carrying out assassinations, closing territories and building settlements. It was also regrettable that the Israeli authorities were engaged in a twofold dialogue: the liberal dialogue of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the one hand, and the hard-line dialogue of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the extremist elements, on the other.
53. She welcomed the recent statement by the Secretary of State, Mr. Colin Powell, who had called on Israel to make a clear commitment to end the occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution 242 (1967). The Palestinians would cooperate closely with his team with a view to the implementation of the recommendations of the Mitchell Commission and the resumption of negotiations. | https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/eed216406b50bf6485256ce10072f637/bda1aafbdab9830085256ce70076051f?OpenDocument |
The aim of the ESO key-program required large wavelength range to allow to detect possible peculiarities, a 20000 minimum resolution for vsini, , and metallicity determinations and an accessible instrumentation several times a year. These conditions were met by the Echelec Spectrograph equipped with a CCD camera at the 1.52m ESO telescope at La Silla. Priority was given to radial velocities determinations. The initial program of B8-F2 stars nearer than 100pc changed with time, the lack of transparency of the instrumentation not allowing the observation of stars fainter than V magnitude 7.5. So the number of F-type stars was reduced and priority was given to early A-type stars. Reference stars were observed for the different researched parameters. Some supergiants were added to obtain their vsini. We observed, only once, stars for the obtention of vsini and twice for radial velocity. Meanwhile it appeared interesting to determine radial velocity for the whole sample, even when there was one observation only. Keeping in mind that Hipparcos Catalogue is complete until V magnitude 7.5, it contains 3545 south normal stars from B8 to F2 and V < 7.5, 58% of which being A-type, and 39% having a radial velocity now. As a result, 610 stars were observed during 21 observation runs, from June 1989 to January 1995, 581 being in the range B8 to F2 type, 41% of which having two or more measurements.
The ESO Echelec spectrograph was used at the coudé focus of the 1.52 m telescope at La Silla (Chile). The 9 central orders around =4350Å were used. They covered the spectral range 4210 to 4500Å. The dispersion was 3.1Åmm-1. The detector was a RCA CCD with 6401024 pixels of 15 15, the pixel size corresponding to 065 on the sky. The nominal spectrograph resolution was about 70000. The characteristics are described in detail in Gilliotte & Lindgren (1989). Using a slit width of 320m (15 on the sky), the instrumental resolving power was degraded to 28000 and the ratio S/N, highly variable from the center to the edges of each order covered the range 50 to 200. The reduction from a CCD image to a complete linear spectrum (calibration frames, orders extraction, wavelength calibration, connection of the orders) is described with details by Burnage & Gerbaldi (1990, 1992).
A cross-correlation method with synthetic spectra was chosen to determine radial velocities. This method, described by Tonry & Davis (1979), to determine galaxy redshifts was since used by several authors for late-type stars, but not often for early-type stars. Main difficulties in A-type stars come from the small number of lines and the fact that the H line covers most of the spectral range of the spectra at our disposal. It would contribute far too much in the computation of a correlation index with respect to the faint metallic lines more or less washed out by the high projected rotational velocity of most stars. In order to use metallic lines only, a pseudonormalised spectrum has been computed whose continuum follows the profile of H. So the correlation was independent of this line. A programme of automatic normalisation has been elaborated and applied.
Synthetic spectra have several advantages compared to actual stellar spectra for the use as templates: they are perfectly adapted to the linear response of CCD detector; they are noise-free; their radial velocity is zero and they allow to compute an homogeneous and regular grid of reference spectra. They do not incorporate the instrumental profile, whose influence is negligible on the spectra of these mean-high rotating stars. They were computed with Kurucz (1993) models. The range of was 6000 to 15000K, logg=4.0 and metallicity solar (justified by the sample of normal stars) and lines were widened by rotation with a path of 25kms-1. The resolution of synthetic spectra was adapted to the observed spectra (same step and start). As to avoid the differential dispersion due to the radial velocity, all spectra were rebinned in Naperian logarithms.
All reduction programs were built into the MIDAS environment. Systematically the correlation program identified the synthetic spectrum giving the best correlation index (see the description of the grid of the synthetic spectrum in the Sect. 3.1). This method allowed to test the spectral types and rotation velocities found in the literature. Discrepancies came from binaries generally. The range of correlation index varied from 0.5 to 0.95 in most cases. The maximum of the cross-correlation function which was usually quasi Gaussian was estimated by fitting its peak with a parabola.
The independence of obtained radial velocities with the spectral type was tested using the homogeneous radial velocities of B to F type stars from Andersen & Nordström (1983) and Nordström & Andersen (1985) (see the comparison in the Sect. 3.3).
Generally the correlation peak is symmetric and roughly Gaussian. Nevertheless some of them were double, asymmetric or not Gaussian and their interpretation was not obvious. To detect an eventual asymmetry, each peak was fitted with a Gaussian profile and a new radial velocity was calculated (the parabola only fits the top of the peak whereas the Gaussian fits the whole profile). The difference of this new radial velocity with the value obtained with a parabola was computed. Several cases, function of the shape of peaks, are considered. Separated peaks of binaries are listed in Table7 with a and b components. Some radial velocities were considered as not significant: when the correlation coefficient was lower than 0.3 or when the peak was too asymmetric (detected by a Chi-Square test upon ). The Hipparcos (HIP) and HD numbers of these stars are listed in Table5. Symmetric but wide peaks could mask a binary system. To analyse the shape of some peaks, simulations of binary and triple systems were made with synthetic spectra.
In the simulations, the input parameters were and rotation broadening of components, their radial velocities difference and the ratio of their intrinsic luminosities. It was not possible to do this simulation for each peak but this has allowed to recognize characterized shapes of binary peaks. With the aim of detecting a possible double or multiple system, hidden by rotation, all spectra were correlated with the minimum rotation available in our grid of synthetic spectra. A number ranging from 0 to 10 refers to the shape of the corresponding correlation curve in Tables8 and 9. The meaning of this flag is summarized in Table4. The agreement between and rotation broadening of synthetic spectra found for the different observed spectra of a same star is considered: in 79% stars these parameters are the same. For the others, 13% show a duplicity criterion and in the remaining 8% the real values are between the two found values, probably. | https://aas.aanda.org/articles/aas/full/1999/06/ds1639/node2.html |
- Abstract:
Background and Aims: The main challenge in encapsulating hydrophilic drugs in the nanoparticles (NPs) is the drug's high diffusion rate to the outer aqueous phase during the formulation process, resulting in poor drug loading (DL). The aim of this study was to improve the drug's encapsulation efficiency (EE) and DL by manipulating some of the.. The access to the whole abstract and the presentation file is available to FIP members and to congress participants of that specific congress. | https://www.fip.org/?page=abstracts&action=item&item=9725 |
Throughout the entire world, the name Lafite is synonymous with the great wine-producing Chateau of Pauillac, Bordeaux; which has been owned by the Rothschild’s since 1868 and is today run by Saskia de Rothschild.
However, the name Lafite is a topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary mark, Old French fitte (Late Latin fixta petra ‘fixed stone’, from the past participle of figere ‘to fix or fasten’), it is a habitational name from any of several places in southwestern France.
“My idea of heaven is, eating pâté de foie gras to the sound of trumpets.”
Sydney Smith
La Fitte
All throughout France and beyond, across the entire world of French gastronomy, the name Lafitte, (with the extra ‘T’) is celebrated as a producer of some of the world’s finest foie gras: the family are custodians of both the breeding and production of a gastronomic delicacy so special that French law states it “Belongs to the protected cultural and gastronomical heritage of the nation of France and its people”.
Their culinary journey begins in the small commune of Montout, in the Landes department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. In 1920, Pierre Lafitte had a small store, almost leaning up against the Chalosse hills. Here, game, (such as partridge, woodcock, ortolan, hare, etc.) hunted from these very hills were sold from Pierre’s store, supplying restaurants and inns throughout the region.
La Hailhe de Nadau
The Hailhe de Nadau was a secular, or pagan tradition of Chalosse, that would see fires lit from hill to hill for the winter solstice. Today, that tradition continues in the hills of Chalosse where families and friends gather around the fire on Christmas Eve to sing, play music, and drink a toast to Christmas.
5,000 Years
From as far back as the ancient Egyptians -over two and a half thousand years BCE ago- humans have fattened geese using the practice of gavage.
Traditionally, dried figs were used and it is interesting to note the term ‘iecur ficatum’, (fig-stuffed liver); ficatum was closely associated with animal liver and it became the root word for ‘liver’. Each of these languages: foie in French, hígado in Spanish, fígado in Portuguese, fegato in Italian, fetge in Catalan and Occitan, and ficat in Romanian, all mean liver.
Fat Passion
Foie Gras can certainly stir up the passions and may be found in literature from Michael Caro’s 2001 novel, ‘The Foie Gras Wars: How a 5,000-Year-Old Delicacy Inspired the World’s Fiercest Food Fight’, to a story by the great science fiction writer, Isaac Asimov with; ‘Pâté de Foie Gras’ written in 1956.
Pliny the Elder wrote about his contemporary, Roman gastronome Marcus Gavius Apicius, feeding dried figs to geese in order to enlarge their livers back in the 1st century AD, and then of course, there was the world’s greatest detective and his sidekick Dr. Watson:
“It was after five o’clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a confectioner’s man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold woodcock, a pheasant, a patè de foie gras pie with a group of ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid for and were ordered to this address.”
Sherlock Holmes, Adventure 10: The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
France produces an estimated 75% of the world’s foie gras and southwestern France produces approximately 70% of that total. Most of it is consumed within France where the dish is considered a national treasure and a specialty of French cuisine. Ducks account for 95% of Foie Gras production.
Considered a culinary luxury of the highest quality, foie gras may be served as a whole lobe, either cuit (“cooked”), mi-cuit (“semi-cooked”), or frais (“fresh”). Foie gras, made of pieces of livers reassembled together; bloc de foie gras, a fully cooked, molded block composed of 98% or more foie gras; if termed avec morceaux (“with pieces”), it must contain at least 50% foie gras pieces for goose, and 30% for duck.
Additionally, there is pâté de foie gras, mousse de foie gras (either must contain 50% or more foie gras), or parfait de foie gras (must contain 75% or more foie gras). Foie Gras is also served with other proteins such as beef steak, infused into terrines or incorporated into sauces.
The flavours of foie gras are rich and delicate with a buttery texture, it reveals itself immediately to be truly unique and definitely very special.
One Hundred Year and Four Generations
One Hundred years and four generations after Pierre opened his restaurant and store, Lafitte has expanded their operation to include 7 stores (Paris Ile Saint-Louis, Paris Invalides, Bordeaux, Dax, Mont de Marsan, Bayonne and Montaut), supply to the finest restaurants across the country and to many of the finest restaurants around the world.
How have they achieved this remarkable feat? Through dedication, passion, care, and commitment; as well as control of and attention to every single step and detail in the chain of production. Today, the Lafitte name is synonymous with excellence and authenticity.
A traditional duck
Lafitte’s foie gras ducks come from an old and rustic strain with slow growth, recognizable by its black and white coloring which is an absolute guarantee of quality. The strict control and integrity of the breeding program of the Landes duck are critical and Lafitte works with 80 feeder breeders located within a maximum radius of 40km around Montaut (80% of these are actually with less than 25km).
This method of duck husbandry allows for a more traditional, even old-fashioned style of breeding on a micro-scale where the palmipeds of Landes can enjoy being bred in the open air, on a grassy course in a natural environment.
The famous ‘Label Rouge’ of the French government is a specification of quality that is some of the most demanding and exacting in the world. For foie gras, ducks must be raised for a minimum of 102 days, food quality is specified and the birds must be raised in the open air and in shared pens. This type of production represents less than 5% of total production in France, all of Lafitte’s ducks are raised this way, and all of their products bear the famous ‘Label Rouge’. In addition, Lafitte attach the Protected Geographical Indication IGP LANDES, which certifies the geographical origin of their ducks.
Topaz
For over twenty years, this jewel in Cambodia’s culinary crown has been the centerpiece for fine French dining in Phnom Penh. Topaz has always been about delivering one of the world’s great cuisines to the people of Cambodia, be that the traditional classics that underpin France’s gastronomy or, in contemporary masterpieces of a more modern French culinary era. Set in a grand and magnificent modern setting in the heart of the city; the restaurant is driven by the pursuit of excellence, enjoying long-standing relationships with growers, producers and suppliers across France, build on an appreciation for the very finest ingredients and them for Topaz’ kitchens in the heart of the kingdom’s capital.
Topaz works with Lafitte to procure the finest whole lobes of grade A, duck liver for their kitchens in Phnom Penh. After being air-flown the kitchen works under the guidance of Master Chef Alain Darc and the watchful eye of Executive Chef Sopheak Pov, to prepare foie gras with their own special recipes and techniques, ensuring they produce the very finest foie gras in the country.
The fatty lobes are incredibly fragile and must be expertly pared, then delicately de-veined to avoid any damage or any staining of the liver tissue. Chef Sohpeak has worked in the kitchens at Topaz for over 15 years, he has enjoyed internships with 2-Michelin starred chef Alain Dutournier’s Paris restaurant, Carré des Feuillants, and at Michelin-starred restaurant Arrambide in the Hotel les Pyrénées. His affinity for Foie Gras and expertise in its preparation is unsurpassed here.
The lobes must be chilled to the right core temperature before preparation, the lobes are seasoned and cured for 24 hours then slow cooked at very low temperature, (sous vide) with a few tablespoons of a specially prepared broth. After cooling on ice to the desired temperature, the roll is created in airtight seals to be chilled overnight.
These seals will not be broken nor the roll of foie gras sliced until ordered; this usually doesn’t take long. Sopheak informs me that Topaz’s foie gras is very popular, preparing and serving between 30 and 40 kilograms every month, people order it every single day.
The rich, buttery finesse that is Foie Gras is one of the most luxurious, delectable, and endearing culinary delicacies in the entire pantheon of great gastronomy; once encountered it can never be forgotten, eagerly anticipated once again. To try the very finest foie gras at Topaz is one of the endearing culinary highlights of fine dining gastronomy in Phnom Penh.
A classic pairing with foie gras, especially duck from the southwest of France is a magnificent, aged Sauternes or Barsac, all that lovely sweet richness and purity of fruit in the wine, which sees it stand up well to the indelible richness of the foie. If drier wines are your preference, match with a rich, buttery, smoky white Burgundy with a nice mineral wash of acidity on the finish. | https://www.vindochine.com/2021/12/22/livers-of-gold/ |
On Tuesday the Andrews government announced the three new solar and three wind farms would produce 928 megawatts of power, reducing greenhouse emissions in the electricity sector by 16 per cent over the next 17 years.
The Andrews government has commissioned six new wind and solar farms in regional Victoria.
The state government had invited private companies to bid to build the projects in a process known as a reverse auction.
It said the reverse auctions had helped it surpass its original goal of delivering 650 megawatts of renewable power.
Premier Daniel Andrews said a greater supply of renewable energy meant lower power prices for Victorian households.
“We’re making Victoria the capital of renewable energy and supporting the thousands of local jobs it creates,” he said.
The latest announcement on renewable energy stands in contrast to the federal government’s failed attempt to introduce a National Energy Guarantee that was supposed to lower prices and greenhouse emissions.
However, infighting over energy policy engulfed the federal government in the lead-up to Malcolm Turnbull’s knifing as prime minister. The policy was eventually scrapped.
Environment Victoria chief executive Mark Wakeham said the Victorian government should commit to 1000 megawatts of renewable energy annually over the coming four years.
A thousand megawatts would be the equivalent of powering 700,000 homes.
“We would like whoever wins government to commit to a thousand megawatts a year,” Mr Wakeham said.
The government has committed to a renewable energy target of 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025.
However, the Coalition has said it would scrap the renewable energy target if it wins the November election.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Victorians deserve to know how much the latest round of renewable energy projects had cost.
Mr Guy said he supported renewable generation and maintained the future of coal-fired generation was “limited”.
“We need to have a mix in generation,” he said. | https://amp.theage.com.au/national/victoria/solar-wind-farms-planned-as-andrews-powers-on-with-renewable-energy-20180911-p5033n.html |
There were considerably fewer complaints about the personal impact among these expert respondents. But their own lives and observations give testimony that there are ways in which digital life has ill-served some participants. The following anecdotes speak to the themes that the internet has not helped some users’ well-being.
David Ellis, Ph.D., course director of the department of communication studies at York University in Toronto, said, “Several years ago I walked into my fourth-year class and, in a fit of pique, announced I was confiscating everyone’s phone for the entire three hours. I later upped the ante by banning all digital devices in favor of pen and paper. Some unusual revelations have emerged since then – including some happy outcomes from going digital cold turkey. The students in my courses are there to learn about telecom and internet technologies. On the surface, it looks like a perfect match: hyperconnected digital natives acquiring more knowledge about digital. If only. The sad truth is they suffer from a serious behavioral addiction that makes it pretty much impossible for them to pay attention to their instructors or classmates.
Here are some diverse answers about the ways digital life hurts the lives of some of the expert respondents.
A professor based in North America said, “I want to share a short excerpt from Chapter 1 of Frischmann and Selinger’s ‘Re-Engineering Humanity’ (Cambridge, April 2018): ‘Last year, my first grader came home after school very excited. ‘Dad, I won. I mean, I’ve been picked. I get a new watch.’ ‘That’s great,’ I said, ‘What happened?’ He quickly rattled off something about being one of the kids in his class who was selected to wear a new watch for gym class.
“When I read the letter, I went ballistic. Initially, I wondered about various privacy issues: Who, what, where, when, how and why? With regard to collection, sharing, use and storage of data about kids. The letter did not even vaguely suggest that parents and their children could opt out, much less that their consent was required. Even if it had, it couldn’t be informed consent because there were so many questions left unanswered. I also wondered whether the school district had gone through some form of institutional review board (IRB) process. Had someone, anyone considered the ethical questions? I read the letter again but got stuck on: ‘We ask that students do not take off the watch once it’s on their wrist. They should sleep, even shower with the watch in place.’ Seriously, bath time and bedtime surveillance! The letter made me think of one of those Nigerian bank scam emails that go straight into my spam folder. Such trickery! I thought.
“I remembered how my son had come home so excited. The smile on his face and joy in his voice were unforgettable. It was worse than an email scam. They had worked him deeply, getting him hooked. He was so incredibly happy to have been selected, to be part of this new fitness program, to be a leader. How could a parent not be equally excited? Most were, but not me. I contacted someone at the PTA, spoke with the supervisor of health, wrote a letter to the school district superintendent, and eventually had some meetings with the general counsel for the school district.
“The program is like so many being adopted in school districts across the country – well-intentioned, aimed at a real problem (obesity), financed in an age of incredibly limited and still shrinking budgets and elevated by the promise of efficiency that accompanies new technologies. What caught people’s attention most was a line from the letter I sent to the superintendent: ‘I have serious concerns about this program and worry that the school district hasn’t fully considered the implications of implementing a child-surveillance program like this.’ No one previously had called it ‘child-surveillance.’ All of a sudden, the creepiness of bath time and bedtime surveillance sunk in. Naturally, this triggered familiar privacy concerns. The term ‘surveillance’ generated a visceral reaction and was an effective means for getting people to stop and think. | https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/07/03/the-negatives-of-digital-life/ |
What strengthens an expert opinion? In Eckford v Six Mile Creek Pty Ltd (No 2) FCA 1307, the court emphasised three aspects of expert reporting that help to demonstrate the reliability and strength of expert opinions.
Background:
The Applicant in this matter purchased a seafront property. He alleged that the Respondents (the previous owners of the property) represented that he would enjoy unobstructed scenic views of both the nearby Mount Coolum and the ocean from the property. He further alleged that the Respondents made representations that there were height restrictions on the property in front of the one he purchased. He later learned that there were in fact no height restrictions in place, meaning that the views from the property would potentially be completely impeded in the future.
The Applicant contended that the Respondents engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct and made false or misleading representations in contraventions of ss 52(1) and 53A(1)(b) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth). The Applicant also claimed damages for the tort of deceit due to a representation that other lots had been ‘sold’, when this was not the case.
Experts Engaged:
ExpertsDirect was retained by the Applicant to provide an expert property valuer specialising in waterfront properties, with particular expertise in Queensland properties. We provided Mr John Leeson, an expert valuer with over 30 years of industry experience.
The Respondents called Ms Diane Hunt to give evidence regarding the value of the property. Ms Hunt obtained valuation qualifications in the United Kingdom in 1979 and 1981, and was a registered valuer in both Queensland and New South Wales.
Discussion of Expert Evidence
Mr Leeson and Ms Hunt, in addition to their expert reports, gave concurrent oral evidence to the court on the above issues. Justice Rares ultimately gave more weight to Mr Leeson’s evidence. The Applicant’s expert report contained a thorough analysis of the history and physical state of the property that distinguished Mr Leeson’s expertise from that of Ms Hunt’s.
In its discussion of the relative merits of the reports, the Court identified three main points of comparison:
1) Adherence to Schedule 7 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rule 2005 (NSW)
Schedule 7 of the UCPR requires experts to provide a statement of their education, training, and experience.
Mr Leeson annexed a detailed curriculum vitae to his report as evidence of his considerable experience in valuing real property, as well as extensive expert witness experience. In contrast, Ms Hunt’s report did not set out in any detail her professional experience, or career.
Experts should comply with the statutory rules regarding the format of expert witness reports. Such compliance is significant not only for the sake of ensuring their report is admissible, but also for the purpose of providing the court with a report that more strongly reflects the expert’s competency.
2) Engagement with the Material Facts of the Matter
Mr Leeson’s report also benefited from his close attention to the actual history of the property. Since his method of valuing the property (as a whole rather than in development stages) reflected the nature of the sale of the property (as a whole), Mr Leeson’s report carried validity. The Court described Mr Leeson as having conducted ‘careful research’.
In contrast , Ms Hunt conducted neither a site inspection (instead, she viewed the property externally from the street) nor extensive research into the actual market history of the property. Her analysis of market value subsequently proceeded on erroneous assumptions about the elevation, views, and method of valuing of property, which impacted upon the Court’s perception of the (in)accuracy of her valuations.
An important lesson here is that expert reports should reflect the material facts of the case as closely as possible. Here, giving accurate metrics of the location and geography of the property was one critical means of engaging properly with the matter.
3) Clear and Detailed Reasoning
When asked to justify her report opinions, Ms Hunt responded that they stemmed from her ‘own knowledge‘ and experience. Without specific reasons for opining, for instance, that certain properties could provide adequate comparative market value, her report appeared to be ‘less reliable’ than that of Mr Leeson’s. In her oral evidence, her claim to the accuracy of her opinions despite the absence of concrete rationalisations of her estimation process meant she appeared to the court as “more assertive than reasoned”.
Justice Rares commented that Ms Hunt did not “provide any clear reasoning in her report for arriving at the values she gave other than stating, pithily, the features of the properties that she considered as evidence of comparable sales.” .
In contrast, Justice Rares described Mr Leeson as providing evidence that was “well researched and reasoned.” . Although both experts were adequately qualified to provide reports on the matter, the more detailed reasoning and additional research methods adopted by Mr Leeson had the effect of elevating his report in the eyes of the Court. Mr Leeson’s justification of his valuation involved references to past photos used to market the property, empirical measurements and observations from his site inspection, and the National Height Datum.
The Court summarised its thoughts at :
“In my opinion, Ms Hunt’s approach to valuation and her selection and evaluation of what she regarded as properties that gave a guide to the value of lot 10 was unscientific, at times prone to exaggeration and unpersuasive. I found Mr Leeson’s evidence, in contrast, to be well researched, thoughtful and reasoned and I prefer it to Ms Hunt’s.”
Takeaways:
In summary, Justice Rares found Mr Leeson’s evidence regarding the valuation of the property more persuasive than Ms Hunt’s. The Court ultimately relied on Mr Leeson’s evidence in deciding the matter. Formality, factual relevance, and careful reasoning were critical in ensuring that the Court found Mr Leeson’s report reliable and accurate.
If you require an expert witness for a legal matter, please click here to make an obligation free enquiry. | https://expertsdirect.com/the-importance-of-demonstrating-expertise-eckford-v-six-mile-creek/ |
The native LH1-RC complex of the purple bacterium Thermochromatium (Tch.) tepidum has an ultra-red LH1-Qy absorption at 915 nm, which can shift to 893 and 882 nm by means of chemical modifications. These unique complexes are a good natural system to investigate the thermally activated energy transfer process, with the donor energies different while the other factors (such as the acceptor energy, special pair at 890 nm, and the distance/relative orientation between the donor and acceptor) remain the same. The native B915-RC, B893-RC and B882-RC complexes, as well as the LH1-RC complex of Rhodobacter (Rba.) sphaeroides were studied by temperature-dependent time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The energy transfer time constants, kET- 1, are 65, 45, 46 and 45 ps at room temperature while 225, 58, 85, 33 ps at 77 K for the B915-RC, B893-RC, B882-RC and Rba. sphaeroides LH1-RC, respectively. The dependences of kET on temperature have different trends. The reorganization energies are determined to be 70, 290, 200 and 45 cm- 1, respectively, by fitting kET vs temperature using Marcus equation. The activation energies are 200, 60, 115 and 20 cm- 1, respectively. The influences of the structure (the arrangement of the 32 BChl a molecules) on kET are discussed based on these results, to reveal how the B915-RC complex accomplishes its energy transfer function with a large uphill energy of 290 cm- 1. | https://okayama.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/temperature-dependent-lh1-rc-energy-transfer-in-purple-bacteria-t |
Our Soup Queen always delivers! The deep, rich, creamy texture of this soup is buttery and layered with fresh herbs. This is kid friendly and will fast become your favorite soup!
By: Sara A
Creamy Potato Herb Soup
2 lbs of gold potatoes cubed
1 Tbsp of minced garlic
6 tbsp butter
1 1/4 cups of diced onions
2 1/2 cups of chicken stock
1/2 cup to 1 cup of milk depending on desired thickness
1/2 cup cream
Salt & pepper to taste
Dash of red pepper (optional)
2 tsp of each herb chopped: rosemary, Italian parsley, and thyme (substitute with dried herbs if needed)
In large pot add butter until melted. Add in onions and potatoes, cook until slightly tender. Add in Chicken Stock and bring to a boil, then turn down to low and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes until potatoes are thoroughly cooked. Then add in the milk, heavy whipping cream and herbs. Blend until creamy using a blender or an immersion blender. Serve. | https://spicechicksofdrip.com/2015/03/20/creamy-potato-herb-soup/ |
David Cameron is in Scotland today. His spinners are keen to say that he's not so much making the case against independence but, instead, the case for the continuation of the United Kingdom.
He previews his speech in an article for today's Scotsman. The PM emphasises four big benefits for Scotland if it stays part of the UK:
- Strength: "We’re stronger because together we count for more in the world, with a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, real clout in Nato and Europe, and unique influence with allies all over the world."
- Security: "We’re safer, because in an increasingly dangerous world we have the fourth-largest defence budget on the planet, superb armed forces and anti-terrorist and security capabilities that stretch across the globe."
- Prosperity: "We’re richer, because inside the United Kingdom Scotland’s five million people are part of an economy of 60 million, the seventh-richest economy on the planet and one of the world’s biggest trading powers. Today, Scotland has a currency which takes into account the needs of the Scottish economy as well as the rest of the United Kingdom when setting interest rates and it can borrow at rates that are among the lowest in Europe."
- Solidarity: "The United Kingdom helps ensure fairness, too. Not just because we all benefit from being part of a properly-funded welfare system, with the resources to fund our pensions and healthcare needs, but because there is real solidarity in our United Kingdom. When any part of the United Kingdom suffers a setback, the rest of the country stands behind it. Whether it is floods in the West Country, severe weather in the north or the economic dislocation that has hit different parts at different times and in different ways we are there for each other."
Alex Massie has written a thoughtful analysis of Mr Cameron's arguments at The Spectator, which I recommend.
- The question in the referendum is fair (Lord Ashcroft has shown that Alex Salmond's proposed question is not);
- The referendum is held sooner rather than later (Alex Salmond wants maximum time to build up grievances against the Tory-led government in Westminster).
I forget who wrote it but Cameron's role is essentially the one of bad cop. He and Coalition ministers need to play hardball so that the terms and timing of the independence referendum are not dictated by the SNP. The campaign itself must then be fought by politicians who are popular in Scotland - Alistair Darling, Annabel Goldie and Charles Kennedy have been proposed by David Torrance.
Finally, however, let me mention an additional role for Cameron. If Scots feel the English are unhappy with the Union and unhappy with the constitutional settlement this could be a factor that could tip the referendum result towards independence. Who wants to be part of a Union with someone who doesn't like you much? English and Welsh resentment at unfairnesses such as the Barnett formula and the way that Scottish MPs can vote on issues that only affect the English (but not the other way round) is currently far from boiling point. That might change, however, as the whole question of the future of the UK draws closer. One can easily imagine newspapers and politicians talking about ungrateful Scots and fleeced English regions. Cameron should nip this in the bud now by reviewing the Barnett formula and moving towards English votes for English laws. I fear he won't. | https://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2012/02/cameron-should-not-forget-the-mood-of-the-english-in-his-defence-of-the-union-.html |
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is alleged to have confessed twice to the Boston Marathon bombing. Yet both “confessions”—although widely mentioned in the media—are so fraught with problems that neither may be entered into evidence at the upcoming trial.
“Confession” #1
The problem with the first confession has to do with what’s known in legal jargon as “chain of custody.” According to law enforcement officials, Tsarnaev scrawled a series of self-incriminating notes on the side of the dry-docked boat in which he hid after a shootout with police in Watertown, Massachusetts.
But instead of maintaining close custody of these notes, the government has admitted that the bullet-ridden boat was left open for days “in a semi-public space where it might have been photographed by individuals not associated with this investigation.”
Indeed, ABC News apparently took a photo of at least some of the notes, possibly with the assent of a law enforcement officer. More to the point, during the time when the evidence was unsecured, anyone might have tampered with the notes, rendering them highly dubious as evidence.
Breaking the Chain
The importance of securing evidence from tampering is underlined in this passage from a Department of Justice website:
“To maintain chain of custody, you must preserve evidence from the time it is collected to the time it is presented in court. To prove the chain of custody, and ultimately show that the evidence has remained intact, prosecutors generally need service providers who can testify:
• That the evidence offered in court is the same evidence they collected or received.
• To the time and date the evidence was received or transferred to another provider.
• That there was no tampering with the item while it was in custody.”
While breaks in the chain do not automatically render evidence inadmissible, defense attorneys can challenge the authenticity of anything that has not been properly secured.
Confession—or Last Rites?
Only parts of the notes were made public in the April 2013 indictment of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. According to the prosecution, this is what he wrote:
“I’m jealous of my brother who ha[s] [re]ceived the reward of jannutul Firdaus (inshallah) before me. I do not mourn because his soul is very much alive. God has a plan for each person. Mine was to hide in this boat and shed some light on our actions. I ask Allah to make me a shahied to allow me to return to him and be among all the righteous people in the highest levels of heaven…The U.S. Government is killing our innocent civilians but most of you already know that.”
And:
“As a [UI] I can’t stand to see such evil go unpunished, we Muslims are one body, you hurt one you hurt us all. Well at least that’s how Muhammad (pbuh – or Peace Be Upon Him) wanted it to be [for]ever, the ummah is beginning to rise/[UI] has awoken the mujahideen, know you are fighting men who look into the barrel of your gun and see heaven, now how can you compete with that. We are promised victory and we will surely get it. Now I don’t like killing innocent people it is forbidden in Islam but due to said [UI] it is allowed. All credit goes [UI]. Stop killing our innocent people and we will stop.” (Editor’s note: UI stands for unintelligible.)
But this transcript is clearly not complete. The ABC News image shows that, at the beginning of one of the notes, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev wrote, “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is his messenger. [Obscured by bullet hole] actions came with a (me)ssage and that is [obscured by bullet hole], In’shallah.”
The first sentence is a version of the Muslim testimony of faith known as the Shahada, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. One of the times it is recited is when a Muslim feels close to death.
While the scrawled notes allude to “actions” the Tsarnaev brothers took, nowhere in the notes that have been released to the public is there a direct mention of the Marathon bombing or the shootout with the police.
“Confession” #2
According to media reports based on law enforcement leaks, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev allegedly confessed his involvement in the Marathon bombing while recovering from gunshot wounds in a Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess hospital.
The defense claims that law enforcement officers violated his rights by questioning him while he was heavily sedated, failing to read him his Miranda Rights and ignoring his requests for a lawyer. On these grounds the defense has stated it would challenge use of anything the defendant said in the hospital during any part of the trial.
The prosecution has said that it does not intend to use Tsarnaev’s hospital statements in making the case against him, but that it might introduce them to challenge the credibility of defense witnesses, or during the sentencing phase if he is convicted.
***
With both alleged confessions under a cloud of doubt, and the probability that Tsarnaev will not testify, the public may never hear from the man at the center of the Boston Marathon bombing about his motive or intentions.
[box] WhoWhatWhy plans to continue doing this kind of groundbreaking original reporting. You can count on us. Can we count on you? What we do is only possible with your support.
Please click here to donate; it’s tax deductible. And it packs a punch.[/box]
0 responses to “Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect’s Alleged Boat Confession May Not Float”
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“Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect’s Alleged Boat Confession May Not Float”
Maybe not before an intelligent, well-informed and sophisticated jury. But HEY, the trial will be conducted in the USA so no need to worry about THAT.
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USA – Home of the show trial and land of security theatre !
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This post says nothing, absolutely nothing but make those who believe in his innocence more warm and fuzzy about their beliefs. Chain of custody approach is not a new approach in any defense team’s arsenal for defending the guilty. It says nothing about the truth or that his handwriting will be analyzed and that the boat was guarded for days on end, until it was hauled and locked away.
The picture of the note obtained by ABC is just that, a picture. It most likely came from the official case files, not a reporter seeing it in up close. How can anyone presume to write for a media outlet called WWW and not know about the ‘chain of custody’ in any real detail it as it applies to this case, like when did the boat just sit there for all those to come and look it at it? When did this actually happen? What is the point of writing this post if you add nothing to the conversation but speculation on a potential defense tactic. And as usual, always siting other media reports to bolster your own. And not reading someone their Miranda doesn’t equate to cloud of doubt, that is your personal opinion, not objective by any means.
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‘like when did the boat just sit there for all those to come and look it at it? When did this actually happen ?’
With respect – ‘that the boat was guarded for days on end’ is not by any means certain.
The prosecution stated that the boat was left in a ‘semi-public’space, but has not revealed anything about the time. The author’s quotation “in a semi-public space where it might have been photographed by individuals not associated with this investigation.” is from a court document signed by the prosecution. The descriptor ‘semi-public’ suggests that the scene was not properly secured.
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Chain of custody is also crucial to protecting the innocent . If it is broken or unverifiable , it certainly has a bearing on the truth -especially in cases based on circumstantial evidence , absent a confession. Of course , not reading someone his Miranda rights equates to doubt about guilt – that is one of the ways people are coerced and/or intimidated into false confessions . And Tsarnaev was interrogated lawyerless while on life-support in the hospital .
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Anybody w/ any critical thinking skill sets & discernment can smell a Rat. It was setup 100%.
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The thing stood out to me the most about the “boat confession” was released to the public after DZ was given his Miranda right, but not before he “confessed” in the hospital. It seemed odd that the investigator released the boat confession and saying “let his attorney’s deal with this confession” He was angry that the hospital confession probably would not hold up in court and then this boat confession just popped right up.
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Essentially this part of the story was scripted to justify the “high valued interrogation group” who are an abomination of semantic law.
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although now that I just said that I of course think there are many aspects to it but if nothing else it certainly normalizes the idea that someone can be held like an animal if deemed important.
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I apologize for not also including the entire WhoWhatWhy team in my praise of the coverage (as my previous post made it sound like Russ, not Lara Turner, wrote this article).
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Thank you so much for your coverage of this case, Russ. I’m starting to see the brilliance of your strategy in spending so much time on it. Readers of WhoWhatWhy, please do your best to get this information disseminated.
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That is not JAHAR’s writing style. He writes in shorthand. All kids do now. Check out his twitter feed.
This is manufactured & counterfeit.
Hired FBI hack who claims to have a grasp of the muslim “groupthink”
Pathetic, Along the same narrative/playbook used by the FBI CRIME SYNDICATE that EVERY defendant builds a bomb from the INSPIRE website.
The problem with all the media analysis regarding this event is that no writer is considering this is theater…a show trial ..Sacco & Vanzetti redux. A phony proceeding.
Look at his appearance. No mentoring by counsel at all. What does he know? He has to depend on them &’they are OUT TO LUNCH without an overcoat or gloves.
Sadly, Clarence Darrow is off the radar.
You are the juror. Here is the prosecutors’ case.
Draw your own conclusion:
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That is not entirely true. His “hood” language is as you say. But there was a college paper of his released – I’m sure you can still find it – and he displayed a very technical, controlled, and intelligent use of the language in that paper.
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Is this technical?
In 2011, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev wrote an English assignment while attending UMass Dartmouth about the West Memphis Three, who many believe were wrongly accused.
“In this case it would have been hard to protect or defend these young boys if the whole town exclaimed in happiness at the arrest. Also, to go against the authorities isn’t the easiest thing to do. Don’t get me wrong though, I am appalled at the situation but I think that the town was scared and desperate
to blame someone. It’s because of stories like this and such occurrences that make a positive change in this world. I’m pretty sure there won’t be anymore similar tales like this. In any case, if they do, people won’t stand quiet, I hope.”
Do You think that is a mitigating statement?
Isn’t written like a jihadi to anyone who reads it.
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well, compared to the use of the language in text, yes. It is correct punctually, grammatically, sentence structure, etc I also thought like you did at first, the DZ didn’t write what was in the boat until I saw this paper. So yes, he can write like that. Remember how everyone thought the cops beat him up because the only photo released of him coming out of the boat didn’t show blood and then when he was on the ground he was all beat up. It wasn’t until the Boston cop released the capture photos that we see how badly hurt he was inside the boat. So a few things about this case seemed to come together over time, but a lot of it still remains suspicious
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I assure you that you will only find sense in this whole thing if you look at it from the angle that the whole thing from the start was a Homeland Security drill. Please look at this as a psychological operation mixed with a martial law type dry run. Dzhokhar was either a simple actor in this as Ed Davis used the term (I know it means not only Hollywood type acting but it’s funny) or a patsy that was followed , framed and silenced. Suspicious is an understatement.
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CORRECT!!
Spread the word!
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You too!! ‘hope to see you again!
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Thanks again Lara Turner. Your article serves to illustrate that these much touted so-called “confessions” lack credibility and are likely not “confessions” at all. I personally have never believed in the authenticity of the “boat note” but even if I am wrong I see little more than religious text. The FBI’s failure to protect the integrity of such evidence, (if it is indeed evidence at all), is simply staggering.
In the second instance, I consider it doubtful that Tsarnaev was in any fit state to be interrogated whilst at Beth Israel Deaconess due to the extent of his injuries and the use of opiates would certainly lead one to question the value of any info or admission obtained under such circumstances. Imo both these alleged “confessions” should be ruled inadmissible.
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Sorry for the duplicate comment. (Discus not working so well!)
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The Shehada is simply confirming ones faith as a Muslim, comforting in the face of death. I don;t know if he wrote the note at all, seems unlikely, but if he did it seems like the SHehada was “embellished”, wink wink. The note showed up about the time people were pointing out that no one took “responsibility” for the bombing, which like the whole event, was highly unusual.
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Ol Duke deleted me. He’s dangerous to Liberty.
Do not trust his m.o.
He is undercover.
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DIsagree.
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He has a long history of that, Eyes…Do you have another contact?
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I don’t know who you are?
I will observe his belligerent behavior undetected.
He accused others of driving maret away. That was a hoot!
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And sorry again. More Discus issues.
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I thought he didn’t know his brother was dead until they told him in hospital.
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No. He thought his brother was dead, but was told by interrogators in hospital that Tamerlan was still alive. And, who knows, he may have believed them, although he sounds sceptical in his reactions. Only then, hours later, he was told that Tamerlan was dead after all. An emotional rollercoaster, surely.
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This whole business with this boat was my first clue that the whole thing was a hoax. They had an intense dragnet out looking for this guy that went on for a long time. They knew pretty much what neighborhood he was in. I saw photos of them looking in garbage cans. It never occured to anybody to look in this boat? It was right out in the open. It does not make sense.
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I agree about the hoax part.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/01/first-question-ask-terror-attack-false-flag.html
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What I found funny about the boat find is that on infra-red, the kept saying “no movement” even after the first two flash bangs went off it was “no movement”. Those flash bangs are hostile and I just don’t see how he slept through his capture. He had to have heard the helicopter and the robot tearing away the tarp.
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Perhaps he was drifting in and out of consciousness, or/and was too weak to respond. He had already lost a lot of blood when first discovered by the boat owner.
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Now we know neither so called confession will be brought into play as evidence at the trail. Who is going to believe that Jahar who was shot in his hand and arms multiple times would be able to write so perfectly and clearly a long confession on one side of that tiny boat. The confession that was supposedly written on the boat wall would have to be words over words because their was no room. Look at the boat wall size and imagine this long confession he was supposedly has written so perfectly come on really now. Jahar was dying and if he was gonna write anything it would be to his family.
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“Who is going to believe that Jahar who was shot in his hand and arms
multiple times would be able to write so perfectly and clearly a long
confession on one side of that tiny boat”
Maybe he got those wounds – esp. the one in the hand – only after he was found. He was in that boat for hours – enough time to write a couple of messages.
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That long of a confession would be impossible to write on that small boats walls. If you look at the boat and the size of the walls you will realize he didn’t write all or any part of the so called confession. Jahar didn’t know his brother was dead what he did know was Tamerlan was in the FBI custody. If you look at the video of the shootout with the police Tamerlan looked like he was shielding Jahar and I’m gonna say he probably told Jahar to get away so once Jahar seen the police take tamerlan down he tried to get away just like tamerlan told him you do. So Jahar didn’t know until the police told tamerlan passed.
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He’s a kid not a martyr, which is putting a square peg in a round hole.
Only the FBI THINKS they can fool the masses.
Mark Twain
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
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If that boat was not 100% secured as evidence, what were the feds thinking???
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The boat evidence was an afterthought because they had no concrete evidence against him.
Frederic Whitehursr, whistleblower explains what truly goes on at the FBI LABS. LETS just say, it doesn’t comport with the Rules of Court or the Billl of Rights.
They make it up as they go along…whatever sticks to the wall.
With Liberty & Justice for All. | https://whowhatwhy.org/politics/government-integrity/boston-marathon-bombing-suspects-alleged-boat-confession-may-not-float/ |
The genetic consultations office of Nadezhda Hospital accepts patients with various issues from all over the country: couples with reproductive challenges, pregnant women with fetal risks, families with hereditary diseases in the family tree, etc.
Patients of Nadezhda Hospital can receive a genetic consultation by Professor Savina Hadzhidekova, Head of Genetics Lab, and Rada Staneva, M.D.
First, you need to book an appointment online through the hospital website or the call center at telephone +3592/ 441 79 70 or +359882 193 970, or on site at the Registry Office.
The outpatient office for pre-test and post-test genetic consultations receives both patients of the hospital and external patients.
The Clinical Lab that takes biological samples for analysis is right in front of the office.
The consultations aim to create a comprehensive concept of the development and heritability of inherited diseases or predispositions, to assign proper diagnostic tests, to interpret the results, predict the risk of the condition, to select a treatment approach and to discuss possibilities for prevention. | https://nadezhdahospital.com/en/outpatient-offices/geneticist/ |
Undergraduate Degree in Mathematics
Earning an undergraduate degree in math can open many opportunities. International students who would like to study math in the U.S. will typically have to take a number of specific array of courses to earn a degree, but there is some choice involved. Also, students will want to be informed about the top schools from which to earn a degree in math.
Mathematics is an exciting field of study. International students will find many opportunities for challenging and creative work with an undergraduate degree in math. Students interesting in studying math in the U.S. might have a number of questions in deciding whether to study math, such as "which courses will I take?" or "what are the top schools?" Let us take a look at some of the things to keep in mind about studying math at the undergraduate level in the U.S.
Typical Course Requirements
There are some topics and methods in mathematics that nearly every math major will need to have. Most math programs will have a "core curricula" – classes that everyone who majors or minors in math must take to earn an undergraduate degree in math. These classes provide the foundation for learning more advanced topics and methods that are of particular interest to researchers. Typical core classes include algebra, calculus, and mathematical statistics. Students will be expected to take a number of courses in these areas in order to advance to higher level courses and topics. There will also commonly be electives, or courses, which are not a part of the core curriculum but that students might find helpful or interesting. These courses often include courses in the fields of computer science, mathematical physics, number theory, game theory, topology, and mathematical logic.
Prerequisites
Students should be aware that an education in math is cumulative; more advanced classes often require students to use what they have learned from previous classes. This means that many mathematics courses have prerequisites. In a class on abstract algebra, for instance, the instructor will assume students are already familiar with basic principles of algebra taught in lower level courses. For this reason, it is important for international students to form a plan early on in their undergraduate careers regarding which courses to take each semester for their next few years in school. A math major needs to be sure to have taken all the required prerequisite courses for classes he or she plans to take in the future.
Top Schools
International students should look into the quality of the programs into which they will enroll. An undergraduate degree in math can be an important stepping stone to many further opportunities. Whether you will immediately step into the labor market or are looking to move on to graduate school, your prospects improve by attending the top schools in math. Getting a degree in math looks great to employers, and students will look even more impressive their school has a strong pedigree. Graduate programs in math and other fields will consider the quality of the undergraduate programs their applicants attend.
Though the prestige of a math program is important, students should keep in mind that it is not the only thing that matters. Ultimately what matters is the skills in math students achieve through their education, and it is not always the case that the most famous school is the best place for each individual student. Many other things are important, such as whether or not a particular program emphasizes applying math to other fields of study.
Let's say you are interested in becoming a Math teacher. Felician College offers a double major in Mathematics and Education that promotes international student's understanding of mathematical concepts that lays the foundation for graduate work in Mathematics Education. Not interested in teaching? Felician College offers two tracks, Analysis or Algebra, so that students can choose the field of study that best relates to their intended career.
In general, students should carefully consider what goals they have beyond earning an undergraduate degree in math and consider which school will help attain these goals best. | https://www.internationalstudent.com/study-mathematics/undergraduate-degree-in-mathematics/ |
Luriware (Pty) Ltd is a Consulting Agricultural Engineering firm; registered under E.C.S.A CU2014014A and C.E.S.A. (1058) specifically to deal with Agricultural Engineering planning, designing and development projects with the motto “changing the faces of structures in agriculture” whilst adhering to engineering standards.
Luriware (Pty) Ltd was established in 2012 as a Project and Programme Management, and Cost Consulting practice in structures and livestock environments, however due to the changing agricultural environment and the growing needs of our Clients (mostly in rural communities); it became necessary to broaden the services that could be provided by Luriware, so as to offer multi-disciplinary Agricultural Engineering consulting services under one banner. Luriware has added to our portfolio full-time Geo-technical investigation and Environmental Impact Assessment units for custom-built projects that require those applications.
Luriware has continued to strive towards becoming a complete multi-disciplinary practice offering our Clients the specialist individual attention and solutions required by an ever-changing project environment. Luriware sees teamwork on every project as the key success element and is responsible for creating this environment. The over-all project manager is duty-bound in ensuring efficient and regular communication to all stakeholders and at all levels.
Luriware believes in a hands-on approach on all projects. That is why a Director of the firm will always be in control of the key functions on our projects as the Chief Engineer. Luriware is equipped with the latest technology and has the necessary staff and resources to ensure the best professional service is provided at all times. The firm is backed up by up-to-date Professional Indemnity Insurance, which can be extended to cover risk on any size project the firm undertakes both locally and abroad..
Our Mission is to offer excellent service in each of our professional disciplines, in accordance with statutory practices, codes of conduct and integrity, thereby developing our team and providing a leading platform from which to service the Agricultural Engineering spectrum and in particular, our valued Clients. | http://pretoriaeast.co.za/business-directory/building-and-decor/575-luriware-consulting-agricultural-engineers |
1. assess existing forms of fishing for litter (FFL) and existing FFL projects from an organisational, economic and environmental angle, with a view to define what best practices are in collecting marine litter from the marine environment in a cost-effective manner that helps to better achieve the objective set in the MSFD on ‘good environmental status’. The assessment focused on the situation in the EU, but also gathered practices from non-EU countries that share European seas and/or have gained experience with the implementation of FFL practices.
2. launch or maintain self-sustaining FFL projects in all 4 regional seas that apply and further develop the best practices identified. A proper selection of project locations and host organisations, and the provision of the necessary support of the selected organisations were crucial to achieving this objective. The preparation of business case studies and the discussion on them at a Brussels workshop (and subsequently at regional workshops) was also instrumental to the success of this project.
3. strengthen the capacities of the stakeholders and to raise their awareness, by engaging them in several steps of the project. Both direct stakeholders that will implement the projects and the wider stakeholders that are responsible for or affected by the marine litter, were engaged. It was also be necessary to assemble all expertise, knowledge and insights gained under the project and to make it accessible to the stakeholders during and after the lifetime of the project. The dedicated website and the toolkit was instrumental in achieving this objective. | http://www.milieu.be/index.php?page=1504-12-marine-litter-recovery-pilot-project-on-fishing-for-litter |
View or download a PDF of the letter here.
December 16, 2021
The Honorable Janet Yellen
Secretary of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20220
Chair Gary Gensler
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F St NE
Washington, DC 20549
Chairman Rostin Behnam
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
1151 21st Street NW
Washington, DC 20581
We urge the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), as the convening body responsible for addressing growing threats to the financial system, to urgently clarify and emphasize the existing enforcement and supervisory authorities its member agencies have to regulate stablecoins, instead of waiting for Congress to act. The urgency of immediate action by agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) cannot be overemphasized given the rapid growth of stablecoins and the increasing threats that stablecoins pose to investor protection, financial stability, and national security.
The market capitalization for the largest stablecoins has grown 583% this year, from $30 billion to $175 billion, and at the current pace is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2025. Despite the explosive growth of the stablecoin market, stablecoins are not used to any substantial extent to make ordinary commercial payments but are instead primarily used for speculation, tax avoidance, and evading critical safeguards for the banking system and national security. Such safeguards include Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (“CFT”) regulations.
A 2019 report by R3, entitled “Will Businesses Ever Use Stablecoins,” highlights this reality, stating that the principal uses of stablecoins at that time were to trade in cryptocurrency markets, to facilitate tax avoidance, and to evade compliance with KYC, AML, and CFT requirements. Concerns resulting from the widespread use of stablecoins to engage in dangerous speculation, undermine prudential banking requirements, and evade tax compliance and national security safeguards have only grown since that report was issued.
We agree with the PWG report’s recognition that the SEC, CFTC, and FinCEN have a variety of existing tools to address investor protection concerns as well as AML and CFT violations in digital asset markets. Even if stablecoins are eventually treated as deposits (e.g., under new legislation comparable to the STABLE Act that was introduced in the House of Representatives in December 2020), the SEC clearly has existing authority, under controlling legal precedent such as Marine Bank v. Weaver, to treat stablecoins and other digital assets as securities under the federal securities laws unless those instruments are issued by FDIC-insured banks or similarly regulated foreign banks.
After the report was published, the SEC issued a subpoena to cryptocurrency miner Marathon Digital Holdings and its data center to investigate potential violations of securities laws, and the CFTC has brought enforcement action against Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, for violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and other CFTC regulations.
Additionally, other agencies such as the Department of Justice, has the authority to consider whether or how section 21(a)(2) of the Glass-Steagall Act applies to certain stablecoin arrangements. Many advocates are particularly concerned with Facebook’s new pilot service that offers customers the ability to use Facebook’s Novi digital wallet together with the USDP (Pax dollar) stablecoin to transfer funds internationally. Section 21(a)(2) of the Glass-Steagall Act prohibits commercial entities and other nonbanks from offering financial products and services that are functionally equivalent to deposits (including customer balances similar to those held in Novi wallets that can be transferred by their owners to other parties using various types of payment media). We strongly encourage FSOC member agencies and the Biden Administration to work closely with the DOJ to determine where violations of section 21(a)(2) are being committed by Facebook-Novi and other stablecoin issuers or distributors.
There are significant barriers to the adoption of stablecoins as a payment mechanism, as most major businesses do not accept stablecoins for goods and services. In addition, stablecoins do not work today without cryptocurrency exchanges that are effectively free-riding alongside the existing banking system without complying with prudential banking regulations and investor protections. Retail customers must connect their bank accounts to cryptocurrency exchanges, and trade their stablecoins for U.S. dollars, in order to truly redeem stablecoins.
We strongly disagree with those in the private and public sectors who tout alleged future, hypothetical benefits of stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies but do not acknowledge the great risks posed by this “Wild West of finance” to borrow the phrase aptly used by SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, and those created by holding functionally equivalent banking services to totally different standards of regulation.
Instead of supporting an underegulated, private form of money that poses unacceptable risks and primarily benefits a small group of commercial actors, members of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) should consider the merits of adopting the technology underpinning Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) or FedNow. CBDCs or FedNow could potentially fill the need for a faster and more efficient, payment system that would also be well regulated and accountable to the goal of advancing equity without creating a host of investor and consumer protection, financial stability, and national security risks and concerns.
Sincerely, | https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/2021/12/letters-to-regulators-letter-urging-fsoc-to-take-action-against-stablecoin-issuers/ |
Child Custody Motions – Requirements and Pitfalls
Many individuals that get separated, whether they have a lawyer or not, believe that as soon as the divorce judgment is entered, the case is over. If you do not have children, lot of times that holds true, yet in family law, nothing is forever. Many Judiciaries won’t tell you that, and several lawyers who exercise family law will not recommend customers about the reality that custody, parenting time, child support, and failures to abide by the terms of a judgment of divorce, in addition to a list of other potential problems, are all reviewable by a Court and can change, if one party can prove to the Court that a change is essential. Apart from child and spousal support, the most typical post-judgment motion for adjustment of a judgment in family law cases entails custody of a child or multiple children. When these motions are filed by unrepresented persons, or by attorneys who are not knowledgeable about family law, they are frequently unmerited or aren’t truly requesting a change in custody, but instead, are seeking to enhance or lower one party’s parenting time.
What is Child Custody?
While this might seem like a simple or dumb concern, it implies something very specific in Michigan law, and is typically misconstrued by both litigants and attorneys that practice in this field. In Michigan, the term “custody” is used as the colloquial for what family legal representatives know as “legal custody.” The term “legal custody” in its easiest iteration means, that gets to make significant decisions for the child, such as where they most likely to school, should they have a major medical procedure, or where does the child go to church and in what religious denomination should they be raised. Generally, the Courts accept a joint legal custody model, which permits both parents to have input in these decisions, and require that both parents review those issues and agree before a choice is made. Frequently, what we call legal custody in Michigan is not what individuals consider initially when they talk about or consider child custody. A lot of people think of who physically has the children with them and for what quantity of time. Informally, this kind of custody is referred to as “physical custody.” In Michigan, while several Courts recognize motions for adjustments to physical custody, in Michigan, the term “physical custody” is not generally acknowledged as the proper terminology to use for this idea. Instead, the Courts and most attorneys that exercise in this area, speak about “parenting time,” when determining how much time each parent should have with the minor children.
Evaluating Adjustments in Child Custody.
Initially, litigants need to know what they are asking the Court to do. When a parent intends to make a motion to alter custody, good lawyers will ensure to learn precisely what it is the client wishes to do. Sometimes, a motion to boost or reduce parenting time is more appropriate, and in many cases, is much easier to prove. Sometimes, a party may only wish to ask the Court to decide on a legal custody issue where the parents can not agree, even though they might generally agree regarding other decisions. Some examples would be a change of school districts (change of schools motion), or a motion for one parent to relocate more than one hundred miles from the child’s current county of residence (change of domicile motion). Much of those sub-categories of change of custody motions have certain and various requirements that have to be verified to the Court in order for a party to be successful. Nonetheless, when a parent does in fact wish to transform legal custody of a child, there is a set of legal procedures that a party have to show the Court both in their motion, and, eventually, through proof offered at a hearing.
Custody Hearings Call For Process and Patience.
Informing the Court that the other party misbehaves and will not agree with you concerning anything is not going to be enough to change legal custody, even if that holds true. The other party will simply claim you are at fault and the Court will certainly have no way to decide that is actually the bad actor. In those scenarios, the Court simply shakes its finger at both parties and says “get along and identify a means to make things work.” In cases where one parent really is the troublemaker, that result is really aggravating. Instead, there is a process and procedure through which custody motions should be presented and argued, which a skilled family law lawyer can give help in doing. In all custody motions, the party that wants an adjustment needs to reveal that that there has actually been a “change in circumstances” that has actually happened since the last custody order was entered by the Court. The change can’t be a regular life change (puberty, changing from middle to high school, getting dental braces), but need to be considerable change in the life of the child that has an impact on their each day life. Due to the fact that each situation is distinct, litigants should talk to counsel about their situation prior to identifying whether the adjustment that parent is affirming satisfies the legal needs. If you can show a modification in conditions, after that the Court has to identify whether the child has an established custodial environment (ECE) with one, both, or neither parent. An ECE exists where the Court finds that the child or children look to the parent for love, advice, affection and the necessities of life. The ECE decision by the Court establishes the standard of proof the relocating party will need to reach in order to acquire the requested modification of custody. If the Court establishes that the ECE will not transform as a result of granting the moving party’s motion, after that the standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence (simply a little bit greater than 50%) that the modification of custody would certainly remain in the child’s best interests. If the ECE will change as a result of the motion, after that the standard of proof is clear and convincing proof (simply a bit less than the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt and significantly greater than preponderance of the proof) that the change would certainly remain in the child’s best interests.
Best Interests of the Child Standard.
If a change of circumstances has been shown, and the Court has made its determination regarding established custodial environment, after that, regardless of the standard of proof, the Court will certainly take into consideration the best interests of the minor child. Several litigants think that the more bad things they can say about the other parent, the more likely they are to win. Nonetheless, that is frequently not true. As a matter of fact, the Courts generally pay little attention to the feelings of the parties for each other. Rather, they are concentrated on what is best for the child and the child’s well-being. Frequently, if a parent is vehemently and aggressively denouncing or attacking the other party, the Court will certainly look upon that with suspicion, and will typically begin an inquiry regarding whether or not the aggressive parent is stating negative features of the other party in front of the child. If the Court thinks that is occurring, that can back fire, and cause the parent looking for the modification to actually lose parenting time or possibly custody of the child where they had started out attempting to get more. The Court is not thinking about the back and forth between moms and dads. They have to concentrate on the twelve best interest factors set forth in the Child Custody Act when making their determination regarding exactly how to decide a custody motion. Another common mistaken belief is that the variables are a basic mathematical calculation: if more factors favor one parent than the other, the parent with more should get custody. The Courts have expressly denied this type of mathematical calculation, and instead, have actually talked about the complex interplay of the factors and the weight that Courts should provide to each one.
Bottom Line.
Custody motions are complicated. Most litigants are ill equipped to manage them without legal aid. Whether you desire to submit a motion, or if you are defending one, knowledgeable legal advise is important. Family law lawyers understand the intricacies of these motions and what it takes to be successful in submitting one. If you are thinking of submitting such a motion for a change of custody, parenting time, or any of the sub-issues that arise from legal custody disagreements, your best choice is to consult with a knowledgeable family law lawyer who can help you make the very best decision for your conditions. | http://www.halfpastnewn.com/child-custody-motions-requirements-and-pitfalls/ |
The Virgen del Rocío hospital complex, which opened in 1955, has become one of the most important hospitals in Europe because of its size. Today it has grown to include seven hospitals and two specialist centres, with 1,750 beds and 8,300 staff. It also has a reputation as a national reference centre for pathology. In 2002, Virgen del Rocío started a project for developing and implementing an information system combining document management functionality with clinical workstation, electronic patient record and knowledge management capabilities. This innovative approach has culminated in the development of an information system of national renown, whose success has led to the exportation of the model to other hospitals located in Spain and Europe.
A new information system
In 2002, the Virgen del Rocío Hospital had already centralised its eight medical record files in the Advanced Clinical Documentation Centre, which contains nearly 2.5 million paper medical records. The hospital information system (HIS) that was originally deployed addressed the administrative necessities but it did not provide a solution for the clinical processes development. The hospital had an increasing number of disparate and nonintegrated information systems. In addition, the electronic patient record systems analysed in the market did not offer either the functional or technical requirements for working with such information volume and number of users.
We proposed the selection of a professional document management platform that would be used for the construction of the Virgen del Rocío’s corporative clinical workstation with several very clearly defined targets:
- It must be the working tool of clinicians, helping them with the daily medical tasks and reaching a level of support for clinical processes not covered by any other systems.
- It must have the following characteristics: simplicity, usability, versatility and stability.
- The clinical professionals must cooperate with the project not only in the analysis and design, but also at every project stage.
- It must keep the current information systems map, maximising their value without requiring replacements.
- It must make the integration and the integrated management of the data possible – including the information dispersed across the seven hospitals and in their respective information systems.
- It must be oriented to information and knowledge, taking advantage of such data volumes to provide knowledge management and research capabilities.
- The proposal must demonstrate a quick return on investment.
After a benchmarking analysis with the help of DMR Consulting, Documentum (EMC) was selected as the best solution for the new information system. After a further public tender, Virgen del Rocío counted on DMR Consulting again to construct SIDCA, the new clinical workstation, electronic patient record and advanced clinical documentation management system.
Current situation
Today, the system has 2,230 users distributed among 1,059 doctors, 887 nurses and 212 clerks. It is running in hospital services from anaesthesia and reanimation to urology. The clinical workstation has over 1.3 million electronic patient records and manages more than 4.5 million clinical episodes. Tables 1 and 2 show several indicators that represent an approach to the volume of the information manager.
[[HHE06_table1_IT32]]
[[HHE06_table2_IT33]]
Benefits of the new information system
The Virgen del Rocío clinical workstation has been deployed for three years and provides the following benefits to the hospital:
- Immediate access to clinical information reduces time to diagnosis and increases productivity.
- Provides clinicians with the maximum level of available information, to provide safer patient care and to reduce the possibility of preventable medical errors.
- Enabling timely access to patient information has reduced repetition of tests such as laboratory samples, imaging scans and diagnostic exams.
- Improves the services provided and the quality perceived by the patient.
- Acts as a fundamental tool for clinicians, making possible the advance exploitation of the clinical compiled information, both for measuring the quality and for obtaining management indicators.
- Improves the investment return in the existing information systems, because now the hospital has better capacities for managing and exploiting of the information that was dispersed and with difficulty accessible before.
- Increases hospital efficiency and efficacy in clinical research and, as a consequence, the financing of research projects by national and international agencies.
- It is improving the work and efficiency of the hospital’s Quality Committee.
Conclusions
Deploying a document management platform has enabled the hospital to establish common practices for managing complex patient information across the healthcare enterprise. This solution now allows clinical professionals to gain immediate access to clinical documentation, complementary tests and medical images to provide safer, clinical care.
The clinical workstation developed by Virgen del Rocío serves as an excellent example of how a healthcare organisation can benefit from the deployment of a comprehensive document management strategy to enhance safe and efficient patient care delivery. This unique and and innovative technological approach and architectural design has resulted in the realisation of a renowned information system that can be leveraged by other hospitals in Spain and Europe. | https://hospitalhealthcare.com/news/accelerating-clinical-workflow-at-the-virgen-del-rocio-hospital-complex/ |
David Newnam knows all about the East Frankfort Kiwanis Invitational baseball tournament, having played in it twice in the late 1990s.
When last year’s tournament ended up having a lineup of three teams, the athletics/program director with the City of Frankfort Parks and Recreation Department decided it was time to get to work on this year’s event.
“EFK will be involved,” Newnam said. “This will be their 58th year running this historic event.”
The tournament, which in the past featured all-star teams from recreational leagues across the state, will have 12 teams this year in the 12-year-old age division. Two of the teams are all-star teams, and the rest are traveling squads.
The tournament will take place next weekend.
“As a kid, playing at State Stadium’s historic field and legendary stadium, it was one of a kind,” Newnam said. “I’ve played baseball all across the state, and I’ve never seen a facility as unique and historic as State Stadium.”
The tournament will have pool play on Saturday and go to single-elimination play on Sunday with games at Paul Weddle Field at State Stadium and East Frankfort Park.
The event kicks off with an opening ceremony Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a home run derby.
Games will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and the championship game is tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday.
Because most traveling teams are actually organizations that have teams of different ages, there will be three other age divisions competing over the weekend.
The traditional EFK tournament will have 12 teams composed of 12-year-old players. The other age divisions competing are 8-, 10- and 14-year-olds, with the possibility of an 11-year-old division.
Those divisions will play at Capitol View Park, and each division will crown a tournament champion.
Tournament organizers are expecting six to eight teams in each division.
Working on the tournament with Newnam are Anthony Russell and Deron McDonald.
“They’ve been a huge asset,” Newnam said.
The trio is happy to help EFK continue the tournament.
“This benefits their sports scholarships,” Newnam said of the tournament. “They assist with funding for kids to participate in athletics who might not be able to otherwise.”
And after 58 years, there are plenty of people in town who have participated in the EFK tournament. | https://www.state-journal.com/local_sports/efk-tournament-undergoing-revitalization/article_85d18df6-a502-11e9-b187-1b0d52cddf6d.html |
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – For the second time this week, a lawsuit was filed against the University of Southern California alleging that it is benefiting from the coronavirus pandemic by refusing to issue partial refunds for spring semester fees.
The class action lawsuit, alleging breach of contract, was filed by "Jane Doe,quot; attorneys on behalf of all college students who paid spring fees.
In a statement Thursday, USC said it was "disappointed,quot; by the lawsuit, adding that it believes "the evidence will show that USC took extraordinary steps to ensure the continuity of the educational experience for its students." That information will become clear when we defend the university against the lawsuit. "
"Led by its committed and dedicated faculty, USC turned around immediately to provide quality instruction in an online format when the entire world was affected by COVID-19," the USC statement read. “The faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to connect with students to ensure that academic work continues on track and that progress toward completion of a USC degree continues. This is an unprecedented time for all educators, but with hard work and rigor, we have maintained our academic standards during the transition to online learning that Safer at Home requests require.
“Our priority is the education and well-being of our students. We will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials and make decisions that are in the best interest of the entire USC community. "
On Tuesday, a separate class action lawsuit was filed against the university. The plaintiffs in the first complaint shared a similar argument, alleging breach of contract over USC's refusal to reimburse portions of the student fees after the university was forced to close the campus due to COVID-19.
Last week, USC Chancellor Charles F. Zukoski, the school will not issue partial refunds for the spring semester, because the quality of education has not changed as classes have changed online.
"While this is not the semester that any of us envision, we continue to provide a high-quality education, ensure academic progress toward the degree, and offer a strong learning environment," Zukoski said in an email to the campus community. "Whether our instructors present their classes in person or online, they bring the same experience, depth of knowledge, and commitment to their teaching, and students continue to earn credits toward a USC degree."
A day earlier, class action lawsuits were filed against the University of California and California State University systems with similar complaints.
The proposed class action lawsuits, filed "on behalf of all those who paid fees,quot; for the academic semester or spring 2020 trimester at any of the CSU or UC campuses, allege that despite completing most of the activities of the campus, CSU and UC unfairly and illegally refused to offer refunds for the unused portion of their mandatory campus fees.
The fees covered the use of health facilities, health services, instructional activities, student association fees, and the use of student centers, according to the plaintiffs.
"The crisis has already disrupted the lives of students and the decisions of CSU and UC only serve to exacerbate their pain," said Adam Levitt, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys. "Through these lawsuits, we encourage CSU and UC to reconsider their positions and make more just, legal, and empathetic decisions for their students and their families." | |
TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a light-emitting device, a method of manufacturing the same and an electronic apparatus.
BACKGROUND
With the characteristics of a full solid state, active light emission, high luminance, a high contrast, ultra-thinness, ultra-lightness, low power consumption, no viewing-angle limitation, a wide working temperature range, or the like, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) is the third-generation display technology following a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display and an LCD (Liquid Crystal display).
SUMMARY
At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a light-emitting device, which includes:
a silicon-based base substrate;
at least one organic light-emitting diode device at the silicon-based base substrate;
a first encapsulation layer, at a side of the at least one organic light-emitting diode device away from the silicon-based base substrate and comprising one or more sublayers;
a color filter layer, at a side of the first encapsulation layer away from the at least one organic light-emitting diode device; and
a second encapsulation layer, at a side of the color filter layer away from the first encapsulation layer and comprising one or more sublayers,
wherein a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the first encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the second encapsulation layer. For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first encapsulation layer comprises a first encapsulation sublayer and a second encapsulation sublayer which are laminated, and the second encapsulation sublayer is at a side of the first encapsulation sublayer away from the organic light-emitting diode device, and comprises at least one layer of first high-molecular polymer molecules.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first high-molecular polymer molecules comprise parylene molecules.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first encapsulation sublayer has a multi-layer structure.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first encapsulation sublayer comprises an inorganic material.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first encapsulation sublayer comprises a first sub-film layer and a second sub-film layer which are made of the inorganic material, and the second sub-film layer is at a side of the first sub-film layer away from the organic light-emitting diode device.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refractive index of the first sub-film layer is greater than a refractive index of the second sub-film layer; and
the refractive index of the second sub-film layer is greater than or equal to a refractive index of the second encapsulation sublayer.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the color filter layer comprises a plurality of color filter subunits, and the plurality of color filter subunits have at least two colors and are arranged in an array.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, any two adjacent color filter subunits of different colors overlap partially; and
a portion of each of the plurality of color filter subunits overlapping with an adjacent color filter subunit of a different color corresponds to an inter-pixel area, and a portion of each of the plurality of color filter subunits not overlapping with the adjacent color filter subunit of the different color corresponds to a pixel area.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second encapsulation layer comprises a third encapsulation sublayer and a fourth encapsulation sublayer which are laminated;
the fourth encapsulation sublayer is at a side of the third encapsulation sublayer away from the color filter layer; and
the third encapsulation sublayer comprises second high-molecular polymer molecules.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the third encapsulation sublayer comprises at least one layer of the second high-molecular polymer molecules.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second high-molecular polymer molecules comprise parylene molecules.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fourth encapsulation sublayer comprises an inorganic material.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refractive index of the third encapsulation sublayer is greater than a refractive index of the fourth encapsulation sublayer.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an absolute value of a difference between refractive indexes of the first sub-film layer and the second encapsulation sublayer is greater than an absolute value of a difference between the refractive indexes of the third encapsulation sublayer and the fourth encapsulation sublayer.
For example, the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure further comprises a cover plate,
wherein the cover plate is at a side of the second encapsulation layer away from the color filter layer; and
a projection of the second encapsulation layer on the silicon-based base substrate is within a projection of the cover plate on the silicon-based base substrate.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an area of the projection of the second encapsulation layer on the silicon-based base substrate is less than an area of the projection of the cover plate on the silicon-based base substrate.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a projection of the first encapsulation layer on the silicon-based base substrate is within a projection of the second encapsulation layer on the silicon-based base substrate.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an area of the projection of the first encapsulation layer on the silicon-based base substrate is less than an area of the projection of the second encapsulation layer on the silicon-based base substrate.
At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a light-emitting device, which includes:
a silicon-based base substrate;
at least one organic light-emitting diode device at the silicon-based base substrate;
a first inorganic encapsulation layer, at a side of the at least one organic light-emitting diode device away from the silicon-based base substrate;
a second inorganic encapsulation layer, at a side of the first inorganic encapsulation layer away from the silicon-based base substrate;
a first organic encapsulation layer, at a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the silicon-based base substrate;
a color filter layer, at a side of the first organic encapsulation layer away from the silicon-based base substrate;
a second organic encapsulation layer, at a side of the color filter layer away from the silicon-based base substrate; and
a third inorganic encapsulation layer, at a side of the second organic encapsulation layer away from the silicon-based base substrate,
wherein a refractive index of the first inorganic encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of the second inorganic encapsulation layer,
the second inorganic encapsulation layer, the first organic encapsulation layer and the second organic encapsulation layer have refractive indexes which are substantially the same, and
the refractive index of the second organic encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of the third inorganic encapsulation layer.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an absolute value of a difference between the refractive indexes of the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer is greater than an absolute value of a difference between the refractive indexes of the second organic encapsulation layer and third inorganic encapsulation layer.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first inorganic encapsulation layer comprises silicon nitride;
the second inorganic encapsulation layer comprises aluminum oxide;
each of the first and second organic encapsulation layers comprises at least one layer of parylene molecules; and
the third inorganic encapsulation layer comprises silicon oxide.
For example, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation layer in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the silicon-based base substrate is greater than a thickness of the second inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate;
a thickness of the first organic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate is greater than the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate;
the first organic encapsulation layer and the second organic encapsulation layer have substantially same thicknesses in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate;
the thickness of the second organic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate is greater than a thickness of the third inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate; and
the thickness of the third inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate is greater than the thickness of the second inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate, and less than the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicon-based base substrate.
At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device, which includes:
providing an organic light-emitting diode substrate, wherein the organic light-emitting diode substrate comprises a silicon-based base substrate and at least one organic light-emitting diode device at the silicon-based base substrate;
forming a first encapsulation layer at a side of the at least one organic light-emitting diode device away from the silicon-based base substrate;
forming a color filter layer at a side of the first encapsulation layer away from the at least one organic light-emitting diode device; and
forming a second encapsulation layer at a side of the color filter layer away from the first encapsulation layer,
wherein a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the first encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the second encapsulation layer.
For example, in the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the forming the first encapsulation layer comprises:
forming a first encapsulation sublayer and a second encapsulation sublayer which are laminated, wherein the second encapsulation sublayer is at a side of the first encapsulation sublayer away from the organic light-emitting diode device, the second encapsulation sublayer is formed by a molecular layer deposition method and the second encapsulation sublayer comprises at least one layer of first high-molecular polymer molecules.
For example, in the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first encapsulation sublayer comprises a first sub-film layer and a second sub-film layer which are made of an inorganic material, the second sub-film layer is at a side of the first sub-film layer away from the organic light-emitting diode device; and the first high-molecular polymer molecules comprise parylene molecules.
For example, in the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refractive index of the first sub-film layer is greater than a refractive index of the second sub-film layer; and
the refractive index of the second sub-film layer is greater than or equal to a refractive index of the second encapsulation sublayer.
For example, in the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the forming the color filter layer comprises:
forming a plurality of color filter subunits, wherein the plurality of color filter subunits have at least two colors and are arranged in an array, and any two adjacent color filter subunits of different colors overlap partially.
For example, in the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the forming the second encapsulation layer comprises:
forming a third encapsulation sublayer and a fourth encapsulation sublayer which are laminated, wherein the fourth encapsulation sublayer is at a side of the third encapsulation sublayer away from the color filter layer, the third encapsulation sublayer comprises at least one layer of second high-molecular polymer molecules, and the fourth encapsulation sublayer comprises an inorganic material.
For example, in the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refractive index of the third encapsulation sublayer is greater than a refractive index of the fourth encapsulation sublayer.
For example, in the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an absolute value of a difference between the refractive indexes of the first sub-film layer and the second encapsulation sublayer is greater than an absolute value of a difference between the refractive indexes of the third encapsulation sublayer and the fourth encapsulation sublayer.
For example, the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure further comprises:
forming a cover plate at a side of the second encapsulation layer away from the color filter layer,
wherein a projection of the second encapsulation layer on the silicon-based base substrate is within a projection of the cover plate on the silicon-based base substrate.
At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an electronic apparatus comprising the light-emitting device according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described in the following; it is obvious that the described drawings are only related to some embodiments of the present disclosure and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1
is a schematic structural diagram of a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2
is a schematic structural diagram of a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3
is a schematic structural diagram of a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4
is a schematic structural diagram of a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5
is a schematic structural diagram of a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6
is a schematic structural diagram of a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional view of part of a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 8
is a schematic flow chart of a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 9
is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In order to make objects, technical details and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure apparent, the technical solutions of the embodiments will be described in a clearly and fully understandable way in connection with the drawings related to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the described embodiments are just a part but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on the described embodiments herein, those skilled in the art can obtain other embodiment(s), without any inventive work, which should be within the scope of the present disclosure.
Unless otherwise defined, all the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. The terms “first,” “second,” etc., which are used in the description and the claims of the present application for invention, are not intended to indicate any sequence, amount or importance, but distinguish various components. Also, the terms such as “a,” “an,” etc., are not intended to limit the amount, but indicate the existence of at least one. The terms “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” etc., are intended to specify that the elements or the objects stated before these terms encompass the elements or the objects and equivalents thereof listed after these terms, but do not preclude the other elements or objects. The phrases “connect”, “connected”, etc., are not intended to define a physical connection or mechanical connection, but may include an electrical connection, directly or indirectly. “On,” “under,” “right,” “left” and the like are only used to indicate relative position relationship, and when the position of the object which is described is changed, the relative position relationship may be changed accordingly.
Some components of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, particularly electrodes and an organic light-emitting diode located therein, are sensitive to external environmental factors, such as oxygen, water vapor, or the like, and in actual use, the device is required to be encapsulated hermetically to isolate the device from the water vapor and the oxygen, thereby prolonging a service life of the OLED. For a display in which colorization is implemented by a white light OLED in conjunction with a color filter, use of TFE (thin film encapsulation) and the color filter tends to result in an increased overall thickness of the device, thereby reducing a viewing angle of the device and affecting a display effect of the whole display. Therefore, reduction of the thickness of an encapsulation layer is important for the OLED display. Further, if exposed to an external environment for a long time, the color filter tends to age and lose efficacy.
A silicon-based organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device has a silicon substrate as a base substrate, has the advantages of a small volume, a high resolution, or the like, and is manufactured using a mature CMOS integrated circuit process, a pixel may be actively addressed, various functional circuits, including a TCON (timing control) circuit, an OCP (operation control) circuit, or the like, may be manufactured at a silicon-based substrate, and a light weight may be achieved.
At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a light-emitting device, including:
a silicon-based base substrate;
at least one organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device on the silicon-based base substrate;
a first encapsulation layer at a side of the at least one OLED device away from the silicon-based base substrate and including one or more sublayers;
a color filter layer at a side of the first encapsulation layer away from the at least one OLED device; and
a second encapsulation layer at a side of the color filter layer away from the first encapsulation layer and including one or more sublayers,
wherein a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the first encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the second encapsulation layer.
FIGS. 1 to 7
A light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to . In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same elements.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
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is a schematic structural diagram of a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in , the light-emitting device includes a base substrate , at least one OLED device and a first encapsulation layer . The first encapsulation layer is at a side of the at least one OLED device away from the base substrate . The light-emitting device further includes a color filter layer and a second encapsulation layer . The color filter layer is at a side of the first encapsulation layer away from the OLED device , and the second encapsulation layer is at a side of the color filter layer away from the first encapsulation layer . A refractive index of at least one sublayer in the first encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the second encapsulation layer .
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FIG. 1
The base substrate may support and protect various layers or elements formed thereon, and is configured as a silicon substrate (for example, a bulk silicon substrate made of a single crystal silicon material or a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate). The base substrate may include a pixel circuit, a gate drive circuit, a data drive circuit, or the like, for driving the respective OLED devices (a detailed structure of the base substrate is not shown in ). The pixel circuit may be configured as a normal 2T1C or 4T1C pixel circuit, or a pixel circuit having functions of internal compensation, external compensation, or the like, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the gate drive circuit (not shown) is configured to generate a gate drive signal, the data drive circuit (not shown) is configured to generate a data signal, and the gate drive circuit and the data drive circuit may have conventional circuit structures in the art, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.
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In the case where the base substrate is configured as a silicon substrate, the pixel circuit, the gate drive circuit, the data drive circuit, or the like, for driving the OLED device may be formed at the base substrate by a semiconductor process (including, but not limited to, ion implantation, thermal oxidation, physical vapor deposition, a grinding process, a via process, or the like). The base substrate may also have other peripheral circuit structures formed thereon, such as a bonding structure, a sensor structure, or the like, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.
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The OLED device may include a cathode, an anode and an organic light-emitting layer sandwiched therebetween, and holes injected from the anode and electrons injected from the cathode are combined in the organic light-emitting layer to form excitons which fall from an excited state to a ground state to emit light. The OLED device may emit red, blue, green or white light. In the case where the OLED device emits white light, a color filter may further be provided in a light outgoing direction of the display device to convert the white light into colored light, thereby implementing a colorized display device. The electrode of the OLED device close to the base substrate is electrically connected with the pixel circuit at the base substrate to receive the drive signal generated by the pixel circuit for driving the OLED device . In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a top-emission type light-emitting device will be described as an example. That is, light is emitted out from the light-emitting device in a direction away from the base substrate . However, it should be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The electrode of the OLED device away from the base substrate may be at least partially transparent, and the electrode of the OLED device close to the base substrate may be configured as a reflective electrode. The electrode of the OLED device away from the base substrate serves as one of the anode and the cathode, and the electrode of the OLED device close to the base substrate serves as the other of the anode and the cathode, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.
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In some embodiments, the OLED device may further include at least one of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron injection layer and an electron transport. At least one of the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer may further be provided between the anode and the organic light-emitting layer, and at least one of the electron transport layer and the electron injection layer may be provided between the organic light-emitting layer and the cathode. The organic light-emitting layer, the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, the electron transport layer and the electron injection layer may include organic materials, and thus may be referred to as organic layers.
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FIG. 2
The OLED device may be sealed by the first encapsulation layer which prevents external oxygen and moisture from penetrating into the OLED device . As shown in , in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first encapsulation layer may include a first encapsulation sublayer and a second encapsulation sublayer which are laminated. The second encapsulation sublayer is at a side of the first encapsulation sublayer away from the OLED device , and includes at least one layer of first high-molecular polymer molecules.
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The first encapsulation sublayer may be formed at the OLED device with methods, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) (for example, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)), ion plating, atomic layer deposition (ALD), or the like. The first encapsulation sublayer may be made of an inorganic material, which may be, for example, at least one of aluminum nitride, silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxynitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, diamond-like carbon, or the like.
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The second encapsulation sublayer may be formed at the side of the first encapsulation sublayer away from the OLED device with, for example, a molecular layer deposition (MLD) method. The second encapsulation sublayer may be made of a high-molecular polymer material, which may be, for example, one of: parylene, acrylic resins, methacrylic resins, polyisoprene, vinyl resins, epoxy resins, urethane resins, cellulose resins, perylene resins, or the like. A thickness of the second encapsulation sublayer may be controlled precisely with the MLD method, and the second encapsulation sublayer may include the at least one layer of high-molecular polymer molecules which is made of any one of the above-mentioned high-molecular polymers. For example, when made of parylene, the second encapsulation sublayer may include a single layer of parylene molecules, two layers of parylene molecules, three layers of parylene molecules, five layers of parylene molecules, ten layers of parylene molecules, or the like. For example, each layer is configured as a monomolecular layer. For example, the second encapsulation sublayer made of parylene molecules may have a thickness of 100 angstroms (Å), 500 angstroms (Å), 1000 angstroms (Å), 5000 angstroms (Å), or the like.
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The first encapsulation sublayer made of the inorganic material is covered with the second encapsulation sublayer , thereby achieving a function of planarizing the first encapsulation sublayer , and the second encapsulation sublayer may also play a role of releasing a stress of the first encapsulation sublayer .
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Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, in the MLD method, a single layer of molecules is formed per cycle, the thickness of the second encapsulation sublayer may be controlled precisely, and angstrom-level (Å-level) thickness control may be realized, thereby reducing the thickness of the encapsulation layer and thus the overall thickness of the light-emitting device and increasing the viewing angle of the light-emitting device , compared to other methods, such as ink-jet printing, or the like, which would typically form a film layer having a thickness of several microns.
FIG. 2
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It should be understood that although shows a case where the first encapsulation layer includes one first encapsulation sublayer and one second encapsulation sublayer , in other embodiments, the first encapsulation layer may also include more first encapsulation sublayers and more second encapsulation sublayers . For example, in some embodiments, the first encapsulation layer may include a plurality of first encapsulation sublayers and a plurality of second encapsulation sublayers , wherein the first and second encapsulation sublayers , may be stacked alternately.
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FIG. 3
Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first encapsulation sublayer may also have a multi-layer structure formed by numerous layers of the above-mentioned inorganic materials. shows an example of the first encapsulation sublayer including a first sub-film layer and a second sub-film layer at a side of the first sub-film layer away from the OLED device , and the first and second sub-film layers , may be made of any one of the above-mentioned inorganic materials. Similarly, in some embodiments, the second encapsulation sublayer may also have a multi-layer structure formed by numerous layers of the above-mentioned high-molecular polymer materials.
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In some embodiments, a refractive index of the first sub-film layer is greater than a refractive index of the second sub-film layer which has a refractive index greater than or equal to a refractive index of the second encapsulation sublayer . For example, the first sub-film layer may be made of silicon nitride (SiNx) having a refractive index of 1.85, the second sub-film layer may be made of aluminum oxide having a refractive index of 1.6, and the second encapsulation sublayer may be made of parylene having a refractive index of 1.6.
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For example, the first sub-film layer made of silicon nitride (SiNx) may have a thickness of 1000 angstroms (Å), 2000 angstroms (Å), 3000 angstroms (Å), or the like, and the second sub-film layer made of aluminum oxide may have a thickness of 500 angstroms (Å), 1000 angstroms (Å), or the like.
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FIG. 3
The color filter layer is at the side of the first encapsulation layer away from the OLED device . In , the color filter layer is at a side of the second encapsulation sublayer away from the OLED device , and the second encapsulation sublayer is used as a base layer of the color filter layer , thereby preventing the first encapsulation layer from being damaged by a manufacturing procedure of the color filter layer . The color filter layer is at a light outgoing path of the light-emitting device , and may convert light emitted by the OLED device into light of another color. The color filter layer may be made of known materials by known manufacturing methods in the art, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the second encapsulation sublayer may be made of parylene molecules having good stability, and may be used as a base layer of the color filter layer , thereby preventing the first encapsulation layer from being damaged by the manufacturing procedure of the color filter layer .
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FIG. 4
In some embodiments, the color filter layer may include a plurality of color filter subunits arranged in an array and having at least two colors. For example, as shown in , the color filter layer may include a red color filter subunit , a green color filter subunit and a blue color filter subunit which are arranged in an array, although it should be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
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In some embodiments, among the plurality of color filter subunits of the color filter layer , any two adjacent color filter subunits of different colors overlap partially. For example, the green color filter subunit overlaps with the adjacent red and blue color filter subunits , in corresponding non-light-emitting areas between green pixels and red pixels and between green pixels and blue pixels respectively. Therefore, the contrast of each pixel may be increased, and a cross color may be reduced, without forming a black matrix between the pixels.
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The second encapsulation layer is configured to encapsulate the color filter layer and prevent external oxygen and moisture from penetrating into the color filter layer and the OLED device . Furthermore, the second encapsulating layer is also configured to prevent the color filter layer from being damaged by a subsequent manufacturing procedure. The second encapsulation layer may be the same as or different from the first encapsulation layer , which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.
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In some embodiments, a projection of the first encapsulation layer on the base substrate is within a projection of the second encapsulation layer on the base substrate . For example, the area covered by the projection of the second encapsulation layer on the base substrate is greater than the area covered by the projection of the first encapsulation layer on the base substrate .
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Furthermore, both the first and second encapsulating layers , may come into contact with a surface of the base substrate to form a sealing structure, thereby implementing dual effective encapsulation of the OLED device (i.e., the first and second encapsulating layers , ), more effectively blocking water vapor, oxygen, or the like, and achieving the purposes of protecting the OLED device and prolonging the service life of the OLED device .
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As shown in , in some embodiments, the second encapsulation layer may include at least one third encapsulation sublayer made of a high-molecular polymer material and at least one fourth encapsulation sublayer made of an inorganic material. shows an example in which the second encapsulation layer includes one third encapsulation sublayer and one fourth encapsulation sublayer , although it should be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
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The third encapsulation sublayer may be formed at the side of the color filter layer away from the first encapsulation layer by, for example, the MLD method. The third encapsulation sublayer may be made of a high-molecular polymer material, which may be, for example, one of parylene, acrylic resins, methacrylic resins, polyisoprene, vinyl resins, epoxy resins, urethane resins, cellulose resins, perylene resins, or the like. A thickness of the third encapsulation sublayer may be controlled precisely by the MLD method, and the third encapsulation sublayer may include the at least one layer of high-molecular polymer molecules which is made of any one of the above-mentioned high-molecular polymers. For example, when the second encapsulation sublayer is made of parylene, the third encapsulation sublayer may include a single layer of parylene molecules, two layers of parylene molecules, three layers of parylene molecules, five layers of parylene molecules, ten layers of parylene molecules, or the like. It should be understood that the high-molecular polymer molecules forming the third encapsulation sublayer may be the same as or different from the high-molecular polymer molecules forming the second encapsulation sublayer , which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the second encapsulation sublayer made of parylene molecules may have a thickness of 100 angstroms (Å), 500 angstroms (Å), 1000 angstroms (Å), 5000 angstroms (Å), or the like.
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By means of the MLD method, the thickness of the third encapsulation sublayer may be controlled precisely, and angstrom-level (Å-level) thickness control may be realized, thereby reducing the thickness of the encapsulation layer and thus the overall thickness of the light-emitting device and increasing the viewing angle of the light-emitting device , compared to other methods, such as ink-jet printing, or the like, which would typically form a film layer having a thickness of several microns.
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The third encapsulation sublayer covers the color filter layer to planarize the color filter layer , thereby preventing the fourth encapsulation sublayer formed at the third encapsulation sublayer from being broken. Furthermore, the third encapsulation sublayer may serve as a buffer layer to reduce a stress of the fourth encapsulation sublayer formed thereon.
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The fourth encapsulation sublayer may be made of the inorganic material, which may be, for example, at least one of aluminum nitride, silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxynitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, diamond-like carbon, or the like. The fourth encapsulation sublayer may be formed at a side of the third encapsulation sublayer away from the third encapsulation sublayer by methods, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) (for example, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)), ion plating, atomic layer deposition (ALD), or the like. The fourth encapsulation sublayer may have a better effect of preventing oxygen and moisture penetration than the third encapsulation sublayer . It should be understood that the high-molecular polymer molecules forming the fourth encapsulation sublayer may be the same as or different from the high-molecular polymer molecules forming the first encapsulation sublayer , which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the fourth encapsulation sublayer may be made of silicon oxide and have a thickness of 1000 angstroms (Å).
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In some embodiments, a refractive index of the third encapsulation sublayer may be greater than a refractive index of the fourth encapsulation sublayer . For example, the third encapsulation sublayer may be made of parylene having a refractive index of 1.6, and the fourth encapsulation sublayer may be made of silicon oxide having a refractive index of 1.5.
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The color filter layer is sandwiched between the first and second encapsulation layers , and may release stresses of the first and second encapsulation layers , (for example, the first encapsulation sublayer in the first encapsulation layer and the fourth encapsulation sublayer in the second encapsulation layer ).
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In some embodiments, a refractive index of the first encapsulation layer may be greater than a refractive index of the second encapsulation layer , so as to enable a difference between the refractive indexes of the second encapsulation layer close to air and the air to be small, thereby increasing a light outgoing ratio. In an exemplary embodiment, an absolute value of the difference between refractive indexes of the first sub-film layer and the second encapsulation sublayer is greater than an absolute value of the difference between refractive indexes of the third and fourth encapsulation sublayers , . For example, the first sub-film layer may be made of silicon nitride (SiNx) having a refractive index of 1.85, the second encapsulation sublayer may be made of parylene having a refractive index of 1.6, the third encapsulation sublayer may be made of parylene having a refractive index of 1.6, and the fourth encapsulation sublayer may be made of silicon oxide having a refractive index of 1.5. Therefore, the difference between the refractive indexes of the first sub-film layer and the second encapsulation sublayer has the absolute value of 0.25 which is greater than an absolute value of 0.1 of the difference between the refractive indexes of the third and fourth encapsulation sublayers , .
FIG. 6
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As shown in , in at least one embodiment, the light-emitting device may further include a cover plate located at the side of the second encapsulation layer away from the color filter layer . The cover plate may be made of, for example, plastic, glass, or the like, prevent ingress of external oxygen and moisture and protect the second encapsulation layer . For example, the cover plate may be connected with the base substrate by a sealant to block ingress of water vapor, thereby prolonging the service life of the light-emitting device .
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For example, an attaching height of the sealant at the peripheral side of the cover plate is greater than ½ of a thickness of the cover plate and less than the thickness of the cover plate . That is, a distance between an upper edge of the sealant and an upper surface of the cover plate is less than ½ of the thickness of the cover plate , thus guaranteeing a sealing effect and preventing an increase of the thickness of the display device caused when the sealant is higher than the upper surface of the cover plate . By sealing between the peripheral side of the cover plate and the silica-based base substrate with the sealant , blockage of water and oxygen ingress is further guaranteed, and then the service life of the OLED display device is prolonged greatly.
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In some embodiments, a projection of the second encapsulation layer on the base substrate is within a projection of the cover plate on the base substrate . For example, the area covered by the projection of the cover plate on the base substrate is greater than the area covered by the projection of the second encapsulation layer on the base substrate .
FIG. 7
FIGS. 1 to 6
FIG. 7
FIGS. 1 to 6
FIGS. 1 to 6
FIGS. 1 to 6
FIGS. 1 to 6
FIG. 1
FIG. 7
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is a cross-sectional view of part of the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The base substrate in this embodiment is substantially the same as the base substrate shown in except that the structure of the base substrate is shown in more detail and a plurality of sub-pixels are shown in . It should be understood that the base substrate in this embodiment may be identical to or substantially the same as the base substrate shown in , and for conciseness of description, a detailed structure of the base substrate is not shown in . Certainly, the base substrate in this embodiment may also be different from the base substrate shown in , as long as corresponding functions may be achieved. It should be understood that the base substrate shown in also includes a plurality of sub-pixels which are not shown in for simplicity of description. In , the light-emitting device is defined to be an array area AA and a peripheral area PA.
FIG. 7
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In this embodiment, as shown in , the base substrate includes a silicon base , a pixel circuit , a light reflecting layer and an insulating layer which are laminated sequentially. The OLED device includes an anode layer , an organic light-emitting layer and a cathode layer which are laminated on the insulating layer sequentially. The anode layer is a transparent electrode layer.
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For example, the light reflecting layer may include a metal layer and a protective layer . The protective layer is laminated with the metal layer and at a side of the metal layer close to the silicon base . That is, the protective layer is at a surface of the metal layer close to the silicon base . Thus, the protective layer may prevent the metal layer from being oxidized. The metal layer is made of, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Since aluminum or an aluminum-copper alloy has a little resistance and high reflectivity, outgoing light luminance and outgoing light efficiency of a display panel may be improved. For example, the metal layer has a thickness in a range of 10 nm to 1000 nm. For example, the protective layer is made of a conductive material, such as titanium nitride (TiN). Since the protective layer is not provided at a surface of the metal layer close to the anode layer , light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer and passing through the anode layer and the insulating layer may be directly incident at the surface of the metal layer , thus reducing a loss of the light at the interface and increasing a light reflecting efficiency and the outgoing light luminance of the display panel. However, it should be understood that the protective layer may not be provided in the light reflecting layer.
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For example, the insulating layer is capable of transmitting light to allow the light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer to pass therethrough and reach the light reflecting layer to be reflected by the light reflecting layer .
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For example, the insulating layer includes a via hole filled with a metal member , and the light reflecting layer is electrically connected with the anode layer by the metal member . Thus, formation of a conductive channel in the insulating layer between the light reflecting layer and the anode layer facilitates transmission of an electric signal provided by the pixel circuit in the base substrate to the anode layer through the light reflecting layer . In this way, not only control over the OLED device by the pixel circuit is facilitated, but also a structure of the light-emitting device is more compact, which facilitates miniaturization of the device. Further, for example, the metal member is made of a metal material, such as a tungsten metal, and the via hole filled with tungsten metal is also referred to as a tungsten via hole (W-via). For example, in the case where the insulating layer has a larger thickness, formation of the tungsten via hole in the insulating layer may guarantee stability of a conductive path, and since the process of manufacturing the tungsten via hole is mature, the resulting insulating layer has good surface flatness, which facilitates reduction of a contact resistance between the insulating layer and the anode layer . It may be understood that the tungsten via hole is suitable for implementing electrical connections not only between the insulating layer and the anode layer , but also between the light reflecting layer and the pixel circuits , as well as electrical connection between other wiring layers.
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For example, the base substrate includes the pixel circuit , the pixel circuit and the light reflecting layer are electrically connected with each other, and the pixel circuit is used for driving the OLED device to emit light. The pixel circuit includes at least a driving transistor MO and a switching transistor (not shown), and the driving transistor MO and the light reflecting layer are electrically connected with each other. Thus, the electric signal for driving the OLED device may be transmitted to the anode layer through the light reflecting layer , thereby controlling the OLED device to emit light. For example, the driving transistor MO includes a gate electrode G, a source electrode S and a drain electrode D. The source electrode S of the driving transistor M is electrically connected to the light reflecting layer . When the driving transistor M is in a turned-on state and a saturation state, a drive current supplied by a power line may be transmitted to the anode layer through the source electrode S of the driving transistor M and the light reflecting layer under the control of a data voltage applied by the gate electrode. Due to a voltage difference between the anode and cathode layers , , an electric field is formed therebetween, the holes and the electrons are injected into the organic light-emitting layer respectively and combined, and thus the organic light-emitting layer emits light under the action of the electric field. It may be understood that in the driving transistor M, the positions of the source and drain electrodes S, D are interchangeable, and therefore one of the source and drain electrodes S, D may be connected with the light reflecting layer .
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FIG. 7
For example, the light-emitting device includes a plurality of sub-pixels (or pixel units), and shows three sub-pixels exemplarily, i.e., a red sub-pixel SP, a green sub-pixel SP and a blue sub-pixel SP. Each sub-pixel corresponds to a sub-pixel area of the base substrate . That is, each sub-pixel is provided therein with the independent OLED device and the driving transistor M.
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For example, the insulating layers in the three sub-pixels are integrally formed to facilitate fabrication. For example, as shown in , the insulating layer further includes an opening for exposing a pad , and the arrangement of the opening facilitates the electrical connection and signal communication between the pad and an external circuit. For example, the opening for exposing the pad is located in the peripheral area PA. The colors of the sub-pixels in the base substrate are merely illustrative, and other colors, such as yellow, white, or the like may be adopted.
FIG. 7
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For example, as shown in , a first encapsulation layer , a color filter layer , a second encapsulation layer and a cover plate are sequentially laminated on the cathode layer , the first encapsulation layer includes a first encapsulation sublayer and a second encapsulation sublayer , and the first encapsulation sublayer includes a first sub-film layer and a second sub-film layer ; the second encapsulation layer includes a third encapsulation sublayer and a fourth encapsulation sublayer .
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For example, in the light-emitting device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the OLED device including the anode layer , the organic light-emitting layer and the cathode layer , the first encapsulation layer , the color filter layer , the second encapsulation layer and the cover plate may be manufactured in a display panel factory, and in addition, in the same process, the insulating layer above the pad may be etched to expose and enable the pad to be bonded to a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board or a wire. Therefore, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, the base substrate including the light reflecting layer and the insulating layer and suitable for forming the OLED device may be manufactured by a wafer factory, and then the structure at the base substrate may be manufactured in the display panel factory, which not only reduces a manufacturing difficulty of the light reflecting layer , but also facilitates subsequent manufacturing procedures of the panel factory.
FIG. 7
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For example, as shown in , the color filter layer may include a red color filter subunit , a green color filter subunit and a blue color filter subunit which are arranged in an array, although it should be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
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In some embodiments, among the plurality of color filter subunits of the color filter layer , any two adjacent color filter subunits of different colors overlap partially. For example, the green color filter subunit overlaps with the adjacent red and blue color filter subunits , in corresponding non-light-emitting areas between green pixels and red pixels and between green pixels and blue pixels respectively.
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A portion of each color filter subunit overlapping with the adjacent color filter subunit of a different color corresponds to an inter-pixel area, and a portion of each color filter subunit not overlapping with the adjacent color filter subunit of the different color corresponds to a pixel area. The inter-pixel area mentioned here corresponds to the above-mentioned non-light-emitting area between adjacent pixels. As shown in , the portion of the red color filter subunit overlapping with the green color filter subunit corresponds to the inter-pixel area IPA, and the portion of the red color filter subunit not overlapping with the green color filter subunit corresponds to the area of the red sub pixel SP; the portion of the blue color filter subunit overlapping with the green color filter subunit corresponds to the inter-pixel area IPA, and the portion of the blue color filter subunit not overlapping with the green color filter subunit corresponds to the area of the blue sub pixel SP; the portion of the green color filter subunit overlapping with the red color filter subunit corresponds to the inter-pixel area IPA, the portion of the green color filter subunit overlapping with the blue color filter subunit corresponds to the inter-pixel area IPA, and the portion of the green color filter subunit not overlapping with the red and green color filter subunits , corresponds to the area of the green sub pixel SP. Therefore, the contrast of each pixel may be increased, and a cross color may be reduced, without forming a black matrix between the pixels.
At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a light-emitting device, including: a silicon-based base substrate, at least one organic light-emitting diode device at the silicon-based base substrate, a first inorganic encapsulation layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer and a first organic encapsulation layer. The first inorganic encapsulation layer is at a side of the at least one organic light-emitting diode device away from the silicon-based base substrate. The second inorganic encapsulation layer is at a side of the first inorganic encapsulation layer away from the base substrate. The first organic encapsulation layer is at a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the base substrate. The light-emitting device may further include a color filter layer, a second organic encapsulation layer and a third inorganic encapsulation layer. The color filter layer is at a side of the first organic encapsulation layer away from the base substrate. The second organic encapsulation layer is at a side of the color filter layer away from the base substrate. The third inorganic encapsulation layer is at a side of the second organic encapsulation layer away from the base substrate.
A refractive index of the first inorganic encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of the second inorganic encapsulation layer. The second inorganic, first organic and second organic encapsulation layers have refractive indexes which are substantially the same, and a refractive index of the second organic encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of the third inorganic encapsulation layer. It should be understood that in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the refractive indexes of the second inorganic, first organic and second organic encapsulation layers being substantially the same may mean that the refractive indexes are the same, are substantially the same, or have differences within a preset range. For example, any two of the refractive indexes of the second inorganic encapsulation layer and the first and second organic encapsulation layers has a difference within 5% to −5% of a compared refractive index.
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The base substrate , the OLED device , the first and second sub-film layers , and the second encapsulation sublayer in the above-mentioned embodiments are examples of the silicon-based base substrate, the organic light-emitting diode device, the first inorganic, second inorganic and first organic encapsulation layers in the present embodiment respectively. Furthermore, the color filter layer and the third and fourth encapsulation sublayers , in the above-mentioned embodiments are examples of the color filter layer and the second organic and third inorganic encapsulation layers in the present embodiment respectively. Description of the silicon-based base substrate, the organic light-emitting diode device, and the first inorganic, second inorganic, first organic, second organic and third inorganic encapsulation layers may refer to the above embodiments and will not be repeated in the present disclosure.
For example, an absolute value of the difference between the refractive indexes of the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer or the first organic encapsulation layer may be greater than an absolute value of the difference between the refractive indexes of the second organic and third inorganic encapsulation layers. For example, the first inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of silicon nitride (SiNx) having a refractive index of about 1.85, the second inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of aluminum oxide having a refractive index of about 1.6, both the first and second organic encapsulation layers may be made of parylene having a refractive index of about 1.6, and the third inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of silicon oxide having a refractive index of about 1.5. Thus, the difference between the refractive indexes of the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer or the first organic encapsulation layer has an absolute value of 0.25, which is greater than an absolute value of 0.1 of the difference between the refractive indexes of the second organic and third inorganic encapsulation layers.
For example, the first inorganic encapsulation layer may include silicon nitride, the second inorganic encapsulation layer may include aluminum oxide, each of the first and second organic encapsulation layers includes at least one layer of parylene molecules, and the third inorganic encapsulation layer includes silicon oxide, although it should be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
For example, the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation layer in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the base substrate may be greater than the thickness of the second inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate. The thickness of the first organic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate is greater than the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate. The first and second organic encapsulation layers have substantially the same thicknesses in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate. The thickness of the second organic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate is greater than the thickness of the third inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate. The thickness of the third inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate is greater than the thickness of the second inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate, and less than the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate. It should be understood that in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the thicknesses of the first and second organic encapsulation layers in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate being substantially the same may mean that the first and second organic encapsulation layers have the thicknesses which are the same, are substantially the same, or have a difference within a preset range in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate. For example, the thicknesses of the first and second organic encapsulation layers in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate have a difference within 5% to −5% of a compared thickness.
In some examples, the first inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of silicon nitride (SiNx) having a refractive index of about 1.85 and have a thickness in a range of about 2500 angstroms (Å) to 3500 angstroms (Å) in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate; the second inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of aluminum oxide having a refractive index of about 1.6 and have a thickness in a range of about 100 angstroms (Å) to 800 angstroms (Å) in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate; both the first and second organic encapsulation layers may be made of parylene having a refractive index of 1.6 and have a thicknesses in a range of about 4000 angstroms (Å) to 8000 angstroms (Å) in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate, and the third inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of silicon oxide having a refractive index of 1.5 and have a thickness of about 900 angstroms (Å) to 1500 angstroms (Å) in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate. For example, the first inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of silicon nitride (SiNx) having a refractive index of about 1.85 and have a thickness of about 3000 angstroms (Å) in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate; the second inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of aluminum oxide having a refractive index of about 1.6 and have a thickness of about 500 angstroms (Å) in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate; both the first and second organic encapsulation layers may be made of parylene having a refractive index of 1.6 and have thicknesses of about 5000 angstroms (Å) in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate, and the third inorganic encapsulation layer may be made of silicon oxide having a refractive index of 1.5 and have a thickness of about 1000 angstroms (Å) in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base substrate.
The light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure has a reduced total device thickness and an increased viewing angle, compared to a traditional OLED device. Furthermore, in the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the color filter layer may be prevented from aging and losing efficacy due to exposure to the external environment, thereby prolonging the service life of the light-emitting device.
FIG. 8
At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device, which may be used for manufacturing the light-emitting device according to any one of the above-mentioned embodiments. shows a schematic flow chart of a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 8
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As shown in , the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes steps S to S.
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Step S: providing an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) substrate. In step S, the OLED substrate includes a base substrate and at least one OLED device at the base substrate. Description of the base substrate and the OLED device may refer to the above embodiments and will not be repeated.
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Step S: forming a first encapsulation layer at a side of the at least one OLED device away from the base substrate.
In some embodiments, the first encapsulation layer includes a first encapsulation sublayer and a second encapsulation sublayer which are laminated, and the second encapsulation sublayer is at a side of the first encapsulation sublayer away from the OLED device, is formed by a molecular layer deposition method, and includes at least one layer of first high-molecular polymer molecules. For example, the first encapsulation sublayer may have a double-layer structure made of an inorganic material.
Description of the first encapsulation layer and the first and second encapsulation sublayers may refer to the above embodiments and will not be repeated.
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Step S: forming a color filter layer at a side of the first encapsulation layer away from the at least one OLED device. The color filter layer may be formed by manufacturing methods known in the art, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.
The color filter layer may include a plurality of color filter subunits arranged in an array and having at least two colors. Among the plurality of color filter subunits of the color filter layer, any two adjacent color filter subunits of different colors overlap partially.
In an example, the plurality of color filter subunits may include a red color filter subunit, a blue color filter subunit and a green color filter subunit, and the green color filter subunit may be formed at a side of the first encapsulation layer away from the OLED device first, the red and blue color filter subunits are then formed in sequence, and one end of each of the red and blue color filter subunits overlaps with one end of the green color filter subunit which is formed previously. By forming the color filter layer in this way, problems of peeling, mura, a non-uniform thickness, or the like, of the color filter layer may be solved.
Description of the color filter layer and the color filter subunit may refer to the above embodiments and will not be repeated.
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Step S: forming a second encapsulation layer at a side of the color filter layer away from the first encapsulation layer.
The second encapsulation layer includes a third encapsulation sublayer and a fourth encapsulation sublayer which are laminated, the fourth encapsulation sublayer is at a side of the third encapsulation sublayer away from the color filter layer, the third encapsulation sublayer includes at least one layer of second high-molecular polymer molecules, and the fourth encapsulation sublayer includes an inorganic material.
Description of the second encapsulation layer and the third and fourth encapsulation sublayers may refer to the above embodiments and will not be repeated.
In some embodiments, a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the first encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of at least one sublayer in the second encapsulation layer, so as to enable a difference between the refractive indexes of the second encapsulation layer closer to air and the air to be small, thereby increasing the light outgoing ratio.
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In at least one embodiment, the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device may further include: forming a cover plate at a side of the second encapsulation layer away from the color filter layer. The cover plate may prevent ingress of external oxygen and moisture and protect the second encapsulation layer. Description of the cover plate may refer to the above embodiments and will not be repeated.
The light-emitting device formed by the method of manufacturing the light-emitting device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure has a reduced total device thickness and an increased viewing angle, compared to a traditional OLED device. Furthermore, in the light-emitting device, the color filter layer may be prevented from aging and losing efficacy due to exposure to the external environment, thereby prolonging the service life of the light-emitting device.
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At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an electronic apparatus. is a schematic diagram of an electronic apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in , the electronic apparatus includes the light-emitting device according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the electronic apparatus may be configured as any product or component with a displaying function, such as a liquid crystal display television, a display, an OLED television, an electronic-paper display device, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a digital photo frame, a navigator, or the like.
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It should be noted that for clarity and simplicity of representation, not all constituent units of the electronic apparatus are given in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other structures which are not shown may be provided and arranged by those skilled in the art according to specific needs to achieve basic functions of the electronic apparatus , which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.
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Technical effects of the electronic apparatus according to the above-mentioned embodiments may refer to technical effects of the display device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not repeated here.
The following statements should be noted:
(1) The accompanying drawings involve only the structure(s) in connection with the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, and other structure(s) can be referred to common design(s).
(2) In case of no conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined to obtain new embodiments.
What are described above is related to the illustrative embodiments of the disclosure only and not limitative to the scope of the disclosure; the scopes of the disclosure are defined by the accompanying claims. | |
- This event has passed.
Illustrating Ideas: Simple Drawings with Big Meaning
September 10, 2019 @ 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
In order to “light the torch” we need a spark! This session is designed to spark ideas through simple drawings. Many people say they can’t draw, claiming, “I can’t even draw a stick figure!” But drawing is a skill everyone can learn. Best of all, it’s a skill that integrates visual, motor, and semantic information which can help you:
- Explain complex issues and processes
- Generate ideas
- Bring clarity
- Create cohesive memories
In this session, you will learn six basic “seed” shapes that will help you draw anything. You will also learn how to use simple drawings to enhance your facilitation skills, boost your visuals, and create memorable and useful tools for learning!
This program covers topics in the Innovation track.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) covered in this session: Leading Change (Creativity and Innovation, Vision) and Results Driven (Problem Solving).
Jeanette Passons is an instructional designer who loves to enhance the training she creates with fun and compelling visuals. Jeanette began her journey in the field of instructional design as a foreign language instructor in the U.S. Air Force. She has continued to bring her unique style of training visuals to the Defense Intelligence Agency, the FBI, and now the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Jeanette uses a variety of techniques- sketch-noting, whiteboard animation, graphic recording- to convey complex ideas with simple drawings. She is a compulsive doodler and is never without pen & paper. | https://www.trainingofficers.org/event/september-professional-development-program/ |
Wendy Rawlings and Joel Brouwer enjoy drinks outside a restaurant along Frenchmen Street. Frenchmen Street is in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood near the French Quarter. The street is a thriving mix of music, food and fun, and is one of the most unique and vibrant entertainment locations in New Orleans. | https://redstickstock.photoshelter.com/image/I0000vc48B0oguUc |
At Global Cybersecurity Forum in Riyadh, CEO warns that cybercriminals could plunge the world into chaos.
During the forum, Amin Nasser urged attendees to collaborate and adopt robust cybersecurity standards.
Cyber attackers could plunge the world into “complete chaos” with the energy industry a prime target for their focus, Aramco’s president and CEO, Amin Nasser, has warned.
Nasser was in Riyadh addressing the two-day Global Cybersecurity Forum, a conference that drew together international government and business experts to explore the current and anticipated cybersecurity landscape.
Cyber resilience will continue to be an “extremely high priority” for Aramco as a leading supplier of global energy, said Nasser, as he delivered opening day keynote remarks ahead of a panel session titled “Keeping the Lights On.”
Nasser said increased vigilance and collaboration within the industry was necessary for its nexus of supply chains to combat an ever-evolving threat.
“After all, there are very few industries … if any … that play such a significant role in every single aspect of the daily lives of billions of people around the world,” Nasser said.
Keeping the Lights On
“From keeping the lights on … to actually protecting the world from complete chaos.
“In fact, the energy industry’s importance cannot be overstated.”
The energy industry has, and will continue to be a “favored target” for attackers ranging from criminal gangs to terrorists bent on inflicting damage to critical infrastructure.
“The danger for us is clear, present, and constant.”
— Amin Nasser
“Now, clearly the energy industry has an obvious vulnerability.
“Namely, the sector’s dependency on legacy systems, many of which were built long before cyberattacks were ever considered a risk.”
Convergence of Information
“And our industry’s shift toward digitalization is leading to a growing convergence of information and operational technologies … something that also increases the potential danger of crippling cyberattacks.”
This convergence, Nasser added, enables cyber attackers to move laterally within organizations, a development, he said, that posed serious implications and challenges.
And, with a “complex ecosystem” within the energy industry, the president and CEO said that it is vital to build cyber resilience among service providers throughout complex supply chains.
He urged business partners, suppliers, and service providers to adopt robust cybersecurity standards, and to collaborate to boost the defenses of the industry.
“We all need to urgently increase collaboration. Across borders. Across industries. Across the public and private sectors.
“Aramco, for our part, is an active member of global platforms and organizations that are bringing together multiple stakeholders to tackle cyber threats.”
Global Cyber Resilience
Nasser pointed to Aramco’s role as a founding partner of the World Economic Forum’s Center for Cybersecurity, and that through this and other partnerships, the company is encouraging the adoption of best practices and principles for cyber resilience globally.
In the Kingdom, Nasser added, Aramco has also recently partnered with the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA), joining as a founding member of its Center of Excellence.
“This initiative by the NCA will help shape the global cybersecurity ecosystem, providing common standards and advancing R&D.
“Simply put, cyber resilience is and will continue to be an extremely high priority at Aramco as cyberattacks are among our top corporate risks.
“As such, we see a cyber aware culture across our organization and the entire ecosystem as essential,” Nasser said.
Cybersecurity a ‘Critical Area’
Cybersecurity will be added as one of the select categories of Aramco’s President’s Excellence Awards this year.
“This means we now rank cybersecurity on par with other critical areas such as safety, operational excellence, and environmental excellence,” said Nasser.
“We take it so seriously because the Kingdom’s energy and chemical products go to almost every corner of the world.”
Nasser concluded on a cautionary note. | https://aramcoexpats.com/articles/cyberattacks-the-danger-is-clear-present-and-constant/ |
"Reconstructing quantum space-time from agents' subjective experiences"
Within a global physical theory, a notion of locality allows us to find and justify information-processing primitives, like non-signalling between distant agents. Here, we propose exploring the opposite direction: to take agents as the basic building blocks through which we test a physical theory, and recover operational notions of locality from signalling conditions.
For example, in quantum theory, the tensor product rule allows us to describe independent systems jointly, and imposes a notion of locality of actions. However, if one is given a global system, there is no prior reason for considering some factorization of the system's state space as `the only physical one.' Thus, if multiple agents observe the same system, their individual factorizations of the state space do not necessarily coincide, but can be related by an isomorphism. We may then explore how a group of agents could find out the relation between their individual factorizations of a global space, given only the operational experimental data for each agent, together with communication, under different constraints.
This factorization problem is a generalization of the marginal problem and of self-testing, both of which assume a fixed tensor factorization behind the different local descriptions. It can be applied to derive conditions for a common space coordinate set shared by a group of agents, and as such it is a first step towards operational quantum relativistic theories.
17:00 get-together with coffe and snacks! | https://coqus.at/details/news/coqus-colloquium-lidia-del-rio/?tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&cHash=6f67878c14d8f84546f918346bf08547 |
It's Badr Versus Mahdi in Karbala
ROBERT SIEGEL, Host:
As we've heard from Corey Flintoff, the fighting this week in Karbala and, more generally, in southern Iraq isn't so much a Sunni-Shiite conflict. It's a conflict among various Shiite factions. And for more about what's at stake in that conflict and what role the Iran might be playing in it, we're going to turn now to Vali Nasr who's the author of the book "The Shia Revival."
Vali Nasr, in Karbala, first of all, who is fighting against whom and why?
VALI NASR: Well, this time around, the fight is between the two big Shia political factions and militias - the Mahdi Army of Moqtada al-Sadr and the battle corps associated with a large Shia party, the SCIRI party, which is now being largely integrated into the security forces in Karbala.
And the battle is over who controls this important shrine city, which is of enormous symbolic significance for Shias, but which also has very robust financial resources owing to hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who visit the city on a yearly basis.
SIEGEL: But the differences between those two big groups, are they doctrinal religious difference or ideological differences or is it affiliation by clan or neighborhood or what?
NASR: It's purely political. In other words, the issue in southern Iraq is that you have many different political factions particularly these two, which also have the most powerful militias. And there is a price on the table, which is the control of the Shia south in Iraq. And they have been engaged in pitch battles with one another over the past three, four years over the control of various Shia cities, the trade roots control of government services and resources.
And this battle that happened yesterday is merely the most ferocious and latest episode of the battle between two Shia titans in the south, which are likely to fight one another until one of them comes on the top as the most powerful Shia force in southern Iraq.
SIEGEL: But you say it's all about power. There's no particular idea riding on one of these groups as opposed to the other.
NASR: No, they do differ on political issues. For instance, the SCIRI party has supported the idea of federalism with a super-Shia state in the south, whereas Moqtada al-Sadr has favored the united government and a united Iraq. But there is no deep ideological divide here. There are no disputes over a form of government, over a form of Shia theology that is driving them. It is essentially a power play between rising militia political forces that are aiming for a control of the south.
SIEGEL: Does Iran back one side as opposed to the other in this conflict?
NASR: Iran has traditionally backed both of them. The battle corps was trained by the Iranian revolutionary guards and its leadership came from Iran after the fall of Saddam.
After the fall of Saddam, Iran also began to established ties with Moqtada al- Sadr. What has happened recently is that the battle corps has become much closer to the United States and to the Iraqi security forces. Its forces are better organized, are more centralized, have a very clear command and control structure, have been integrated now into Iraqi security forces, and have, on occasion, even been used by the United States in battles in north and west of Baghdad.
Whereas the Mahdi Army is now the target of the United States' security operations is much more disorganized. And Iran has been supplying both of them, but the battle corps has now come closer to the United States, and I think the Mahdi Army is now growing closer to Iran.
And as we're seeing a growing escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States over security control of the south, we are also seeing a greater degree of tensions between their respective clients.
SIEGEL: Vali Nasr, author of "The Shia Revival" and soon to be professor at Tufts University. Thank you very much for talking with us.
NASR: Thank you.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. | https://www.npr.org/transcripts/14033084?storyId=14033084?storyId=14033084 |
Skills and Competency Interview Rating Sheet -weighted Testing and other Selection Methods Tests and other selection methods such as requesting work or writing samples and presentations are additional tools used to assess candidates. However, use must comply with EEOC guidelines. Skills demonstrations, such as requiring applicants to demonstrate how to perform a task specific to the position they are applying to, are considered tests and must be validated. Writing samples and presentation assessments are not considered tests and can be evaluated using a scoring rubric.
The surveyors visited and gathered information at various workplaces throughout the United States. Because not all industries were surveyed, NOES does not provide an all-inclusive estimate of the number of noise-exposed workers in the United States; however, it does provide reasonable estimates of the numbers of noise-exposed workers in the particular industries covered by NOES.
These estimates are tabulated in Tablewhich shows that noise-exposed workers were employed in a wide range of industries, with the majority in manufacturing.
The military was first to establish such regulations for members of the Armed Forces [U.
Under the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act ofas amended, safety and health standards had been issued that contained references to excessive noise; however, they prescribed neither limits nor acknowledged the occupational hearing loss problem.
A later regulation under this act [41 CFR 50B Department of Labor as the enforcement agency responsible for protecting the safety and health of a large segment of the U. The document provided the basis for a recommended standard to reduce the risk of developing permanent noise-induced occupational hearing loss.
The criteria document presented an REL of 85 dBA as an 8-hr TWA and methods for measuring noise, calculating noise exposure, and providing a hearing conservation program.
The proposed standard was not promulgated; however, it articulated the requirement for a hearing conservation program. In and again inOSHA amended its noise standard to include specific provisions of a hearing conservation program for occupational exposures at 85 dBA or above [46 Fed.
The OSHA noise standard as amended does not cover all industries. These standards vary in specific requirements regarding exposure monitoring and hearing conservation; however, all maintain an exposure limit based on 90 dBA for an 8-hr duration.
Air Force and the U. Thus, the protection that a worker receives from occupational noise depends in part on the sector in which he or she is employed. The exposure limits discussed above apply only to continuous-type noises.
For impulsive noise, the generally accepted limit not to be exceeded for any time is a peak level of dBSPL. Among the regulatory standards, this peak level is either enforceable or nonenforceable, as indicated by the word "shall" or "should," respectively.
Prevention means to avoid creating hearing loss. Conservation means to sustain the hearing that is present, regardless of whether damage has already occurred. An emphasis on prevention evolves from beliefs that it should not be necessary to suffer an impairment, illness, or injury to earn a living and that it is possible to use methods to prevent occupational hearing loss.
This document evaluates and presents recommended exposure limits, a 3-dB exchange rate, and other elements necessary for an effective HLPP. Where the information is incomplete to support definitive recommendations, research needs are suggested for future criteria development.
Nonauditory effects of noise and hearing losses due to causes other than noise are beyond the scope of this document. The fence is often defined as the average HTL for two, three, or four audiometric frequencies.
It separates the maximum acceptable hearing loss from smaller degrees of hearing loss and normal hearing.
Excess risk is the difference between the percentage that exceeds the fence in an occupational-noise-exposed population and the percentage that exceeds it in an unexposed population. Mathematical models are used to describe the relationship between excess risk and various factors such as average daily noise exposure, duration of exposure, and age group.
The most common protection goal is the preservation of hearing for speech discrimination. Using this protection goal, NIOSH employed the term "hearing impairment" to define its criteria for maximum acceptable hearing loss; and OSHA later used the slightly modified term "material hearing impairment" to define the same criteria [46 Fed.
In this context, a worker was considered to have a material hearing impairment when his or her average HTLs for both ears exceeded 25 dB at the audiometric frequencies of, and Hz denoted here as the "kHz definition". The industries in the surveys included steelmaking, paper bag processing, aluminum processing, quarrying, printing, tunnel traffic controlling, woodworking, and trucking.
Questionnaires and audiometric examinations were given to noise-exposed and non-noise-exposed workers who had consented to participate in the surveys. More than 4, audiograms were collected, but the sample excluded audiograms of 1 noise-exposed workers whose noise exposures could not be characterized relative to a specified continuous noise level over their working lifetime, and 2 noise-exposed workers with abnormal hearing levels as determined by their medical history.
Thus, 1, audiograms were used. The prolific use of hearing protectors in the U. A noteworthy difference between the two models is that Prince et al. In addition to using the 0. The Prince et al.Subpart —Source Selection Scope of subpart.
This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for selection of a source or sources in competitive negotiated acquisitions. Understanding predictive information criteria for Bayesian models As we shall discuss in the context of an example, given the choice between two particular models, we might prefer the one with higher expected predictive ally) a set of different parameters can map to a single data model, the Fisher information matrix is.
The research question dictates the type of data required, and the researcher must best match the data to the question or decide whether primary data collection is warranted. This chapter discusses considerations for data source selection for comparative effectiveness research (CER).
Important considerations for choosing data include . Most recently added records are displayed first. 1; Reporting guidelines on how to write a complete and transparent abstract for overviews of systematic reviews of health care interventions.
Guidelines and Measures provides users a place to find information about AHRQ's legacy guidelines and measures clearinghouses, National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) and National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC). Determine the criteria to be applied when selecting data and information to support decision-making • • Data: Accuracy, completeness, validity, consistency Information: Data quality, definition clarity, relevance, presentation, timeliness, availability. | https://gyqisabyxavalurim.regardbouddhiste.com/discuss-the-criteria-for-selection-of-data-and-information-31582ub.html |
Introduction
Javascript has evolved over the past 18 years from a little scripting language designed to add simple interactivity to web pages - to a full blown language capable of powering web servers, desktop applications, online games, and even running parallel “pseudo-thread’s” via workers.
As javascript evolved so did the complexities of serving and maintaining the ever growing number of dependencies, frameworks and libraries used to power our modern javascript applications. Luckily for us there were some early pioneers and trailblazers that helped to pave the road ahead and come up with design patterns and best practices for us. There are many design patterns used in Javascript and I would recommend taking a look at Javascript Patterns by Stoyan Stefanov for a full introduction to the most widely used patterns. Of the design patterns available, the Module pattern has gotten the most recognition in the past few years thanks in part to the maturation of the module pattern via commonjs as well as the wild success of node.js.
The Module Pattern
In a nutshell the module pattern allows you to create code that can expose a public API while safe guarding private variables and methods behind a pseudo blackbox.
Let’s look at an example taken from the world of 2d video games.
var SpriteFactory = (function () { "use strict"; var index = 0, sprites = {}, Sprite = function (config) { return { index: index++, x: config.x || 0, y: config.y || 0, width: config.width || 0, height: config.height || 0, background: config.background || '#fff' }; }; return { generateSprite: function (config) { config = config || {}; var s = new Sprite(config); sprites['sprite_' + s.index] = s; }, deleteSprite: function (index) { var sprite = this.getSprite(index); if (sprite) { sprite = null; } }, getSprite: function (index) { if (sprites.hasOwnProperty('sprite_' + index)) { return sprites['sprite_' + index]; } } }; }()); SpriteFactory.generateSprite({}); SpriteFactory.generateSprite({ x: 90, y: 20 }); theSprite = SpriteFactory.getSprite(1);
Code Breakdown
The SpriteFactory example is interesting because it showcases some of javascript’s more powerful features. For those of you not familiar with Javascript variables and functions, here is the down and dirty. Javascript variables are either global or local depending on the scope from which they were defined. If a function defines variables within it (like index and sprites above) then those variables have local scope within that function and within all top-level functions returned from that function (see the return block in SpriteFactory). When a function returns a function or an Object Literal defining functions, then those functions have private knowledge of any variables declared within the local scope of their wrapping function - which is known as a Javascript Closure.
In the SpriteFactory example we take full advantage of the power of closures to enable our module to define a private class for Sprite that only has scope from within SpriteFactory. We also keep track of a single counting variable so we can track Sprite instances within the SpriteFactory.
The power of modules in Javascript
Javascript modules enable you, as the developer, to build large javascript applications that can be easily broken down and distilled into individual de-coupled components. This is not only useful for you as an individual, but this approach also makes it easier for large teams to work together.
Module evolution with Asynchronous Module Definition* (AMD)
The main goal of AMD is to define a javascript module and handle its dependency coordination and resolution.(http://wiki.commonjs.org/wiki/Modules/AsynchronousDefinition). This is the logical next step to what we looked at above because it enables us to break up our code using the Single Responsibility Principle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_responsibility_principle) which states that every class should only have one responsibility.
On the Browser, javascript files are loaded via script tags (either added to the payload of the html, or dynamically added on the client-side). The AMD spec describes the define, require and exports methods If you’ve worked with (http://nodejs.org/)[Node.js] before then these verbs should already be familiar to you. But for those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, here is an example that extends our earlier SpriteFactory.
// sprite.js define(["sprite"], function (sprite) { exports.Sprite = function (config, id) { return { index: id, x: config.x || 0, y: config.y || 0, width: config.width || 0, height: config.height || 0, background: config.background || '#fff' }; }; });
// sprite-factory.js define("sprite-factory", ["require", "exports", "sprite"], function (require, exports, sprite) { var index = 0, sprites = {}; exports.SpriteFactory = { generateSprite: function (config) { config = config || {}; var s = new sprite(config, index+=1); sprites['sprite_' + s.index] = s; }, deleteSprite: function (index) {}, getSprite: function (index) {} }; });
Now we have broken out the Sprite class into it’s own module, and we now include sprite as a dependency of SpriteFactory. This makes it easier to improve the functionality of the SpriteFactory over time.
I can’t talk about AMD without mentioning Require.js (http://requirejs.org). Require.js has made a name for itself as one of the defacto standards for doing client side AMD. I would recommend reading through their “Why AMD” (http://requirejs.org/docs/whyamd.html).
The Future of Javascript Modules
One of the issues with Commonjs modules is that the concepts employed to generate these module are more of a javascript hack than an actual javascript standard. Now that we are on the advent of ECMAscript 6, there is finally a real proposal for adding modules to the javascript standard (http://wiki.ecmascript.org/doku.php?id=harmony:modules). I am actually a big fan of the ECMAscript proposal for javascript modules because it actually defines keywords to use in the javascript language for writing modules. Additionally, you can also define your modules inline or import them using the new import declaration.
// sprite.js inline module "sprite" { export default function(config, id) { return { index: id, x: config.x || 0, y: config.y || 0, width: config.width || 0, height: config.height || 0, background: config.background || '#fff' }; }
What I like about this definition is that it reads nicely when you look at the code. In my experience the easier it is to read and follow code, the easier it is to maintain that code, and with the new module capabilities in ECMAscript 6 we can reduce the overhead of making javascript modules.
Importing those modules
I want to cover another fantastic addition to the ECMAscript 6 module proposal, and that is the use of import If you are familiar with the python syntax for importing modules eg. “*from math import sqrt* then this will be really neat. We will piggyback and reuse the inline sprite module (let’s just pretend it was available as an external resource).
import "sprite"; // fetches "sprite" at compile time let Sprite = System.get("sprite"); // evaluates Sprite at runtime
You can also statically link a module. This means that you can link an imported module directly to a global variable in the javascript vm.
import sprite from "sprite"
I am not going to cover the new module loader API in this post but it is worth taking a read through the specification (http://wiki.ecmascript.org/doku.php?id=harmony:module_loaders) since importing modules and defining modules go hand in hand with loading them into the Javascript runtime.
The future looks bright
We’ve looked at the basic Module pattern and seen how to use it to create some really powerful Javascript. We then took a look at how AMD works and how we could easily change our code to build our modules following the Commonjs specification for asynchronous modules, lastly we took a look at the bleeding edge harmony modules specification. I find that it is easy to see the beauty of where ECMAscript 6 is heading, with respect to modules, when you take a look back at where we’ve already been and how we’ve evolved up to this point.
References
http://www.yuiblog.com/blog/2007/06/12/module-pattern/
http://briancray.com/posts/javascript-module-pattern
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/625262/Getting-Started-with-the-RequireJS-Library
http://requirejs.org/docs/whyamd.html#amd
Future of Javascript Modules with ECMA Script 6
http://wiki.ecmascript.org/doku.php?id=harmony:module_loaders
http://www.adequatelygood.com/JavaScript-Module-Pattern-In-Depth.html
http://dailyjs.com/2010/10/18/modules/
http://wiki.commonjs.org/wiki/Modules/AsynchronousDefinition
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Pumpkin pies as far as the eyes can see, the sweet-salty aroma of mashed potatoes being served, and the Detroit Lions religiously losing time after time again. All of these are thoughts that imminently pop into any Michigander’s head when the word Thanksgiving is thrown around.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, students and staff among FHC are thrilled to return to the yearly traditions that make holidays special to them.
Junior Brenna Conner is eager to return to her time spent in the kitchen during the Thanksgiving holiday.
“At my mom’s, I eat with my step family and stepdad, and we cook all day and watch football,” Brenna said. “We love making dessert and pies together. It’s one of my favorite things to do with my mom. One time, we spent [around] two hours making an apple pie, and my sister dropped it on the floor.”
There’s no doubt Thanksgiving is a time to indulge in all sorts of arrangements of food.
“I love eating and seeing family I wouldn’t normally get to see and celebrating,” Brenna said. “You have to have mashed potatoes and ham for sure”
Like Brenna, many others often find themselves gushing over the holiday we call Thanksgiving not to mention the much-needed break from school the students at FHC need and want.
A staple for most families is the yearly football game the Detroit Lions play on Thanksgiving Day (sadly, they haven’t gotten much better over the years), but just like a yearly holiday, it’s a yearly losing game. Senior Jack Ballou knows this memory all too well.
“Every year, my family comes over, and we eat and watch the Lions play football. It’s kind of always been a thing because my dad loves the Lions,” Jack said. “It’s always funny seeing the fighting when the Lions always lose, and everyone gets really mad.”
Jack explains that the Lions have been a huge part of his family’s tradition since before he can even remember. He aspires to carry out the same tradition when he has a family of his own and expresses that maybe one year, they can win a game for once.
Straying away from the traditions the students at FHC know and love, the staff get a break from school as well. English teacher Anthony Sultini has his own traditions he recalls from when he was younger too.
“When I was younger, we used to go to my great aunt’s house,” Sultini said. “It was a great centralized meeting spot for everybody. Unfortunately, when you get older, some family traditions die off, but we always try to get together for at least one portion of the family for holidays.”
As for current days, Sultini still loves to indulge in holiday traditions now that he has a family of his own. “We always travel because families move away, and it becomes more difficult over time.”
It’s a holiday, and you can’t have holidays without family.”
— Anthony Sultini
From planes to cars to buses, the trips Sultini takes over the holidays make it all worth it. Nothing can compare to walking into a room filled with the smell of mouth-watering food.
“You have to have pies,” Sultini said. “You have to have a dutch apple, cherry, and pies galore. I’m a dessert freak; I don’t have to have all the other stuff, but if you give me a spread of food and a spread of dessert, I’ll probably go to dessert first.”
Whether it’s staying at home and eating a nice meal with your family or traveling to be closer to your loved ones, Thanksgiving is a time to spend quality time with the people you love, and of course, indulge in those succulent meals
“It’s a holiday, and you can’t have holidays without family,” Sultini said.
Erika Trisch is a senior on The Central Trend. She's excited but nervous for her final year at FHC and entering her first year on staff. She's met amazing... | https://thecentraltrend.com/125983/showcase/the-thanksgiving-traditions-that-have-re-emerged-among-the-people-of-fhc/ |
Altar of Veyopatis
Altar of Veyopatis is a minor location in Flotsam forests in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.
Associated Quests[edit | edit source]
Journal entry[edit | edit source]
- The forested wilderness lining the banks of the Pontar conceals many secrets, among them an altar dedicated to an ancient deity named Veyopatis, nestled deep in a forest glade. The spot is well hidden from prying eyes, and the dangers of the wood discourage those who would seek it frivolously. Geralt, however, had no fear of monsters and good reason to visit the mysterious site. | https://witcher.gamepedia.com/Altar_of_Veyopatis |
The whale shark is the world's largest fish attaining an average size of 4 - 12 metres (13 - 39 ft). Despite their large size, whale sharks do not pose a significant danger to humans. These sharks are filter feeders, consuming plankton and small nektonic life, such as small squid or fish.
In one of their filter-feeding methods, they suction water into their mouths at high velocities while remaining stationary and sometimes in a vertical position. Food moves through filtering pads that cover the entrance of their throats, allowing water to pass through while capturing food particles.
Whale sharks possess a disruptive coloration displaying a "checkerboard" pattern of light colored spots with vertical and horizontal stripes against a dark colored background. This pattern is unique to each shark, comparable to a fingerprint for humans.
Whale sharks are found in Bahia de Los Angeles from June to November. They thrive in water temperature ranging between 20 - 25°C (68 - 78°F). | https://www.silversharkadventures.com/whale-shark |
Burglary report: Cash, credit cards, meds stolen from several vehicles in Galesburg
Cash and cards were reported stolen from a wallet at 6:54 p.m. Sunday. The victim explained that he believed the theft occurred while he was inside HyVee Gas, 1925 N. Henderson St., between 3:50 and 4:05 p.m. He later discovered that his wife’s wallet, which was in a diaper bag in his vehicle, had been emptied of its content, including $160, and bank and credit cards.
• A purse containing cash, cards, and medication was reported stolen from a motor vehicle at 4:11 p.m. Sunday. The victim explained her vehicle had been parked at Carl Sandburg College and the driver’s side door does not lock. She said that she heard her car alarm go off, and when she returned to the vehicle a black SUV was driving away from the scene. She discovered her purse, containing the wallets and cards of her and her boyfriend, three different medications, and $300 cash was gone.
• A purse containing cash, cards, and checks was reported stolen from a motor vehicle at 2:38 p.m. Sunday. The victim told police she had been at Bateman Park and her vehicle was parked on Clark Street, with a window rolled down. She noticed a black SUV driving away from her vehicle, and discovered her purse was missing. In the purse were her wallet with cards, checks, and about $425 in cash.
• At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a man reported that his phone had been apparently stolen from his vehicle while he was inside US Gas, 2121 E. Main St. The Iphone 13 Pro is valued at $1,000.
• A briefcase containing work papers was reported stolen from a motor vehicle parked in the 1300 block of North Cherry Street at 5:17 a.m. Wednesday. The theft occurred at some point overnight. The vehicle had been left unlocked.
Gas station on Main Street burglarized
A gas station was burglarized at 1:48 a.m. Friday. Police responded to US Gas, 2121 E. Main St., for a burglar alarm. Upon arrival, the front door was found to be shattered. An employee arrived and security footage was viewed. It showed three individuals arrive on foot from the direction of Erickson and Walnut streets. The individuals enter the store, fill their backpacks with items from the counter, then flee on foot towards Erickson and Elm streets. They are inside the store for less than a minute.
Toyota Camry stolen, but found abandoned later
A motor vehicle was reported stolen at 12:57 p.m. Thursday, but was recovered. The victim had last seen the vehicle, a gray 2004 Toyota Camry, parked outside his residence in the 700 block of Indiana Avenue about midnight. The vehicle was located abandoned outside of town by the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. | https://www.aledotimesrecord.com/story/news/crime/2022/09/21/cash-credit-cards-meds-stolen-from-several-vehicles-in-galesburg/69508254007/ |
Which Weapons Can I Legally Use in Michigan to Defend Myself?
There is a long list of weapons available out there. Some of them are legal and some of them are illegal. Some of them are lethal and some usually aren’t so deadly. With online shopping being what it is, you can have almost anything delivered to your door in a matter of days. But should […][Read More]
Didn’t Take The Cash? Returned The Wallet? Still Counts as an Armed Robbery in Michigan!
Earlier this month a man in Ypsilanti Township had a surreal but still very scary experience. He was held at ‘gunpoint’ by an armed man in his 50s, who approached him with a pipe fashioned to look like a gun. The man forced him to hand over his wallet, which he did. But once the […][Read More]
Is it Illegal to Fire a Gun Inside my House in Michigan?
You would think the answer to this is a resounding “no”. After all, if it’s your house and your gun, and you’re licensed to carry a firearm in Michigan, then whose business is it if you choose to shoot up the inside of your own home, right? Actually, logical as that may seem to you, […][Read More]
Does ‘Red flag’ Gun Law Matter to Me? | https://aggressivecriminaldefense.com/category/firearm-charges-2/ |
Self-confidence can be crucial in swaying the odds
The other day I read in the papers “Hammers manager Slaven Bilic said he is full of confidence before the start of the new season”. So what does it mean to be self-confident?
The theory of self-esteem is defined as confidence in yourself and your possibilities. A high level of confidence is manifested through a high degree of confidence in one’s own judgment, or a high opinion of one’s self-worth. This means that a coach who is full of confidence is one who believes completely in his own professional knowledge, skills and abilities. We can all agree with that, can’t we? Such a coach always, both directly and indirectly, transfers his confidence to the team, motivating the players to exploit their potential to the fullest. A confident coach transfers a positive attitude and spreads optimism among players.
Coaches who are full of confidence are not averse to risk-taking and taking responsibility in the most critical moments of the game. They accept each difficult situation as a challenge. Self-confidence is certainly one of the significant factors distinguishing successful from less successful coaches. Most coaches have excellent technical knowledge, but often fail to cross the border to genuine excellence. Why? One of the key reasons is that they’re not sure of their abilities and capabilities, not using them at critical moments when it’s most needed for the team. They never take risks, always opting for a safer option. You’re probably wondering where exactly the problem lies? In the head, it’s all in the head.
Coaches with low confidence must overcome their psychological barriers and start believing in themselves, in their knowledge, skills and abilities. It might mean abandoning the usual security, but for sure, if we don’t change ourselves, we won’t progress. So I’ll repeat once again that coaches who have a far better chance on the road to success speak steadily, behave properly, look appropriate, and are always in a good mood. Simply, in a nutshell, those who’ve mastered the skill of verbal and non-verbal communication radiate with confidence, before they’ve even said their first word. | https://www.marijanhizak.com/blog/self-confidence-can-crucial-swaying-odds |
45% of American workers have saved less than $25,000 for retirement, and 26% have saved less than $1,000.
Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2018
Will you outlive your retirement income? Are your financial expectations for the coming year realistic?
Our financial newsletters are designed to provide helpful information on a wide variety of financial topics. Simply click on one of the newsletter topics below to read the article in its entirety.
April
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Do You Need a Power of Attorney?
Explore three types of powers of attorney and find out how a living will can supplement a durable POA for health care.
March
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Bridging the Gap Between Retirement and Medicare Eligibility
See three options that may help you bridge the health insurance coverage gap between retirement and Medicare eligibility.
February
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Looking Back, Looking Ahead
See the indicators economists rely on to understand the past, present, and potential future direction of the economy.
January
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HOT TOPIC: After Rocky Year-End, Risks Follow Investors into 2019
In the final quarter of 2018, interest-rate fears and unresolved geopolitical issues upset the financial markets and reversed many of the gains notched earlier in the year.
December
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HOT TOPIC: Consumer Nation: Can Confidence Drive the Economy?
A look at what’s driving the high consumer confidence level and the importance of consumer spending to the broader economy.
November
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HOT TOPIC: Monetary Policy: Should Investors Fear the Fed?
How the Federal Reserve Board’s actions influence interest rates, economic growth, and inflation.
October
September
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Risk Tolerance Is About You, Not the Market
An investor’s personal situation should be considered when assessing his or her risk tolerance.
July
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Good News, Bad News for Boomer Retirement
Younger baby boomers may be facing a more challenging retirement landscape than older members of the generation, according a recent survey.
May
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The Cost of Caregiving
About 40 million family caregivers in the U.S. provide unpaid care to another adult. Understand the associated financial, physical, and emotional costs. | https://www.lwm-midland.com/newsletters.htm |
THE US is expected today to cut interest rates for a fifth time this year, trying yet again to give the sagging economy a boost.
Another rate cut is needed, say economists, given the beleaguered state of the nation's manufacturing sector, which many believe is in a recession of its own, and the weakened job market.
One of economists' biggest fears is that the nation's unemployment rate, which climbed to 4.5% in April, will continue to rise and prompt Americans to cut back sharply on spending and tip the economy into recession.
Consumer spending has been the main force keeping the economy afloat, and a fifth rate reduction would aim to keep it that way. The Fed's interest rate cuts lower borrowing costs and are designed to spur consumers to spend and businesses to invest, both of which bolster economic growth.
"There's a fear that the decline in jobs and the quick rise in unemployment will knock the wind out of consumers this summer, and the Fed will want to cut rates to guard against that," said Mark Zandi, chief economist for Economy.com.
It is against this backdrop that private economists predicted the Federal Reserve's chief policy-making group, the Federal Open Market Committee, would cut interest rates at its meeting today.
Many economists, but not all, believed the rate cut would be by half a percentage point, the size of each of the previous four as the Fed staged its most aggressive rate-cutting effort since Chairman Alan Greenspan took office in 1987.
"They will buy a half-point insurance policy to make sure the economy does not slide into a recession," said Sung Won Sohn, chief economist at Wells Fargo.
Others, however, expect a smaller, quarter-point reduction. They cite two main reasons for that: housing and construction activity, another pillar for the economy, has held up well during the slow down; and consumers, who account for two-thirds of all economic activity, so far have remained resilient.
Regardless of the size of today's expected reduction, many economists believe the Fed will lower interest rates sufficiently to prevent a recession this year.
They also hope the economy, mired in a slow down since the second half of last year, will return to more healthy growth later this year.
The central bank last cut rates April 18, after an emergency telephone conference call convened by Greenspan. It was the second time this year the Fed took the unusual step of changing rates outside its normal meeting schedule.
Economists haven't ruled out a sixth rate increase at the Fed's June meeting. That, they say, hinges on what economic data out between now and then says about the economy's health. | https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/us-interest-rate-expected-3180480 |
Must be 16 years of age or older.
Responsibilities:
· Follow supervisor’s assignments for opening and closing procedures, as well as food production.
· Prepare food and beverage products for customers by following recipe guidelines, using proper preparation techniques, and sanitation guidelines
· Set up and operation of kitchen equipment.
· Always be friendly, courteous, and smile with all customers.
· Clean equipment properly according to correct procedures.
· Keep workstation clean, organized, sanitized, and sufficiently stocked.
· Report to work on a timely basis.
· Follow appearance, uniform and personal hygiene standards.
· Work cooperatively with co-workers and management.
· Use waste control guidelines and record all waste on spoilage sheet.
· Follow a detailed checklist to complete daily tasks on time. | http://www.hispaniapost.com/index.php?page=item&id=2993 |
My Vote Counts (MVC) is a non-profit organisation that aims to improve the accountability, transparency and inclusiveness in South Africa’s political and electoral systems. They achieve their aims through research, advocacy, campaigning, popular education and strategic litigation.
MVC seeks to appoint a Political Systems Researcher to be based in Cape Town.
Start date: Early May 2020
Remuneration: R19 000 per month
Employment Type: 12-month fixed term contract (renewable depending on funding)
Reports to: Director
Responsibilities:
Conduct research, monitor developments, and liaise with various stakeholders to further the portfolio’s work, with a focus on political party funding, access to information and intra-party democracy.
Liaise with stakeholders including political institutions, politicians, the IEC, government departments, Parliament and other organisations.
Assist in developing strategic vision and direction for the portfolio in conjunction with the Director and MVC team.
Produce research reports, op-eds, submissions, infographics and other written material.
Assist with developing content for MVC’s electronic media channels.
Conduct workshops and seminars for MVC’s stakeholders and partners in civil society.
Liaise with journalists and take part in interviews with the media.
Develop and maintain partnerships with civil society, academic and community organisations focusing on similar work.
Requirements:
Must be a South African citizen or permanent resident with a university qualification (minimum Honours, Masters preferable) in politics, public policy, law or another relevant field.
An interest in South African politics and stay up to date with current political events.
An ability to produce written material that is coherent and analytical.
Research experience with an ability to convey complex issues in understandable formats.
An understanding of the South African civil society social justice environment will be beneficial, but is not required.
Strong inter-personal, facilitation, presentation and time management skills.
Able to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and to represent MVC at stakeholder events.
An ability to work independently and within a team.
Be flexible at times to accommodate for work outside normal office hours.
To apply, submit a CV (maximum three pages), cover letter (maximum two pages), current contact details of at least three referees, and your university academic transcript to [email protected] quoting: “Political Systems Researcher MVC 2020” in the subject line.
In addition, please submit a written piece of no more than 800 words on one of the two following topics:
Read the Political Party Funding Act (Link: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201901/42188gon63politicalpartyfundingact6of2019.pdf ) and identify three strengths and three weaknesses with this Act.
In South Africa, political parties are treated as “voluntary associations” or private entities. How does this status as private entities present challenges for how political parties operate in our political and electoral system?
Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. | https://selibeng.com/political-systems-researcher/ |
In 1941, a Swiss electrical engineer named George de Mestral was walking with his dog in the Alps. As both he and his dog brushed up against the surrounding vegetation, George began to wonder why burdock seeds were sticking to his wool socks and his coat, as well as to his dog. Out of curiosity, he decided to look at the burrs under a microscope, where he discovered tiny “hooks” in their surface that stuck them to fabrics and furs. Mestral, after experimenting with a variety of textiles, found he could manufacture a material with the same tiny hooks—out of nylon, that had the ability to stick to other fibers in a similar way. This invention, known as Velcro, proved to be a new, efficient, and reliable way of fastening things together, and is one of history’s greatest serendipitous discoveries.
Since what may as well be the beginning of time, students have gone to school and had their performance and knowledge of material assessed by some form of examination. In law school, the “final exam” brings to mind timeless and harrowing images of students shut away in large wooden rooms straining over pen and paper, toggling between some existential worry over the exam itself, and a broader heartache over the neurosis of law firms’ sordid infatuation with first year grades.
Other than the advent of the Scantron, and students over time writing their exam answers on computers instead of by hand, the setting, schedule, and convocation of final exams has hardly ever changed.
(What does this have to do with Velcro, you ask? Read on.)
Of course the COVID-19 pandemic had little regard for such exam traditions, and for three semesters—at least at BC Law—the pandemic required all finals to be taken like so much else these days, at home. While people have been clamoring for a year and a half to get back to in-person sporting events and concerts and classes and functions and religious services and the like, I have not heard of anyone jonesing for a return to in-person final exams.
This semester, for classes graded by exam and not by paper, many professors still offered take-home, self-scheduled examinations, while as many, if not more, returned to in-person exams. The differences between the two are simple. Both are completed through Examplify, but in-person exams “lock down” the screen and thus necessitate printing out notes, outlines, and documents, eliminating that 21st century mainstay of any sort of actual legal work—searching, copying, pasting, and revising. Further, the in-person exams are on a set day, at a set time, and require a class to convene in person. This eliminates the ability to take the exams throughout the exam period as may be most pedagogically wise, convenient, or reasonable.
Naturally students—particularly my 2L peers who have only ever known at-home law school finals, as well as my 3L friends who have an extra semester of take-home finals on us—largely prefer take-home exams, for the important benefits mentioned. Like with many facets of our daily lives, while the pandemic certainly wreaked havoc, it did have some silver linings. For one, we all recall the early days of COVID, where our shared humanity and the terror of a new and frightening experience had the effect of bringing people together, even when apart, in light of a shared threat. It demonstrated we can work remotely as effectively, without terrible commutes, with more free time, and often for as much profit, if not more in many industries. It led to lasting changes to the way we communicate, forever sending what used to require unnecessarily criss-crossing our nation and world to Zoom, changing value judgments and longstanding behaviors.
Like with the serendipitous discovery of Velcro 80 years ago, changes from the pandemic in some ways uncovered previously unknown benefits to new methodologies that we had never before considered. It turns out, final exams can be conducted remotely and reliably, and students are able to demonstrate their understanding and ability far more precisely, using regular tools we commonly use in our daily lives and will depend upon in our career, searching documents on our non locked-down screens at home and perhaps utilizing a second monitor (like so many lawyers do in practice), versus the bizarre task of flipping through printed paper in person.
In my 1L fall, all students were sent home at Thanksgiving break until the spring semester, eliminating the awkward jaunt from Massachusetts, to home for Thanksgiving and back here for one final week of class and a week and a half of finals, before heading back home for vacation. I remember realizing how unnecessary this all was last year when we didn’t have to do it for the first time. I also remember, while the final exams were still challenging and stressful in their own right, finding it far more sane, and far more reasonable to be taking them when I was most prepared during the exam period, with my outline and resources on the screen and able to be copied and edited digitally as opposed to rummaged through and transcribed from paper.
It just all made much more sense.
So the question remains, why did so many professors return to scheduled, locked down in-person exams, while others didn’t?
From asking around the law school, it sounds like the answer is “because this is what we always did.”
Students seem to largely value the benefits of the novel remote method. Some professors further recognize these benefits or do not have a strong preference as to how the exams are administered.
Some professors, though, seem to value the old school way of doing things. Some say it has to do with preparing us for the bar exam, which of course is in person and at a set day and time and under very stringent guidelines. It’s interesting then that the July 2021 bar passage results for the most recent graduating class of BC Law (a class which had three semesters or half of their entire legal education assessed remotely) was 95.4%, nearly identical to the 95.8% in 2020.
It’s hard to think that for a field, a profession, and a community so committed to reason, and to progressive causes and approaches to the vexing problems of our time, doing things a certain way just because “this is how we always did it before,” would ever be an adequate rationale for anything we do. I know that if I ever gave that as an answer on one of these finals, I probably wouldn’t do particularly well on it.
Students I have spoken to about this were unanimous in their shared anxiety of people finishing their final exams and leaving the in-person exam room so quickly it feels like they were taking their exam at what Rick Moranis called “Ludicrous Speed” in the 1987 comedy film “Spaceballs.” A further complication is created by some students availing themselves of the benefits of their classes’ remote exams, while others cannot. Some students I talked to expressed concerns about being in these large rooms for hours on end while new COVID variants are spreading, although of course we can hope this threat will not exist during the final exam periods of semesters to come.
What will still exist, however, are the logistical challenges and cost/benefit questions of why we are still doing things the old way. While the law and law school are steeped in tradition and immortalized in memory and pop culture, it’s 2021. This isn’t The Paper Chase. While I myself am always partial to nostalgia and things that are “old school,” at this time of year I like to limit that to holiday traditions—not packing into a room for a final exam at the cost of common sense.
Tom Blakely is a second-year student at BC Law, and co-host of the BC Law Just Law Podcast. Contact him at [email protected]. | https://bclawimpact.org/2021/12/16/why-were-final-exams-in-person/ |
Who is eligible for intervention services?
Students with a primary diagnosis of dyslexia or a specific reading or writing disability are eligible for intervention services. Students who do not have a diagnosis but who meet the diagnostic profile of a student with dyslexia may be considered for admission.
What is the age limit for students?
Students in grades 1-12 are eligible for services.
What is required for admission?
To be considered for admission, each student must provide a copy of a comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation. An assessment of cognitive abilities is required to be less than 3 years old. An assessment of academic achievement must be less than 2 years old. A completed student application is also required.
What is psycho-educational evaluation?
A psycho-educational evaluation measures the cognitive abilities that show how a child learns, problem solves, reasons, and remembers information. It also measures academic achievement, or how well a child performs in subject areas like math and reading.
The Children’s Dyslexia Center of Bangor accepts psycho-educational evaluations that are school-based or privately obtained. See the brochure for the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc. for information on what measures must be provided to determine eligibility. For recommendations for professionals to perform evaluations, consult your child’s primary care provider. | https://www.bangordyslexiacenter.com/intervention-services/ |
David leads the commercial, business development and marketing activities for the Open Data Institute.
Freddy Kelly
CEO of Credit Kudos
Freddy Kelly is the founder and CEO of Credit Kudos, a challenger credit bureau that uses financial behaviour to measure creditworthiness, harnessing Open Banking. Credit Kudos aggregates and interprets transaction data for use by lenders, brokers, and financial institutions: going beyond traditional scoring, to provide a comprehensive view of a borrower’s creditworthiness.
George Miltiadous
HSBC
George Miltiadous is an independent consultant and has worked in Open Banking since 2017. I
John Pitts
Policy Lead for Plaid
John Pitts is the Policy Lead for Plaid, where works to protect consumer's right to access and use their financial data.
Nik Milanovic
Chief of Staff at Petal
Nik Milanovic is the Chief of Staff at Petal, a fintech that uses access to open banking data to provide credit to underserved consumers.
Stephen Ingledew
Chief Executive of FinTech Scotland
Stephen Ingledew is the Chief Executive of FinTech Scotland, the enterprise established by the Scottish Government, Univerity of Edinburgh and the private sector to drive economic growth in financial services through innovation, collaboration and inclusion. | https://fdata.global/summit/summit-2019/advisory-board/ |
Whether you are completely remote this semester or taking a few hybrid classes, we are all adjusting to this new normal of working and doing class from the comfort of our bedrooms. Last semester caught us off guard, and most of us have not have had the time to develop the healthy work-life balance that we need. On the bright side, this new semester offers us a clean slate to start again and continue to better ourselves.
Work-life balance is a concept that continues to be thrown around so much, especially this past spring, but most people never give it much thought. However, by the end of the semester, many of us were burnt out, and by summer, everyone was basically running on empty when it came to starting summer jobs. It's easy to feel like life is an endless cycle of waking up, eating, hopping on zoom and repeating it all the next day. If this is how you feel, it's time to create your own work-life balance, and there are a few easy ways to help you figure out where to start.
- Create A Nonnegotiable Work Schedule
-
As easy as it sounds, the necessity of setting boundaries within a schedule you create for yourself are often overlooked. Working from home comes with the perks of not having to commute or even get fully dressed up. Without these small routines, it is so easy for activities to blend into each other throughout the day. You may find yourself multitasking throughout the day, especially when your camera is off in a Zoom meeting, or telling yourself “just five more minutes of work” at 3 a.m.
As college students, we’ve grown accustomed to the idea of pulling all-nighters and working through the weekend, and often it even becomes a point of pride. However, if you are practicing safe habits by limiting your outside exposure, then you are also limiting your escapes from your work environment. Make sure you set boundaries for when you will work during the day and when you will enjoy your own time, whether that’s calling a friend, enjoying a meal or watching a new show on Netflix. It's important to uphold these boundaries for your own mental health.
- Keep Meal Times Work-Free
-
In the same vein of setting boundaries, keep certain personal actions sacred no matter what. While it might be easy to check emails, write a reading response and create flyers for your club during your lunch break, ignoring the temptation will do wonders for your mental health. Take these 15-20 minutes to unwind and enjoy your meal and prepare yourself for the rest of the day ahead.
- Do Not Work From Your Bed
-
As comfortable as it might seem to attend class from bed, you are unconsciously creating an environment where your bed becomes associated with work. Once your mind makes this connection, your bed will no longer be a place to relax. It will become an anxiety point where you will feel like you should be working 24/7, even when it’s time to sleep. So, if you have a desk available to you, use it; your brain will thank you later!
- Have A Morning Routine
-
By not having a morning commute, it’s easy to feel like you have extra time to sleep in. You might find yourself waking up 10 minutes before a class and rushing to look presentable, eating in a meeting or worst of all getting ready while your camera and mic are off. Set a consistent time to wake up in the morning that will allow you to get ready, eat breakfast and prepare for the day without racing against the clock. Taking these small steps to creating normalcy will also help reduce stress because you won't have to worry about finding time to catch up on everything all at once.
- Unplug From Your Phone At Night
-
Millennials and Gen Zs are often being criticized for their addictions to technology. In these times of quarantine, the need to be connected has increased tenfold, and with it, the damaging effect of technology have also increased. With the constant notifications from your email, coworkers texting you questions on your days off and the small TikTok icon tempting you at every glance at your phone, the lines of work and play easily get blurred.
While downtime before bed often equates to personal time scrolling on social media or watching Netflix, it's most effective to completely turn off your phone 30 minutes before you go to bed. Not only will this give your eyes and brain a rest from the constant influx of media, but you will also be reducing your exposure to blue light, which could result in a more peaceful sleep.
With each habit, it is important that you determine how they fit into your lifestyle. We all have different routines, and in order for these to be sustainable habits in your life, you must take them on in moderation. This semester definitely isn't normal, but there are always ways to cope. The most important thing to remember is this won't last forever. | https://www.hercampus.com/school/hofstra/5-healthy-habits-improve-your-work-life-balance-quarantine/ |
Since music is one of the main facets to a wholesome and happy life, it has been the consensus of the administrators of the Dallas Independent School District to plan a music education program that will enhance the musical growth of the students. It has been realized, that in music education, just in any other phase of education, apprehension and meaning will not be the same to all students because of the differences in maturation and understanding levels.
The music education program is not one that is thought of as only to supply music for special occasions, but it is treated as an integral part of the elementary school curriculum.
The purpose of this study was: 1. To emphasize the importance music education in the elementary school curriculum 2. To emphasize methods and procedures used in teaching music education on various class levels 3. To emphasize different interests, abilities, and capabilities of class divisions 4. To emphasize musical growth through musical experiences
The scope of this research will include the general overview of music education on each grade level in the Dallas School System.
Committee Chair/Advisor
R. Von Charlston
Publisher
Prairie View A&M College
Rights© 2021 Prairie View A & M University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. | https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/pvamu-theses/583/ |
If you were born with a limb defect or are self-conscious about your short stature, limb lengthening surgery may be something you’ve taken into consideration. This article covers everything you need to know about this procedure, including the different leg lengthening techniques, recovery time, and making sure you’ve chosen the right, experienced surgeon.
Limb lengthening procedures have come a long way since their advent in the early 1980s, with new devices and techniques seemingly emerging every day. But one thing remains a constant with every new advancement: limb lengthening requires the combination of technology and the body’s ability to regrow new bone — under the careful guidance of an orthopedic surgeon and special devices — in order for patients to achieve longer legs.
There are two common types of leg lengthening procedures, both of which require the cutting of the bone and implementing a stabilizing apparatus, which is either implanted inside the bone (internal leg lengthening) or worn outside the limb (external leg lengthening) to lengthen the legs and correct deformities.
External Leg Lengthening
Contemporary limb lengthening surgeries use the anatomy to encourage the growth of new bone as well as tissues, blood vessels, ligaments and nerves. These techniques have only been common for a few decades in the United States, and actually grew out of an earlier procedure developed in Europe roughly 25 years ago.
In 1982, Gavril Ilizarov, a Soviet physician, invented an external fixator device called the Ilizarov apparatus for lengthening limb bones. The Ilizarov technique was a major breakthrough in limb lengthening, as it allowed for the orthopedic surgeon to hold the bone in place during and after surgery to ensure correct alignment and encourage the growth of new bone. The practice of using an external device, such as the Ilizarov apparatus, is referred to as “external leg lengthening.”
The innovative surgery begins with an osteotomy, the procedure of cutting or removing a piece of bone, and then requires a procedure to help stabilize the limb with a fixation device or frame, which is often the Ilizarov apparatus.
The surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia. After surgery, the patient will be required to adjust the device each day to encourage the bones to lengthen according to the device. Coupled with physical therapy, this procedure can increase the length of the bone by 25 to 30 percent. In many cases, this equates to approximately 3 to 3.5 inches of extra bone growth.
Borrowing components from the Ilizarov technique, lengthening over nails (LON) is a newer leg lengthening method first popularized in 1990 by Dr. Dror Paley. This special surgery requires a hole be made through the bone in order to provide space for a small nail, which is then attached to an Ilizarov apparatus. Following surgery, the patient slowly turn the screws to gradually stretch the bones over the nail.
Other external fixator devices, such as a monorail fixator or a Salamehfix, are also used for external limb lengthening procedures.
There are some instances where a doctor will recommend lengthening and then nailing (LATN), combining elements of external and internal leg lengthening procedures into a single surgery. This procedure was developed by S. Robert Rozbruch, MD, Chief of the Limb Lengthening and Complex Reconstruction Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
“With LATN, lengthening is done with the external fixator,” Dr. Rozbruch explains. “A nail is then inserted so that the external device may be removed quicker, even before the bone is fully united. However, the internal lengthening nail method has for the most part replaced LATN.”
Internal Leg Lengthening
If the idea of wearing a cumbersome external device for several months sounds unappealing, you might want to consider some of the more contemporary internal limb lengthening techniques. There are now cutting-edge technologies that lengthen the bone from the inside, like the Precice® System from Ellipse Technologies and the Fitbone® SAA from Wittenstein.
Precice is an internal limb lengthening device that requires the surgical implantation of a titanium rod into the bone cavity, which is then lengthened by handheld screws. The device is removed after one or two years time through a relatively minor outpatient procedure. It can lengthen the bone by up to 3 inches.
Fitbone is another intramedullary lengthening nail, which allows the patient to lengthen the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shinbone) in instances of leg length discrepancies and other serious deformities of the leg bones. This device is implanted into the bone and features a telescopic, electric nail that forces the bone to grow.
Compared with the Precise nail, Fitbone claims to offer less scarring. After complete consolidation of the bone, i.e. 12 to 18 months after implantation, the Fitbone must be explanted. It can achieve lengthening of up to 60 millimeters in the tibia and 80 millimeters in the femur.
Limb Lengthening Recovery
Depending on which type of surgery you choose, recovery times can vary. Regardless of whether an internal or external lengthening device is used, there will be a lengthy period of recovery, called the “consolidation phase.”
Children are required to wear a leg lengthening device for roughly three months, while adults need to wear one for about six months. The procedure can be painful, so your doctor is likely to prescribe you painkillers in order to keep the recovery process running smoothly.
Both kids and adults are required to undergo physical therapy in order to keep their joints flexible and encourage the maintenance of muscle strength. Additionally, your doctor may recommend taking calcium supplements to hasten bone healing and growth.
Some doctors may also recommend a weight-bearing device that uses a painless, electromagnetic field to encourage muscles and bones to regain their strength quickly. The entire complex reconstruction process should be complete within six months time for healthy adults. Throughout this period, regular physical therapy and follow-up visits will be required.
Who is a Candidate for Leg Lengthening Surgery?
The most common candidates for limb lengthening are people with birth defects, knock-knees, foot and/or bowleg deformities, limb length discrepancy, and most other leg deformities. This procedure is also common among people with fractures or broken bones that didn’t heal properly (malunion or nonunion) and those with dwarfism.
Besides the cosmetic benefits, some patients undergo leg lengthening surgery when they’ve experienced long-term issues associated with their defect, including arthritis. In these instances, as well as with cases of deformities, the procedure is likely to be covered by insurance.
With pediatric leg lengthening, a doctor will first observe the growth plate (the area of the bone that indicates how much the bone will grow) to determine whether leg lengthening is the best solution. Children with differences in limb lengths and a myriad of other deformities are often good candidates for limb lengthening procedures.
According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, children who have limb lengthening procedures heal in roughly half the time it takes adults to recover. Pediatric patients typically have the same options as adults when it comes to lengthening devices. They also typically see better results, with the ability to lengthen bone by up to 8 inches.
Although once reserved for those with congenital anomalies and developmental disorders, limb lengthening surgery has since become popular for cosmetic purposes as well. The procedure is largely the same for those who undergo it primarily for aesthetic reasons.
Generally speaking, when the patient has a medical need — such as the risk of arthritis or other physical drawbacks resulting from deformities and other issues — there’s a good chance it will be covered by insurance. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get your insurance to cover the process if you are undergoing it strictly for cosmetic purposes.
The Best Surgeons for the Procedure
Make Me Taller, a forum dedicated to guiding patients through their journey, provides a list of respected surgeons and the following questions to ask during your initial consultation:
- How many patients have you treated for elective bilateral leg lengthening?
- Which techniques do you use?
- How much do you currently charge for bilateral leg lengthening on one bone section?
- What are the lengthening limits for your procedures?
- Do your patients need to do any preparation before for their treatment?
- Is accommodation included in your pricing?
- Are there any medical conditions that would prevent a potential patient from being accepted?
- In what percentage of cases do your patients experience complications?
- Are complications or unscheduled surgery covered in your costs?
- Is there any insurance available to cover the patient’s treatment?
- What is your official website?
- How much do you charge for a consultation?
- Do you limit your services to people of a certain height?
- What is your policy for people who are suffering from depression or some other mental health issue, or have suffered from it in the past?
One of the preeminent surgeons to perform limb lengthening is Dr. S. Robert Rozbruch, the chief of the Limb Lengthening and Complex Reconstruction Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City and New Jersey. Dr. Rozbruch has contributed to a breadth of research on both orthopedic surgery and cosmetic surgery as it pertains to limb lengthening.
Dr. Austin T. Fragomen is another orthopedic surgeon at HSS who specializes in the procedure at the Limb Salvage and Amputation Reconstruction Center (LSARC). Dr. Fragomen’s specialty pertains to limb deformity correction and bone lengthening surgery.
Those in search of a reliable cosmetic leg lengthening surgeon will also want to consider the Stature Lengthening Center at the Orthopedic and Spine Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. Surgeons at the Stature Lengthening Center use the Paley method and the Precice device to perform internal leg lengthening procedures.
Dr. Amar Sarin in Delhi, India is another leading specialist in the field. Dr. Sarin specializes in the Ilizarov technique and has performed over 3,000 leg lengthening procedures in the past 20 years.
While limb lengthening remains a relatively uncommon medical procedure, several experienced surgeons perform it in the United States and abroad. Begin your research by using the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ directory. Founded in 1933, the Academy is the preeminent provider of musculoskeletal education to orthopaedic surgeons and others in the world. | https://www.zwivel.com/blog/limb-lengthening-surgery/ |
The Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) is an encyclopedic fine art museum located in Chicago's Grant Park. The Art Institute has one of the world's most notable collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in its permanent collection. Its diverse holdings also include significant American art, Old Masters, European and American decorative arts, Asian art and modern and contemporary art. It is located at 111 South Michigan Avenue in the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District. The museum is associated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is overseen by Director and President James Cuno. At one million square feet, it is the second largest art museum in the United States behind only the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
The collection of the Art Institute of Chicago encompasses more than 5,000 years of human expression from cultures around the world and contains more than 260,000 works of art. The art institute holds works of art ranging from as early as the Japanese prints to the most updated American art.
Today, the museum is most famous for its collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and American paintings. Included in the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection are more than 30 paintings by Claude Monet including six of his Haystacks and a number of Water Lilies. Also in the collection are important works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir such as Two Sisters (On the Terrace) and Henri Matisse's The Bathers, Paul Cézanne's The Basket of Apples, and Madame Cézanne in a Yellow Chair. At the Moulin Rouge by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is another highlight, as are Georges Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and Gustave Caillebotte's Paris Street; Rainy Day. Non-French paintings of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection include Vincent Van Gogh's Bedroom in Arles and Self-portrait, 1887. Among the most important works of the American collection are Grant Wood's American Gothic, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks and Mary Cassatt's The Child's Bath. In September 2010, the Art Institute launched its first mobile application. This app acts as a sort of catalogue to this Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection.
In addition to paintings, the Art Institute offers a number of other works. Located on the lower level are the Thorne Miniature Rooms which 1:12 scale interiors showcasing American, European and Asian architectural and furniture styles from the Middle Ages to the 1930s (when the rooms were constructed). Another special feature of the museum is the Touch Gallery which is specially designed for the visually impaired. It features several works which museum guests are encouraged to experience though the sense of touch instead of through sight as well as specially designed description plates written in braille. The American Decorative Arts galleries contain furniture pieces designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles and Ray Eames. The Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman galleries hold the mummy and mummy case of Paankhenamun, as well as several gold and silver coins.
We don't have anything to show you here.
We don't have anything to show you here.
We don't have anything to show you here. | https://museu.ms/museum/details/498/art-institute-of-chicago |
Vigilant Guard is a Homeland Security/Homeland Defense FEMA Regional exercise program sponsored by NORADNORTHCOM and the National Guard Bureau J7 Office. The program provides an opportunity for State National Guard Joint Force Headquarters to improve command and control and operational relationships with internal, regional civilian and military partners.
• Participation at City, County, State, NG, Private Sector Levels
• 9 Field Training Exercise Sites including Civilian, Military, and
Private Sector Participants
• Confirming FTX Venue dates, times, and activities to ensure they
meet training objectives of all participants
• Determining Exercise Sites and Control Nodes
• Coordinating with Civilian FSE Planners and Participants
• Mw 7.2 Earthquake in WesternMontana
• Multi-State, Multi-County Exercise involving Emergency Management, National Guard, Government and Private Sectors
• 3 Full Days of Exercise Play
• Command Post Exercise (CPX) with extensive Field Training (FTX) components
Objectives
• Demonstrate the information flow and interagency coordination between Non-Governmental Organizations, local, state, and
federal offices
• Demonstrate Continuity of Operations at the local, state and federal level
• Demonstrate integration and interoperability of private, local, state and federal resources
• Utilize National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• Demonstrate ability to respond to a natural or manmade disaster in order to protect the citizens of Montana
• Maintain situational awareness through effective voice and electronic communication systems
Montana National Guard Objectives
• Exercise JFHQ-MT Multi-hazard response plan
• Exercise JFHQ-MT COOP
• Exercise JFHQ-MT Earthquake Operations Plan (OPLAN)
• Deploy NG forces in support of civil authorities (JTF, CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), NG Quick Reaction Force (QRF), CST, LNOs
• Establish and operate Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (JRSOI) center
• Establish, test and use communication links with participating agencies
• Conduct regional coordination with participating organizations
• Staff and execute a Joint Visitor’s Bureau and Information Center (JVB/JIC)
…
• Key Dates:
• June 9 – Civilian MSEL Conference
• July 31 – Civilian Final Planning Conference
• August 1 – National Guard Final Planning Conference
• August 2 – Regional Tabletop Exercise
• August 3 – Leadership Tabletop Exercise
• September 15-17 – CPX / FTX
…
• The Vigilant Guard Team Exercise Control Cell (ECC) will operate from HAFRC. The ECC will send injects directly to its assigned exercise group. The ECC will coordinate operations to ensure all participants are meeting their exercise objectives and to deconflict issues as required.
• The Simulation Cell (SIMCELL) will also operate out of HARFC in closecoordination with the Exercise Control Cell. Representatives in the SIMCELL will replicate units notionally playing in the exercise (e.g. a notionally deployed unit) or agencies notionally playing or have limited staff participation (e.g. one or two representatives are replicating the agency as a whole).
• Data Collectors/Controllers (DCCs) will be stationed at the different exercise venues to collect information for the After Action Review/Report (AAR) and monitor and facilitate exercise play.
• Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will be called upon to observe, and when necessary, mentor blue players. Information from their observations will also be used in the AARs. | https://publicintelligence.net/region-xiii-mt-mpc-planning-conference/ |
The REACH Foundation’s assets totaled $138.7 million at year-end 2017, with an investment return of 15.7 percent for the foundation’s portfolio in 2017, marking a noticeable improvement over the 2016 returns. The foundation strives to be a reliable source of funding for its nonprofit partners. Therefore, REACH committed $4.4 million in grant awards with an additional $300,000 in direct contribution toward strategic policy and program-related objectives in the 2017 fiscal year.
The foundation has long adhered to an investment approach that calls for a broadly diversified portfolio with allocation to a variety of asset classes that enable the organization to manage risk and be positioned to achieve strong net returns. Even with these 2017 community investments, the foundation’s total annual asset level increased by $12.9 million over the prior year’s investment results.
Grants & Expenses
In 2017, 72 percent of the foundation’s total expenses were invested directly in outcome areas, grants and policy efforts. Over the length of the foundation’s grant making history, more than 75 percent of total expenses represent investments made in the community through these funding categories. The remainder of expenditures reflect indirect investment in the mission via staff time and related operating expenses. The 2017 Expenses chart presented shows direct and indirect mission-related investment in relation to other general administrative spending.
2017 EXPENSES
GRANTS & OPERATING EXPENSES
PROGRAM EXPENSE BREAKDOWN
SINCE INCEPTION
REACH awarded 140 grants in 2017, with more than 80% of awards tied to our three outcome investment areas.
Financial Statements
REACH’s balanced investment management has enabled the foundation to maintain assets ahead of the endowed amount of $117.2 million.
The financial statements in this publication are unaudited. Our full audited financial statements and auditor’s opinion prepared by BKD, LLP, will be available on the foundation’s website upon completion. | https://2017.reachhealth.org/financials/ |
What Should I Do If My Spouse Accuses Me Of Cheating?
Adultery is a serious thing, one of the reasons a marriage may end in divorce. But what if your spouse or partner accuses you of cheating when you are completely innocent?
This will play out in two ways:
In scenario one, your partner will realize his or her error and (hopefully) apologize. The whole incident may blow over. However, the accusation can ignite trust issues, making it difficult to continue a marriage. You may need to seek couples therapy to find your path again.
Continued Accusations
In scenario two, your partner continues to accuse you of cheating and even works to find evidence. Sometimes this stems from his or her insecurities or a lack of trust. In other cases, the accusation may be a diversion designed to prevent you from examining his/her behavior too closely. He or she may even be making it up as a way to prompt divorce.
- Is it possible your partner is the one cheating? He/she may not be, so do not jump to this conclusion. However, it is worth examining.
- Is something happening in your relationship that has your partner feeling insecure or disconnected?
Speaking to your partner about this will be difficult, especially because you have every right be furious about the false accusation. But if you can calmly ask what led to this conclusion, you may be able to uncover the problem. Explain your side of things. Explain you love him/her and ask him/her not to bring this up again.
If he or she continues to accuse, ask for marital counseling. If he/she is unwilling to listen, you may need to seek therapy alone to figure out your next steps, whether that’s divorce or not. You may also be feeling guilty, as if somehow it’s your fault, but it’s important to recognize that you did nothing wrong.
Mediation
A partner who has accused you of cheating may not make divorce easy. The partner may feel entitled to more money. In North Carolina, affairs have legal ramifications in divorce, so make sure your lawyer knows about the accusation in case your partner tries to prove an affair in court. You might consider mediation as an option for working things out.
If You Cheated
Please note that if you cheated, it’s best to come clean to your attorney during divorce proceedings. Not telling your lawyer can cause problems, make his/her job harder, and will probably cost you more money in the end.
Divorce questions? Bring them to our Raleigh divorce workshop, every second Saturday of the month. | https://triangledivorcelawyers.com/what-should-i-do-if-my-spouse-accuses-me-of-cheating/ |
The present invention concerns a system and a method for managing guided vehicle traffic over a railway network.
The present invention is essentially related to the field of guided vehicle, wherein the expression "guided vehicle" refers to public transport means such as subways, trains or train subunits, etc., as well as load transporting means such as, for example, freight trains, for which safety is a very important factor and which are guided along a route or railway by at least one rail, in particular by two rails. More specifically, the present invention concerns safety aspects with respect to a railway network comprising such guided vehicles and focuses on the traffic of guided vehicle over the railway network.
Usually, the management of the traffic of guided vehicles over a railway network involves central systems such as an interlocking system or a radio block center (RBC) which are in charge of managing railway network devices, such as point, signals, and other trackside devices so as to ensure a safe and punctual displacement of the guided vehicles over the railway network. A failure of such central systems may strongly affect a part of a railway network or even the whole network, preventing for instance guided vehicles to run over some segments of the railway network. In order to prevent such issues, redundancy in the managing system might be used and/or a splitting of the management between different systems, wherein each system is responsible for only a part of the railway network. Such solutions increase the cost and complexity of the system in charge of managing the guided vehicle traffic over the railway network, and are not yet completely efficient or optimized in case of failures.
An objective of the present invention is to propose a method and system for improving the management of guided vehicle traffic over a railway network which are flexible and able to efficiently managed failures of railway network devices while ensuring a high degree of safety for all guided vehicles.
For achieving said objective, the present invention proposes notably a system and method for managing traffic of guided vehicles over a railway network as disclosed by the objects of the independent claims. Other advantages of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.
a requesting system configured for determining or defining a route for a guided vehicle. The TMS may comprise a plurality of requesting systems. The requesting system according to the invention might be an on-board system configured for being installed on-board a guided vehicle or a control system installed in a control center remotely located with respect to tracks of the railway network. For instance, one or more guided vehicles and/or one or more control centers might be equipped with the requesting system according to the invention. Each requesting system may comprise a database comprising a map of the railway network and a list of all trackside devices of said railway network, wherein for each trackside device, its location within said railway network is preferably defined and recorded in the database. Each requesting system is configured for determining said route for a guided vehicle. The requesting system configured for being installed on-board a guided vehicle is preferentially configured for determining a route for the guided vehicle on-board of which it is installed. The control system of the control center can preferably determine a route for each guided vehicle of a set of guided vehicles it is configured to manage. The route according to the present invention is defined as a succession of consecutive track sections;
a set of trackside devices configured for controlling or modifying a flow of guided vehicles over a track section of the railway network. The trackside devices are typically installed along tracks of the railway network, but can also be virtual machine or device. In particular, each trackside device comprises or is characterized by different states and/or outputs that are notably configured for modifying or managing the traffic of guided vehicles over a track section of the railway network (i.e. said states and/or outputs of the trackside device are configured for modifying or controlling the flow of guided vehicles passing over said track section, for instance by authorizing or not a guided vehicle to enter or move on said track section). Indeed, a change of the state and/or output of a trackside device is preferentially configured for modifying the flow of guided vehicles over the track section said trackside device is responsible for, said states and/or outputs impacting therefore the movement of guided vehicles over said track section of the railway network. Each trackside device is therefore preferably in charge of managing the traffic or flow of guided vehicles over the track section it is responsible for;
wherein each requesting node is configured for generating, preferentially automatically, a transaction for locking or unlocking a track section of a route defined for a guided vehicle, wherein the requesting system, e.g. each requesting system, is a requesting node of the blockchain network. Said transaction is sent by the requesting node to the other nodes of the blockchain network, preferably to the full nodes, e.g. to all full nodes. A transaction is for instance a request for authorizing a guided vehicle (a single one) to move over a track section of the railway network (i.e. in other words, to lock the track section for the route defined for the guided vehicle), said request being sent by the requesting system to the blockchain network. In particular, in order to lock a route for a guided vehicle, the requesting system automatically generates for each track section of said route a transaction that is a request for locking said track section. The complete route is then locked for the guided vehicle if all track sections composing said route are locked. Preferentially, a transaction for a guided vehicle defines or identifies at least one track section, preferably a single track section, a direction of displacement of the guided vehicle, optionally a speed profile, a lock or unlock order with respect to the track section(s), and an identification and/or authentication of the requesting system and/or an identification of the guided vehicle concerned by the transaction. Said track section identified by the transaction is a track section that is typically going to be occupied by the guided vehicle according to the route defined for the latter;
wherein at least a part, preferentially all, trackside devices are mining nodes. Each mining node is configured for generating a validation answer that comprises an acceptance or a refusal of a transaction involving a track section for which it is configured to control or modify the guided vehicle flow. The validation answer is preferentially sent to at least one full node, for instance by broadcasting the validation answer. The mining node might receive the transaction directly from the blockchain network, e.g. by uploading itself a transaction broadcasted within the blockchain network, wherein each mining node is able to determine whether a transaction concerns a track section for which it is responsible for. This is realized for instance by a processing unit of the mining node that determines, from the data comprised within the transaction, such as the data identifying a track section, which track section is involved in said transaction, and whether said track section is a track section for which the trackside device is configured to control or modify the guided vehicle flow. According to another embodiment, the transaction is received by full nodes which determine which mining nodes are concerned by a transaction and then forward said transaction to the concerned mining nodes as further detailed hereafter;
wherein each full node is configured for checking whether a transaction is valid or invalid, notably by checking each transaction against consensus rules. The full node is further configured for storing the blockchain and adding blocks to the blockchain, wherein each block may comprise one or several transactions that have been validated. One or more checking devices of the railway network are the full nodes of the blockchain network. In particular, at least one full node, preferentially each full node, is configured for receiving the transaction, notably each transaction generated within the blockchain network, determining from said transaction and a database a set of mining nodes concerned by said transaction and communicating (forwarding) said transaction to each mining node of said set. Each full node is further configured for receiving validation answers from the mining nodes of each set determined for each transaction, and determining from the validation answers received from all mining nodes concerned by a transaction, and optionally from the consensus rules, whether said transaction is valid or not, and informing accordingly the requesting system. One or several of said checking devices might be trackside devices of the railway network. One or several full nodes may also work as mining nodes within the blockchain network. Said checking device of the railway network comprises notably at least a processing unit and a memory and/or database, and at least one of said checking devices is preferentially different from any railway component of the railway network, in particular different from a trackside device.
The present invention concerns notably a traffic management system, hereafter TMS, for managing traffic of guided vehicles moving over a railway network, said TMS comprising:
the TMS being characterized in that it comprises a blockchain network of interconnected nodes, said nodes comprising requesting nodes, mining nodes and full nodes,
The blockchain according to the invention comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each block registers one or several validated transactions. In particular, the transactions registered within a same block might concern different track sections of a single route or different track sections of different routes, i.e. related to different guided vehicles. Each route according to the invention comprises one or several successive and consecutive track sections of the railway network and involves therefore one or several nodes of the blockchain network, wherein, for each track section of said route, at least one transaction involving a trackside device in charge of said track section (and thus a mining node) is recorded or written in the block. In particular, the number of transactions generated for a route for a guided vehicle preferentially equals at least (i.e. is greater or equal to) the number of track sections of said route. A trackside device (mining node) might be associated to one or several track sections.
Preferentially, a database stored within each full node enables the latter to determine, for each track section, all trackside devices that have to be notified about the transaction concerning said track section. For instance, said database may provide for each track section a list or set of all trackside devices whose action, state and/or output may impact the traffic of guided vehicle over said track section. Said list might be changed by adding or withdrawing trackside devices for a track section. Each full node is preferably configured for adding, respectively withdrawing a node to the blockchain network when a trackside device is added to or withdrawn from said list, e.g. by an operator. The operator may specify the type of node of any added node, e.g. a new requesting node, or a new full node, or a new mining node.
Each transaction for a track section is configured for locking or unlocking the track section for a guided vehicle: preferentially, each trackside device in charge of said track section receives from one or several full nodes said transaction and determines according to its current state and transactions already received (e.g. already validated transactions) whether it can lock or not said track section for the guided vehicle. For this purpose, the mining node may comprise a block history registering each block comprising a transaction involving the mining node (i.e. involving a track section whose guided vehicle flow is managed by the mining node).
According to the present invention, the validation or not of a transaction is free of any human intervention. Preferentially, each trackside device is configured for autonomously determining whether it can lock or not a track section for a guided vehicle. When locking, respectively unlocking, a track section for a guided vehicle, the trackside device autonomously determines whether it can lock, respectively unlock, its state or its output for the transaction it received, and sends then a validation answer which comprises the result of this autonomous determination. Said locking/unlocking and the sending of the validation answer is notably managed by an algorithm of the blockchain network, notably of the mining node. For instance, each trackside device comprises an algorithm that defines rules for enabling the trackside device to autonomously determine whether it can lock/unlock its state or output for a transaction. In other words, each trackside device can be locked to a specific state and/or with a specific output by a requesting system through the generation and broadcasting of said transaction. If a trackside device determines by means of said algorithm that it can be locked (or respectively unlocked) in a specific state or with a specific output required for locking (respectively unlocking) the track section according to a transaction generated by a requesting system, then it locks (or respectively unlocks) said specific state or output configured for locking (or respectively unlocking) said track section for the requesting system, and notifies the full nodes that the locking (or respectively unlocking) has been completed via said validation answer. If the locking (or respectively unlocking) was not possible, then it notifies the full nodes that the locking (or respectively unlocking) was not completed via said validation answer.
The algorithm of the trackside device receives notably as input the transaction, a current state of the trackside device, optionally an already validated transaction that can be stored in the block history, and determines from said input its validation answer. If it determines that the (un)locking can be completed, then it automatically (un)locks a specific state and/or specific output and sends its validation answer. If it determines that the (un)locking cannot be completed, then it only automatically sends a validation answer notifying the full nodes that said (un)locking cannot be completed and it does not (un)lock said specific state and/or specific output. Said specific state, resp. output, is a state, resp. output, of the trackside device that enables a locking (or unlocking) of a track section, for instance one of the track sections that the track devices manages.
At least one full node, preferentially a part (e.g. half of the full nodes) of or all full nodes collect all validation answers of the mining nodes concerned by the (un)locking of a track section and determine, via an algorithm, whether the transaction for said track section can be written or not within a block of the blockchain. The transaction is written on the block if the validation answers received from all mining nodes concerned by said transaction, i.e. all mining nodes involved in the (un)locking of a track section for a guided vehicle, report an acceptance, and thus a completion of the transaction, otherwise the transaction is not written onto the block as soon as at least one mining node reports a refusal and thus non-completion of the transaction. If the transaction is written onto the block, then at least one full node notifies the requesting system about the validation of the transaction, and therefore about the locking of the track section for the guided vehicle. For notifying the requesting node (i.e. system), the full node may broadcast the blockchain or a part of the blockchain, or notify the requesting node to update its blockchain or a part of the blockchain. If the transaction is not written onto the block, then at least one full node notifies the requesting system about a refusal of the transaction, and notifies all involved mining nodes about this refusal. Mining nodes having (un)locked a specific state and/or output for said transaction are configured for automatically launching a rollback procedure wherein the (un)locked specific state and/or output is automatically changed for a directly previous state and/or output of the trackside device, so that the trackside device has at the end of the rollback procedure the state and/or output that it had before receiving the transaction that has been refused.
generating by a requesting node of a blockchain network a transaction for locking or unlocking a track section for a guided vehicle. Said transaction is then sent or broadcasted by the requesting node within the blockchain network. The requesting node is a requesting system of the railway network. The track section is for instance one of the successive track sections defining a route for a guided vehicle. Said route is preferably determined by the requesting system;
receiving by at least one full node of the blockchain network said transaction, wherein said full node is a checking device of the railway network;
checking by said full node whether the transaction is valid or invalid from validation answers sent by mining nodes concerned by said transaction, wherein the mining nodes are trackside devices of the railway network;
writing said transaction onto a block of the blockchain if the transaction is valid; and
notifying the requesting system about the validity or invalidity of the transaction.
The present invention proposes also a method for managing traffic of guided vehicles over a railway network, the method comprising:
automatically determining by the full node a set of mining nodes involved in the traffic management of guided vehicles for said track section, and at least said full node forwarding or sending said transaction to each of the mining nodes of said set. Preferably, full nodes according to the invention comprise a database listing all nodes of the blockchain network, and for each node its type (e.g. full node, mining node, or requesting node), and optionally its location (e.g. an identification of the guided vehicle within which a requesting node is located, or a position of a mining node with respect to the railway network or a track section), and for each mining node, the track section for which it is configured to manage the guided vehicle flow;
each of the mining nodes of said set receiving the transaction and determining whether said track section can be locked or not for the guided vehicle. Each mining node preferentially performs said determination autonomously, independently, and automatically;
each of the mining nodes sending or broadcasting its validation answer within the blockchain network. In particular, validation answers are sent to at least one of the full nodes of the blockchain network. Each validation answer comprises an acceptance or a refusal of the transaction;
at least one of the full nodes collecting the validation answer(s) and determining whether the transaction can be validated or not. Preferentially, all validation answers are dispatched within the blockchain network and the full nodes use consensus rules to determine whether the transaction can be validated or not based on the received validation answers for each transaction. In particular, said consensus rules comprise an algorithm configured for refusing a transaction (making it invalid) as soon as one mining node sent a validation answer comprising a refusal for said transaction, and therefore only validating a transaction if all mining nodes concerned by the transaction sent a validation answer comprising an acceptance of the transaction.
In particular, checking the validity or invalidity of the transaction comprises
According to the present invention, at least one of the full nodes, preferentially a part of the full nodes (e.g. half of the full nodes) registers the transaction onto a block of the blockchain in case of validation of the latter, and notifies the requesting node about the validation of the transaction. In case of a refusal of the transaction by a mining node, the full node is configured for informing the requesting system and the mining nodes concerned by said transaction that the transaction is invalid.
At the end, the requesting system is thus notified about the validation of the transaction or its invalidation. In case of validation, the track section has been locked by the TMS according to the invention and the guided vehicle for which the track section has been locked can safely move on it. Otherwise, in case of invalidation of a transaction, the track section is not locked for said guided vehicle and the latter is not authorized to move on it.
In particular, the requesting system is also configured for automatically unlocking a track section as soon as the guided vehicle has completed its movement over it. For instance, when moving over a route for which the successive track sections have been locked for a guided vehicle, another on-board system of the guided vehicle may inform the requesting system installed on-board the guided vehicle that the latter completed its motion over a track section, said information triggering a generation of a transaction for unlocking the track section by the requesting system, wherein said transaction is then broadcasted within the blockchain network, which validate or not the unlocking of said track section. The blockchain enables any node of the blockchain network to keep a trace of the previous validations of transactions, improving therefore the safety of the TMS.
Figure 1
Figure 2
schematic representation of a TMS according to the invention.
flowchart of a preferred method according to the invention.
Further aspects of the present invention will be better understood through the following drawings, wherein like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts:
Figure 1
illustrates a preferred embodiment of a TMS 1 for managing the traffic of guided vehicles 2 over a railway network 1 according to the invention.
Figure 1
signal devices 42, comprising for instance a first state authorizing a guided vehicle 2 to run over a track section and a second state preventing a guided vehicle 2 to run over the track section, requiring for instance a stop of the guided vehicle 2;
a switch 43, characterized by a first state configured for setting a first route passing through a first track section and a second state configured for setting a second route passing through another track section;
a level crossing 45 comprising a first state authorizing the guided vehicle 2 to pass the level crossing and a second state which does not permit the guided vehicle to pass said level crossing;
a balise 46 configured for ensuring a safe displacement of the guided vehicle 2 over a track section, by determining for instance a motion characteristic (i.e. an output) for the guided vehicle 2, like a speed limit;
a camera system configured for determining a presence or absence of guided vehicle on a track section and preventing movement of guided vehicles if a presence is observed and an authorization of movement if no guided vehicle is detected on the track section.
shows a railway network 1 comprising guided vehicles 2 moving over track sections 31, 32, 33 and a set of trackside devices 42, 43, 45, 46 whose outputs and/or states are configured for modifying the traffic of guided vehicles 2 over the railway network 1. According to the preset invention, said trackside devices are mining nodes of a blockchain network. Said set of trackside devices according to the invention comprises for instance all trackside devices of the railway network 1 characterized by a change of state and/or output that might modify or control or manage a flow of guided vehicles over a track section 31, 32, 33 of the railway network 1. The set of trackside devices according to the invention comprises thus devices whose state and/or output has an impact on the guided vehicle traffic over a track section or on a movement authority for this guided vehicle. Said trackside devices are for example
The trackside devices according to the invention can be physical track devices (like points, signal) or virtual devices of the railway network (e.g. virtual machine defining a speed restriction for a track section, etc.). Each track section 31, 32, 33 comprises at least one trackside device managing the traffic of guided vehicles 2 for said track section.
an on-board device 41 of a guided vehicle 2, wherein said on-board device 41 is configured for determining a route for the guided vehicle 2 it equips, wherein said route is defined as a succession of track sections 31, 32. The on-board device 41 is typically connected to other on-board devices of the guided vehicle;
a control system 44 of a control center configured for determining a route for one or several guided vehicles 2.
The TMS according to the invention further comprises requesting systems. The requesting systems are configured for determining routes for guided vehicles. A requesting system according to the invention might be for instance:
Each requesting system is a requesting node of the blockchain network according to the invention. Each requesting node comprises preferentially a processor and a database including notably a map of the railway network. From this map, the requesting node is capable of determining a route for the guided vehicle, wherein said route comprises a succession of consecutive track sections. The requesting system is further configured for generating a transaction for each track section of a route that has been determined for the guided vehicle. Each transaction is notably a request for locking or unlocking a track section of a route that has been determined by the requesting system for a guided vehicle. Each transaction comprises notably an identification of the requesting system having generated the transaction, an identification of a single track section concerned by said transaction, and a lock or unlock order. Optionally, the transaction may comprise one or several of the following parameters: an identification of the guided vehicle concerned by the transaction, a direction of displacement of the guided vehicle with respect to the track section, a schedule of the displacement enabling for instance to approximate or determine a duration of a locking.
Finally, the blockchain network comprises also full nodes. The full nodes are checking devices 51 of the railway network that are in charge of storing the blockchain network and adding blocks to said blockchain network, recording therefore the history of each transaction that took place within the blockchain network. A checking device 51, i.e. said full node, might be a trackside device of the railway network or a device of the railway network that is not a railway component, for instance a remote computing unit. The full node according to the invention preferentially comprises a memory for storing the blockchain network, a processor, and database listing for each track section a set of all trackside devices whose action, state and/or output may impact the traffic of guided vehicles over said track section. Optionally, said full node comprises also a map of the railway network. Preferably each full node comprises, notably within its database, a list of all nodes of the blockchain network, and for each node for instance its identity, location, type.
All nodes of the blockchain network are interconnected with each other in order to enable an exchange of data, notably regarding each transaction that is generated within the blockchain network. The goal of this exchange of data is a safe locking or unlocking of the track sections of a route that has been determined by a requesting device for a guided vehicle.
Figure 2
Fig. 1
A preferred embodiment of the blockchain-based method for managing the traffic over the railway network will now be described based on . The method comprises preferentially the following steps with respect to the TMS illustrated in :
At step 201, a requesting system generates a transaction for locking or unlocking a track section 31, 32 of the railway network 1 for a guided vehicle 2. The transaction is preferentially sent to at least one other node of the blockchain network, e.g. to a full node, or might be broadcasted within the complete blockchain network, e.g. within the full nodes of the latter. Said requesting system is for instance the on-board device 41 of the guided vehicle 2. Said on-board device 41 has for instance determined a route for the guided vehicle 2 using conventional techniques. Said route comprises of a succession of track sections 31-33. In order to lock the route or respectively unlock the route, the requesting system generates a transaction for each track section of said route, wherein each transaction is configured for locking one of the track section of the route (if the route has to be locked) or respectively for unlocking one of the track section (if the route has to be unlocked and movement over said track section has been completed). The generated transaction comprises at least an identification of the track section to be locked or unlocked, an identification and/or authentication of the requesting device and/or guided vehicle, a lock or unlock order.
At step 202, the blockchain network, i.e. at least a part of its nodes, preferentially one or several or all full nodes, receive the transaction. In particular, among the nodes of the blockchain network receiving said transaction figures at least one full node 51.
At step 203, the full node 51 having received the transaction, preferentially all full nodes 51, check whether the transaction is valid or invalid from validation answers sent by mining nodes concerned by said transaction. The full node comprises a processing unit and a database. Preferentially, this checking is carried out as follows:
From the received transaction, the processing unit of the full node determines which track section is concerned by said transaction, and from the knowledge of said track section and from data stored in its database, it automatically determines (204) a list (or set) of all mining nodes, i.e. trackside devices, concerned by said transaction. The mining nodes concerned by the transaction are trackside devices whose state and/or output is configured for modifying or controlling a flow of guided vehicle over the track section. It can be for instance a switch 43 or a signal device 42 which has to change its state for locking or unlocking the track section for the guided vehicle 2. Then, at least one full node sends the transaction to each of the mining nodes of said set or list of mining nodes. Consensus rules might be used for determining which full node will send the transaction to the concerned mining nodes.
At step 205, each mining node of said set receives the transaction forwarded/sent by the full node. Each of said mining nodes determines then whether said track section can be locked or unlocked according to the order comprised within the transaction and generates a validation answer which comprises either an acceptance of the transaction or a refusal. In particular, each mining node comprises a processor and a memory configured for determining, from a current state and/or output of the trackside device whether it can be locked or unlocked according to the order comprised within the transaction. For instance, if a switch 43 is already locked for a route for another guided vehicle, its processor will determine that it cannot be locked for a newly received transaction for locking its state according to a specific route as long as it has not been unlocked by the requesting system of said another guided vehicle. In such a case, the switch will refuse the transaction. Preferentially, each mining node that accepts a transaction (un)locks its state and/or output according to the (un)lock order comprised within the transaction before sending the validation answer. In case of failure of the mining node, e.g. if it technically cannot be locked to a specific state required for the route defined for the guided vehicle, then it automatically generates a validation answer comprising a refusal of the transaction.
At step 206, each of said concerned mining nodes broadcasts or sends its validation answer within the blockchain network, or preferentially within the full nodes. Alternatively, the mining node sends its validation answer to at least one, preferentially all full nodes or to a specific list of full nodes. The validation answer comprises for instance an identification of the trackside device, of the track section, of the transaction, and the refusal or acceptance of the transaction.
At step 207, at least one full node collects the validation answers of all mining nodes and determines whether all mining nodes concerned by a transaction have accepted the transaction or not. If at least one mining node refused the transaction, then the full node invalidates the transaction. Indeed, to validate a transaction and register it onto a block of the blockchain, the transaction has to be accepted by all mining nodes of the set of mining nodes concerned by the transaction.
At step 208, if all mining nodes of the set accepted the transaction, then at least one of the full nodes, preferentially a part or set of the full nodes (e.g. half of the full nodes) writes (i.e. registers) the transaction onto a block of the blockchain network and notifies the requesting system about the validation of the transaction. Said full node preferentially updates the blockchain within the blockchain network or notify other nodes, e.g. all other full nodes, of the blockchain network about an update of the blockchain network. For instance, it can broadcast a new block of the blockchain within the other full nodes 51. Each new block comprises at least one validated transaction, preferentially a single validated transaction. In particular, once the transaction has been validated and written onto the block, said block is broadcasted within at least a part of the blockchain network.
If at least one of the mining nodes refused the transaction, then at least one full node invalidates the transaction and notifies the requesting system and the mining nodes of said set about the invalidation of the transaction. Upon reception of a notification of invalidation, the mining nodes of said set which already locked a state and/or output according to the order comprised within said transaction go back to a state and/or output they had before receiving said transaction.
At step 209, the requesting system received a notification comprising the validation or invalidation of its transaction. It can be notified by uploading a new block added to the blockchain, or by a message sent by a full node, or by any other way of communication. As soon as a validation has been notified for all transactions for a route, i.e. as soon as a locking of each track section of said route is confirmed by the blockchain network, then the requesting system generates a movement authorization for the guided vehicle to move over said route. Upon reception of an invalidation of a track section of said route, the requesting system may generate another transaction for another track section in order to lock another route for the guided vehicle. In such a case, if said route comprised a track section that is then not comprised within said another route and for which a transaction has already been validated by the blockchain network, then it automatically generates a transaction for unlocking said track section, so that another requesting system may lock said track section by generating a transaction for another guided vehicle.
To summarize, the present invention provides a new way of managing the traffic of a railway network wherein the vital logic which determines the change of state and/or output of trackside devices of the TMS and ensures the safety of the displacements of the guided vehicles over the railway network is moved from a central system (prior art) to the nodes of a blockchain network (i.e. said vital logic is dispatched within the nodes of the blockchain network). Advantageously, a failure of a node of the blockchain network will then only affect this single node or at most a track section, and not the other nodes which can take account of this failure for determining if newly received transactions can be authorized or not, by taking into account said failure. | |
For what it's worth: it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and, if you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start over.
The members of the Atlantean Mystery School were the earliest human explorers of the frontiers of inner space. Through their meditative journeys and explorations, they discovered many secret astral passageways that led to an infinite variety of other worlds and dimensions.
The geographical pilgrimage is the symbolic acting out an inner journey.
The inner journey is the interpolation of the meanings and signs of the outer pilgrimage. One can have one without the other. It is best to have both.
We are what we believe we are.
What do you know about me, given that I believe in secrecy? .
.. If I stick where I am, if I don't travel around, like anyone else I make my inner journeys that I can only measure by my emotions, and express very obliquely and circuitously in what I write. ... Arguments from one's own privileged experience are bad and reactionary arguments.
Singleness would be recognized as a vital stage of the journey to maturation, a time to learn about who we are, to learn responsibility and self-sufficiency, to identify our true desires, and to confront our inner strengths and demons.
Not all meanings are meant to be clear at once.
Some ideas take time. Some words are designed to lead us on inner journeys, with truth hidden deep inside them.
You're a work of art. Not everyone will understand you, but the ones who do, will never forget about you.
The journey I'm taking is inside me. Just like blood travels down veins, what I'm seeing is my inner self and what seems threatening is just the echo of the fear in my heart.
Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.
The life of "peace" is both an inner journey toward a disarmed heart and a public journey toward a disarmed world. This difficult but beautiful journey gives infinite meaning and fulfillment to life itself because our lives become a gift for the whole human race. With peace as the beginning, middle, and end of life, life makes sense.
The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.
It requires greater courage to preserve inner freedom, to move on in one's inward journey into new realms, than to stand defiantly for outer freedom. It is often easier to play the martyr, as it is to be rash in battle.
A Quest of any kind is a heroic journey.
It is a rite of passage that carries you to an inner place of silence and majesty and encourages you to live life more courageously and genuinely.
On your daily journeys, listen to those inner signals that help you make the right choices no matter what anyone thinks.
Life is like a piano, the white keys represent happiness and the black shows sadness, but as you go through life's journey, remember that the black keys also makes music.
Surrender is a journey from the outer turmoil to the inner peace.
Our culture made a virtue of living only as extroverts.
We discouraged the inner journey, the quest for a center. So we lost our center and have to find it again.
The inner journey is as individual as our thumbprint.
We need to guide others on their way and never impose our way upon them.
To love a person is to see all of their magic, and to remind them of it when they have forgotten.
Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!
The journey to true happiness and to happiness now is not a journey of physical distance or time; it is one of personal "self-recovery," where we remember and reconnect consciously to an inner potential for joy--a paradise lost--waiting to be found.
Fantasy is, at its best, the purest access to storytelling that we have.
It universalizes a tale, it evokes wonder and timeless narrative power, it touches upon inner journeys, it illuminates our collective and individual pasts, throws a focus beam on the present day, and presages the dangers and promises of the future.
When you start seeing your worth, you'll find it harder to stay around people who don't.
The moving toward one's inner self is a long pilgrimage for a painter.
It offers many temporary successes and high points, but impels him on toward the more adequate image.
If you really want to find your voice, your goal is to journey toward inner wholeness--which is what life is about anyway. It involves self-acceptance and genuine self-respect. from Unleash the Writer Within
Your outer journey may contain a million steps;
your inner journey only has one: the step you are taking right now.
It is when you finally learn that your are all in your mind that your real life begins.
And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?
Inner-calm will lead you on a beautiful journey back to your original self;
the perfect, beautiful you.
The movement of the heart as we practice generosity in the outer world mirrors the movement of the heart when we let go of conditioned views about ourselves on our inner journey. Letting go creates a joyful sense of space in our minds
Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction.
There's a much deeper knowing and deeper intelligence in this place.
This is where I began the journey of listening to that inner wisdom. We've all had those aha moments. In yoga it's called prajna - a flash of illumination. I heard that voice.
Grief is perhaps an unknown territory for you.
You might feel both helpless and hopeless without a sense of a "map" for the journey. Confusion is the hallmark of a transition. To rebuild both your inner and outer world is a major project.
There must be a very clear understanding that you cannot work for peace if you are not ready to struggle. And this is the very meaning of jihad: to manage your intention to get your inner peace when it comes to the spiritual journey. In our society, that means face injustice and hypocrisy, face the dictators, the exploiters, the oppressors if you want to free the oppressed, if you want peace based on justice.
If you want to improve you self-worth, stop giving other people the calculator.
People involved in the inner journey discover the value of the feminine, the spiritually receptive and inclusive aspect of human consciousness.
Whether your life is destined to be short or to be long, along the way on that journey, if you access that inner power, not only will you change your life in a positive way, you'll ultimately help change other peoples lives. You will be carrying something forward.
There's a lot of fear connected with the inner journey because it penetrates our illusions. Taking the inner journey will lead you into some very shadowy places. You're going to learn things about yourself that you'll wish you didn't know. There are monsters in there-monsters you can't control-but trying to keep them hidden will only give them greater power.
It's okay to be a glowstick. Sometimes we have to break before we shine.
When we descend all the way down to the bottom of loss, and dwell patiently, with an open heart, in the darkness and pain, we can bring back up with us the sweetness of life and the exhilaration of inner growth. When there is nothing left to lose, we find the true self - the self that is whole, the self that is enough, the self that no longer looks to others for definition, or completion, or anything but companionship on the journey.
To a greater or lesser extent there goes on in every person a struggle between two forces: the longing for privacy and the urge to go places: the introversion, interest directed within oneself toward one's own inner life of vigorous thought and fancy; and extroversion, interest directed outward, toward the external world of people and tangible values.
In very clear and available language, this book details how to recognize the inner critic and how to deal effectively with it. Byron Brown's presentation is useful for any individual who wishes to be free from the inner suffering and coercion of this ancient foe of our humanity, but it is specifically directed to those interested and engaged in the inner journey toward realization and enlightenment.
Courage is finding the inner strength and bravery required when confronting danger, difficulty, or opposition. Courage is the energy current behind all great actions and the spark that ignites the initial baby steps of growth. It resides deep within each of us, ready to be accessed in those moments when you need to forge ahead or break through seemingly insurmountable barriers. It is the intangible force that propels you forward on your journey.
A healing journey into the inner conflicts and contradictions that separate spirit from self. | https://quotlr.com/quotes-about-inner-journey |
Australia, the place where the people are friendly, coffee is called ‘long black’ and everything about driving is backwards (which is why I kept mixing up the turn signal and windshield wipers) – it was also my home for 16 days.
The trip was a gift from my eldest daughter Nicole, a tour to celebrate the old man’s 50th birthday.
We began our adventure on Phillip Island, just off the south coast, starting with a koala sanctuary riddled with kookaburra birds, whose calls resemble a sound track from an old Tarzan movie.
The koalas here are totally dependent on the new growth of seven species of Eucalyptus for food – feeding for just four hours a day and sleeping for the other 20.
Travelling to the west coast, we spent the rest of the day at The Nobbies, two large rock formations that mark the nesting site of the tiny (30 centimetre tall) fairy penguin. We watched the famous penguin parade at sunset, when about 600 waddled ashore and started marching up the often steep slopes back to their burrows and hungry chicks.
It is a bleak landscape covered in little more than pink ice plant (Delosperma) and Bower spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma), which tastes like salted green beans and was used by Captain Cook to prevent scurvy among his crew.
We ended our time here with a boat tour of Seal Rocks, where a healthy population of 8,000 Australian fur seals amazed us with their aquatic aerobatics and sheer numbers.
We then flew into the heart of the desert to visit one of the great natural wonders of the world – Ayer’s Rock, or Uluru – spending several days hiking around the massive red icon (and nearby Kata Tjuta), visiting all the gorges (water holes), ceremonial caves and pictographs.
When outsiders first arrived here, they promptly took control of the area away from the Aborigines – thinking that they did little or nothing to maintain their traditional lands. The result of this debacle was the prompt extinction of 150 species of desert plants.
We traveled northward to Cairns in Queensland in order to catch our dive boat for the Great Barrier Reef. During the next four days on board the MV Taka we did little more than scuba dive four times a day, eat and sleep – but even here the role of plants is essential.
One example was the symbiotic relationship that exists between giant clams (we saw one 1.5 metres across that was about 70 years old) and the algae that grows on them, which produces at least some of their food.
Next we visited the tropical rainforests and savannahs of North Queensland, stopping at a Flying Fox rescue in Kuranda. I was amazed just how intelligent and personable these large bat-like creatures are, with their expressive eyes and almost canine heads. They actually respond to names and enjoy play-fighting with their handlers. These herbivorous mammals eat only fruit and a few local politicians want to eradicate them entirely to protect cultivated crops such as mango – the only problem being that they were here first and are critical pollinators and seed dispersers in the rainforest habitat.
We drove further north into the dry savannahs where the scenery looks like the old west, complete with cowboys, cattle and horses – just add kangaroos, lots of them.
We ended our trip at sunset, in front of a lava tube cave, where hundreds of microbats emerged to feed just inches from our faces, with poisonous snakes in the overhead trees trying to grab one for a snack.
Having been able to visit the temperate south, deserts, tropical rainforest, savannahs and reefs of Australia – I really came to appreciate how it had evolved on an entirely different level than most places. Let’s just hope that the continent where algae feeds giant clams and flying foxes reseed the rainforest can stay just the way it is, a unique and irreplaceable part of this world that we all share.
Mike Lascelle is a local nursery manager and gardening author. Email him at [email protected].
Blog
Mike has a new story on his blog at www.soulofagardener.wordpress.com called Lessons Learned from Ants, Australia & Ayer’s Rock. He will post some Australian plant descriptions at www.mikesgardentop5plants.wordpress.com. | https://www.mapleridgenews.com/life/back-after-16-days-in-the-land-of-oz/ |
32 F.3d 556
31 U.S.P.Q.2d 1855
WALDEMAR LINK, GmbH & CO., Plaintiff-Appellant,v.OSTEONICS CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 94-1046.
United States Court of Appeals,Federal Circuit.
Aug. 19, 1994.
William R. Murphy, Tyler, Cooper & Alcorn, New Haven, CT, argued, for plaintiff-appellant. With him on the brief was Guy D. Yale, Chilton, Alix & Van Kirk, Hartford, CT.
William L. Mentlik, Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik, Westfield, NJ, argued, for defendant-appellee. With him on the brief was Roy H. Wepner. Of counsel were Joseph S. Littenberg and Keith E. Gilman.
Before ARCHER, Chief Judge, LOURIE and RADER, Circuit Judges.
RADER, Circuit Judge.
1
Waldemar Link (Link) appeals the decision of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, estopping Link from obtaining a priority date for certain claims of Application Serial No. 472,853 (the '853 parent) which became U.S. Patent No. 4,698,063 (the '063 patent). Because Link's actions do not create an estoppel, this court reverses and remands.
Background
2
On March 7, 1983, Link filed an application, the '853 parent, for a femoral hip joint prosthesis claiming priority from a German patent application filed May 3, 1982. The applications describe a prosthesis with a removable support collar to facilitate surgical manipulations.
3
In the initial office action on the '853 parent application, the Examiner objected to the specification under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, first paragraph, for lack of an adequate written description of the invention. The Examiner perceived a lack of clarity in the drawings regarding the location of ribs and grooves in the prosthesis. The Examiner stated:
4
Page 5, first paragraph, it is not clear from the drawings where, in fact, the ribs and grooves are located.
5
The drawings are objected to because the figures do not clearly depict the features as set forth in the specification. (See page 5, first paragraph). Correction is required.
6
Nevertheless, claim 4--as originally filed--stated in part that the seating for the support neck includes "ribs and grooves which run at right angles to the axis of the stem or neck and act together." Similar language appeared in the specification.
7
In reply, Link cancelled original claims 1-4 and submitted new claims generally addressing the same subject matter. The Examiner issued a final rejection citing both 35 U.S.C. Secs. 102 and 103 as bases for the rejection. Significantly, the Examiner did not cite either 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112 or Sec. 132 as a basis for rejection.
8
Link responded to the final rejection with arguments and amendments. The Examiner refused to enter the amendments. The After Final Advisory Action set forth at least four grounds for not entering the amendments: (1) the applicant did not show under 37 C.F.R. Sec. 1.116(b) (1993) good and sufficient reasons for the amendments, (2) the applicant "raise[d] the issue of new matter" requiring a new search, (3) the applicant's amendments did not place the application in better form for appeal, and (4) the applicant presented additional claims without cancelling a corresponding number of finally rejected claims. Link took no further action and thus abandoned the '853 parent application.
9
On November 6, 1985, Link filed Continuation-In-Part (CIP) Application, Serial No. 795,368. The application clearly set forth the rib and groove arrangement for the collar, as well as setting forth a simpler method of attachment to the bone. The CIP contained revised claims with additional embodiments and new drawings. The CIP eventually matured into the '063 patent.
10
Link sued Osteonics for infringement of the '063 patent. Osteonics moved for summary judgment, asserting Link's '063 patent was invalid under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112 for failure to disclose the best mode. According to Osteonics, at the time Link filed the CIP, it had developed a commercial embodiment of its invention that substantially differed from the embodiments disclosed in the CIP. Osteonics asserted that the commercial embodiment constituted the best mode which Link did not disclose in the CIP application.
11
Finding genuine issues of fact, the district court denied the motion for summary judgment. However, in addressing the motion for summary judgment, the district court held, as a matter of law, that the claims at issue were entitled only to the filing date of the CIP application, not the filing date of the earlier parent application. The district court reasoned that estoppel precluded Link from asserting a date earlier than the CIP filing date. The district court made this holding the law of the case for the remainder of the trial.
12
Without the benefit of the earlier filing date, Link's German patent application would be prior art under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 102 or Sec. 103. Because such a holding could invalidate the claims at bar, Link moved for a revision of the district court's opinion. The district court denied Link's motion. The priority date was crucial to resolving the best mode issue; accordingly, the district court certified the priority date issue for interlocutory appeal under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292(b) and (c) (1988). This court granted permission to appeal. 14 F.3d 612.
Analysis
13
In this case, this court reviews an estoppel based on what occurred during prosecution; in this way it is similar to prosecution history estoppel under the doctrine of equivalents. Thus, whether estoppel applies in the circumstances of this case is a conclusion of law reviewed for legal correctness. See LaBounty Mfg., Inc. v. United States Int'l Trade Comm'n, 867 F.2d 1572, 1576, 9 USPQ2d 1995, 1998 (Fed.Cir.1989).
14
A CIP application can be entitled to different priority dates for different claims. Claims containing any matter introduced in the CIP are accorded the filing date of the CIP application. However, matter disclosed in the parent application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the parent application. See Litton Sys., Inc. v. Whirlpool Corp., 728 F.2d 1423, 1438, 221 USPQ 97, 106 (Fed.Cir.1984).
15
Determination of whether a priority document contains sufficient disclosure under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, first paragraph is a question of law. Utter v. Hiraga, 845 F.2d 993, 998, 6 USPQ2d 1709, 1714 (Fed.Cir.1988). However, "compliance with the written description aspect of that requirement is a question of fact." Id. The fact finder must determine if one skilled in the art, reading the original specification, would immediately discern the limitation at issue in the parent. In re Rasmussen, 650 F.2d 1212, 1215, 211 USPQ 323, 327 (CCPA 1981). In other words, does the "disclosure of the application relied upon reasonably convey[ ] to the artisan that the inventor had possession at that time of the later claimed subject matter"? Wang Labs., Inc. v. Toshiba Corp., 993 F.2d 858, 865, 26 USPQ2d 1767, 1774 (Fed.Cir.1993) (quoting Vas-Cath Inc. v. Mahurkar, 935 F.2d 1555, 1563, 19 USPQ2d 1111, 1116 (Fed.Cir.1991). Furthermore, before making any factual determination about the disclosure of newly added material, the trial court examines the circumstances surrounding the prosecution of the patent application. Litton, 728 F.2d at 1438.
16
During the prosecution of the parent application, the patent Examiner acts as a fact-finder. If an Examiner determines that an amended claim recites elements without support in the parent disclosure, the proper basis of rejection is 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, first paragraph. Rasmussen, 650 F.2d at 1214.
17
If the Examiner finally rejects a claim as lacking support in the disclosure, applicants generally have a choice. They may appeal the Examiner's decision on the merits through the administrative appeals process of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). Alternatively, they may elect to file a continuing application and reargue the point. Or else applicants can file a CIP application adding support for the rejected claims, thus restricting claims containing any new matter to the later filing date of the CIP.
18
The CIP application thus does not explicitly memorialize the filing date accorded particular claims. Thus, when a priority date dispute arises, the trial court must examine closely the prosecution history to discover the proper date for each claim at issue. In Litton, this court held that when the PTO rejected a claim in a final action under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, first paragraph, and the applicant later filed a continuation application which was then converted to a CIP after an interview with the Examiner, the applicant was estopped from obtaining a priority date earlier than the filing date of the CIP application. Litton, in effect, "implied that it did add new matter." Litton, 728 F.2d at 1438.
19
Estoppel does not occur, however, in the absence of an explicit final rejection under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, first paragraph. In Paperless Accounting, Inc. v. Bay Area Rapid Transit System, 804 F.2d 659, 231 USPQ 649 (Fed.Cir.1986), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 933, 107 S.Ct. 1573, 94 L.Ed.2d 764 (1987), the first Office Action on the merits rejected all claims due to an incomplete and insufficient disclosure. In the final Office Action, the PTO made no 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112 rejection. The applicant abandoned this original application. The applicant then filed a CIP application that matured into a patent. In subsequent litigation, this court refused to hold that the mere filing of a CIP amounts to a concession that the parent application contained an insufficient disclosure. The court reasoned that the final rejection contained no action showing an insufficiency of disclosure. This court noted with approval: "All rejections previously made and not continued in the final rejection are considered as withdrawn." Paperless, 804 F.2d at 663 (quoting Ex parte Martin, 104 USPQ 124,128 (Supr.Exmr.1952)). Because the final rejection did not cite 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, the PTO presumably withdrew those grounds of rejection. Moreover, "[s]ince the question of sufficiency of disclosure was not a basis for the final rejection, it could not have been appealed." Paperless, 804 F.2d at 663.
20
This case presents facts analogous to Paperless. The rejection before Link's abandonment was not based on 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112. Link had no cause to appeal a rejection for insufficient disclosure. Rather, Link had good reason to believe filing a CIP would enable it to further respond to the section 102 and 103 rejections.
21
Osteonics attempts to distinguish Paperless by pointing out that Link tried to amend the claims after final rejection, but could not, at least in part, because the Examiner disallowed the proposed amendments. Link thereafter did not further petition the Commissioner.
22
This argument is not convincing. An applicant has discretion to submit amendments after a final rejection. The Examiner only permits such After Final Amendments upon "a showing of good and sufficient reasons why they are necessary and were not earlier presented." 37 C.F.R. Sec. 1.116(b). A refusal to permit such an amendment is not a rejection on the merits and leaves the application in the same status it was in after the final rejection.
23
In Litton, the Examiner made an unambiguous rejection under section 112 that gave the applicant an opportunity to appeal to the Board or concede the lack of entitlement to the original filing date for the new matter in question. The circumstances of that case involved an implied concession that there was new matter. The present case is different and features no such rejection under section 112. In fact, the Examiner's earlier objection did not appear in the final rejection. The applicant could have reasonably inferred that the Examiner withdrew the section 112 grounds.
24
The patent system as a whole benefits from clear, unambiguous rules. Absent a clear rejection, estoppel does not apply. Estoppel only arises when a clear, unambiguous rejection gives rise to a choice of appealing or accepting the rejection, and the applicant accepts the rejection and expressly or impliedly concedes its correctness. In the absence of a clear and unambiguous rejection under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, estoppel does not bar Link from obtaining an earlier filing date for the disputed claims. The court on remand must determine whether in fact the contested claims are supported by the '853 parent application.
COSTS
25
Each party to bear its own costs.
26
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
| |
Hello! I just scored a copy of BWG, and I’ve been digesting it… This game looks awesome!! I was doubly stoked to find it has a thriving online community and support from Luke & co.
I would love to run this for some friends but it’s just overwhelmingly complex. While as GM I am willing to invest in learning it, my players aren’t so patient or invested. Is there a “lite” version of BW out there?
For example, the monsters look like Greek to me. Is there a fan-made template for clearer monster stats out there? The B/G/W designation before rankings is completely non-intuitive (though I realize that it refers to succeeding on a 4/3/2 respectively). Also, how does a GM discern how many and which type of monsters are an evenly matched challenge for their players?
Forgive any ignorance; most of my gaming experience is D&D and I’m just getting into BW. Thanks! | https://forums.burningwheel.com/t/is-there-a-lite-version-of-bwg/13146 |
Premise of the study: We use spatial phylogenetics to analyze the assembly of the Wisconsin flora, linking processes of dispersal and niche evolution to spatial patterns in floristic and phylogenetic diversity, and testing whether phylogenetic niche conservatism can account for these patterns. Methods: We use digitized records and a new molecular phylogeny for all vascular plants in Wisconsin to estimate spatial variation in species richness and phylogenetic and diversity in a native flora shaped mainly by post-glacial dispersal and response to environmental gradients. We develop distribution models for all species and use these to infer fine-scale variation in potential diversity, phylogenetic distance, and interspecific range overlaps. We identify 11 bioregions based on floristic composition, map areas of neo- and paleo-endemism to establish new conservation priorities, and predict how community-assembly patterns should shift with climatic change. Key results: Spatial phylogenetic turnover most strongly reflects differences in temperature and spatial distance. For all vascular plants, assemblages shift from phylogenetically clustered to over-dispersed northward, contrary to most other studies. This pattern is lost for angiosperms alone, illustrating the importance of phylogenetic scale.Conclusions: Species ranges and assemblage composition appear driven primarily by phylogenetic niche conservatism. Closely related species are ecologically similar and occupy similar territories. The average level and geographic structure of plant phylogenetic diversity within Wisconsin will greatly decline over the next half-century, while potential species richness will increase throughout the state. Our methods can be applied to allochthonous communities throughout the world. | https://datadryad.org:443/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.kf6q10b |
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