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Teen girl's pimp handed life term
Updated 12:33 am, Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Photo: Craig Kapitan/Express-News
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Kwaku Agyin, 21, listens to victim impact testimony Monday, moments after state District Judge Lori Valenzuela sentenced him to life in prison for murder. Agyin was also given shorter sentences for child sex trafficking, compelling prostitution and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Kwaku Agyin, 21, listens to victim impact testimony Monday, moments after state District Judge Lori Valenzuela sentenced him to life in prison for murder. Agyin was also given shorter sentences for child sex
A San Antonio man convicted last month of pimping a 15-year-old runaway from Houston and luring her new boyfriend to his death was sentenced Monday to life in prison.
In addition to the maximum sentence for murder, prosecutors had asked that Kwaku Agyin, 21, receive seven consecutive life sentences for three counts of child sex trafficking, three counts of compelling prostitution and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. But one life sentence was enough, state District Judge Lori Valenzuela decided.
She sentenced Agyin to four 25-year sentences and three 20-year sentences for the other felony offenses. All but two of the sentences will be served concurrently, she ruled.
Jurors returned the guilty verdicts last month after the girl, now 17, testified that she was prostituted by Agyin for several weeks in September 2011 after running away from a youth detention center in San Antonio. She was already selling sex to survive on the streets but never wanted a pimp, she testified.
The teen's new boyfriend, Marcus Anderson, 35, had been trying to persuade her to sell drugs instead, and she went to police after Agyin ambushed him from a closet at the Skyline Motel, fatally shooting him.
Prosecutors pointed to additional accusations that Agyin verbally abused guards while in jail, had physically abused his ex-girlfriend and once shot at a rival drug dealer.
“There's really nowhere beyond capital murder for this defendant to go,” prosecutor Kirsta Melton said as she asked for the stacked life sentences. “He did it because he could — because it helped his street ‘cred.' There are no baser instincts.”
Defense attorney Mario Treviño called the sentencing request “ridiculous” and contended the teen started most of the troubles. Agyin's problems stem from the fact that his father, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and mother, a nurse practitioner, weren't prepared for the cultural shift of raising a child in San Antonio after immigrating from Ghana, he suggested.
Agyin's mother described him as “the type of spirit (that) captivates you and makes you excited about life.”
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International negotiations to enforce a global ban on germ warfare have been suspended following a recent decision by the United States to pull out of the talks.
The chairman of the 56-nation talks, Tibor Toth of Hungary, said the group could not go on working on a protocol on enforcement of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention without the participation of the United States.
Quite a number of delegations would be reluctant to engage in continued negotiations among themselves in the absence of a major negotiating partner, that is the United States of America
Tibor Toth
The germ warfare convention, while outlawing the manufacture, storage or use of toxic weapons, has no mechanism to ensure that states adhere to it.
Washington withdrew from the talks towardsat the end of July, saying it objected to too many clauses on the proposed agreement.
US fears espionage
The US says the draft will be ineffective in stopping countries from developing germ warfare, but will endanger US security and expose the commercial secrets of its biotech industry to industrial espionage.
Mr Mahley said the US would come up with new proposals
"In our assessment, the draft protocol would put national security and confidential business information at risk, " the US representative, Donald Mahley, told the forum last week.
Washington's allies have expressed regret at the US decision.
Unlike the case of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, which was ratified last week despite Washington's absence, the countries in the biological weapons talks decided the germ warfare protocol was not worth signing without the US.
New ideas expected
Instead, the forum, which has been working since 1994, has agreed to suspend the talks for a year.
France said it expected the US to come up with new ideas on enforcing the anti-germ warfare treaty, so that they could resume.
Iran and Iraq were among the countries opposed to continuing the talks without the US.
Iraq's efforts to develop biological weapons spurred the talks
Baghdad noted that Washington was needed in any agreement because the United States has one of the most advanced biotechnology industries.
According to the rules of the talks, the 210-page draft protocol must be ratified by consensus, and any country has the power to veto inspection procedures or anything else.
The latest meeting of the group, which started in Geneva on 23 July, had been intended to finalise the wording of the draft plan.
Mr Toth told the members that "the overwhelming majority" of the delegates had been hopeful that an agreement on how to enforce the convention could have been reached by now.
Unfortunately, he said, "it is not possible to do that."
A periodic review of the Biological Weapons Convention is to be held in November, with the participation of all 143 nations who ratified it.
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Marius Arlauskas: Head Chef @ Ellerslie
1. What inspired you to pursue a career as a chef? Inspiration for food and cooking came when I was 8 and had to prep a whole Christmas lunch for my family due to my mum getting ill and I decided to take lunch into my own hands, maybe it was not the best lunch but from that moment it stuck to me.
2. How long have you worked in the industry? When did you start?So now I’m 18 years working as a chef. I joined the chef college which I completed in 2 years and travelled over Africa and Europe collecting knowledge of different cuisines and cooking techniques.
3. How did you get your role at Audley Ellerslie? What attracted you to us? I worked for few companies before and decided that it was time for a change and within a month I joined Audley group. I had a brand new kitchen, that was something I always wanted. A new experience that’s what attracted me here at Audley Ellerslie.
4. How do you/what is the process for creating a new menu (both for a village restaurant and an event like the recent launch)?My menus and food that I’m creating comes from experience, knowledge, seasonal products, new trends and of course Audley owners, trying to please every customer so you will find fine dining to comfort food.
5. Who would be at your ideal dinner party (dead or alive)? What kind of menu would you create? My Ideal dinner party would be my whole family because it's hard all to get together and we would have endless BBQ music and best time ever.
6. What is your favourite dish to cook for others? My favourite dish to cook is fish, as long as it's fresh I can make amazing dishes that are light and tasty as hell.
7. What do you love to cook for yourself? I only cook at work, at home my kitchen is taken over by my partner and it's nice when someone cooks for you for a change.
8. Which season creates the best produce and why?I think the best season is spring when everything is waking up from a cold winter and you start looking at what’s ready to use at the time.
9. Who inspires you as a chef? My inspiration to become a chef was my mom, I just loved cooking and baking with her when I was a child. So here I am Head Chef in Audley Group and I’m enjoying where I’m and what I do.
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Long-term prognosis of medically treated patients with vasospastic angina and no fixed significant coronary atherosclerosis.
The clinical course of 48 consecutive patients with vasospastic angina and minor coronary atherosclerosis (no stenoses greater than 50%) was analyzed during an average follow-up period of 47 months. The study group consisted of 37 men and 11 women. Patients were treated with usual doses of calcium antagonists. One patient died (2%) and three had myocardial infarctions (6%). Seventy-one percent were asymptomatic or had infrequent angina; 13% had recurrences but had periods of remission lasting at least 10 months. Only 16% had persistent angina. None of the clinical or angiographic findings at the time of diagnosis were predictive of myocardial infarction or death, and they could not separate angina-free patients from those with recurrences. Thus, vasospastic angina without fixed coronary narrowing has a good prognosis despite the possibility of recurrences. However, there is a slight risk of myocardial infarction and death. This fact should be considered if there are plans to discontinue treatment.
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The inhibitory effect of tannic acid on cytochrome P450 enzymes and NADPH-CYP reductase in rat and human liver microsomes.
Tannic acid has been shown to decrease mutagenicity and/or carcinogenicity of several amine derivatives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rodents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tannic acid on cytochrome P450 (CYP)-catalyzed oxidations using rat liver microsomes (RLM) and human liver microsomes (HLM) as the enzyme sources. In RLM, tannic acid showed a non-selective inhibitory effect on 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD), 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD), tolbutamide hydroxylation, p-nitrophenol hydroxylation and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation activities with IC(50) values ranged from 14.9 to 27.4 microM. In HLM, tannic acid inhibited EROD, MROD and phenacetin O-deethylation activities with IC(50) values ranged from 5.1 to 7.5 microM, and diclofenac 4-hydroxylation, dextromethorphan O-demethylation, chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation with IC(50) values ranged from 20 to 77 microM. In baculovirus-insect cell-expressed human CYP 1A1 and 1A2, the IC(50) values of tannic acid for CYP 1A1- and 1A2-catalyzed EROD activities were 23.1 and 2.3 microM, respectively, indicating that tannic acid preferably inhibited the activity of CYP1A2. Tannic acid inhibited human CYP1A2 non-competitively with a Ki value of 4.8 microM. Tannic acid was also found to inhibit NADPH-CYP reductase in RLM and HLM with IC(50) values of 11.8 and 17.4 microM, respectively. These results suggested that the inhibition of CYP enzyme activities by tannic acid may be partially attributed to its inhibition of NADPH-CYP reductase activity.
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Okay, so not really clear on the debate, but it seems like she declined an award she told people she strongly disagreed with a year before. Regardless of the "rightness" of what would seem to be a simple matter of taste, she appears to have acted honestly...
I'd like to see her decline her salary since it widens the divides of hierarchy in legal education, and results in the express ghetto-fication of students. Put your money where your mouth is, sweetheart.
One Trackback to “HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UPDATE: Washington University Law Prof Declines ‘Experiential Professor of t…”
InstaPundit is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
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Epidural abscess and meningitis after epidural corticosteroid injection.
Epidural abscess with and without associated meningitis after epidural corticosteroid injections for radicular back pain is a rarely reported complication. We report the occurrence of an epidural abscess and meningitis in a 70-year-old man after 2 epidural corticosteroid injections for treatment of acute radicular lumbar back pain. At the time of diagnosis, cerebrospinal fluid cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus, and the patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics. Possible predisposing factors for the development of an epidural abscess and meningitis in this patient include a 2-year history of neutropenia and an accidental dural puncture that occurred during performance of the first epidural injection. A literature search identified 11 reported cases of epidural abscess, 2 of epidural abscess and meningitis, and 1 of meningitis attributed to epidural corticosteroid injections. Eight of the 14 reported patients were immunocompromised, and 8 (67%) of the 12 in whom cultures of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or epidural pus were performed had results positive for S. aureus. Antibiotic prophylaxis for S. aureus should be considered for immunocompromised patients undergoing epidural corticosteroid injections.
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Q:
What do I need to take into account assembling an Ubuntu desktop PC?
Possible Duplicate:
Best hardware for a Ubuntu Computer?
I'm looking into building my own computer. However, I've never done this before. I've used Ubuntu my whole life and am intending to continue to do so, so I'd like to make sure all the hardware works out of the box with Ubuntu - preferably even with open source drivers (i.e. without having to install proprietary drivers after installation). If that's not possible, then at least from a company making work of their Linux support.
So, what are things to watch out for? How best to approach this task? For example, which components are often most problematic -- i.e. which is best to start with? How can I be sure that each component plays nice with the rest?
A:
In the scope of this question & answer site I am certainly unable to give you recommendations on one or the other piece of hardware. This is even more so as there is constant development going on. What we said today may not hold true tomorrow.
From my own experience in building my own boxes for several years now I have never had any unsolvable issue when it comes to Ubuntu compatibility. However there are some general thoughts you might want to consider:
The latest brand-new hardware may not yet be fully supported. It is better to choose hardware that was around for some months.
Don't look for hardware that works, look for the rare cases that don't. Check the forums for issues with the one single specific piece of hardware you chose. If there weren't any it's probably safe to use.
Buy common hardwares rather than exotic ones if you have the choice.
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Allied POWs get a shave during WWI. National Museum of the US Navy/Public Domain
In 1915, not long into World War I, the British military noticed something troubling. An unusually large number of newly recruited soldiers were developing anthrax infections on their heads and necks. At first, the outbreak, which affected both British and American soldiers, was attributed to “diabolical tactics of the enemy,” according to a recent historical report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But biological warfare wasn’t the culprit. Instead, it was the humble shaving brushes the soldiers were given upon enlistment, because a clean-shaven face would make a gas mask more effective.
Before the war, shaving brushes were usually made with badger hair, the preferred bristles for lathering up. When the conflict interrupted the supply of high-quality badger bristles from Russia, suppliers cut a few corners. They switched to horsehair from Russia, China, and Japan—and skimped on a crucial step: disinfection. Instead of sending the hair to France or Germany to be cleaned and sanitized, they sent the tufts directly to brush manufacturers in the United States.
The blisters and blackened ulcers on the soldiers’ faces and necks are classic symptoms of anthrax, which is caused by a bacteria found in soil. Livestock and other animals can spread the disease to humans, though it’s not otherwise contagious. Inhaling or ingesting anthrax spores can cause a dangerous infection, but anthrax infections on the skin are rarely lethal if properly treated. Between 1915 and 1924, 149 American soldiers, 28 British servicemen, and 67 civilians in both countries contracted the disease. The number likely would have been higher if New York City hadn’t forced manufacturers to sterilize their brushes starting in 1920.
An important label to look out for. Steve Hodgson/CC BY-SA 2.0
Anthrax was not uncommon in the early 20th century, especially among people who worked with livestock and animal products such as wool and leather. Today, the disease is relatively rare in the United States and northern Europe, but occasional cases crop up in cows and bison. Anthrax is much more common in places, such as Asia, Africa, and Australia, where livestock aren’t routinely vaccinated against it.
If you choose to lather up today with a nice badger brush, you should be fine. The CDC cautions against disinfecting vintage brushes yourself (“the risks associated with various combinations of steam, pressure, and formaldehyde are likely to outweigh possible benefits”), but ones made after 1930 are usually safe, and all modern brushes are sanitized.
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Q:
My monitor doesn't auto-turn off!
I have Windows Vista and I've set up my display to turn off after 1 minute of inactivity in Power Options. However, it simply doesn't.
I also tried a utility called "nircmd" which has a "power monitor off" command. It indeed turns the monitor off, but it wakes up again one or two seconds later. So my guess is that something is making Windows thinks the computer is active when in fact it's not.
What could be causing this?
EDIT: like most computer users, my system does have some processes that are not native running. These are the ones I can spot without digging too deep:
NOD32
Evernote
Dropbox
Google Desktop
Affixa
Everything (a fast search program for NTFS)
A:
The problem went away after formatting and reinstalling, thus the problem must have lied in some erroneous application present in my previous system.
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There's probably not a lot of value in this. The Intel and AMD optimisation guides tend to deprecate inc/dec in favour of using add/sub, because the former can cause pipeline stalls due to its partial flags update.
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Sponsored by
Resources
I’m using many tools in my pipeline and after many years I finally succeeded to map the most dominant of them for you. I’ve created this page as a resource you can always come to for reference about these tools.
When i first started out with architectural visualization i was very strict about doing it 3d all the way, but today almost every image i create incorporates some 2d techniques applied in post using software such as photoshop.
sometimes i add elements i didn’t have time to create in 3d or forgot about them. Other times i plan before hand on adding those elements and save time this way – especially if I’m not sure the client will approve them and this way i can just hide the layers. the technique I’ll describe in this post is especially useful and easy to apply in single focal point images.
V-Ray RT was released early of June this year and it is now fully integrated in my studio’s work-flow. this tool is remarkably helpful at setting up scene lighting and editing materials on the fly. although it doesn’t support all of V-Ray’s features (Displacement & Proxies for example) i started to think about how it could become a replacement for the standard render engine when it does. it seems Chaosgroup decided to take this even further as seen on this latest demo from SIGGRAPH 2009 posted by Jeff Mottle of CGarchitect.com.
V-Ray RT GPU rendering
It seems that the predictions some of us had a few years back about targeting GPU’s as the rendering hub are starting to take shape and are on the way into V-Ray RT. I don’t think this will become available any time soon, perhaps in one years time, but clearly this seems to be what everyone is aiming for.
In the past I was contemplating the use of game engines in our studio for real time solutions, but this latest demo shows one will be able to possibly use the V-Ray RT engine as a real time tool for production and possibly for actual display and recording of walk through sequances.
One other such tool I keep my eyes on is Randomcontrol’s Fryrender RT and their VirtualEditor.
Welcome to my new blog, a personal addition to my web presence along side my studio website at www.polytown.com running since late 2005. I’ve been pondering doing this for a few months now and finally got around to actually do it. Many thanks to the great community built by Envato and specifically their ThemeForest Marketplace were i found the theme for this blog.
ABOUT RONENBEKERMAN.COM
First launched as a way for me to connect with fellow 3d artist worldwide, it quickly became the place to share and learn about architectural visualization. I’m Ronen Bekerman, Co-Founder of The Craft and crafting visuals is what I do on a daily basis. Here you can learn about ArchViz, share your process, showcase your work, find tools, challenge yourself and land the dream job you always wanted or the best 3d artists for your studio. Let’s talk about it all!
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Q:
How can I bundle Rangy along with additional modules?
Rangy is shipped as a core library, rangy-core.js, along with a set of optional modules built in separate files (e.g. rangy-serializer.js). I'm trying to figure out the best way to bundle rangy-core plus the modules that I require as a single file.
Background:
I'm creating a bit of Javascript that gets loaded into 3rd party sites. The first thing I do when I get loaded is pull down my additional dependencies (jQuery, Ractive, Rangy). The number of network requests that I kick off is a concern, so I'd like to avoid pulling down each piece of Rangy separately.
What I've tried:
1) Manually loading . Currently, I insert the script tag to pull down rangy-core.js and then when that's loaded I insert tags to pull down the additional modules. This works but it results in 4 network requests. Something like this:
function loadRangy() {
// loadScript inserts a script tag and then calls
// back to a function when the script is loaded
loadScript('//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/rangy/1.3.0/rangy-core.min.js', function() {
loadScript('//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/rangy/1.3.0/rangy-classapplier.min.js');
loadScript('//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/rangy/1.3.0/rangy-textrange.min.js');
loadScript('//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/rangy/1.3.0/rangy-serializer.min.js');
});
2) Browserify. I've tried using Browserify to combine these 4 scripts into one. I'm probably doing this wrong, but what I tried is simply:
browserify rangy-*.js -o rangy-combined.js
This blows up with:
Error: Cannot find module 'rangy' from '/Users/foo/bar/rangy/1.3.0'
at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/browserify/node_modules/resolve/lib/async.js:46:17
at process (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/browserify/node_modules/resolve/lib/async.js:173:43)
at ondir (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/browserify/node_modules/resolve/lib/async.js:188:17)
at load (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/browserify/node_modules/resolve/lib/async.js:69:43)
at onex (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/browserify/node_modules/resolve/lib/async.js:92:31)
at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/browserify/node_modules/resolve/lib/async.js:22:47
at Object.oncomplete (fs.js:107:15)
A:
I'm not sure if it's the recommended/best approach, but I've found that I can simply concatenate the files and everything seems to work (as long as I put rangy-core first). Using Grunt, it looks like this:
/*global module:false*/
module.exports = function(grunt) {
// Project configuration.
grunt.initConfig({
pkg: grunt.file.readJSON('package.json'),
concat: {
rangy: {
src: [ '../rangy/1.3.0/uncompressed/rangy-core.js', '../rangy/1.3.0/uncompressed/*.js' ],
dest: ‘../lib/rangy-combined.js’
}
}
});
grunt.loadNpmTasks('grunt-contrib-concat');
grunt.registerTask('rangy', [ 'concat:rangy' ]);
};
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This is Les Trois Petits Cochons' signature mousse. This luxurious mousse features the gem of French cuisine - black truffles. Made from pork and chicken liver and flavored with Pineau des Charentes and Sherry, this mousse has an unbelievably silky texture.
As a family we love this pate and can't wait for the wonderfully packed box to arrive. It calls for us all round the table with some crusty bread, mousse truffee and some cornichons...The taste is amazing.. nothing beats it.
By julsintxfrom Houston Tx.on Feb 01, 2014
Amazing
It was great... arrived nicely chilled and was just what I thought it would be.. We loved it and my husband is already asking when I'm ordering it again...
By Leefrom Olympia, WAon Aug 02, 2013
Scrumptous
The texture is bliss and the flavor is divine. I will order again.
By Sunnybluefrom Bronx, NYon Mar 11, 2013
Mousse Trufee
I really didn't like this one!!
By hrhsassypantsfrom Beautiful Black Hills of SDon Mar 05, 2013
Velvety Goodness
Another excellent product from Les Trois Petits Cochons! The truffle flavor is not very pronounced, but the pate flavor is very good. Texture is excellent.
By George H.from New Orleans, Laon Feb 17, 2013
Great!
Good flavor, smooth and right size. I reordered right away!
By JLfrom Washington Stateon Feb 02, 2013
Perfect Pâté
Excellent quality, smooth and pleasantly spicy. One of the best mousses I have ever had. I'd definitely recommend this!
By Pattifrom Marylandon Dec 28, 2012
Loooove this!
Wonderful flavor, smooth. I usually hide it so I can enjoy the whole thing. Now I have a reliable source to secure it. Great packing and shipping container.
By dcingramfrom Ohioon Dec 14, 2012
The pate is great but the eco-cooler box is not
The pate is everything one expects from the description but the eco-cooler box option for shipping is useless. Even at this time of year (winter) the cold packs had warmed up. Stick with the traditional polystyrene packaging.
By Proberta Gerberfrom California Wine Countryon Oct 07, 2012
Almost there...
This is a tasty, creamy, spreadable pate, rich and really wonderful with a glass of wine or even seltzer. Highly recommended.
The reason I gave it only four stars is purely subjective: My all time favorite pate of this type was from Marcel et Henri who set the bar really high. Unfortunately, M&H are gone, but this is definitely a nice replacement.
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Nizhal Thangal of Paloor
This Thangal of Paloor was the third among the Primary Nizhal Thangals. This Thangal was constructed by Mr. Perumal Nadar of Paloor who donated 43 palmyra trees for the famous Thaththuva-kottagai Project in Ambala Pathi.
This man requested Ayya to visit his village and as per Ayya visited Paloor. There with the instructions of Vaikundar, the third Thangal was constructed.
See also
Pathi
Nizhal Thangal
Worship centers of Ayyavazhi
References
K. Amalan, Ayya Vaikundar Punitha Varlaru, Akilam Pathippakam, 2000.
G. Patrick, Religion and Subaltern Agency, University of Madras, 2003.
Category:Nizhal Thangals
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2016 Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2016 Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the provincial women's curling championship for Southern Ontario, was held January 18 to 24 at the Brampton Curling Club in Brampton, Ontario. The winning Jenn Hanna rink represented Ontario at the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
The final featured two rinks from the Ottawa Curling Club, the #1 ranked team in the world, skipped by Rachel Homan against 2005 Tournament of Hearts runner up Jenn Hanna, making her first provincial appearance since 2012, after taking a few seasons off. Hanna beat the Homan team 10-8 in the final, an upset as the Homan team had only lost one event all season, and led both the World Curling Tour Order of Merit ranking and money list at the time (while Hanna was ranked 69th and 80th respectively).
Qualification Process
Qualifying for the provincial Scotties changed for 2016. Eight teams qualified from four regional qualifiers (two each) and a challenge round. The defending champion Julie Hastings rink and the top CTRS team (the Rachel Homan rink) also qualified.
Teams
Round robin standings
Round robin results
Draw 1
Monday, January 18, 7:00 pm
Draw 2
Tuesday, January 19, 2:00 pm
Draw 3
Tuesday, January 19, 8:00 pm
Draw 4
Wednesday, January 20, 1:00 pm
Draw 5
Wednesday, January 20, 7:00 pm
Draw 6
Thursday, January 21, 1:00 pm
Draw 7
Thursday, January 21, 7:00 pm
Draw 8
Friday, January 22, 1:00 pm
Draw 9
Friday, January 22, 7:00 pm
Playoffs
1 vs. 2
Saturday, January 23, 2:00 pm
3 vs. 4
Saturday, January 23, 7:00 pm
Semifinal
Sunday, January 24, 9:00 am
Final
Sunday, January 24, 2:00 pm
Qualification
East and west regional qualifiers ran from December 18-December 21, 2015. Two teams from each region qualified. A second set of qualifiers were held in each region will be held January 8–10.
East Qualifier
December 18–20, at the RCMP Curling Club, Ottawa
Teams entered:
Cathy Auld (Port Perry)
Celeste Butler-Rohland (Ottawa)
Nicole Butler-Rohland (Rideau)
Jenn Hanna (Ottawa)
Danielle Inglis (Ottawa Hunt)
Cassandra Lewin (RCMP)
Kayla MacMillan (Rideau)
Sherry Middaugh (Coldwater)
Erin Morrissey (Ottawa)
Samantha Peters (Rideau)
Rhonda Varnes (Rideau)
West Qualifier
December 19–21, at the Guelph Curling Club, Guelph
Teams entered:
Megan Balsdon (Dixie)
Chrissy Cadorin (Thornhill)
Katie Cottrill (Listowel)
Courtney de Winter (Richmond Hill)
Allison Flaxey (Guelph)
Michelle Fletcher (Burlington)
Susan Froud (Stroud)
Karri-Lee Grant (Thronhill)
Jacqueline Harrison (Mississaugua)
Tracey Jones (Arthur)
Emma Joyce (Lindsay)
Mallory Kean (Westmount)
Kerry Lackie (Westmount)
Julie Tippin (Woodstock)
Stephanie Van Huyse (Tam Heather)
Ashley Waye (Royals)
East Qualifier #2
January 8–10 at the West Northumberland Curling Club, Cobourg
Notes:
Courtney de Winter, Susan Froud, Ashley Waye and Stephanie Van Huyse transfer from West
New teams (not in first qualifier):
Diana Favel (Rideau)
West Qualifier #2
January 9–10 at the Listowel Curling Club, Listowel
References
External links
Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts
Category:Sport in Brampton
Category:Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts
Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts
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CEX.IO Review – Is it a Scam or a Legit CryptoCurrency dealer?
Today we take a look at CEX.IO for you. What is CEX.IO? A scam or a legit crypto dealer? In this short CEX.IO review we will look on it from all angels to come to the right conclusion. Ok, with that being said, let us dive right into it!
Important to mention before we continue this review – Bonus!
Before we continue with this review I want to mention that you got the opportunity to get 15% back on the exchange fee for your first purchase on CEX.IO, no matter how big your purchase is”
Simply sign up for your free account through the link at the end of this review and you are qualified for the bonus.
Once you have made your first purchase, simply send an e-mail to [email protected] with the subject line CEX.IO cashback and I will send you the cash back right away!
Ok, with that out of the way, let´s continue with the review.
CEX.IO Review – What is the company about?
CEX.IO is a multifunctional cryptocurrency exchange that was founded in 2013 as the first of its kind, as it was the first cloud mining provider. It is one of the leading platforms in the industry of crypto and it got over 1 million users using the platforms many different services.
How does it work?
CEX.IO offers a broad range of services for you through their website, mobile app, WebSocket and REST API.
Here you got a multi-level account system with an individual approach to each and every customer, from Bitcoin beginners to savvy traders.
Worldwide coverage, multiple payment options, and 24/7 support are accompanied by time-proven platform stability that guarantees safety of assets and data.
The products and services
Here is an overview selection of what they offer:
Buy/Sell Bitcoins (and other cryptocurrencies) – If you only want to instantly buy or sell Bitcoins for USD or EUR in a few clicks of a mouse, then simply head over to the buy/sell page. There you simply choose the number of Bitcoins to buy or sell, and select a respective bundle, or enter a custom amount. Please note that you need to fund account first with fiat money (USD/EUR) or Bitcoins.
Trade Bitcoins (and other cryptocurrencies) – You can trade cryptocurrency using limit and market order placement on their “trade page” page. Here you can also analyze Bitcoin price changes, view market depth charts, view all currency pairs, get a glance at the order book in real time, track trade history, etc.
Storage – No need for an external cryptocurrency wallet as you can store your digital assets within CEX.IOs own wallet.
Financial Tools – Get a great overlook of your finances with the help of their “finance page”
Extra safety – Enable Two-Factor Authentication for extra safety.
Is CEX.IO a scam?
So, is CEX.IO a scam? No, of course not, it is a legit and trusted Cryptocurrency dealer that got real owners and a real physical address. It would never have survived since 2013 if it wasn´t legit, right?
I did check if there where some serious complaints on them online, however, the only complaints I found was related to that it sometimes is a “long” waiting time, for some impatient users.
The complaints have been a bit more the last couple of days/weeks, the logical explanation for that is probably the HUGE increase in worth of Bitcoins, making everyone and their mothers wanting to get started with Bitcoins. This has caused delays and “slow” services all over the web lately when it comes to cryptocurrency sites.
However, I think this real user review/experience explains the “issue” pretty well:
You can read more real users testimonials on Trustpilot’s website here (opens in new window)
Is CEX.IO for you?
One thing that is always good to do to get a better overall picture of a company is to compare its pros against its cons. Below I have highlighted some of the obvious pros and cons to make this job easier for you:
The good
Broad selection of services
Easy to use
Storage included for free
Good support
Supports USD, EUR, RUB, GBP, and BTC.
The bad
Offer only Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash and Ethereum to purchase
Final words and verdict on CEX.IO
Verdict: Legit
Overall rating: (4.5 / 5)
Ok, I think that sums up the overall picture of this company pretty good. It is without a doubt a legit one and you can feel safe using their services.
The only thing that takes down the rating a bit is the fact that they don´t offer that many “altcoins” such as Litecoins, Dash, etc for you to buy.
However, if you are going to focus on Bitcoins and Ethereum it is without a doubt one of the best places for you to go.
As always it is up to you.
Just keep this in mind and you have nothing to worry about:Please do NOT invest more money into cryptocurrency (or ANYTHING else) than you can not afford to lose.
I hope you found this short review on CEX.IO to be helpful and now you should have a better understanding of what it is and if it is something for you. If you have used any of their services please share your experience in the comment section below as it can help others. Also, if you got any other question about this review I will be more than happy to answer them below.
Please, if you liked this post and found it helpful share it by using the share buttons below (Facebook, Twitter, etc)
I wish you success!
John
Founder of: $tart Make $top Waste
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Comments
Hey John, thanks very much for the detailed review about CEX.IO. I must say I love the way you make everything so precise and simple to grasp making the whole review so interesting. But my question is there any possibility of them adding other ICOs like litecoin and others instead of only limiting it to ethereum and btc?
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
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mit
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Minimal Brain Dysfunction
Minimal Brain Dysfunction: “Philip”
Philip could not speak to be understood until he was four years old. At that point there were only a few words that someone besides myself and his Daddy could understand. We were very concerned. He couldn’t stand noise and began making dull repetitive noises when confusion surrounded him. Lots of pieces to Philip’s puzzle were not on the table.
Our pediatrician joked Philip was the only four year old he knew that spoke fluent Russian. No one could reach this precious treasure. We began searching for answers. Philip had a fall at two months of age and had a skull fracture. All the doctors involved gave him a clean bill of health, “No further complications!”
However, we went to many doctors, never getting a clear picture, always hearing, “He’ll out grow it.” We saw one specialist who at least gave us a “label,” a confirmation we were not crazy, something was different about Philip and it wasn’t going away. The doctor said it was “Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Auditory Processing, Minimal Brain Damage possible.” After nearly two years of speech therapy and many many dollars spent, we were losing hope. There was no marked change, and especially no improvement in Philip’s ability to speak or understand.
Tearfully, nightly, hourly, I prayed “Help me Lord to help your Philip! Give me direction!” Oh, God is faithful! As I felt my sweet blonde hair-blue eyed perfect child was never going to be able to experience God’s world to the fullest, I escaped into an old “Teaching Home” magazine. Blindly, I turned pages I had scoured before. Right in between some highlighted articles was a short brief in the speakers section about NACD, National Association for Child Development. The director, Bob Doman, Jr., worked with homeschooling families and their learning disabled children. I wrote a letter to explain our situation and to see if I could get a new direction. New hope. “Thank you Lord,” I prayed, “thanks for the boost of new hope.”
After receiving a response with tons of information and seeing Philip in so many of the articles, we began to check NACD out. I made MANY long distance calls to people who used the NACD program. Only one said their child had not had any benefit, but then they admitted they had not really done the program with their child the way it was supposed to be done. Every other family I spoke with said their child would not be as advanced as they were if it were not for Bob Doman and NACD. It sounded too good to be true. More checking and after numerous confirmations and affirmations we made an appointment to meet with Bob Doman at his nearest branch office St. Louis FOUR HOURS AWAY! It seemed like half a world away at the time! Even as we drove over from Indianapolis, I kept asking the Lord to detain us if this was not what He had for our Philip. A flat tire. Get us lost and miss the appointment. Nothing was too hard for Him if this was the wrong thing. I am glad to report we made it to the appointment and after the evaluation, training, and tears from me, we began our adventure with NACD.
Our scriptural promise we have held on to is from James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” The King James version says this prayer “Avails much.” And we are seeing much!!!
After four months on the program he made more progress than he had in five years! We crawled, skipped, flashed cards, squeezed and squatted our way to fabulous results.
In all our efforts to identify what was “wrong” we never were comfortable with a diagnosis. But we can say his symptoms his disconnected interest in the world around him, his hypertactile skin responses, his emotionality, his inability to make verbal sounds that were meaningful and our inability to get him to understand what we were saying all which once were a source of immense frustration are now, all GONE! They are only memories captured on video tape. Philip doesn’t even remember how he was before program!
After two years of program and on one of our visits to St. Louis to see Bob Doman, we saw a young man in the hotel pool that reminded us of the way Philip had once been. The extreme gesticulations to fill in for words unable to be expressed, the underdeveloped muscle tone, shoes on the wrong feet and the far away look in the young 11 year old boy’s eyes almost brought me to tears. This child hadn’t been given the chance Philip had. The father was amazed I could communicate with his son. I told him my son once spoke the same language. The man couldn’t believe me as he watched Philip play in the pool water. But it was true, after only two years he was understandable most the time by anybody and could understand everyone. He was growing strong and had an incredible amount of opportunities before him.
Now at the end of four years, Philip, by God’s grace shown through Bob Doman and the “program,” is a normal nine year old boy who eats anything, smells correctly, hears what we all hear, speaks as he should, is working academically at and above his grade level, is functioning socially in appropriate ways, knows the Lord as his own personal Savior, laughs and fully enjoys his family, his friends and his precious life. He is a treasure to behold, a miracle and a blessing!
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
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mit
| null |
Q:
After enabling File Vault, OS X doesn't mount disk automatically anymore
I have an external 2 TB LaCie drive connected via FireWire 800 to my MacBook Pro (8,2 – early 2011 model), which runs OS X 10.8.5. It has one big partition which is a Time Machine target, and the backup is encrypted. My Macintosh HD itself is also encrypted.
Before, I could just plug in the drive and it would automatically mount all the volumes on it, but ever since I've enabled encryption and started a new Time Machine backup, the disk is not mounted automatically anymore – I have to go into Disk Utility and manually unlock it:
Sometimes I even have to enter my master password for that drive.
Of course, that's not really practical: it's a backup drive and therefore should be mounted automatically every time it's plugged in.
I have not changed my /etc/fstab to prevent it from mounting, nor have I changed any configuration regarding mounting or Time Machine. Here's the diskutil list output for the sake of completeness:
/dev/disk0
#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER
0: GUID_partition_scheme *121.3 GB disk0
1: EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1
2: Apple_CoreStorage 120.5 GB disk0s2
3: Apple_Boot Recovery HD 650.0 MB disk0s3
/dev/disk1
#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER
0: Apple_HFS Macintosh HD *120.1 GB disk1
/dev/disk2
#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER
0: GUID_partition_scheme *2.0 TB disk2
1: EFI 209.7 MB disk2s1
2: Apple_CoreStorage 2.0 TB disk2s2
3: Apple_Boot Boot OS X 134.2 MB disk2s3
/dev/disk3
#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER
0: Apple_HFS Data *2.0 TB disk3
How do I get OS X to mount my volume automatically again?
NB: I also noticed that as soon as I eject the drive, it doesn't spin down anymore. It used to do that before though – now I have to shut it down with the hardware switch.
A:
I have had the same issue. If you have an entry for the drive in your Keychain, delete it and try again.
To do so, open Applications » Utilities » Keychain Access.app and look for the Encrypted Volume password. Delete it from the list.
Eject and plug in the drive again. When it asks for the master password check the 'remember' button.
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
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mit
| null |
We are the best producer of Grade A counterfeit banknotes, below you will find the security scripts which makes our notes to be 100% genuine, and we have the best qualities for both Euro Dollar and pound etc.
We are using quality foil paper elements, 20% of cellulose and 80% of cotton paper. Our bills have the Infrared Detection which makes our bills to bypass the (UV) machines, Pen test and even eye detection by counterfeit experts. Our notes are 100% grade A with the following quality security features below :
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
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mit
| null |
Q:
Flutter add custom SlideTransition to ModalRoute
in this below implemented code i can show dialog on bottom of page with Fade animation and now, i want to add SlideTransition to ModalRoute of this implementation to slide dialog from bottom, but i can't to do that
for example, what i want to have:
source code:
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
void main() => runApp(MyApp());
class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
// This widget is the root of your application.
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return MaterialApp(
title: 'Flutter Demo',
theme: ThemeData(
primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
),
home: MyHomePage(title: 'Flutter Demo Home Page'),
);
}
}
class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {
MyHomePage({Key key, this.title}) : super(key: key);
final String title;
@override
_MyHomePageState createState() => _MyHomePageState();
}
class _MyHomePageState extends State<MyHomePage> {
int _counter = 0;
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(
title: Text(widget.title),
),
body: Center(
child: Column(
mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
children: <Widget>[
Text(
'Open the popup window',
),
Text(
'$_counter',
style: Theme.of(context).textTheme.display1,
),
],
),
),
floatingActionButton: FloatingActionButton(
onPressed: () {
showPopup(context, _popupBody(), 'Popup Demo');
},
tooltip: 'Open Popup',
child: Icon(Icons.add),
), // This trailing comma makes auto-formatting nicer for build methods.
);
}
showPopup(BuildContext context, Widget widget, String title, {BuildContext popupContext}) {
Navigator.push(
context,
PopupLayout(
top: MediaQuery.of(context).size.height * 0.300,
left: 0,
right: 0,
bottom: 0,
child: PopupContent(
content: Scaffold(
body: widget,
),
),
),
);
}
Widget _popupBody() {
return Container(
child: Text('This is a popup window'),
);
}
}
class PopupLayout extends ModalRoute {
double top;
double bottom;
double left;
double right;
Color bgColor;
final Widget child;
@override
Duration get transitionDuration => Duration(milliseconds: 200);
@override
bool get opaque => false;
@override
bool get barrierDismissible => false;
@override
Color get barrierColor => bgColor == null ? Colors.black.withOpacity(0.5) : bgColor;
@override
String get barrierLabel => null;
@override
bool get maintainState => false;
PopupLayout({Key key, this.bgColor, @required this.child, this.top, this.bottom, this.left, this.right});
@override
Widget buildPage(
BuildContext context,
Animation<double> animation,
Animation<double> secondaryAnimation,
) {
if (top == null) this.top = 10;
if (bottom == null) this.bottom = 20;
if (left == null) this.left = 20;
if (right == null) this.right = 20;
return GestureDetector(
onTap: () {
// call this method here to hide soft keyboard
SystemChannels.textInput.invokeMethod('TextInput.hide');
},
child: Material(
// This makes sure that text and other content follows the material style
type: MaterialType.transparency,
//type: MaterialType.canvas,
// make sure that the overlay content is not cut off
child: SafeArea(
bottom: true,
child: _buildOverlayContent(context),
),
),
);
}
Widget _buildOverlayContent(BuildContext context) {
return Container(
margin: EdgeInsets.only(bottom: this.bottom, left: this.left, right: this.right, top: this.top),
child: SlideTransition(child: child),
);
}
@override
Widget buildTransitions(BuildContext context, Animation<double> animation, Animation<double> secondaryAnimation, Widget child) {
return FadeTransition(opacity: animation, child: child);
}
}
class PopupContent extends StatefulWidget {
final Widget content;
PopupContent({
Key key,
this.content,
}) : super(key: key);
_PopupContentState createState() => _PopupContentState();
}
class _PopupContentState extends State<PopupContent> {
@override
void initState() {
super.initState();
}
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Container(
child: widget.content,
);
}
}
A:
Here is a working example
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
void main() => runApp(MyApp());
class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
// This widget is the root of your application.
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return MaterialApp(
title: 'Flutter Demo',
theme: ThemeData(
primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
),
home: MyHomePage(title: 'Flutter Demo Home Page'),
);
}
}
class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {
MyHomePage({Key key, this.title}) : super(key: key);
final String title;
@override
_MyHomePageState createState() => _MyHomePageState();
}
class _MyHomePageState extends State<MyHomePage>
with TickerProviderStateMixin {
void showPopup() {
AnimationController controller = AnimationController(
duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 400), vsync: this);
showDialog(
context: context,
builder: (_) => PopUp(
controller: controller,
),
);
}
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(
title: Text(widget.title),
),
body: Center(
child: Column(
mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
children: <Widget>[
Text(
'You have pushed the button this many times:',
),
],
),
),
floatingActionButton: FloatingActionButton(
onPressed: showPopup,
tooltip: 'Increment',
child: Icon(Icons.add),
), // This trailing comma makes auto-formatting nicer for build methods.
);
}
}
class PopUp extends StatefulWidget {
final AnimationController controller;
PopUp({this.controller});
@override
State<StatefulWidget> createState() => PopUpState();
}
class PopUpState extends State<PopUp> {
Animation<double> opacityAnimation;
Tween<double> opacityTween = Tween<double>(begin: 0.0, end: 1.0);
Tween<double> marginTopTween = Tween<double>(begin: 600, end: 200);
Animation<double> marginTopAnimation;
AnimationStatus animationStatus;
@override
void initState() {
super.initState();
marginTopAnimation = marginTopTween.animate(widget.controller)
..addListener(() {
animationStatus = widget.controller.status;
if (animationStatus == AnimationStatus.dismissed) {
Navigator.of(context).pop();
}
if(this.mounted) {
setState(() {
});
}
});
widget.controller.forward();
}
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FadeTransition(
opacity: opacityTween.animate(widget.controller),
child: GestureDetector(
onTap: () {
widget.controller.reverse();
},
child: Material(
color: Colors.transparent,
child: Container(
margin: EdgeInsets.only(
top: marginTopAnimation.value,
),
color: Colors.red,
child: Text("Container"),
),
),
),
);
}
@override
void dispose() {
widget.controller.dispose();
super.dispose();
}
}
UPDATE 1: Added Material as a child of Container to fix the barrier not dismissing bug.
UPDATE 2: Made a few more changes which reverses the animation when the barrier is dismissed.
NOTE: The screenshot does not reflect the updated changes. It is a demo of the original answer.
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
|
mit
| null |
Petroleum lumps on the surface of the sea.
Lumps of crude oil residue floating the sea surface have been observed widely. Samples were taken with surface-skimming nets in the Mediter-ranean Sea and eastern North Atlantic Ocean; their displacement volumes were as large as 0.5 milliliter per square meter. An isopod, Idotea metallica, appears to be associated with the lumps, and a barnacle, Lepas pectinata, grows upon them. Lumps were found in stomachs of Scomberesox saurus, a surface-feeding fish importanit in ocean food webs. Films on the lumps, presumably consisting mostly of bacteria, consumed oxygen at the rate of 4 cubic millimeters per hour per square centimeter of lump surface. Chemical analysis suggested that certain lumps had been at large for only a few weeks; data from barnacle size and growth rate suggested that other lumps were at least 2 months old.
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minipile
|
NaturalLanguage
|
mit
| null |
Depression and endocrine disorders: focus on the thyroid and adrenal system.
Of the various hypothalamic-pituitary-end organ axes, the thyroid and adrenal systems have been implicated most often in affective disorders. Patients with primary thyroid disease have high rates of depression, and patients with Addison's disease or Cushing's syndrome have relatively high rates of affective and anxiety symptoms. However, the major support for these endocrine axes in the pathophysiology of mood disorders comes from studies in which alterations in components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes have been documented in patients with primary depression. Concerning the HPT axis, depressed patients have been reported to have: (a) alterations in thyroid-stimulating hormone response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH); (b) an abnormally high rate of antithyroid antibodies; and (c) elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TRH concentrations. Moreover, tri-iodothyronine has been shown conclusively to augment the efficacy of various antidepressants. Concerning the HPA axis, depressed patients have been reported to exhibit: (a) adrenocorticoid hypersecretion; (b) enlarged pituitary and adrenal gland size; and (c) elevated CSF corticotropin-releasing factor concentrations. All of the HPA axis alterations in depression studied thus far are state-dependent, whereas the HPT axis alterations may be partially trait and partially state markers.
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
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mit
| null |
“Life is both sad and solemn. We are led into a wonderful world, we meet one another here, greet each other - and wander together for a brief moment. Then we lose each other and disappear as suddenly and unreasonably as we arrived.” ― Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World
“You can never know if a person forgives you when you wrong them. Therefore it is existentially important to you. It is a question you are intensely concerned with. Neither can you know whether a person loves you. It’s something you just have to believe or hope. But these things are more important to you than the fact that the sum of the angles in a triangle is 180 degrees. You don't think about the law of cause and effect or about modes of perception when you are in the middle of your first kiss.” ― Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World
“So now you must choose... Are you a child who has not yet become world-weary? Or are you a philosopher who will vow never to become so? To children, the world and everything in it is new, something that gives rise to astonishment. It is not like that for adults. Most adults accept the world as a matter of course. This is precisely where philosophers are a notable exception. A philosopher never gets quite used to the world. To him or her, the world continues to seem a bit unreasonable - bewildering, even enigmatic. Philosophers and small children thus have an important faculty in common. The only thing we require to be good philosophers is the faculty of wonder…” ― Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World
“We can be hindered in our development and our personal growth by political conditions. Outer circumstances can constrain us. Only when we are free to develop our innate abilities can we live as free beings. But we are just as much determined by inner potential and outer opportunities as the Stone Age boy on the Rhine, the lion in Africa, or the apple tree in the garden.” ― Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World
“Health is the natural condition. When sickness occurs, it is a sign that Nature has gone off course because of a physical or mental imbalance. The road to health for everyone is through moderation, harmony, and a 'sound mind in a sound body'.” ― Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World
“Nevertheless we are free individuals, and this freedom condemns us to make choices throughout our lives. There are no eternal values or norms we can adhere to, which makes our choices even more significant. Because we are totally responsible for everything we do. Sartre emphasized that man must never disclaim the responsibility for his actions. Nor can we avoid the responsibility of making our own choices on the grounds that we "must" go to work, or we "must" live up to certain middle-class expectations regarding how we should live. Those who thus slip into the anonymous masses will never be other than members of the impersonal flock, having fled from themselves into self-deception. On the other hand our freedom obliges us to make something of ourselves, to live "authentically" or "truly".” ― Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World
“Socrates himself said, 'One thing only I know, and this is that I know nothing.' Remember this statement, because it is an admission that is rare, even among philosophers. Moreover, it can be so dangerous to say in public that it can cost you your life. The most subversive people are those who ask questions. Giving answers is not nearly as threatening. Any one question can be more explosive than a thousand answers.” ― Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
|
mit
| null |
Ashwin Porwal
Ashwin Porwal is a Pune-based procto-surgeon and the founder of Healing Hands Clinic. He has developed a technique - Distal Laser Proximal Ligation (DLPL), to cure anal fistulas. Porwal completed his M.B.B.S. from B.J. Medical College, Pune and did his specialization in proctology. He launched the Healing Hand Clinic in 2008. In 2017, his organisation was recognised by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences to impart training to doctors in proctology. He has trained 180 surgeons in the field from various countries through short private courses. Only ten percent among those trained were able to perform the surgeries on large scale independently.
He has also performed the pelvic organ prolapse suspension surgery (POPS) and stapled trans anal rectal resection surgery (STARR). His research paper n DLPL earned him several accolades at the World Congress on Proctology, WorldCon 2017.
References
External links
Articles published
Research paper
Category:Living people
Category:People from Pune
Category:Indian surgeons
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
|
mit
| null |
ZACC, NPA to unveil anti-corruption campaign
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) will on Wednesday officially unveil a nationwide anti-corruption campaign in partnership with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The campaign will be launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the capital as part of his administration’s thrust on fighting corruption.
Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi told a pre-launch press brief this morning the programme gives more teeth to the anti-corruption machinery.
He hinted more arrests will be made in the coming few weeks.
This comes as former Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira languishes in remand prison as she faces a number of charges including swindling the National Social Security Authority of more than US$90 million.
ZACC chair Loice Matanda-Moyo said the media remains critical in the fight against corruption and has so far been reporting “correctly” on corruption.
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minipile
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NaturalLanguage
|
mit
| null |
Magnetic head-based systems have been widely accepted in the computer industry as a cost-effective form of data storage. In a magnetic tape drive system, a magnetic tape containing a multiplicity of laterally positioned data tracks that extend along the length of the tape is drawn across a magnetic read/write transducer, referred to as a magnetic tape head. The magnetic tape heads can record and read data along the length of the magnetic tape surface as relative movement occurs between the heads and the tape.
In a magnetic disk drive system, a magnetic recording medium in the form of a disk rotates at high speed while a magnetic head “flies” slightly above the surface of the rotating disk. The magnetic disk is rotated by means of a spindle drive motor.
Magnetoresistive (MR) sensors are particularly useful as read elements in magnetic heads, used in the data storage industry for high data recording densities. Three examples of MR materials used in the storage industry are anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR), giant magnetoresistive (GMR) and tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR). An MR sensor is one whose resistance is changed by a magnetic field. MR, e.g., AMR, GMR and TMR, sensors are deposited as small and thin multi-layered sheet resistors on a structural substrate. The sheet resistors can be coupled to external devices by contact to metal pads which are electrically connected to the sheet resistors. MR sensors provide a high output signal which is not directly related to the head velocity as in the case of inductive read heads.
To achieve the high areal densities required by the data storage industry, the sensors are made with commensurately small dimensions. The smaller the dimensions, the more sensitive the thin film resistors become to damage from spurious current or voltage spikes.
A major problem that is encountered during manufacturing, handling and use of MR sheet resistors as magnetic recording transducers is the buildup of electrostatic charges on the various elements of a head or other objects which come into contact with the sensors, particularly sensors of the thin film type, and the accompanying spurious discharge of the static electricity thus generated. Static charges may be externally produced and accumulate on instruments used by persons performing head manufacturing or testing function. These static charges may be discharged through the head, causing physical and/or magnetic damage to the sensors.
As described above, when a head is exposed to voltage or current inputs which are larger than that intended under normal operating conditions, the sensor and other parts of the head may be damaged. This sensitivity to electrical damage is particularly severe for MR read sensors because of their relatively small physical size. For example, an MR sensor used for high recording densities for magnetic tape media (on the order of 25 MBytes/cm2) are patterned as resistive sheets of MR and accompanying materials, and will have a combined thickness for the sensor sheets on the order of 500 Angstroms (Å) with a width of a few microns (μm) and a height on the order of 1 μm. Sensors used in extant disk drives are even smaller. Discharge currents of tens of milliamps through such a small resistor can cause severe damage or complete destruction of the MR sensor. The nature of the damage which may be experienced by an MR sensor varies significantly, including complete destruction of the sensor via melting and evaporation, oxidation of materials at the air bearing surface (ABS), generation of shorts via electrical breakdown, and milder forms of magnetic or physical damage in which the head performance may be degraded. Short time current or voltage pulses which cause extensive physical damage to a sensor are termed electrostatic discharge (ESD) pulses.
One major source of ESD damage is associated with tribocharging of the flexible cables used to attach the heads to the external devices. High magnitude currents sufficient to damage a head can occur when the cables are tribocharged and the distal end of the cable makes electrical contact with an external device or piece of metal. The resultant discharge may result in damage as described above.
Another potential cause of ESD damage to sensitive electronics is the creation of a potential difference between two different elements within a device. An approach to protect against this damage is to connect the elements together on the wafer. However, this approach can be costly. Furthermore, in the case of tape heads, due to the large number of elements in a tape head, space on the wafer is limited and can preclude attaching resistive elements onto the wafer for this purpose.
Another major cause of ESD damage is termed machine-model (MM) ESD. MM ESD occurs when a differential in voltages exists between an element (sensor) which is bonded onto a cable and an external tester or device to which the cable is attached. When the sensor is attached directly to the external tester or device, high level currents can flow to equalize the voltages. The high current levels can cause damage to the sensor. A common practice to protect the sensors from damage is use a high impedance connection to the ground potential of any tester/device or tool (external device) to which the sensor is to be connected in order to equalize the voltage potential of the sensor and the external device prior to connecting the sensors with a low resistance connection for use or test. Such an approach would be to bridge the element lead connections to the external device with a high impedance resistor prior to attaching to the external connector. An external resistor, though, can add significant capacitance between the element and the resistive element and may not work. Also, this approach can be difficult to execute in a manufacturing environment. In order to function properly, the minimum amount of capacitance should introduced be between the sensor and the high impedance device to avoid charge build up which can damage the sensor. An approach is to attach a high impedance resistor directly onto a cable which is attached to the device elements (e. readers and writers). This, though, requires costly alignment and bonding tools.
Another approach which solves part of the problem is to use an ESD dissipative sheet with an insulating adhesive layer to bond the dissipative sheet above the leads. While this serves to mitigate tribocharging of the cable, it does not solve the problem of MM ESD.
In summary, the detractors of current solutions are: cost, lack of space, and the need for multiple solutions to solve the different problems.
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Category: May Days
I’ve been watching Malcom In the Middle reruns lately. Yeah Netflix! When I was younger the show didn’t appeal to me. Now I feel like it’s a glimpse into my future. The way the parents find humor in the annoying tattling has rubbed off and Scott. Both boys were getting ready for swim practice and from the other room we hear “MOM!”. It was Barrett, the biggest tattle tail. I interjected
“Have you boys packed you swim stuff yet?”
“No, I haven’t but Merrick did and he’s pulling my hair!” Now Scott interjects.
“Your brother managed to pack his swim bag and pull your hair and all you’ve managed to do is tattle. He’s an over achiever.”
Barrett just stared dumbfounded and walked away. It was so funny.
DADDY ISSUES
That same over achiever managed to grab a few laughs at his last day of preschool. Here is the text I got from his teacher.
This stemmed from a short discussion that morning where Scott was acting out a little too passionately and Merrick asked “What’s dad’s issue?” My response was “HAHAHA Yeah, dad has issues.” Oops, my fault. Sorry babe. The best part is that later in the day Scott’s attitude changed dramatically. When I spoke to Tara later she mentioned the Pastor prayed for Scott. Amazing how that works.
CHICKEN SPA
Since summer has FINALLY come to Fairbanks it seems that I can’t stop taking pictures. I’ve taken 205 in the past 5 days. It’s been a busy week with school getting out and the weather warming up. Our chickens have been able to get out and check out the new yard. They found a dusty spot next to the house and they love taking dust baths in it. We refer to it as the Chicken Spa. Today I overheard Barrett tell Merrick “The chickens are spawning. Leave them alone.” “Spa Barrett. It’s the Chicken SPA!”
UNDIES
Tonight we went to my moms for dinner to say goodbye to my nephews before they left for the summer. Merrick took this play date seriously and packed a very heavy backpack of toys and costumes. When we got to my mom’s Barrett stopped short of the front door and said “Merrick you should change into your Batman costume out here because I know you aren’t wearing underwear.” With a OH YEAH look on his face Merrick dropped his backpack and pulled his shorts off with one swift jerk. Then pointed at his underwear. So I chimed in “Yeah Barrett so take that!” Barrett shook his head, turned away from us and said “Oh gosh”. I think he’s growing tired of our reindeer games.
Now here’s some of the 205 photos I just uploaded…
Obstacle CourseObstacle CourseTug Of WarFirst time sitting facing forward. He was so excited!Merrick’s turnKierran’s turn
I give Mother’s Day a bit more stock then just a Hallmark created scam. It’s my job. I don’t get raises or an awards ceremony so Mother’s Day is a day I choose to bask in my achievements as a mom. And for a person who thrives on verbal confirmations Mother’s Day is a TREASURE!
I’ve found that in order to get what you want from your husband you have to lay out your expectations because he isn’t a mind reader or very good at unscrambling puzzles. So this year I let him know that I wanted a new chain for a necklace and a coffee. That’s it. I got my coffee but was reminded that my Vitamix was my birthday, Mother’s Day and possibly Christmas gift. I get it, the Vitamix wasn’t cheap. The coffee and a nice card from Scott made me happy.
I also got a cute card from Merrick. Inside was a poem with his hand print. The poem was about one day in the future I would miss his small hand print on the windows and doors. I don’t think he knows me well. I’m sure one day I’ll miss his small hands that fit so perfectly in my palm but NOT the marks they leave on the windows and walls.
Barrett made me a little booklet titled “I Know My Mom Best”. No he doesn’t. He clearly showed that with me on a scale…
Me cooking while he yelled from the other room “Hurry Up!” and I answer with a smile on my face “OK!” It would not play out that way EVER!
And him thinking my favorite thing for him to do is to tickle me. He must have suffered a slight concussion at recess the day they made this pamphlet. Overall I loved their gifts. But same as Scott having to be told what I like I laid it out for the kids too. I told Barrett how I would have answered some of his questions. He told me he was in a hurry. Yep, I could tell. Kierran however takes the cake of least thoughtful gift. He made this gift while I made breakfast and answered Mother’s Day texts. You drop your guard and get what you get.
Would I change a minute of it? Yes, I would now that I’m blogging, looking at the mess still laying on the floor in the kitchen while the other two are outside waiting for me to play. I’d be very happy to twitch my nose, the mess all picked up and me already. I’d twitch again and clone myself so one could be online shopping spending my gift cards and the other me outside picking up sticks for our bonfire 🙂 A very Happy Mother’s Day to all my mom friends and family members. May your day bring on a reflection of your successes and your kids delight you with their childhood hallucinations.
For the last couple weeks Kierran has been a sick pup. He had a cold that had him badly congested. One morning he woke with his eyes glued closed with gunk and splotches of red in one eye. I took him to the Dr to see if he had pink eye which he did and the Dr suggested giving him benadryl to help clear his nose up. The eye drops and benadryl got him in great condition for his first birthday on Sunday!
Then come Tuesday his cold came back with a vendetta. After spending way to much time on WebMD I thought he had pneumonia or meningitis. I didn’t rush off to the Dr because it’s a running joke with me and those close to me that you can look up cold symptoms and find out you’re dying of the plague. Which did happen to my friend Sabrina. She’s still alive. That website it horrible however I always go back to it. A lot like those AM radio stations. Coast to Coast gets me all the time!
I did my best to look at the situation through new eyes and thought I had legitimate claims to take him back in to the Dr. When they asked what was wrong I held my tongue about the WebMD diagnosis. I made a clear list of all his symptoms so I wouldn’t get distracted. The Dr took one look into his ears and said “WOW! That’s a bad ear infection. Yep, in both ears. The left one is worse but the right one isn’t to far away. It’s the type of ear infection I wish I had a med student with me to look at. They are very inflamed and filled with puss. Poor guy.”
WHAT! Do you remember the post just a month ago about the lady outside of Freds? OMG I’m positive she walked into the store and made a voodoo doll of my son and poked toothpicks into his ears! Even though that evil lady sabotaged my 3 for 3 no ear infection streak she wasn’t able to keep my little guy from smiling through the pain. My apologies for the blurred photos. My phone doesn’t take the best pictures.
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is a heterodimeric protein consisting of a catalytic 110 kDa subunit and an (.alpha.-85 kDa subunit that is necessary for docking to growth factor plasma membrane receptors including the insulin receptor and to signalling phosphotyrosine motifs in signalling proteins, e.g. insulin receptor substrate-1 (1,2). In addition to its association with receptors that mediate their effects via tyrosine kinase activity, PI 3-kinases are also implicated in facilitating membrane trafficking processes. The pinocytic activity, membrane ruffling and actin reorganization response observed when KB cells are exposed to insulin have been shown to be due to PI3-kinase activation (3,4). PI3-kinase has been implicated as a key intermediate in the cytoskeletal rearrangements that accompany secretory processes in platelets, basophil and neutrophil cells (5,6). Similarly, the yeast homologue VPS34 has been shown to be involved in vesicle trafficking and protein sorting (7). PI3-kinase is thus an attractive candidate protein as a mediator of insulin action on glucose transport as it could act as a point of convergence of signalling and trafficking processes.
In our attempts to elucidate the genetics of insulin action and glucose metabolism, we have performed mutational analysis on the regulatory p85.alpha. subunit of PI3K which is expressed in skeletal muscle.
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This illustration is an artist's rendition of the electrolysis process used to convert CO2 to concentrated carbon products. Credit: Ripatti et al.
Scientists at Stanford University have developed electrochemical cells that convert carbon monoxide (CO) derived from CO 2 into commercially viable compounds more effectively and efficiently than existing technologies. Their research, published October 25 in the journal Joule, provides a new strategy for capturing CO 2 and converting it into chemical feedstocks.
CO 2 capture from emission sources is an attractive option for mitigating climate change, but it is an expensive process that harvests a product without commercial value. However, scientists can add value to captured CO 2 by using electrolysis, a technique that uses an electric current to break down compounds, to convert it into more desirable products such as ethylene for polymer production or acetate as a reagent for chemical synthesis.
"C2 products such as ethylene, acetate, and ethanol are inherently more valuable than C1 products such as methane because they are versatile chemical feedstocks," says senior author Matthew Kanan, an associate professor of chemistry at Stanford University.
While converting CO 2 to CO is already commercially possible, developing technology that can produce in-demand C2 chemicals from CO on an industrial scale is still a challenge. Electrolysis must convert CO into products at a high rate with a low overall energy demand in order to be viable. Previous electrochemical cells have required a large excess of CO to achieve a high electrolysis rate, which results in dilute products that must be concentrated and purified—a process that requires more energy (at greater expense).
The electrochemical cells created by Kanan and his team combat these inefficiencies with a modified design that produces a concentrated stream of ethylene gas and a sodium acetate solution 1,000 times more concentrated than product obtained with previous cells. The cell uses a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) combined with a carefully designed flow field that greatly improves the delivery of CO to the electrode surface and the removal of products. The team also eliminated the need for an electrolyte solution in the cell by interfacing the GDE directly with a membrane. As a result, both ethylene and concentrated acetate solution are produced at the electrode and swept out of the cell in a single vapor stream.
"Prior to this work, the combination of a high electrolysis rate, high CO conversion, and concentrated product streams had not been achieved," says Kanan.
The team is currently scaling up their prototype to determine whether the design needs to be modified to succeed on an industrial scale, with hopes that they can eventually combine their CO electrolysis cells with existing technologies for converting CO 2 into CO. The device may also be useful for space exploration, in particular deep space missions where it is not possible to resupply from Earth. In collaboration with researchers led by John Hogan at the NASA Ames Research Center, the team is working to combine electrochemical synthesis with microbial biosynthesis to recycle the CO 2 breathed out by astronauts into food and nutrients.
Explore further Chemists produce and test novel solid oxide electrolysis cell
More information: Joule, Ripatti et al.: "Carbon Monoxide Gas Diffusion Electrolysis that Produces Concentrated C2 Products with High Single-Pass Conversion" DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2018.10.007 Journal information: Joule , Ripatti et al.: "Carbon Monoxide Gas Diffusion Electrolysis that Produces Concentrated C2 Products with High Single-Pass Conversion" www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(18)30469-0
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David F. Smith Attorney At Law
David F. Smith has been representing clients throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky since 1980, offering you the reliable and confidential service needed to ensure your legal matters are handled with respect and understanding. We pledge to honor your privacy, value your unique situation, and work effectively and diligently.
We offer free initial bankruptcy consultations and are a debt relief agency. Debt relief is available, and we can help stop creditor calls, repos, garnishments and foreclosures. We are dedicated to your legal needs and will help you understand the rights you are entitled to.
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Q:
The Equation of a buckled card
When a rectangular piece of plastic (say a credit card) experiences an increasing compression force, the plastic eventually buckles. Is it possible to find the equation of the plastic's cross section once it has buckled elastically?
What I have in mind is two fingers squeezing a plastic card. The fingers are $x$ cm apart, and the card itself has dimensions $l\times b$ cm and negligible thickness. Suppose $x \leq l$ (so that the card is compressed in a direction parallel to its original length $l$. Can we find an equation for the card's deflection $y$ in terms of $x,h,b$ and (I guess) the elastic modulus?
Does the Euler column buckling result work here? That is, can we expect a solution of the form $y=A\sin(\pi z/x)$? If yes, for small deflections is it safe to assume that the arc length of the curve is equal to $l$?
I'm nervous about using this, because I'm assuming negligible thickness. Do I have to allow the card to have non-zero thickness? Can I then use this to find the value of $A$?
A:
The axial compression of the member should be negligible compared to the sideways deflection. This means that it doesn't depend on the cross section of the card. This is exactly Euler buckling.
The equations for buckling are usually used to determine the load at which buckling will occur. This is where the cross section matters. Once buckling happens, the shape is only defined by the deflection. The length along the member doesn't change (appreciably).
All of this changes once enough force is applied to move into plastic behavior and hinges form.
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Monday, July 4, 2011
At least 20 million Americans are unemployed. At least 10 million more are underemployed. At least 7 million of the unemployed, the 99ers, have completely exhausted their unemployment benefits, and have nothing at all, since they still cannot find a job.
14% of the population of the USA is now receiving Food Stamps.
And meanwhile, we are on track to break the barrier of Four Trillion US dollars spent thus far on the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. Oh, but don't worry, it's only about 3 and a half Trillion so far.
Our constitutional rights have been raped away by the bitterly misnamed Patriot Act. The President has murdered Habeas Corpus. And the US Supreme Court is dominated by reactionaries who have declared corporations to have the same rights as people.
The Gulf of Mexico is dying, we still haven't been told the brutal truth about radiation leakage from the Fukushima plant in Japan, and our President is the most painfully inadequate eunuch to sit his unworthy fundament in the Oval Office since Warren G Harding.
If you really have nothing better to do than read her regurgitated drivel, you will find that it's a tired recycling of old and discredited theories from the grossly-misnamed "War on Drugs", just re-targeted on pr0n instead. "They need more and more powerful drugs to get them off" has become, "They need more and more hardcore porn to get them off".
Oh, and to justify that breathless exclamation about "rewiring the male brain", she then solemnly invokes the word "dopamine", ooooooooh, Naomi, that's science! The whole article is a series of sloppy assertions, pseudo-validated by phrases like "we now know" and "there is an increasing body of evidence to support". And yet, not once in the whole article does she cite a single reference to back up any of these assertions. In fact the only reference in the whole article, and a half-assed one at that, is in support of a passing reference to the alleged effects of porn upon women.
If dear Naomi knew anything at all about pr0n, she'd know that while addictive personalities and those who have been raised in a sexually-repressive atmosphere may go crazy with it, most men simply get incredibly bored with it in fairly short order.
In short, this is nothing more than a socio-political hit piece, targeting 49% of the human race.
If you want to argue against porn, there are far more credible ways to approach the subject. My mother, late in her life, changed her position on pr0n, and decided that she was against it, simply upon the pragmatic grounds that, (in her opinion), it leads men to have unreasonable expectations of women. Now, you may or may not agree with that, but we can at least discuss the assertion, although it doesn't do anything to address the First Amendment aspects of the debate.
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Inhibition of cell dehydration-induced drinking by tachykinins: evaluation of possible renal effects accounting for the long-lasting inhibition.
Central injection of the tachykinins (TKs) neurokinin A (NKA), eledoisin (ELE), and kassinin (KASS) produced long-lasting inhibition (up to 6 h) of drinking induced by subcutaneous hypertonic NaCl, while substance P (SP) and physalaemin (PHYS) evoked short-lasting effects. The hypothesis that water retention or increased Na+ excretion by the kidney (induced by TKs) may reduce the need for water ingestion was tested. The results obtained both in urine collection experiments and in nephrectomized rats showed that the duration of the effect of NKA, ELE, and KASS is not due to water retention or increased Na+ excretion by the kidney. The effect of NKA, but not that of ELE and KASS, was shortened by nephrectomy, even though NKA did not modify urine volume or Na+ excretion. Indomethacin pretreatment, like nephrectomy, reduced the duration of the NKA effect, suggesting that renal prostaglandins are involved in it. On the other hand, the long-lasting effect of the three TKs cannot be easily explained in terms of slow metabolic degradation, particularly for NKA. Alternatively, it might be hypothesized that these TKs produce a modification of osmoreceptor function lasting well beyond the life of the peptide, and/or that they produce Na+ loss through emunctories different from the kidney.
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I've read all the thread regarding homemade screen but, I know I'm a little dummy, I can't figure out the exact processing on building such screen with blackout fabric.
Is there anyone kind enough to post some photos of the building phase???
This would be also kind in order to be able to find the exact stuff that has to be bought.
I won't bother to post my pix, since I just took some pins and tacked
a 100" x 52" strip to the wall while I decide upon which screen to
purchase. This at least returns a queen size bed sheet to the linen
closet.
Sorry Luigi, it only took me 90 mins to make a screen-door frame and spline in the curtain fabric. Taking photos would have slowed me down too much.
Seriously, if you can mitre saw then that's about as hard as it gets, doing it this way. I'm no home-handyman I can tell you...(or rather my wife can tell you, but you'd probably have to buy her a beer first!)
Originally posted by David O:Sorry Luigi, it only took me 90 mins to make a screen-door frame and spline in the curtain fabric. Taking photos would have slowed me down too much.
Seriously, if you can mitre saw then that's about as hard as it gets, doing it this way. I'm no home-handyman I can tell you...(or rather my wife can tell you, but you'd probably have to buy her a beer first!)
Probably I didn't make myself clear. The photos were required more in order to be aware about the material I had to look for than to gather skills in the building process itself.
In my country, notwithstandind I wandered a little to find this kind of blackout fabric, I wasn't able to find anything similar and so I asked to view some photos to be shure I was hunting for the right stuff.
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Q:
MENSAJE REGISTRO NO ENCONTRADO PHP
Mi pregunta es que puedo hacer para que me salga un mensaje diciendo "ID NO ENCONTRADO" ya que se busca el id mediante un buscador para generar un PDF, el PDF me sale perfecto, sin embargo no sé como hacer en caso de que ese ID no se encuentre en la Base de Datos.
Tambien tengo una duda, en la parte de colocar la fecha para que me lo imprima en el FPDF me sale adelantado por un día, espero me puedan ayudar, les agradeceria mucho
$cedula= $_POST['cedula'];
$conn = mysqli_connect($db_host,$db_usuario,$db_password,$db_nombre);
$res = mysqli_fetch_array(mysqli_query($conn,
"SELECT primer_nombre, primer_apellido from nacional where cedula='$cedula'"));
$primer_nombre = utf8_decode($res[0]);
$primer_apellido = utf8_decode($res[1]);
$pdf=new FPDF('L','mm','A4');
$pdf->AddPage();
// Nombre y Apellido
$nombre_completo = $primer_nombre . " " . $primer_apellido;
$pdf->Cell(0,0,$nombre_completo,0,1,'C');
//FECHA
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica','',12);
$pdf->SetTextColor(0,0,0);
$pdf->Text(15,195,utf8_decode($fecha));
A:
Puedes chequear el resultado de mysqli_fetch_array ($res). Si es nulo, significa que no hay registros (ver https://www.php.net/manual/es/mysqli-result.fetch-array.php)
$res = mysqli_fetch_array(mysqli_query($conn,
"SELECT primer_nombre, primer_apellido from nacional where cedula='$cedula'"));
if (!$res){
die("ID no encontrado");
}
Ademas recomiendo chequear primero que la consulta en mysqli_query() sea exitosa (retorna un recurso valido, de otra manera retorna FALSE) y luego realizar el fetch:
$resource = mysqli_query($conn,
"SELECT primer_nombre, primer_apellido from nacional where cedula='$cedula'");
if (!$resource){
// error en la consulta
die(mysql_error($conn));
}
$res = mysqli_fetch_array($resource);
if (!$res){
// no hay datos
die("ID no encontrado");
}
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Rafael van der Vaart has seen his summer transfer options dwindle after Schalke announced that they no longer want him. Tottenham Hotspur are open to offers for the Holland attacking midfielder, who does not appear to fit into the plans of the new manager André Villas-Boas and he has been heavily linked with a move to Germany.
The Schalke manager, Huub Stevens, said last month that he would like to sign Van der Vaart and the club, who can offer Champions League football and have money to spend, were considered as his likeliest destination. But the Schalke CEO, Clemens Tönnies, has called a halt to the negotiations, insisting that the matter is closed, to leave Hamburg, Van der Vaart's old club, in the running for his signature. Frank Arnesen, the Hamburg sporting director, who held the same post at Tottenham, has made little secret of his wish to sign the 29-year-old.
"If we had really wanted to have him [Van der Vaart], then we would have got him," Tönnies said. "But it didn't make any sense because we were miles apart. The topic is over."
The Schalke general manager, Horst Heldt, added: "Van der Vaart has very high quality but despite this, he does not fit our requirements on a number of levels."
If Schalke cannot make the sums work for Van der Vaart, then it would seem an even taller order for Hamburg, where money is tight and Arnesen has been charged with making the squad younger, leaner and cheaper. Van der Vaart, who joined Tottenham from Real Madrid for £8m in 2010, has two years to run on his contract, which is worth a basic £70,000-a-week plus bonuses.
The Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, very rarely accepts a loss when sanctioning a player sale but Hamburg remain hopeful, partly because, in Klaus-Michael Kühne, they have a third party investor who can help them to sign players. Arnesen also clings to the belief that Tottenham could accept a cut-price offer to remove Van der Vaart's salary from their books. "We are waiting for a signal from Tottenham," Arnesen said.
Van der Vaart's signing would be well received by the Hamburg fans – he was a cult hero with them during his spell at the club between 2005 and 2008 – and it would also have a family benefit. Van der Vaart's wife, Sylvie, does a lot of television work in Germany and she regularly has to travel to and from London.
Villas-Boas will address the media for the first time in his new post on Wednesday lunchtime and he can be expected to make the right noises about Van der Vaart, who he admires for his skill and creative ability. But he has overseen the £8m signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson from Hoffenheim, who caught the eye on loan at Swansea City last season in an attacking midfield role, which is where Van der Vaart likes to play. Sigurdsson is also noted for his willingness to track back, unlike Van der Vaart, and he would seem a better tactical fit in Villas-Boas's preferred 4-3-3 formation.
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Ultrasound for the Clinical Management of Vascular Access Cannulation and Needle Position in Hemodialysis Patients.
A native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the vascular access of choice for hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Compared with other types of vascular access such as grafts and central venous catheters, it functions longer and is associated with a lower risk of complications. The aim of the study described here was to assess, in an HD population, the position of the fistula needles during an HD session and evaluate the role of ultrasound in the management of AVF puncture. Forty-five consecutive chronic HD patients with an AVF or an arteriovenous vascular graft were included in the study for ultrasound evaluation. Each patient underwent an ultrasound evaluation during HD treatment to assess the position of the needles inside the vascular access. The ultrasound evaluation revealed that 81.8% of the traditional needles were incorrectly adjacent to the vessel walls, in the absence of clinical symptoms or hemodynamic alterations detectable on the dialysis monitor. A greater frequency of malpositioning has been observed for needles in the arterial portion of the vascular access, closer to the anastomosis. The absence of clinically detectable signs of venipuncture-related complications does not ensure correct positioning of the needles within the AVF. Ultrasound evaluation may not only resolve suboptimal cannulation problems of new or complicated vascular accesses but may also be useful in the prevention of acute and chronic damage to the AVF.
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Preconditioning in globally ischemic isolated rat hearts: effect on function and metabolic indices of myocardial damage.
We assessed the effects of ischemic preconditioning on heart recovery and metabolic indices of damage following global ischemia and reperfusion, in relationship to post-ischemic lactate release. Three groups of Langendorff rat hearts were studied: (1) A control group of 40 min global ischemia and 45 min reperfusion; (2) preconditioning by 5 min global ischemia and 15 min reperfusion prior to sustained ischemia and reperfusion; (3) Preconditioning by three episodes of brief ischemia-reperfusion prior to sustained ischemia. Repetitive episodes of brief ischemia-reperfusion were associated with increased reactive hyperemia, decreased release of purines and prostaglandin 6-keto F1 alpha, lower tissue glycogen but no change in lactate washout. After 40 min ischemia, release of lactate was 173 +/- 17, 196 +/- 6 and 149 +/- 9 mumol/g in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P < 0.01, group 2 v group 3). Preconditioning had no effect on ischemic arrest but had divergent effects on the development and the magnitude of ischemic contracture: delay and attenuation in group 2 but enhanced onset in group 3. Preconditioning provided a dose-dependent protection from the increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, reduced the reperfusion release of purine metabolites and of creatine kinase, but neither improved systolic function nor prevented arrhythmia. 6-Keto F1 alpha production was 87 +/- 13, 132 +/- 19 and 241 +/- 35 pmol/g in groups 1, 2, 3, respectively (P < 0.01 group 1 v group 3). We conclude that when subjected to prolonged global ischemia, preconditioned isolated rat hearts develop less post-ischemic contracture, lose less purine nucleosides and creatine kinase activity. In addition, preconditioning leads to increased production of prostacyclin. Differences among preconditioning protocols in lactate production seem to be related to the ischemic contracture development, but may not play an ultimate role in attenuation of myocardial damage or improvement of postischemic recovery.
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---------------------- Forwarded by Scott Goodell/Corp/Enron on 11/07/2000
03:19 PM ---------------------------
Scott Goodell
10/27/2000 04:28 PM
To: Mark Breese/HOU/ECT@ECT, Sanjeev Khanna/NA/Enron@Enron
cc:
Subject: Atlanta Storages as of 10/31 (Projected)
MSQ NPC Balance ENA Balance
Sonat CSS 832,737 832737 -1
Transco WSS 373,372 373,373 0
Transco ESS 24,697 17613 1210
Tennessee Capacity went to zero for 11/1 flow
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Some entomological observations on malaria transmission in a remote village in northwestern Thailand.
Anopheline mosquitoes and their relation to malaria transmission were studied during the months of March, May and July in the Karen village of Mae Tha Waw located in the northwestern mountains of Tak Province. Thirteen species were captured on human bait during 80 man-nights of collecting. Four additional species were collected during routine larval surveys. Anopheles minimus and An. maculatus comprised 92.5% of the specimens captured biting man. Anopheles minimus and An. nivipes were implicated as vectors based on the detection of sporozoite infections using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Anopheles dirus was rarely encountered and probably played little part in transmission in Mae Tha Waw during the period of study. Information is provided on nightly biting activity, incidence of disease, infectivity and larval bionomics.
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Health literacy is broadly defined as a person’s ability to seek, understand and use health information.
The Ophelia project is a three year Victorian initiative which will identify and test new interventions to address health literacy needs in people attending a broad range of Victorian agencies. It is funded by the Australian Research Council ,in partnership with the Victorian Department of Health and Monash University. The project is committed to improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities for Victorians.
The Ophelia process provides organisations with a structured approach to recognise, understand and respond to the health literacy needs of members of their community through the following 8 principles.:
Outcomes focused - Improved health and reduced health inequalities
Equity driven - All activities at all stages prioritise disadvantaged groups and those experiencing inequity in access and outcome
Co-creation approach - In all activities at all stages, relevant stakeholders engage in co-creation of solutions.
Needs-diagnostic approach- Participatory assessment of local needs using local data
Driven by local wisdom- Intervention development and implementation is grounded in local experience and expertise.
Responsiveness - Recognise that HL needs and the appropriate responses vary across individuals, contexts, countries, cultures and time
Systemically applied - A multi-level approach in which resources, interventions, research and policy are organised to optimise health literacy
The Ophelia Victoria project first measures the different needs of clients using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ), which captures client’s experience, views and capabilities across nine dimensions. This is followed by the collaborative development and testing of new interventions to tackle health literacy issues at both the practitioner and service level.
Phase 2: Measure Health Literacy Baseline survey data on the health literacy profile of priority groups are collected using the Health Literacy Questionnaire. Each project site gathers their most experienced front-line practitioners and managers to take part in structured workshops where the health literacy needs of their clients are thoroughly discussed. The front-line staff generate local solutions in responses (interventions) to identified health literacy needs that can be implemented in their organisation at the patient, practitioner, service planner and policy levels.
Phase 3:Pilot interventions Evidence and ideas collected during Phase 2 inform the development of pilot interventions at each project site. These aim to tackle a range of specific health literacy issues faced by client groups. Interventions, and how they are implemented, are informed and refined through the application of ‘Plan, Do, Study, Act’ cycles.
Phase 4:Test interventions The refined interventions will be applied within and across the eight sites. The interventions will be applicable for a wide range of clients eligible to receive diverse services (from health promotion, to community health, to hospital services). A key outcome will be a set of common and specific interventions that are relevant to many clients and organisations across Victoria.
Additional activities
Ophelia website A dedicated website will support partners and project sites. The site will promote information sharing and provide more in-depth information about the development of the Victorian Health Literacy Framework.
Ophelia International
The Ophelia approach is currently being applied in several countries including Thailand, South Africa, England and Denmark, with ongoing discussions in several other countries.
Chief investigators
Prof Richard Osborne
Prof Rachelle Buchbinder
Dr Alison Beauchamp
Ms Jeannine Jacobson
Mr Roy Batterham
Prof Gerald Elsworth
Dr Sarity Dodson
Ms Melanie Hawkins
Ms Crystal McPhee
Information and Resources
Launch of Ophelia by the Victorian Minister for Health, Hon David Davies Link
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Celebrity esthetician Shani Darden is one of the top skincare authorities in Hollywood. She's the facialist and skincare guru to the flawless faces of Jessica Alba, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Shay Mitchell, among many others. She even has her own skincare line, which includes her Retinol Reform ($95), a gentle retinol serum that happens to be one of Team Byrdie's favorite skincare products. To put it simply, she knows how to take care of skin. That's why we're loyal followers of hers on Instagram. Can you blame us for wanting all of her advice all the time?
Yesterday, Darden took to her Instagram Stories to share the three most common skincare mistakes she sees. Our interest was, of course, immediately piqued—especially when we saw the surprising nature of number three. Keep scrolling to see the top three skincare mistakes to avoid, according to Shani Darden.
#3: Not Wearing Sunscreen Indoors
@shanidarden
The third most common skincare mistake is not wearing sunscreen when you're spending your day indoors. This one surprised us, probably because we almost never apply sunscreen if we're staying inside. That only makes sense, right? After all, if you're inside, you're mostly shaded from harmful UV rays. However, "mostly" is the keyword and the problem here. As Darden elaborated, "You are still exposed to UV rays when inside!"
Facialist Kate Kerr agrees. When in conversation with Byrdie UK on the topic of HEV light (or the light emitted from electronic devices), she said that sunscreen should be worn "from the moment you get up in the morning to the moment you go to bed. If there is any light in your house, there is UVA damage being made to your skin."
So take this as a PSA. Wear sunscreen always, no matter if it's sunny or cloudy or if you're planning on spending time inside or outside. Your skin will thank you in a big way.
Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 $32 Shop
On Instagram, Darden has expressed admiration for this Supergoop! sunscreen. It's has SPF 50 to keep your skin free of sun damage and all of its consequences, namely fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. It's also water-resistant for staying power and oil-free for those with acne-prone skin. People with dry skin will appreciate the fact that it has beta-glucan, a skincare ingredient that's similar to hyaluronic acid.
#2: Using the Wrong Products for Your Skin Type
@shanidarden
The second most popular skincare mistake, according to Darden, is when people don't use the right products for their specific skin type. If you have oily skin, for example, you shouldn't necessarily use a rich, heavy cream that's designed for people with super-dry skin. It will lead to more oil and shine. If you have perennially dry skin, don't reach for a light gel moisturizer. You might be better off using something heavier.
"Always remember that it's more important to find the RIGHT products for YOUR skin, and not use a product just because someone else does," Darden captioned the video of herself applying her namesake skincare product. Luckily, figuring out your skin type isn't too difficult, although a dermatologist or esthetician can help you if you're having trouble figuring it out on your own. They are the designated experts, after all.
Shani Darden Texture Reform Gentle Resurfacing Serum $95 Shop
This serum is a gentler version of the Retinol Reform ($95) we mentioned earlier. It's an all-in-one serum that addresses blemishes, redness, texture, tone, and more. Use it at night to help transform the health of your skin without any irritation or sensitivity.
#1: Overuse of Drying Products When Breaking Out
@shanidarden
Most acne products on the market are extremely drying, which can lead to even more redness and sensitivity (those are two things acne-prone skin doesn't need more of). In fact, some skin experts see acne as a wound, so they suggest treating it as such, which means only using gentle, healing treatments—harsh or stripping skincare products need not apply.
This is great advice for the occasional breakout. However, if you're plagued by regular acne breakouts, you might need the help of a dermatologist or esthetician to develop the perfect acne-busting routine for you. In the meantime, we have a few anti-acne product recommendations for you to try before you schedule an appointment.
IS Clinical Cleansing Complex $42 Shop
Darden herself uses this IS Clinical cleanser. It also happens to be this writer's cleanser of choice, and I can say with utmost certainty that you'll love its creamy texture and soft, clean scent. As for its cleansing powers, I appreciate that it clears dirt, makeup, and sweat off of my skin without stripping it of all of its moisture. It even has white willow bark to gently exfoliate my skin and keep my pores clear while antioxidants keep free radicals at bay.
So what's the verdict? Are you guilty of making these three skincare mistakes? Next, check out the four skincare myths we need to stop believing, according to another celeb esthetician.
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South Midlands League
The South Midlands League was a football league covering Bedfordshire and some adjoining counties in England. It was founded in 1922 as the Bedfordshire County League and merged with the Spartan League in 1997 to form the Spartan South Midlands League.
History
The league was formed in 1922 as the Bedfordshire County League, beginning with eight clubs; Arlesey Town, Biggleswade & District Reserves, Leighton United, Letchworth Town, Luton Clarence Reserves, RAF Henlow, Stotfold Athletic and Waterlows Athletic. In 1924 the league was renamed the Bedfordshire & District County League. A second division was added in 1925, and in 1929 it was renamed the South Midlands League.
Division Two had only six clubs in 1930–31 and 1931–32, and was not played in 1932–33. However, it was reintroduced for the 1933–34 season with nine clubs, all but two of which were reserve teams.
The league was abandoned in 1939 due to World War II, before returning for the 1946–47 season. In 1947 Division One was renamed the Premier Division and Division Two became Division One, with a new third division added, name Division Two. The league gained another division in 1949 when Division Two was split into Division Two A and B, with a play-off between the two division winners to determine the overall Division Two champions. The following season Division Two reverted to being a single division.
Division Two was abolished in 1955 after having shrunk to only eight clubs in 1954–55. The league then remained unchanged until 1993 when Division One was renamed the Senior Division and a new division (Division One) added as a third tier. In 1997 the league merged with the Spartan League to form the Spartan South Midlands League. The new league initially ran with two Premier Divisions (north and south), a Senior Division and two Division Ones (north and south).
During the evolution of the National League System, the league became a feeder to the Isthmian League, with clubs such as Leighton Town, Oxford City and Bedford Town earning promotion.
Although clubs from the league played in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup from the late 1920s onwards, none ever reached the first round proper. The best performance came from Barton Rovers in 1976–77 when they reached the fourth qualifying round. South Midlands League clubs had more success in the FA Vase, with Barton Rovers reaching the final in 1977–78 and Arlesey Town winning the competition in 1994–95.
Divisional champions
Member teams
AC Delco Reserves
AC Sphinx
AC Sphinx Reserves
Abbey National
ACD Tridon
Addmult
AML
Ampthill Town
Apsley Guise
Arlesey Town
Arlesey Town Reserves
Ashcroft
Bagshawes
Baldock Town
Baldock Town Reserves
Barton Rovers
Batford Old Boys
Bedford Avenue Reserves
Bedford Corinthians
Bedford Eagles
Bedford North End
Bedford Queen's Works
Bedford Queen's Works Reserves
Bedford St Cuthbert's
Bedford St. Cuthbert's Reserves
Bedford Town
Bedford Town 'A'
Bedford Town Reserves
Bedford United
Bell Sports
Biggleswade & District Reserves
Biggleswade Town
Biggleswade Town Reserves
Biggleswade United
Biscot Sports
Bletchley Centre
Bletchley LMS
Bletchley Sports
Bletchley Sports Reserves
Bletchley Town
Bletchley Town Reserves
Bletchley United
Bondor
Borg Warner
Bow Brickhill
Brache Sparta
Bridger Packaging
Britannia Works
British Aircraft Corporation (Luton)
British Aircraft Corporation (Stevenage)
Brooklands
Buckingham Athletic
Buckingham Town
Buckingham United
Caddington
Cambridge Town Reserves
Chipperfield
Clifton Old Boys
Cranfield United
Cranfield United Reserves
Crawley Green Sports
De Havilland (Hatfield)
Dunstable Athletic
Dunstable Athletic Reserves
Dunstable Town Reserves
Dunstable United
Eaton Bray
Eaton Bray United
Electrolux
Elstow Abbey
Emberton
Esavian Sports
Eynesbury Rovers
Flamstead
Flitwick Athletic
Flitwick Rovers
GIF (Luton)
Hanslope
Harlington Stars
Harpenden Town
Harrold United
Hatfield Town
Haynes
Hemel Hempstead United
Henlow
Histon Institute Reserves
Hitchin Blue Cross
Hitchin Blue Cross Reserves
Hitchin Imps
Hitchin Town Reserves
Hoddesdon Town
Holmer Green
Houghton Regis
Houghton Town
Hunting Athletic
ICL Letchworth
Ickleford
Inter City
Karrier Motors
Kempston Rovers
Kent Athletic
Kettering Town Reserves
Knebworth
Kodak
Kryn & Lahy
Langford
Leagrave & District
Leagrave & District Reserves
Leighton Athletic
Leighton Marley
Leighton Town
Leighton United Reserves
Letchworth
Letchworth Town Reserves
Leverstock Green
Limbury Old Boys
London Brick
London Brick Reserves
London Colney
Lucas Sports
Luton Amateur
Luton Amateur Reserves
Luton Amateurs & Ramblers
Luton Amateurs & Ramblers Reserves
Luton Athletic
Luton Chapel Street Sports
Luton Clarence
Luton Clarence Reserves
Luton Davis Athletic
Luton Frickers Athletic
Luton Gas Works Athletic
Luton Hitchin Road Old Boys
Luton Kent's Athletic
Luton Kent's Athletic Reserves
Luton Old Boys
Luton Old Modernians
Luton Percival Athletic
Luton Ramblers
Luton Town 'B'
Luton Town Colts
Lynton Works
Marshmoor F.C.|Marshmoor
Marston Shelton Rovers
Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves
Marston Sports
Mercedes Benz
Milford Villa
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Borough
Milton Keynes County
Milton Keynes Town
Mowlem
Mursley United
Napier/English Electric
New Bradwell St Peter
Newport Pagnell Town
Old Bradwell United
Old Dunstablians
Old Lutonians
Oxford City
Peartree Old Boys
Peartree Old Boys Reserves
Pirton
Pitstone & Ivinghoe
Potters Bar Crusaders
Potters Bar Town
Potton United
Pye Radio
RAF Cardington
RAF Henlow
RAF Henlow Reserves
Risborough Rangers
Roade
Rootes Sports
Royston Town
Rushden Sports
Rushden Town Reserves
Sandy Albion
Scot
Selby
Shefford Town
Shenley & Loughton
Shillington
Shredded Wheat
Shredded Wheat Reserves
Silsoe
SKF
Slip End United
St Neots & District
St Neots & District Reserves
St Neots St. Mary's
Steeple Claydon
Stevenage Town
Stevenage Town Reserves
Stewartby Works
Stewartby Works Reserves
Stony Stratford Sports
Stony Stratford Town
Stotfold
Stotfold Athletic
Stotfold Rovers
Thame United
The 61
Tickford Sports
Toddington Rovers
Totternhoe
Towcester Town
Tring Athletic
Vauxhall (Dunstable)
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors 'A'
Vauxhall Motors Reserves
Waddesdon
Walden Rangers
Waterlows
Waterlows Reserves
Wellingborough Town Reserves
Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City Reserves
Welwyn Garden United
Westbourne Athletic
Wiltonians
Wingate & Finchley
Wingate
Winslow United
Wolverton
Wolverton Town Reserves
Wootton Blue Cross
Wootton Blue Cross Reserves
References
Category:Defunct football leagues in England
South
Category:1922 establishments in England
Category:1997 disestablishments in England
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PNPase modulates RNase II expression in Escherichia coli: implications for mRNA decay and cell metabolism.
PNPase and RNase II are the key regulatory exonucleases controlling mRNA decay in Escherichia coli. The rnb transcripts were found to proceed through the terminator and PNPase was found to be involved in the 3' to 5' degradation of rnb mRNA. Analysis of these longer 3' termini revealed that they are located in UA-rich regions. Comparison of single and double mutants suggested that PNPase and RNase II could have different roles in the degradation of these unstructured regions. We have shown that RNase II levels can vary over a fivefold range in haploid cells and that its expression depends on PNPase levels. PNPase-deficient strains were found to have a 2-2.5-fold increase in RNase II activity, while PNPase-overproducing strains reduced the rnb message and RNase II levels. Conversely, the amount of PNPase in the rnb deletion strain was approximately twofold higher than that in the wild-type strain. These observations suggest that the two main exonucleases are inter-regulated through a fine tuning mechanism. We discuss the implications of these results with regard to mRNA degradation and cell metabolism.
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Q:
how to efficiently apply a medium-weight function in parallel
I'm looking to map a modestly-expensive function onto a large lazy seq in parallel. pmap is great but i'm loosing to much to context switching. I think I need to increase the size of the chunk of work thats passed to each thread.
I wrote on a function to break the seq into chunks and pmap the function onto each chunk and recombine them. this 'works' but the results have not been spectacular. The origional code essentially looks like this:
(pmap eval-polynomial (range x) coificients)
How can I really squeez this while keeping it lazy?
A:
How about using the partition function to break up your range sequence? There was an interesting post on a similar problem at http://www.fatvat.co.uk/2009/05/jvisualvm-and-clojure.html
A:
I'd look at the ppmap function from: http://www.braveclojure.com/zombie-metaphysics/. It lets you pmap while specifying the chunk size.
The solution to this problem is to increase the grain size, or the
amount of work done by each parallelized task. In this case, the task
is to apply the mapping function to one element of the collection.
Grain size isn’t measured in any standard unit, but you’d say that the
grain size of pmap is one by default. Increasing the grain size to two
would mean that you’re applying the mapping function to two elements
instead of one, so the thread that the task is on is doing more work.
[...] Just for fun, we can generalize this technique into a function
called ppmap, for partitioned pmap. It can receive more than one
collection, just like map:
(defn ppmap
"Partitioned pmap, for grouping map ops together to make parallel
overhead worthwhile"
[grain-size f & colls]
(apply concat
(apply pmap
(fn [& pgroups] (doall (apply map f pgroups)))
(map (partial partition-all grain-size) colls))))
(time (dorun (ppmap 1000 clojure.string/lower-case orc-name-abbrevs)))
; => "Elapsed time: 44.902 msecs"
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This invention relates to a cutting device particularly for resin sheets pulled from a supply reel The resin sheet is provided in its stored state at least on one face with a film which is removed prior to the cutting operation. The cutting device has a blade secured to mounting means operated by a pneumatic drive.
Resin sheets severed with a cutting device of the above-outlined type are often used as blanks for being deformed in molding presses. Before the resin sheets are introduced into the press, they are, as a rule, superposed in a plurality to form a stack to be received in the press.
Since known cutting devices which include a circulating chain drive have been found to have excessively low cutting speeds and therefore are not adapted to the requirements of a high-output manufacturing method, it has already been suggested to use a pneumatic drive for the cutter blade. Such pneumatic drives, however, have the disadvantage that despite a relatively large energy input the speed cannot be augmented to reach the required level. In order to achieve high speeds not only large-dimension valves and conduits for the pressure medium are necessary but complex arrangements have to be provided to brake the piston of the pneumatic cylinder for decelerating it from a high speed This means that not only complex and large damping devices have to be used, but after each cutting step a large amount of the inputted energy remains unutilized and is thus wasted.
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Q:
use notepad++ to format data
I have a dataset that looks like this:
1 -0.151714363660730E+03 0.681572558518519E+02
-0.147787110884357E+03 0.702453634941157E+02
-0.147765104000000E+03 0.702198060000000E+02
-0.147681722000000E+03 0.701999540000000E+02
-0.147648000000000E+03 0.702032990000000E+02
-0.147585678000000E+03 0.702033980000000E+02
-0.147505270000000E+03 0.702003840000000E+02
-0.147431532000000E+03 0.701888260000000E+02
-0.147402283000000E+03 0.701852730000000E+02
how can I use find and replace in notepad++ to put all the data on one line
A:
Press ctrl+h
Select 'extended'
Replace all \r\n with `` (CR+LF line endings)
Replace all \n with `` (LF line endings)
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Main navigation
A Bed time Story….
In September 2017 we investigated the possibility of including a collection of homewares – including bedlinen – to our Sixteen47.com website. The idea was initially inspired by the idea of working with our suppliers in a more collaborative way. The idea was to make our specialist skills and resources as retailers available to our producers so that they could choose/develop products they wanted to make and get the benefits of selling them directly via our site.
Naturally we began with our own factory in Ghana. They wanted to produce something that could use local fabrics and which they did not need to buy specialist machinery for and the decision to first try bedlinen.
It was quite an adventure! not the least because our staff are unfamiliar with the products they were making in their daily lives! (Who needs a duvet in 30º!).
At the end of many months the main challenge was the reliable supply of local fabrics which met the standards that would be required for an international market. Our conclusion was that this would indeed be a fantastic project one day – and one whose time would come one day in the near future. These are some of the inspiring fabrics we have been looking at:
West Africa has a wonderful array of printed, woven and dyed fabrics. These are true classics and the traditions of making and using have a rich history,
In the meantime we have made some wonderful samples and we are delighted to be able to offer these as limited editions to our customers. There are cushion covers and bedlinen sets.
There is a wide selection of cushion covers as well as a range wonderful and luxurious bedlinen sets. See this link for Cushion covers and this link for the bedlinen sets.
Watch this space as the adventure continues. Meanwhile these limited editions are available on the Sixteen47.com website while stocks last – from mid December 2018.
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Report: Nation’s Best School Districts Trail Global Competition
Wealthy suburban school districts lack the academic heft many believe they have, according to the Global Report Card 2.0. The updated 2012 findings match the 2011 edition’s conclusion: Even the best U.S. school districts rate mediocre when compared to international peers.
“Suburbanites falsely believe that education reform has nothing to do with them,” said GRC coauthor Jay Greene, head of the University of Arkansas’ department of education reform. “I want suburbanites to understand that quite often the problems of the education system are found in the suburbs, and therefore education reforms are something we all have to be interested in.”
For example, Montgomery School District, which has five of Maryland’s top-performing schools, ranks in the 66th percentile for math, when compared to the rest of the country. This means the average Montgomery student performs better than 66 percent of his U.S. peers. Compare the district to the world, however, and its performance drops to the 57th percentile.
In only 9 percent of U.S. districts did the average student rank in the top third internationally.
The GRC uses the latest international test score data to compare U.S. students in every school district with their foreign peers in reading and math. It includes an interactive online map[2] where parents and taxpayers can see how their local school district stacks up.
‘Losing the Brain Race’These results demonstrate the United States is “losing the brain race” with other countries, says Lance Izumi, director of education studies at the Pacific Research Institute.
“Even though America is an economic superpower now, that doesn’t mean that in the future we’re going to keep that stature,” he said.
Suburban parents shouldn’t sit comfortable believing their children are getting a good education based on statewide or even national comparisons, Greene said.
The mental and academic ability of a country’s students directly correlates with its future prosperity, says Eric Hanushek, a Stanford University economist who has conducted well-regarded research on education and economics.
“We are becoming much more an integrated, international world where people compete across national boundaries all the time. We’re in an age where skills and human capital are what determine who’s going to do well,” he said.
Implications for ReformGreene refrained from recommending specific policies to address the deficiencies his work revealed, as many reform ideas are divisive. His main goal is for Americans to acknowledge the problem so districts, policymakers, and reformers can work toward a solution.
School districts “almost universally” ignore international comparisons, Hanushek said, because “the news isn’t very good for them, and they don’t like to have bad news.”
Hanushek suggests districts and lawmakers should work to improve teacher quality because it has a major effect on student achievement.
“Effective school systems don’t let bad teachers stay in the classroom for long,” he said, noting education systems in other countries. “They might find ways to improve the teachers. They might find ways to move them to other jobs, but one way or another, they keep from having bad teachers in the classroom for very long.”
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Tiered Wedding Cake Online Course
Learn how to make a beautiful three tiered wedding cake in this online course!
Once purchased, you can log in and watch this video as many times as you like! You will learn a wide range of decorating and cake decorating skills. This course is perfect for beginners and for those with a little knowledge who are looking to learn some new creative ideas and techniques.
You will learn the different types of icing and how to use them. How to make sugar petals decorate your cake with.
I then show you the best way to split and fill your cake. You will then learn to cover your cake and board with icing to a professional standard.
You will also learn how to stack and assemble wedding cakes safely and effectively.
If you want to turn your baking hobby into a career, check out my ebook How To Start A Cake Business From Home for everything you need to know about running a successful baking business, including pricing, marketing, insurance and much more!
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Q:
How to abstract a query by predicate in Scala using Slick
I'm finding a repetitive pattern in my code and I would like to abstract over it, however I can't seem to get it right. The code that I would like to abstract is something like this:
def queryByPredicate(p: (OAuthClientTable => Rep[Boolean])): Future[Option[OAuthClient]] = {
val query = oAuthClientTableQuery.filter(p)
db.run(query.result.headOption)
}
I tried something like this:
def queryByPredicate[A, B](p: (A => Rep[Boolean]), t: TableQuery[A]): Future[Option[B]] = {
val query = t.filter(p)
db.run(query.result.headOption)
}
However the compiler complains with the following error:
Error:(132, 25) type mismatch;
found : slick.profile.SqlAction[Option[A#TableElementType],slick.dbio.NoStream,slick.dbio.Effect.Read]
required: slick.dbio.DBIOAction[Option[B],slick.dbio.NoStream,Nothing]
db.run(query.result.headOption)
And honestly, I have no idea how to create a generic Option[A#TableElementType]
A:
def queryByPredicate[A <: Table[B], B](p: (A => Rep[Boolean]), t: TableQuery[A]): Future[Option[B]] = {
val query = t.filter(p)
db.run(query.result.headOption)
}
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Paper bags have been used for packing groceries for over a hundred years, and such paper bags have gained wide acceptance by grocery store customers. However, plastic grocery sacks have made inroads into the paper bag market, mainly because they are cheaper and take up less storage space. Also, the plastic sacks are usually equipped with integral handles for easy carrying and, unlike the paper bags, they do not have a tendency to rip open. However, many shoppers complain that the plastic sacks have a greater tendency than paper bags to keel over in the back seat or trunk of a motor vehicle spilling out the contents.
Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a simple apertured plastic closure disk which may conveniently be slipped over the integral handles and open top of the plastic grocery sack, after the handles have been drawn together, to hold the sacks in a closed condition.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive applicator for sliding the fastener disks over the handles and onto the neck of the plastic sacks.
Specifically, the invention provides an apertured closure disk which is intended to be slipped over the mouth portion of a plastic shopping sack when that portion has been drawn together, to hold the neck of the sack firmly in a closed condition; and the invention also provides a simple applicator for the fastener disks.
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The Adventures of Shuggy is a 2D platformer containing a variety of different levels with a leaning towards puzzles. There are around 100 levels connected through a gradually unlocking map screen ensuring there is always a variety of levels to choose from.
The game takes place in an old Scottish mansion recently inherited by young Shuggy, a cartoon vampire. To clear the mansion of evil spirits he must venture through the fivedifferent areas of the mansion, The Dungeon, The Boiler Room, The Gallery, The Graveyard and The Clocktower. Progress through the mansion is punctuated by comic book cut scenes and the occasional boss encounter. The game also has a selection of two player Co-Op levels, an online head-to-head mode and a turn based two player challenge mode that allows players to see who’s best at the single player levels.
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Kansans are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with their state government and with their choice of presidential candidates, according to a new poll released Friday.
But when given a choice between the two parties’ presumptive nominees, a plurality (43-36 percent) said they prefer Democrat Hillary Clinton to Republican Donald Trump, while 21 percent are currently undecided.
If those trends hold through November, it would mark a historic shift in Kansas politics, where no Democratic presidential candidate has won Kansas since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson carried it over Barry Goldwater, 54-45 percent.
The poll by John Zogby Strategies was commissioned by the Kansas Health Foundation and was released Friday in conjunction with a symposium being conducted in Wichita. The random survey of 433 registered voters was conducted June 4-6 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percent.
Speaking in a telephone interview from Wichita, pollster John Zogby said the results were surprising for such a solidly Republican state as Kansas.
“The Republicans have some work to do to earn the red state status this time,” he said. “You’ve got the presumptive nominee, Trump, polling only 36 percent. That’s some making up to do.”
But Kansas University political science professor Patrick Miller said the numbers weren’t completely surprising, especially on the Democratic side where Clinton’s 43 percent is about on par with how Democratic presidential candidates tend to do in Kansas.
“That’s a little bit better than (President Barack) Obama did,” he said. “So if you assume also that Trump is toxic, Clinton hasn’t closed the deal with Millennials yet, she probably has some room to grow. I think Clinton will do better than the average Democratic candidate. I don’t think she’ll win Kansas, but I think she’ll probably get a few percent better than Obama.”
The undecided
One of the keys to the race in Kansas will be which candidate can win over the 21 percent of voters who are still undecided, and that includes a large number from both Democrats and Republicans, but especially independents.
Zogby said his poll showed 12 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans are still undecided about the race. But among independent and unaffiliated voters who make up 30 percent of all registered voters in Kansas, 31 percent remain undecided.
And among 18- to 34-year-olds, the so-called “Millennial” generation voters who went overwhelmingly for Obama in 2008 and 2012, Clinton leads 44-29 percent in Kansas, with 27 percent still undecided.
“I’m going to extrapolate here and suggest that she hasn’t closed the deal,” Zogby said. “That’s probably the 12 percent undecided Democrats right there.”
Miller said it could also be a reflection that both Clinton and Trump have not yet won over a big part of their own parties, which voted overwhelmingly for Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Ted Cruz in the March 5 Kansas caucuses.
“Trump, you look at this and it’s like, this is vastly underperforming,” he said. “Maybe that’s not closing the deal with the evangelical base. Maybe that’s the low support from independents who might normally vote Republican. So I think that’s kind of one way of interpreting it. Clinton does a little bit better than Obama, given the context, but Trump in Kansas really has a whole lot of solidifying of his base to do.”
The survey sample did include a larger proportion of college-educated voters (50 percent) than the adult population as a whole (31 percent), and that is a key demographic group with which Trump routinely polls poorly.
But Miller said the sample is actually a close reflection of the population that actually turns out to vote in Kansas.
Other findings in the election survey seem to match what has been found in other national polls: Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) said they are dissatisfied with the choice of nominees; and nearly a fourth of those polled (24 percent) said the main reason they are voting is because they strongly oppose the other candidate.
That was more true among Republicans (22 percent) than Democrats (12 percent), while 27 percent of independents and other-party voters said their choice was based on opposition to the other candidate.
Zogby said that is consistent with what polls in other states and nationwide surveys have shown.
“What makes this all really so fascinating is that you have two of the best known figures in the country, and two of the least-liked figures in public life, who are now presumptive nominees for their party,” he said.
photo by: Mike Yoder
State political issues
The poll also showed 71 percent of those surveyed have a generally unfavorable opinion about the performance of Kansas government and nearly two-thirds (65 percent) don’t believe it’s doing a good job spending or saving taxpayers’ money.
Another 60 percent don’t believe the state is spending enough to ensure a quality education for Kansas children, and just over half, 56 percent, say it’s not doing enough to provide a safety net for poor and low-income residents.
Those findings come just two weeks before Kansas lawmakers are scheduled to return for a special session to respond to a state Supreme Court ruling on school finance equity. Earlier polls by the Docking Institute at Fort Hays State University have also found broad dissatisfaction with the Kansas Legislature and the level of funding it provides to public schools.
Zogby said he wasn’t familiar enough with local races to offer an opinion about what that means for upcoming legislative races, “but it does suggest to me that there’s a nasty mood and that it’s not great, all things being equal, to be an incumbent.”
Miller, on the other hand, said the 2016 races so far display all the elements needed for a “wave” election, the kind that produces a wholesale shift in partisan or philosophical control of the Legislature. But he said it’s still too early to tell if that will happen.
“Do you have the right context for that,” he said. “Absolutely. (Gov. Sam) Brownback is unpopular, Trump is unpopular. Granted, Clinton is unpopular too, but Trump’s unpopularity changes that dynamic a little bit.”
“You have (Gov. Sam) Brownback unpopular, Trump unpopular and very negative assessments of Kansas government, so that creates the right atmosphere,” he said. “You have a fair number of seemingly good quality candidates. So I think really what that comes down to is going to be race-by-race: can these challengers stay on message, with the right message to appeal to voters, which is basically being anti-Brownback.”
Read more of the poll results here.
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China is offering increasing numbers of package tours to the manmade islands in the South China Sea in a bid to show its authority on the region.
It comes just months after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson threatened to block China's access to the area.
Despite the fact that several regions claim sovereignty over the South China Sea, China has plans to build holiday resorts that the government has compared to the Maldives.
Happy to be there: People pose with Chinese national flags after landing on Meiji Reef in the South China Sea
Very patriotic: Tourists pose with Chinese flags on one of the Paracel Islands in the disputed South China Sea
On March 3, state-run news agency Xinhua announced that a new cruise ship had embarked on its maiden voyage to the Paracel Islands - an area disputed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
The Changle Princess departed from the southern Chinese island of Hainan with 308 passengers on a four-day-long voyage.
According to the South China Morning Post, the tour groups at the moment only contain Chinese citizens and have a patriotic tone.
Tourists can visit three islands in the South China Sea.
During this month's National People's Congress, the government also announced that it wants to launch tour flights to the disputed areas of the South China Sea.
The crew of an airline walked down the stairs after landing at the airport in the Nansha Islands, China
In January, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that China should not be allowed to access the islands it had built in the region.
Tillerson said: 'We're going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and second your access to those islands is not going to be allowed.'
He also compared China's actions to that of 'Russia's taking of Crimea'.
Tillerson's remarks caused Chinese state media to say at the time that the United States would need to 'wage war' to stop them from accessing the islands.
China already operates flights to the Meiji reef in the area.
It also currently runs flights to Woody Island which China claims is the 'administrative centre for the South China Sea' despite the fact that Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims on the territory. However these flights are mainly for construction workers who are currently based there and their families.
Flights to Woody Island are currently priced at around 1,200 yuan one way (£139).
China claims all territory in the South China Sea. However Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims on parts of the sea.
The South China Sea is a potentially energy rich area.
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Intravenous cholecystokinin octapeptide in pigs reduces operant responding for food, water, sucrose solution or radiant heat.
The effect of intravenous injections of 0 (Saline vehicle), 10, 20 or 40 units of CCK was studied in pigs performing operant responses for food, water, sucrose solution or radiant heat. In hungry pigs working for food, thirsty pigs responding for water, and non-deprived pigs working for sucrose, 20 and 40 units CCK produced significant dose-related decreases in response rates lasting for about 5 min. In pigs responding for 10 sec bursts of infra-red heat at an ambient temperature of 5 degrees C, 40 units CCK significantly reduced the response rate during the 5 min period following injection.
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Andrej Babiš is not Central Europe’s Game-Changer
DGAPstandpunkt 15, 25. Oktober 2017, 3 S.
Kategorie: Wahlen, Tschechien
The Czech election result seems worrying at first: Yet another populist leader has been catapulted into power in Central Europe. But billionaire Andrej Babiš and his populist ANO party, which received almost 30 percent of the vote, is not necessarily going to push the Czech Republic into an illiberal and anti-EU direction.
Erschienen in:
The Czech Republic has closely integrated trade and economic relations and strong bilateral ties with neighboring Germany. So far, the country has been among the most pro-Western among the newer EU members. Parallels between Andrej Babiš and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán or Polish leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski are overdone. Unlike Orbán and Kaczynski, 63-years-old Babiš is not an ideologue, but a pragmatic businessman. Babiš’s political position is far less dominant than that of his Hungarian and Polish counterparts. Unlike them, he is not a nationalist. Furthermore, he will need to form a coalition government with one or two junior partners.
Babiš – weaker than his neighboring leaders
In his book “What I dream of when I happen to sleep,” broadly distributed as part of his election campaign, Babiš presents far-reaching suggestions for changing the Czech political system: dissolving the upper chamber of Parliament, halving the number of MPs in the lower chamber, changing electoral law from proportional and regional to majoritarian/single district representation. However, none of these ideas made it into his party’s program and they would be hard to enact in any case: Even with the support of all other anti-establishment parties, the ANO would still lack a constitutional majority. Unlike in Poland or Hungary, the Czech Senate can effectively block any constitutional change and thereby stabilize the constitutional system.
Besides the strong position of Babiš’s ANO party – the acronym means “yes” in Czech –, the continued fragmentation of the Czech political spectrum is one of the most important outcomes of this election, with as many as nine political parties in the new parliament (up from seven in the 2013 elections and from five in 2010). The collapse of the political center and the surge of the protest vote have benefited new parties. Among the winners are the anti-corruption, transparency-centered Pirates Party as well as the far-right party of half-Japanese MP Tomio Okamura, which received around 10 percent of the vote each. Forming a lasting coalition government will be no easy task for Babiš.
Political contradictions, conflicts of interests
Babiš himself is a bundle of contradictions: A self-proclaimed anti-establishment leader and anti-corruption crusader, he profited from the ‘old system’ of mainstream parties, is the second-richest Czech businessman and a media mogul, and was until recently also the country’s finance minister. He raised expectations in Czech society to “govern more effectively” or, as his slogan puts it, “run the country as a family firm”, in order to fix “a corrupted system”, as he called out frequently in his campaign. But beyond keeping fiscal discipline, ANO’s economic program remains vague. Although a continuing economic boom and solid public finances will allow him to spend more on the neglected road system and other, also digital infrastructure, and to distribute more social perks, he does not have any long-term political or economic strategy at this stage. He will need to rely on his media and marketing machine, apart from which he has no strong institutional, cultural, or social connection with his constituency or broader Czech society.
Another aspect to be aware of is that Babiš’s business imperium in the chemical, agricultural, and media sectors spans several EU countries. Out of 250 companies in Babiš’s Agrofert holding, ten are based in Slovakia, four in Hungary, three in Germany, and one in Poland. As such, he faces many conflicts of interest which will likely constrain him in his new political role.
Possible Scenarios
Being Prime Minister will test Babiš’s political skills to build lasting alliances. His first challenge is to face off an ongoing criminal investigation for fraud, for which he has been formally charged. The majority of parties in the new parliament refuses to accept him as the new prime minister on these grounds. Babiš denies any wrongdoing and has dismissed the case as politically motivated. Current President Miloš Zeman will nominate Babiš as Prime Minister. Three possible scenarios could then unfold:
Restoration of the outgoing coalition with Social Democrats and Christian Democrats.This option is less likely as both parties have ruled out forming a government with either a prime minister or a minister charged with fraud. The option would be conceivable nonetheless if Babiš – “Kaczyński style” – were to let someone from his party or a technocrat become prime minister in his stead. He has so far rejected such a scenario. Both the Social Democrats and the Christian Democrats have emerged badly damaged from governing with Babiš. In the elections, he was able to attract many of their traditional voters, taking votes mainly from the formerly dominant Social Democrats. In reshuffling their respective leadership, both parties might turn out to be unpredictable partners.
Coalition with the liberal-conservative euroscepticCivic Democratic Party (ODS). Although both parties have similar programs, the ODS appears divided on whether it considers a coalition with the ANO a possibility. Indeed, the party leadership has so far ruled out this option: Like the other two big parties, it rejects Babiš on the grounds of his fraud charge.
Minority government with parliamentary support from Okamura’s far-right party and the Communist Party.In this scenario, Babiš would rely on unpredictable partners. Such a step might cause intra-party rebellion and he could face international isolation. It is likely that he will want to avoid this scenario.
In face of the difficulties connected with each of these scenarios, coalition talks might last several months. Furthermore, the presidential election is set to take place in January 2018, and Miloš Zeman is running for re-election in spite of his poor health. He is expected to play a larger role in the coalition talks than is envisaged for his mostly representative position. This is partly due to the fact that Zeman is focusing on voters of the ANO and of Okamura’s party and needs to avoid that they nominate their own candidates.
Czech foreign and EU policy to be continued
Czech foreign and EU policy under an ANO-led government is likely to show a lot of continuity from Bohuslav Sobotka’s outgoing cabinet, of which Babiš’s party was a junior member. Given the fragmentation of the political spectrum in the Czech Republic and the reduced stability of the incoming government, the upcoming presidential election and ANO’s focus on domestic topics, Babiš’s European policy is bound to be reactive, pragmatic, non-ideological, and very transactional.
The ANO will likely focus on domestic regulatory policies. The party’s foreign and European policy program is underdeveloped, and Babiš has little interest in pursuing it proactively. While he values the single market and Schengen as key EU achievements to protect, his instinct is to maintain the status quo. With the exception of defence politics, he does not want to deepen the EU further; all major democratic parties support the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation.
With regard to migration, ANO’s new government can be expected to reject any refugee relocation mechanism and stress the need to protect Schengen borders – a continuation of current policies.
Babiš will most probably oppose the EU reforms proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. To Babiš, Macrons Sorbonne speech served as a warning that a French drive for deeper integration might split the EU even further and could lead to more Brexits. Babiš rejects both a multi-speed EU and the adoption of a single currency, and Prague will not enter the eurozone by 2025. As the current government in Prague has also not pushed eurozone membership, his position in this regard does not reflect a U-turn in the Czech Republic’s EU policy.
Babiš’s eclectic approach to the current debate on the EU’s future discloses his extremely limited knowledge about how the union actually functions. His lack of familiarity is augmented by the ANO’s shortage of senior figures experienced in foreign and EU affairs. Pavel Telička, MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament, ended cooperation with the party just weeks before the elections due to his ongoing ideological conflicts with the party leader. Other qualified MEPs, such as Dita Charanzová and Martina Dlabajová, who worked in the European Parliament’s liberal-centrist ALDE group, might possibly be promoted. The same goes for Věra Jourová, EU Commissioner for Justice, who had served as ANO’s deputy party leader before moving to Brussels. It is likely that one of the junior coalition partners will be offered to nominate the new Czech Foreign Minister and thereby determine the exact course of Czech EU and foreign policy. In all these scenarios NATO will certainly remain the cornerstone of Czech security policy, as Okamura’s party and the Communist Party – both anti-NATO parties – will almost certainly not be part of the government.
On the regional level and within the Visegrad Group, the Czech Republic is likely to keep its tandem with Slovakia. Unlike Poland or Hungary, Babiš has no stake in further confrontation with Brussels. It is to be expected therefore that Babiš will navigate his own path and look for new allies such as Austria’s Sebastian Kurz.
Czech-German relations
Czech-German relations were not an issue in the election: Most parties stressed the need for good relations and productive cooperation with Germany in their manifestos. A possible area of tension in Czech-German relations might, however, be energy policy. Babiš is known not to support the climate change agenda and may oppose new limitations on the use of biofuels in transport due to his business interests. He is also critical about Germany’s ‘Energiewende’, the transition to low-carbon energy supplies and state support schemes for renewable energies. Meanwhile, the Czech position is likely to stay flexible in another controversial project, the Nordstream 2 pipeline, which is planned to transport Russian gas directly to Germany, bypassing Ukraine. On this issue, Prague is likely to take regional considerations into account.
In summary, while the Czech election at first appear to confirm anti-EU tendencies in Central Europe, they do offer a more varied picture at closer look. While ruptures and changes are most likely on the domestic agenda, its foreign and EU policies promise more continuity than widely assumed.
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THE JOURNAL BY THE GIRLS AT TRUE&CO
The Life Changer
Apr 24, 2017
This is not an exaggeration - this bra changed my life. I had a mastectomy due to breast cancer at the age of 24. Now I am 45 and also have Lupus. Living life with one breast implant for 20 years has been a constant struggle to find clothes- especially bras- that fit. They also need to be comfortable.
The TrueandCo. True Body bra has "set me free" by allowing me to put it on in the morning and not worry about my implant breast ALL DAY! I don't struggle with one strap falling down my shoulder because depending on my weight, the implant may be bigger or smaller than my natural breast. The bra does not slip at all! I also don't have to worry about reacting to colder temperatures - one nipple is natural and reacts, the other is a skin graft and cannot react. This bra has removable pads which cover your nipples perfectly. I can wear whatever I want for the first time in years and be comfortable!-Sonya.
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Different clustering of genomes across life using the A-T-C-G and degenerate R-Y alphabets: early and late signaling on genome evolution?
In this study, we have calculated distances between genomes based on our previously developed compositional spectra (CS) analysis. The study was conducted using genomes of 39 species of Eukarya, Eubacteria, and Archaea. Based on CS distances, we produced two different consensus dendrograms for four- and two-letter (purine-pyrimidine) alphabets. A comparison of the obtained structure using purine-pyrimidine alphabet with the standard three-kingdom (3K) scheme reveals substantial similarity. Surprisingly, this is not the case when the same procedure is based on the four-letter alphabet. In this situation, we also found three main clusters-but different from those in the 3K scheme. In particular, one of the clusters includes Eukarya and thermophilic bacteria and a part of the considered Archaea species. We speculate that the key factor in the last classification (based on the A-T-G-C alphabet) is related to ecology: two ecological parameters, temperature and oxygen, distinctly explain the clustering revealed by compositional spectra in the four-letter alphabet. Therefore, we assume that this result reflects two interdependent processes: evolutionary divergence and superimposed ecological convergence of the genomes, albeit another process, horizontal transfer, cannot be excluded as an important contributing factor.
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Q:
Android Pagination Library wont stop loading items in recyclerview
I am using Android Pagination Library... It's working in a weird way - Items keep loading infinitely, there is no stop even when there are no more data to load.
For example, I have 2 Items to load, instead of loading just the 2 items and stop loading, It keeps loading the 2 items repeatedly... Here is a gif of what I am facing.
First here is my repository
CommentDataSource.java
Note - when I change the value of "PAGE_SIZE" to "1", It seems to work but the whole purpose of the pagination defeated as ALL the items are loaded at once. (I tested with more items)
public class CommentDataSource extends PageKeyedDataSource<Long, Comment> {
public static int PAGE_SIZE = 10;
public static long FIRST_PAGE = 1;
public CommentDataSource(){
}
@Override
public void loadInitial(@NonNull final LoadInitialParams<Long> params, @NonNull final
LoadInitialCallback<Long, Comment> callback) {
RestApi restApi = RetrofitApi.create();
Call<CommentResponse> call = restApi.getComments(FIRST_PAGE);
call.enqueue(new Callback<CommentResponse>() {
@Override
public void onResponse(Call<CommentResponse> call, Response<CommentResponse> response) {
CommentResponse commentResponse = response.body();
if(commentResponse!=null){
progress_bar.postValue(false);
List<Comment> responseItems = commentResponse.getCommentResponses();
callback.onResult(responseItems, null, FIRST_PAGE + 1);
}
}
@Override
public void loadBefore(@NonNull final LoadParams<Long> params, @NonNull final LoadCallback<Long, Comment> callback) {
RestApi restApi = RetrofitApi.create();
Call<CommentResponse> call = restApi.getComments(params.key);
call.enqueue(new Callback<CommentResponse>() {
@Override
public void onResponse(Call<CommentResponse> call, Response<CommentResponse> response) {
CommentResponse commentResponse = response.body();
if(commentResponse!=null){
progress_bar.postValue(false);
List<Comment> responseItems = commentResponse.getCommentResponses();
long key;
if(params.key > 1){
key = params.key - 1;
}
else {
key = 0;
}
callback.onResult(responseItems, key);
}
}
});
}
@Override
public void loadAfter(@NonNull final LoadParams<Long> params, @NonNull final LoadCallback<Long, Comment> callback) {
RestApi restApi = RetrofitApi.create();
Call<CommentResponse> call = restApi.getComments(params.key);
call.enqueue(new Callback<CommentResponse>() {
@Override
public void onResponse(Call<CommentResponse> call, Response<CommentResponse> response) {
CommentResponse commentResponse = response.body();
if(commentResponse!=null){
progress_bar.postValue(false);
List<Comment> responseItems = commentResponse.getCommentResponses();
callback.onResult(responseItems, params.key + 1);
}
}
});
}
}
Here is my ViewModel
CommentViewModel.java
public class CommentViewModel extends ViewModel {
public CommentViewModel(){
CommentDataFactory commentDataFactory = new CommentDataFactory();
liveDataSource = commentDataFactory.commentLiveDataSource;
progressBar = Transformations.switchMap(liveDataSource, CommentDataSource::getProgressBar);
PagedList.Config config = new PagedList.Config.Builder()
.setEnablePlaceholders(false)
.setPageSize(CommentDataSource.PAGE_SIZE)
.build();
commentPagedList = new LivePagedListBuilder<>(commentDataFactory, config).build();
}
public LiveData<PagedList<Comment>> getCommentData(){
return commentPagedList;
}
public void getRefreshedData(){
getCommentData().getValue().getDataSource().invalidate();
}
}
Here is my PHP code for database query which returns in JSON format.
get_comments.php
<?php
$limit = 10;
//find out how many rows are in the table
$sql = "SELECT count(*) FROM comments";
$result = $conn->prepare($sql);
$result->execute();
$total = $result->fetchColumn();
$totalpages = ceil($total/$limit);
if (isset($_GET['page']) && is_numeric($_GET['page'])) {
$currentpage = $_GET['page'];
} else {
// default page num
$currentpage = 1;
}
if ($currentpage > $totalpages) {
// set current page to last page
$currentpage = $totalpages;
}
// if current page is less than first page...
if ($currentpage < 1) {
$currentpage = 1;
}
//the offset of the list, based on current page
$offset = ($currentpage - 1) * $limit;
$stmt = "SELECT * FROM comments ORDER by id DESC LIMIT $offset, $limit";
$result = $conn->prepare($stmt);
$result->execute();
$response = array();
while ($row = $result->fetch()) {
$temp['id']=$row['id'];
$temp['image_id']=$row['image_id'];
$temp['comment']=$row['comment'];
$temp['comment_by']=$row['comment_by'];
$temp['date_posted']=$row['date_posted'];
array_push($response, $temp);
$obj = (object) [
'data' => $response
];
}
echo json_encode($obj);
?>
These are the codes I feel are needed...I didn't add the adapter and the factory but if need be, I can add other codes...Someone pls help as I have been on this for days...
"
A:
I think i got why it is loading again and again, here is why:
Firts in the loadInitial() of your CommentDataSource you are passing FIRST_PAGE + 1 in the line callback.onResult(responseItems, null, FIRST_PAGE + 1); of the onReponse(), that means in the loadAfter() that FIRST_PAGE + 1 get passed as page number 2 in the line restApi.getComments(params.key) but page number 2 dosn't exist in your database and you are setting the same page number if the page number is greater than 1 in your php
if ($currentpage > $totalpages) {
// set current page to last page
$currentpage = $totalpages;
}
So you are calling page number 1 again and again. In the loadAfter() you are calling the page 1 again and then again and again.
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Wedding season is here again! Let us help you find the perfect gift to celebrate the happy couple. Below are our favorite go-to wedding gift ideas. Check them out online or come and see us in person!
These 11" salad tongs are handcrafted from unstained Cherry wood in Louisville, KY, USA. Constructed with solid brass hinge fittings and finished with a food-safe mineral oil. A beautiful addition to any kitchen!
The possibilities are endless with this set of 3 Cuisinart mixing bowls. Constructed of 18/10 stainless steel, the bowls are both dishwasher and freezer-safe; hand-washing is recommended for the plastic lids. 1.5 quarts, 3 quarts, and 1.25 gallons.
Only available in-store. $22.95.
Epicurean's wood fiber cutting boards always make beautiful gifts. Being that we're in Chapel Hill, we're especially partial to this North Carolina specialty board! Dual-sided, dishwasher safe, and American-made, this cutting or serving board is one of our favorites.
Escali's Primo Digital Scale is the only kitchen scale we carry - and with good reason. The simple 2-button control panel is easy to use and is sealed to protect against spills. It has an 11 lb capacity, and measures in ounces, pounds, and grams.
Still one of our favorite gadgets, the Oxo Tabletop Spiralizer is a unique and versatile gift for anyone! See our in-depth review here. 3 blades and storage case included.
Only available in-store. $44.95.
For the person who has everything! All Clad's Stainless Steel Measuring Cups are a beautiful addition to any kitchen. Styled like miniature All Clad saucepans, the heavy 18/10 stainless cups come in 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2-, 2/3- and 1-cup sizes.
Only available in-store. $50.00.
The Oxo Chef's Mandoline Slicer is the best of the best in mandolines. An adjustable dial switches the blade between thin, thick, julienne or french fry slices. Flip the blade over for a crinkle cut!
If a trip to Italy isn't in the cards, enjoy handmade pasta right at home with the Atlas 150 Marcato Pasta Machine. Made in Italy, this pasta maker is iconic. Comes equipped to make 3 styles of pasta, with additional attachments available. Bon appetit!
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In a recent interview, Ethereum’s co-founder Vitalik Buterin affirmed his thoughts on Bitcoin SV. Unequivocally calling the Bitcoin Cash fork a scam, he also had some concerns over Binance’s actions against the controversial clone.
Vitalik Buterin sat down with Youtuber Harcore Crypto recently to speak his mind on the recent Bitcoin SV (BSV) controversy. He left little room for confusion over how he really felt, referring to Bitcoin SV as a “complete scam.” However, when considered in a greater context, the picture becomes more complicated.
Buterin, BSV, and Binance
Back in April, a controversy ensued surrounding doxxing threats against a Twitter user known as HodlNaut by BSV founder Craig Wraight. The controversy caught the crypto-community by storm and led to Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, taking a bold move and delisting BSV from its platform.
Much of the cryptocurrency space was thrilled by these actions. Buterin, however, says it demonstrated that Binance currently has too much power. According to Buterin, “There are arguments in favor of it, but then there’s also an argument that this is a centralized exchange that’s wielding a lot of power.”
Exchanges and Their Influence
It’s no surprise that exchanges have become some of the most influential players in the cryptocurrency space. Not only are they responsible for providing liquidity for the market, but many are now hosting their own Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs). That gives an exchange a tremendous amount of power, as they pick and choose which coin will be listed (and likely pumped).
The entire operation is shady, at best. Binance may seem like the savior in this situation by delisting a clear scam like Bitcoin SV, but it points towards a deeper problem — centralized exchanges have too much power. Ultimately, the fact that the cryptocurrency market needed Binance to save it from Bitcoin SV shows the infancy of the space.
Do you believe Binance has too much power over the market? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Validation of the Sexual Assault Symptom Scale II (SASS II) using a panel research design.
To examine the utility of a self-report scale of sexual assault trauma, 223 female victims were interviewed with the 43-item Sexual Assault Symptom Scale II (SASS II) at 1, 3, 7, 11, and 15 months postassault. Factor analyses using principal-components extraction with an oblimin rotation yielded 7 common factors with 31 items. The internal consistency was high for 4 factors and moderate for 2 factors. The multitrait-multimethod matrix, correlating the factor subscale scores of self-reported trauma and clinical assessment ratings, demonstrated both convergent and discriminant validity, indicating that the SASS II has construct validity. Correlations between the SASS II subscales and the intrusion subscale of the Impact of Events Scale also indicated the convergent and discriminant validity of the SASS II. Significant positive correlations between current and prior trauma levels further evidence the validity of the SASS.
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Decreased expression of STAT5A predicts poor prognosis in osteosarcoma.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) plays a key role in the malignancy of many tumors and has been identified as a therapeutic target. However, the role of STAT5A in osteosarcoma is still unclear. 98 osteosarcoma patients were obtain from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET). The relationship between STAT5A and clinical features was analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier method, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value in event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed. STAT5A low expression was not linked to age, gender, tumor site, surgical approach, tumor region, histologic response, and metastasis, but was correlated with progression (OR = 5.2, P = 0.012). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that patients with STAT5A low expression had worse EFS and OS than those with STAT5A high expression (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the multivariate analysis revealed STAT5A was an independent prognostic factor for poor OS (HR = 3.29, P = 0.0408)) and EFS (HR = 7.29, P = 0.0025). GSEA showed that the complemen, metabolism, apoptosis, interferon-gamma response, inflammatory response, Notch, Kras, reactive oxygen species, VEGF, IL-6/JAK/STAT3, IL-2/Stat5, B-cell receptor, and p53 pathways were significantly associated with the STAT5A gene. STAT5A may be a novel prognostic factor for osteosarcoma and may act as a molecular target in the treatment of osteosarcoma.
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Background {#Sec1}
==========
HIV/AIDS has arisen as the greatest concern and challenge in global public health, with a high mortality and morbidity rates \[[@CR1], [@CR2]\]. According to the 2017 global HIV statistics of UNAIDS, approximately 940,000 people have died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide \[[@CR3]\]. Despite the continuous decrease in the overall HIV incidence worldwide, an increasing trend of infection has been gradually identified among the MSM group \[[@CR4]\]. This group was reported to have a sustained epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV and syphilis \[[@CR5]\]. In China, new HIV infection through homosexual transmission accounted for 12.2% of the cases in 2007, showing a dramatic increase to 25.5% in 2017 in China \[[@CR6], [@CR7]\]. Recent meta-analyses showed that new HIV and syphilis incidences in MSM were 5.61/100 person per year and 9.6/100 person per year, respectively, with an overall increasing trend \[[@CR8], [@CR9]\].
Many cohort and cross-sectional studies have reported that high-risk sexual behaviours, such as anal intercourse, inconsistent condom use, multiple partners and drug use during sex, are associated with high risk of HIV infection among MSM \[[@CR10]--[@CR12]\]. For example, high proportion of unprotected receptive anal intercourse (URAI), which is more susceptible for HIV infection than unprotected insertive anal intercourse (UIAI) was reported among MSM \[[@CR10]\]. Notably, previous studies reported that high-risk sexual behaviour among MSM show different trends over time in China \[[@CR4], [@CR13]\]. The trends are partly influenced by China's policy and economic development. For example, although marriage between males is illegal, the multicultural environment of China has increased the opportunity of this group to interact with potential sexual companions. Electronic devices have make it more convenient for young people to seek partners than the previous ways. Furthermore, the rapid economic growth and urbanization of China have accelerated the emergence of special groups, such as floating populations, immigrants and sex workers. Hence, it has become a complicated task to study the behavioural characteristics of MSM in different areas. The Chinese government has made tremendous efforts in controlling and preventing the spread of HIV. For example, the "Four Free and One Care" project was started in 2003 to support AIDS funds for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and to conducted no threshold for antiretroviral therapy in 2016 \[[@CR14], [@CR15]\]. Health services (e.g., counselling, testing for antibody and free condom distribution) have also been scaled up in many cities \[[@CR16]\]. These measures have a definite positive effect in the prevention of STIs and the intervention of high-risk behaviour among MSM.
Previously, MSM sentinel surveillance data from 37,094 people and 105 sentinel sites were conducted across 30 provinces in China. The prevalence of overall HIV infection was 6.3%, with high HIV prevalence of more than 10% reported in 24 sites across 11 provinces in 2011. The prevalence of syphilis infection was 7.8%, with 66 sentinel sites distributed over 28 provinces showing a high level of prevalence of greater than 5% \[[@CR13]\]. A higher HIV prevalence among MSM than in other special groups have been reported in several metropolis, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou \[[@CR17]--[@CR19]\]. However, these cities represent developed areas, data on undeveloped western areas were ignored and lacked renewal. In southwest China, both low-income and low-educational levels can be important predictors of MSM initiation and STI infection. It is important to supplement and renew data on the HIV epidemic and the changes in behavioural characteristics among MSM in southwest China.
Chongqing is the largest municipality directly under the Chinese government. It is located in southwest China, bordering Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou and Shanxi Provinces. Chongqing attracts a large number of migrant and floating populations from southwest China and other provinces because its bustling economy and commerce. Some studies have shown that frequent population movement can cause considerable challenges to HIV prevention and control among MSM in China \[[@CR20]--[@CR23]\]. For example, migrant workers are more inclined to seek male partners than local workers to satisfy their sexual needs, which partly results in a high infection rate of STIs in this group, and this social phenomenon is usually ignored \[[@CR20]\]. Moreover, sex workers stay for only a few weeks in a city to avoid the 'burned face effect', which means that male sex workers would frequently go to another place frequently, because clients always look for new male partners at a city. These social backgrounds have increased the difficulty in AIDS surveillance \[[@CR24]\]. According to China CDC and Chongqing CDC, new HIV infections have increased at an average annual rate of 19.7% from 2007 to 2012 in Chongqing, which was significantly beyond the national infection rate (3.13%) \[[@CR25]--[@CR27]\]. However, the data for system surveillance and epidemic trends of HIV and syphilis in Chongqing are still inconclusive..
In terms of the limited studies on MSM in Chongqing, one survey reported an average of only 34.7% participants who always used condoms with MSM, and an average of 27.5, 14.5, 29.1 and 36.2% of the MSM group lacked enough HIV knowledge from 2006 to 2009, respectively \[[@CR28]\]. Poor knowledge and awareness can increase the risk of contracting STIs and influence the behavioural characteristics among MSM. To deeply understand the role of MSM in STIs infection and spread, this study adopted serial cross-sectional surveys to explore the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and the factors correlated with HIV among MSM from 2013 to 2017. This work also discusses the implications for intervention and assistance of this group in China.
Materials and methods {#Sec2}
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Study population and sample {#Sec3}
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Chongqing CDC and Chongqing Medical University formally launched HIV and STI voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in Chongqing in 2013.With the assistance of NGOs, we initially handed out information on health services through community publicity and TV advertising. Second, snowball sampling was conducted in this investigation. We selected MSM seeds through insiders and active participants in MSM venues, such as bars, bathing pools, clubs, parks and toilets. These seeds recommended and recruited other participants to be involved in this study after completing their relevant investigation, until the recruitment process achieved adequate statistical sample size. All respondents understood the verbal declaration and signed consent forms before the study commenced.
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\begin{document}$$ \mathrm{n}=\frac{{{\mathrm{u}}^2}_{a/{2}^{\pi \left(1-\pi \right)}}}{\delta^2} $$\end{document}$ was used to calculate the sample size. The HIV prevalence of HIV among MSM in 2018 in Chongqing was 21.1% \[[@CR29]\], and the relative error (δ) was equal to 5%, α = 0.05, and u~*a*/2~ = 1.96. The *n* we calculated was 256 in an independent round. All questionnaires and laboratory examinations were conducted and distinguished by ID number and fingerprint identification. At the end of the investigation, the respondents received their test results and a gratitude fee (20 Yuan).
This investigation adopted the following inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) male respondents aged ≥18 years at the time of the survey; (2) male respondents who had anal intercourse with their male partners in the past year; and (3) male respondents living in Chongqing for at least a month. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) respondents who were not in the MSM group; (2) respondents that had mental illness or violent tendencies; and (3) respondents who failed to complete the survey questionnaire or laboratory examination. Finally, 6674 respondents were recruited in five rounds, and 6568 respondents who met the inclusion criteria were fitted into the analysis (98.4%).
Questionnaire {#Sec4}
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The structured MSM questionnaire was administered to all participants, and face-to-face interviews were conducted in local CDC offices (see Additional file [1](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). To protect the participants' privacy, trained interviewers would contact the respondent separately and ask the relevant questions according to the questionnaire outline. The interviews took an average of 30 min for each participant. The questionnaire information primarily included socio-demographic data, HIV/AIDS knowledge, behaviour of MSM, condom use, HIV testing and drug use. This questionnaire was extended as a reference to investigate the behavioural characteristics of MSM since 2008 in China \[[@CR29]\].
In the socio-demographic section, we required respondents to fill in their age, marital status (never married/married/other), household registration (local/other city), local residence time (≤ 6 months/7--12 months/1--2 year /\> 2 years), level of education (primary school or below/junior middle school/ high school / university), sexual orientation (homosexual/heterosexual/bisexual/unknown) and the place to find a male partner (physical location/Internet).
The section on gauging the participants' knowledge of HIV consisted of nine questions, and the respondents were required to answer 'Yes' 'No' or 'Unknown'. These questions were as follows: (1) AIDS is an incurable and serious infectious disease (2) MSM is a high-risk factor of HIV infection in China. (3) Observing the appearance can definitely judge people living with HIV.(4) STD sufferers have higher odds of HIV infection. (5) Consistent condom use (CCU) can reduce the risk of HIV transmission. (6) The usage of drugs increases the risk of HIV infection (7) HIV testing should be actively requested after the occurrence of high-risk behaviours (8) Anyone who transmits HIV intentionally would undertake legal liability. (9) You are able to assess HIV-related risks in life. According to the criteria of the structured MSM questionnaire, the respondents who answered seven or more questions correctly were regarded as having 'eligible' HIV-related knowledge (Cronbach's α = 0.79).
At enrolment, the respondents were asked to report MSM-related behaviour variables. The type of sexual partner was defined as regular and/or casual, and the number was classified as a dichotomous variable.(\<2 and ≥ 2). Experience of homosexual anal intercourse was collected in the past *6* months (P6M) (e.g. Yes or No). The frequency of condoms use was calculated as a trichotomous variable (e.g. never, sometimes and always) to research difference among special groups (e.g. regular/casual male partner, commercial sexual partner and female partner) (P6M). The CCU was defined as 'Always', and options of 'Never'and 'Sometimes' were regarded as inconsistent condom use. In addition, drug use was acquired from the participants' report (P6M) (e.g. Yes or No). Furthermore, the HIV testing variable was investigated to observe the effect of HIV/AIDS intervention. In this study, the respondents were asked whether they would assent to test for the presence of HIV antibody (P12M) (e.g. Yes or No).
Laboratory testing {#Sec5}
------------------
HIV and syphilis antibodies were tested among the respondents. The HIV antibody was primarily screened through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A positive result was diagnosed through Western blot assay (WB). Syphilis serum positive screening was conducted through ELISA and was confirmed through RPR and TRUST tests. All laboratory testing was completed in Chongqing CDC.
Data quality control {#Sec6}
--------------------
The principal investigators were strictly trained to ensure that they were familiar with the questionnaire structure. Investigators assisted the respondents in answering questions based on a uniform standard. Questionnaire data were checked and logged through two people, and the data were managed using Epidata 3.0. In cases where the questionnaire data were controversial, the investigators communicated immediately with the supervisor.
Data analysis {#Sec7}
-------------
EpiData 3.0 software (The EpiData Association, Odense, Denmark) was used to enter and manage the data. SAS (SAS Institute, version 9.4) were utilised to describe the distribution of demographics and baseline characteristics. To quantify the annual HIV infection trends, the Cochran-Armitage trend test was employed to compare this change over the past 5 years. To identify the change in HIV-related factors, odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated in univariate analysis. Independent variables were years from 2013 to 2017 and the dependent variables were specific behaviours (e.g. having a homosexual anal intercourse, the number of regular male partners). The OR value was the odds of exposure events with years increased. An adjusted multivariate logistic regression model was conducted to determine the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) using stepwise elimination, controlling for potential confounding and background variables. Chi-square test was utilized to examine differences in HIV-related factors between positive and negative tests over 5 years.
Results {#Sec8}
=======
Background of the study sample {#Sec9}
------------------------------
This study included 6568 adult men aged 18--77 years old. All respondents' backgrounds were stratified by the survey rounds from 2013 to 2017. Among the socio-demographic data, 21.5% were ≤ 22 years old, 83.40% were never married, 80.2% were in Chongqing households, 98.4% were of Han nationality, 93.8% had lived in Chongqing for \> 2 years, 71.9% had university degrees, 77.1% considered themselves as homosexual, 74.8% seek homsexual partners on the Internet and 85.0% achieved eligible levels of HIV-related knowledge (see Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}). The percentage of unique individuals and repeated individuals over years are presented, respectively. (see Fig. [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}). Table 1Characteristics of 6568 respondents stratified by survey year(*N*,%)Variable20132014201520162017Total*N*(%)*N*(%)*N*(%)*N*(%)*N*(%)*N(%)*Age (year) *≤ 22*218 (24.9%)266 (23.2%)313 (23.6%)313 (19.5%)301 (18.7%)1411 (21.5%) *\> 22*657 (75.1%)883 (76.8%)1016 (76.4%)1291 (80.5%)1310 (81.3%)5157 (78.5%)Martial status *Never married*716 (81.8%)1010 (87.90)1134 (85.3%)1312 (81.8%)1268 (78.7%)5440 (82.8%) *Married*118 (13.5%)86 (7.4%)137 (10.3%)198 (12.3%)207 (12.8%)745 (11.3%) *Other*41 (4.7%)54 (4.7%)58 (4.4%)94 (5.9%)136 (8.4%)383 (5.8%)Household register *Local*707 (81.0%)912 (79.4%)1092 (82.2%)1302 (81.2%)1252 (77.7%)5267 (80.2%) *Other city*166 (19.1%)237 (20.6%)237 (17.8%)302 (18.8%)359 (22.3%)1301 (19.8%)Nation *Han*847 (96.8%)1127 (98.1%)1306 (98.3%)1592 (99.3%)1594 (98.9%)6466 (98.4%) *Other*28 (3.2%)22 (1.9%)23 (1.7%)12 (0.7%)17 (1.1%)102 (1.6%)Time living in Chongqing *≤ 6 months*16 (1.8%)27 (2.3%)24 (1.8%)26 (1.6%)41 (2.5%)134 (2.0%) *7--12 months*14 (1.6%)14 (1.2%)16 (1.2%)14 (0.9%)14 (0.9%)72 (1.1%) *1--2 year*44 (5.0%)48 (4.2%)41 (3.1%)27 (1.7%)40 (2.5%)200 (3.0%) *\>2 years*801 (91.5%)1060 (92.3%)1248 (93.9%)1537 (95.8%)1516 (94.1%)6156 (93.8%)Level of education *Primary or below*12 (1.4%)13 (1.1%)10 (0.8%)16 (1.0%)12 (0.7%)63 (1.0%) *Junior school*60 (6.9%)50 (4.4%)72 (5.4%)111 (6.9%)111 (6.9%)404 (6.2%) *High school*175 (20.0%)234 (20.4%)270 (20.3%)367 (22.9%)333 (20.7%)1379 (21.0%) *University*628 (71.8%)852 (74.2%)977 (73.5%)1110 (69.2%)1155 (71.7%)4722 (71.9%)Sexual orientation *Homosexual*595 (68.0%)873 (76.0%)956 (71.9%)1337 (83.4%)1300 (80.7%)5061 (77.1%) *Bisexual*0 (0.00%)0 (0.00%)0 (0.00%)1 (0.1%)2 (0.1%)3 (0.1%) *Heterosexual*265 (30.3%)259 (22.5%)305 (22.9%)245 (15.3%)267 (16.6%)1341 (20.4%) *Unknown*15 (1.7%)17 (1.5%)68 (5.1%)21 (1.3%)42 (2.6%)163 (2.5%)Method of seeking same-sex partner *Physical place*875 (100%)178 (15.5%)101 (7.6%)190 (11.8%)309 (19.2%)1650 (25.2%) *Internet*0 (0.00%)971 (84.5%)1228 (92.4%)1414 (88.2%)1302 (80.8%)4915 (74.8%)HIV-related knowledge^3^ *≥ 7*772 (88.2%)1121 (97.6%)1268 (95.4%)1055 (65.8%)1367 (84.9%)5583 (85.0%) *\< 7*103 (11.8%)28 (2.4%)61 (4.60%)549 (34.2%)244 (15.1%)985 (15.0%)Note.^1^Five-year average HIV prevalence; ^2^ Five-year average HIV prevalence.^3^ Number of correct responses to knowledge items. Fig. 1Percentage of unique and repeated respondents from 2013 to 2017
Trends of HIV and syphilis prevalence {#Sec10}
-------------------------------------
A total of 1345 respondents were HIV positive (20.5%), and 374 respondents were syphilis positive (5.8%) based on laboratory testing. Significant linear trends of HIV and syphilis prevalence among MSM were found on a 5-year basis (*p* \< 0.05 and *p* \< 0.01). A total of 23.0, 21.5, 20.4, 19.8 and 19.2% of the respondents were confirmed to be infected with HIV over the 5-year study period, and the Cochran--Armitage trend test was significant (Z = 2.42, *p*\<0.05). A total of 3.2, 5.7, 5.3, 6.7 and 6.7% of respondents were confirmed to have syphilis infections over the 5-year study period, and the Cochran--Armitage trend test was also significant (Z = −.3.44, *p*\<0.001). Generally, HIV prevalence showed a downward trend from 2013 to 2017, whereas the syphilis prevalence fluctuated at 5--6%. The average prevalence of HIV was 20.5 and 20.9% in the local and non-local groups, respectively, whereas the average prevalence of syphilis was 5.4 and 7.3% in both subgroups. The line chart is presented in Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}. Fig. 2Percent of HIV and syphilis prevalence by study round and household. Red circle (A): Overall HIV prevalence;Orange square (B): Overall Syphilis prevalence; dark green triangle (C): HIV prevalence in locals; emerald green (D): HIV prevalence in non-locals; sky blue diamond: Syphilis prevalence in locals; purple circle: syphilis prevalence in non-locals
The change in behavioural characteristics among MSM {#Sec11}
---------------------------------------------------
Approximately 89.3% of locals and 87.8% of the floating population admitted that they had homosexual anal sex in the previous **6** months. This proportion changed little, and a significant trend was not found from 2013 to 2017 (*P* for trend: 0.64 and 0.10). Approximately 31.9% of the locals and 30.7% of the floating population had more than two regular male partners, and this proportion decreased among the locals (65.9% in 2013 to 21.0% in 2017), as well as in the floating population (66.4% in 2013 to 22.9% in 2017). (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.51--0.56 among the locals; AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.51--0.62 in the floating population). Similarly, the number of casual male partners significantly declined among the locals (38.4% in 2013 to 20.0% in 2017) and the floating population (37.8% in 2013 to 23.2% in 2017) (AOR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.71--0.85 among the locals; AOR = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.75--0.83 in the floating population).
The proportion of CCU during anal intercourse increased among the locals (47.7% in 2013 to 57.2% in 2017) and in the floating populations (39.9% in 2013 to 59.0% in 2017) (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.08--1.17 among the locals; AOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.19--1.42 in the floating population). In addition, approximately 55.5% of the participants admitted to CCU with regular partners, ranging from 47.7% (in 2013) to 59.7% (in 2017), and this proportion significantly increased in both groups (AOR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.10--1.20 among the locals; AOR = 1.26, 95%CI = 1.15--1.38 in the floating population). For CCU with casual partners, this proportion also significantly increased from 2013 to 2017 (AOR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01--1.14 among the locals;AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.16--1.46 in the floating population). However, the proportion of CCU during commercial sexual intercourse was significant only in the locals, with a continuous increase (AOR = 0.59, 95%CI = 0.40--0.87). Few respondents had experiences with drugs, and this change was found among the locals (AOR =1.28, 95% CI = 1.05--1.54)(See Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}**).**
HIV-related behaviour, knowledge, and service {#Sec12}
---------------------------------------------
Homosexual anal intercourse was positively associated with HIV infection in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (*P*\<0.001). Having multiple regular male partners was positively associated with HIV infection in 2017 (*P*\<0.05). Meanwhile, having multiple casual male partners was potential risk factors for HIV infection in 2016 (*P*\<0.05) and 2017 (*P*\<0.001). CCU during anal intercourse, CCU with casual partners and CCU with regular partners were negatively associated with HIV infection from 2013 to 2017 (*P*\<0.001), and CCU with females was negatively associated with HIV infection in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Syphilis infection was higher in the HIV-positive group than in the HIV-negative group during the 5-year study period (*P*\<0.001). Drug use during anal sex was connected with the HIV-positive group from 2014 to 2017 (*P*\<0.001). In addition, testing for the HIV antibody in the past year was considered a significant protective factor from 2013 to 2017 (*P*\<0.001), and people having eligible HIV knowledge had lower HIV infection over the 5-year study period except in 2014 (*P*\<0.001)(See Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"}). Table 2The sexual behavioural characteristics of MSM in Chongqing, 2013--2017. Table 3The change in HIV-related behaviour, knowledge and service from 2013 to 2017 in MSM, grouped by HIV statusVariable20132014201520162017Having homosexual anal intercourse (P6M) Positive^1^95.5%^\*\*\*^(192/201)93.1%^\*\*\*^(230/247)94.8%^\*\*\*^(256/270)90.60%(288/318)88.70%(274/309) Negative^2^88.40%(596/674)86.40%(779/902)86.70% (919/1059)89.40%(1150/1286)89.30%(1163/1302)The number of regular male partners (P6M) (≥2) Positive63.5%(122/192)65.2%(150/230)65.6%(168/256)31.9%(92/288)26.3%\*(72/274) Negative66.8%(398/596)69.7%(543/779)70.4%(647/919)28.5%(328/1150)20.3%(236/1163)The number of casual male partners (P6M) (≥2) Positive36.6%(218/596)39.6%(91/230)34.8%(89/256)31.30%\*(90/288)29.9%\*\*\*(82/274) Negative43.8%(84/192)37.1%(289/779)32.0%(294/919)25.30%(291/1150)18.60%(216/1163)Consistent used condom during homosexual anal intercourse (P6M) Positive24.0%\*\*\*(319/596)31.1%\*\*\*(72/230)23.8%\*\*\*(61/256)28.5%\*\*\*(82/288)28.1%\*\*\*(77/274) Negative53.5%(46/192)51.5%(401/779)56.1%(515/919)65.2%(750/1150)64.7%(752/1163)Consistent used condom with regular male partners (P6M) Positive26.6%\*\*\*(45/169)33.9%\*\*\*(64/189)30.3%\*\*\*(69/228)32.3%\*\*\*80/248()30.3%\*\*\*(70/231) Negative54.5%(282/518)51.7%(356/688)58.2%(484/832)66.2%(689/1041)66.3%(685/1033)Consistent used condom with casual male partners (P6M) Positive26.1%\*\*\*(29/111)30.6%\*\*\*(38/124)31.7%\*\*\*(44/139)31.9%\*\*\*(46/144)34.3%\*\*\*(49/143) Negative61.1%(180/295)61.5%(243/395)61.9%(283/457)69.0%(345/500)69.9%(416/668)Consistent used condom during commercial sexual behaviour (P6M) Positive66.7%(8/12)41.7%(5/12)50.0%(2/4)25.0%(1/4)25.0%(1/4) Negative80.0%(4/5)83.3%(5/6)62.5%(5/8)53.8%(7/13)60.0%(15/25)Consistent used condom with female partner(P6M) Positive28.0%(7/25)42.1%(8/19)18.8%\*(3/16)17.1%\*\*(7/41)27.3%\*\*(9/33) Negative37.6%(23/85)37.3%(25/67)48.4%(46/95)37.1%(53/143)49.0%(75/153)Drug use during anal intercourse (P6M) (Yes) Positive0.0%(0/201)3.2%\*\*\*(8/247)4.4%\*\*\*(12/270)3.5%\*\*\*(11/318)4.9%\*\*\*(12/309) Negative0.4%(3/674)0.6%(5/902)0.6%(6/1059)1.1%(14/1286)0.5%(7/1302)Syphilis infection Positive8.5%\*\*\*(17/201)13.0%\*\*\*(32/247)12.2%\*\*\*(33/270)16.0%\*\*\*(51/318)21.8%\*\*\*(63/289) Negative1.6%(11/674)3.8%(34/902)3.6%(38/1059)4.4%(56/1286)3.2%(39/1238)Testing for HIV-antibody(P12M) Positive58.3%\*\*\*(112/192)62.6%\*\*\*(144/230)66.0%\*\*\*(169/256)67.7%\*\*\*(195/288)56.6%\*\*\*(155/274) Negative71.5%(426/596)74.5%(580/779)81.8%(752/919)82.3%(946/1150)79.6%(926/1163)Eligible HIV knowledge Positive82.1%\*\*\*(165/201)96.4%(238/247)90.7%\*\*\*(245/270)57.9%\*\*\*(184/318)77.7%\*\*\*(240/309) Negative90.2%(607/674)97.9%(883/902)96.6%(1023/1059)67.7%(871/1286)86.6%(1127/1302)Note. ^1^HIV-positive, ^2.^HIV-negative, ^\*^*p*\<0.05, \*\**p*\<0.01, ^\*\*\*^*p*\<0.001.
Discussion {#Sec13}
==========
The MSM group is a high-risk population that is of great concern in HIV/AIDS pandemic research. In this study, we examined the prevalence trends of HIV and syphilis from 2013 to 2017 among MSM in Chongqing, and changes in sexual behaviour characteristics were assessed between the local and floating population groups. Finally, we compared the compositions of HIV-related factors between the HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups over the 5-year study period. The results extend the reliability and the validity of this study by utilising a 5-year cross-sectional design. Our results showed that HIV decreased and had a high prevalence from 2013 to 2017 among MSM, but the prevalence of syphilis was lower and it increased. In the subgroup analysis, the composition of multiple sexual partners constantly decreased, and the proportion of CCU showed a growing trend. .
The overall HIV prevalence decreased from 23.0% in 2013 to 19.2% in 2017, but this rate was higher than that in the general population (0.09%) and general MSM group in China (8%) \[[@CR6], [@CR15]\]. The prevalence of HIV among MSM in Chongqing is significantly higher than that reported in many previous works in China. For example, previous studies were conducted in several metropolis in China. These studies reported an average infection rate of 9.5% in Harbin, 9.1% in Chengdu, 7.8% in Shanghai, 7.8% in Beijing and 14.5% in Guangzhou \[[@CR17]--[@CR19], [@CR30], [@CR31]\]. Moreover, nine consecutive cross-sectional surveys among MSM were conducted from 2008---2016 in Beijing, with increasing pooled HIV prevalence ranging from 5.0 to 10.2% \[[@CR32]\]. Internationally, the overall HIV prevalence in cisgender (non-transgender) MSM was 14.0% in eight African countries recruiting 4586 participants \[[@CR33]\]. Although the HIV prevalence among MSM is high in Chongqing, a significant declining trend was detected over 5-year study period, with a decreasing prevalence of 10% among MSM since 2013. Notably, the higher prevalence reported in the current study may be connected with the sampling strategy of convenient sampling. Previous large studies also adopted snowball sampling to investigate behavioural characteristics among MSM \[[@CR19], [@CR30], [@CR31]\]. However, some shortcoming are inevitably encountered in such research. For example, snowball sampling is a strategy of one-way incentive, which decreases the efficiency of recruitment \[[@CR34]\]. In contrast, respondent driven sampling (RDS) is a strategy of two-way incentive, which enrolls participants from long recruitment 'chains', decreasing the proportion of rejection in the process of enrollment and revealing more authentic population characteristics in HIV most-at-risk population \[[@CR35]\]. In summary, extended prevention, proactive policies and an effective sampling strategy are important in curbing the HIV epidemic. Syphilis prevalence among MSM showed a moderately rising level from 2013 (3.1%) to 2017 (6.7%). Paradoxically, a previous literature study enrolling 171,311 MSM reported that overall syphilis and HCV prevalence showed a decreasing trend (syphilis: from 9.1% in 2009 to 6.3% in 2013) across 30 provinces in China \[[@CR36]\].
In the present work, the percentage of participants with two or more regular/casual partners showed a dramatic decline from 2013 to 2017, and multiple sexual partners were associated with a higher HIV-infection risk. Similar results were found in previous studies, suggesting that having multiple partners among MSM results in higher odds of STD infection and low CCU than the general population \[[@CR30], [@CR37]--[@CR39]\]. Several reasons may be proposed to explain this finding. Regular male partners are considered intimate relationships that are distinguished from commercial sex workers. In this relationship, most MSM examine the image of loyalty and trust more than self-protection. Hence, it is far more difficult to persuade partners to use condoms during intercourse, and the consistent use of condoms may be regarded as mistrust of the lover \[[@CR24]\]. In western China, approximately 62% of MSM respondents reported having anal sex with three or more partners, and the proportion of CCU was low for regular (15.8%) and casual (16.3%) partners, respectively \[[@CR40]\]. Moreover, smartphones and the Internet provide convenient ways for young people to seek casual partners (e.g. ZANK, Jack'd and Blue); Blued is a large platform of MSM communication with \> 30 million registered users \[[@CR41]\]. In addition, male partners may play a 'bridge' or 'amplifier' role in STI transmission among MSM \[[@CR42], [@CR43]\]. In light of the high overall HIV prevalence in Chongqing, multiple sexual partners can increase the odds of HIV infection among MSM.As the new generation ('Millennials') is intent on individual expression and is not interested in listening to stereotyped propaganda and traditional ideas, there is a very urgent need for the government to innovate prevention and management means for these groups.
Interestingly, our result are inconsistent with those of previous studies reported the trend of multiple sexual partners among MSM in China. For example, the 2005--2011 surveillance results showed that the percentage of MSM who had multiple homosexual sexual partners over 6 months increased from 68.0% in 2008 to 85.4% in 2011 \[[@CR13], [@CR44]\]. In addition, MSM was not only associated with high-risk behaviours but also with high migration rates, which can increase the number of casual sexual partners \[[@CR45]\]. In the present study, multiple sexual partners were negatively associated with years for the floating populations along with downward HIV prevalence. This result suggests that floating populations can be key groups to look into in further research. The Chongqing CDC has been supported by The Global Fund AIDS Project and Bill Gates AIDS Project since 2006, which has improved the HIV surveillance network, strengthened STI testing and behavioural intervention, and promoted social support for high-risk groups such as prostitutes, MSM, drug addicts and floating population.
Corresponding to previous results, the proportion of CCU in this study increased trend with regular, casual partners and anal intercourse behaviour. In a previous research, CCU with partners had a lower proportion among MSM; however, sex workers among MSM accounted for nearly 50% with CCU \[[@CR7]\]. In the present study, we also found a relatively lower percentage of condom use with regular (overall: 47.7% in 2013 to 59.7% in 2017) and casual (overall: 51.5% in 2013 to 62.3% in 2017) partners, but this phenomenon was better than that in the past (*P* for trend: \<0.001). In addition, this proportion was lower than that in reports in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and higher than that in Beijing and Harbin \[[@CR19], [@CR31], [@CR32], [@CR46]\]. Anal intercourse is radical intercourse, which increases the risk of rectal rupture and HIV/STI infection. A study conducted in three central Asian countries, namely, Kyragyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, and revealed that low-income status, debt, homelessness and limited access to medical care can be potential risk factors for URAI among external migrants \[[@CR47]\]. These background factors indicate that floating populations may have great odds of high-risk sexual acts, such as receptive anal intercourse without condom use. Although MSMs are inclined to use condoms when they are at self-perceived risk \[[@CR36]\], there were few significant changes in consistent used condom with sex workers and females in the MSM group. One possible explanation for this insignificant association is that homosexuals were the overall majority and could have weaken heterosexual effects. The second potential explanation is that seeking a male partner has become easy through physical places and the Internet, it has decrease commercial sex behaviour incidences. The third possible explanation is that the homosexual culture is prevailing among the younger group, and the social reception of this behaviour has gradually improved.
Considering the aforementioned issue, social media intervention has been used to promote social support and strengthen community connection among MSM \[[@CR48], [@CR49]\]. A longitudinal study suggests that social media interventions can enhance HIV services among MSM in China, with participating online local community contests to promote HIV testing \[[@CR50]\]. In 2010, Chongqing CDC and relevant NGOs committed to construct network platforms by utilising WeChat and websites to spread knowledge and skills about HIV/AIDS prevention. Previous studies also indicated that MSMs who had URAI were willing to accept consultation and antibody testing because they had a high-risk perception \[[@CR51]\].
Drug use only significantly increased among MSM during the study period. Drug use through injection is a major mode of STI transmission in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In China, this problem was found in Yunnan Province where the first Chinese HIV sub-type was confirmed. A previous study reported that Jiulongpo and Yuzhong districts had high illicit drug use, with 5.8 and 9.4% in Chongqing, respectively, and the highest HIV prevalence was found in these districts, with 9.4 and 15.1%, respectively \[[@CR52]\]. However, the drug issue is more sensitive, involving related law and ethics, and requires multi-sectoral cooperation in the future.
This study is subject to the same limitations as the others. First, the current work was a cross-sectional study and did not illustrate the causal relationship. Second, the questionnaire was answered on the basis of subjective reports and recruited respondents by snowball sampling, which may result in information bias and selective biases. Third, because MSM and HIV/AIDS are sensitive issues, some relative items were easily missed, and some respondents dropped out during the study. Fourth, only one province (Chongqing) was selected to examine the status of MSM, ignoring other southwestern Chinese provinces, such as Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan.
Conclusions {#Sec14}
===========
The overall HIV prevalence among MSM steadily decreased over the past 5 years in Chongqing, while the pooled syphilis prevalence among MSM slightly increased during the same study period. These finding may be important predictors of HIV prevention that the proportion of participants with multiple male partners decreased and the percentage of consistent condom use increased. Moreover, eligible knowledge and testing for HIV antibody in the past year are both protective factors among MSM for HIV prevention. Syphilis infection and drug consumption are drivers of high HIV/STI prevalence. Understanding the change in the behavioural characteristics over years is a potential target for effective interventions aimed at combating the high HIV burden among MSM in China.
Supplementary information
=========================
{#Sec15}
**Additional file 1.** The questionnaire for men sex with men: This structured questionnaire includes socio-demographic data and characteristics of sexual behaviors among MSM.
CCU
: Consistent condom use
ELISA
: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
HIV
: Human immunodeficiency virus
MSM
: Men who have sex with men
RDS
: Respondent driven sampling
STIs
: Sexually transmitted infections
UIAI
: Unprotected insertive anal intercourse
URAI
: Unprotected receptive anal intercourse
VCT
: Voluntary counselling and testing
WB
: Western blot
**Publisher's Note**
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Yangchang Zhang and Guohui Wu contributed equally to this work.
Supplementary information
=========================
**Supplementary information** accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s12889-019-7730-0.
The authors express their thanks to the individuals who volunteered to participate in this study and Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, China for their contributions to the project. We also grateful to Manoj Sharma of Jackson State University for assistance in manuscript language polishing, Ruiyi Liu of Peking Union Medical college and Chen Li of Peaking University in data analysis.
YZ and GW drafted and revised the manuscript. HZ, LH and JX,analysed the data and interpreted the data. RL and WX supervised the implementation of the study and revamped the manuscript. XY and QY conceptualised the study and review the manuscript. MY conceptualised and designed the study, edited, revised and critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript, and ensure that this is the case.
This research was funded by Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau of the People\'s Republic of China (grant number: cstc2017jcyjAX0185) and The Medical Research Project of Chongqing Health and Family Planning Commission (grant number: 2017ZDXM001).The funding provided assistance in the questionnaire collection process, rewards for participants and preparation for manuscript.
The data that support the findings of this study are available from Chongqing CDC but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of Chongqing CDC.
This study was reviewed and approved by the medical ethics committee of Chongqing Medical University (IRB number:2017016). Written and oral informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their enrollment in this study.
Not application.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Q:
Populating a Value List in one Parameter, from Values Derived from a Second Parameter, Python
Using the Validator in the ArcGIS 10.1 tool GUI, can I loop through and List feature classes from a workspace type parameter (ie a file geodatabase) and then go on and list the values of a field in a feature class from that list? I'm trying to do this:
if self.params[0].value and arcpy.Exists(self.params[0].value):
for fc in arcpy.ListFeatureClasses(self.params[0].value):
if fc == "TestFC":
value_set = set(row.getValue("SITE")
for row in arcpy.SearchCursor(str(self.params[0].value)))
self.params[1].filter.list = sorted(value_set)
where param[0] is a workspace type parameter where the user chooses a geodatabase. param[1] will be a string type parameter set as a value list. I want to read in a setted value list from all the values in the 'SITE' field so the user can choose which site the tool will further process on.
Maybe in other words:
User opens tool
User chooses a file geodatabase as the first parameter
User will then choose a SITE from the list derived from the first parameters testfc feature class, 'SITE' field
A:
This should be possible but your usage of ListFeatureClasses and SearchCursor is incorrect:
ListFeatureClasses requires you to set arcpy.env.workspace first. Its arguments are optional, but the first is a wildcard, not a workspace.
SearchCursor's first argument is a table or feature class, not a workspace.
That being said, I wouldn't really recommend using tool validation for this if you can avoid it. It will be slow, and really doesn't add much value compared to simply exposing a SQL Expression parameter obtained from another parameter (this doesn't require any tool validation code). See How to populate SQL options for parameter in ArcGIS 10 tool?
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President Trump’s pick for drug czar, Rep. Tom Marino, has withdrawn from consideration following allegations he helped water down legislation and weaken the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ability to go after big drug distributors.
Trump tweeted Tuesday, “Rep. Tom Marino has informed me that he is withdrawing his name from consideration as drug czar. Tom is a fine man and a great Congressman!”
Democrats and at least one Republican had pressed the president on Monday to pull Marino’s nomination following a weekend Washington Post/”60 Minutes” report on the drug legislation.
Amid the firestorm, Trump had seemed to leave Marino dangling during his Monday press conference alongside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., at the White House.
“He was a very early supporter of mine. … He's a great guy,” Trump said of Marino, before adding, “We're going to look into the report. We're going to take it very seriously. … We're going to be looking into Tom.”
At the same time, Trump said he would declare a national emergency next week on the opioid epidemic that has spread across the United States.
Soon after Trump’s Tuesday tweet, Vice President Mike Pence told WMAL radio that the administration thinks “very highly of Congressman Marino and respect (sic) his decision to withdraw.”
In a Tuesday morning interview on Fox News Radio with host Brian Kilmeade, the president called Marino a “fine man,” and explained his decision to withdraw from consideration for czar.
“He was very gracious,” Trump said. “He didn’t want to even have the perception of a conflict of interest with drug companies or insurance companies.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said nominating the Pennsylvania Republican for drug czar is “like putting the wolf in charge of the henhouse.”
Schumer said Americans deserved an advocate who is “totally committed to fighting the opioid crisis, not someone who’s labored on behalf of the drug industry.”
The Post reported Sunday that Marino and other members of Congress, along with the nation's major drug distributors, prevailed upon the DEA and the Justice Department to agree to an industry-friendly law that undermined efforts to restrict the flow of pain pills that have led to tens of thousands of deaths. President Barack Obama signed the law in April 2016.
The industry worked behind the scenes with lobbyists and key members of Congress, including Marino, pouring more than a million dollars into their election campaigns, the newspaper reported.
“I’m proud of my work on the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016, which passed with unanimous consent in the House and Senate, unopposed by the DEA and was signed into law by President Obama. This landmark legislation will help to facilitate a balanced solution for ensuring those who genuinely needed access to certain medications were able to do so, while also empowering the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to enforce the law and prevent the sale and abuse of prescription drugs,” Marino responded late Tuesday.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the bill's lead Senate sponsor, defended the measure Monday, calling allegations that he or Marino "conspired" with drug companies "utterly ridiculous." Hatch, a 40-year veteran of the Senate, said he was "no patsy" of the drug industry.
The language affecting DEA enforcement authority was suggested by DEA and the Justice Department, Hatch said, adding that the agencies could have tried to stop the bill at any time -- or recommended that Obama veto the measure.
"Let's not pretend that DEA, both houses of Congress and the Obama White House all somehow wilted under Representative Marino's nefarious influences," Hatch said.
West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin, whose state has been among the hardest hit by the opioid crisis that has killed tens of thousands of Americans and has seen millions more addicted to deadly painkillers, demanded Trump withdraw Marino’s nomination.
Manchin, who has his own ties to big pharma, said the legislation Marino helped pass through Congress had effectively defanged the DEA’s ability to do its job.
Before the announcement that Marino was stepping aside, Manchin had gone on CNN’s “New Day” and said Marino would become the Trump administration’s drug czar “over my dead body” and said “adjustments will be made.”
Following the announcement, Manchin called Marino’s move to withdraw the “right decision,” but added that “the fact that he was nominated in the first place is further evidence that when it comes to the opioid crisis, the Trump administration talks the talk, but refuses to walk the walk.”
“The opioid crisis demands that the next drug czar is solely focused on getting communities across the country the help they desperately need. I hope the Trump administration nominates someone that fits the bill.”
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said she will introduce legislation to repeal the 2016 law. She also called Tuesday's announcement "the right decision" and said she looks "forward to the administration nominating a leader that can aggressively bring to bear every tool the government has to confront what is unquestionably a national public health crisis."
His nomination had been pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but no actual date had been set for his confirmation hearing. Trump nominated Marino last month.
Fox News' Elizabeth Llorente and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ivanka Trump, daughter and assistant to President Trump, said that she tries "to stay out of politics," in an interview with "Fox & Friends" Monday morning.
Asked by Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt what she advises her father regarding his tweeting, Ivanka Trump responded, "I try to stay out of politics," but she added, "His political instincts are phenomenal."
Ms. Trump said that she feels "blessed just being part of the ride from day one and before," and also said, "I leave the politics to other people."
Ms. Trump, who has had a formal role in her father's administration since March, said she and her father don't always share the same opinion.The businesswoman and former fashion model told Fox News, "There are areas where there is disagreement" between her and her father, but she did not elaborate on what those areas are. As she has asserted in the past, Ms. Trump reiterated that she's blunt in her conversations with Mr. Trump. "He trusts me to be very candid with my opinion," she said. "I don't have a hidden agenda. I make it very clear where I stand on an issue."
She had no criticism for the way her father's administration, saying that although she's "slightly biased," she'd give her father an "A" on his presidency so far.
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The Evil Chicken is an insane, cannibalistic, and evil Rooster. He is a former random event, and can still be encountered at random intervals in almost any location where chickens are found.
When he appears, he encourages the chickens to revolt against their human captors. After a few minutes he teleports to a different area. When players attempt to talk to him, he will shout "Begone from me" and repel the player with a magical blast which deals 1 life point of damage.
Contents
Personality
The Evil Chicken is a megalomaniac and filled with a deep seated hatred for his fellow chickens and especially humans, his former captors. He also appears to be insane, given the many contradicting motivations he claims to have. In one case, he claims that the primary motivation for becoming evil and powerful was his hatred of chicken feed. He instead prefers roasted chicken, which he claims keeps his feathers shiny and clean.[1] Later, he claims that his motivation for becoming evil was to avenge all the chickens killed by adventurers, despite apparently killing and eating them himself.[2]
History
Origins
The Evil Chicken's origins are unclear, although it is known that he is 36 years old, meaning he was born in either year 133 or 134 of the Fifth Age[3]. One theory as to his origin, presented in the Book on chickens, states that the Evil Chicken started out as a chicken of above-average intelligence. He became aware that he and his brethren were prisoners of the humans and then organised the chickens and rebelled against their captors; however, all the chickens were slaughtered with ease. The chicken blamed his kin on the coup's failure and swore revenge on all chickens and humans. A differing account was presented by a chicken in the Postbag from the Hedge, who described the Evil Chicken as tormented and isolated in his pen and desperate to escape. He trained himself using logs as dummies and one day He hopped over the gate to freedom.[4]
Another theory, also from the Book on chickens, says that he was created in the Second Age by a mage who was attempting to summon a demon and bind it to his will. The mage's spell failed and instead of a demon, he summoned a chicken. The mage grew angry at his failure and banished the chicken to the Abyss. The chicken managed to survive and grew in power. Years later, the same mage attempted to summon another creature, but instead the chicken appeared again. The legend does not say what happened to the mage, but it strongly implied that the Evil Chicken killed him out of revenge. As the Evil Chicken is only 36 years old, this is likely just a legend.
The Evil Chicken's various letters in Postbag from the Hedge seem to support that he was an ordinary chicken that grew tired of his captivity and escaped. He never mentions a failed rebellion, though as previously stated he often encourages chickens to rebel. He appears to have been born with no powers besides his intelligence, since he had to learn magic in evening classes.[5]
After heading through Zanaris, the adventurer enters the Evil Chicken's lair through a small chicken shrine by making an offering of Raw Chicken to him, and inside, after passing some Black dragons that the chicken had enlisted to protect him, they encounter the Evil Chicken nesting in his lair. A fight between the two quickly ensues, with the chicken shouting various insults at the adventurer during it. The adventurer ultimately proves victorious however, and they are able to take the egg and free Sir Amik from the Culinaromancer's control.
A Fowl Easter
In the 2012 Easter Event, he competes with the Chocatrice to see who can destroy the most Easter eggs. he claims to be filling in for the Easter Bunny after he fell into a volcano, although the Chocatrice claims that the Easter Bunny fell down White Wolf Mountain.
If you asked the Evil Chicken who had the leading of the competition and his team had less eggs found than the chocatrice's team, your character would answer "Awww...". If he is winning, then he will say "We are in the lead, comrade. Nothing can stop us."
In combat
The Evil Chicken, fighting an adventurer in his lair.
The Evil Chicken serves as the boss of the Freeing Sir Amik Varze section of Recipe for Disaster, as players have to kill him for his egg. During the quest, he is found in his nest in the northern section of the lair, in an area safe from the black dragons that protect him. Like all chickens, he counts for Bird slayer assignments.
The Evil Chicken is a fairly tough foe to defeat, having a combat level of 77, and attacking with fairly powerful magical attacks. Unlike other enemies, his life points can vary, being either 4125 or 8250, seemingly based on your combat level. During the fight, he shouts various phrases at you, although these seem to have no actual effect on the fight. Using Protect from Magic or Deflect Magic may be advisable, as they will negate half of the damage his magic attacks deal, leading to an easier fight.
Although he can not be found in his lair after the quest, he can be fought again in the Dominion Tower with the exact same abilities, provided that you meet the tower's requirements.
As a Random Event
The Evil Chicken attacking before the update
Before the update which altered random events on 25 February2009, the Evil Chicken used to appear before a player at random times, no matter where they were, even under water (in which case he would appear wearing a diving helmet). He immediately began attacking them, using a magic based attack which was low-hitting but extremely accurate and rapid. This made him very dangerous for players who were low on life points or inattentive. Players were forced to either fight and kill the chicken or run away from it.
The Evil Chicken attacking a player.
The Evil Chicken could not be attacked by anyone besides the player to whom he appeared. If the player took too long to kill him, or if they were in range but not attackable (such as if they were in a different room), the Evil Chicken would get bored and leave. The chicken could not move from the spot in which he appeared, so if a player stepped on top of him, instead of moving to the side as other monsters would, he would shout "Get off of me!" and use a special attack which would push the player aside.
The Evil Chicken's combat stats varied depending on the player's combat level. There was also a discrepancy between the max hit as reported by Monster Examine and the actual max hit. The reason for this is unknown, and it was never fixed.
Player level
Evil Chicken level
Life points
Real Max hit
Monster Examine max hit
3-10
19
190
10
30
11-20
38
400
10
50
21-40
69
600
20
100
41-60
81
800
30
100
61-90
121
1050
40
150
91+
159
1200
50
210
Phrases
BWUK bwuuuk!
When players fight the Evil Chicken, he yells the following phrases while attacking:
"Bwuk"
"Bwuk bwuk bwuk"
"How dare you invade my lair?"
"Flee from me, [player's name]!"
"Begone, [player's name]!"
"Bwaaaauuuuk bwuk bwuk"
"MUAHAHAHAHAAA!"
When he appeared underwater as a Random Event, the phrases were different:
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Could ‘THE BATMAN’ Hit Theaters in 2021?
News is really beginning to circulate for The Batman, the film that originally has many fans doubting if it may even still happen. But, it is, and we may even be getting it sooner than originally projected. Production for the Matt Reeves’ movie is expected to begin in November, though; Bruce Wayne has not yet been cast.
According to Forbes, we could potentially see The Batman hit theaters around spring or summer of 2021, even though in the article; it does also say we could be looking at 2022. But, if everything works out the way it is supposed to, 2021 would be the ideal time.
“I suspect The Batman will hit theaters in the summer of 2021, rather than being held all the way until 2022,” writes Forbes, “However, it’s not outside the realm of possibility yet that a combination of unexpected delays in production start-date, ongoing considerations about the broader plan for production and release of other DC movies, and availability of preferred release dates could hypothetically combine to convince Warner a 2022 release is in the best interests of the film, the studio, and other films on the release schedule. But again, my expectation is a release in summer 2021 or maybe spring 2021.”
There is not any plot details, nor a cast; but people have still been expected for this project and it has caused a lot of debate as to whether or not Ben Affleck should be kept on, although; Matt Reeves is looking for someone younger to play the part. Are you looking forward to The Batman? Let us know!
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In Vladivostok, a truck crane rushing downhill with failed brakes, completely lost control, flew into the oncoming car and ran out onto an elevated curb, breaking several trees and squeezing a car badly.The incident occurred on the descent to Borisenko Street on Tuesday afternoon, April 14th. According to VL.RU , there was a girl driving a car who did not suffer as a result of an accident.
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Like most websites Channel 4 uses cookies. In order to deliver a personalised, responsive service and to improve the site, we remember and store information about how you use it. This is done using simple text files called cookies which sit on your computer. These cookies are completely safe and secure and will never contain any sensitive information. They are used only by Channel 4 or the trusted partners we work with. How to manage cookies
In order to deliver an optimised service, Channel 4 uses cookies. These are simple text files which sit on your computer, and are only used by us and our trusted partners. To find out about managing cookies, please see our Cookies Policy.
Malala Yousafzai: Survival 'a miracle', says father
The father of the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban describes the attack as a "turning point for Pakistan" and says his daughter will "rise again".
Please wait while this video loads. If it doesn't load after a few seconds you may need to have Adobe Flash installed.
Ziauddin Yousafzai was speaking after visiting his daughter for the first time at a Birmingam hospital, together with Malala's mother, Toorpekai Yousufzai, and their two other children, eight-year-old Atal Khan, and Khushal Khan, 12.
The 15-year-old was flown to Birmingham for treatment after the attack in the Swat Valley on 9 October which left a bullet lodged in her neck.
'Right treatment'
"She got the right treatment, at the right place, at the right time," Mr Yousafzai said. She is recovering at an encouraging speed and we are very happy. It is a miracle."
'Like father, like daughter'
Malala's father has thanked medical staff and supporters from around the world for their part in his daughter's recovery, writes Ciaran Jenkins, from Birmingham.
Ziauddin Yousafzai walked into the press conference with his son at his side. They sat down next to the hospital's medical director, the world's media staring back at them.
Ziauddin whispered a reassuring word to his son, which prompted a broad grin.
He spoke in detail about the attack on his daughter, and what he called the "miracle" of her recovery.He was only briefly overwhelmed, recalling the moment soon after the shooting he instructed his brother-in-law to prepare for Malala's funeral.
But he was soon laughing again.
He had brought Malala's schoolbooks, he said, on her request.
She's already making plans to sit her exams when she returns to Pakistan.
Not even a bullet to the brain could stop her. "Like father, like daughter," Ziauddin said.
Please wait while this video loads. If it doesn't load after a few seconds you may need to have Adobe Flash installed.
'Turning point' for Pakistan
He described her shooting - which came after she campaigned for women's education in Pakistan - as a "turning point" for the country.
"When she fell, Pakistan stood. This is a turning point. In Pakistan, for the first time, all political parties, Urdus, Christians, Sikhs, all religions prayed for my daughter."
When she fell, Pakistan stood. This is a turning point.- Ziauddin Yousafzai
Mr Yousufzai thanked members of the public around the world who had showed support for his daughter and her cause for "peace and education".
He also thanked the Pakistani and British governments for their help and support.
Doctors at Queen Elizabeth hospital say Malala is responding well to treatment.
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Monday, September 15, 2014
I need to rant so it is not appropriate for Facebook: I am so upset that most of the things I read and hear is about the necessary to destroy others with war and allow them to kill us. The Quakers and Unity are the only people who are saying that wars do not solve problems.Another thing, if someone was making a video about how he was going to behead me, I would not stand there quietly on my knees with no fight, I would be rolling, kicking, etc. and not sitting there quietly saying that I was willing to be sacrificed to further their cause. Why do they go so quietly? I guess that I do not understand the human race. I have been listening and reading, mostly about cancer healing. some of the people that I listen to are persons who have overcome an episode of cancer or other chronic disorder. As I read some of the information, vegans were very anxious to tell us about the China Study; wonder if it would say the same thing if they were trying to make a native of Alaska or Africa vegan. I just don't like for people to take a study done in 1983, that does have some good stuff, and make it the treatment of all people; just not reasonable when you take it apart. I have gained a lot of new info to expand my knowledge about. One of the products is Haelan, I am in the midst of my investigation of the product and some of the other modalities that have been discussed on the papers/books I have read and the webinars I listened to this past couple of weeks.I listen and read as I do my oral coconut oil pull, do my MMS mouth wash and consume my MMS and lay on my infrared biomat. I am also doing my exercises outdoors in the sun, barefoot and leaning to meditate more effectively. And all the other stuff that I know to do.... Of course, the number one thing that I do is Love my animals and people.. I am so grateful for having the opportunity to do these things and I live in an attitude of gratitude and forgiveness.
About Me
I have dedicated my life to Natural Health and wellness and for the past 5 years I have been rescueing animals. I have a real passion for both. Since I was born in 1934 I have decided that animals are much more trustworthy than people.I am an author.and have published 4 books. I teach wellness and am a life coach.
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Protocol
========
Anatomical features of the horseshoe crab relevant to bleeding (Fig. 1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
**Figure 1**
1. The three major divisions of the body, from anterior to posterior, are the prosoma (P), the opisthosoma (O) , and the telson (T) ^1^.
2. The anterior and lateral free margins of the prosoma is the flange.
3. The posterior-most indentation of the opisthosoma, where the telson articulates, is the terminal bay.
4. The joint where the prosoma and the opisthosoma articulate is the hinge (H).
5. The heart is located along the dorsal midline, just beneath the carapace of prostoma and opisthosoma^2^(Fig. 2).**Figure 2**
General considerations, sterility and protection from exposure to lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The major enemy of the successful bleed is cell clumping, exocytosis, and formation of the coagulin clot. Cell aggregation and exocytosis are stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (a.k.a., endotoxin, LPS), a product of the Gram-negative bacteria. The threshold concentration of LPS for exocytosis for washed cells is 0.1 - 1 mg/mL but cells suspended in plasma are activated by significantly lower concentrations ^3^. Endotoxin is not inactivated by simple autoclaving and can be assumed to be present on surfaces and in solutions and reagents that are not certified to be endotoxin-free.
2. To reduce the chances of clotting during collection of blood, select only perfect, undamaged animals for bleeding. Pre-chill the animals 1-2 h in the 4°C room. Practice sterile technique. Avoid contamination with endotoxin.
3. LPS-free 3% saline is used in clinical medicine and can be purchased from medical suppliers (see table of specialized reagents and supplies). LPS can be removed from glassware and metal by incubation at 180°C for 4 hours. Sterile single-use syringe needles, Petri-style culture dishes, and screw-cap centrifuge tubes are all LPS-free and can be used without modification so long as proper sterile technique is practiced.
4. The stability of the blood cells of different animals differs, with the cells of some individual animals undergoing spontaneous degranulation, resulting in the formation of the coagulin clot, even when the animal is bled with the greatest care. The blood cells of other individual horseshoe crabs are significantly more stable and, when proper procedures are followed, remain fully granular during bleeding and separation of cells from plasma.
5. Several agents have been reported to stabilize the blood cells following bleeding, including caffeine (bleed into 0.25 volumes of 10 mM caffeine in LPS-free 3% NaCl) ^4^, propranolol (1 mM final concentration) ^5^, dimethylsulfoxide ^6^, divalent cation chelation (bleed into an equal volume of 0.1 M dextrose, 0.03 M sodium citrate, 0.026 M citric acid, 10 mM disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na~2~EDTA), pH 4.6) ^7^, inhibitors of the G-protein and phospholipase-C pathways (cholera and pertussus toxins, U73122) ^8^, substitution of chloride with isethionate anion ^9^, chloride channel blockers ^9^, cyclic-AMP antagonists ^9^, sulfhydryl reagents (5 mM N-ethyl maleimide, NEM) ^5^, and the membrane-active detergent Tween-20 (bleed into 0.1 volume 2% Tween-20 in LPS-free 0.5 M NaCl).
Supplies and reagents for bleeding the horseshoe crab: collection of large volumes of blood
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. one or more large, undamaged horseshoe crab
2. squirt bottle containing 70% ethanol
3. Kimwipes
4. 14 gauge needle
5. sturdy forceps
6. ice bucket with ice
7. 50 mL screw-cap plastic disposable centrifuge tubes
8. rack to hold the 50 mL tubes
9. counter-top centrifuge
10. sterile 50 mL serological pipettes
11. bulb-type pipette filler
12. disposable sterile filter apparatus
13. vacuum pump
14. LPS-free 3% NaCl solution (for collection of blood cells)
15. Tween-20 (for collection of blood cells)
### Preparations for large-volume bleeding
1. For bleeding, use large, undamaged animals. Chill the animal for 1 h in a cold room before bleeding.
2. Establish a comfortable arrangement with a stable support for an ice-bucket that is about 0.3 meters high (the disposable Styrofoam shipping container for mailing cold or frozen reagents is appropriate) and a low chair for the operator. The ice bucket is placed on the support structure and the chair is drawn up to this unit. You should be comfortable sitting for an extended period in the chair with your elbows resting on your thighs, and with the left hand holding a struggling horseshoe crab positioned above the blood collection tubes propped upright in a bed of ice in the ice bucket.
3. Pre-chill 4 - 6 of the 50 mL disposable plastic centrifuge tubes with screw closures in the ice bath. The tubes are set upright in the ice ranged around the perimeter of the ice bath container. Just before starting the bleeding operation, remove the caps from the tubes and place caps on adjacent table, adhering to sterile technique.
4. Remove the cap of a 14 ga needle and use the sturdy forceps to loosen the needle in its sleeve, but do not remove needle from the sleeve. MAINTAIN STERILITY. DO NOT TOUCH ANY PART OF THE NEEDLE WITH THE FINGERS. Place sleeve with needle on an adjacent counter with the exposed butt of the needle elevated from contact with any surface to maintain its sterility.
5. Moisten a Kimwipe with 70% ethanol.
**Bleeding the animal (specifically for the right-handed operator)**
1. Holding the animal for bleeding: grasp animal in the left hand with the four fingers in contact with the anterior flange of the prosoma and the thumb grasping the posterior part of the opisthosma at the base of the tail (the terminal bay). The ventral surface of the animal faces the palm of your hand. The telson lies along the base of the thumb and projects over the wrist. Flex the animal gently so that prosoma and opisthosoma are at right angles to one another (Figure 3a).**Figure 3**
2. Clean the exposed hinge joint connecting prosoma and opisthosoma with 70% ethanol applied with an ethanol-moistened Kimwipe (Figure 3b).
3. Rotate the left hand such that fingers 2 - 4 are uppermost and the dorsal surface of the animal faces up. With the right hand, insert the 14 ga syringe needle, still in its protective sleeve, between fingers 2 and 3 of the left hand. Take the forceps in the right hand and remove the needle from its protective sleeve by grasping the butt with the forceps (Figure 3c). Rotate the left hand so that dorsal surface of the hand faces to your left, thumb and index finger are up, and the animal is upside down, with its dorsal surface facing the right hand. Position the butt of the needle above the first of the 50 mL collection tubes and orient the animal so that the sharp end of the needle is pointed at the hinge joint and so that the needle shaft is parallel to the dorsal midline (Figure 3d). Insert the sharp end of the needle through the hinge joint into the lumen of the heart, keeping the needle positioned parallel to the dorsal midline and inserted at the midline and with the butt of the needle still positioned above the opening of the collection tube. The needle is inserted about 1 - 2 cm deep into the portion of the heart in the prosoma. As soon as the heart is punctured, blood will flow rapidly (Figure 4a, arrow), so it is important to ensure that the delivery end of the syringe needle is positioned over the mouth of the collection tube to collect that initial surge of blood.
4. Blood will exit the heart initially in a continuous stream that, after about 30 - 50 mL of blood have been collected, will slow to individual drops (Figure 4b). To improve blood flow, it may be good policy to re-orient the tip of the needle slightly. Tilt the needle up or down, left or right; slide its tip deeper into the heart or pull it to closer to the hinge joint to find the position that optimizes blood flow. Do not compress the animal excessively, because this risks damaging the animal and may cause the extravasated blood to initiate clotting.**Figure 4**
5. As each collection tube fills with blood, rotate the ice bath to bring the next empty tube beneath the delivery end of the needle.
6. As bleeding slows, you run the risk of having air flow in a retrograde direction into the needle and into the heart. This can occur when the animal straightens out, thereby reducing the blood pressure. Try to prevent this by maintaining the animal in the flexed position or by allowing straightening to occur only slowly.
7. When the animal stops giving blood, remove the bleeding needle from the heart. Re-cap the collection tubes and centrifuge immediately in the table-top centrifuge, 1000 RPM, 5 min. The blood cells will form compact pellets at the bottoms of the collection tubes. Because all of the components for blood clotting are contained within secretory vesicles of the blood cells, as soon as plasma is separated from cells, the risk of clotting of the plasma is eliminated.
8. It is imperative to avoid clotting of the extravasated blood. The following measures reduce the risk of clotting: Pre-chilling the animal and maintaining the collection tubes in an ice bath; gentle handling of the animal; reduction of the rapidity with which the blood flows out of the syringe needle; centrifugation of the blood immediately after collection; avoidance of contamination of needles and collection tubes with endotoxin; maintenance of sterile procedure. As was mentioned above, some individual animals have especially irritable blood cells that initiate exocytosis even when these precautions are followed.
9. After centrifugation, inspect the tubes for signs of blood clotting - strands of cells and gelatinous clot material attached to the walls of the tube, gelatinous material at the top of the clot, or, worse, large amounts of clot with entrapped blood cells in the fluid column (Figure 4c, arrow). The material from these tubes is serum, not plasma, and contains the secreted products of the blood cells.
10. Transfer the plasma to sterile tubes with the 50 mL sterile serological pipette. Exercise care when pipetting to avoid aspirating any of the cells from the cell pellet in the bottom of the tube. It is best to leave a few mL of plasma above the pellet to avoid disturbing the cell pellet.
11. The procedure described above is designed to collect large volumes of plasma uncontaminated by the secretory products of the blood cells. To collect large volumes of washed blood cells, collect the blood into 0.1 volumes of 2% Tween-20 dissolved in 3% LPS-free NaCl solution. Centrifuge the cells gently for 10 minutes to establish a loose cell pellet, then wash the cells with several changes of LPS-free 3% NaCl. An extract of the cells that contains the secretory products of the blood cells can be prepared by lysing the washed cells in LPS-free distilled water. This lysate contains a diverse array of proteins and peptides that operate in anti-microbial immune defense ^10,11^ and also contains coagulogen, the zymogen form of the structural protein of the extracellular blood clot, and the collection of proteases that convert coagulogen to coagulin, the form of the protein that polymerizes into the fibrils of the clot ^12^. This extract is similar to the commercially available product, Limulus amebocyte lysate or LAL, which is used to assay for the presence of lipopolysaccharide ^13^. The protease cascade responsible for proteolytic modification of coagulogen to coagulin is activated by LPS ^14^.
12. Disposition of animals after bleeding. Bleeding conducted by the methods identified above is tolerated well by the animal. When working at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, I return animals to the ocean after bleeding with the expectation that they will survive. If animals are maintained in aquaria distant from the normal range of horseshoe crabs, they can be bled repeatedly once or twice a month. As is described below, animals maintained in captivity require high quality water and frequent feeding to maintain their health. Euthanasia can be accomplished by destruction of the dorsal ganglion, which is situated in the dorsal midline between the eyes.
### Processing and storage of plasma
1. Protection from proteases. If the plasma is to be used for protein purification, it should be treated with protease inhibitors immediately after collection. Add phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF) to a final concentration of 1 mM. PMSF is kept as a 0.1 M stock solution in DMSO or ethanol. It is quite unstable in water ^15^, so cannot be relied on for lasting protection, but addition immediately after separation of plasma from blood cells will inactivate the small quantities of proteases that might have been released from the cells.
2. Sterile filtration: sterilize the plasma by ultrafiltration under vacuum using a disposable medium-filtration device fitted with a 0.22 mm pore filter. These filters have a tendency to clog. It is advisable to centrifuge the plasma before filtering to reduce this problem. If large volumes of plasma are processed, it is advisable to pre-filter the plasma first using a Millipore filter with a 1 mm pore size, then with a 0.45 mm pore size Millipore filter.
3. Plasma can be protected from bacterial contamination either by adding NaN~3~ to a final concentration of 0.2 mg/mL or by sterile filtration. Unsterile plasma should never be stored for periods longer than 2 days without one or the other of these anti-bacterial measures being taken.
4. Blood clotting. Unlike the mammalian clotting system, the Limulus plasma contains none of the elements for blood clotting. Instead, the entire machinery for clot formation, the structural protein of the clot (coagulogen) and the system of proteases that process coagulogen to render it capable of polymerizing into the insoluble clot, is found in the secretory granules of the blood cells ^16^. So if the blood cells are removed before they have a chance to undergo exocytosis, the plasma is entirely free of the proteins for clotting and will remain fluid indefinitely.
5. Protein purification. Hemocyanin is present at 40 mg/mL in plasma and is a 48-mer of a 70 kDa subunit. It can be isolated by ultracentrifugation (40,000 X g, 8 h) or gel filtration with a large pore size exclusion resin such as BioGel A5m ^17^. The C-reactive proteins are present at 1 -- 5 mg/mL and can be isolated by affinity isolation on phosphorylethanolamine-Sepharose, with elution with a calcium chelator ^18^. The broad-spectrum protease inhibitor, a~2~-macroglogulin, has been purified by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 resin after hemocyanin and the C-reactive proteins have been removed ^19^.
**Microscopic examination of the motile blood cells in culture**
1. Establishment of amebocyte lawns *in vitro*: LPS-free 3% NaCl solution is added to sterile plastic Petri-style culture dishes (1 mL for a 35 mm dish, 2.5 mL for a 60 mm dish, 6 mL for a 90 mL dish). Blood is then obtained by cardiac puncture using the method described above, but with the modification that a 23 gauge, 1 in sterile syringe needle is used instead of the 14 gauge needle. Blood flows drop-by-drop from the 23 gauge needle and 1 drop is collected into the 35 mm dish, 3 drops into the 60 mm dish, and 9 drops into the 100 mm dish. The blood cells are then mixed uniformly in the 3% NaCl solution by gentle swirling, first in a circular pattern, then back-and-forth. The preparation is incubated for 5 min at room T to allow blood cells to attach to the dish surface, then the initial saline is replaced with a buffer of choice^3^.
2. If it is desired to maintain the substratum-attached blood cells in an undegranulated condition, the initial saline-blood plasma mixture is replaced with fresh LPS-free 3% NaCl. Plasma accelerates the spontaneous degranulation of the blood cells even in the absence of LPS, and its removal stabilizes the undegranulated state of the cells.
3. If the initial saline is replaced with sterile plasma, the blood cells transform from the ovoid shape of the circulating blood cell (Fig. 5) and flatten onto the substratum, and then initiate degranulation and the formation of a layer of the coagulin extracellular blood clot above the lawn of flattened amebocytes ^20^.**Figure 5**
4. Establishment of explant cultures of aggregated amebocytes. When blood is collected under sterile, LPS-free conditions, the blood cells settle out from suspension and aggregate to form a tissue-like mass. A convenient container for this is the glass embryo dish rendered LPS-free by incubation for 4 h at 180^0^C. Blood collected in this container by cardiac puncture using a 19 gauge needle is incubated for 1 -- 2 h at room T, then pieces 1 mm square are cut from the amebocyte aggregate with a sterile 18 gauge syringe needle and are sandwiched between two coverglasses or a coverglass and a slide separated by fragments of coverglasses to act as spacers. After about half an hour, amebocytes begin migrating from the periphery of the explant onto the coverglass (Fig. 6a), where they can be viewed with phase contrast or DIC optics ^21^. Initially, the migrating cells are compact with hyaline pseudopods (Fig. 6b (m)) that are extended above the migration substratum, and that then are lowered into contact with the surface and forward motion involves the flow of the granular cytoplasm into the pseudopod ^22^. Later, the cells flatten (Fig. 6b (f)) and initiate degranulation (Fig. 6b (d)) and cease locomotion ^23^. The culture chamber described here allows the perfusion of different experimental agents into the culture chamber to investigate their effects on cell motility and granule exocytosis ^9^. An extended methodological review of amebocyte culture for microscopic examination can be found in ^24^.**Figure 6**
### Maintenance of adult horseshoe crabs in aquaria
Horseshoe crabs require high quality sea water and can be maintained in aquaria fitted with a water purification system that provides particle filtration, aeration, and denitrification of the water^25^. Animals should be fed 2 or 3 times a week on shrimp, lobster, fish, or squid. Feeding is accomplished by removing the animal from the aquarium, placing it on its back, and placing the food on the mouth. If hungry, the animal will soon begin swallowing the food. Depending on the sophistication of the sea water system, the animal should be maintained for an hour or so until it defecates in a separate container of sea water or it can be returned to the aquarium after feeding has begun. For long-term maintenance, the animal should be kept away from light to prevent the growth of green or blue-green algae on the surface of the carapace. Algae erode the carapace and since the adult does not molt, this will cause death to the animal ^26^. In the wild, animals spend much of the time partially buried in sand, but sand or gravel in the aquarium presents a difficulty in maintaining the level of cleanliness important for long-term maintenance.
Discussion
==========
There are four species of horseshoe crab, *Limulus polyphemus* from the east coast of North America and three species that range from Japan to the Bay of Bengal. The animal is identified as a \"living fossil\" because anatomically similar forms have been found as fossils from 445 million years ago ^27^. The horseshoe crab represents a long-lived animal, requiring 10 - 13 years to reach maturity and living at least 20 years ^28^. Although it has been subjected to extensive harvesting as bait for the eel and conch fisheries^29^, the American horseshoe crab is still reasonably plentiful and allows the non-destructive collection of 50 mL of blood from a small adult and as much as 400 mL from a large female. Collection of even this much blood can be completed in less than 10 minutes. I know of no other readily available invertebrate that affords so much blood with so little effort.
The importance of the LAL test for endotoxin, an indicator for the presence of Gram-negative bacteria, has stimulated interest in the immune system of the horseshoe crab^13^. The LAL test depends on the activation of the initiating protease of the blood clotting system by LPS^14^, with a read-out of clot formation or of a colorimetric assay for protease activity. The two elements of immunity that have received the greatest attention have been the proteins of the plasma and the several proteins and peptides of the secretory granules of the blood cells. The result has been the elevation of the horseshoe crab to the status of having the best-described immune system for any long-lived invertebrate^11^
Original research described above was supported by NSF grant 0344630.
[^1]: Correspondence to: Peter Armstrong at <[email protected]>
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Q:
Как анализировать пакеты на уровне Java?
Возможно ли анализировать трафик (приходящие пакеты) на уровне Java?
Если возможно, то как и правильно ли так делать?
A:
Я бы порекомендовал PCAP https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pcap
Используй jNetPcap (http://jnetpcap.com/)
PCAP является стандартным решением для собственных таких программ
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Q:
Maximum value of multiplicative order
Let $x \in \mathbb{Z}_{n^2}^*$ and let us assume that the multiplicative order of $x$ is multiple of $n$, then what is the maximum value of multiplicative order possible for $x$ under modulo $n^2$ ?
Is it $n \lambda$ , where $\lambda$ is Carmichael function of $n$ .How ?
Is it possible to have multiplicative order of $x$ greater than $n \lambda$ ?
A:
$\lambda(m)$ is the exponent of $\mathbb{Z}_{m}^*$, that is, the lcm of the orders of all elements.
In particular, no element can have order greater than $\lambda(m)$.
Now, $\lambda(n^2)\le n\lambda(n) \ (\star)$. So, it is not possible to have elements of order greater than $n\lambda(n)$, because there are no elements of order greater than $\lambda(n^2)$. In particular, if an element has order $nk$, then $k\le \lambda(n)$.
$(\star)$
Take $x$ with $(x,n^2)=1$. Then $(x,n)=1$ and $x^{\lambda(n)}\equiv 1 \bmod n$. Write $x^{\lambda(n)}=1+an$. Then $x^{n\lambda(n)}=(1+an)^n=1+\binom{n}1an+ \binom{n}2 (an)^2+\cdots+(an)^n \equiv1 \bmod n^2$. Thus, $n\lambda(n) \ge \lambda(n^2)$, because $\lambda(n^2)$ is the least exponent for $\mathbb{Z}_{n^2}^*$.
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; Ensures that hit time is based on position on screen, and unaffected
; by which pixel of sprite is being hit (upper-left, lower-right, etc.)
.include "sprite_hit.inc"
.include "sync_vbl.s"
.macro test_hit_time n
jsr begin_sprite_hit_timing
delay n
jsr test_hit_time_
.endmacro
begin_sprite_hit_timing:
jsr sync_vbl
setb PPUSCROLL,0
setb PPUSCROLL,0
setb PPUMASK,PPUMASK_BG0CLIP+PPUMASK_SPR
setb SPRADDR,0
setb SPRDMA,>sprites
delay 29781-10
rts
test_hit_time_:
lda $2002
ldx $2002
jsr disable_rendering
and #$40
jne test_failed
txa
and #$40
jeq test_failed
rts
main: jsr init_sprite_hit
; Solid tile in middle of screen
set_ppuaddr $21F0
setb PPUDATA,tile_solid
setb sprite_attr,0
setb sprite_tile,tile_solid
set_test 2,"Upper-left corner"
setb sprite_x,128
setb sprite_y,119
test_hit_time 15505
set_test 3,"Upper-right corner"
setb sprite_x,123
setb sprite_y,119
test_hit_time 15505
set_test 4,"Lower-left corner"
setb sprite_x,128
setb sprite_y,114
test_hit_time 15505
set_test 5,"Lower-right corner"
setb sprite_x,123
setb sprite_y,114
test_hit_time 15505
lda #tile_solid
jsr fill_screen
setb sprite_y,120
setb sprite_tile,tile_upper_left_lower_right
setb sprite_attr,0
set_test 6,"Hit time shouldn't be based on pixels under left clip"
setb sprite_x,7
test_hit_time 16378
setb sprite_attr,$80
set_test 7,"Hit time shouldn't be based on pixels at X=255"
setb sprite_x,248
test_hit_time 16456
set_test 8,"Hit time shouldn't be based on pixels off right edge"
setb sprite_x,249
test_hit_time 16456
jmp tests_passed
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Donna Alexander
Welcome to Earth: Where victims are blamed, where rapists are mollycoddled, where football is more important than #humanrights #Steubenville
— Donna M. Alexander (@americasstudies) March 19, 2013
Steubenville is now synonymous with hell. It is no longer just a geographical location, but an event, a moment in time when humanity failed to be humane. It represents one of the … [Read more...] about Steubenhell on Earth
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Artur Gold
Artur (Arthur) Gold (born 17 March 1897, Warsaw, died 1943 in Treblinka) was a Polish Jewish violinist and dance-music composer during the Interbellum. He closely collaborated with his brother Henryk Gold and with Jerzy Petersburski with whom he arranged music for his famous ensembles; they were among the most popular composers in interwar Poland and many of their hits were sung throughout the whole country. Gold ran an orchestra in the "Qui Pro Quo" theater (1922) and in the Warsaw "Adria" night club (1931–1939).
Life
Artur Gold was the second son of Michał Gold, a musician in the Warsaw Opera; when Michał died an uncle took Artur to England, where he received his musical education. He later returned to Warsaw and played there for various venues including nightclubs. Some of his noted compositions were the foxtrot Gdy Petersburski razem z Goldem gra ("When Petersburski and Gold play together") (1926), the tango Gdy w ogrodzie botanicznym ("While in the botanical garden"), Jesienne róże ("Autumn roses"), Nie odchodź ode mnie (Don't walk away from me), Nie wierzę ci ("I don't trust you'"), Jaśminy (Jasmine), Kwiaciarka z Barcelony (Flower girl from Barcelona), Oczy czarne (Black Eyes), Ostatni jeszcze, and others. Most of the lyrics were by Andrzej Włast.
Artur Gold also performed with English orchestras in the 1920s and recorded for Columbia records. In the 1930s he also recorded several albums for the Polish "Odeon" record company.
Treblinka extermination camp
After the German and Soviet invasion on Poland in September 1939, Artur Gold was forced into the newly created Warsaw Ghetto, in which he played with an orchestra. He was deported by the Germans with thousands of fellow inmates who boarded the Holocaust trains at the Umschlagplatz in Warsaw, destined for the gas chambers of German Treblinka extermination camp. He was not killed upon arrival there in 1942. He played for the Nazis in their casino, at least on one occasion dressed as a clown. He was murdered in 1943 in Treblinka. According to recollections of some of the Treblinka survivors Gold might have been killed during the uprising at Treblinka which occurred on 2 August 1943.
The melody of his song Chodź na Pragę (Come to Praga) (1930) is currently played as a Hejnał of the Warsaw borough of Praga, each day at noon.
References
External links
Music and the Holocaust
About Artur Gold's orchestra in Treblinka and his death there.
Category:1897 births
Category:1943 deaths
Category:Polish composers
Category:Polish violinists
Category:Male violinists
Category:Polish cabaret performers
Category:Polish Jews
Category:Warsaw Ghetto inmates
Category:Musicians from Warsaw
Category:Jewish composers
Category:Jewish songwriters
Category:Jewish violinists
Category:Polish civilians killed in World War II
Category:Polish people who died in Treblinka extermination camp
Category:20th-century violinists
Category:20th-century comedians
Category:20th-century male musicians
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Conventionally, digital home electronic apparatuses such as digital televisions (hereinafter referred to as DTV) and HDD recorders are provided with remote controllers dedicated to these apparatuses, and users operate these apparatuses through the remote controllers.
Furthermore, in general, a remote controller has buttons (also referred to as “keys”), such as a channel button and a mute button, each assigned with a function. With such a conventional remote controller, the users can operate the apparatus very comfortably as long as he/she uses each button only for the assigned function.
However, digital home electronic apparatuses available in recent years provide keyword search function and Internet browsing function, whereby the users have more opportunities to enter characters.
When the user enters characters using the conventional remote controller however, he/she generally selects a target character by pressing down a channel number button and the like several times. In other words, with the conventional remote controller, users cannot enter characters into digital home electronic apparatuses in an intuitive manner but have to get used to the operation, which has been proven to be troublesome to the users.
Accordingly, a technique has been disclosed in which a mobile terminal that is suitable for entering characters, such as a mobile phone, is used as a remote controller for a digital home electronic apparatus instead of the remote controller provided for the apparatus (for example, see Patent Literature (PTL) 1). With the above technique, the user can use an input unit such as a keyboard of the mobile terminal when entering characters, while using the mobile terminal for performing the same operation as the remote controller provided for the apparatus. The above technique aims at improving the operability in the above manner.
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NEW DELHI: The TDP's no-confidence motion against the government was a battle of "morality versus majority", party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Saturday.
The NDA government on Friday defeated the no-confidence motion after a marathon debate that lasted for nearly 12 hours. When the division was held at 11:10 pm last night, the ayes for the no-confidence were 126 and the noes 325.
"Yesterday's no-confidence motion was a battle between our morality and the majority of the BJP," Naidu told a press conference here, as he thanked the other opposition parties for supporting the Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) no-trust vote.
Contesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's remark in the Lok Sabha that special status cannot be extended to the state "as the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FCC) does not allow it". the Andhra Pradesh chief minister claimed, "The FFC says it does not have any role in it... don't drag us into it. It is the government which has to take a call."
He also attacked Union minister Arun Jaitley for "denying special status to Andhra Pradesh and then extending the same to northeastern states".
Naidu said it was "unwise" on Modi's part to compare his "able leadership with tainted politicians" during a discussion on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha yesterday.
On the prime minister terming Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao more mature than Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister said, "I am senior to the prime minister himself. How can he say that?"
He said neither Modi nor home minister Rajnath Singh tried to find a solution to the problems between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
"You humiliate us. This is wrong," Naidu said.
Referring to Modi's remark that the "Congress killed the mother and saved the child. Had I have been there, I would have saved the mother too", he said, "We have waited for years for him to do so."
"We're still asking him to save the mother," Naidu said.
Asserting that the TDP had joined the NDA in 2014 only to ensure justice to the people of the state, he said, "We are not power hungry. We never aspired for cabinet berths."
On the BJD staging a walkout from Parliament during the debate on the no-confidence motion, exposing chinks in Opposition unity, Naidu said, "He (BJD chief Naveen Patnaik ) is an old friend... They will be taken on board."
The TDP chief had in May vowed to unite regional parties to take on the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and had said that his party would play a pivotal role at the Centre.
Naidu on Saturday reiterated that he has no prime ministerial ambitions.
The TDP had formally quit the BJP-led NDA earlier this year after the latter denied special category to the state.
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Q:
SetInterval() with "if" condition in js function
I would like to continuously call the function below using setInterval() but only if the condition in the if statement evaluates to true.
Note: The function is global.
function view_stack(){
if(my_stack.size() > 0){
document.getElementById("stack_visual").innerHTML = my_stack.view();
} else {
swal("Ohhhh Noes", "There are no items in the stack!", "error");
}
}
Is there a way I can achieve it?
A:
Make it so that your function does nothing when there is nothing to do. That way you can simply keep the interval running.
Effectively your code already is written like that, I would rearrange it like this:
function view_stack(){
if(my_stack.size() === 0) return;
document.getElementById("stack_visual").innerHTML = my_stack.view();
}
setInterval(view_stack, 1000);
The more elegant solution would be event-based, i.e. whenever my_stack changes, update the view.
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go three hours west , the surf is around bundoran in donegal , easky in mayo and lahinch in clare , within 30 mins in all directions from these towns are loads of spots , summer is generally flat though.
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Biliary excretion of copper in LEC rat after introduction of copper transporting P-type ATPase, ATP7B.
Wilson's disease, an autosomal recessive disorder, is characterized by the excessive accumulation of hepatic copper that results from reduced biliary copper excretion and disturbed incorporation of copper into ceruloplasmin. The ATP7B gene, responsible for the disease, encodes a copper transporting P-type ATPase. We previously demonstrated the involvement of ATP7B in hepatic copper secretion into plasma after the introduction of ATP7B into the Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rat, a rodent model of Wilson's disease. In this study we found the increased copper contents of the hepatic lysosomal fractions and bile in the LEC rats after ATP7B introduction, indicating the participation of ATP7B in the biliary excretory pathway for copper.
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As Microsoft pushes to become more like Apple and Google, IT pros are trying to sort out the ramifications.The company's pattern of delivering major Office and Windows releases every three years has worked well for decades. (The two products accounted for more than half of Microsoft's nearly $70 billion in revenue last year.) But as Apple and Google take a more aggressive approach to updating their respective operating systems and cloud-based applications, Microsoft's model might have run its course. CEO Steve Ballmer admitted as much this week after Windows Division President Steven Sinofsky left the company; the chief executive said Microsoft needs to implement "more integrated and rapid development cycles."
Big Office changes coming
Microsoft will begin with a restructuring of its Office suite. The company plans to merge the core functions and features of Office for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android into a single product, said a source with direct knowledge of the situation. Then, by purchasing a single subscription, users can download this core version along with OS-specific software components, this source said.The ultimate goal is to eliminate physical installations of Office on any operating system or mobile device, and have all customers acquire and install the product through an online subscription.It absolutely makes sense to re-architect Office in this way, because there is value in having one license that covers multiple platforms, said Philip L. Moya Jr., IT manager at the San Antonio Kidney Disease Center.
The future of Windows releases
The future is not so clear when it comes to Windows, Microsoft's other flagship product. With a completely redesigned, touchscreen-enabled interface, Windows 8 and Windows RT, its counterpart based on the ARM processor, could struggle to gain traction in the enterprise.
Moya has looked at the new Microsoft-manufactured Surface RT tablet, but it has too many shortcomings for business use, he said. "[You're] not able to join Active Directory domains or push out Group Policies," he said. "Those are deal breakers for the Surface RT, since that's how IT handles management of its computing assets."
Moya will wait for the Intel-based version of the Surface, which is due out in 2013, because it will provide the management features he said his medical center needs.
Microsoft will need to establish an effective mobile strategy if it is to thrive -- or at least survive -- in this new era of computing."Their tablets look interesting, but they are not in the same conversation here with Apple," said Len Barney, purchasing agent with a large transportation company in Jacksonville, Fla. "We aren't ready to dive into Windows 8 for both desktops and mobile stuff. That's a longer process."
As Microsoft execs reexamine their Office and Windows release cycles, they should treat the desktop and mobile markets differently, said Al Gillen, a program vice president with IDC. "If Microsoft is going to have one operating system stretching across tablets and PCs, they have to build in some flexibility on the tablet side of things to be more responsive to market needs," he said. "The PC cycle has to be slower, more measured -- the way it has always been."
Some critics have suggested Microsoft should have focused on delivering new versions of Windows for tablets and smartphones first, then delivered Windows 8 for the desktop at least a year later. By then, their thinking goes, corporate shops would have had more time to get adjusted to the product's capabilities and been more open to upgrading from Windows 7.
From what's written it means Office for Windows will be "simplified" to match its feature set on other platforms? And it might end up as a subscription-only product?? (Office 2013 is already available in both subscription and non-expiring versions). Windows release cycle not yet clear. Maybe they plan to finally separate mobile Windows from desktop Windows as it always should have been?
It would be a sad day if in ten years time Office became a subscription only product, I would't be able to justify buying it. It's like with other contracts, I always want to buy it out right not pay by the month.
It would be a sad day if in ten years time Office became a subscription only product, I would't be able to justify buying it. It's like with other contracts, I always want to buy it out right not pay by the month.
same here because it becomes a commitment rather then a purchase. You think differently using it as a service rather then a product.
Quite the opposite. Apple and Google have excelled by being simple, for lack of a better term. If Microsoft can accomplish the same, they win because of everything else they bring to the table. Office isn't enough to justify paying for the SurfaceRT, but if you bring it to iOS and Android then suddenly those people using those devices realize what they haven't had. At that point you're able to redesign the Surface and now when they're considering a new device, they also look at using it on the native platform. If it works the same and you have the choice between the major corporate OS and a mobile OS, most will choose Microsoft and some iteration of Windows.
Firstly, no worries from me about the Surface RT, I don't think that was ever aimed at the enterprise, that's what the Surface Pro is there for. So no need for scaremongering - Surface RT will be fine for people who don't need the baggage of all the old Windows stuff.
Lastly, Office moving towards a subscription model? It's inevitable. A shame yes but I think it'll make it more easier for Microsoft to patch, introduce new features quicker, etc.
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Q:
Get a Image Mask of the Differences Between Two Images Emgu CV
I was wondering how to take two different gray images and create a mask of the differences between the two. Any help would be much appreciated.
A:
Assuming the camera is stationary and the images are very well, you can find the differences between the two images using element-wise subtraction. Using OpenCV's C++ API, it would look something like this (note: this code is untested):
void FindDifference(cv::Mat src1, cv::Mat src2, cv::Mat &dst, int threshold) {
dst = cv::abs(src2 - src1);
cv::threshold(dst, dst, threshold, 255, cv::THRESH_BINARY);
}
You can tweak the value of threshold to reduce false positives caused by noise. If you are still getting too many false positives, you should use look into motion estimation and image registration to align the two images.
I am not familiar with EmuCV's API, but it should be fairly straightforward to translate the above code into its API calls.
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"Why didn’t you kill him?" she hissed out, putting her haggard face quite close to his.
In one corner, with his head buried in his arms, a sailor sprawled over a table, and by the tawdrily-painted bar that ran across one complete side stood two haggard women mocking an old man who was brushing the sleeves of his coat with an expression of disgust.
…censer; and, as Caligula, had caroused with the green-shirted jockeys in their stables and supped in an ivory manger with a jewel-frontleted horse; and, as Domitian, had wandered through a corridor lined with marble mirrors, looking round with haggard eyes for the reflection of the dagger that was to end his days, and sick with that ennui, that terrible taedium vitae, that comes on those to whom life denies nothing; and had peered through a clear emerald at the red shambles of the…
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An Ottawa mother and professional birth coach is preparing to live stream the birth of her third child online.
Nancy Salgueiro, a 32-year-old mother of two, plans to set up a high-definition video camera in the living room of her south Ottawa home and hook it up to her laptop.
Salgueiro said the main goal is to promote natural home birth.
"I feel it's really important for people to see the difference because birth is not what you see on TV. It can be, but it doesn't have to be like that," she said.
Salgueiro said the event can be seen on her website close to her expecting date of Oct. 7. People can pre-register and 800 have already signed up.
Youngest child to cut umbilical cord
Both of her children – Leilani, four, and Taivus, two – were born at home. Their arrivals were also captured on video but not streamed online.
The plan is for Taivus to cut the umbilical cord.
Salgueiro, who is also a professional chiropractor, will sit in a pool during the birth because it helps the process. She believes it is much better than rushing to hospital.
Salgueiro's son Taivus, 2, will cut the umbilical cord of his younger brother or sister. The family does not know the gender yet because they have not had an ultrasound. ((Ashley Burke/CBC))
"A woman's water breaks and they go, 'Oh my goodness,' and they rush off to the hospital and speed all the way there," she said.
"Then somebody's legs are behind their ears as a parade of people come in and that is not at all what a home birth is like."
Her husband has been a little hesitant about the idea, but he will be in the room to help his wife and provide support.
"I'm just trying to support her in her passion," said Mike Carreira, "This is a stretch for me, but I'm going to do it."
Hospital only a worst-case scenario
Salgueiro did admit she would have to go to a hospital if there are any complications. But the Barrhaven mother is relying on her past success at home to help avoid that scenario.
She will also have two midwives to help her, as well as one person to operate the camera.
"It was just a thought that came into my head," said Salgueiro, "I was like, 'I could have this birth live online,' I didn't know anyone had done it before."
People have signed up to watch from Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)
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LaGrange Callaway Airport
LaGrange Callaway Airport is a public airport three miles southwest of LaGrange, in Troup County, Georgia. The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009-2013 called it a general aviation airport.
In 1950-53 La Grange had airline flights: Southern Airways DC-3s.
Facilities
LaGrange Callaway Airport covers at an elevation of 693 feet (211 m). It has two asphalt runways: 13/31 is 5,600 by 150 feet (1,707 x 46 m) and 3/21 is 5,000 by 100 feet (1,524 x 30 m).
In the year ending April 30, 2008 the airport had 17,100 aircraft operations, average 46 per day: 99% general aviation and 1% military. 62 aircraft were then based at the airport: 82% single-engine, 10% multi-engine, 2% jet and 6% glider.
References
External links
LaGrange Callaway Airport
LaGrange Callaway (LGC) at Georgia DOT Airport Directory
Aerial photo as of 27 January 1993 from USGS The National Map
Category:Airports in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Buildings and structures in Troup County, Georgia
Category:Transportation in Troup County, Georgia
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US 2003/0091436 A1 discloses a method for regulating a windmill and an apparatus for the use of said method, wherein a device for regulating the airflow around a blade of a windmill comprises a spoiler which is provided with a cavity. The spoiler is mounted to a surface of the blade and can change the airflow around the blade by assuming different forms. When the spoiler is in an activated form, the airflow is changed in that the spoiler no longer follows the contours of the blade and creates a discontinuity or at least changes the profile of the blade in such way that the airflow conditions are changed. It is possible to regulate the speed of rotation of the rotor on which the blade is mounted.
Conventionally, a wind turbine rotor speed may be controlled using a pitch system. The pitch system may rotate the entire turbine blade in order to keep the power output close to constant, in particular for wind speeds above rated wind speed. The effect of the blade rotation may be a change in the angle of attack (of the wind) and thus a change of lift of the blade and ultimately the torque of the rotor.
In the conventionally known methods and systems, controlling the speed of a wind turbine rotor may be difficult and problematic.
Thus, there may be a need for a method and an arrangement for controlling a rotational speed of a rotor of a wind turbine which is reliable, safe, which reduces wear of components of the wind turbine and which is in particular applicable at wind speeds above rated wind speeds.
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Thank you to GiftTree for providing me with products to facilitate my blog review. All opinions are 100% my own.
We all have people on our Christmas shopping list who can be difficult to shop for! What do you get the person who has everything? What do you get the person you work with whom you barely know? How about Secret Santa gift situations? Ugh, it can be frustrating and time-consuming trying to come up with a great gift that will fit their needs or likes.
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Hello, my name is Laurie. I have been married to my husband for 14 years. We have two young daughters, ages 11 and 13 years old. My family and I live in Oregon so that means we are just minutes from the beach, mountains, and desert. We love it here and try to spend as much time outdoors playing as we can. When we aren’t outside playing, I enjoy reading, gardening, refinishing furniture, and other crafts. www.emilyreviews.com/category/laurie
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Friday, May 22, 2009
Shobha visited her aunt(atthai) in Saibaba Colony last week and was gifted a large chunky jackfruit. The atthai has a few jackfruit trees in her compound and tends to their nutrition requirements meticulously. As a result the trees bear fruit for about 3-4 months every year.The cutting & hacking, removal of the thick prickly skin & removal of the velvety yellow fruit & ejection of the seeds is an expert job and this duty is normally handed over to Shobhas father. But notwithstanding his "expertise: this process leaves behind quite a mess which requires articulate clean up. This time around we were lucky - our newly appointed man Friday appeared to be an expert too on this subject. He was excited at seeing the jackfruit and immediately took the fruit away to a remote corner and went about the task of skinning the fruit. He did this with such clinical precision and did not leave behind any kind of mess.The skin had been neatly chopped away, the sticky interiors were expunged, the velvety fruit sliced open & seeds removed and the fruits deposited attractively in a steel bowl.Some people love both the aroma & the taste of jackfruit - Shobha & her father fall in this category. Others like me are neutral to smell but like the taste of the ripe fruit. A third category like Guhan find both the smell & taste disgusting & nauseating - Guhan is very clear - its either he or the jack fruit, both cannot coexist in the same room - so make your choice !The jackfruit tree bears fruits in the trunks or near the base of older branches from where the female flowers emerge in the first place. Given that jackfruit is the heaviest among the tree borne fruits, reaching up to 35 kg in weight, it is possible that the trees bear them in the trunk or older branches that are strong enough to hold the fruit.Origin: The jackfruit is believed indigenous to the rain forests of the Western Ghats of India. It spread early on to other parts of India, Southeast Asia, the East Indies and ultimately the Philippines. It is often planted in central and eastern Africa and is fairly popular in Brazil and Surinam.Jackfruit can be eaten unripe (young) or ripe, and cooked or uncooked. The seeds can also be eaten cooked or baked like beans. The leaves are sometimes used as a wrapping for steamed Idlis. Jackfruit is commonly known as "Pala Pazham" in Tamilnadu and "Plava or Chakka" in Kerala. The tree is found in almost every household in Kerala. (Family elders: Can you recollect the abundant "plavus" in the spacious compound around Lakshmi Nivas ?) A large variety of dishes are prepared with both the unripe as well as ripened fruit. Chakka Varaval, Chakka Mezhukku Varatti, Chakka Aviyal,Chakka Chips, Elisseri,Chakka Varatti (Jam), Chakka Pradaman(payasam or kheer) are some of the popular dishes served in Kerala weddings.Tit Bit: Another innovative way of consuming this fruit - slice open the velvety fruit on one side, lift the flap, add a few teaspoons (or tablespoons if you wish) of honey, close the flap & drop the whole thing into your mouth golgappa (panipuri) stye. Its heavenly, simply melts in your mouth & slides smoothely down your gullet !
Monday, May 18, 2009
It was the morning of Sunday 17 May'2009. We had been planning to test drive the BSA Motors electric scooters on the Maruthamalai ghats. So we gathered at the Sankrithi BSA showroom at 8.00 am - Shobha & I, Ramesh & Prakash. Two e-scooters were brought out of the showroom - a blue Roamer & a Black Diva. Ramesh & Prakash wore smart black BSA T-shirts and donned white & red BSA peak caps. The scooter rally started at 8.20 am and took off towards Maruthamalai - a distance of around 10 kms. We followed in our blue Indigo. We went past GCT & then turned right at TNAU point towards Maruthamalai. Enroute we crossed Vadavalli as well as the vast sprawling campus of Bharatiar University and finally reached the base of Maruthamalai hills - one of the well known abodes of Lord Muruga. Then the climb began - the scooters went first into the ghats and we followed. The gradient climbing ability of the e-scooters was excellent. The 500 watt Roamer maintained the specified speed of 40 Kmph while the 250 watt Diva followed at moderate speed of 25 Kmph. Halfway up the ghat climb we stopped briefly for photographs. Then the journey resumed. Being e-Scooters these vehicles climbed silently as they are powered by electric motors. Since there are no engines as in petrol vehicles, these scooters are eco friendly and do not spew exhaust fumes.We reached the top in virtually no time. We then took some time off to visit the sanctum of Lord Muruga and offer our prayers. Then we began the downward descend. The e-Scooters desecnded at much faster speeds since they had the gravitational support.On our return we were ravenously hungry and so were the boys. We stopped over at Vadavalli Ananda's for a comprehensive breakfast of Rava Roast, vada sambar & strongly flavored decoction coffee. We were back at the showroom at 10.20 am. The entire trip/rally had taken all of two hours of which 45 minutes were spent at Anandas. The Rally was remarkably successful - proved beyond doubt the hill climbing capability of BSA e-Scooters.Trivia: Low speed BSA e-Scooters do not require registration or license and are powered by maintenance free batteries. They are extremely economical to run and batteries are rechargeable. The electricity consumption for charging the battery is one unit which translates to Rs.2 @ domestic rate. The range(or mileage) of a fully charged battery is around 60-70 Kms. This means cost of running an e-Scooter is 3 paise/Km as compared to Rs.1.25/Km for petrol vehicles. This vehicle is ideal for city running and totally pollution free.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sarangapani Temple:The Sarangapani temple is the principal and largest of the Vishnu temples in Kumbakonam dating to the thirteenth-century. It is among the 108 Tirupatis and is given third place next to Srirangam and Tirupati. The shrine is in form of a chariot. A beautiful tank called Hema Pushkarni separates this shrine and the Adi Kumbeshwara temple. Entry, into a hundred-pillar hallway from the seventeenth century (Nayak period), is through a twelve-storied pyramidal gopuram, more than 40m high which is considered one of the largest gopurams in South India. A smaller gopuram leads into a second courtyard that contains another columned mandapa and to the right, a shrine to Lakshmi. The central shrine dates from the late Chola period with many later alterations. Its entrance, within the innermost court, is guarded by huge dvarpalas, identical to Vishnu whom they protect. Between them are carved perforated stone screens in different designs, and in front of them stands the sacred, square fireplace (to do homam). During the day, pinpoints of light from ceiling windows penetrate the darkness around the sanctum, designed to resemble a chariot with reliefs of horses, elephants and wheels. A painted cupboard contains a mirror for Vishnu to see himself when he leaves the sanctum sanctorum. There are 2 entrances to the sanctum. One is kept open throughout the Uttarayan period and the other during the Dakshinayan period.By the side of the temple is the Golden Lotus tank also known as Lakshmi Theertham. Goddess Lakshmi performed penance here and Vishnu came down as Lord Aravamudhan and married Her. Sarangapani, Aravamudhan and Komalavalli are the presiding deities.Chakrapani Temple: Sri Chakrapani Temple, is situated at Kumbakonam a temple town in tamilnadu, India. This temple is considered to be one of the most important Vishnu temples in South India, along with Srirangam and Tirupati. Seven of the Alwars sang the glories of this temple. Lord Sarangapani is the presiding Deity of the temple.The images of Chakrapani and with 8 arms and Sudarshanavalli Thayar with a gracious visage are inspiring. Brahma, Surya and Agni are depicted as worshipping the Lord. According to legend, Surya once competed with Vishnu to decide who was brighter. Vishnu appeared in the form of a Chakra and put down the pride of Surya. Like Shiva, Lord Chakrapani has a third eye on His forehead.Most of the temple was built by the Nayak kings between the 13th and 17th centuries, but the central shrine dates to the end of the Chola period. There are two entrances for entering the central shrine of the temple.You enter the southern entrance during the dakshinayana period, when the sun is in the Southern Hemisphere and the northern entrance during the period of uttarayana, when the sun is in the northem hemisphere. This shrine is also called Baskara Sthala as it was established by the Sun. The passage around the sanctum in the south is Ganapathi and in the north Panchamuka (5 faced) Hanuman. In a circle of lotus blooms, the Deity stands, while goddess is seated. Wielding conch discus, bow, axe, udakkai, gadha, pan and lotus in eight hands He stands. The archana worship is conducted with Bel leaves.Tirukkudanthai Keezhkottam Nageswaraswamy Temple: This temple is a big one located in the center of Kumbakonam town. Sun God Sooriyan and Adhiseshan are said to have worshipped Lord Shiva st this sivasthalam. A special feature of this temple is that the sun's rays falls on the Sivalingam (Nageswaraswamy) in the morning on 3 days in a year during the Tamil month of Chithirai - 11th, 12th and 13th day of that month. It is widely believed that Sun god Sooriyan Himself performs pooja at that time to Lord Shiva. Devotees gather in large numbers during these 3 days to witness the event. Scupltures depicting the whole story of Ramayana is found on the inner walls of the prakaram surrounding the sanctum. The goddess is Brihannayaki. This is the 27th in the series of Tevara Stalams located South of the river Cauvery. It is well known for its sculptural work, Vimanams and Mandapams.The Legend: It is believed that Surya is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva here to regain his lost splendour and hence the temple tank is named after Lord Surya. Also known as "Vilvavanam", it is believed that a Vilva leaf from the pot carrying the celestial nectar (associated with the Kumbheswara temple) had drifted away and landed here. Aadi Seshan is said to have worshipped here and Lord Shiva is said to have blessed him with the might to bear the weight of the earth, here.About The Temple: Possibly the oldest in Kumbakonam, the Nageshwara temple, one of the finest early Chola temples, noted for the quality of its sculpture. This temple is believed to have been completed during the reign of Parantaka I (907-c.940). Though the temple is small but it is known for its marvellous architecture that exceeds many of the other Chola temples. The Nritta Sabha, or the dance hall, has an elevated Mandapam with a flight of steps. The 12 zodiac signs, 2 mammoth horses, 4 elephants all in stone adorn the Nataraja shrine. The principal shrine to Lord Shiva, standing in a country is connected to a Mandapam (also spelt as Mandapa). The main niches on the sanctum wall contain sculptures; on the north, "Dakshinamurti" ("South-Facing" Shiva as teacher), on the west Ardhanarishvara (male Shiva and female Shakti in one figure) and Brahma on the south. Joining them are high-relief near-life-size sculptures of unidentified figures, perhaps worshippers, donors or royalty. Within the courtyard, a shrine to Nataraja features rearing horses and wheels, with tiny figures as spokes. The Nataraja shrine here is shaped in the form of a chariot, and the shrine dedicated to the Sun God is of great sculptural significance. So imposing is the shrine to Nataraja, that the hymns of Appar are addressed to Aadalvallar of Kudandai Keezhkottam in awe.Someswarar Temple: This temple is known as Kudanthai Karonam and located near Potramarai Kulam. The Sikkam (threads) around the Amirthakalasam (the nectar pot) fallen here and took a shape of Linga and hence known as Sikkeshwarar.Once Chandran (Moon god) due to Guru's (Brahaspathi) curse arrived Kumbakonam and worshipped the Lord Shiva Sikkeshwarar, he created a holy water source for the worship, this tank was known as Chandrapushkarani (does not exist now). Thirumalanavar worshipped Somanathar and received the boon to get victory over Asuras. He also built a shrine for Maleeswarar (a Linga) and Mangala Nayagi amman.Paranthaka Chola king constructed a shrine for Choleeswara and Tripurasundari amman for wanted of a child. One among the Navagraha - Guru (God of planet Jupiter) worshipped the main deity Someshwarar and hence the Lingam is also known as Vyazha Someshwarar (Guru's Sikkeshwarar). Shivagami and Nataraja can be seen.Kodipanchagraha temple is also present.Sambandar's beautiful idol is seen. Thirupathigam (hymn's of Nalvar) in the form of epigraph is found in this temple.The main deity is in Linga form and the Banam ( prominent cylindrical structure of Linga) is of special type known as Narmadhai banam.The Murugan is in the form of Arumugan (6 faces and 12 hands) in a sitting pose over his vaghana (ambassador) a Mayil (peacock), his legs were decorated with Patharatchai (shoe). Saint Arunagirinathar has sung a hymn about this Arumugan of this temple in his work Thirupugal. Thirugnana sambandar has sung a hymn about this temple deity.Ramaswamy Temple: The temple town of Kumbakonam is the abode of several deities each unique and distinct. The temple of Lord Rama situated in the centre of the town is a connoisseurs' delight. The temple is replete with puranic lore. King Raghunayak ruled Tanjore from 1614-1640. He was an ardent devotee of Rama . His lieutenant Govinda Dikshitar called Govinda Ayyan was also devout and looked after the temple works. King Raghunayak dug a holy tank in Darasuram near Kumbakonam . while the work was in progress they found icons of Rama and Sita in the tank. The King's joy knew no bounds. Thus he built a temple for Rama and called it Ramaswamy temple. This temple is unique as Rama and Sita are in a Pattabishekam posture-Coronation scene . Rama and Sita are surrounded by Lakshmana, Shatrugna, Bharatha and the ever obedient Hanuman with Veena in one hand and the holy book of Ramayana in the other hand in a sitting posture. This coronation scene attracts people from far off places who are awe struck at the divine sight of the celestial confluence. A separate sanctum sanctorum is dedicated to Srinivasa with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi . There are separate shrines for Azhwars and acharyas. The temple looks majestic with a mammoth Gopuram which seem to beckon the devotees to propitiate the lord inside. There is a sprawling Mantap which is a treasure trove of sculptures about which we shall read in the next article. Presiding deities�Rama and Sita in the Pattabishekam Kolam.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Tiruchatthimuttham: This temple is located near Patteeswaram.The nearest railway station is at Darasuram, which is on the Thanjavur - Kumbakonam section of the Southern Railway. Located at a distance of about 8 Kms from Kumbakonam.The deity is known as Sivakozhundeeswarar and the goddess is perianayagi ammai. This the 22nd amongst the Tevara Sthalams South of the river Cauvery and the saint Tirunavukarasar has sung hyms of the Lord.Swamimalai:Swamimalai is a sylvan village, located about five kilometers west of Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery. Swamimalai is hailed as one of the 6 padai veedu shrines of Skanda where he sojourned during his battle against the demon Soorapadman. It has been praised in Tirumurugaatruppadai of the tamil sangam period and by the Tiruppugazh hymns of Arunagirinathar. Swamimalai is located in the vicinity of the temple town of Kumbhakonam. Very closeby is the grand temple of Tiruvalanchuzhi now in a state of neglect.The presiding deity,Swaminathan, here expounded the inference of the Pranava mantra OM to his own Father Lord Siva Himself. The temple is built on an artificial hillock of about 60 ft height with stone steps representing the Hindu cycle of 60 years - leading to the Lord. On the ground level there are shrines to Sundareswarar & Meenakshi. The temple has an imposing golden chariot made out of 7 Kilos of gold, 85 Kilos of silver and other metals like copper.For more details log onto: http://murugan.org/temples/swamimalai.htmTirukkudamookku Adi Kumbeswarar: This is an ancient temple dedicated to Shiva in the heart of the town.The Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is the most important shrine in the temple town of Kumbakonam and 26th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. The temple is said to be over 1300 years old. The Saivite Saints Sambandar, Appar have sung its praise. The Chola and Naik Kings patronized this temple The Mangalambikai shrine here is revered as a Shakti Peetham (Mantra Peetham). The Mahamagam festival,held once every 12 years,attracts crowds from all over India.The Temple: This temple covers an area of about 4 acres & the rajagopuram rises to a height of 128 feet and is endowed with several images of great beauty. Four prakarams line this temple.The huge Mahamagam tank is surrounded by 16 picturesque mandapams, dating back to the 16th century. The Kalyana Mandapam hall in the temple, is the seat of the Tirukkalyana Utsavam. The Navaratri mandapam bears a carvings of the 12 zodiac signs and the 27 asterisms. This temple also houses two nadaswarams made of stone. Many images in this temple deserve mention, especially those of Kiratamurthy and Subramanyar. The Image of Lord Subrahmanya, is a rare specimen. It has six heads but only six hands holding different kinds of weapons.Kumbeswarar is represented as a Shivalingam fashioned out of earth - (said to have been made by Shiva in the guise of a hunter - Kiratamurthy). Shiva is also known as Amudha Kumbhesar and Amudheesar. The Kumbariya Vinayakar shrine is situated near the tank, while Aadi Vinayakar is worshipped in the temple. Moorka Nayanaar is one of the 63 Nayanars associated with this temple.Legend:According to purana, a pot (kumbam) containing nectar and the seed of creation, was decorated by Lord Brahma with the sacred thread, with coconut and mango leaves on the top and was kept on the peak of Mount Meru. At the time of deluge, the sacred pot was carried by the currents and reached Kumbakonam where it got tilted. Now Lord Shiva disguising as a hunter and aimed an arrow at the pot and all materials inside the pot fell at different places, where we find today shrines dedicated to Siva. The nectar settled at two places one of which became the famous Mahamaham Tank. Out of the pieces of the broken pot Lord Siva made out a Sivalingam and entered into it. This now enshrined in the temple, and hence the name Adi Kumbeswarar, meaning one who entered the Kumba or vessel long long ago. Now you know how Kumbhakonam got its name !For more details log on to the official temple website: http://www.adikumbeswarar.org/
Friday, May 1, 2009
Kanjanoor:The main temple for Lord Sukran is located at Kanjanur, 18 km in the Kallanai-Poompuhar Highway of Thanjavur district. This is the 36th in the series of Thevara Sthalams in Chola Nadu north of the Cauvery. The deity is Agneeswarar and Ambal Karpagambal, tirtham is Agni Tirtham. It is one of the Navagraha Sthalams in Thanjavur area.This shrine is also referred to as Palaasavanam, Bhrammapuri and Agnistalam. Stone images of Natarajar and Sivakami are seen in this temple in the Nataraja Sabha referred to as the Mukti Mandapam. The Shivatandavam here is referred to as Mukti Tandavam. Legend has it that Shiva blessed Paraasara muni with a vision of the cosmic dance - Mukti tandavam here.Tiruvidaimarudur: Tiruvidaimarudur is considered to be the 30th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. The deity is known as Marudavaanar or Mahalingeswarar. The consort is called Perunalamaamulaiyaal, Brihadsundarakuchambika. Vriksham is Marudamaram,the Theertham is Cauvery & Patikam : Appar, Sundarar. Significance: This huge temple is one of the greatest Saivite shrines in Tamilnadu and is referred to as Madhyarjunam Kshetram and is said to be on par with Chidambaram and Varanasi. Madhyarjunam translates into 'Idai Marudu' in Tamil. Marudu stands for the stala vruksham maruda maram. Kings from as far away places are said to have visited this shrine. Legend has it that Shiva was worshipped by Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Kaali, the VEdas, Vasishtar, Skanda, Vishnu and Agastya. This temple is surrounded on four corners by temples dedicated to Viswanathar, Rishipureeswarar, Aatmanathar and Chokkanathar and hence the name Pancha Lingastalam. One of the interesting beliefs held here is that an abhishekam performed to Chokkanathar to the accompaniment of the megaraagakurinji raaga would result in a bountiful monsoon.According to legends it is considered highly auspicious to do a pradakshinam (a circumambulatory walk through the corridors) on these 3 corridors:Aswamedha praharam: This prakaram or corridor is the outermost prakaram and doing pradhakshinam in this praharam will give the effect of doing Ashwamedha yagam.Kodumudi praharam: This is the middle corridor and doing pradakshinam in this prakaram will give the effect of visiting Mount Kailash - the Abode of Lord Shiva.Pranava praharam: This the innermost corridor and doing pradakshinam in this prakaram will give mokshaa (salavation).King Varaguna Pandian of Pandiya Naadu,an ardent devotte of Shiva, visited this temple to rid himself of Brahmahati Dosham. He entered the temple from the East but exited from the West and thus got rid of the Brahma Hatti Dosham.A separate shrine for Mookambikai is of special significance here. Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Arthanareeswarar to sage Markandeyar at this sivasthalam.Patteswaram: The ruling goddess of this temple is known by many names such as Vishnu durga, Durga lakshmi, Navasakthi Nayaki, Navayoga Nayaki, Navagraha Nayaki, Navaratri Nayaki, Navakoti Nayaki, to name a few. She is said to protect the northern gate of this temple. The temple has five majestic gopurams and the splendid architecture of this place can be attributed to the styles of the Pallavas, Cholas and the Nayaks. Traditionally, the ruling deity is Dhenupureeswarar or Patteeswarar and the goddess is His Consort, also known as Gnanambika. This is the 23rd among the Thevara Sthalams located to the South of the Cauvery. The place has a long association with Lord Rama. Viswamitra got enlightened here on Gayatri Mahamantra and was conferred the title - Brahmarishi. She was the crowning triumph of the Chola emperors. Seated on the Mahishan, She appears as the Simhavahini, with Her eight hands holding the conch, wheel, bow, arrow, knife and a parrot, abhayakaram, and kedayam . Draped in traditional madisar saree with lemon and arali garlands, she is ‘shanta swaroopini’People believe that everyday during the Rahu kalam, Rahu comes and worships Durga. The temple's tank is called the Rama Theertham. Tirugnana Sambandar and Ramalingar have composed many hymns in praise of Her.Thiruvalanchuzhi:Sri VellaiPillaiyar Temple is situated at Thiruvalanchuzhi, a village near Kumbakonam. It is easiest approached via Swamimalai from where it is around 5 Kms. A white colored image of Ganapati - Shweta Vinayakar(Vellai Vinayakar or Nurai Pillayar) is the center of worship here. Legend has it that the Gods (the Devas) fashioned this image out of the foam that was generated when the milky ocean (Ksheera Samudram) was churned by them, in their quest for the celestial nectar Amritam. Indra the King of Devas is said to have had this image in his possession after gaining immortality through Amritam, and during his penance at Swamimalai, set the image down at Tiruvalanchuzhi, after which it became rooted to the spot. Inscriptions reveal that Raja Raja Cholan had made several endowments here. There are inscriptions here from the period of Parantaka Chola I.
This was a visit I had made before I got into the blogging habit. The year was 2006 and we were in Chennai for our visa interview at the US Consulate. On the final day day of the trip we visited Ankichi Periamma, Sambamoorthy Anna & Manni at Rail Nagar. After a pleasant evening and sumptuous dinner Anna dropped us off a the Mofussil Bus terminus from where we boarded a late night bus for Kumbakonam.We reached Kumbakonam early morning around 5.00 am and went straight to Hotel Raya's. A nice hotel conveniently situated at the hub of Kumbakonam. We hired a taxi and left on a temple trip in and around Kumbakonam.Garbarakshambigai:Our primary objective was to visit Tiru Karugavoor Garbharakshambigai Temple. This temple is located 20 kilometers South West of Kumbakonam. In this temple Parvathi took the form of Sri Garbharakshambikai in order to give special protection to women during pregnancy. Bhavana was pregnant at that time and Shobha made an offerring of Castor Oil which was placed at the feet of the Goddess and charged with manthras. When women get labour pains, this oil is smeared on their abdomen. This will eliminate all complications, dangers and after effects and make the deliveries quite easy. (In fact Shobha carried the castor oil to the USA and when when complications appeared during Bhavana's delivery, she quietly smeared the oil on her abdomen and lo and behold the complications disappeared and the delivery was smoothe)Childless couples also come here to pray and make offerring of ghee. If the couples consume some of this Ghee at night daily for 48 days the woman will conceive soon and be blessed with children.As per legend when Vedika, the pregnant wife of Sage Nithuvar, was cursed by Sage Urthvapada with foul disease, Goddess Parvathi came to her rescue and saved the embryo and kept it in a divine pot, till it bloomed into a full fledged child. From then onwards goddess has taken permanent abode here as Garbharakshambigai. The Lord here is called Mullaivananathar and his Linga is Swayambhu or "self manifested". The linga is made of anthill mud and hence no water is used for abhishekam. Instead the lingam is pasted with a musk called called "Punuhu".Tirunageswaram:Next we visited the Naganatha swamy Temple located around 7 Kms east of Kumbakonam. This is the 29th in the series of thevara sthalams south of the Cauvery and hymns have been sung by Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar, Sundarar. The lord is known as Sanbakaranyeswarar, Naganathar and his consort is Girikusambikai. The real significance of this temple is that this is one of the Navagraha Sthalas(Rahu Sthala) in Tamilnadu. Rahu worshipped the Lord here on Sivarathri day to redeem himself from the curse of a rishi. Sundays are very auspicious and devotees perform milk abhishekam to Rahu, who is enshrined with His consorts. A noteworthy feature is that the milk turns blue. A dip in Soola Theertha is said to cure diseases and give prosperity.The mythological serpents Aadi Seshan,Dakshan & Karkootakan worshipped Siva here. The temple occupies 15 acres and has large prakarams, towering gopurams and several mandapams. Fort like walls surround the outermost prakarams of the temple. There are 12 Tirthams here.This temple was built by Gandaraditya Chola son of Parantaka Chola IFor more details log onto the official website of the temple : http://thirunageswaramraghutemple.org/index.htmTirumanagalakudi:Devotees set to Suriyanar Temple to worship the Sun God should visit this place for relief of adverse effects of the nine planets (Navagrahas). This is 38th among Tevara Sthalams located on the Northern Bank of the Cauvery in Thanjavur District.The deity is Prananadeswarar (Swayambhu Lingam) and the consort is Mangalambikai. Thirumangalakudi is known as Panchamangala Kshetra. The name of the place is Mangalakudi. The Goddess is Mangalambika. The tower is Mangala Vimanam. The Holy Water is Mangala Theertham. The Vinayaka is Mangala Vinayaka. Everything in the temple denotes Mangala or Prosperity.There is no special place for the Navagrahas here. It is believed that the the planets in the Suriyanar Temple are the ones belonging to this temple. For more details log onto to website: http://www.dinamalar.com/koil_english/Shiva_01Arulmigu%20Prananadeswarar%20Temple_Thirumangalakudi.aspSuriyanar Temple: This is a unique temple dedicated to the Sun God and it also houses shrines to each of the other eight celestial bodies - the Nava Grahams. Suryanaar Koyil was built by the Chola kings. Inscriptions from the period of Kulottunga Chola I (1075-1120) refer to this temple as the Kulottunga Chola Martanda Alayam. Inscriptions from the period of Krishna Deva Raya, speaking of endowments made to this temple are also seen here. The presiding deity here is Suryanarayana in a chariot like vimaanam, representing the sun's chariot. There are also shrines to Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Brihaspati (Guru) in the sanctum. Shrines to the other celestial bodies are located outside of the sanctum. The Kol Theertha Vinayakar shrine is considered to be of importance here. An elaborate worship protocol involving circumambulating the entire temple nine times, is prescribed for devotees visiting the temple.Uppiliappan Temple:Next on our itinerary was Sri Oppiliappan Temple situated about 7 kms south of Kumbakonam and about 1\2 km from Kumbakonam - Karaikal bus route. This is one of the important Divya Desams and the presiding deity is known by different names: Tiruvinnagarappan, Oppiliappan, Uppiliappan, Srinivasan, Vankatachalapati. The Goddess is also known by different names namely:Bhoomi Devi, Bhoodevi,Bhoomi Nachiar, Dharani Devi, Vasundhara. The Deity stands majestically facing east. His consort Bhoomidevi is seated with a bending knee and folded hands facing north. Markandeya is seated facing south in a posture indicative of giving Kanyadan.As per legend Lord Oppiliappan appeared to Nammalwar in 5 different forms as Ponnappan, Maniappan, Muthappan, Ennappan and Tiruvinnagarappan. Nammalwar, Tirumangai Alwar, Poigai & Pey Alwar have sung praises of the Lord. The Vimanam is named as Suddhananda, meaning "pure happiness". This place is also known as Markandeya Kshetra and Tulsi Vanam. The holy temple tank is called "Ahoratra Pushkarini". To the south of the temple, three holy rivers flow-known as Dakshina Ganga, Dakshina Yamuna and Dakshina Godavari.Speciality of the Temple:All food offerings strictly and completely saltless. It is a sin to carry salt inside the temple. Hence the Lord is also called as 'Lavana Varjita Venkatesa' i.e. Venkatesa who avoids salt.The utsava deity oppiliappan is never taken out of the temple, without His consort, Bhoomidevi.For history,legends & other details log onto: http://oppiliappantemple.org/efirstpage.htmlNachiyar Koil, Thirunaraiyur:One of the 108 divya desams,the place is almost an hour's drive from the temple town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district. The main deity here is Lord Vishnu in the form of Srinivasar (Tirunaraiyur Nambi) and His consort is Vanchulavalli thaayaar. The holy theertham here is known as Manimukta Pushkarini and this sthalam has been sung by Tirumangai Alwar, who refers to the Lord as "Naraiyur Nindra Nambi. This temple was built by the Chola King Ko Chenkannan. Naachiyaar or Taayaar, gets the place of primary importance in this shrine, thus the name, Naachiyaar Koil. The Lord appears in the marriage pose or Kalyanakkolam with Vanchulavalli Taayaar (Nambikkai Naachiyaar) in the sanctum sanctorum. A special shrine dedicated to the Kal Garudan at Nachiyar Koil is very famous and it is on Garuda that the Uthsava moorthi is taken during the temple festivals. Specialty of the Kal Garuda - When it is just taken out of the shrine, only four people are needed to carry the mount. With each step, the mount increases in weight and by the time it is carried out of the temple, 64 people are required to carry it! There are also shrines to Yoga Narasimhar, Veera Hanuman, Ramar and Chakrapani.......to be continued.....
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Earlier today, Baseball America released the Washington Nationals’ Top 10 Prospects along with detailed scouting reports on each player. Here is the list along with a note on each player taken from the article.
1. Lucas Giolito
“He also throws a 12-to-6 power curveball in the 84-86 range that Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams has called one of the best curves he’s ever seen when Giolito throws a good one. It has late bite and excellent depth, projecting as a plus-plus pitch with a chance to be a second 80 offering.”
2. A.J. Cole
“Cole pitches predominantly off his explosive fastball, which sits at 94-95 mph and regularly touches 97. His fastball command is solid, but it remains better to his arm side than his glove side.”
3. Brian Goodwin
“He has worked to eliminate the double toe tap that disrupted his timing, but his approach can still be segmented, causing his swing to be late. If he can get himself into better hitting position more consistently, he could become a slightly above-average hitter, because his hands really work.”
4. Matt Skole
“The Nationals helped him get more out of his huge frame by minimizing his leg kick, solidifying his base and improving his balance. He showed an improved ability to stay back and drive breaking pitches the other way in his last healthy season.”
5. Robbie Ray
“Ray attacks hitters primarily with his heater, which ranges from 91-96 mph, averaging about 93. His arm still drags at times, causing his release point and command to be inconsistent, but he is a good athlete with a loose arm, prompting scouts to project his command as at least average.”
6. Sammy Solis
“Solis has a good delivery, a physical frame and an unflappable demeanor on the mound.”
7. Michael Taylor
“He’s a plus runner with plus-plus range thanks to his outstanding reads and jumps, and his plus arm is accurate. He made huge strides with his baserunning, demonstrating good leads, reads and jumps.”
8. Jake Johansen
“Though his command and his secondary stuff remain works in progress, Johansen dominated the NY-P with a premium fastball that sat at 94-96 mph with heavy sink and topped out at 99.”
9. Nate Karns
“He has a second plus pitch in his wipeout hammer curveball, which ranges from 82-85 mph. He’s still learning to throw the curve for strikes, but he excels at getting hitters to chase it.”
10. Steven Souza
“Souza is a physical specimen with multiple loud tools. He has 65 raw power and is capable of hitting home runs from pole to pole.”
Photo courtesy Paul Chaplin / PennLive
Then at 2:30 BA writer Aaron Fitt went in an online chat to discuss the list and those players that missed the cut. Here are some snippets on other noteworthy current and former Senators.
Billy Burns
“You’ve got to love Burns’ top-of-the-charts speed and his ability to make good use of it. He knows his game and does not try to do too much.”
Zach Walters
“He has plus arm strength as well, which should be an asset at shortstop, but he’s just an erratic defender, and his strikeout/walk rate is a significant concern for me.”
Taylor Jordan
“I like that power sinker/slider combination, and I like that he’s already proven he can get big league hitters out.”
Tanner Roark
“One scout I spoke with saw him at 92-95 with a plus slider at 82-85 and a slightly above-average curveball. That’s loud stuff, and he certainly would have been a real factor on this list had he qualified.”
Eury Perez
“It’s tough to succeed as a speed guy without an impact bat if you’re not drawing a lot of walks, and at this point it’s becoming unlikely that Perez is suddenly going to morph into an on-base machine. He still has value because of his plus-plus speed, his quality defense, his solid arm and his baserunning ability.”
Destin Hood
“He just has not progressed as the Nationals hoped. His swing lacks fluidity, he still struggles to recognize spin, and his power potential still does not translate to game action.”
Brian Goodwin
“I haven’t given up on the idea of him becoming a star, but he also might be just a solid regular who fits better in the 7-hole than the leadoff spot. There is a wide variance of opinion among evaluators when it comes to Goodwin.”
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[Evolutionary-biological peculiarities of transglutaminase. Structure, physiological functions, application].
Transglutaminasc (protein-glutamine gamma-glutamyltransferase, EC 2.3.2.13, TG) catalyzes reactions of the acyl transfer, which introduce the epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine bonds between proteins to create polymers of high mol. mass. Properties of the TG enzyme are described. Its structure is considered: there are characterized items of the TG life cycle and stability, its biological (physiological) role, and significance in pathology and medicine as well as obtaining of the purified enzyme preparations and their use. There are compared TG from different sources: of animal and microbial origin. Mechanism of catalysis of microbial TG is discussed. There are presented characteristics of isoenzymes from different biological sources.
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New Jersey's Christie casts shadow over Iowa, 2012
DES MOINES, Iowa — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he's not running for president, but he's still leaving an imprint on the 2012 Republican campaign as a potential kingmaker — and distraction.
His visit to Iowa on Monday is evidence of both.
Christie is swooping in to speak at an education conference in Des Moines and headline a political fundraiser for a congressman.
Although Christie has batted away the possibility of a 2012 run at every turn, some of the GOP presidential contenders have sought his advice and support.
"If he feels compelled that he can make a difference, he may endorse a candidate," said Christie's senior political adviser, Mike DuHaime.
Christie is inviting national attention at a time when GOP voters have been slow to embrace the field of announced candidates. His visit comes on the same day when two hopefuls, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, were scheduled to campaign in the leadoff caucus state ahead of an August straw poll.
"Any time Christie comes out here, he's obviously going to take some air out of the room," said Doug Gross, an influential Iowa Republican who has not committed to a candidate in the 2012 campaign. "He again creates this sense that the current field isn't complete or isn't sufficient."
The attention on Christie may ebb if Texas Gov. Rick Perry enters the race next month.
But efforts to court Christie have continued this summer even though he has said that his four school-age children and further goals in his first term make a White House bid out of the question.
This past week, Christie met with Home Depot co-founder Kenneth Langone, among the influential economic conservatives who want Christie to run.
In May, a meeting with Christie in Princeton, N.J., that was arranged by a group of Iowa GOP business leaders and donors made headlines as a sign of discontent with the GOP field. Iowa activists are accustomed to being courted in their own state.
The group's leader, energy company executive Bruce Rastetter, had been impressed by Christie last fall when the New Jersey governor headlined a fundraiser for Terry Branstad's gubernatorial campaign. Rastetter was Branstad's top fundraiser in 2010.
Christie agreed during the May meeting to attend the education conference organized by Branstad and to stop in at the fundraiser in West Des Moines for U.S. Rep. Steve King.
It makes sense for Christie to stay in the good graces of Iowa Republicans, should he keep the door open for running for president in 2016, as he has.
The King event is in part out of gratitude for the congressman's support for Christie at a congressional hearing two years ago, King adviser Chuck Laudner said.
Christie, then the nominee for New Jersey governor, faced pointed questioning at a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing in the Democratic-controlled House about no-bid contracts he awarded as U.S. attorney in New Jersey. Christie's star has risen quickly after he defeated a Democratic governor in a Democratic state just a year after Democrat Barack Obama was elected president.
But Christie's national profile has continued to rise, in part for his frank and sometimes confrontational exchanges with media, captured on video and circulated on the internet by his staff.
He has drawn praise from fiscal hawks and loud complaints from public-sector unions for efforts to trim benefits for public employees as part of steep budget cuts in his first two years in office.
Christie is pursuing education measures aimed at abolishing indefinite tenure for teachers and establishing merit-based pay. Branstad said last week he will propose linking teacher pay raises to classroom performance.
Christie's approval has begun to slip in public opinion polls from a healthy rating of roughly half of New Jersey voters a year ago to below 50 percent in recent months, while his disapproval has also inched higher to near 50 percent at the same time.
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Inhibition of myeloid differentiation factor-2 attenuates obesity-induced cardiomyopathy and fibrosis.
Obesity causes cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling, via chronic tissue inflammation. Myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD2), a binding protein of lipopolysaccharide, is functionally essential for the activation of proinflammatory pathways in endotoxin-induced acute inflammatory diseases. Here we tested the hypothesis that MD2 plays a central role in obesity-induced cardiomyopathy. Wildtype or MD2 knockout mice were fed with a high fat diet (HFD) or normal diet (Control) for total 16weeks, and MD2 inhibitor L6H21 (20mg/kg) or vehicle (1% CMC-Na) were administered from the beginning of the 9th week. HFD induced significant weight gain and cardiac hypertrophy, with increased cardiac fibrosis and inflammation. L6H21 administration or MD2 knockout attenuated HFD-induced obesity, inflammation and cardiac remodeling. In vitro exposure of H9C2 cells to high lipids induced cell hypertrophy with activated JNK/ERK and NF-κB pathways, which was abolished by pretreatment of MD2 inhibitor L6H21. Our results demonstrate that MD2 is essential to obesity-related cardiac hypertrophy through activating JNK/ERK and NF-κB-dependent cardiac inflammatory pathways. Targeting MD2 would be a therapeutic approach to prevent obesity-induced cardiac injury and remodeling.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the cleansing of fishing reels, and more particularly to the effective removal of salt and other accumulations from sport fishing reels without ruinous incursions of water into the internal mechanisms of these reels.
2. Related Art
Fishing reels are highly complex assemblies used to control fishing line in the course of fishing. Intricate gearing, precision parts and costly materials of construction make effective routine maintenance of fishing reels essential. Above all, maintenance should not contribute to the destruction of these reels. The most common problem in maintaining fishing reels is cleaning salt and other accumulants from the reel after use. Merely blasting with water will remove the accumulants, but will force water into the internal reel mechanisms, away from air circulation, where rust can develop, with ensuing loss of reel performance and eventually a premature need for replacement of parts.
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Image compression techniques reduce the memory required for storage of large or complex images, permitting storage of images in devices with limited memory. For example, image compression techniques used in digital copiers and scanners aid in storage of complex images for subsequent printing. Similarly, image compression benefits communications where bandwidth limitations would otherwise render transmission of image data impractical. Image compression also offers substantial benefits for archiving large image libraries.
The JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) standard is a set of image compression techniques that have gained widespread acceptance. The most popular of the three general compression methods defined by the JPEG standard is the baseline sequential discrete cosine transform (DCT) technique. This technique reduces the file size of grayscale and color images with a near minimum possible loss of image quality. The basic image unit for JPEG compression is the image block which includes an eight pixel by eight pixel subset of the image. Each image block is analyzed and quantized, yielding DCT coefficients representative of the image block content. The coefficients are then Huffman coded to reduce the amount of data used to characterize them.
Huffman symbols used in JPEG image compression generally combine zero run length and magnitude length information to represent the coefficients in the smallest possible number of bits. The zero run length specifies the number of consecutive zero-valued coefficients preceding a non-zero coefficient. The magnitude length specifies the bit length of that part of the JPEG symbol which represents the value of the non-zero coefficient. Huffman codes are based on a set of variable word length symbols. The number of bits used to represent a particular Huffman code should be inversely related to the probability of encountering the run-length/magnitude length represented by that code (i.e., entropy encoding).
A common way to decode bit patterns is to compare each bit pattern to a set of stored bit patterns in a content-addressable memory (CAM). Each stored bit pattern contains the bits to be matched and information about which bits are to be ignored (i.e., masked) in the comparison. If one of the stored bit patterns matches the symbol bit pattern, information necessary for the decoding of the symbol bit pattern is read out of a separate memory. The information includes the length of the Huffman part, the length of the magnitude part, and the overall JPEG symbol length. The length of the Huffman part is required for determining the start of the magnitude bits, the length of the magnitude part specifies the number of magnitude bits, and the overall symbol length is used to determine the start of the next symbol. Because the bit lengths are interrelated, separate storage of all of these lengths requires more logic circuitry and storage capacity than is desirable. In addition, retrieval and processing of the multiple bit lengths from memory requires crucial decoding time.
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