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By Matthew Galati Permanent residency has always been the holy grail for virtually all EB-5 investors. Yet, after the conditions upon residency are removed, some seek the ultimate prize: naturalization as a U.S. citizen. What are the requirements for naturalization and how can applicants prepare themselves for the process of obtaining citizenship? Even though there are general guidelines for this process, much depends on individual circumstances and residence history. Applicants would be wise to at least consult with an attorney prior to applying, if not engaging counsel for the entire process. REQUIREMENT 1: PHYSICAL AND CONTINUOUS PRESENCE WITHIN THE CORRECT TIMEFRAME Lawful permanent residency (a.k.a having a green card) is a prerequisite for obtaining U.S. citizenship through naturalization. The general rule is that one needs to hold permanent residency for five years in order to obtain citizenship. However, there is an exception for individuals married to and residing with U.S. citizens themselves. Such individuals need only be residents for three years. It does not matter what was the basis of the LPR status. If an EB-5 investor obtains an immigrant visa and falls in love with an American upon landing in U.S., that marriage could form a shorter timeline to qualify for citizenship. The investor would become eligible three years after the wedding bells ring, even if that date is less than five years after immigrating as a conditional permanent resident. Meeting the physical presence requirement is simply a matter of mathematics. The citizenship applicant must have been physically present for at least one half of the time within the qualifying window. Accordingly, for applicants subject to a five-year window, that would be approximately 914 days or more, those subject to a three-year window would be approximately 548 days or more. Regardless, the applicant must also have resided for at least 3 months in the state from where he or she is filing. Separate from the requirement of physical presence is that the applicant must be continuously present – a more subjective analysis as to whether or not the applicant has disrupted continuity in the U.S. The immigration laws provide that an absence of 6 months to less than a year raises a presumption that residency has been interrupted. Depending on the circumstances this may be able to be overcome through evidence of ongoing ties to the U.S. Absence beyond a year disrupts residence as a matter of law. Certain exceptions, such as military service abroad, may apply to these general rules. REQUIREMENT 2: KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND U.S. CIVICS Unlike some countries’ programs, permanent residency in the U.S. does not require language ability nor knowledge of U.S. history or government. For most applicants, citizenship does. Applicants are administered testing during a citizenship interview at a local USCIS office where they must satisfy some basic requirements. These language and civics examinations are not required for applicants of certain ages who have resided in the U.S. for decades or those subject to physical or developmental disabilities that can be offered a waiver. The English language test for citizenship is not overly complicated. Satisfactorily handling the citizenship interview in English without an interpreter generally satisfies the speaking portion of the examination. During the interview, the applicant must also read one out of three sentences provided. Finally, the applicant must also write out a sentence spoken by the USCIS officer. Allowances are made for any spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors. The civics test requires a showing that the applicant understands U.S. government and history. This examination, often dramatized in pop culture, is verbal examination where the applicant must answer six questions correctly (out of a maximum 10). Questions may involve geography, such as “Name one state that borders Canada”; history, such as “Name one problem that led to the Civil War”; or government, “What is the name of the speaker of the House of Representatives now?” A comprehensive guide of all potential questions and their answers is available on USCIS’ website. Applicants who fail either the English literacy or civics tests during their first examination but otherwise would qualify for naturalization are allowed opportunity to reschedule their interviews for a second opportunity without needing to file a new naturalization application. REQUIREMENT 3: GOOD MORAL CHARACTER Naturalization requires evidence of good moral character for the requisite period of filing before the citizenship application. The immigration statues define who does not qualify as having good moral character, which include “habitual drunkards”, illegal gamblers, certain individuals convicted of crimes, and those who have lied in order to obtain immigration benefits. Entire bodies of case law have interpreted these provisions – a subject far too complicated to discuss in this article. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that judicial and administrative interpretations are subject to change. For example, in April 2019, USCIS clarified that applicants working in the cannabis industry may be found to not have good moral character, even if legalized at the state level or in Washington D.C. Perhaps the agency will one day evolve on this issue. If an applicant has a history of any kind of criminal or immigration law violations, or a history of substance abuse or dependency, a consultation with an attorney on those specific issues would be very prudent. REQUIREMENT 4: MISCELLANEOUS OTHER REQUIREMENTS There are miscellaneous other requirements worth mentioning that usually do not pose issues. Applicants must be attached to the principles of the U.S. constitution, be willing to bear arms and/or perform noncombatant service when required by law, and to take the citizenship oath. It is worth noting that certain types of applicants, such as Communist Party members, are barred. Attorney representation would certainly be warranted where the applicant was a communist or served in any political party against general democratic norms. TIMELINES FOR FILING AND ADJUDICATION The Application for Naturalization is form N-400. The filing fee is $640 with an $85 biometric fee for applicants under 75, for a total of $725. Unlike most immigration applications, it can be filed online. Further, it can be filed up to 3 months before the residence requirements are met. Following receipt, most applicants must appear for a biometrics appointment. Unlike the IPO’s role with EB-5 filings, naturalizations are adjudicated in the local USCIS office holding jurisdiction over the applicant’s residency. USCIS publishes processing times for the initial receipting and interview stages. Following a successful interview and examinations, the applicant is then scheduled to return to USCIS for a naturalization ceremony, or in certain circumstances may take the oath before a judge (such as where the applicant wants to change his or her name). If USCIS does not take action on a naturalization within 120-days after the interview, an applicant has a specific right to seek review in federal court. HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE NATURALIZATION APPLICATION Consisting of 20 pages, form N-400 is relatively complicated. When preparing the application, it is important to review all previous immigration filings to ensure consistency. Accordingly, EB-5 investors would be wise to make sure they have copies of any kind of employer petition, the I-526 submission, adjustment / consular documents, and the I-829. Form N-400 requires five years of addresses and employment documentation. It also requires disclosures and an itinerary of all trips of 24 hours or longer taken outside the U.S. during the last five years, so permanent residents would be well-advised to keep track of their travel abroad meticulously. Applicants should of course brush up on their English ability (where applicable) and study the 100 questions that could be asked on the civics exam. Finally, it is of critical importance to consider issues of dual citizenship as the legal effect of the oath must be considered. The U.S. government will generally only treat the naturalized citizen as being exclusively American. However, naturalization in the U.S. could automatically end the original citizenship as per some countries’ laws. Other countries, including multiple in Europe, require filings to be made before or after the naturalization process in order to preserve citizenship. Consultation with foreign immigration attorneys could prevent a catastrophic mistake if dual citizenship is a must-have. INA §316(a) 8 CFR §319.1(a)(3). Depending on the number of leap days during the relevant period.	https://www.eb5investors.com/eb5-guide/eb-5-us-passport
As new information and communication technologies have altered so many aspects of our daily lives over the past decades, they have simultaneously stimulated a shift in the types of data that we collect, produce, and analyze. Together, this changing data landscape is often referred to as "big data." Big data is distinguished from "small data" not only by its high volume but also by the velocity, variety, exhaustivity, resolution, relationality, and flexibility of the datasets. This entry discusses the visualization of big spatial datasets. As many such datasets contain geographic attributes or are situated and produced within geographic space, cartography takes on a pivotal role in big data visualization. Visualization of big data is frequently and effectively used to communicate and present information, but it is in making sense of big data – generating new insights and knowledge – that visualization is becoming an indispensable tool, making cartography vital to understanding geographic big data. Although visualization of big data presents several challenges, human experts can use visualization in general, and cartography in particular, aided by interfaces and software designed for this purpose, to effectively explore and analyze big data.	https://gistbok.ucgis.org/bok-slide/big-data-visualization
This page is intended to be the best-available compendium of information about the probabilities of different pathologies in 3-candidate instant runoff voting (IRV) elections. The "total paradox probability" in such elections, i.e. the probability that at least one among the 8 pathologies {Q, R, U, V, W, X, Y, Z} listed below (note that set does not include S and T) occur in a random election, is found to be 24.59%, 13.99%, and 27.50% in our three different probability models (defined below) respectively. But if we restrict attention to elections in which the IRV process matters, i.e. in which the IRV and plain-plurality winners differ (i.e. exactly the elections IRV-advocates tend to cite as examples of the "success" of the Instant Runoff Voting process), the total paradox probability becomes stunningly large: 74.10%, 72.61%, and 54.44% For the most part, this was not previously recognized. This goes a long way toward explaining why it has been so incredibly easy for people like me to find pathologies in real-world IRV elections, seemingly most of the time we ever looked at any interesting IRV election for which we could obtain enough data, and seemingly especially in the elections cited by IRV-advocates as "great successes" for IRV. These numbers appear a rather serious indictment of Instant Runoff Voting as a decision-making process, as well as hurting its enactment/repeal chances. These large probabilities differ from the perception advanced by the IRV-advocacy group "FairVote," formerly named the "Center for Voting and Democracy." E.g. FairVote's "senior analyst" Steven Hill and the head of Fairvote, Rob Richie, are quoted in the 2008 popular science book Gaming the Vote by William Poundstone (page 268), thus: [FairVote's] position is that such paradoxes are too rare to worry about. "We've had thousands of [IRV] elections and it's not an issue," said Rob Richie. Steven Hill, a senior analyst with [FairVote] dismisses "these mathematical paradoxes that while in theory are interesting for mathematicians to doodle around on their sketch pads, in fact have no basis in reality... it's also possible that a meteorite will strike Earth and wipe out life... but probably not for a few more million years." FairVote, Richie, and Hill have all cited various specific IRV elections as "great successes," including Burlington Vermont USA 2009, Ireland 1990, and the Australian House elections of 2007, which actually contained pathologies such as nonmonotonicity (a fact they, during these laudings, left unmentioned). Indeed, despite me and others pointing out these and other examples to FairVote repeatedly for many years, they continue to maintain to this very day In terms of the frequency of non-monotonicity in real-world elections: there is no evidence that this has ever played a role in any IRV election – not the IRV presidential elections in Ireland, nor the literally thousands of hotly contested IRV federal elections that have taken place for generations in Australia, nor in any of the IRV elections in the United States. – FairVote webpage titled "Monotonicity and IRV – Why the Monotonicity Criterion is of Little Import" downloaded 24 August 2010; our emphasis added. 1. The three probability models View a V-voter C-candidate election as a big table with V rows. The kth row specifies which of the C! possible rank-order-style ballots was the vote selected by the kth voter. We assume all among the C!V possible such tables are equally likely, and take the limit V→∞. Dirichlet model (also has been called "impartial anonymous culture"): The election is viewed as being defined by its vector of the C! nonnegative integer "vote totals" (one total for each possible ordering of the candidates, i.e. saying how many voters provided that ordering); this vector sums to V, the total number of voters. All such vectors are considered equally likely, and we take the limit V→∞. Quas's "1D political spectrum" model: The C candidates are regarded as independent random-uniform points on the real interval (0,1). The voters are the uniform distribution on (0,1) itself (the candidates are samples from it). As their vote, each voter orders the candidates in order of increasing distance. For example, 0------------J-----------------K----------L----------1 in this picture, the candidates dropped randomly on the line segment (0,1) are named J, K, and L; and the voter located at votes "J>K>L." 2. Mathematical techniques In the Quas and Dirichlet models the probability of any particular event defined by linear inequalities is proportional to a polytope volume in a C-dimensional or (C!-1)-dimensional space, respectively. It is possible to compute all these as exact rational numbers, in principle. For finite instead of infinite V, it comes down to counting lattice points inside polytopes, and that is in principle doable exactly as an "Ehrhart polynomial(V)" formula. In the REM, the probabilities instead arise from polytope volumes in a nonEuclidean spherical geometry. These are also in principle expressible exactly in terms of "Schläfli functions." However, I'm not doing any of that here. I'm just using Monte Carlo inexact evaluation. However, it looks to me now that all the Quas 1D probabilities tabulated in the blue table can be written as rational numbers with denominator=360, and all those in the yellow table with denominator=1800. I.e. our inexact Quas evaluations, if these conjectures are true (and they appear to be) can trivially be converted into exact ones. For example, the approximate number "6.9446" from the blue Quas table is 2500.056/360 which presumably means the corresponding exact answer is 2500/360=125/18=6.94444... and in fact this is true. The Monte Carlo data is presently insufficiently precise to determine the corresponding magic denominators for the Dirichlet model, but it strongly supports the idea that for the blue table, it is some multiple of 41472, while for the yellow table, it is a multiple of 12780. 3. Master List of Configurations and their Probabilities Consider the following 10 possible paradoxes that could afflict a 3-candidate Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) election with winner A and second-place finisher B. In cases S and T, a better word than "paradox" or "pathology" might be "phenomenon." That is, S and T cannot be regarded as "flaws" in the IRV election process, they are just phenomena that would have happened with those votes for any election process. That is why our "total paradox probability" includes only the 8 pathologies {Q, R, U, V, W, X, Y, Z} and not either S or T. Professor Jack Nagel has argued R also should have been un-included. For that, see §5. "Loser drop-out paradox." An IRV-loser, by dropping out of the race, would change the winner. (The loser, also called a "spoiler," is B, and when B drops out the winner changes from A to C.) The same set of 3-candidate IRV elections also exhibit "Favorite betrayal paradox": a set of co-voting voters are better off "betraying their favorite" than honestly voting that favorite top, i.e. it is unstrategic to vote for a "spoiler." All scoring rules (including Plain Plurality, antiPlurality, Borda, etc) agree the winner is B, disagreeing with IRV's winner A. If you agree that "democracy" should elect the most-loved and least-hated candidate, then since in these situations B is both of those things simultaneously, you must agree IRV got the wrong winner in these situations. There are 1024 possible combinations of those phenomena or their negations, which we denote by a 10-bit binary string. For example 0000100010 means "U and Y occur but QRST_VWX_Z all do not." We list every possible 10-bit string along with an IRV election example allegedly yielding precisely that combination of pathologies – and the probability of occurrence of that combination in our three probability models. (Bitstrings omitted if that configuration impossible, which is why there are many fewer than 1024 lines in our table.) Each percentage in the next two tables is based on 25×1010 Monte-Carlo experiments and therefore has additive standard error ±0.0001 or closer, i.e. please read "33.3333%" as "(33.3333±0.0001)%." The total computer time (2006-era personal computer) was ≈30 hours. QRSTUVWXYZ Election Example REM Prob. Dirichlet Prob. Quas-1D Prob. 0000000000 ABC= 0, ACB= 2, BAC= 0, BCA= 1, CAB= 0, CBA= 0 69.0762% 82.6390% 61.1110% 0001000000 ABC= 0, ACB= 7, BAC=12, BCA= 0, CAB= 6, CBA= 0 6.3361% 3.3757% 11.3890% 0001000100 ABC=15, ACB= 0, BAC=20, BCA= 0, CAB=10, CBA= 0 7.8076% 2.7826% 8.0555% 0001010100 ABC=20, ACB= 0, BAC=16, BCA=14, CAB=15, CBA= 0 2.8818% 0.9163% 0.0000% 0101000000 ABC=23, ACB=29, BAC=17, BCA=40, CAB= 6, CBA= 0 0.0164% 0.0096% 0.0000% 0101000100 ABC=18, ACB= 0, BAC= 8, BCA=15, CAB=10, CBA= 0 1.5332% 1.0079% 0.0000% 0101010100 ABC=26, ACB= 0, BAC=16, BCA=23, CAB=18, CBA= 0 0.1903% 0.0675% 0.0000% 1000000010 ABC= 0, ACB=13, BAC= 0, BCA=12, CAB= 6, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.6970% 7.0001% 1000001010 ABC= 0, ACB=19, BAC= 0, BCA=18, CAB=12, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.1087% 2.3750% 1000100010 ABC= 0, ACB=25, BAC= 6, BCA=18, CAB=18, CBA= 0 0.7542% 0.2211% 0.0000% 1000101010 ABC= 0, ACB=22, BAC= 0, BCA=21, CAB=16, CBA= 0 1.4849% 0.8830% 4.5139% 1001000010 ABC= 0, ACB=13, BAC= 4, BCA=14, CAB=10, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.2796% 1.3333% 1001001010 ABC= 0, ACB=15, BAC= 0, BCA=20, CAB=10, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0866% 1.7916% 1001100010 ABC= 0, ACB=13, BAC= 6, BCA=12, CAB=12, CBA= 0 0.5816% 0.1912% 0.0000% 1001101010 ABC= 0, ACB=25, BAC= 0, BCA=30, CAB=20, CBA= 0 0.5637% 0.4842% 2.4305% 1010000000 ABC= 6, ACB= 7, BAC= 0, BCA=12, CAB= 6, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.7006% 0.0000% 1010000001 ABC=13, ACB= 0, BAC= 0, BCA=12, CAB= 6, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.8733% 0.0000% 1010001000 ABC= 9, ACB=10, BAC= 0, BCA=18, CAB=12, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0901% 0.0000% 1010001001 ABC=19, ACB= 0, BAC= 0, BCA=18, CAB=12, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0938% 0.0000% 1010100000 ABC=12, ACB=13, BAC= 6, BCA=18, CAB=18, CBA= 0 1.3645% 0.1487% 0.0000% 1010100001 ABC=25, ACB= 0, BAC= 6, BCA=18, CAB=11, CBA= 7 0.6750% 0.1497% 0.0000% 1010101000 ABC=11, ACB=11, BAC= 0, BCA=21, CAB=16, CBA= 0 1.5123% 0.5507% 0.0000% 1010101001 ABC=22, ACB= 0, BAC= 0, BCA=21, CAB=16, CBA= 0 0.6668% 0.5181% 0.0000% 1011000000 ABC= 5, ACB=11, BAC= 3, BCA=18, CAB=10, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.4084% 0.0000% 1011000100 ABC= 8, ACB= 8, BAC= 3, BCA=18, CAB=10, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.3064% 0.0000% 1011001000 ABC= 5, ACB=12, BAC= 0, BCA=23, CAB=11, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0677% 0.0000% 1011001100 ABC= 9, ACB= 8, BAC= 0, BCA=22, CAB=11, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0990% 0.0000% 1011010100 ABC=10, ACB=10, BAC= 6, BCA=24, CAB=15, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0672% 0.0000% 1011011100 ABC=10, ACB=10, BAC= 0, BCA=30, CAB=15, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0618% 0.0000% 1011100000 ABC=11, ACB=17, BAC= 9, BCA=24, CAB=22, CBA= 0 0.5674% 0.0468% 0.0000% 1011100100 ABC=14, ACB=14, BAC= 9, BCA=24, CAB=22, CBA= 0 0.9166% 0.0898% 0.0000% 1011101000 ABC=11, ACB=17, BAC= 0, BCA=33, CAB=22, CBA= 0 0.1713% 0.0848% 0.0000% 1011101100 ABC=14, ACB=14, BAC= 0, BCA=33, CAB=22, CBA= 0 0.3934% 0.2041% 0.0000% 1011110100 ABC=15, ACB=15, BAC=11, BCA=29, CAB=25, CBA= 0 0.9354% 0.1557% 0.0000% 1011111100 ABC=15, ACB=15, BAC= 0, BCA=40, CAB=25, CBA= 0 0.4667% 0.3326% 0.0000% 1111000101 ABC=16, ACB= 0, BAC= 3, BCA=18, CAB=10, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.5566% 0.0000% 1111001101 ABC=17, ACB= 0, BAC= 0, BCA=22, CAB=11, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0738% 0.0000% 1111010101 ABC=20, ACB= 0, BAC= 6, BCA=24, CAB=15, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0823% 0.0000% 1111011101 ABC=20, ACB= 0, BAC= 0, BCA=30, CAB=15, CBA= 0 0.0000% 0.0347% 0.0000% 1111100101 ABC=28, ACB= 0, BAC= 9, BCA=24, CAB=16, CBA= 6 0.4807% 0.0665% 0.0000% 1111101101 ABC=28, ACB= 0, BAC= 0, BCA=33, CAB=22, CBA= 0 0.1528% 0.1374% 0.0000% 1111110101 ABC=30, ACB= 0, BAC=11, BCA=29, CAB=20, CBA= 5 0.3003% 0.0807% 0.0000% 1111111101 ABC=30, ACB= 0, BAC= 0, BCA=40, CAB=25, CBA= 0 0.1708% 0.1689% 0.0000% Below is a smaller summary table of some of the most-requested pathology-probability information in our three probability-models (All of the numbers in the below tables are derivable by adding up appropriate sets of numbers from the above master table): X: Would be strategic mistake for more voters of some single type to come 16.2296% 7.2916% 8.0555% T: Plurality and IRV winners differ 24.4661% 12.3263% 25.0000% S: Condorcet cycle 8.7740% 6.2500% 0.0000% Q∪R∪U∪V∪W∪X∪Y∪Z ("total paradox probability") 24.5877% 13.9853% 27.5000% Both kinds of participation failure simultaneously W∩X 1.1837% 1.1121% 0.0000% Both kinds of nonmonotonicity simultaneously U∩V 1.8732% 0.7378% 0.0000% Q∪V: Betraying B makes either B or C win (where either way the betrayers prefer that to A winning) 15.2305% 10.1852% 19.4445% Q: Loser drop-out paradox: If B drops out, that switches the winner from A to C. Also (which happens in exactly the same set of elections) "Favorite betrayal"; voters with favorite B, by betraying B, make C win (whom they prefer as the "lesser evil" over current winner A) 12.1583% 9.2014% 19.4445% And below is the same table, but restricted to elections in which the IRV process matters, i.e. in which the IRV and plain-plurality winners differ. (Warning: The error bars are approximately twice as wide as in the tables above.) This almost always makes pathologies substantially more likely: X: Would be strategic mistake for more voters of some single type to come 66.3350% 59.1548% 32.2220% T: Plurality and IRV winners differ 100.0000% 100.0000% 100.0000% S: Condorcet cycle 18.6193% 25.3526% 0.0000% Q∪R∪U∪V∪W∪X∪Y∪Z ("total paradox probability") 74.1026% 72.6136% 54.4439% Both kinds of participation failure simultaneously W∩X 4.8383% 9.0224% 0.0000% Both kinds of nonmonotonicity simultaneously U∩V 7.6563% 5.9859% 0.0000% Q∪V: Betraying B makes either B or C win (where either way the betrayers prefer that to A winning) 35.8569% 41.7844% 22.2219% Q: Loser drop-out paradox: If B drops out, that switches the winner from A to C. Also (which happens in exactly the same set of elections) "Favorite betrayal"; voters with favorite B, by betraying B, make C win (whom they prefer as the "lesser evil" over current winner A) 23.3002% 33.8034% 22.2219% When IRV-pathologies get more likely when IRV & plurality winners differ (and they usually do get more likely!), that suggests that IRV, counter-intuitively, actually is worse than plain-plurality voting – at least as far as that particular paradox is concerned, and in 3-way elections. 4. Bugs(?) Anthony Quas pointed me in the right direction to find a bug in my Quas-generator. My Dirichlet generator was also buggy due to some imbecile on Wikipedia publishing an incorrect sorting network. Both now repaired. I now agree with the scientific literature values for every number I'm aware of in these tables which has already been computed in that literature (over a dozen)? To make that clearer, the below table lists some exact values claimed in the scientific literature versus our Monte Carlo estimates from the blue table above. (I may sometimes be listing somebody as "discoverer," who actually was not the first. Quite a few of these values were independently discovered by several authors.) 5. Example of use These based on old run at lower precision??? Redo with new hi-precn numbers to get slight changes Prof. Jack Nagel asked what the "total paradox probabilities" would be if R were not included as a "paradox." (Note that S and T already were not included.) His question gives us an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the use of the tables. The only possible binary codes representing "R plus some subset of S and T, but no other letters" are 0100000000, 0101000000, 0110000000, and 0111000000. Of these, the only one which actually occurs with nonzero probability (see the pink table) is 0101000000 with probabilities 0.0164%, 0.0096%, 0.0000%. We may therefore obtain Nagel's "no-R total paradox probabilities" by subtracting these figures from the "total paradox probabilities" we gave in the blue table. The results are (24.5873–0.0164≈24.57)%, (13.9847–0.0096≈13.98)%, and 27.50% in our three different probability models respectively (error bars≤±0.00025% as usual). Restricted to elections in which the IRV process matters, the answers instead are where note the normalization constants 0.24466 and 0.12326 arise from the total-T line of the blue table. The reason these adjustments are so small is that R is a rare paradox, and the occasions where R arises unaccompanied by any other paradoxes in {Q, U, V, W, X, Y, Z} – which are the only ones we need to subtract – are very rare. 6. What about C→∞ candidates instead of C=3? THEOREM: As the number C of candidates is made large, the "total paradox probability" for IRV approaches 100% in all three probability models here. PROOF (INCOMPLETE IN THE QUAS-1D CASE): In the Dirichlet model, Quas 2004 in his theorem 1 showed that the probability of paradox 'U' ("more is less" nonmonotonicity) approached 100% when C→∞. Smith 2009 was able to show the same result in the Random Election Model by redoing Quas's proof with appropriate changes. In the Quas-1D model, a Condorcet winner generically exists (and always exists aside from the possibility of a 2-way tie) as a consequence of Duncan Black's singlepeakedness theorem and it is the candidate located closest to the midpoint. However, when C→∞ Quas found that IRV elects the candidate located at x with probability proportional to a certain probability density ρ(x) with support on (1/6, 5/6) and pictured below. Therefore IRV falls victim to paradox 'Y' with probability→100%. Since the "total paradox probability" is at least as great as the probabilities of these particular paradoxes, it must approach 100% in all three models, and the proof is complete. Q.E.D. WHY THAT PROOF WAS INCOMPLETE IN THE QUAS-1D CASE: Actually, the above proof is inadequate because Quas's paper did not prove the existence of ρ(x), although Quas did provide convincing evidence, e.g. the picture above computed by Monte Carlo, for its existence. It seems "obvious" that IRV can exhibit no special favortism for the candidate nearest the midpoint (who automatically is the Condorcet winner), as opposed to any of the other candidates located between 0.499 and 0.501 (whose number approaches ∞); indeed the picture indicates, if anything, IRV is biased against the centermost within this interval. Therefore it is "obvious" that the probability IRV elects this one centermost candidate approaches 0. But this "obviousness" is not a "proof." It would suffice to prove that after IRV has winnowed the C candidates down to, say, C/logC, the probability→1 (when C→∞) that the centermost candidate has been eliminated. CONJECTURE: Paradox 'X' also should occur with probability→100% in the Quas-1D model, indeed in all three models. Also see our seperate page about "spoiler candidates" in IRV and plain plurality voting, where, among other things, it is argued that in both voting systems in all three of our probability models, the chance goes to 100% that your election contains at least one "spoiler" and hence the probability for "paradox Q" should go to 100% in all three emodels when C→∞. 7. Sources The tables here were computed by Warren D. Smith, August 2010, using computer. Also see the same results but computed using different random number generator as a safety measure. [If you average the results from this and that page, you could shrink the error bars by a factor of √2.] Smith incorporated results from the following literature sources into his computer program: Beware: Incorrect (but published) results were computed by Crispin Allard and by Eivind Stensholt (and probably others too; unfortunately I myself had computed some incorrect values in CRV web pages). It is quite easy to make your computer get approximately the right value for any given paradox probability. Unfortunately, it also is quite easy to mess up the definitions hence not get it exactly right. (Also, only good random number generators passing all 'Supercrush U01' and Marsaglia 'Diehard' tests should be employed; system-supplied generators usually fail numerous tests in those batteries even as of 2010.) It is usually rather difficult to make your computer get an enormously-wrong estimate. The only case I am aware of where that happened was Allard's paper, which underestimated the nonmonotonicity probability by 3 orders of magnitude by making 4 seperate errors, all biased in the same direction, and apparently never doing any simple "sanity checks." Update (Nov. 2015): I recently was made aware of the 2009 Dartmouth senior thesis (pdf) by Joe Ornstein titled "Instant Runoff Voting's Startling Rate of Failure." He examines 10000 instant runoff voting elections each in 20 different probabilistic models, including "spatial models." Ornstein is especially interested in "close elections" defined as "any election in which three candidates receive more than 25% of the first-place votes." Depending which of his 20 probabilistic models he uses, Ornstein finds that 7% to 33% of his elections are close. As a fraction of all elections (both close and non-close) 0.6% to 13.5% feature "type I nonmonotonicity" (our paradox "U"), depending which of Ornstein's 20 probability models we use. And Ornstein finds that 13% to 45% of the close elections feature paradox U. Furthermore, the higher paradox percentages coincide with the probability models Ornstein considers more realistic. Miller's conclusions seem consistent with mine and with Ornstein's, at least on shallow examination. 8. Conclusion That's incredible. Before I had the sense that IRV was bad because paradoxes could happen and weren't so rare. Now it's looking like IRV is benign only in those unproblematic elections where all election methods perform well. In cases where you actually need a better way of voting, IRV is a crapshoot. – William Poundstone, author of the 2008 popular science book Gaming the Vote, after seeing this page (this was his comment by email).
On June 10, 2016, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision rejecting ABC’s challenge to the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) controversial “ambush” election final rule. ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin of Littler Mendelson P.C., Washington, D.C., argued the case on behalf of ABC of Texas, the Central Texas Chapter of ABC and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas on March 3 in New Orleans. “ABC is disappointed with the decision,” said ABC Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck. “By affording excessive discretion to Regional Directors, the NLRB made it very difficult to mount a successful facial challenge to the new rule. However, we are exploring our appeal options and, depending on how that discretion is exercised, an “as-applied” challenge on a case-by-case basis may be successful.” “ABC is prepared to assist members challenging this failed N ... On Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Councilman David Grosso (I) At-Large and Councilwoman Elissa Silverman (I) At-Large introduced Bill 21-0415 the Universal Paid Medical Leave Act of 2015. The legislation as introduced would amend the DC Family Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA) and establish a paid family medical leave program in the District of Columbia. Governor-elect Larry Hogan is putting together a strong team to move Maryland forward over the next four years. ABC is especially excited by the appointment of Delegate Kelly Schulz as the new Secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing Regulation (DLLR). Delegate Schulz has been a strong supporter of ABC and the merit construction industry while serving on the House Economic Matters Committee. more> The ABC Joint Legislative Committee had its first meeting of the new year on January 12 and will continue to meet every week during the session to evaluate legislation to determine its impact on the ABC membership and the merit construction industry. During the 2012 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed HB1370 which was signed into law by the Governor on May 2, 2012 and became Chapter Law 201. HB1370 includes many different changes to the minority business laws affecting state procurement. Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker addressed members of ABC on October 29th and shared the anticipated development and construction opportunities in the County over the next several years. Effective October 1, 2013, Maryland employers with 15 or more employees must comply with the recently enacted Reasonable Accommodations for Disabilities Due to Pregnancy Act. Mayor Gray has announced that the District of Columbia will require a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on the construction of the DC United Soccer Stadium. Apparently the city did not learn its lesson from the failure of the Washington National’s Stadium project which increased the cost of construction and failed to meet minority business and local hiring goals outlined in the PLA. On July 10th, 2013 the DC City Council voted 8 – 5 to pass Bill 20-62, the Large Retailer Accountability Act of 2013. This legislation as passed would require any large retailer operating within the District of Columbia to pay a living wage of at least $12.50 an hour. The legislation offers an exemption for any company that has signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), even if the agreed upon starting hourly wage in the CBA is less than the previously mentioned living wage.	https://www.abcmetrowashington.org/Government-Affairs/Legislative-Blog/authorid/4423/abcmw
A female entrepreneur used Rural Development Programme (RDP) support for young farmers to grow her business of producing herbs and container ornamental plants. Projects & Practice EAFRD funding enabled the Monemvasia Winery to relocate to meet growing demand for Monemvasia-Malvasia wine. The Rural Broadband project is a national intervention to close the digital divide in remote and sparsely populated rural ‘white areas’. A fruit and vegetables producing cooperative used RDP support to expand its cold storage capacity in order to better respond to market trends. An inter-territorial cooperation project between 11 LEADER Local Action Groups in Greece used culture as a tool to raise understanding of the unfolding migrant crisis. An association used RDP support to redevelop the inadequate building of an old community centre into a multiple service centre covering both cultural and information needs of the local residents. An innovative interterritorial cooperation project brought together Local Action Groups and other social partners to demonstrate and promote the use of solar energy by local communities. LEADER funding in two subsequent projects helped a small metalware company grow its size and capacity and take advantage of new market opportunities. A Hungarian woodworking business used LEADER support for the construction of a new environmentally friendly manufactory hall. A permanent local international market established on a village at the Slovak-Hungarian border enabled local producers from both countries to sell their products more effectively.	https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/projects-practice/_en?project_keywords_filter=19753&amp%3Bamp%3Bproject_country=All&amp%3Bamp%3Bfield_enrd_prj_measure_tid=All&amp%3Bamp%3Bfield_enrd_prj_focus_area_tid=All&amp%3Bamp%3Bf%5B0%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A20473&amp%3Bf%5B0%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A19728&f%5B0%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A19754&f%5B1%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A19724&f%5B2%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A19757&f%5B3%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A19735&f%5B4%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A20512&f%5B5%5D=sm_enrd_eu_countries%3AHungary&f%5B6%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A19728&f%5B7%5D=im_field_enrd_prj_keywords%3A19740&f%5B8%5D=sm_enrd_eu_countries%3AGreece
Even before the adoption of ISA-S84.01 as a national standard, safety instrumented systems (SIS) were used to mitigate the risks of process hazards. With the establishment of the standard, there is now a framework for defining Safety Integrity Levels (SIL) for such systems and the associated reliability requirements. However, the standard does not address the topic of how to determine what SIL category is needed to fill the independent layers of protection (IPL) gap. It assumes (section 4.4.2) that this analysis is performed prior to applying the principles of the standard. The IPL gap is usually addressed during a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) or in a separate exercise such as Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) or Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). All of these involve some type of risk assessment (typically risk ranking) against established tolerability criteria. Needless to say, the quality of the IPL gap analysis is very critical to the overall risk mitigation benefit and implementation cost. As part of the IPL gap analysis for existing plants, it is necessary to determine the SIL credit afforded by the current SIS IPLs. During the PHA, the tendency is to err on the conservative side to avoid overstating the credit. By using FTA, it may be possible to incorporate factors such as functional testing, and to allow the proper credit for existing IPLs. To download our resources, you must become a registered site user. After you register, you will receive an email with a login username and password.	https://iomosaic.com/resources/white-papers/presentation-detail/docs/default-source/papers/analyze-safety-integrity-levels-(sil)-using-fault-trees
Hanes Walton Jr. (1941-2013) was a pioneering and prolific scholar of African American politics, and the architect of the modern scientific study of the subject.The first person to earn a PhD in political science from Howard University, Walton devoted his career to laying the intellectual foundations in his writings, and lobbying for the establishment of black politics as a subfield in political science. This study comprehensively analyses Walton’s corpus, while providing a history of the development of the study of black politics in political science. It concludes with an analysis of how the subfield has evolved since Walton’s pioneering work.	https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-319-75571-7
The heterotherm immune system undergoes significant variation in response to life cycle periodicity and torpor. As heterothermic bats are important reservoirs of zoonotic agents and modulation of immune activity can affect host-pathogen interactions, this work aimed at developing a suitable method for assessing heterotherm phagocyte activity. Chemiluminescence measurements were evaluated by mathematical and mechanistic approaches, both of which yielded comparable results in time-related parameters of phagocyte activity. Using a mathematical method, however, we developed a model that can be applied to particular specimens. The proposed equation offers a simple and reliable tool for comparing phagocyte activity, the values of which can be used for further analysis. While time-related parameters of bat phagocyte activity varied with measurement temperature, with the onset of respiratory burst at 38 °C being quicker than at 25 °C, quantitative values of phagocyte activity were not influenced by measurement temperature. Further, homeotherm phagocyte activity parameters were more variable at 25 °C. Considering there was no influence of measurement temperature on the total volume of heterotherm phagocyte activity, we suggest that parameters measured at 25 °C are more representative of the immune status adapted to physiological extremes at low body temperatures. Keywords Innate immunity, respiratory burst, torpor, hibernation, bat, laboratory mouse. Funding This study was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (Grant No. 17-20286S). We are grateful to Dr. Kevin Roche for correction and improvement of the English text.	https://actavet.vfu.cz/89/1/0079/
Father of the Homeland, the greatest Czech, or just simply the Emperor Charles IV. Walking through Prague it is almost impossible not to “encounter” him or his legacy at least. As the Czech king and the Emperor of Holy Roman Empire, he still is an icon of Prague, Czechs and the whole country. But why? After some time Charles returned back to Bohemia. In 1346, when his father died, Charles inherited the title King of Bohemia and was also elected by the prince-electors as the King of the Romans. He chose Prague as the capital of his Empire and started a big development in this city and country as well. Charles achieved many steps in his long life that still influence our country or just Prague, even today. What are the most important? The bishopric of Prague was established in 973 but only in 14th century elevated to an archbishopric. By doing so, Czech countries were removed from the jurisdiction of an archbishopric in Mainz. The first archbishop was Arnošt of Pardubice, Charles’ close counsellor and advisor. In the same year, the construction of St. Vitus cathedral in Prague Castle had begun, which was to serve as a new seat for the archbishop. The oldest university in Central Europe was founded in 1348 and ranks among the world’s best contemporary universities. The model for Prague’s university was the university of Sorbonne, with four faculties. Today, there are 17 faculties at the University, mostly based in Prague. It’s not just one campus, but several building throughout the city of Prague and in the other two cities in Czech Republic. The New Emperor of Holy Roman Empire decided to make Prague as his seat, as we have mentioned. That’s why he had invested a lot of effort to its development. And many of those traces we can still see today. Charles did a lot for Prague, and here is a short list of those you can easily spot or notice just by walking through the city. Charles was the king of Holy Roman Empire, so his steps can be found all over the Europe. Even though his name is not being mentioned too often elsewhere, he was truly one of the greatest kings at all. What can you visit outside Prague and maybe even outside of the Czech lands?	https://www.praguejourneys.com/travelog/the-legacy-of-charles-iv
A recent study by doctors from the Department of Community Medicine at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) observed how extreme “heat wave like conditions” are created inside parked vehicles. The study observed that the mean radiant temperature in parked cars in the summer exceeded 62 degree Celsius, when the acceptable radiant temperature should be less than 35 degrees Celsius, according to the standards prescribed by the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. The Indian Express explains the reasons behind the study and its results What is the purpose of the study? Thermal discomfort in buildings and other indoor spaces have been extensively studied in the past, but very few studies assessed it in standing vehicles. As mercury rises, heat gets trapped inside parked vehicles through the green house effect creating “heat wave like conditions”, which are much worse than the atmospheric temperature outside. This study used different models of cars to capture the extent of heat wave like conditions and thermal discomfort experienced by passengers in the micro-environment of the vehicle. “Such conditions are known to have adverse effect on health. Apart from heat exhaustion, irritability and difficulty in concentration, it can lead to major issues such as a heart attack or even a stroke,” says Ravindra Khaiwal, one of the authors of the study. “With temperatures rising and people spending more and more time commuting in their vehicles, it is essential that the cars are designed to reduce such thermal conditions in the future,” adds Khaiwal. How was the study conducted? The study was conducted in a parking lot inside PGIMER, Chandigarh, where the ambient conditions inside and outside three models – a sedan, an SUV and a hatchback – were recorded on different days in the summer of 2018. Devices to record relative humidity, air temperature and pollution levels were placed in the front of the car, the back and outside on the top of the car. These parameters were further used to calculate Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD). Both PMV and PPD are measurement scales devised to calculate the thermal comfort experienced by individuals. PMV records the level of discomfort faced by an individual and PPD predicts the percentage of individuals who will be dissatisfied by the thermal conditions. Parameters including clothing insulation and metabolism rate of individuals are also incorporated into the PMV-PPD calculation. What were the results of the study? It was observed that the mean radiant temperature remained more than 62° C in all cases inside all three cars monitored in the study, while the ambient temperature outside remained between 30 to 40°C. This is much above the standards of minimal thermal discomfort in asymmetrical structures as prescribed by the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. Further, temperatures recorded in the front area of cars was always higher than the back, and the temperature inside the cars was at its peak in the evening. “This is because the cars get continuously heated up and don’t lose that heat at all so the temperature inside keeps rising,” says Khaiwal. The study also states that the sedan recorded highest ambient temperature despite the atmospheric temperature outside being lower on the day it was monitored as compared to the days on which the study was conducted inside the SUV and the hatchback. “The sedan was black in colour, which could have been why it retained more heat,” says Khaiwal. The PPD was 100 per cent in all cases, which means that under all circumstances observed, it was predicted that individuals will be highly uncomfortable. The PMV levels calculated were also much higher than the recommended levels of thermal discomfort at all times. How can vehicles be modelled differently to curb thermal discomfort? As global temperatures rise, it will be crucial to model cars specifically to decrease levels of thermal discomfort within. “We can’t just rely on air conditioning, because the sudden blast of AC can make us even more sick. The point is that the designs of cars should be made keeping in mind strategies to curb heat wave like conditions within,” explains Khaiwal. 📣 Express Explained is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@ieexplained) and stay updated with the latest To mitigate conditions, Khaiwal and his team suggests developing sensors for monitoring thermal discomfort parameters within the car and installing an alarm system based on artificial intelligence which “advises passengers to exit the car or wait for a specific time interval before entering the car cabin in case of poor thermal comfort”. “Less complicated factors such as the material of the car and even just the colour scheme of cars can make a lot of difference in controlling thermal conditions. One can even just begin by using thermal shades when their cars are parked in the heat for longer periods of time,” says Khaiwal. 📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines For all the latest Explained News, download Indian Express App.	https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-extreme-heat-wave-like-conditions-are-created-inside-parked-cars-6475621/
An official website of the United States government Average annual expenditures per consumer unit, which is similar to a household, rose 4.3 percent in 2006, following an increase of 6.9 percent in 2005. The increase in expenditures from 2005 to 2006 was larger than the 3.2-percent rise in the annual average Consumer Price Index (CPI) over this period. Increases in spending on housing (7.9 percent), the largest component of spending, and on food (3.0 percent), contributed to the overall increase in 2006. Among the other major components, spending increased for healthcare (3.8 percent), transportation (2.0 percent), and personal insurance and pensions (1.3 percent), while spending decreased for apparel and services (-0.6 percent) and entertainment (-0.5 percent). These data come from the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Find out more in "Consumer Expenditures in 2006," news release 07-1644. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Consumer expenditures in 2006 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2007/oct/wk5/art01.htm (visited April 01, 2023).	https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2007/oct/wk5/art01.htm
Explain the sticky wage and sticky-price theory. Explain the concept of the spending multiplier. Explain why increased government spending of, for example, $15 billion, will have a different impact on aggregate demand than a $15 billion tax cut. Explain the concept of purchasing power parity. Hi there! Thank you for submitting the question. Since we only answer one question, we will answer the first one. Please resubmit the question and specify other question you would like to be answered. According to the classical economists, there is always full employment in the economy. As wages and prices respond quickly to the changing market conditions. However, according to Keynesians, the economy may operate below or above its potential equilibrium. As according to them wages and prices are rigid to the changing market conditions. Sticky wage theory According to the sticky wage theory wages do not adjust quickly in the labor market. Wages are generally sticky downwards because of the following reasons- Solutions are written by subject experts who are available 24/7. Questions are typically answered within 1 hour.*See Solution Q: Please help me to answer part B of Question 1. A: There is only one supplier in the market of product X. since given market is monopoly.b.In monopoly,... Q: A firm facing a horizontal demand curvea. cannot affect the price it receives for its output.b. alwa... A: Perfectly competitive firms face horizontal demand curves. Q: What is number 2 A: Answer – As given in the question –Ann’s house is a one of highly similar houses in a large, well kn... Q: The table below pertains to Pieway, an economy in which the typical consumer’s basket consists of 10... A: The consumer price index is the measure which is used to measure the changes in the price level of t... Q: Suppose Barefeet is a monopolist that produces and sells Ooh boots, an amazingly trendy brand with n... A: Under the monopoly market, the profit is maximized at where the marginal revenue is equal to the mar... Q: Why can’t an economy with an MPC greater than 1 reach a stable equilibrium in the aggregate expendit... A: The marginal propensity to consume refers to the increase in consumption expenditure with an increas... Q: What are the arguments for and against free trade? How to evaluate these varguments? A: Click to see the answer Q: Economics Question A: a. The equilibrium price can be calculated by equating the given demand and supply function as follo... Q: What are some of the economic factors that may have been contributing causes to the American Revolut... A: American Revolution also knows as the war of independence of the United States was held from 1775 to...	https://www.bartleby.com/questions-and-answers/explain-the-sticky-wage-and-stickyprice-theory.-explain-the-concept-of-the-spending-multiplier.-expl/ea5a03d4-a1f5-404a-a982-1328b93afe59
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns mission planning for weapons systems. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns methods of mission planning that use Gaussian Process (GP) or Neural Network functional approximations to produce a surrogate model for use in determining one or more weapons performance characteristics during operations. The invention also concerns weapons systems comprising a processor programmed with a surrogate model produced using such a method and a computer software product programmed with a surrogate model produced using such a method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Typically, during combat operations a weapons system or platform will provide an indication to the operator regarding the capability of the weapon, for example the ability of a missile, to reach a particular target. It is possible to accurately model the behaviour of a given weapon in a variety of situations using detailed kinematic models, and this is often done during the design phase for a weapons system. However, such models are time consuming to run, and require extensive computer processing power, rendering them unsuitable for deployment with most weapons systems in the field which may have only limited computing power. Furthermore, in order to be of use during a combat scenario, the information provided to the operator regarding the capability of the weapons system must be updated regularly and in near real time. Even in systems with less limited computing resources, the weapons system may not be able to provide a sufficiently accurate indication of weapon capability within the necessary time frame using a kinematic model. In order to address this issue, the kinematic model may be simplified by removing one or more terms. However, this will reduce the accuracy of the prediction which could lower the perceived performance of the weapon (e.g. an operator will receive an indication that a given target cannot be reached, even if in the physical world it can). Altering the kinematic model in this way may also require extensive reprogramming of the weapons system and the cost associated with rewriting a complex software code. Finally, it may be that for security or commercial reasons it is undesirable to provide a detailed kinematic model of a weapons systems behaviour to an end user. In an alternative method, the kinematic model may be used to produce a look up table which provides information on a particular capability of the weapon for a given combination of one or more parameters. However, it will be appreciated that where several parameters are involved in determining the capability of the weapon the size and complexity of the look up table, and the amount of computing power required to use it, increases significantly. On the other hand, reducing the number of parameters to reduce the computational resources required for a prompt indication of weapon capability may lead to a loss of accuracy. The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved mission planning method for predicting the capability of a weapon during combat operations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a mission planning method for use with a weapon. The method may comprise a step of obtaining a training data set describing the performance of the weapon. The method may comprise a step of using the training data and a Gaussian Process (GP) or Neural Network to obtain a surrogate model which gives a functional approximation of the performance of the weapon. The method may comprise providing the surrogate model to a weapons system for use in calculating a performance characteristic of the weapon during combat operations. The surrogate model produced by the GP or Neural Network may be simpler than a detailed kinematic model to programme, and may require less storage space and/or less processing power in order to run. Using a GP or Neural Network to produce a surrogate model that is then deployed with the weapons system may therefore allow for an accurate and rapid calculation of weapon performance during combat operations by a weapons system having limited computing power. References to mission planning in the present application are to be understood as references to command and control operations also. Gaussian Process (GP) and Neural Networks are known methods of obtaining a functional approximation to the continuous function underlying a noisy data set and will not be discussed in detail here. Further information regarding GPs may be found in “Gaussian Process for Machine Learning” by Rasmussen C. E & Williams C. K. I, The MIT Press, 2006, ISBN 026218253X, and “Gaussian Process Regression Analysis for Functional Data” by Shin, J. Q and Choi, T., CRC Press, 2011, ISBN 9781439837733. Further information on Neural Networks may be found in “Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition”, by Bishop, C. M., Oxford University Press, 2005, ISBN 019853642. A performance characteristic may be defined as a quantitative description of the capability of the weapon. For example the performance characteristic may indicate whether the weapon can reach a given target, or the region from which a weapon must be launched in order for the weapon to have a pre-determined likelihood of reaching a given target. The performance characteristic may be a function of the engagement geometry (e.g. launcher position, target position, launch platform altitude, target altitude, launch platform speed, launch platform heading), the prevailing environmental conditions (e.g. wind, temperature, pressure) and weapon-system calculated engagement parameters (e.g. impact pitch/dive angle, motor start time, location of entry-to-terminal (ETP) point). In the case of a moving target, the performance characteristic may become a function of target motion parameters such as position, speed and heading. The performance characteristic may further be a function of user specified constrains such as demanded missile impact heading, cruise altitude, specified way-points and run-in distance. Thus, the or each performance characteristic may be a function of more than one, for example more than four, for example more than eight parameters. The surrogate model may be configured to calculate the Launch Success Zone (LSZ) limits of a weapon. An LSZ may be defined as the ranges the weapon can dynamically achieve as a function of the prevailing engagement geometry. The surrogate model may be configured to calculate the Launch Acceptability Regions (LARs) of a weapon. The LARs may be defined as a parameter space in which a weapon can be launched to reach a specific target. The surrogate model may be configured to calculate the footprint of a weapon. The footprint may be defined as the area that a weapon can reach given its kinematic characteristics and the initial conditions. The surrogate model may be configured to calculate the aerodynamic drag of the weapon and/or to provide a trajectory prediction for an enemy weapon. The training data may comprise data giving the value of one or more performance characteristics over a parameter space. The training data may comprise a plurality of values for one or more performance characteristics and a corresponding combination of parameters that results in each of said values. The step of obtaining a training data set may comprise running a kinematic model. The method may comprise running the kinematic model a plurality of times to obtain results over a predetermined engagement parameter space. As well as describing the motion of the weapon, the kinematic model may comprise one or more random disturbances, for example wind force. The method may comprise running a kinematic model including a random disturbance a plurality of times, for example as part of a Monte Carlo method. The surrogate model may comprise a regression function configured to approximate the function underlying the training data. The method may further comprise the step of calculating a performance characteristic of the weapon using the surrogate model. The method may comprise executing a playback algorithm configured to run the surrogate model in order to calculate one or more performance characteristics of the weapon. The playback algorithm may be configured to calculate the value of the performance characteristic for a given combination of input parameters using the regression model. The input parameters may comprise the parameters representing the current operations situation. The weapons system may comprise a processor. The step of calculating the performance characteristic(s) may be carried out by said processor. In the case that a GP is used, the surrogate model may comprise a covariance function, for example a squared exponential covariance function, a Matern covariance function, a polynomial covariance function or other covariance function. The surrogate model may further comprise a set of hyper-parameters. The method may comprise the step of generating such a covariance function and/or a set of hyper-parameters. The method may comprise providing said covariance function and said hyper-parameters to the weapons system. The method may further comprise using the covariance function in combination with Automatic Relevance Detection (ARD). It may be that the GP is sparse approximation. The method may comprise the step of providing a set of inducing points (also sometimes known as pseudo-inputs) to the weapons system for use with the surrogate model. Thus, the surrogate model may further comprise a set of inducing points. The method may further comprise the step of generating a set of inducing points using the GP and providing said inducing points to the weapons system. The method may comprise the step of generating a set of weighted values. Each weighted value may be the output of the underlying function at an induction point as calculated using a covariance function with an appropriate weighting applied. The method may comprise providing said weighted values to the weapons system. Thus, the surrogate model may further comprise a set of weighted values. A GP may be a particularly advantageous method of producing the surrogate model as a GP also provides a prediction of the uncertainty associated with the functional approximation it produces. The GP used may be the Fully Independent Training Conditional algorithm, as described in, for example, “A unifying View of Sparse Approximate Gaussian Process Regression” by Quinonero-Candela J. & Rasmussen C. E., Journal of Machine Learning Research, Vol. 6, pp 1939-1959, 2005, and available as part of GPML Matlab Code version 4.0. In the case that a Neural Network is used, the surrogate model may comprise an activation function or a basis function. The surrogate model may further comprise a set of Neural Network parameters. The method may comprise the step of generating a set of Neural Network parameters using a Neural Network and providing said Neural Network parameters and an activation function or a basis function to the weapons system. The method may comprise launching a weapon in dependence on the performance characteristic(s) calculated by the surrogate model. For example, the method may comprise launching a weapon when the results of the surrogate model indicate that the weapon is within a LAR, and/or the target is within a LSZ. Alternatively, in the case that the weapon is an enemy weapon, the method may comprise carrying out a defensive action, for example an evasive action in dependence on the performance characteristic(s) calculated by the surrogate model. It will be appreciated that in the case that the surrogate model is configured to predict the behaviour of an enemy weapon it is not necessary for the surrogate model to be provided to weapons system, it may instead be provided to a friendly asset for use in defense of said asset or another friendly asset. The method may comprise obtaining a training data set and using a GP to obtain a functional approximation of the behaviour of a weapon based on that training data set. The method may further comprise using the GP to obtaining a measure of the uncertainty associated with that approximation. The method may comprise generating additional training data in dependence on the uncertainty associated with the GP approximation. Using a GP during the generation of the training data may allow a reduction in the computational effort associated with generation of said data by altering the density of the data to reflect changes in behaviour and/or uncertainty. The method may comprise running the kinematic model to generate further training data in a region of higher than average uncertainty. The method may comprise running the kinematic model to generate further training data in a region where the functional approximation obtaining using the GP indicates a more rapid than average change in weapon performance over a given parameter range. The method may comprise the step of obtaining a plurality of training data sets. Each training data set may be applicable to a pre-defined combination of parameters, hereafter known as an applicability zone. Thus, each applicability zone may corresponding to a pre-defined parameter space. The method may comprise running a kinematic model for a plurality of points (i.e. combinations of parameters) located within the applicability zone. The method may comprise running a kinematic model for a plurality of points (i.e. combinations of parameters) located adjacent to, but outside, the applicability zone. Running the model for points immediately outside the applicability zone may improve the accuracy of the surrogate model produced using that data set when predicating performance characteristics at the edges of the zone. The method may comprise using each training data set and a Gaussian Process (GP) or Neural Network to obtain a surrogate model comprising a functional approximation of the performance of the weapon within the corresponding applicability zone. Thus, the method may comprise generating a plurality of surrogate models using a GP or Neural Network, each surrogate model corresponding to a different training data set (and therefore a different applicability zone). The quality of a GP or Neural Network approximation may vary over the parameter space. Using a plurality of different surrogate models may allow more accurate prediction of different behaviour in different regions of the parameter space. The method may comprise providing the plurality of surrogate models to the weapons system for use in calculating the performance characteristics of the weapon during combat operations. During combat operations, the method may comprise identifying the applicability zone corresponding to the current engagement parameters. The method may comprise selecting a surrogate model from the plurality of surrogate models in dependence on the applicability zone so identified. The method may comprise using the surrogate model so selected to calculate a performance characteristic of the weapon. Using the applicability zones to divide the parameter space into different areas may allow for faster calculation of the performance characteristic, as only the induction points relating to the current applicability zone need be considered at any one time. The method may therefore comprise the steps of obtaining a second training data set describing the performance of the weapon in a second, different, parameter space (or applicability zone) to the first training data set; using the second training data set and a Gaussian Process (GP) or Neural Network to obtain a second, different, surrogate model giving a functional approximation of the performance of the weapon in the second parameter space; and providing the first and second surrogate models to a weapons platform for use in calculating a performance characteristic of the weapon in a first and the second parameter space (or applicability zone) during combat operations. The method may comprise, during combat operations, selecting the first or second surrogate model in dependence on the current situation (i.e. the current parameters of the engagement) and using the surrogate model so selected to calculate a performance characteristic of the weapon. The method may comprise obtaining further training data sets, each further training data set corresponding to another parameter space (or applicability zone). Thus, the surrogate model may comprise more than two applicability zones. The method may comprise applying one or more correctors to the output of the surrogate model. The corrector may be a linear multiplier, a bias, an offset, a minimum value or a maximum value. In the case that one or more applicability zones are used, a different corrector, or set of correctors may be applied to each zone. Applying a corrector to the output of the surrogate model may allow for differences in the overall performance of the weapon when it is integrated onto the weapons platform to be taken into account without having to make extensive software changes. Correctors of this kind may also be used to more easily alter the indicated performance of the weapon to suit operational, training or commercial requirements. Thus, the use of correctors, particularly in combination with applicability zones, may provide a more flexible surrogate model. The step of generating the training data and/or obtaining the surrogate model may be carried out by one or more computer processors that are separate from the weapons system. The step of calculating a performance characteristic of the weapon may be carried out by a processor forming part of the weapons system, for example one or more processors mounted on the weapon, for example the missile and/or the launcher. The step of calculating a performance characteristic of the weapon may be carried out by a processor forming part of the control system of the weapons platform. The method may comprise using a first set of one or more processors to run the kinematic model to generate the training data and/or to train the GP or Neural Network to generate the surrogate model. The first set of processors may be located on the ground, for example in a research facility. The method may comprise using a second set of one or more processors to calculate one or more performance characteristic(s) using the surrogate model. The processors of the second set may be located on a mobile weapon system. Thus, the step of obtaining the training data, and the step of calculating the performance characteristics may be carried out in physically separate locations and/or by different processors. There may be a significant time delay, for example a delay of more than one month, for example more than six months, for example more than one year, between the step of using the training data set and a GP or Neural Network to obtain a surrogate model and using said surrogate model to calculate a weapon performance characteristic. The method may comprise a step of preparing the training data for use in the GP process or Neural Network. This step may comprise formatting the functional data from the kinematic model into pairs comprising a set of input parameters and the corresponding value of the function (i.e. the performance characteristic) to be approximated. The step of obtaining the surrogate model may comprise comparing the performance characteristics predicted by the model with those given by the training data. In the case that the variation between the predicted performance characteristics and those given by the training data fall outside a predetermined threshold the method may comprise generating additional training data and re-running the GP or Neural Network to obtain an updated surrogate model. The weapon may be a missile, for example a surface-to-surface, air-to-surface, surface-to-air, air-to-air or anti-satellite missile. The weapon may be a guided bomb, a torpedo or space-fired missile, an Electronic Warfare (EW) effector and/or a Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW). The weapons system may comprise a weapons platform. The weapon system may comprise the weapon. In use, prior to launch, the weapon may be mounted on the weapons platform, for example the weapon may be mounted on a launcher mounted on the weapons platform. The weapons platform may be a mobile weapons platform, for example an aircraft, a ship or a ground vehicle, for example a truck. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a weapons system comprising a processor programmed with software configured to calculate a performance characteristic of a weapon of the weapons system using a functional approximation comprising a surrogate model produced using a GP or Neural Network. The processor may be located on the weapon, for example a missile, the launcher or the weapons platform. In the case that the processor is mounted on the weapons platform the processor may form part of the command and control system of the weapons platform. For example, the processor may be programmed with software configured to carry out command and control functions for the weapons platform. In the case that the processor is mounted on a missile, the processor may be programmed with software configured to carry out guidance functions for the missile. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a missile comprising a processor programmed with software configured to calculate a performance characteristic of a weapon of the weapons system using a functional approximation comprising a surrogate model produced using a GP or Neural Network. According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a weapons system comprising a processor programmed with software configured to carry out the method of the first, or any other, aspect of the present invention. According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a computer software product for loading onto a processor associated with a weapons system, wherein the software product is configured to carry out the method of the first, or any other, aspect of the present invention. It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: FIG. 1 shows a mission planning process according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 shows part of a weapons platform configured for use with the process of the first embodiment; FIG. 3 shows part of a weapons platform configured for use with the process of the first embodiment; FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a parameter space for use in a method according to a second embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a parameter space for use in a method according to a third embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 1 2 3 2 shows a process for calculating the Launch Acceptability Region (LAR) of a missile in accordance with a first example embodiment of the invention. At the highest level the process comprises three stages (in order); training data generation ; determining a surrogate model for calculating LAR; and an operational step , where the surrogate model produced in step is used in deciding whether to launch the weapon at a target. R H In order to calculate the LAR of a missile it may be necessary to approximate four functions associated with a given engagement situation: IR-Outer, IR-Inner, IZ-Outer and IZ-Inner. IR refers to ‘in-range’ and denotes the weapon attainability boundary for an engagement with no explicit user specified constraints. IZ refers to ‘in-zone’ which may further include user specified constrains such as demanded missile impact heading, cruise altitude, specified way-points and run-in distance. This example will consider the calculation of one of these functions, but it will be appreciated that a similar process may be applied to the other functions. It will be appreciated that different parameters may be used in the calculation of different functions. The parameter R to be approximated may be formulated as a function LAR of the parameters θ, H, υ, ϕ as follows: =LAR(θ,,υ,ϕ) 1 4 6 8 Where θ is the angle of launch position with respect to the target (deg), H is the launch altitude (m), υ is the launch speed (m/s) and ϕ is the pitch/dive angle at impact (deg). In the training data generation step , a range of values for each of the parameters θ, H, υ, ϕ are input to a kinematic model. The kinematic model is then run multiple times with different combinations of parameter values to produce a set of training data and a set of validation data describing the variation of R over the parameter space. 2 6 10 14 θ H υ ϕ u ,σf,X ,w In the surrogate model production step , the training data is prepared . This comprises formatting the functional data from the kinematic model into pairs of input parameters (i.e. one combination of inputs X=(θ, H, υ, ϕ) and the corresponding function value R(X)). This data sets represents noisy and sparse observations of the true continuous underlying LAR function. After preparation the training data is input into a FITC algorithm (Fully Independent Training Conditional approximation as described in “A unifying View of Sparse Approximate Gaussian Process Regression” by Quinonero-Candela J. & Rasmussen C. E., Journal of Machine Learning Research, Vol. 6, pp 1939-1959, 2005, available as part of GPML Matlab Code version 4.0). In the FITC approach the pseudo or inducing-points u are treated as hyper-parameters to be optimised. Thus, the LAR approximation requires the following hyper-parameters to be generated; λ,λ,λ,λ θ H υ ϕ f u n 14 12 15 12 14 18 14 8 15 14 16 19 3 1 2 Where λ,λ,λ,λ, are length-scale parameters learned during training, σis an overall scale factor determined from training, Xrepresents the induction points determined in training and w represents a weighted output value, one per induction point, derived from the covariance function (see below) and σ(the noise parameter). These hyper-parameters are calculated using the FITC algorithm and a squared exponential covariance function with Automatic Relevance Detection (ARD). Once calculated , the hyper-parameters are passed to an evaluation step which compares the predicted values calculated using a covariance function employing those parameters with the validation data to verify that the resulting surrogate model is sufficiently accurate. The covariance function corresponding to the GP and hyper-parameters are then incorporated into a playback algorithm , for use in stage . Stages and of the method are carried out ‘off-line’, and separate from any weapons platform. R=K x ,x w u To calculate R the following covariance function is used: ()· Where K( ) is the squared-exponential covariance function: <math overflow="scroll"><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><mi>cov</mi><mo>⁡</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>⁡</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>u</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mi>i</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>,</mo><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>⁡</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>i</mi><mo></mo></msubsup><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>=</mo><mi /><mo>⁢</mo><mrow><mi>K</mi><mo>⁡</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>u</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mi>i</mi></msub><mo>,</mo><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>j</mi><mo></mo></msubsup><mo>;</mo><mi>θ</mi></mrow></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mrow><mo>=</mo><mi /><mo>⁢</mo><mrow><msubsup><mi>σ</mi><mi>f</mi><mn>2</mn></msubsup><mo>·</mo><mrow><mi>exp</mi><mo>⁡</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mrow><mo>-</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mrow><mo>⁢</mo><mrow><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>u</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mi>i</mi></msub><mo>-</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>j</mi><mo></mo></msubsup></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><mi>T</mi></msup><mo>·</mo><msup><mrow><mi>diag</mi><mo>⁡</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><msup><mi>λ</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mo>·</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>u</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mi>i</mi></msub><mo>-</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>j</mi><mo></mo></msubsup></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mrow><mi /><mo>⁢</mo><mrow><mi>for</mi><mo>⁢</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>⁢</mo><mrow><mo>∀</mo><mrow><mo>{</mo><mrow><mi>i</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>j</mi></mrow><mo>}</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable></math> f 1 2 u i j f θ H υ ϕ th th 2 2 2 2 2 and θ={σ,λ,λ, . . . } are the learned amplitude and length-scale hyper-parameters, (x)1≤i≤m is the iinduction point, x* 1≤j≤p is the jinput/test point, p is the number of test points, σis the scale factor parameter determined from training, and λ=(λ,λ,λ,λ). 3 19 15 14 20 22 24 During flight operations , the playback algorithm embodying the covariance function and hyper-parameters is used to calculate the function R at any given instant. The other functions required to calculate the LAR are similarly calculated. The prediction of the LAR is continually updated as engagement conditions change and this information is provided to the pilot who uses that information to decide whether to launch the missile against a given target. In testing the FITC algorithm was found to give ˜±50 m Root Mean Square (RMS) errors (with all better than 400 m absolute error) when the number of induction points is ˜10% of the number of training data points, and ˜±330 m RMS (with all better than 2 km absolute worst error) when the number of induction points is ˜2.5% of the number of training data points. Depending on where the ‘acceptable’ accuracy was defined, this allows a trade-off in playback speed in the range 20 kHz-88 kHz for estimation of the LAR vertices (equivalent to ˜1 to 4 Kilo-LARs/second) when using MATLAB 2012b on an HP840 Laptop equipped with an intel core i5-4300U@1.9/2.9 GHz-Boost CPU and executing on a single thread with no other applications running. FIG. 2 100 100 102 104 108 106 104 110 19 15 14 102 2 100 100 110 15 14 108 shows part of an aircraft for use with the method of the first embodiment. The aircraft has a fuselage and a wing , and a missile mounted on a launcher located on the underside of the wing . A processor programmed with the playback algorithm embodying the covariance function and having access to the hyper-parameters is located within the fuselage and forms part of the command and control (C) system (not shown) of the aircraft . In use, data representing the current conditions and location of the aircraft and a target (not shown) is provided to the processor which uses the covariance function and hyper-parameters to calculate the LAR for that target. The LAR is provided to the pilot who then uses that information in deciding whether to launch the missile as discussed above. In other embodiments, the missile may be located in a bomb bay, internal to the aircraft. FIG. 3 FIG. 2 FIG. 3 FIG. 2 FIG. 3 110 108 2 15 14 108 14 15 shows a variation of the arrangement of . The same reference numerals denote substantially similar elements. Only those aspects of which differ significantly from the arrangement will be discussed. In the arrangement of the processor is located within the missile and provides a LAR to the aircraft command and control (C) system (not shown) which relays this information to the pilot. As the covariance function and hyper-parameters are provided with the missile , weapons systems in accordance with the present example embodiment may facilitate interoperability and maintenance as there is no need to update on-board software to reflect changes in missile performance; this information is provided as part of the missile itself through the hyper-parameters and covariance function . FIG. 1 FIG. 4 4 200 200 208 208 208 208 208 208 208 200 208 208 208 208 208 208 208 208 6 8 208 15 14 100 3 15 15 14 a b c d a b c d a b c a b a b a a a In a variation of the process of more than one set of training data may be generated at step ; each set of training data corresponding to a different zone within the engagement parameter space. shows a schematic depiction of a cuboidal parameter space , with a first parameter A increasing along the x-axis, a second parameter B increasing along the y-axis and a third parameter C increasing along the z-axis. The parameter space has been divided into four zones , , and . Each of the zones , , occupies a separate volume of the cuboidal space , with the fourth zone representing the space not falling within the first three zones , , . The first zone is immediately adjacent to the second zone . The third zone is spaced apart from both the first zone and the second zone . The training data for a given zone is generated using combinations of parameters falling within, and immediately adjacent to, the zone. Thus, a set of training data and verification data is obtained for zone and so on for each of zones b to d. Each set of training data is then prepared and the FITC algorithm used to produce a set of hyper-parameters (including inducing points) for each zone. If the behaviour of the missile is different between different zones then the variables describing the LAR may differ leading to different sets of hyper-parameters for each zone. A different covariance function may also be used for each zone. Each covariance function and set of hyper-parameters may then be passed to the aircraft for use in operations . In flight, the step of predicting the LAR using the covariance function may first comprise identifying which zone the currently observed parameters are located in. The covariance function and hyper-parameters are then used to predict the LAR. Methods in accordance with the present embodiment may further reduce the amount of computation that must be carried out by the weapons system as only the inducing-points u relating to the current zone need be considered during the playback calculation. 208 208 15 In a further variation, different correction factors may be applied to each of the different zones . For example, if in use, the missile performance is found to be different from that predicted in a given zone , the results produced by the covariance function corresponding to that zone may be scaled accordingly. In contrast to prior art methods where this would have required a reworking of the kinematic model and consequently significant reprogramming of the weapons system, the present embodiment allows such scaling to be carried out by varying a single ‘correction’ parameter. Accordingly, systems using the present embodiment may be more flexible and easier to update than prior art systems. FIG. 5 FIG. 4 FIG. 5 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. 5 200 208 208 200 208 208 208 208 208 208 208 15 15 14 208 208 208 208 208 a c a b c b a a a a b a b a shows a variation of the parameter space and zones of . The same reference numerals denote substantially similar elements. Only those aspects of which differ significantly from will be discussed. In , each of the four zones occupies a different region of the parameter space . In , three zones to are shown, and the first zone overlaps with and is contained completely within a second zone . A third zone partially overlaps with zone at a location spaced apart from zone . Use of such zones may allow performance of the missile to be limited in a particular region, for example if missile launch in zone posed unacceptable risks, the output of the covariance function could be scaled such that a LAR is rarely achievable within this zone. In use, a list giving the order in which zones are to be investigated in order to identify whether a given parameter combination is located within that zone is passed to the weapon system along with the covariance function and hyper parameters . For example, a point in zone is also geometrically in zone , thus the algorithm must check whether a point is in zone before considering if the point is in zone in order for the zone model to be used. 2 3 Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described. The above example has been described in the context of a missile mounted on an aircraft, it will be appreciated that the systems and methods described above are equally applicable to sea or land based systems, for example to ships and/or land vehicles and other weapons types. The FITC algorithm discussed above has been found particularly advantageous as it allows the generation of an approximation to full covariance based on m optimised pseudo- or inducing-points u, where m<N (and frequently m«N), where N is the number of points in the training data set. With FITC the training complexity is of O(N·m) and playback scales with O(m), this is in contrast with exact inference where the training complexity is of O(N) and playback scales with O(N). However it will be appreciated that other GP algorithms may also be used. For example the Subset of Data (SD), Fast-Forward Selection (FFS) and Nystrom algorithms may, in some circumstances, be useful. These algorithms are also described in “A unifying View of Sparse Approximate Gaussian Process Regression” by Quinonero-Candela J. & Rasmussen C. E., Journal of Machine Learning Research, Vol. 6, pp 1939-1959, 2005. Finally, the applicability zones are discussed above in the context of a three-dimensional space, it will be appreciated that the parameter space, and therefore the applicability zones, may be of a higher dimensionality. Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.
Optical trapping using focused laser beams has been proven extremely useful for contact-less manipulation of a variety of small objects, including colloidal plasmonic nanoparticles . We found that single-crystal gold nanorods could be easily trapped by laser tweezers and driven to rotate at frequencies above 40 kHz (2.5x106 r.p.m.) by applying circularly polarized laser light with power as low as a few mW . The particles thus function as tiny rotational nanomotors driven by light . The driving torque, caused by transfer of photon angular momentum (spin), is dominated by plasmonic resonant scattering rather than absorption, which drastically reduces laser-heating effects and allows for sensitive control of the optomechanical properties through the particles nanoscale morphology. I will discuss various aspects on this phenomenon and its applications, which include sensitive thermometry and biomolecular analysis and actuation. If there is time, I will also briefly discuss recent work on surface supported plasmonic antennas for biosensing.	http://www.icfo.eu/calendar2?event=3867
“I’m delighted to admit that I’ve failed at more challenges than anyone I know.” — Scott Adams A friend told me recently about a colleague who is entirely open to feedback. When she’s told that she did something wrong, my friend said, she just starts over. She doesn’t take feedback personally, and she doesn’t feel upset about getting anything wrong. When I heard that story, I thought to myself, “I wish I took feedback that well.” I can’t imagine anything better than an attitude like that, especially when I’m trying to learn new things. I’m not at that point yet, but I know a lot of successful people are. I love to learn from the advice of others, so I thought I’d take a look at what some successful people say about failure and why they seek it out. The science of failure: We can’t admit we’re wrong It always helps to add some context about the subconscious biases we have in our heads before exploring a topic, I think. I looked into some of the research on success and failure, and how we react to them to see what I could learn. These are three of the most interesting points I discovered (they are all, of course, subconscious – so we do them all the time without realizing): We don’t take credit for our failures We tend to take credit for our successes, attributing them to internal factors such as how much effort we put in, the skills we have or our past experience. Failure, on the other hand, is something we don’t like to admit to. Research has shown that we are more likely to blame failure on external factors like luck or the difficulty of the task. Failure makes us less generous After succeeding at a task, the positive reinforcement makes us more likely to be more generous and helpful to others. If we fail at a task first, however, we’re less likely to want to help others, and less generous with our time and money. We literally can’t admit that we’re wrong In Being Wrong, author Kathryn Schulz explains the problem of error blindness: “… the sentence ‘I am wrong’ describes a logical impossibility. As soon as we know that we are wrong, we aren’t wrong anymore, since to recognize a belief as false is to stop believing it. Thus we can only say ‘I was wrong.'” So even for those of us who try hard to admit our mistakes, it’s almost impossible for us to do so, at least in the present: “… we can be wrong, or we can know it, but we can’t do both at the same time.” What successful people say about failure Luckily there are successful people around who are willing to publicly share their failures and why they consistently seek to make more mistakes. Kathryn Schulz, author of Being Wrong “As with dying, we recognize erring as something that happens to everyone, without feeling that it is either plausible or desirable that it will happen to us.” —Kathryn Schulz Kathryn Schulz is a great person to start with. She’s written a whole book about being wrong, and advocates for us all to realize how prone we are to making mistakes and learn how to learn from them: “Because we don’t experience, remember, track, or retain mistakes as a feature of our inner landscape, wrongness always seems to come at us from left field.” Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx In this CNBC interview, Sara Blakely explains how a history of being comfortable with failure led her to build a business from scratch even though she had no experience. “My dad growing up encouraged me and my brother to fail… It’s really allowed me to be much freer in trying things and spreading my wings in life.” In the video, Sara shares the story of how her dad would ask her each day, “What have you failed at today?” encouraging her to try new things and not be afraid of failure. Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert Scott Adams has an amazingly positive view of failure. In a Wall Street Journal article, he shared some of his past failures and how much he learned from each one. “If I find a cow turd on my front steps, I’m not satisfied knowing that I’ll be mentally prepared to find some future cow turd. I want to shovel that turd onto my garden and hope the cow returns every week so I never have to buy fertilizer again. Failure is a resource that can be managed.” Scott’s view of failure is that we should not only not shy away from it, but by seeking it out we’ll be more likely to find success: “The universe has plenty of luck to go around; you just need to keep your hand raised until it’s your turn. It helps to see failure as a road and not a wall.” Learning from your mistakes I can’t tell you to think different about failure. You can’t even tell yourself that, really. Thinking differently about something takes time and effort, and often requires compounding evidence. One thing I can suggest is working on that compounding evidence to help convince yourself that failure isn’t so bad after all. Here are two ways to get started: 1. Start a journal Start documenting all of your mistakes. Keep track of where these are happening: at work, at home, with friends. Did you ignore your intuition and go with a safe option, only to regret it later? Or did you take a risk that didn’t pan out? Keep a detailed account of what happened so you can start to see patterns in where you’re making mistakes and which ones you’re repeating too often. 2. Review past mistakes At some point, sit down and look over the record you’ve been keeping of the mistakes you’ve made. Take note of the patterns you can see and what you think you could do to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. Even before you’ve had time to start a journal of mistakes you can learn from, I bet you can think of a bunch you’ve made in the past (I know I can). Try looking at past failures or mistakes and working out what you learned from them. How did those failures help you get to where you are now? How did those mistakes help you learn? Faced with a true list of your past mistakes and how they’ve helped you, rather than hindered your progress, you may find your opinion of failure changing slowly. 3. View decisions as experiments Recognising our mistakes is almost impossible, according to Kathryn Schulz. Since it’s so common for us to brush aside or forget our failures, a better way to learn from when we go wrong might be this approach from Zen Habits author, Leo Babauta: “See decisions not as final choices, but experiments. The anxiety (and paralysis) comes when people are worried about making the perfect choice. And worried about making the wrong choice. Those are two outcomes that aren’t necessary to make a decision, because if we conduct an experiment, we’re just trying to see what happens.” Leo’s idea is to conduct experiments to help us make the best choices we can. For instance, he suggests trying to sell cupcakes to friends and family to test whether setting up a cupcake business is right for you. Or taking a ballet class to test whether ballet is something you’d enjoy learning. It’s all about testing, rather than “making decisions.” Sounds less scary, right? “When you’re just conducting experiments, there’s no failure. Any result is learning. If there’s no failure, you don’t have to worry.” P.S. If you liked this post, you might also like 10 Years of Silence: How Long it Took Mozart, Picasso and Kobe Bryant to be Successful and The First Version of Google, Facebook, YouTube and More (and What They Can Teach us About Starting Small).	https://buffer.com/resources/why-highly-successful-people-crave-failure-and-mistakes/
The career theories of Eli Ginzberg, an economist working on a grant from Columbia University, were developed in 1951. The grant allowed Ginzberg to study occupational choice, interviewing upper middle class young men because of their privilege to choose their careers. This research led to the publication of "Occupational Choice: An Approach to a General Theory." Ginzberg believed studying the privileged would reveal the processes by which individuals choose careers, from early childhood to early adulthood. Fantasy Ginzberg's first milestone in career development takes place during childhood, from birth to 11 years old. During this stage, children primarily engage in playful acts, simulating occupations such as firefighter, police officer, race car driver, etc. Ginzberg believed children transition from playful imitiation to work imitation near the end of this stage, i.e. from simply wearing costumes to acting out the specific duties of a job. Tentative From 11 to 17 years of age, adolescent children are able to better focus on, and recognize, work requirements. There are four stages in this period. The first stage is "interest," where children learn likes and dislikes. The second stage is "capacity," where the child learns how much her abilities align with her interests. The third stage, "values," sees the child at 15 become aware of how work may fulfill her values. The final stage of this period is called "transition," and begins when the individual assumes responsibility for her own actions, becomes independent and exercises her freedom of choice. Realistic The realistic period begins at age 17 and goes into the early 20s. During this stage, the person establishes alternative paths in her work life, or a "backup plan." Throughout this three stage period, she will develop personal values and begin to zero in on her optimal career choice. The first period of the realistic stage is "exploration." During this stage, the individual choose her career path but remains open to other opportunities. The next stage, "crystallization," is when she becomes more engrossed in a particular career, committing to one direction more than she ever has. The third period is "specification," in which she commits to or develops a preference for a specific area of her occupation. Ginzberg's Optimization Eventually Ginzberg rescinded his early assumptions that the occupational decision making process was limited to adolescence and early adulthood, accounting instead for mid-life crisis changes in careers or after-retirement occupation changes. Therefore the occupational decision process extends throughout an entire lifetime. Instead of compromising, Ginzberg reconsidered, people optimize. References Resources Writer Bio Johnny Kilhefner is a writer with a focus on technology, design and marketing. Writing for more than five years, he has contributed to Writer's Weekly, PopMatters, Bridged Design and APMP, among many other outlets.	https://woman.thenest.com/career-theories-eli-ginzberg-15464.html
Luba and the Wren, The Magic Fish, greed and God in children’s books. Luba and the Wren by Patricia Polacco sounds remarkably like The Magic Fish by Freya Littledale. In both stories an enchanted animal is spared from capture and offers to grant a wish. In both stories the person who makes the wish is in fact contented with nothing to wish for, but is badgered into making repeated wishes on behalf of someone else. In both stories the wishes increase in size, from a larger house to a palace, and so on. In The Magic Fish the hero is a fisherman who gives into the wishes of his wife. in Luba and the Wren the heroine is a young girl who gives… - Reasons to NOT Support Operation Christmas Child Schools and individuals are already taking advantage of back-to-school sales to gather supplies for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. While I think it is great to try to give extra joy to others, I want to write to urge people not to support this program. I have a whole list of reasons (see below), but right now (November 2015) I am editing this to add the most important reason at the top. Franklin Graham, the head of the group that runs OCC, promotes fear and hatred. Here is an example of a post from his facebook page. You can check his page out and see that there are more like this.… - Biblical history from a progressive Christian standpoint.	http://housefulofchaos.com/category/religion/page/2/
Everyone needs a platform to launch a satisfying career. At Monash, we give you the space and support to take your career in all kinds of exciting new directions. You’ll have access to quality research, infrastructure and learning facilities, opportunities to collaborate internationally, as well as the grants you’ll need to publish your work. We’re a university full of energetic and enthusiastic minds, driven to challenge what’s expected, expand what we know, and learn from other inspiring, empowering thinkers. Professor Hai L. Vu and his research team are looking to hire a highly qualified Research Fellow to join the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University to work on an ARC Discover project that will study distributed resource allocation to improve the real-time responsiveness for the Internet and mathematically analogous networks such as transportation networks. Efficient allocation of limited network resources will reduce unnecessary congestion (or delay), improve resilience and better cater for the growing and diverse demand in these networks. In your new role, you will focus on conducting research relevant to an ARC discovery project. This will involve developing and extending existing mathematical models and solving optimisation problems for efficient resource allocation in complex networks. This project begins from Feb 2021. The team aims to provide a mathematical framework that will equally applicable for similar complex networks while seeking implementable distributed algorithms to improve the level of service that matches to the requirements of the application or demand. Does this sound like something you may be interested in? Keep reading! About you: As the Research Fellow, you will utilise your strong research, mathematical or optimization background, analytical skills and ability to solve complex problems to make significant contributions to the research efforts of the team. You will have the unique opportunity to develop research proposals and support junior researchers. The project involves the development and implementation of optimisation formulations for complex networks with heterogenous requirements and it will be desirable if you have experience in working with various optimisation models and solvers, as well as ability to simulate and conduct numerical experiments with large scale networks. In particular, skills in convex optimization, stochastic modelling and on-line optimisation together with knowledge in traditional data networking and road traffic networks would be preferable. You will have excellent organisational capabilities, outstanding verbal and written communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work as part of a team. To be successful in this role, you will have a doctoral qualification in Engineering, Mathematics or a closely related field. What’s on offer? Working for one of the most influential universities in Australia, you will join a University that spans over 4 campuses in Victoria. Within our research team, we have worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our employees and invest in the skills of our people. We also have state of the art research facilities such as super computer facility, visualisation Lab and connected autonomous vehicles. This role is a full-time position; however, flexible working arrangements may be negotiated. At Monash University, we are committed to being a Child Safe organisation. Some positions at the University will require the incumbent to hold a valid Working with Children Check. How to apply? Please submit your resume with a cover letter describing why you are interested in the role and what skills you can bring to this position. Your application must address the selection criteria. Please refer to "How to apply for Monash Jobs".	https://professorpositions.com/research-fellow-in-network-resources-allocation,i16062.html
Q: How could the elevator at The Wall be powered? In the show Game of Thrones there is this thing called The Wall. It is a monstrous, 300 mile (≈ 483 km) long bulwark consisting of a fortified ice wall that is 700 feet (≈ 213 meters) high (check the wiki for more details). There are also castles/forts along the foot of this wall, as garrisons for the soldiers manning it. Now, quite conveniently, at some of the castles there exists a sort of elevator built to reach the battlements from the castle 700 feet below the top of the wall. We can see the elevator is built from wood and metal and seems to be a fairly simple construction. No actual mechanism is shown. At the bottom is a lever, that when turned either sends the elevator cabin up or down respectively. Given world like the one presented in Game of Thrones—What could be used to power the elevator? Assumption: No magic The tech level is that of an (at most) late-medieval'ish civilisation Should work in the cold weather required to preserve an ice wall Requirements: Works with as little work from people and or animals as needed. Can be operated by some sort of lever or switch (either at the top or bottom) Maintenance needs should be as low as feasible Note: I'm aware there might be a canon answer in the books (though I don't remember anything too specific). That is not what I'm asking for, and this would be the wrong Stackexchange to do so anyway. I'm wondering for general reality-based solutions for this problem outside of the actual Game of Thrones context. A: With counterweights it could be possible to have a "self-powered" elevator in these conditions. The elevator must be counter-weighted by default with a mass that will make it slowly go down if activated (to activate it, it should be sufficient to manually remove some lock). This will allow the elevator to go down empty. if we instead want it to go up empty, we should attach a small additional counterweight, to reach a mass higher than the one of the cabin. if we want to go down, with people or materials, we still need to attach more counterweight, to reach a balance and avoid a too fast descent. If we want to go up, with people or materials, we need to attach a heavier counterweight, to surpass the cabin (and content) weight. The problem is. these counterweights (except for the default one, which is always attached) will remain on the ground level once used and we should return them up to use them. Which will require human or animal work and defeats the purpose. To solve this issue we could simply use blocks of ice/snow, that presumably self-generate at the top of the wall. In fact, imagine that the pathways on the top must be kept clean, and some excess of snow will be found every day. So, let's say that there is a set amount of mass that can be lifted each day (varying day by day based on weather conditions?), but this could be an efficient solution. Edit: The lever could actionate a mechanism that attach the cabin to a heavy or light counterweight, inverting the direction of the elevator. However, manual work will still be needed after the travel to tare and reapply the weights A: Good old pulleys A major improvement from the 4th century BC and still in use today, is the compound pulley: a combination of single pulleys in a block. The mechanical advantage equals the amount of pulleys used. A crane with a triple pulley (a "Trispastos") has two pulleys attached to the crane and a free pulley suspended from them. It offers a mechanical advantage of 3 to 1. A crane with five pulleys in a similar arrangement (dubbed a "Pentaspostos") offers a mechanical advantage of 5 to 1. Using a compound pulley a man can lift more than he is otherwise able to. If a single man pulling a rope can exert a force of 50 kg, he can raise (or lower) 150 kg using a Trispastos and 250 kg using a Pentaspostos. The same goes for the rope. A rope with a tensile strength of 50 kilograms can be used to lift (or lower) 150 kilograms if 3 pulleys are used, and 250 kilograms if 5 pulleys are used. And you can pull the rope using winches and capstans A: Coming down is easy, you just need a braking system, so I won't worry too much about that. Going up is the hard bit. 1. Donkey power Nice and simple, the horse powered pump or winch is a bit of technology as old as time. In this case you're going to use your donkey/ass/mule/horse to winch a weight up to the top of the wall. When you want to ascend the pulley with the weight is linked to the pulley with the lift. Weight comes down, lift goes up. The equine is then returned to duty winching the weight back up. 2. Water power A similar system to the horse winch but this time the counter weight is a water tank refilled at the top and emptied when at the bottom. You pour enough water into the tank that the lift starts to rise, you can also use this as part of your braking system by removing only just enough water that the lift starts to fall. Appropriate speed controllers should remain in place. 3. Men in a hamster wheel This is a very old system for controlling such systems, used in the appropriate period for cranes when building castles. This could also be the equines from method 1 controlling the winch directly. The lever Rings a bell to tell whoever is in control to do their job. Control systems aren't worth the hassle in the age of manual labour.
What Does A Respiratory Care Practitioner Do? Most Respiratory care practitioners work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home health agencies, specialized care hospitals, medical homecare equipment supply companies, patient’s homes, and nursing homes. Respiratory Practitioners use the application of scientific principles for the identification, prevention and rehabilitation of acute and chronic cardiopulmonary disorders. A practitioner also reviews data of patients, collects additional data and helps develop a respiratory care plan to determine the appropriateness of the current therapy. The Practitioner administers medical gases, humidification and aerosols, aerosol medications, postural drainage, bronchopulmonary hygiene, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, monitors mechanically ventilated patients, maintains artificial airways, performs pulmonary function testing, and collects specimens of blood and other materials and documents necessary information in the patent’s medical record. The Practitioner must be able to communicate effectively to other members of the healthcare team as well as being able to problem solve to identify and correct malfunctions of respiratory equipment. Therapists must be able to demonstrate appropriate interpersonal skill to work productively with patents, families, staff and co-workers. They must accept directives and maintain confidentiality, do not discriminate and upholds the ethical standards of the profession. There are more than 100,000 respiratory care practitioners in the United States . Typically, respiratory care practitioners perform procedures that are both diagnostic and therapeutic. Some of the physical activities include: - Lifting up to 50 pounds to assist moving patients/shapes and equipment - Stooping to adjust patients or equipment - Kneel to perform CPR or other duties - Reach 5 feet above the floor to attach respiratory devices to outlets - Grasp laryngoscopes, endotracheal tube and syringes - Stand for prolonged periods - Feel to palpate pulses, skin temperature etc. - Push/Pull large equipment - Walk for extended periods - Hear verbal directions, alarms, through a stethoscope for breath sounds and heart sounds - Talk to communicate to patents, co-workers Mental/Attitudinal Standards: - Function safely, effectively and calmly under stressful situations - Manage multiple tasks simultaneously - Prioritize - Exhibit social skills necessary to interact effectively with patients, families, and co-workerswith respect, politeness and tact. - Maintain personal hygiene consistent with professionals in close contact with patients.	http://www.mssu.edu/academics/health-sciences/respiratory-care/respiratory-care-profession.php
Understanding factors that influence parenting decisions for outdoor play is necessary to promote physical activity during critical years for adolescent adjustment. This study explored physical and social environmental influences on parenting decisions and rules for their child’s outdoor play using semistructured in-depth interviews with parents (n = 30, 29 of whom were mothers) of adolescents. Mothers from low- (n = 16) and high-disadvantage (n = 13) neighborhood environments were recruited to identify environmental factors that resulted in parenting decisions that either promoted or hindered outdoor play and identify differences across neighborhood types. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Mothers limit their child’s independent play, as well as the location and time of outdoor play, due to both social and physical aspects of their neighborhood. Seven themes (safety, social norms, sense of control, social cohesion and neighborhood composition, walkability, and access to safe places for activity) were identified as influencers of parenting practices. Mothers in high-disadvantage neighborhoods reported facing greater neighborhood barriers to letting their child play outside without supervision. Physical and social neighborhood factors interact and differ in low- and high-disadvantage neighborhoods to influence parenting practices for adolescent’s outdoor play. Community-level interventions should target both physical and social environmental factors and be tailored to the neighborhood and target population, in order to attenuate parental constraints on safe outdoor play and ultimately increase physical activity and facilitate adolescent adjustment among developing youth. 139 views Category: Medicine , Pathology , Toxicology IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 3854: Cataract Services are Leaving Widows Behind: Examples from National Cross-Sectional Surveys in Nigeria and Sri Lanka (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health) IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 3852: Diet and Food Allergy as Risk Factors for Asthma in the Arabian Gulf Region: Current Evidence and Future Research Needs (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health) comments powered by Disqus. blog comments powered by Disqus MyJournals.org The latest issues of all your favorite science journals on one page Username: Password: Register \| Retrieve Search: Google: Copyright © 2008 - 2020 Indigonet Services B.V. . Contact: Tim Hulsen . Read here our privacy notice. Other websites of Indigonet Services B.V.:	https://www.myjournals.org/index.php?nr=531065
The first generation of modern artists blended European fine arts with Egyptian themes and traditional techniques. Currently enjoying revived interest, they succeeded in reflecting the cultural renaissance of their time and created a fertile environment for successive generations of artists. Until recently, artistic output in Egypt was mainly studied through the lens of its Pharaonic, Islamic or Coptic cultural heritage. The multiple modernities that emerged in the field of visual arts at the beginning of the twentieth century were largely neglected. Lately, however, an increasing interest for modern and contemporary Egyptian art has emerged in academia and in the curatorial world. This has been stimulated, to a large extent, by the nascent interest of the international art market in Middle Eastern art, as well as by the emerging field of world art history that aims to re-evaluate non-Western artistic expression from a global perspective. European Influence, Egyptian Themes The work of the generation of Egyptian artists referred to as al-ruwwad (the pioneers) reflects a moment of tremendous cultural change in Egyptian society. Their work not only embodies the nahda (renaissance) in intellectual thought at the dawn of the twentieth century but also underlines cross-cultural interactions between Egypt and Europe at the time. It is precisely because of this interaction, however, and because of the influence of the European fine arts on their work, that the pioneers have often been regarded as ‘imitators’ rather than ‘innovators’. This is a considerable misjudgement considering the significant contributions made by al-ruwwad to the advancement of modern Egyptian art. Their rich and varied production is much more complex and cannot simply be dismissed as imitation of European models. In 1908, the Ecole des beaux-arts was founded in Cairo by Prince Youssef Kamal. To begin with, the school—which is today located in Zamalek and part of Helwan University—was housed in a villa in the Darb el-Gamamiz neighbourhood and administered by a French sculptor named Guillaume Laplagne. The overall mission of the school was to participate in the modernization of Egypt through exposure to European culture and the practice of European fine arts. The school’s programme was modelled on the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and dominated by French and Italian professors, such as Nicola Forcella, Camillo Innocenti and Gabriel Biessy. The young students were expected to learn techniques and genres embedded in European tradition, such as oil-painted landscapes, portraits and nudes. Their challenge was to use these techniques to reflect Egypt’s visual identity through experimentation with different subjects and new methods of expression. Mahmoud Mokhtar, Ragheb Ayad, Youssef Kamel, Mohamed Hassan and Ahmed Sabry were among the first graduates of the Ecole des beaux-arts in Cairo. Once they obtained their diplomas, they received grants to pursue their studies in Paris, Florence or Rome. They would then start a long journey, leaving Alexandria by boat to remain several years in a foreign country where they had to learn a new language and start a new life. The sculptor Mahmoud Mokhtar, for instance, was one of the first non-European students to pass the exam of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1912. It was also in the French capital that he sculpted the first models for what was to become one of Egypt’s major public monuments. Entitled Nahdet Masr (Egypt’s Renaissance) and supported by Saad Zaghloul and the Wafd Party, the monument (located today in front of Cairo University) was unveiled in 1928 in Bab al-Hadeed Square in front of Cairo’s main railway station. Other artists such as Ragheb Ayad, Mohamed Hassan and Youssef Kamel studied together at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. Many of these artists maintained strong ties with Europe and spent their lives shuttling between either side of the Mediterranean. Georges Sabbagh, for instance, was considered an artist of the Ecole de Paris and regularly exhibited his works in the Salon d’automne. When they returned to their homeland, the pioneers worked tirelessly to promote modern art in Egypt. They taught and exhibited their works forming the nucleus of a flourishing art scene stimulated by the establishment of numerous galleries, cosmopolitan art hubs and exhibitions. Among these was the annual Salon du Caire founded by the Société des amis de l’art headed by the politician and art collector Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Bek. Prominent intellectuals such as feminist icons Hoda Shaarawi and Ceza Nabarawi also played a major role in promoting the arts by sponsoring artistic events and providing patronage for aspiring Egyptian artists. The fellah (peasant) and Ancient Egypt were the two main subjects addressed by the pioneers in their works and would remain intimately intertwined with Egyptian art for a long time. These themes echoed the nationalist discourse and soon became the leitmotifs of Egyptian artistic output. One can see this aspect, for example, in the folklorist works of Ragheb Ayad, who was very much inspired by Egyptian rural life but also referenced the formal pictorial canons of the Pharaohs. Traditional crafts and local traditions were another source of inspiration. Starting in the 1920s, an important movement emerged to revive traditional arts and crafts. In 1924, Hoda Shaarawi founded a ceramics school in the poor neighbourhood of Rud el-Farag to encourage young people to earn a living by learning the art of traditional pottery. Following that initiative, several pedagogues, such as Habib Gorgui, the father in-law of the architect Ramsis Wissa Wassef, established schools to revive traditional techniques. The Ramsis Wissa Wassef weaving school still exists to this day in Harraniyya close to the Pyramids of Giza. Legacy and Revival The legacy of the pioneers was particularly prominent in the field of art education. After almost thirty years of domination by European professors, the painter and diplomat Mohamed Naghi became the first Egyptian to be appointed at the head of the Ecole des beaux-arts in Cairo in 1937. Naghi had travelled to France and studied under the impressionist Claude Monet in Giverny. He strongly encouraged the study of Ancient Egyptian heritage, which had been neglected in favour of art from Ancient Greece and the European Renaissance. In order to introduce young Egyptian art students to the sculptures and reliefs of the Theban Valley, he founded al-Marssam in Luxor in 1942. This tradition continues to this day with the Aswan International Sculpture Symposium established by the renowned contemporary Egyptian sculptor Adam Henein. The pioneers created a fertile environment for the emergence of a second and third generation of artists. They introduced the concept that art had a role to play in all layers of Egyptian society even though they themselves were regarded as belonging to a ‘westernized’ elite. From the end of the 1930s up to the 1950s, artists such as Amy Nimr, who studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London and Seif and Adham Wanly, who were trained in Alexandria by the Italian painter Ottorino Bicchi were an extension of the pioneers’ transcultural model. They were followed by the Egyptian Surrealists, led by the writer Georges Henein, and the Contemporary Art Group, founded by the painter and art educator Hussein Youssef Amin, who would progressively break away from the academic manner of their predecessors and express social issues and political concerns. Members of these generations—Hamed Nada, Abdel Hadi el-Gazzar, Inji Efflatoun or Hamed Ewais, just to name a few—owed much to the pioneers who had established a vibrant art scene and initiated new ways of engaging with art. Today, the pioneers are being re-evaluated by academia as an embodiment of transcultural exchange and a reflection of the values of the nahda project. Artists such as Mahmoud Mokhtar or Mahmoud Saїd are considered giants of modern art in the Middle East and their works can be found in international museums, auctions and art fairs, particularly in the Arab Gulf. People from around the world come to visit the Museum of Egyptian Modern Art—built by the architect Mostafa Fahmi—in Cairo to discover new facets to Egypt’s modern history. Many other museums in Egypt also deserve to be valued not only for their outstanding collections but also for the history of the buildings that house them. Not far from the Museum of Egyptian Modern Art is the Mahmoud Mokhtar Museum conceived by the architect Ramsis Wissa Wassef, whose father had supported the sculptor throughout his career. Among the less well-known collections is the villa of Princess Fatma Ismaïl, which belongs to the complex of the Agricultural Museum in Cairo and maintains an outstanding collection of modern Egyptian art produced on the theme of rural life. The Mohamed Naghi Museum, situated in his former studio built in the modern style close to the Giza Pyramids, displays an exceptional collection of paintings including the artist’s works from his journey to Ethiopia. Finally, the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum, located in his former villa in Giza does not only constitute one of the most important collections of nineteenth-century French art in the Middle East, but also represents a testimony to the history of patronage and art collecting in the region. While these museums house exceptional collections, much remains to be done to catalogue, preserve and value these public collections. Educative programmes and activities, publications, and curatorial events are critical to reigniting interest in these artists. Today, other countries are acquiring and prizing the works of the Egyptian pioneers. It is now more crucial than ever to value and promote this outstanding heritage within Egypt as well. Most Popular A selection of some of our favourite paintings. With a landmark new museum planned for Beirut, Lebanese-Palestinian art collector and patron Ramzi Dalloul has ambitious plans to expand the global reach of modern and contemporary Arab art. Al-Ahram Foundation boasts one of the most important Egyptian art collections outside the boundaries of public museums. A rich amalgam of paintings, sculptures, wall art and photography, the collection chronicles the Egyptian fine art movement and captures the spirit of contemporary reality. Egyptian modern art has been breaking records at auctions for several years now. How can novice collectors make sure they’re getting their money’s worth? We look at what makes a good investment. From major collections to intimate, private museums, we discover the best places to explore Egypt’s hidden treasure trove of modern art. The Egyptian modern art movement was accompanied by a small but influential circle of art critics and journalists who attempted not only to discuss but occasionally to define the parameters of Egyptian art. Nadia Radwan Nadia Radwan is an art historian specializing in modern art and architecture in the Middle East. She obtained her PhD at the University of Geneva and later worked at the American University in Dubai. At present, she is assistant professor of world art history at the University of Bern and is working on the publication of her PhD thesis on the pioneers of Egyptian modern art.	https://rawi-magazine.com/articles/vanguard/
On our class web page you will find each term, information about what your child will be learning and key dates. Also look out for the weekly newsletters your child will bring home to see what learning we have been doing that week! This half term, our topic is called 'A map of me,' we spend this half term settling your child into school, helping them learn the routines, support them with establishing friendships and learning how to use different areas which are both indoors and outside. We also learn about how different people in and out of school can help us. As the children spend time exploring their new environment and become confident learners, the adults get to know the children and what they can do. Each week we use stories and rhymes to focus our learning and the first half term is centred around books about 'ourselves'and favourite stories that the children have. Once children are settled we start to introduce our phonics sessions, we use the Read, Write Inc scheme and there will be an opportunity for parents/carers to learn more about this in the first half term. We also do daily Maths sessions, practising skills such as counting, recognising numbers and exploring the composition of numbers. In our RE sessions we will be introducing our prayer space as a quiet place for children to use and then begin with the topic of 'Domestic Church' where we will explore the theme of families and being part of God's family. Important Dates Thurs 2nd Sep- Start of the school year (children are in either group A or B for 5 days) Tues 7th Sep- Group A stay for lunch Wed 8th Sep- Group B stay for lunch Thurs 9th Sep- Children in full time 8.40am-3.30pm Mon 20th-Thurs 23rd Sep- Balanceability Tuesday 21st Sep @ 4.15pm- Phonics workshop and information for parents Mon 18th Oct- Individual/sibling photographs Fri 22nd Oct- Last day of Autumn 1 term Mon 1st Nov- Inset day Tues 2nd Nov- Start of Autumn 2 term PE is every Monday afternoon and taken by PE specialists, Ellie and Harrison. Your child does not need a PE kit yet for these sessions. The children also have music on a Monday afternoon and for this they have a music specialist, Miss Palko. We change books on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Once the children are settled in school you will be given more information about reading books.	https://www.st-josephs.plymouth.sch.uk/website/foundation/177890
Flowering size orchidGrowth conditions: You can keep plants outside of this pot, water seeps away slowly. It can be used for e.g. Pleurothal... Orchid rods made of glass fiber are irremovable and not prone to fungal diseases. They are flexible ... Near flowering size... 5 pots, 15cm diameter, transparent... Flowering size orchid... Syn. Racinaea crispa, Flowering size... 10 pots, 12cm diameter, transparent...	https://www.orchideenwlodarczyk.de/shop/catalog/renanthera-amayani-renmonachica-ren-citrina-p-1333.html
This book is about Percy Jackson, a modern-day demigod son of Poseidon, and he is summarizing the lives and telling the stories of the original Greek heroes. Some of his stories include the lives of Hercules, Daedalus, Jason, Theseus, Atalanta, and many more. In each story, Percy describes the backstory of each of the characters and how these backstories played an integral part in their actions in the stories. In the book, there is also an introduction and afterword that also accompanies the list of stories to further explain and generalize the book itself. I absolutely loved this book. Mere words cannot express the love I have for this book and the entire Percy Jackson series. I love Greek mythology because of this book and the series. The diction and word choice that Riordan uses makes the content more interesting and appealing to read. He uses modern day slang and terms that help his readers to better understand Greek mythology. Not only does he make it easier to understand, but he also makes it relatable to the reader. Of course the reader can’t actually relate to the character’s situations because the situations can’t happen in real life, but the lessons that are being conveyed and the side explanations, like why the Sahara Desert is the way it is today, is something to know and relate to.	https://readandreview.org/2016/01/27/read-review-percy-jacksons-greek-heroes-by-rick-riordan-8/
A SCADA system consists of a Master Terminal Unit (MTU), communication equipment, and geographically distributed Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), as in Figure 1. The RTUs are linked with MTU via communication link as shown below: Typical SCADA system with master unit connected with RTU The RTUs collect data and send it to the SCADA’s host computers located at some central position. Generally, a SCADA system may be associated with several of I/O points for data collection. An operator can decide polling rate for field data collection. The polling rate is influenced by several parameters such as number of sites, the required amount of data at each site, the available maximum bandwidth of the communication channel and the minimum required display and control time (Scadalink, 2010). Arguably, it can be stated that the SCADA system’s rationale and objective depend upon the proper functioning of a remote terminal unit. The failure of one or more RTUs is therefore detrimental. In this chapter we have investigated a mechanism which will guarantee the service availability of RTU despite its failures. The Reliability and Availability analysis of the proposed scheme is discussed and the discussion of results is presented later in the chapter. The sensors normally work under the control of a microprocessor or microcontroller. The host processor is responsible for initiating the data sampling and collecting the digital output of the physical parameter the sensor is sensing. In smart sensors, the intelligence is delegated to the sensor unit itself. A smart sensor contains a Microcontroller (µC), a signal conditioning unit, an Analog-to-Digital Controller (A/D) and the interface (Alba, 1988). The microcontroller makes the sensor capable of distributed processing, compensation, self calibrating and so on. Figure 2 shows the elements of smart sensor. Smart sensor The sensed data is signal conditioned and converted into digital form under the control of a microcontroller. The interface unit inside the smart sensor places the converted data onto the communication bus. Controller Area Network (CAN) communication protocol may be used to send the sensor data the in the form of CAN messages (Bosch, 1991). Transmitted sensor data encapsulated in CAN message format can be read by any CAN-enabled processing node connected to the bus. The application of smart sensors will mitigate the host processor from directly controlling the sensors.	https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/fault-tolerant-remote-terminal-units/56301
Rhubarb (scientific name – Rheum rhabarbarum) is technically a vegetable but is legally considered a fruit from the Polygonaceae family. It has a tart taste with lemony flavor, due to its malic acid content. The plant dates back to more than 5000 years ago when it was grown and used for medicinal purposes in China. From there it spread to America in the 1700s, landing in Maine and then reached Massachusetts. In the present day, it is cultivated throughout the year in different parts of the world, so it is available in almost any season. Note The flowers and stalks are the only edible parts of the plant. This is crucial to know since the leaves are poisonous. Nutrition Facts This plant is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins, like – A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E, K, minerals which include – calcium, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, manganese, and magnesium. In terms of organic substances, it is a good source of polyphenolic flavonoids like – zeaxanthin and lutein. The color results from the presence of anthocyanins. Health Benefits Of Rhubarb Relieves Constipation In traditional Chinese medicine, the roots of Rheum rhabarbarum have been used as a laxative. The plant contains the phytochemicals named anthraquinones including emodin, and rhein, which have powerful laxative properties. Weight Loss Presently, many individuals attempt to lose weight, become disheartened and frustrated, and turn to pills, supplements, meal replacements, unhealthy fad diets, and surgery. This plant contains 21 kcal/100g which makes it perfect for weight loss. Bone Health Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that your body stores in the liver and fat tissue. It is one of the main vitamins involved in brain function and metabolism, it prevents excessive bleeding and type 2 diabetes, and maintains blood clotting and bone mineralization. It also plays an important role in the protection against cancer. Low levels of vitamin K have been found in individuals with osteoporosis (a disease in which the bones become weak and are more likely to break), while higher levels of vitamin K helps in maintaining a greater bone density (1). 100g of this plant contains 24% vitamin K of the recommended daily intake. Wound Healing Manganese is an important mineral that is present in small amounts in the body. It is found mostly in the liver, bones, pancreas, and kidneys. Wound healing is a complex process that requires increased production of collagen, the most plentiful protein in the body. Manganese is required for the activation of prolidase, an enzyme which functions to provide the amino acid, proline, for collagen formation in human skin cells (2). 100g of this plant contain 9% manganese of the recommended daily intake. Keeps The Skin Healthy Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant with increasingly diverse uses in disease prevention and health promotion. This antioxidant limits the damage induced by ultraviolet light exposure. Once sun rays enter the skin, vitamin C slows the rate of free-radical damage to collagen and aids in skin repair by factors associated with reduced oxidation damage to the skin cells’ DNA (3). 100g of this fruit contains 9% vitamin C of the recommended daily intake. Lowers Blood Pressure Potassium is an important dietary electrolyte and mineral. Too much sodium, usually in Western diets that use a lot of salt, may increase the need for potassium. Many studies have proved a link between low potassium intake and a higher risk of stroke and increased blood pressure. This mineral relaxes the walls of the blood vessels which leads to lower blood pressure and protection against muscle cramping. 100g of this plant contain 6% potassium of the recommended daily intake. Cancer Prevention This plant is a storehouse of antioxidants like lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin which neutralize free radicals throughout the body. The damage to cells caused by free radicals, particularly the damage to DNA, may play an important role in the development of cancer and other chronic diseases (4). Anti-Inflammatory Properties It has potent anti-inflammatory effects and it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a treatment for inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and appendicitis (5). Lower LDL Cholesterol Levels There are two types of it: insoluble and soluble, although most fiber-rich foods contain some of both. Dietary fiber is found exclusively in plant foods. Studies have shown that increasing the intake of fiber by 5 to 10 g per day reduces the bad cholesterol by about 5% by binding with LDL cholesterol particles in your digestive system and moving them out of the body before they’re absorbed. 100g of this plant contains 5% fiber of the recommended daily intake. Leukemia A pigment found in this plant called parietin has been known to have killed half the human leukemia cells over 2 days in the laboratory. Additionally, parietin slowed the growth of other human cancer cells in animal studies. Helps With Digestive Problems In 2011, scientists at Tisco General Hospital, Taiyuan, China established that this plant can help protect the intestinal wall (which is made up of 4 layers of specialized tissue) through the increased secretion of gastrointestinal hormones (such as cholecystokinin, secretin, or substance P) while providing normal contraction of the muscles that mix the contents of the gastrointestinal tract (6). Side Effects Of Rhubarb The leaves of the plant contain high amounts of oxalic acid (especially if the plant is damaged by severe cold), a toxic and potentially deadly poison. However, to really activate this poison, you need to consume large amounts of the leaves. People who are susceptible to forming calcium oxalate kidney stones should consult with their healthcare specialist to avoid foods that are high in oxalates. In addition, this plant can interact with different medications, like – Digoxin, a drug used for heart failure. Also, it should not be consumed at the same time as other drugs for constipation. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and small children should not ingest this root due to the content of anthraquinones. Selection and Storing Select a plant that is firm, fresh, crispy bright-red color stalks. It is also available in frozen form, but choose one that does not contain added refined sugar. You can store it in the fridge and consume it within 2-3 days. Furthermore, you should keep the leaves on until you’re ready to eat it, as they’ll help keep it fresh. How To Eat The leaves contain oxalic acid, so they should not be eaten. So, cut the leaves and discard them. The health benefits improve when cooked in the oven for 20 minutes rather than eating it raw. Due to its tart taste, it is mostly used in pies, crumbles, tarts, jam, and sauces or with other sweet fruits. It can also be consumed in the form of juice.	https://www.yourhealthremedy.com/medicinal-plants/rhubarb/
Vancouver – A panel of the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) has imposed a $150,000 penalty on the president and chief executive officer of Mountainstar Gold Inc. for making false or misleading statements. In addition to the penalty, Brent Hugo Johnson must resign any position as a director or officer of an issuer or registrant, and is permanently prohibited from taking any such role. Johnson also was permanently barred from trading in or purchasing securities or exchange contracts; relying on any exemptions of the Securities Act; becoming or acting as a registrant or promoter; acting in a management or consultative capacity in the securities market; or engaging in investor relations activities. The panel also permanently prohibited any trading in or purchasing of securities of Mountainstar, a B.C. reporting issuer. A BCSC panel found in October 2018 that Mountainstar, between 2012 and 2015, made repeated false or misleading statements in its required disclosure documents about Chilean mining claims and related legal proceedings in Chile, or that Mountainstar omitted facts necessary to make the statements not false or misleading. Johnson was the president, the chief executive officer and a director of Mountainstar during that period, and the panel found that he knew about the disclosure and had the ability to influence the content. In imposing the sanctions, the panel noted that Johnson’s actions took place over three years, and cited as an aggravating factor his “negligent manner” of verifying the truthfulness of the company’s disclosure. The panel said it is unlikely that investors would have invested in Mountainstar if the company had accurately disclosed the facts surrounding the mining claim and related legal proceedings. The sanctions decision can be viewed at www.bcsc.bc.ca, by typing “Mountainstar” or “Brent Hugo Johnson” in the search box. Information about disciplinary proceedings can be found in the Enforcement section of the BCSC website.	https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/News/News_Releases/2019/23_Mining_company_CEO_penalized_for_false_or_misleading_statements/
Between the ages of one and two, toddlers typically rapidly expand their vocabularies. Tots seem to suddenly go from babbling hesitantly to confidently chatting up a storm. But it turns out the leap from mama to precocious follows a simple mathematical pattern: the bell curve. Cognitive scientist Bob McMurray of the University of Iowa set up a relatively simple mathematical model of word learning on a commonly available spreadsheet, assessing the potential to learn each of some 200 words. He set a numerical threshold at which a given word would be considered learned, operating under the assumption that it would take kids time to learn each word, they could pick up multiple words at the same time, and that some words were more difficult to process. A simple analogy would be jelly bean jars: Every time a word is heard, a jelly bean goes into a jar representing that word. More difficult words require bigger jars with more beans in order for the words to be considered learned, but once that jar is full, the word is in the toddler's vocabulary, McMurray explains. Running the actual mathematical model, McMurray found that toddlers inevitably experienced an explosion in word learning after a set period of time, no matter what. Initially, the most common words are learned relatively slowly followed by a rapid jump in vocabulary. In other words, a little girl might know only the most often heard words at 12 months but a short four months later be able to command several hundred words that she only hears occasionally. The shape of this learning curve is a simple, normal statistical distribution, more commonly known as the bell curve. Scaling up the model to include 10,000 words showed the same pattern as did varying the underlying variables (for example, assuming that a child could only learn one word at a time). "It's a little bit slower but it's still the same vocabulary explosion," McMurray says. The finding casts doubt on the necessity of any particular special function acquired during childhood that enables kids to master language. Many suggestions for such an innate mechanism have been made: from syntactic bootstrapping (using a new word's context to determine its meaning) to mutual exclusivity (using known words to learn new ones by process of elimination). "These specialized mechanisms are working on the margins," McMurray says. But "to explain the big picture, it's much, much simpler. … Anytime you have more difficult than easy words [the learning curve] will have this property." The curve should also apply to children learning other things, such as facts or physical skills, and drops off precipitously, perhaps in late adolescence. "It has not been clearly established but it's almost certainly happening," McMurray says. The curve may explain why some children learn language faster than others, mainly because of differences in the amount of words to which they are exposed or differences in short-term memory abilities. "This is a big complex behavior that isn't in the genes and it's only dimly in the environment. Really it's in the math of parallel learning," McMurray says. "That's a different way to think about development."	https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-explains-toddlers-linguistic-leap-math/
We serve as the spark that ignites the sharing of a truly Canadian culture. Our stories. Our ideas. Our uniqueness. We do it by championing the content produced by the diverse people of this land. First the spark glows – and then it grows. We’re not just fostering Canadian voices for entertainment’s sake. We’re celebrating the history – and the future – of this great nation. Vision A world where Canada’s talent and experiences transcend platforms and borders, triggering emotion, innovation and ideas. Who we are Champions and nurturers of courageous storytelling. WHAT WE DO We foster, promote and finance Canadian content, across all audiovisual platforms, and help share it with the world. HOW WE DO IT We help our creators thrive in a disruptive environment. We support innovation and Canada’s full range of diversity, perspective and independence of thought. We open doors through industry and private sector partnerships. WHY WE DO IT An experience shared from the heart spreads light, dismantles walls and opens the hearts of others. Our Team Valerie Creighton is an industry leader in arts, culture and media, recognized for reenergizing some of the country’s most important organizations in the sector over the last thirty-five years. An expert in organizational change, Valerie has been recognized as a visionary in promoting Canada’s cultural wealth. Currently serving as President and CEO of the Canada Media Fund, Valerie positions Canadian programming at the forefront in world markets advocating successful, innovative Canadian content and software applications for current and emerging digital platforms. Valerie has taken part in foreign trade missions and is regularly called upon to present the CMF model internationally. Valerie was invested into the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2016 and the Order of Canada in 2019. She was named one of 2016’s 20 most powerful women in global television by The Hollywood Reporter, was recognized in 2017 by Women in Television and Film – Vancouver for her major contribution to promoting gender equality in media, and was bestowed the Honorary Maverick Award at the 2017 Female Eye Film Festival. Most recently, she received C21’s 2020 Content Canada Impact Award. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Saskatchewan, has served on a variety of regional, national and international juries and boards and has produced radio dramas for the CBC in Saskatchewan, where she owns and operates the Red Horse Ranch. Sandra Collins has over fifteen years of experience in the film and television industry. Since joining the organization in 2007, she has been responsible for finance, legal, human resources, information technology, risk management, administration, as well as research and data. She now contributes to the oversight of all the corporations operations. Previously, Sandra held various senior positions at Alliance Atlantis Communications, including Senior Vice President, Finance, Entertainment Group, and Vice President, Systems Integration, Corporate Group. Sandra is a Certified Management Accountant and holds an H.B. Comm from the University of Windsor and a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario. Mathieu’s grandfather was a head technician at the CBC and his father was the HR director at the National Film Board, so you might say it was written in the stars that Mathieu finds himself working in Canada’s screen-based industry. Born and raised in Montreal, he’s an award-winning communicator and marketer. In his younger years he published over one hundred stories in La Presse before moving to Toronto to be a participant in Canada’s first reality TV show U8TV: The Lofters. An accomplished journalist, Mathieu frequently appears on Radio-Canada, covering a wide range of social, cultural, and political affairs, and he has published over a thousand stories in French and English entertainment magazines. Mathieu spent over a decade working as an executive at Famous Player and Cineplex Media, and as a volunteer, he has raised substantial funds for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research, The 519 Community Centre, Cinéfranco, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto. Mathieu holds a BA in Communications from l’Université du Québec à Montréal, a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa, and recently completed a Certificate in Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management from Harvard Business School. He joined the Canada Media Fund in 2019 and is now back in la belle province with his husband and two children. He’s a strong advocate for more inclusion on and behind the screen. Nathalie Clermont has been working in the film, television and digital media industry for more than twenty-five years, with extensive experience in policy development and financing. Since joining the organization in 2007, she has been a key advisor on CMF policies and programs. She also ensures consistency in service standards and application processes for all CMF programs, with a focus on developing alternative funding partnerships to leverage CMF investments. Prior to joining the CMF in March 2007 as Director of Program Management, Nathalie spent 15 years at the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), where she was the team leader of the Business Affairs Unit, which was responsible for equity investment programs in cinema and television. Nathalie holds a B.A. in Film, Communications, and Public Relations from the Université de Montréal. Richard Koo has nearly 20 years of experience in the Canadian media industry. Since 2014, Richard has been the head of TV and digital measurement initiatives at the CMF, and also co-manages the CMF’s annual calculations of over $350 million in production and development financing. Previously, he spent five years as the lead Research Officer for CBC Sports, working on major broadcast properties including Hockey Night in Canada and the Olympic Games. Richard is also a multiple Boston Marathon qualifier, national umpire with Rowing Canada Aviron and an active contributor to the Olympic movement in his role as president of the International Olympic Academy Participants Association based in Athens, Greece. Originally from British Columbia, he holds a B.A. from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto. As VP, Content & Regulatory at the Canada Media Fund, Rod is responsible for developing CMF policy and analyzing and advising on legal and regulatory issues that impact the CMF. Prior to joining the CMF, Rod worked at the Writers Guild of Canada and Entertainment One. A trained lawyer, Rod obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Queen’s University and his Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) degree in Media, Information and Technoculture from Western University. An award-winning Ethiopian-Canadian producer and arts organization leader with extensive experience in project management, policy, and organizational planning, Tamara joined the CMF in 2020. She has since successfully led the implementation of the organization’s Equity and Inclusion strategy. Tamara will continue leading the organization’s inclusion strategy with a renewed focus on growth. Coming soon... Alain Cousineau is a seasoned senior executive with over 30 years of board experience. Mr. Cousineau formerly held positions as President and CEO of Loto-Québec and Groupe Secor. He is also a former Chair of Tourisme Montreal and Société des alcools du Québec. Prior to that he had a distinguished career in the academic field, primarily at the Université de Sherbrooke where he ended his tenure as Dean of the School of Business. Mr. Cousineau has also held board positions in a diverse range of industries including the healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceutical industries, aeronautics and electronic business solutions. Mr. Cousineau has extensive consulting experience in marketing and communications and corporate planning and strategy. Ms. Clayton is an independent television and film consultant with multiple Gemini Award credits. Highlights from her career include serving as General Manager of the Biography Channel, Vice President of Programming for The Movie Network, Moviepix, and The Family Channel, and Senior Film Policy Advisor for the former Federal Department of Communications. She has served on the Ottawa Art Gallery Art Auction Committee and the boards of the Rogers Documentary Fund, the Alliance for Children and Television, and the Canadian Television Fund. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, Barry Chapman has over 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry at the executive level, extensive knowledge in regulatory affairs, mergers and acquisitions, as well as strategic and financial planning. He held the role of Vice President, Regulatory Affairs at Bell Canada between 1989 and 2017. He brings extensive corporate governance experience, having sat on numerous boards. A lawyer by training, Chantale Coulombe practiced intellectual property for nearly 20 years at the national firm Norton Rose Fullbright, where she was a partner. Subsequently, she held the position of Vice-President, Corporate and Legal Affairs of the ComediHa! Group, a major creator of audiovisual content in Québec. Ms. Coulombe is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the College of Corporate Directors at Laval University. She chaired the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Québec, was one of the founding members of the Center de la Francophonie des Amériques and sat on the Board of Directors of the Table de concertation de l'Industrie cinématographique et télévisuelle de Québec. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Arsenal Media and of the Ethics and Governance Committee of the Office du tourisme de Québec. Ms. Coulombe is a Chartered Director (C.Dir.). Based in Calgary, Gary Pizante has since 1988 held positions with increasing responsibility in the Canadian telecommunications, cable, and satellite business. He brings extensive experience in financial and economic analysis. Mr. Pizante was previously Vice President, Pricing and Analytics at Shaw Communications. He has a Master’s Degree in Economics from Michigan State University and a Master’s Degree in Communications from the University of Denver. Mr. Fournier is an author, playwright, story editor, film producer, and screenwriter, with more than 300 television dramas to his credit. He was a founding member and President of the Institut québécois du cinéma and served as National Vice President of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and President of the Academy’s Quebec chapter. He has served on the boards of Oxyx-Films Inc., SMA Inc. Télé-4, Les Productions du Verseau Inc., Télévision Quatre-Saisons, Télé-Québec, and CBC/Radio-Canada. He currently serves on the Board of Le Théâtre du Rideau Vert and is a founding Board member of La Fondation Jeanne-Mance. He is a member of the Order of Canada. Michael Schmalz is President of Digital Extremes, a top development studio in the interactive entertainment industry. Dr. Schmalz has over 17 years of experience in the digital media industry, focusing his attention on innovation in the gaming sector. Prior to that, he practiced as a civil engineer. He holds several degrees including a PhD, MA and MESc from Western University and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Dr. Schmalz is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Licensed Professional Engineer and a Chartered Director. Sanae Takahashi is an experienced strategic planner and marketing professional, now retired, with 20 years of executive experience in the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications industry. She served since 2016 as Senior Vice President, Planning, Insights and Business Models at Shaw Communications after holding various senior leadership roles at Shaw. Prior to that, she held the role of Vice President, Consumer Marketing at Rogers Wireless. Her professional experience has centered on responding to customer needs and expectations in the context of media and telecommunications products and services. She holds a BSc in Molecular Biology from Concordia University. Board ActivitiesLearn more Audit committee charters, governance & HR charter, statement of corporate governance principles, code of business contact, and by-laws. Our Funding Contributors The Canada Media Fund receives contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV distributors. The CMF thanks its financial contributors for their continued support of Canadian television and digital media content.	https://cmf-fmc.ca/about-us/
I've learned that people have strong feelings about books. I do too. I know that telling you to declutter your books may trigger a knee-jerk response of HELL NO DON'T TAKE MY BOOKS. I get it. I was once a lonely teenage nerd and that part of me still views books as my best friends. I love books. Reading is my go-to pastime. I buy new e-books frequently. I read 30-50 books a year. I love the way printed books smell and feel. I love the way books look lined up on a shelf or stacked up on an end-table. I tell you this because I want you to know I understand what it feels like to be a book lover before I advise you to give most of your physical books away. I see that horrified look of betrayal, fellow bibliophile. Still, I recommend that you stop collecting physical books and perhaps give away the bulk of your current collection. The problem with collecting books, let's be honest here, is that most of them aren't going to get a second reading. And that's sad for a book. It just sits there on your shelf, waiting to be read again or lent or given away. Books should be in circulation. They were made to be read. For all your best intentions, you will probably not re-read that best seller from three years ago. And despite the generous idea that you want your family and friends to peruse your shelves and have a wide variety of books to choose from, that rarely happens, right? Correct me if I'm wrong. By all means, if you're an active amatuer librarian and all of your books are borrowed and read regularly, keep doing what you're doing. Otherwise, let libraries do their job. If the spaces between your books haven't seen the light of day in a year, let those poor books go free. Let 'em fly. Keeping a book without reading it is like keeping a sparrow in a cage for its whole life. Don't be that guy. I suggest gathering all your books into a single room, and choosing to keep only those that you love so much you re-read or at least flip through them (with a joyful feeling, not a guilty feeling) once a year. Give away the rest to a library, school, or charity. Decluttering your books gives you a chance to really enjoy the few that you keep and keep the few that you enjoy.They won't get lost in the rest of your stuff anymore. They'll have a place of honor in your life, and they'll make it better. It's not the same experience as reading a printed book, but for me, the benefits of an e-reader far outweigh the disadvantages. My Amazon cloud holds a library of hundreds of books. No matter where I find myself - in a park on a beautiful day or waiting in the doctor's office, I can take my pick from my current reading list. On my Kindle App, I can simply press on a word I don't know and the dictionary definition appears. I can also borrow some books, or join a subscription service for access to certain books and periodicals. By buying e-books, I'm saving trees, which is icing on the cake. There are several e-readers available, and now apps available for tablets and laptops and smartphones, making the book-buying process faster, easier, and less expensive. Not every book is available in electronic format, and there will always be some books you want to have a physical copy of. But there's no need to have a large collection of books collecting dust and being moved from place to place. Unless, that is, you truly feel that your life would be worse without them. Every bit of space in your home and energy in your life matters. It counts. Make conscious decisions about how your are going to "spend" your space and energy. Use them on things that fill your life with love and joy. If books do that, keep some around in physical form and more in electronic form.	https://simplelivingtoolkit.com/blog/2017/3/30/decluttering-books-trigger-alert-
Sanbe Azukihara Maibotsurin Park (さんべ縄文の森ミュージアム(三瓶小豆原埋没林公園)) "This is a submerged forest exhibition of an area that was once covered by a volcanic eruption about 4000 years ago. The underground exhibit room is an excavated room of a circle shape of 30 meters in diameter and depth of 13.5 meters. Visitors can see the excavation of the Buried Forest in the ""Jomon Forest Excavation Preservation Exhibition Building"" and the ""Building Exhibiting the Pit for Excavation of Buried Forest Specimens"". In July every year visitors can also enjoy the ancient lotus flowers known as ""Oga hasu"" that are an Ota City Designated Natural Monument." Shimane Pref. Odashi Sambechou Tane B 58-2 (Izumo / Iwami GinzanArea) 9:00-17:00(Last entry16:30) Recommended Guide Details - Address - Shimane Pref. Odashi Sambechou Tane B 58-2 [map] - Phone - 0854869500 - Hours - 9:00-17:00(Last entry16:30) - Closed - Tuesday (Next Weekday in case of Public holiday, Summer vacation Period is open), Mar./Dec. 1st Monday-Friday until 5 Sunday, New Year's Holiday * Please check the website for details. - Fees - [Admission fee] [Adult] 300yen [Small and Middle High School Students] 100yen - Parking Lot - Available(20spaces) - Credit Card - Not available - Smoking - Not available - Wi-Fi - Available (Shimane Wi-Fi) - Note - Temporary closure:Currently closed (information as of May 27, 2020) *Information may be changed, so please be sure to check the official information. - Estimated stay time - 0-30 minutes Information Sources: NAVITIME JAPAN Access - - - On foot aboutminutes - about m - Route from this Station Route from this Bus Stop Route from this IC Route from this Parking Nearby Tourist Attractions Nearby Restaurants Nearby Hotels Shimane Areas What Shimane prefecture lacks in size and population, it makes up for in scenery and ancient mythology. Izumo-taisha, in the middle of the prefecture, is said to be Japan's oldest Shinto shrine, where stories that delve into the creation of the Japanese race have been passed down over centuries. The 180 Oki Islands, a 40-minute ferry ride north of Sakaiminato, offer an undiscovered paradise well off the beaten track.	https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/spot/02301-12400022/
Look up a word, learn it forever. Advanced Search Random Word receptor Definitions of receptor noun a cellular structure that is postulated to exist in order to mediate between a chemical agent that acts on nervous tissue and the physiological response see more see less types: alpha receptor , alpha-adrenergic receptor , alpha-adrenoceptor receptors postulated to exist on nerve cell membranes of the sympathetic nervous system in order to explain the specificity of certain agents that affect only some sympathetic activities (such as vasoconstriction and relaxation of intestinal muscles and contraction of smooth muscles) beta receptor , beta-adrenergic receptor , beta-adrenoceptor receptors postulated to exist on nerve cell membranes of the sympathetic nervous system in order to explain the specificity of certain agents that affect only some sympathetic activities (such as vasodilation and increased heart beat) type of: anatomical structure , bodily structure , body structure , complex body part , structure a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing noun an organ having nerve endings (in the skin or viscera or eye or ear or nose or mouth) that respond to stimulation synonyms: sense organ , sensory receptor see more see less Antonyms: effector an organ (a gland or muscle) that becomes active in response to nerve impulses types: show 23 types... hide 23 types... lateral line , lateral line organ sense organs of fish and amphibians; believed to detect pressure changes in the water enteroceptor , interoceptor any receptor that responds to stimuli inside the body exteroceptor any receptor that responds to stimuli outside the body pineal eye , third eye a sensory structure capable of light reception located on the dorsal side of the diencephalon in various reptiles baroreceptor a sensory receptor that responds to pressure chemoreceptor a sensory receptor that responds to chemical stimuli thermoreceptor a sensory receptor that responds to heat and cold eye , oculus , optic the organ of sight ear the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium organ of hearing the part of the ear that is responsible for sensations of sound inner ear , internal ear , labyrinth a complex system of interconnecting cavities; concerned with hearing and equilibrium semicircular canal one of three tube loops filled with fluid and in planes nearly at right angles with one another; concerned with equilibrium stretch receptor a receptor in a muscle that responds to stretching of the muscle tissue gustatory organ , taste bud , tastebud an oval sensory end organ on the surface of the tongue naked eye the eye unaided by any optical instrument that alters the power of vision or alters the apparent size or distance of objects peeper an informal term referring to the eye OD , oculus dexter the right eye OS , oculus sinister the left eye ocellus , simple eye , stemma an eye having a single lens compound eye in insects and some crustaceans: composed of many light-sensitive elements each forming a portion of an image organ of Corti the hearing organ of the inner ear; contains receptors that respond to sound waves carotid body a chemoreceptor located near the bifurcations of the carotid arteries; monitors oxygen content of the blood and helps control respiration nose , olfactory organ the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals type of: organ a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function Word Family Sign up now (it’s free!) Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement. Get started For Everyone Play the Challenge Vocabulary Lists Dictionary Commonly Confused Words Join a Vocabulary Jam SAT Roadmap For Educators Classroom & Site License Pricing Contact Sales Success Stories Professional Development Research Help Help Articles / FAQ How-to Videos Webinars Contact Support Leaderboards Vocabulary Bowl Bowl Leaders Today's Leaders Weekly Leaders Monthly Leaders Connect Vocabulary.com Blog News & Events Tell us what you think Our Story Our Mission Team / Jobs Partnerships My Account Log in Sign up My Account Log Out My Profile Schools & Teachers My Classes My SAT Roadmap Assignments & Activities My Lists Find a List to Learn... Create a New List... My Progress Words I'm Learning My Trouble Words Words I've Mastered My Achievements User Administration User Authentication My Account Copyright © 2021 Vocabulary.com, Inc., a division of IXL Learning • All Rights Reserved.	https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/receptors
ABSTRACT: Studies addressing the potential of grass roots in improving the structural quality of constructed minesoils are not frequent in the literature, although they are essential for understanding the re-establishment of soil functions in the environment. The objective of this study was to quantify the root attributes of the species Urochloa humidicola, Panicum maximum, and Urochloa brizantha and relate them to the physical properties of a constructed minesoil in reclamation of an area degraded by coal mining. The study was performed in a field experiment in a coal mining area located in southern Brazil. Soil samples were collected, five years after experiment installation, to determine bulk density, macroporosity, distribution of water stable aggregates expressed in different size classes, mean weight diameter of water stable aggregates, and organic carbon content, as well as for chemical characterization. Root sampling was performed by the monolith method to a depth of 0.30 m. Results confirm the hypothesis that the root system of the perennial grasses studied positively contributes to recovery of the constructed minesoil in the 0.00-0.10 m layer after 58 months of revegetation. The higher percentage of large aggregates, higher bulk density, and lower macroporosity in the subsurface indicate the presence of degraded layers, negatively influencing the development of the grass root system. Urochloa brizantha exhibited the largest root matter in the surface layer, influencing the breakdown of the large and cohesive aggregates, transforming them into smaller crumbly aggregates. In the 0.10-0.20 m layer, Urochloa humidicola showed greater volume and root length in relation to other species; nevertheless, changes in soil physical properties were not observed, showing that the time span of the root growth of the species was not sufficient to provide improvements in the subsurface layers.	https://www.scienceopen.com/document?vid=00c824a9-0171-4d7b-8616-6d016a64baab
The Impact of Music Education on Select Students' Self-Efficacy Music education may hold the key to improving the self-efficacy of students classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged. Increasing self-efficacy for these students also potentially improves their chances of academic success. This study investigated the ways in which an El Sistema-inspired after-school orchestra program impacts socioeconomically disadvantaged students’ self-efficacy as well as the correlations that exist between students’ participation in the music program and their self-esteem, perseverance, motivation, and outlook on their personal future. Participants included fourth and fifth grade students enrolled in an orchestra program at a public elementary school in Southern California as well as their parents, teachers, and the school administration. The study was carried out through a mixed-methods approach, which consisted of student surveys, observations, and interviews with parents and school staff. Results revealed participation in the music program provided students with access to several sources of self-efficacy and produced strong correlations to measures of self-esteem and perseverance. Relationships between participation in the after-school orchestra and levels of motivation and outlook on personal future were also indicated but to a lesser degree. This study provides evidence music programs are valuable and can provide the right type of environment to reach children who are at-risk and give them the opportunities they need to succeed.	https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/b2773w15p?locale=en
Turnips have a glycemic index of 62, which is considered moderately glycemic. Pairing them with sources of protein can help reduce their glycemic impact to prevent quick blood sugar spikes. Do turnips raise blood sugar? Turnips are low calorie, non-starchy vegetables with a low glycemic index, so eating them has a minimal effect on your blood sugar levels. Are turnips high in carbs and sugar? Turnips (per 3.5 ounces: 28 calories, 6 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 4 grams sugar). Are turnips a high carb vegetable? They’re packed with nutrients but high in starchy carbohydrates. Root vegetables — like turnips, rutabagas, and parsnips — may not be the sexiest foods on the table. Where are turnips on the glycemic index? Turnips are believed to have a glycemic index of 62. The glycemic load of cooked turnips is estimated to be 2. Which has more carbs turnips or potatoes? Calories and Carbohydrates Turnips contain fewer calories per serving than potatoes — 18 calories per cup of cubed turnip, compared with 59 for russet potatoes. … Each cup of turnip contains 4.2 grams of total carbohydrates, while an equivalent serving of potatoes contains 13.5 grams. Can you eat turnips on a low carb diet? What Are Root Vegetables? Generally root vegetables like potato, carrots and sweet potato are too high in carbs to include in a low-carb or keto diet, so stick to these low-carb root vegetable options: onions, cabbage, radish, turnip, jicama, rutabaga, celeriac and cauliflower. What are the benefits of eating turnips? Turnips are loaded with fiber and vitamins K, A, C, E, B1, B3, B5, B6, B2 and folate (one of the B vitamins), as well as minerals like manganese, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium and copper. They are also a good source of phosphorus, omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Which is healthier turnip or rutabaga? Nutrition Notes Both turnips and rutabagas are high in fibre and low in calories. Per cup, turnips have only 36 calories and 2 grams of fibre, while rutabagas have 50 calories and 4 grams of fibre. Both are good sources of calcium, potassium, vitamin B6 and folate and excellent sources of dietary fibre and vitamin C. Can diabetics eat turnip greens? Diabetes. Turnip greens are high in fiber, providing 5 grams per 1 cup. Studies have shown that people with type 1 diabetes who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels, and that people with type 2 diabetes may have improved blood sugar, lipids, and insulin levels. Which is healthier collard greens or turnip greens? Turnip greens are better than collard greens because they contain more calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A and B6. Turnip greens are great for: Reducing anemia. Maintaining Healthy Skin. Are turnips considered a starch? Antinoro says that most other root vegetables like carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, and rutabagas have a lower starch content and caloric density than potatoes and sweet potatoes, and can be counted as vegetables rather than starches in your meals. Are turnips a non starchy vegetable? Greens (collard, kale, mustard, turnip) Hearts of palm. Jicama. Are turnips better than potatoes for diabetics? The glycemic load of potatoes ranges between 80-110, falling in the “high” range in which carbohydrates are released quickly into the bloodstream. Turnips’ lower glycemic load makes them a better choice for diabetics, in moderation. When is a turnip bad? How to tell if raw turnips are bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the raw turnips: discard any raw turnips that have an off smell or appearance; if mold appears, discard the raw turnips. How many carbs are in cooked turnips?	https://diabeticdiscountdirect.com/insulin/are-turnips-high-glycemic.html
Be truthful and thorough when you present your medical conditions, especially if you have co-morbid or multiple conditions. Long Term Disability Appeals Process Depending on the area of law governing your disability benefits, your appeal rights and responsibilities differ greatly. If you have a claim governed by State law (Bad Faith) and not ERISA, or you are unsure if ERISA applies to your claim, contact us to discuss and learn more about appealing. If your disability policy is governed by ERISA, you have the right to appeal any “adverse benefit determination.” For most people, this means their monthly disability benefits have been denied or terminated. Under ERISA, it is important to understand that an adverse benefits determination generally includes any denial, reduction, or termination of, or a failure to provide or make payment (in whole or in part) for, a benefit. This means that even a reduction in your monthly disability benefits could trigger your right to appeal. Insurance companies do not always apprise you of this even though they are supposed to. If you are unsure about whether you should appeal, contact us to discuss your particular situation. Under ERISA, you have 180 days from the date you were notified of the adverse benefits determination to submit an appeal. Appealing is mandatory if your claim is governed by ERISA. If you do not participate in the appeals process, you could forever lose your right to benefits and forfeit your right to benefits and forfeit your right to a lawsuit. An appeal should not just be a letter explaining why you are disabled; it should include all credible documentation that supports your claim, taking into consideration the reasons for denial, policy language, and possible standard of review. The appeals process is critical to the strength of your case, and we advise you consult an attorney before submitting any appeals. Your first step should be to send written requests for documents and to thoroughly review all relevant documents of your claim. For more information on what to submit on appeal, go here. Once your appeal is submitted, the insurance company or claims administrator has 45 days to make a determination. If special circumstances require, the insurance company may request an additional 45 days, for a total of 90 days, before making a determination. If the insurance company asks you for an independent medical examination or other testing after your appeal has been submitted, contact us before attending the testing. Sometimes, insurance companies identify information it needs on appeal and uses that outstanding information as a reason to “toll” it’s timeline for rendering a decision on your appeal. Insurance companies often abuse the tolling rights and “special circumstances” statutory language set forth in ERISA. If you believe you have not received a timely determination, or that your claim is being improperly tolled on appeal for additional information, contact us to discuss your situation. Appealing Disability Benefits Denials & Terminations: Insurance Companies often deny otherwise valid STD and LTD claims in order to avoid the financial liability of having to pay benefits. Most disability insurance policies are “fully insured,” meaning that the insurance company administering claims is also responsible for paying the benefits on those claims. As you can imagine, this dual function creates a conflict of interest: the more claims are denied, the more money is kept in-house for the insurance company’s bottom line. If you are facing a denial of your claim for short term or long term disability benefits, do not despair. You have 180 days to submit an appeal under ERISA, and appealing is mandatory. It’s important to know your obligations and rights, which vary depending on the law that governs your benefits. What to Submit on Disability Policy Appeals Just like each disability policy is unique, so is each appeal. In short, the purpose of your appeal is to “perfect” your claim, meaning you should address every reason for the insurance company’s denial and provide evidence to support your continued eligibility under the plan or policy. So how to best tackle your appeal depends on the particular facts of your claim denial. There is no “one size ts all” approach. A strong appeal should include evidence to support your disabling conditions, rebut the insurance’s company’s reasons for denial, and expose the insurance company’s bias. Appeal letters do not have to contain argument, however having a highly experienced LTD attorney provide one to refute the insurance company’s reasons for denial with relevant law helps your appeal prevail. Administrative Record What is most important on appeal is the evidence you submit, which is called the administrative record. When we represent clients on appeal, we often submit some or all of the following: - Expert reports to carefully and thoroughly refute the insurance company’s hired guns, which can include functional testing or independent medical examinations of our own. - Letters or supportive statements from treating providers, family members, or others who know about your restrictions and limitations. - Vocational analysis, which sometimes involves meeting with an expert and almost always involves submitting additional research about your vocational abilities and transferable skills. - Written or video evidence of your disabling conditions. - Research about your conditions, medications, policy coverage/plan design, and the insurance company’s structural conflict. - Where relevant, legal arguments and case law to support the award or reinstatement of your benefits. The evidence we submit is precisely gathered and prepared after careful review of your entire file and plan documents. We take pride in our tailored approach to representing you on appeal. We invest a tremendous amount of time in developing and executing a strategy that is designed to secure your benefits from the appeals process. If you’re claim has been denied, we provide expert service and advice as our rm is focused exclusively on disability benefits law. If your disability claim has been denied, get a free consultation with us before you submit your appeal. Common Mistakes Made When Appealing Denials Failing to send a written request for all relevant documents before appealing. claim is governed by ERISA, the insurance company has an obligation to provide you with a copy – free of charge – of all relevant documents before you submit an appeal. You cannot prepare an effective appeal without carefully reviewing and considering the relevant documents to your claim in the insurance company’s possession. If you need help sending a written request for relevant documents or have not timely received documents after requesting them, contact us today. Appealing a denial based on emotion and not facts. It’s understandable that you are angry or frustrated at the insurance company’s denial. Undoubtedly, the denial letter contains inaccurate information about your conditions or treatment, misrepresents your doctors’ opinions, or outright lies about discussions you’ve had with your claims manager. It is tempting to submit an appeal in anger, but in doing so, you might overlook the inclusion of evidence important for refuting the insurance company’s denial. Contact us for experienced, compassionate representation. Appealing in haste or too soon. To our horror, we have heard all too often of insurance companies denying claims and then encouraging claimants to “hurry up and submit an appeal.” To take this advice is to potentially ruin your chance at getting benefits because of the importance of appealing to cases governed by ERISA. While being without income is understandably difficult, and the reasons you should receive benefits is clear to you, do not forsake the appeals process. Failing to provide all evidence that supports your claim. Perfecting your claim on appeal is a significant undertaking. Just like you were most likely uniquely qualified to perform your job, the Firm is uniquely qualified to do ours, which is to ensure you have all of the information necessary for appealing under the law. All too often, we see people want to appeal on their own, thinking, “how hard can it be?” And, after they are denied again, they are left with incomplete record, injuring their already difficult chances at litigation. Don’t make this mistake and regret it later. We Serve All of Arizona \|Phoenix\|\|Tucson\|\|Mesa\|\|Scottsdale\| \|Chandler\|\|Gilbert\|\|Tempe\|\|Peoria\| \|Payson\|\|Surprise\|\|Sedona\|\|Flagstaff\| \|and anywhere YOU are in AZ.\| Choosing our Arizona Disability Attorneys provides advantages you can’t get from national firms and non-local advocates. We’re Here for You. Get Help Today! Free Consultation. No Fees Until We Win You Benefits.	https://oprdisabilitylaw.com/long-term-disability/appeals-denials/
Students planning to earn their degrees at the end of the spring or summer 2022 semesters, stop by the Prospective Graduate Activity table to receive valuable graduation information. Prospective Graduate Activity Days will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 9 to 11 a.m., and Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 9 to 11a.m. in the main hallway of the Instructional Center. Activities will include filling out necessary forms, measuring for gowns, reviewing degree audits, and asking questions. Students who cannot make these times, the Prospective Graduate Application is available on SWCCyou under the ‘Students’ tab under ‘Forms.’ less Download iCal Google Calendar Yahoo Calendar Windows Live *Reminders include change notification. Email Remind me 0 minutes 5 Minutes 10 Minutes 15 Minutes 30 Minutes 45 Minutes 1 Hour 2 Hours 3 Hours 4 Hours 5 Hours 6 Hours 7 Hours 8 Hours 9 Hours 10 Hours 11 Hours 12 Hours 18 Hours 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 1 Week 2 Weeks before event starts. Set Reminder for all occurrences of this event.	http://calendar.swcciowa.edu/MasterCalendar/EventDetails.aspx?data=hHr80o3M7J5fYzk4u9AlAnJXugYVQWSEfA%2BNcngfESVOme86aDUu6Jt9dDL%2Fja9S
Q: Having issue where computer keeps freezing, could it be the motherboard? I recently got some new parts for a computer: Intel i5-6500 CPU Asus H170-Pro Motherboard 2 x 4GB DDR4 RAM Samsung 850EVO 500GB SSD Western Digital 1TB Caviar Blue HDD Windows 10 Pro x64 I put these together, but am having some trouble with the build. Namely, the PC keeps freezing. I first installed Windows onto the SSD. The installation went fine, however the computer froze during Windows Update. I waited several hours then restarted the computer, but found it would always freeze within ~15min of startup. I thought the issue was the SSD, so I disconnected it and installed Windows onto the HDD. Once again the install went fine, but it froze during Windows update. Restarting the computer, I found that it would still constantly freeze within ~15min of starting the computer. I searched online, and some people said that it was a driver issue. I reinstalled Windows onto the HDD, but this time I did not update through Windows update. Instead I paused the update, and installed the driver CD that came with the motherboard. Somehow things seemed to work, and I tried to do the same process with the SSD. This however didn't work, and the SSD kept freezing within ~15min of starting the computer. I suspected the CPU fan, and returned to the working HDD and ran Prime95 to stress test it, together with a program to display the CPU temps. It ran successfully for an hour, with the CPU temp rising to about 71 degrees C. Thinking I had a working PC I set it to install a program overnight. However in the morning I turned it on to see the screen frozen exactly as before. It seemed like the problem was still there, just for some reason it would take longer to appear. I thought maybe Windows 10 was the issue. I switched to the SSD and tried to install a copy of Windows 7 x64. This however froze during the installation. I tried again, with the same result. I went back to the HDD with the semi-working copy of windows, and re-tried to reinstall Windows 10 x64. This however froze during the installation. I tried to install Windows 10, with the same result. I can't understand what could be going wrong. The fact that it happens with either HDD, and Prime95 ran for an hour with CPU temps reasonable, leads me to believe the motherboard is at fault. However, I can't reconcile this with how the PC was at one point working for several hours before freezing. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? A: Run a memory test for a couple iterations: I prefer memtest86 from a 'ultimate boot cd'. Else you can run the built-in Windows mem test (F8, Repair My PC) You did some good troubleshooting, but you overlooked this important system component! Update BIOS Make sure you are installing the chipset drivers & any thermal-related ones It honestly could be the motherboard too! Odd how the Prime95 ran for hours with no issues (within Windows I'm assuming?). When I first built my desktop it would freeze momentarily every couple minutes, messing with the memory timing in BIOS did resolve it. At that point you could say its crummy memory, bug in BIOS (update it), or a bad motherboard. Its awesome to build your own PC, but sometimes going OEM could prevent headaches like this
The New York Times mapped the slow, wide-reaching flood waters this year so far: To measure the scope of the spring floods, The New York Times analyzed satellite data from the Joint Polar Satellite System using software, developed by government and academic researchers for flood detection, that is frequently used in disaster response. The data covers the period from Jan. 15 to June 30 and shows an interconnected catastrophe along... For The Washington Post, Tim Meko mapped floods, tornados, hurricanes, extreme temperatures, wildfires, and lightning: Data collection for these events has never been more consistent. Mapping the trends in recent years gives us an idea of where disasters have the tendency to strike. In 2018, it is estimated that natural disasters cost the nation almost $100 billion and took nearly 250 lives. It turns out there is nowhere in the... The Weather Channel is using a realistic 3-D depiction surrounding a reporter to show what a storm surge might bring. Here, just watch it: Tags: flood, hurricane, weather Levees are intended to prevent flooding in the areas they are built, but they change the direction and speed of flowing water, which can cause unintended flooding in areas upstream. ProPublica and Reveal collaborated with the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory to build a scale model to show how this can happen. An interactive graphic lets you shift flow rate up and down to see the changes yourself. The video coupled... Using Climate Central sea-level rise estimates, The Guardian plots and maps the potential consequences of a 3.2-degree rise in temperature by 2100. One of the biggest resulting threats to cities around the world is sea-level rise, caused by the expansion of water at higher temperatures and melting ice sheets on the north and south poles. Scientists at the non-profit organisation Climate Central estimate that 275 million people worldwide live in... Based on data from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory, Lazaro Gamio for Axios mapped thirty years of a major flooding. The deeper the orange, the more extreme the flooding was. Tags: Axios, flood Climate change is doing some weird stuff. What were once rare weather events could grow more common. ProPublica and The Texas Tribune zoom in on Houston, where there’s likely to be much more flooding than usual and not enough residents prepared for the rise. scientists say climate change is causing torrential rainfall to happen more often, meaning storms that used to be considered “once-in-a-lifetime” events are happening with greater frequency....	https://jucydata.iiimpact.io/category/flood/
I want to give a brief tutorial on understanding CPU processor utilization since it is commonly an area of confusion during performance analysis. CPU time CPU time is the percentage of clock ticks than a processor spends waiting for instructions. This is opposed to wall-clock time, which is the total time the whole computer takes to perform an operation. The “load” on a system is the ratio of clock ticks which are performing operations versus the click ticks spent waiting for instructions over a given time period. Thus, load only makes sense as an average over a particular time period. During any single clock tick, the CPU is either processing an instruction or a HLT. Idle time The CPU processes a set of instructions fed from memory. The memory contains a set of opcodes (commands) which tell the CPU which operation to perform and the memory where it is located. The rate of clock ticks is constant – several gigahertz in a modern CPU – and during each clock tick, the CPU processes either an instruction to do some work, or a HLT – an opcode which tells the CPU to turn keep components idle until the next cycle. Monitoring CPU time So if we were to “observe” a CPU at the clock-tick level of detail, we would see that it’s always either working or waiting. But we can’t actually do that, since the more closely we monitor clock cycles, the more clock cycles are needed to do the monitoring. So to get an accurate picture of activity, we have to step back to a level where the monitoring tool does not interfere too much with the process being observed. Input/output overhead Any given computer task has several components: CPU instructions, memory IO, disk IO, network IO, and many others. Only extremely simple tasks (like calculating π) can fit in the small (but very fast) memory buffers on the CPU itself. Real-world tasks will almost always require the CPU to wait for other components to finish shuffling data back and forth in a state where it is ready for the CPU to work on it. But the ideal scenario is for the CPU to be kept as busy as possible (constant 100% load) until the task is completed. This is the minimum possible time in which a task can be completed. If we were to monitor CPU activity during such a task, we’d see the load jump to 100% during the task than back to the baseline when it’s done. But if the task is shorter than the measurement frequency of the CPU monitoring tool, it would be an average over two periods, or it might not be detected at all. Multitasking The situation is more complicated when there are multiple tasks to run, each off which requires some fraction of CPU time. The operating system will run the tasks concurrently. Both the processing time and the IO of tasks will overlap, but because the operating system takes turns running each task, the total CPU load will be some combination which may be higher or lower than the total of the individual tasks – depending on the other competing resources the tasks use. For example, two disk-intensive tasks will use less CPU than the sum of both running individually because the disk IO will be the bottleneck. But two CPU-intensive tasks would more than double total load because the CPU will have to run both tasks and have to handle the context switching between concurrent tasks.	https://automagical.rationalmind.net/tag/cpu-time/
Benson Chan, Senior Partner, has over 25 years of scaling innovative businesses and bringing innovations to market for Fortune 500 and start-up companies. With deep experience in strategy, business development, marketing, product management, engineering and operations management, Benson uses a systems approach to consistently deliver results that matter for clients. He is a recognized domain expert and thought leader in networking, cloud, enterprise IT, Internet of Things (IoT), innovation management, business model innovation, and go-to-market. Benson has held project, management and executive positions in innovation-driven organizations, including NASA, Hughes Aircraft Company, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cisco and Pakedge. Benson holds a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, a MS in Engineering from Purdue University and a MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles. Future IIoT technology in manufacturing What does IoT in manufacturing look like 10 to 20 years from now? Where should the US government invest its research resources to enable this future? In this roundtable, we will discuss: - What does IoT in manufacturing look like in 10 to 20 years? - What are the IoT technology gaps to be overcome? - How and where can the US government advance technology development?	https://iiotday.com/march-event-speakers/benson-chan-march/
Two proposed Venus mission concepts co-developed by planetary geologist Martha Gilmore were selected by NASA’s Discovery Program this week. The selected missions aim to understand how Venus became a scorching planet after it was potentially another habitable world in the solar system with an Earth-like climate. Gilmore, George I. Seney Professor of Geology, professor of earth and environmental sciences, is a co-investigator of both winning concepts. Each project will receive approximately $500 million per mission for development and is expected to launch in the 2028–2030 timeframe. The projects include VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy) and DAVINCI+ (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging Plus). “Venus is so critical to our understanding of how Earth-sized planets form in our solar system and other solar systems,” Gilmore said. “I can’t wait to see what we know about Venus in 20 years—will we know then that Venus was once covered in oceans? Will we know how the inner planets acquired their water inventory? Will we know how to recognize habitable planets around other stars? Will we find evidence of life there?” VERITAS, a Venus orbiter, will create high-resolution topography imaging of Venus’s surface and produce the first maps of the planet’s global surface composition. By charting surface elevations of nearly the entire planet, scientists will be able to learn more about the geological history of the planet and why it developed so differently than Earth. VERITAS also will map infrared emissions from Venus’s surface to map its rock type and determine whether active volcanoes are releasing water vapor into the atmosphere. VERITAS is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. DAVINCI+ is an atmospheric probe that would be managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. As the probe plunges into Venus’s thick atmosphere, it would measure the chemical composition, revealing the possibility of a history of water on Venus. In addition, DAVINCI+ will return the first high-resolution pictures of the unique geological features on Venus known as “tesserae,” which may be comparable to Earth’s continents, and, as the oldest terrains on Venus, may record past climates. This will be the first U.S.-led mission to Venus’s atmosphere since 1978. “Having these two such complementary missions is a dream come true,” Gilmore said. “I’m so happy and look forward to working with our students on this fascinating planet.” According to NASA, these investigations are the final selections from four mission concepts NASA picked in February 2020 as part of the agency’s Discovery 2019 competition. Following a competitive, peer-review process, Gilmore’s missions “were chosen based on their potential scientific value and the feasibility of their development plans.” The project teams will now work to finalize their requirements, designs, and development plans. “We’re revving up our planetary science program with intense exploration of a world that NASA hasn’t visited in over 30 years,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science in a June 2 press release. “Using cutting-edge technologies that NASA has developed and refined over many years of missions and technology programs, we’re ushering in a new decade of Venus to understand how an Earth-like planet can become a hothouse. Our goals are profound. It is not just understanding the evolution of planets and habitability in our own solar system, but extending beyond these boundaries to exoplanets, an exciting and emerging area of research for NASA.” Established in 1992, NASA’s Discovery Program has supported the development and implementation of over 20 missions and instruments. These selections are part of the ninth Discovery Program competition. Gilmore, who also is the co-coordinator of Wesleyan’s Planetary Sciences program, is a fellow of the Geological Society of America, has served on dozens of NASA and National Academy of Sciences-NRC Committees, has mentored more than 20 master’s degree recipients, has served as chair of the Wesleyan’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Venus Exploration Analysis Group, deputy chair of VEXAG, and has a publication record of fundamental research contributions in planetary geoscience, particularly on the geological evolution of the Earth, Venus, and Mars. In 2020, she received the Randolph W. “Bill” and Cecile T. Bromery Award from the Geological Society of America for her exemplary contributions to research in the geological sciences and for being an instrumental mentor to young people of color. - Read more about the project in this June 2 NPR story. - Read more about Gilmore’s research here.	http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2021/06/02/nasa-gilmore/
Regulation Impact Statement Updates Official website for publishing regulatory impact analysis information for regulatory decisions announced by the Australian Government, COAG and COAG Councils. Quad Bike Safety Australian Competition and Consumer Commission On 22 March 2018, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released a consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) examining measures to improve quad bike safety. 114 deaths in Australia were attributed to quad bikes between 2011 and 2017 and four deaths to Side-by-Side vehicles (SSVs). In addition, approximately 2100-2500 injuries were recorded by hospitals across Australia attributable to quad bikes or SSVs. The RIS outlines proposed options for making quad bikes safer including a mandatory safety standard that: - adopts the US Standard and requires an additional rollover warning label - introduces a safety star rating system so safer vehicles get a higher rating - requires manufacturers to integrate an operator protection device, such as a crush protection device or roll over protection device in the design of new quad bikes - imposes minimum performance tests for dynamic handling, stability and mechanical suspension and requires that all wheels be able to rotate at different speeds. The ACCC is inviting interested parties to provide a submission online by COB 4 May 2018. A consultation RIS was prepared by the ACCC and was assessed as consistent with best practice by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.	http://ris.pmc.gov.au/2018/04/03/quad-bike-safety
In this paper, we study the problem of evaluating the accuracy of identified linear single-input multi-output (SIMO) dynamical models, where the disturbances affecting the output measurements are spatially correlated. Assuming that the input is an observed white noise sequence, we provide an expression for the covariance matrix of the parameter estimates when weighted least-squares (WLS) are adopted to identify the parameters. Then, we show that, by describing one of the subsystems composing the SIMO structure using less parameters than the other subsystems, substantial improvement on the accuracy of the estimates of some parameters can be obtained. The amount of such an improvement depends critically on the covariance matrix of the output noise and we provide a condition on the noise correlation structure under which the mentioned model parametrization gives the lowest variance in the identified model. We illustrate the derived results through some numerical experiments.	https://research.tue.nl/en/publications/on-the-variance-of-identified-simo-systems-with-spatially-correla
Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is an acute fulminant opportunistic fungal infection usually seen in diabetic or immunocompromised patients. The fungi that cause mucormycosis inoculate the nasal mucosa and may spread to the paranasal sinuses, orbit, and brain. Our patient initially presented with mild ethmoid sinusitis. At that time, brain MRI and contrast-enhanced MR angiography were grossly normal. However, aggravation of sinusitis with extension to the right orbit and anterior cranial fossa rapidly developed within two months. Moreover, an occlusion of the right internal carotid artery was combined. We report a case of a pathologically-proven rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis with serial follow-up imaging for over one year. Mucormycosis is a fungal infection, caused by the pathogenic genera Absidia, Mucor, Rhizomucor, and Rhizopus of the family Mucoraceae [1, 2]. Mucoraceae are saprophytic fungi and frequently found in soil, residue plants, spoiled food, and upper respiratory tract of healthy people . These fungi are nonpathogenic in normal hosts, but infections typically develop in patients with diabetes mellitus or immune deficiency. Such infections are often manifested as rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and systemic in form. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is the most common form of the disease [2-4]. The exact pathogenesis and pathways of spread of rhinocerebral mucormycosis are not clearly known. It is generally believed that fungi initially inoculate the nasal mucosa, spreading to the paranasal sinuses, orbit, and finally the intracranial fossa . When spores are converted into hyphae, they become invasive and may spread through the sinuses into the brain and orbits [3-6]. Mucormycosis typically presents as an acute fulminant infection, but a chronic form of the disease exists . Isolated central nervous system infection and invasive rhinocerebral mucormycosis in immunocompetent patients have been reported [1, 6]. We describe the imaging findings of a rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis in a diabetic patient that was rapidly progressive within two months, causing a unilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. The patient initially presented with a small lesion confined to the ethmoid sinus, but serial follow-up imaging studies showed a rapid progression of the lesion with orbital and intracranial extension, subsequently resulting in a unilateral ICA occlusion. CASE REPORT A 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for the first time with a headache. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed no intracranial abnormality except mild ethmoid sinusitis. An initial contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the carotid and brain are grossly normal. In addition, an initial brain CT scan obtained at that time showed mild sinusitis confined to the anterior ethmoid sinus, and mild mucosal thickenings of both maxillary sinuses. After the patient had been discharged from our hospital, he was readmitted approximately two months later because of diplopia of the right eye for 3 days. He has a history of recurrent sinusitis. In addition, he has been taking diabetes mellitus and hypertension medication for 4 years. A right-eye examination revealed proptosis and restricted extraocular motility in both lateral and medial directions. The visual acuity and fundus of both eyes were completely normal. His blood sugar level was 120 mg/dL and other lab findings, such as complete blood count and urine analysis, were within normal levels. CT scan of the paranasal sinuses revealed frontal, ethmoid, and left maxillary sinusitis with associated bone destruction of the frontal bone, anterior ethmoid sinus wall, and cribriform plate. Inflammation of the right orbit was also noted (Fig. 1A, B). These findings were compatible with invasive fungal sinusitis. MRI of the paranasal sinuses showed heterogeneous enhancing lesions in the above-mentioned paranasal sinuses with extension of the inflammation into the right orbit and anterior intracranial fossa (Fig. 1C). The lesions were isointense or slightly hypointense on T1-weighted MR image (T1WI), and mostly hyperintense on T1-weighted MR image (T2WI). In addition, loss of signal void in the petrous and cavernous portion of the right ICA was noted with high signal intensity on both T1WI and T2WI. A three-dimensional time-of-flight (3D TOF) MRA of the carotid and brain (Fig. 1D) showed occlusion or severe stenosis of the right proximal ICA at the level of the carotid bifurcation. Conventional cerebral angiography (Fig. 1E) showed occlusion of the cervical segment of the right ICA with no distal flow. However, collateral circulation from the contralateral carotid artery through the anterior communicating artery was effective. The patient underwent endoscopic sinus surgery with an excision of infected mucosa using a right Caldwell Luc approach. The pathologic examination of the surgical specimen revealed broad, nonseptated hyphae morphologically consistent with mucormycosis. The organisms were easily visible with hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-schiff, and special Gomori's methenamine silver stain. The definitive diagnosis of rhinocerebral mucormycosis was made on histopathologic examination. Antifungal therapy using amphotericin B was started. Thereafter, we reviewed two postoperative MRI scans obtained 6 months and 14 months later. The most interesting point in our case was that serial follow-up MRI still revealed a loss of the signal void of the right cavernous ICA and bulging of the right cavernous sinus (Fig. 1F). These findings can be interpreted as a thrombophlebitis with occlusion or severe stenosis of the ICA. The patient took long-term medication after the operation for over one year, and his initial presenting symptoms improved. The patient did not present the major symptoms consistent with thrombophlebitis and occlusion of the right ICA because he had good angiographic collateral circulation from the contralateral carotid artery, although surgery and postoperative medication management were also effective to some extent. DISCUSSION Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is classically presented as a fulminant opportunistic infection in diabetic or immunocompromised patients. The common presenting symptoms and signs are headache, fever, sinusitis, facial swelling, and unilateral orbital apex syndrome. Convulsion, changes in consciousness, coma, and stroke may occur [2, 3, 5, 6]. The infection arising from the nasal area or paranasal sinuses may spread to the orbit or intracranially destroy the adjacent bone and soft tissue. The pathologic explanation of this invasion pathway is that the fungus has a propensity for growing along the walls of blood vessels [3, 7]. Mucormycosis may spread intracranially from the paranasal sinuses along perivascular channels, or through the cribriform plate into the anterior cranial fossa. Intracranial dissemination is associated with increased mortality . CT findings of sinonasal mucormycosis include soft-tissue opacification with hyperdense material, nodular mucosal thickening, and an absence of fluid levels in the maxillary, ethmoid, frontal, and sphenoid sinuses, in decreasing order of incidence [5, 6]. Other CT features include bone change of a sinus wall, a focal mass with increased density in the sinus, and infiltration of adjacent soft tissue or bone destruction . The sinus contents have a variety of MR signal characteristics, including T2 hyperintensity or marked hypointensity on all sequences, possibly due to the presence of iron and manganese in the fungal elements. For rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis, thickening and lateral displacement of the medial rectus muscle are characteristic of orbital invasion from the disease in the ethmoid sinuses. A lack of enhancement of the superior ophthalmic vein or ophthalmic artery and internal carotid artery may be seen, and this is related to vasculitis and thrombosis. Intracranial findings include infarcts related to vascular thrombosis, mycotic emboli, and frontal lobe abscesses . Our case was initially presented as a mild sinusitis confined to the anterior ethmoid sinus. Subsequently, in a short period of two months, the lesion rapidly progressed from the sinus with a direct extension to the right orbit and involvement of the right ICA. Follow-up neuroimaging studies with MRI, MRA, and conventional angiography showed occlusion of the right proximal ICA at the carotid bifurcation level. Bone destruction of the frontal bone, anterior ethmoid sinus wall, and cribriform plate was also noted. The rapid progression of the lesion with total occlusion of unilateral ICA is a rare presentation of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. Although some cases have previously been reported, to the best of our knowledge, those case reports of rhinocerebral mucormycosis with complication of ICA occlusion did not display various images, including CT, MRI, MRA, and conventional angiography, as much as we did in our report. It is necessary to observe the finding that most of the cases in which intracranial extension was seen on imaging studies were clearly symptomatic. In this instance, rapid progression of the rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis arising from a mild ethmoid sinusitis was compatible with a clinical course of the patient, because the initial symptoms were non-specific, but diplopia was newly developed within just two months. Finally, our case is thought to be unique and informative in that for the cerebral involvement of mucormycosis, ICA occlusion can rapidly develop, but its recovery may be not occur shortly. In addition, the patient's presenting symptoms were relatively mild regardless of unilateral ICA occlusion. This may be due to a combination of surgery, long-term medication, and good collateral circulation. To conclude, rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive infection and may cause ICA occlusion in a short time, especially if the involvement of the cavernous sinus is present. ICA occlusion by cerebral invasion of mucormycosis may not recover well regardless of active treatment. Radiologists should raise the suspicion of mucormycosis as a cause of invasive fungal sinusitis in the clinical setting of diabetes mellitus, even if mucosal thickening is seen in the wall of the paranasal sinuses.	https://neurointervention.org/journal/view.php?number=187&viewtype=pubreader
Hi All experts,could you please share with me the production flow from raw material to profitability?I am 1st level support in my company and would like to know more about the business process for a production company.Please help and thanks in advance. Dear, Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale, or intermediate processes involving the production or finishing of semi-manufactures. It is a large branch of industry and of secondary production. Some industries, like semiconductor and steel manufactureres use the term fabrication. Production Formal activity that adds value to goods and services, including creation, transport, and warehousing until used. Production is an organized process with specific goals. Please refer this link also, [PRODUCTION FLOW \|http://sap-img.com/production/discrete-manufacturing-the-step-by-step-tcodes.htm] /message/3068159#3068159 [original link is broken] Regards, R.Brahmankar Help to improve this answer by adding a comment If you have a different answer for this question, then please use the Your Answer form at the bottom of the page instead.	https://answers.sap.com/questions/5007909/production-flow-for-manufacturing-company.html
Celebrating this year the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two brotherly states set a goal to bring bilateral trade and economic relations to a new level, expand cooperation in transport and energy spheres and significantly increase turnover in the medium term. An important step for the expansion of economic and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries was an official visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Azerbaijan held yesterday. This year was a landmark year for the expansion and deepening of trade and economic relations between Azerbaijan with Central Asian countries, especially with Kazakhstan, a key partner in business and transport projects. Positive trends began to dominate late last year when several summits and ministerial meetings of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States developed a long-term road map to promote transport, business, and investment integration of the Central Asian region with Azerbaijan and expand preferential trade relations with Türkiye. At the same time, the Russian-Ukrainian war and the associated Western sanctions that broke the traditional transport and logistics routes between Central Asian countries and Europe played the role of a trigger, prompting a considerable increase in participation in the transit alternative of the “Middle Corridor.” With regard to Kazakhstan, these negative conflicts were most acutely manifested in the repeated suspension of operation of the marine terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) located in Novorossiysk. The CPC, with a throughput capacity of 67 million tons of feedstock per year, is of enormous importance for Kazakhstan since about three-quarters of all Kazakhstani export oil is delivered through this 1,511-kilometer pipeline, mainly from the Tengiz and Kashagan fields. Under such circumstances, Kazakhstan’s desire to expand as much as possible the transit of energy resources through the territory of Azerbaijan to Georgian ports and the oil terminal in Ceyhan is quite justified. Meanwhile, the anniversary date – the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan was marked by a number of governmental visits, business, and humanitarian forums, including the 18th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation held in July. It was during this period that the friendly states began preparing a comprehensive program of cooperation until 2026, as well as the formation of the Business Council Kazakhstan – Azerbaijan, which is a platform designed to strengthen the dialogue between business circles of the two countries, to enhance trade, economic and investment cooperation in the non-oil sector, as well as on the untapped potential of regional industrial integration. In general, these trends have been developing quite successfully in recent years. The countries have an extensive treaty-legal base numbering over 120 interstate and intergovernmental agreements, and at the same time, according to the Central Bank of Kazakhstan, in 2005-2020 the volume of attracted investments in the Kazakhstani economy amounted to $306.5 million. In turn, the volume of investments of Kazakh companies in the Azerbaijani economy has increased in recent years: only in 2018-2019 $75.7 million was allocated. In the post-pandemic period, even greater growth of trade turnover between the countries was outlined: in 2021 it was $300 million, having more than doubled compared to the crisis year of 2020 ($140 million). However, it is clear that the current level of trade does not fully reflect the economic potential of the countries, and since last year the governments have been working to maximize the expansion of business ties and diversify their structure, including through the growth of investment cooperation. The logical continuation of the efforts made in the last period was the official visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Azerbaijan, during which fruitful bilateral talks were held with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, as well as meetings in the extended format, where a number of Azerbaijani-Kazakh documents were signed. “I am glad to visit Azerbaijan for the first time as President of Kazakhstan on an official visit. As a result of today’s talks, a number of agreements were signed, and I am sure they will bring bilateral business cooperation and interstate relations to a qualitatively new level,” President Tokayev said. In particular, the leaders of the two countries signed the “Declaration on strengthening strategic relations and deepening allied cooperation and the Integrated Development Program of Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan for 2022-2026.” Among the agreements aimed at deepening bilateral business cooperation, there was also an intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic cooperation, as well as three memorandums – on mutual understanding on cooperation in information and communication technologies, on cooperation in the field of transport, on cooperation in the field of transit traffic, on the establishment of the Kazakh-Azerbaijani Business Council. The sphere of diplomatic, cultural, and humanitarian relations was not ignored either. In this sphere, it is worth mentioning the plan for cooperation between the foreign ministries of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan for 2023-2024, the program on cultural cooperation for 2022-2025, the protocol on the establishment of partner relations between Shusha and Turkestan and between the cities of Mingachevir and Uralsk. A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Ministry of Information and Social Development of Kazakhstan and the Media Development Agency of Azerbaijan. The first meeting of the Kazakh-Azerbaijani Business Council was also held as part of the visit of the President of Kazakhstan, where agreements were signed between the state agencies of the two countries and agreed on several specific business initiatives. In particular, agreements on cooperation were concluded between the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan, on the one hand, and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan, on the other hand. A memorandum of understanding was approved between the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan and the Food City Alliance with Kazakhstan’s QazTrade JSC, and corresponding partnership agreements were signed between ADY Container LLC and KTZ Express Hong Kong LLC. “We see how industrial zones are developing in Azerbaijan, where entrepreneurs are provided with great privileges and preferences. Our companies are interested in doing business in Azerbaijan in the logistics, energy, construction sectors, and in the future in the financial sector,” said Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan Ayan Erenov. At a meeting of the Kazakh-Azerbaijani Business Council Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin said the current dynamics of bilateral trade are encouraging: in the first half of this year trade turnover reached $ 194 million, and it is possible that by the end of the year it can be achieved a record figure for 2012, that is, about $480 million. And in the near future, it is planned to bring trade turnover to a billion dollars. Such optimistic forecasts are quite justified, including the signing of new contracts worth $11 million by entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, including for the supply of oil, fat-and-oil products, wagons, etc., which was announced following the meeting of the council. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in turn, praised the signed Azerbaijani-Kazakh documents, noting their role in further expanding business cooperation between the countries, as well as the prospects for the development of interstate relations in other areas. “The relations of friendship and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan will reach a new high level, and ties between the countries will continue to be a priority in our country’s foreign policy,” the head of state said, stressing that the Kazakh leader’s visit to Baku will make a significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between the two states. President Ilham Aliyev also expressed gratitude for awarding him the Order “Altyn Kyran” by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, saying that the peoples of the two countries are linked by history and common roots. The Azerbaijani leader emphasized that today the two independent states are moving confidently along the path of independence, implementing successful reforms, demonstrating high rates of economic development, solving social issues, and strengthening the authority of the states in the world arena. “I consider this award as a sign of respect for the entire Azerbaijani people and I am especially proud to receive this award from your hands”, President Ilham Aliyev stressed.	https://aze.media/baku-nur-sultan-set-for-breakthrough-azerbaijani-kazakh-leaders-came-to-agreement/
Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of the Maagha month of the Hindu calendar. Shivaratri means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael or Bilva/Vilvam leaves to Lord Shiva, all-day fasting and an all-night-long vigil. All through the day the devotees, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra dedicated to Lord “Om Namah Shivay“. In accordance with scriptural and discipleship traditions, penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach life’s summum bonum steadily and swiftly. According to the Shiv Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items: 1.Bathing the Shiv Linga with water, milk and honey. Wood, apple or bel leaves are added to, which represents purification of the soul; 2.Vermilion paste is applied to the Shiv Linga after bathing it. This represents virtue; 3.Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires; 4.Burning incense, yielding wealth; 5.The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge; 6.And betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures. Numerous interesting and intriguing mythological stories are believed pertaining to the celebration to Maha Shivaratri. In a version, devotees believe that Shivratri is auspicious because it marks the marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva and Parvati. However, many believe that Mahashivratri signifies the auspicious night when Lord Shiva performed the dance ‘Tandava’ that led to the creation, conservation and devastation of the universe. Tripundra refers to the three horizontal stripes of holy ash applied to the forehead by worshipers of Lord Shiva. These stripes symbolise spiritual knowledge, purity and penance (spiritual practice of Yoga). They also represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva. Significant of Shivratri for Women Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga. But generally it is believed that anyone who utters the name of Shiva during Shivratri with pure devotion is freed from all sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death. Maha Shivratri Festival at Shri Pardeshwar Shiv Temple, Aurangabad, Maharashtra Shri Pardeshwar Shiv Temple situated at Aurangabad, celebrates mahashivratri in its unique and traditional way called as Chita Bhasma. On this auspicious day, Shivlinga abhishek is performed with ash from five different cremation grounds. Lord Shiva is considered as Smashan Jogi. Lord Shiva seldom liked to visit and stay at Smashan Bhoomi (cremation ground) and applied the ash all over his body. Smashan Jogi’s from five different smashan bhoomis arrive with the ash and perform chita bhasma (cremation ash) abhishek at pardeshwar mandir. Lakhs of Devotees gather together to celebrate the festival every year. Temple houses 111 kg of Parad (Mercury) shivling resting in 151 kg gandhak (sulphur) vedi (platform). This unique combination makes shivlinga extremely powerful and devotees believe that performing abhishek at the temple on the auspicious shivratri day, fulfil all wishes and bestows happy long life, wealth and peace. Like each year, Maha Shivratri 2019 will be celebrated on Monday, March 04 by decorating the temple in floral colourful ways. Visit Pardeshwar Temple to obtain the blessings of Lord Shiva. Yagyapuja, our online partner specially provides this unique opportunity to all Lord Shiva devotees to perform shivlinga puja at Pardeshwar Shiv temple on the auspicious day of mahashivratri. Click here to participate.	https://www.shripardeshwar.org/mahashivratri/
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I've tended to be weak ... 4 votes 2answers 145 views Latin, Italian, or French? (I hope this is on-topic.) I am deciding which language to learn next. I am a native Spanish and fluent English speaker. My three options are Latin, Italian, and French. I would like to receive your ... 0 votes 3answers 201 views Learn Russian very very fast I know the Russian alphabet, and I know how to present myself in Russian (say my name, say my age...). I have two weeks to have a correct "Russian level" and I can work 1 hour a day. By saying a "...	https://languagelearning.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/self-learning
Musandam Group has succeeded in every business it has entered into. This is singularly due to its motivated workforce. Fully conscious of the role of employees in its progress, Musandam earmarks a substantial outlay for staff welfare initiatives. Health and safety of the employees being the top priorities of the Group, it scrupulously follows all directives stipulated by statutory agencies in these domains. Further it has evolved a work culture with an inbuilt mechanism to mould and motivate personnel through frequent training programmes and incentives. Each employee is taught the importance of teamwork and his responsibility in helping the organization fulfill its objectives. In short, the Group has done everything not only to attract outstanding talents, but also to retain them for life. The low work force turnover of the group further emphasizes the unity of work force.	http://musandamgroup.com/team.html
Adherence to hand hygiene guidelines is an important measure for reducing hospital-acquired infections and preventing the transmission of pathogens in healthcare facilities (1). Similarly, high levels of hand hygiene have been pointed out as a vital strategy for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in hospitals (2). Nevertheless, maintaining high levels of hand hygiene compliance (HHC) among healthcare workers (HCWs) has been an ongoing challenge. A recent study by Sandbøl et al. (2022) published in the American Journal of Infection Control investigated how the HHC of HCWs changed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved approximately 140 HCWs in three medical departments at the Danish Regional Hospital of West Jutland from April 2019 to August 2020. HHC was measured using an automated hand hygiene monitoring system, Sani Nudge (3). The findings showed that HHC did not increase during the COVID-19 pandemic as otherwise expected. In fact, the analyses revealed higher hand hygiene levels in two out of three departments before the COVID-19 pandemic (3). These findings are in line with the recent study by Stangerup et al. (2021) which found that the HHC of front-line HCWs decreases over time after their data-driven feedback meetings stopped; despite the pandemic (4). What is the cause behind low hand hygiene compliance? Potentially, increased workload and the usage of medical gloves instead of hand disinfection may be some contributing factors to lower hand hygiene compliance (3). Moreover, a pandemic may not inevitably improve HHC in hospital settings because other variables such as stress and self-protection may play a role (5, 6). Indeed, HHC was higher after patient contact compared with before patient contact, indicating an element of self-protection in the behaviour observed. Interestingly, one of the wards increased their HHC significantly during some weeks which was related to an increase in cases of COVID-19 patients, and the Danish Working Environment Authority effected a working environment inspection (3). The findings in the ward support previous research indicating that adherence to hand hygiene increases with a fear of acquiring infection (self-protection) and with the risk of taking the infection home to one’s family. All in all, this, as well as, other studies have demonstrated that management focus and continuous improvement initiatives appear to be critical in assuring adherence to hand hygiene guidelines. Sani Nudge is committed to providing cutting-edge research that contributes to the adequate evaluation of the validity and advantages of electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems. To learn more about the latest research on hand hygiene and infection prevention and control visit our clinical research site. References 1. WHO. Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. Interim guidance. 2020; Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/10665-331495. 2. WHO. WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care. First global patient safety challenge clean care is safer care. 2009; Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241597906.	https://saninudge.com/blog/did-covid-19-improve-hand-hygiene-practices-among-healthcare-workers/
Visit the Gallery The Albert H. Small Documents Gallery, located on the second floor of the National Museum of American History, is devoted to the display of rare and historically significant documents. The gallery features documents that reflect major events and themes in American history from the Smithsonian’s collections, public institutions, and private collections. Exhibitions rotate within the 1,500 sq. ft. space several times a year. Museum Information - Admission Admission is free. No tickets are required for entrance into the gallery. The Museum is open every day except December 25. Please check dates for specific exhibitions within the gallery. - Hours Regular hours are 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Check the Museum’s Plan Your Visit page for special hours. - Location National Museum of American History 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. - Contact For information, please call 202-633-1000.	https://americanhistory.si.edu/documentsgallery/visit.html
Maximilian Hörmeyer was born in 1989. He started playing the violin at the age of four. In 1995 he attended the Conservatory of Wintherthur (CH). In 1998 he continued his studies at the University „Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst“ in Vienna (Austria) as a student in the class of Marina Sorokova. In 2006 he attended the „Hochschule für Musik Saar“ in the class of Mr Johannes Kiefel. 2010-2012 he studied at the Musikhochschule in Munich with Christoph Poppen. 2012-2015 he was studying with Zakhar Bron doing is Master degree at ZHdK Zurich (Switzerland). Since 2015 he is studying in Master Piano Duo chamber music with Evgeni Sinaiski in Essen, Germany. Since 2018 Maximilian Hoermeyer is the 1st Concertmaster of the TheaterPhilharmonieThüringen Germany. Recently he was also appointed as the leading Concertmaster at the New Generation Festival Firenze 2018. In the years before he played in many orchestras as leading concertmaster, e.g. the Festival Orchestra of the Aspen Music Festival 2007. During 2013-2015 he was concertmaster at the Mannheim Philharmoniker sharing the position with Stefan Tarara, playing concerts in internationally renowned halls like Madrid Auditorio Nacional, Gasteig Hall in Munich, Meistersingerhalle Nürnberg and Tonhalle Zurich. In this time he was leading the orchestra playing with soloists like Mischa Maisky, Sergej Nakariakov, Julian Steckel, Evgeny Bozhanov and many others. Maximilian Hörmeyer is evertime very passionate also about chamber music, playing with partners like Hanna Bachmann, Christoph Croisé or Alexander Panfilov. Competitions In 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 he took part regularly in the German Competition „Jugend musiziert“ as a solo-violinist as well as in chamber-music. In all of these competitions Maximilian won the 1st prize at federal- and national-level. 2008 he got the 2nd prize at violin competition in Shanghai and the 3rd prize at the Hindemith Competition in Berlin. Concerts In 2003 he got an invitation to the Music-Festival in Kaunas (Lithuania), where he gave his debut with the Lithuanian Festival Orchestra; Conductor Pavel Berman. Maximilian was working with international renowned musicians like Latica Honda-Rosenberg, Maxim Vengerov, Nicolas Chumachenko, Evgeny Sinaisky and Leonid Sorokov.	http://maximhoermeyer.com/index.html
Why the government’s development spending is slow and flawedEven as the budget is presented six weeks before the new fiscal year, the government has failed to install measures to expedite development works and give people respite. Rajesh Khanal Capital expenditure has always been a problem in Nepal. Every year, the government struggles to spend enough for capital formation, faces public criticism and vows to fix the problems next year. But every fiscal year, the cycle repeats. Capital expenditure, or capital expenses (also called CAPEX), is a type of government spending (or investment) on goods and services intended to create future benefits, such as infrastructure investment in transport, health and research. Capital expenditure supports the economy and it’s prudent use, beginning with the fiscal year and continuing throughout, can help achieve healthy economic growth. But over the years, capital spending is slow in the initial months, with most expenses made in the last quarter of the fiscal year in a rush to meet spending targets. This often raises questions over the effectiveness of services and quality of output. What is capital expenditure? The government spends money under three headings—recurrent expenditure, capital expenditure and expense on financial management. Recurrent expenditure refers to administrative costs, including operation grants, capital grants and costs for ongoing projects. Capital expenditure involves expenses made in infrastructure development, construction and other sectors that help generate real capital in the country. The government’s capital budget includes funds allocated for the purposes of executing civil works and purchasing land, buildings, furniture, vehicles, plants, and machinery. In a country like Nepal, where infrastructure is very poor, low capital spending creates a binding constraint on economic growth, delaying the improvement of people's living standards. Successful implementation of the budget is an important tool to address the expectations of the people. Besides, it also ensures liquidity in the banking sector, generates employment opportunities for the people, and acts as an indicator of the efficiency of the state. How is capital expenditure allocated? Recurrent expenses account for a large proportion of every year’s budget. In the fiscal year 2018-19, the government allocated Rs313.90 billion for the development of infrastructure, which was only 24 percent of a budget worth Rs1.31 trillion. While the share of capital funds is already low, the government's failure to effectively utilise the allocation holds back essential development works. Capital expense is one of the main factors that determines the economic growth rate. As the government has made high economic growth its priority, it is imperative to reduce the growing burden of recurrent expenses to make more funds available for capital expenditure. The government needs to spend at least 8-12 percent of its gross domestic income on public infrastructure, says economist Chandan Sapkota. How low is the spending? Statistics show that over the past five years, the government has been spending 72 percent of the capital budget on average, which displays the state’s inability to use funds allocated under the prescribed headings. In the fiscal year 2018-19, the government spent 73.4 percent of the development budget, which was Rs230.4 billion out of the allocated Rs313.99 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General Office. Capital expenditure in the first quarter of the last fiscal year stood at 5.5 percent. It rose to 17.68 percent by mid-January, first half of the fiscal year, and then reached 57 percent with just one week left for the fiscal year to conclude. This shows that around 16.4 percent was spent in the last week of the fiscal year. Why is slow capital expenditure an issue? The country’s private sector is attempting to inject capital into the economy, but the government still plays a lead role in investing in infrastructure and public utility goods. So, slow and inadequate capital expenses impede development activities. This not only hampers job creation, but also affects peoples’ incomes. Furthermore, last hour exhaustion of the capital budget also leads to poor quality construction work. Short-lived roads, bridges and other infrastructure waste the state’s resources and put the lives of people at risk. Capital expense is also considered the main source of liquidity in the banks. Timely spending helps circulate cash in banks and according to bankers, the crunch of loanable funds in the financial sector for the past few years was an outcome of inadequate capital spending. What causes rushed spending at the tail end of the fiscal year? This situation arises from the government bodies’ need to spend allocated funds within the fiscal deadline. When the fiscal year ends, which is generally the spending deadline, the particular budget freezes. Often, the Ministry of Finance allocates a budget to agencies based on their spending capacity in the previous fiscal year. This prompts agencies to spend their allocated budget by any means so that they do not receive a reduced budget the next year. Delays in awarding contracts as well as a high level of corruption at the bureaucratic level have also been blamed for rushed spending. Damodar Regmi, former coordinator of the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Secretariat, said that in the first quadrimester, government bodies are busy devising plans and preparing for procurements. “As government officials undergo transfers mainly in this period, it impedes necessary preparations. As a result, the process extends until the third quadrimester, which is supposedly the peak time for field work,” said Regmi, who now heads the Public Finance Management Training Centre. According to Regmi, the government exerts pressure on agencies to speed up spending, primarily in the second half of the year. Also, late submission of bills, settlement of flaws in documentation, and political pressure to spend in certain areas are among the reasons for a large amount of resources being spent at the final hour, said Regmi. What problems do the implementing agencies face? Officials at the Ministry of Finance say the problems lie with the line ministries, who fail to develop project specifications for their subordinate agencies. Poor preparation in terms of project design, lengthy process in awarding contracts, and the negligence of contractors after bagging the project also have to do with ongoing problems. Rameshwor Khanal, an economist and former finance secretary, said that slow capital spending is due to the government’s apathy towards controlling corruption and flaws in project management. “Although a number of laws, including the Public Procurement Act, have been revised, many government officials seek commissions while awarding project contracts and technical manpower sees frequent transfers for undue benefits,” he said. According to Khanal, capital expenditure has always been slow, also due to the lack of a working modality and human resource at sub-national governments and delays in payment to contractors. As per economist Sapkota, chronically low capital spending is also the result of structural weaknesses in project preparation and implementation, low project readiness, bureaucratic hassles in approving and re-approving projects, poor project management and contractor capacity, high fiduciary risk in project implementation at sub-national level and political intervention both at planning and operational levels. The Public Expenditure Review Commission of the Finance Ministry, led by economist Dilli Raj Khanal, in a report submitted to the ministry in January last year, also pointed out various flaws like implementing projects without proper planning and preparations, disregarding government standards, and inappropriately prioritising projects as the major reasons for the delays in the completion of development projects and poor utilisation of capital expenditure. Has the presence of provincial and local governments been helpful? Sub-national governments have been empowered to make their own decisions, but there is confusion over their jurisdiction. A lack of officials at local governments has also been a major hurdle while carrying out development works. Implementing the norms of the constitution, the federal government, through the 2018-19 budget, had started handing over some key development projects to the provinces. But in December last year, the government took back control of the projects, citing poor performance. The government made the decision after donor agencies began to point out high variations in projects after they were handed over to provincial governments. What are the government’s plans for the current fiscal year? According to Regmi, the government is all set to implement the system of performance contract from this year. “In this system, each government agency will be required to track units under its jurisdiction. It also needs to prepare a business plan, tender document, and specifications for necessary logistics before announcing a public bid,” he said. The government is also asking implementing agencies to formulate a procurement plan for all projects between mid-July and mid-August. Training local governments and other stakeholders to prepare procurement plans and tender documents is among the measures that the government has devised to allow for reasonable capital spending right from the first quarter of this fiscal year, according to Regmi.Analysts also suggest that the government identify priority projects, rather than pouring funds into multiple projects. Defining the working modality and hiring of experts at the local level are among the measures suggested to expedite development works.	https://kathmandupost.com/money/2019/08/08/why-is-the-government-s-development-spending-is-slow-and-flawed
One way to pass along a culture's oral history is to transform them into games. Building quest-like tasks based on cultural content also gives players not native to these traditions the chance to reflect on them, according to independent game designer Elizabeth LaPensee. LaPensee makes "indigenously-determined games," which are developed in collaboration with cultural groups and designed to have a social impact. LaPensee has worked on board games and other non-digital space games as well as touch screen titles that cope with historical trauma. Speaking in a panel at GDC today, LaPensee discussed Survivance, a game she made alongside Oregon-based non-profit company Wisdom of the Elders. Wisdom of the Elders is an organization dedicated to preserving arts, environmental science and other pieces of oral history in the west coast Native American tradition. In Survivance, players "listen to, reflect on, and create stories in any medium" based on indigenous stories within their cultural tradition. The game sets players on quests that ask them to reflect on the stories they are working through, which are non-linear affairs inspired by tales from Native American elders and storytellers. In indigenous storytelling, there is a reciprocal relationship between the storyteller and the listeners at all times, LaPensee said. Storytellers guide listeners through the experience. Players, through engagement, also build out the experience by completing it. In Survivance, storytellers and elders guide the player with quests built on their stories. Indigenous stories are also non-linear. Survivance players complete and continuously revisit these "stories with stories," digging deeper into the game and learning different lessons at each stage. Through this questing, players eventually become storytellers themselves. As new storytellers, at the end of the quests players create an "act of survivance," a moment of reflection that can take any artistic form — short stories, animations and other forms of art. "Indigenous storytelling is sometimes misconstrued to have morals — this comes out of adjustments that come out of western storytelling over time," LaPensee said. "Traditionally, all stories are ongoing. They can last a few minutes, hours, a whole night, days, months, years — there is revisiting that happens. "As you grow you are given access by storytellers to more layers — 'add-on content' if you will — as you go along," she added. "As we grow as human beings and as we experience our own life lessons, our eyes are closed but our ears are open to more teachings that reveal themselves. The storyteller is always telling the same story, we're just able to access more teachings from it."	https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/17/5520030/games-can-preserve-indigenous-stories-and-oral-histories
The network-based proximity between drug targets and disease genes can provide novel insights regarding the repercussions, interplay, and repositioning of drugs in the context of disease. Current understanding and treatment for reversing of the fibrotic process is limited in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We have developed a network-based analysis for drug effects that takes into account the human interactome network, proximity measures between drug targets and disease-associated genes, genome-wide gene expression and disease modules that emerge through pertinent analysis. Currently used and potential drugs showed a wide variation in proximity to SSc-associated genes and distinctive proximity to the SSc-relevant pathways, depending on their class and targets. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TyKIs) approach disease gene through multiple pathways, including both inflammatory and fibrosing processes. The SSc disease module includes the emerging molecular targets and is in better accord with the current knowledge of the pathophysiology of the disease. In the disease-module network, the greatest perturbing activity was shown by nintedanib, followed by imatinib, dasatinib, and acetylcysteine. Suppression of the SSc-relevant pathways and alleviation of the skin fibrosis was remarkable in the inflammatory subsets of the SSc patients receiving TyKI therapy. Our results show that network-based drug-disease proximity offers a novel perspective into a drug’s therapeutic effect in the SSc disease module. This could be applied to drug combinations or drug repositioning, and be helpful guiding clinical trial design and subgroup analysis.	https://www.mysciencework.com/publication/show/networkbased-modeling-drug-effects-disease-module-systemic-sclerosis-35658756?search=1
The writers of ABC’s “The Baker and the Beauty” clearly put enough yeast in the finale two episodes of season 1. On Monday night, the show’s back-to-back finale rose to a season high rating and total viewership tally. The first episode scored a 0.6 rating and 3 million total viewers, the second a 0.5 and 2.6 million. ABC has yet to make a decision no whether it will bake a second loaf of “Baker and the Beauty.” Earlier in the night, a “Celebrity Family Feud” replay scored a 0.8 and 5.1 million viewers. NBC lineup of game shows all ticked up from their previous episodes, with Dwayne Johnson’s “Titan Games” rising from its season debut to a 0.8 rating and 4.2 million viewers. “The Wall” grew a whopping 167% from a 0.3 rating last week to a 0.8 this time around. The show also doubled its viewership to end up with around 4 million pairs of eyeballs. “Songland” grew from a 0.5 to a 0.6, and from 2.3 million viewers to 2.7. Over on the CW, the network’s “Iconic: TLC” special scored a 0.3 rating and 1.1 million total viewers, followed by a “Roswell, New Mexico” episode with a 0.2 and around 900,000 viewers. CBS aired only reruns on Monday night, with a replay of “The Neighborhood” leading the way with a 0.6 rating and 4 million viewers, followed by “Bob Hearts Abishola” with a 0.5 and 3.6 million viewers. Replays of “All Rise” and “Bull” both delivered a 0.4 rating and around 3.5 million viewers between them. Fox aired a rerun of “9-1-1” to a 0.6 rating and just over 3 million viewers, followed by an episode of its “Lone Star” spinoff with a 0.5 rating and 2.8 million viewers.	https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/the-baker-and-the-beauty-finale-tv-ratings-1234623102/
Simple to make: For a latte, mix equal parts with milk. Heat or ice. Brooklyn-based Dona Chai crafts masala chai and turmeric concentrates. They source spices from collectives across the world, paying attention to place of origin, growing conditions, and end quality. Each spice is cupped to test for flavor profile, natural sweetness, and body. Their brewing process begins with whole spices that are ground fresh per batch. Then, their spices are slow steeped to build complexity. The result is a full-bodied and balanced tea concentrate. Dona values sustainability. After they brewing process, all of their ingredients are composted locally.	https://www.igourmet.com/shoppe/prodview_prod.aspx?prod=10806&orderid=
This calendar is composed of outreach events related to agricultural management practices that align with FREP’s mission. To add an outreach event, contact us at frep@cdfa.ca.gov. Agenda coming soon! Check https://www.wcngg.com/walnut-trade-show/ for more information. The International Soils Meeting is one of the few gatherings that brings together scientific leaders from industry, government agencies, and academic institutions in one unique environment. It’s the premiere opportunity for professionals working in the soil and environmentally related sciences to hear about the latest research, meet and learn from their peers, expand their knowledge base, and take advantage of an abundance of networking opportunities to enhance their career. This year’s International Soils Meeting will feature many technical presentations, along with a host of networking events and award ceremonies. The exhibition displays the latest scientific equipment, supplies, services, and reference materials available. - 9:10 – 9:20 Introduction & Irrigation Services Update –Paul Lum, Irrigation Specialist, Solano Ag Water Conservation Committee - 9:20 – 9:30 Irrigated Lands Program & SWEEP Grant Update – Kelly Huff - 9:30 – 9:50 New Weather Information Website – Paul Lum - 9:50 -10:20 Remote Soil Moisture Monitoring Services – Anne Burkholder - 10:20 -10:40 NRCS Irrigation Water Management - 10:40– 10:55 Break - 10:55 -11:15 PG&E Energy Efficiency Programs & Rates for 2019 -Scott Bond & Jaime Collard - 11:15-11:45 Efficient Irrigation Scheduling – Paul Lum - 11:45 – 12:00 Pump Efficiency Testing Services – Paul Lum - 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch served RSVP: REGISTER ONLINE AT https://www.dixonrcd.org/irrigated-lands OR contact Martha (707) 678-1655 X103 martha-mckeen@dixonrcd.org Developing relevant policies, programs, strategies and resources to support sustainable agriculture throughout Southern California is contingent on understanding changing climate and its impact to the unique agricultural environments and industry in the region. This symposium is intended to bring together policy makers, government agencies, researchers, educators, consultants and other public and private agricultural service providers. Discussions will be centered on the San Diego County region; however, information shared may be relevant for neighboring counties. Please complete the registration form below. Save the date! Registration now available for attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors. https://www.wcngg.com/events/ Save the date! Registration now available for attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors https://www.wcngg.com/events/ “Increasing Pace and Scale: Local Action for Water, Soil, and Forest Resilience” The California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) will continue the tradition of bringing together the conservation community from around the state at the 74th Annual CARCD Conference. This year’s theme is “Increasing Pace and Scale: Local Action for Water, Soil, and Forest Resilience” and the conference will be held from November 12-15, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel at the Sundial Bridge in Redding, California. The Annual CARCD Conference is a highly anticipated event that brings together conservation practitioners, scientists, private landowners and land managers, legislators, non-profits—plus state, federal and regional agency representatives. Recent speakers have included the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Director of the California Department of Conservation, and renowned researchers and advisors from the University of California, among others. Please direct any questions to Kiko Barr, conference coordinator, who can be reached at kiko-barr@carcd.org or (916) 836-4804. We look forward to seeing you in November!	https://blogs.cdfa.ca.gov/FREP/index.php/calendar-4/action~agenda/page_offset~-1/tag_ids~234,309,307,220,316,289/request_format~json/
Sleep consumes about a third of humans’ lives, or at least it should in order to maintain a healthy immune system. The brain uses a lot of energy in the “resting” state. New evidence shows that it is busy with necessary coordinated activity as revealed by electrocorticography studies using functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI). Stanford neurologist Dr. Josef Parvizi and a research team monitored brain cell activity in three subjects awaiting surgery for epilepsy. For several days they had intracranial electrodes in their brains to pinpoint the seizures source. The object of the study was to determine whether brain activity during rest or daydreaming is like that when the person is alert. The results were published in Neuron in April 2015. First the wide awake volunteers were asked yes or no questions where the brain must retrieve visualized memories such as: Did you drive to work last week? Activity was seen in two brain regions, the medial and lateral parietal cortex, known for episodic memory visualization with the two areas working together. Episodic memories are memories of episodes in one’s life. Then the volunteers rested and slept while signals continued to be monitored on the two brain regions. The same nerve cells that worked together retrieving memories while awake continued to coordinate while asleep. The conclusion was that the brain in a resting state is not really resting like the rest of the body does. In summary, “Parietal connectivity patterns are similar for task, rest, and sleep states.” Studies at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach, Florida, and Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2015 determined the five sleep stages and their relative importance using brain wave analysis. The stages cycle over one to two hours with the first two being light sleep stages. The third and fourth are vital for recharging the immune system through deeper delta waves as in unconsciousness. The fifth REM stage consists of dreaming, relieving stress and anxiety, and handling unwanted emotions. Natural News published tips to get the most benefit from the five sleep stages: - Drink two glasses of tart cherry juice each day to delay tryptophan degradation, a known insomnia predictor and inflammation cause. - Sleep in a room made as dark as possible to increase production of melatonin, the sleep hormone the pineal gland produces. Lights from other rooms, clock radios and other electronic equipment impede melatonin production. Use blackout curtains to block outdoor light. A sleep mask can help but even minimal light waves can be absorbed by skin. - Block noise by wearing ear plugs or playing white noise sounds like recordings of the ocean, rain or birds to cover barking dogs, passing traffic, or noisy neighbors. - Locate several mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) plants in the bedroom where they will add oxygen to the night air and purify the room of off-gassed chemicals. - At least one or two hours before going to bed, stop using electronic display screens on computer monitors, iPads, Kindles, and smart phones. The blue light which they emit affects users’ sleep. Harvard-educated Dr. Andrew Weill teaches the 4-7-8 breathing technique to help people fall asleep by allowing oxygen to fill the lungs. Inhale through the nose, mouth closed, while counting to four mentally. Hold the breath while counting to seven. Exhale through the mouth in one large breath while counting to eight. Repeat three more times. This relaxes the parasympathetic nervous system, releases anxiety, and distracts the mind from sleep disrupting thought. Watch the video on the website link to learn how do it correctly. Weill suggests practicing the technique twice a day for six to eight weeks until able to fall asleep within one minute. The video talks about ways to stop a racing mind to fall asleep more easily. Try the tips listed here first and only see a physician about taking prescription anxiety drugs as a very last resort. These drugs are ending up in the earth’s water supply which is not a green way of living. Research has shown alarming effects on human cells and wildlife which have become a growing concern of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency according to Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for water.	https://atombash.com/better-sleep-improves-brain-function/
The overall objective of this project is to compile a document which provides clear and concise explanation of the City’s existing storm water management program, presents a detailed investigation into key components of stormwater as it is related to the City, establishes stormwater management goals for the future, presents tools to meet or exceed established goals and provides a foundation for future policy decisions. (1) All land-disturbing activities and all development or redevelopment activities that disturb an area greater than or equal to one acre. (2) Sites that are smaller than one acre may also be covered by these regulations if they are a part of a larger common plan of development or sale. (3) Any nonresidential development for which the area paved and under roof is equal to or greater than 10,000 square feet. The requirements for the Stormwater Management Plan and associated design criteria are outlined in Chapter 50 Article III of the Paducah Code of Ordinances. Storm water management and how the public can help maintain flow into the system are highlighted in this episode of Paducah View (6:09 minutes). All commercial developments and additions in the City require a site plan be submitted to the Department of Planning (270-444-8690) for review before any building permits can be issued. The process starts with a preliminary meeting with staff to discuss the proposed improvements and elements required to be on the plan. Site plans should be drawn according to the Site Plan Checklist unless otherwise directed by staff. Once an adequate site plan is submitted, Planning staff review it for compliance with applicable planning & zoning regulations. If acceptable, Planning staff will sign off on the plan and forward it to the Engineering-Public Works Department (270-444-8511) for review. Once approved by Engineering-Public Works, the plan is then forwarded to the Fire Prevention Division (270-444-8527) in order that building permits can be issued. For more information about site planning including a checklist of requirements and standard notes for erosion prevention and sediment control and floodplains, visit Site Plans. Storm Water Phase II is an initiative of the United States Environmental Protection Agency that helps control pollutants entering waters of the Commonwealth. The Storm Water Phase II program consists of six minimum controls. Those controls are Public Education, Public Involvement, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control, Post Control Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment, and Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations. As part of the Storm Water Phase II Program, the City of Paducah is responsible for regulating the MS4 System located within the corporate limits of the City with oversight from the Kentucky Division of Water. A Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) means a conveyance, or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, and storm drains designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater that is owned or operated by the city and discharges to waters of the Commonwealth. Sanitary and combined sewers are not included in the definition of the municipal separate storm sewer system. Excess sediment can fill rivers, lakes, and destroy aquatic habitats. Construction and development are positive for the community, but proper management of pollutants commonly discharged from construction sites is important to keep pollutants from harming local lakes and streams. In the City of Paducah, the Engineering-Public Works Department is responsible for creating ordinances and procedures that inspect sites and have them comply with regulations regarding site runoff. The three Ordinances below list the terms and regulations for erosion prevention and sediment control. What Is Illicit Discharge? Illicit discharge is any direct or indirect non-stormwater substance or hazardous material disposed, deposited, spilled, poured, injected, seeped, dumped, leaked, or placed by any means, intentionally or unintentionally, into the MS4 or any area that has been determined to drain directly or indirectly into the MS4. Federal regulations define an illicit discharge as “...any discharge to a MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater...” with some exceptions. These exceptions include discharges from NPDES-permitted industrial sources and discharges from fire-fighting activities. Illicit discharges are considered illicit because MS4s are not designed to accept, process, or discharge such non-stormwater wastes. Why Are Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Efforts Necessary? Discharges from MS4s often include wastes and wastewater from non-stormwater sources. A study conducted in 1987 in Sacramento, California, found that almost one-half of the water discharged from a local MS4 was not directly attributable to precipitation runoff. A significant portion of these dry weather flows was from illicit and/or inappropriate discharges and connections to the MS4. What Paducah is Doing. By Paducah Code of Ordinances Chapter 42 - 52, illicit discharge is illegal, punishable by fines up to $500. The City has developed a Standing Operating Procedure for Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) to find, stop and eliminate all illicit discharges encountered. To report a spill or an illicit discharge, contact the Engineering and Public Works Department at 270-444-8511. (1) All land-disturbing activities including development and redevelopment activities that disturb an area greater than or equal to one acre. Sites that are smaller than one acre are also covered by this article if they are part of a larger common plan of development or sale as defined in this article. (2) Land-disturbing activities of less than one acre that have the potential to negatively impact local water quality, sensitive areas, or result in a nuisance to the public. This determination will be made at the sole discretion of the City Engineer or his designee. The requirements for the EPSC plan and associated permits are outlined in Chapter 50 Article IV of the Paducah Code of Ordinances. Before construction is started within the city limits of Paducah, the City of Paducah Engineering Department requires construction sites that disturb one (1) acre or more or fall under the additional requirements outlined in Chapter 50 Article IV of the Paducah Code of Ordinances to file for a Grading/Land Disturbance/Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Permit. The Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) also requires construction sites that disturb one (1) acre or more of land to file for a Kentucky Pollution Discharge Elimination System (KPDES) Notice of Intent (NOI) for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity Under the KPDES General Permit. Automatic coverage of construction sites under this permit will no longer be applicable. The Kentucky Division of Water state that the permittee shall submit web-based NOI forms at a minimum seven (7) days prior to land disturbance activities or paper NOI forms thirty (30) days prior to land disturbance activities. Proof of site coverage shall be included with the City's permit. The new KYR100000 Permit replaced the General KYR10 Permit on August 1, 2009, and it shall be required for applicable construction sites. For existing construction sites covered under the KYR10 General Permit, coverage will expire on July 31, 2010. If a site has not achieved final stabilization by this date, a new NOI shall be submitted to the Kentucky Division of Water and the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan shall be modified to fit the conditions of the KYR100000 Permit. The general permit conditions for sites covered under the previous KYR10 Permit are outlined in the link below. Periodic site inspections are required to be performed by the permittee or the designated site contractor at least once every seven (7) days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm that is 0.5 inches or greater. For work in the City of Paducah, a Construction Site Inspection Form has been developed by the Paducah Engineering Department for the contractor's use. When construction activity is completed, some erosion control devices are no longer needed, and vegetative cover is established, the permittee shall file for a Notice of Termination (NOT) with the KDOW and a NOT with the City of Paducah. A final inspection by the City of Paducah Engineering Department may be required. Why care about Stormwater Quality? Stormwater contains pollutants that come from areas developed by people, and those pollutants affect our community’s water quality. The amount or volume of stormwater that runs off of urban and suburban areas is often greater than the amount of stormwater that runs off forests and farms. Buildings, rooftops, roads, and driveways are made of solid, impervious surfaces, so stormwater runs off these areas. In forests and on farms, trees, plants, crops and natural soils allow stormwater to soak into the ground, so less stormwater runs off these areas. As the amount of stormwater runoff increases, so does the amount of pollution it picks up. What Is Paducah Doing To Improve Stormwater Quality? The City of Paducah has developed a Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SWQMP)—a roadmap for stormwater management activities to comply with the Stormwater Quality Program permit. The SWQMP is reviewed every year and updated annually if needed. The Stormwater Quality Program permit and plan are based on six program areas designed to improve stormwater quality or which are monitored, assessed and reported on annually. Rain barrels collect and store rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams. The Jackson Purchase Foundation is a local 501(c)(3) organization that sells plastic rain barrels to the public. The cost is $40 per barrel with the proceeds benefiting the artistic rain barrel program by helping to pay for the barrels and supplies for the local schools that participate. If you have a question about the barrel or would like to order a rain barrel, contact the Jackson Purchase Foundation at 270-908-4545. Helps Reduce Runoff Pollution: Rainwater stored in rain barrels helps reduce the amount of runoff and the amount of pollution that is picked up off the land surface and carried to storm drains, streams, and rivers. Conserves Water: Lawn and garden watering makes up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer. Rainwater used from rain barrels helps reduce the amount of water used from local sources. Better for Plants and Gardens: Rainwater stored in rain barrels is naturally soft water and doesn't contain minerals, chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. Plants respond well to this. After all, its what plants in the wild thrive on! Saves You Money: A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy. Did you know...that one inch of rain falling on 1000 square feet of roof can yield 600 gallons of water? Don't let this free water run away!	http://paducahky.gov/storm-water-phase-ii
Dr. Maria Lapinski is Director of the Michigan State University (MSU) Health and Risk Communication Center: Healthy People-Healthy Planet, an interdisciplinary research, teaching, and public engagement network of over 50 faculty. She is appointed as a Professor in the Department of Communication and Michigan Ag-Bio Research at MSU. For six years, she served as the Associate Dean for Research for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. In that role she facilitated interdisciplinary research partnerships and supported faculty research including leading the college’s grant support office. From 2012-2016 she led, along with Dr. Julie Funk in the College of Veterinary Medicine an interdisciplinary collaborative: One Health: Emerging Communication Technology for Decision-Making and Behavior which was seed-funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. As a result of this work, she currently serves as a Commissioner for The Lancet’s One Health Commission. Dr. Lapinski’s research connects global health and environmental issues, cultural dynamics, and communication science. Her work examines the impact of interpersonal and mediated messages and social-psychological factors on health and environmental behaviors with a focus on cultural dynamics. To this end, Dr. Lapinski has conducted collaborative research projects with her students and colleagues in a number of countries in Asia, the Pacific Rim, Central America, and Africa and North America. Recently, she led a National Science Foundation team studying social norms and financial incentives related conservation behaviors among Tibetan populations. Her team’s award-winning work has been presented at national and international communication and public health conferences, published in refereed journals including The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Human Communication Research, Health Communication, Social Science and Medicine, and others. Her research has been funded by agencies such as the National Science Foundation, World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, and United States Department of Agriculture and by foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Carter Center. Dr. Lapinski teaches Intercultural Communication, International Health Communication, Interpersonal Influence, Persuasion, Risk Communication, and Health Communication for Diverse Populations. Whenever she can, she loves to run, ski, surf, and hang out with her two boys and Sherman her dog.	https://comartsci.msu.edu/our-people/maria-lapinski
A United States organization, called the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), was initiated to strengthen the pedagogy of teaching and, subsequently, improve student achievement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the NBPTS in terms of whether National Board Certified (NBC) teachers are effective in promoting positive classroom environments and student attitudes and in enhancing student achievement. The sample consisted of 927 Grade 8 and 10 science students from 12 secondary schools. Altogether, 443 students in 21 classes comprised the NBC teacher group and 484 students in 17 classes comprised the non-NBC teacher group. Students completed a learning environment questionnaire, the What Is Happening In this Class? (WIHIC), and an attitude scale based on the Test Of Science-Related Attitude (TOSRA). Scores from the science portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test FCAT, a state-mandated examination, were collected to measure achievement. This research is unique in that it is the first time that a learning environments study has included a sample of National Board Certified (NBC) and non-NBC teachers in order to compare their effectiveness in terms of secondary students' perceptions of their science learning environment, attitudes toward science, and science achievement. The study revealed that the revised version of the WIHIC and the modified attitude scale are valid and reliable instruments for assessing perceptions of the classroom environment and attitudes toward science among secondary science students in Miami-Dade County, Florida.In addition, a much stronger association with learning environment was found for students' attitude than for students' achievement. The contributions and significance of this study are not only that it adds to the area of research that pertains to the efficacy of NBC teachers, but it also adds to the field of learning environments research. This study is useful because it could be replicated to provide additional empirical evidence about the effect National Board teachers have on students in the classroom and add to the growth of educational data on the impact of National Teacher Certification and classroom learning environments research.	https://espace.curtin.edu.au/handle/20.500.11937/2502
In the wake of a messy break-up, Andy Escobedo decides to start fresh, relocating from Austin to Los Angeles. Eager to make new connections, he befriends Roger, an unusual rideshare driver. But when Roger’s behavior gets too strange for comfort, Andy blows him off, choosing to focus on a budding relationship with his new girlfriend, Sam. This unhinges Roger, who begins to torment Andy, ensuring that his stay in L.A. is short-lived. You May Also Like In this world, there are many people who seem to be wandering along a relationship border-lining ‘friends’ and ‘lovers’. This borderline is also commonly known as the FRIEND ZONE. It is a special area for those who are stuck in the middle where they cannot really stay friends with their close friends, nor move forward to be their friends’ lovers. A professional contract killer, haunted by visions of his violent past, spirals out of control. His work compromised as he reaches breaking point, he is forced to defend his family from his ruthless employers. Photographer Holly Logan returns to her hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi for Christmas. The town is resurrecting their traditional holiday light show for the first time since a terrible hurricane struck five years earlier. Holly volunteers to pitch in, but soon has second thoughts when she discovers the festival is run by her high school sweetheart, Mike. Louise is not very popular at her highschool. Then she learns that she’s descended from the witches of Salem and has inherited their powers. At first she uses them to get back at the girls and teachers who teased her and to win the heart of the handsome footballer’s captain. But soon she has doubts if it’s right to ‘cheat’ her way to popularity. Leah thinks all is fine coasting along in a relationship with the ever-predictable Edward until he surprises her and enrolls her in a conflict-management class. In the class, Leah finds herself locking horns with a handsome, radio talk-show host who thrives on making waves. Through the course, Leah develops new friendships, an inner strength she never knew she had and discovers real love should never mean settling for the easy and predictable. In ‘A Brave New World’, a virus brings the city to ruins and zombies flood the streets of Seoul. In ‘The Heavenly Creature’, a robot reaches enlightenment while working at a temple, but its creators deem this phenomenon a threat to mankind. In the final segment, ‘Happy Birthday’, a young girl logs onto a strange website and places an order for a new billiard ball for her father. Soon afterwards a meteor heads toward Earth and people flee to underground bomb shelters. Two worlds collide when a successful Haitian American attorney marries the love of his life only to have his past haunt him when the father of a former fling, a powerful Voodoo Priest, exacts revenge for his scorned daughter. In this hilarious one hour comedy special, Kanan Gill squints at a variety of subjects ranging from the difficulty in talking to your parents to The Constitution of India. It’s easy to keep it funny. Kanan keeps it real. Two demon hunters race to save the human race after an a cult accidentally releases a particularly dangerous demon. When she discovers a wedding planer’s business card, Alexia instantly says, “YES” to Mathias unaware that it belongs to his mistress. The groom is now trapped between his bride, and his lover who in charge of his unwanted marriage.	https://gomovies.bz/movies/stalker-2/
Proprietor: Glenn Conant Image contributed by U.K. photographer Deborah Lovell. Butterfly Species Galleries Green-veined White (Pieris Napi) Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !! This is a common species occurring throughout Europe, temperate Asia, and at high altitudes in the Atlas mountains of north Africa. It is also found in North America, where it is called the the Mustard White. Green-veined Whites, like their close relatives the Small and Large Whites, are among the first butterflies to fly on cool or overcast days, often appearing an hour or more before other species. Newly hatched females sit among grasses or low herbs waiting for discovery by patrolling males. Mating takes place after a short chase, and immediately after mating the pair fly to settle on a bush or on higher ground, with the male carrying the female in flight. If disturbed the mating pair fly off and often make several short flights until they find a spot where predators are not a threat. They mate for about an hour. Green-veined whites typically fly from early May thru September, emerging in as many as three broods during the year. The green veined markings on the under-wings darken with every new brood throughout the year, eventually turning from green to dark grey. Wingspan: 30-50 mm / 1 3/16 - 1 31/32" Adult diet : Flower nectar Family: Pieridae Caterpillar & chrysalis images The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!	https://www.butterflyspeciesgalleries.com/green-veined-white
: olfactory perception sentence in Hindi Translation Mobile Noun • गंध olfactory घ्राण घ्राणीय perception बूझ बोध भोग वसूली Examples 1. However, it has been argued that humans may have larger brain areas associated with olfactory perception compared to other species. 2. The well-developed olfactory perception of treeshrews enables them to easily detect food among the leaf litter on the forest floor. 3. Crocodiles have only one olfactory chamber and the vomeronasal organ is absent in the adults indicating all olfactory perception is limited to the olfactory system. 4. Developmental or genetic differences in olfactory perception and mapping within the brain ( for e . g . anterior piriform cortex to the orbitofrontal cortex ) could possibly explain why some individuals are unable to differentiate these smells and find this fruit noxious whereas others find it extremely pleasant and appealing. 5. "' Walter Jackson Freeman III "'( January 30, 1927 April 24, 2016 ), was an American biologist, theoretical neuroscientist and philosopher who conducted research in rabbits' olfactory perception , using EEG . Based on a theoretical framework of neurodynamics that draws upon insights from chaos theory, he speculated that the currency of brains is primarily meaning, and only secondarily information. Meaning the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form; "she loved the smell of roses" Synonyms: smell , odor , odour , olfactory sensation , Neighbors olfactory lobe olfactory nerve olfactory organ olfactory organs olfactory peduncle olfactory placode olfactory plate olfactory receptive centre olfactory region How to say olfactory perception in Hindi and what is the meaning of olfactory perception in Hindi? olfactory perception Hindi meaning, translation, pronunciation, synonyms and example sentences are provided by Hindlish.com. Full Text Translation English→Hindi Hindi→English App Store Android © WordTech Disclaimer Cooperation Advertisement Contact Links Copyright © Wordtech co. ltd.	https://www.hindlish.com/olfactory%20perception/olfactory%20perception-meaning-in-hindi-english
At last week’s 105th annual conference of the National Tax Association in Providence, R.I., former Clinton Treasury secretary and Obama economic advisor Lawrence Summers explained that the tax reform needed today is very different from the Tax Reform Act of 1986. "It seems to me that the tax community will fail the broader economic community if, at this crucial juncture that lies ahead over the next several years, it remains entirely preoccupied with its most traditional concerns," Summers said at the conference, which I attended. "There are a number of aspects about the current context that stand out as quite unique -- very different from where the world was in 1986 and at most other moments when tax reform has been a prominent area of work." Summers sorted these differences into four factors: (1) Now our economy is constrained on the demand side, operating below its full productive capacity so that we are looking for policies that can quickly boost the aggregate level of economic activity. That is in contrast to the full-employment economy of the mid-1980s, when the focus was mainly on improving efficiency in the allocation of economic activity to promote more longer-term, supply-side growth. (2) In recent years, the income distribution has been changing considerably (becoming more unequal, and tax changes have exacerbated that trend), while in the 1980s it was more stable. (3) Now there are several trends implying that the scale of government will increase substantially over the next 20 years: (i) the aging of the population; (ii) rising debt/GDP and the corresponding higher share of the federal budget that will go toward interest; (iii) technology improvements leading to relative price changes tending to make goods cheaper and services more expensive, with the government sector providing more services than goods; and (iv) the expectation that national security spending will grow over time, given rising or continued terrorist threats. (4) Now there is not as much “low-hanging fruit” in the tax system for reformers to pick compared with all the inefficiencies in the tax system of the mid-1980s, and with interest rates now near zero, any remaining tax distortions across different types of capital matter less. Accordingly, Summers urged policymakers to focus their efforts on three areas of tax reform that are not yet a large enough part of the current discussion: (1) Tax policies that more effectively promote aggregate demand and employment, such as the payroll tax cut. (2) Tax policies known by economists as “corrective” taxes because they reduce behaviors that generate social costs, including a “carbon tax” (which could reduce fossil fuel consumption and hence global warming) and health-related taxes such as those on tobacco or refined sugar (which could reduce cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes). Summers concluded by emphasizing that the pressures on public sector spending pose a critical, and new, question in designing tax reforms: how to design a tax system to generate and sustain adequate revenues. In the 1980s, tax reform could be approached from a revenue-neutral perspective that focused on raising the same amount of revenue in a more economically efficient manner. Now we’ve lived through a prolonged period where revenues were reduced but policymakers failed to bring spending down with it, producing record deficits. Summers stressed that any tax reform will have to raise revenue in order to contribute to the larger fiscal solution and a stronger economy.
5. Which of the following is fermentation process? a) batch process b)continuous process c) both a and b d) none of these 6. Who showed that Sacchaaromyces cerevisiae causes fermentation forming products such as beer and buttermilk? a) Louis Pasteur b) Alexander Fleming c) Selman Waksman d) Schatz 7. Rennet is used in a) bread making b) fermentation c) cheese making d) antibiotics synthesis 8. Tissue plasminogen activator is a) a vitamin b) an Enzyme c)a chemical that stimulates tissue differentiation d) amino acid 9. A bioreactor is a) hybridoma b) Culture containing radioactive isotopes c) Culture for synthesis of new chemicals d) Fermentation tank 10. Humulin is a) carbohydrate b) protein c) fat d) antibiotics 11. Which of the following can be application of fermentation? a) tanning of leather b) curing of tea c) production of vine d) all of these 12. Enzyme immobilisation is a) conversion of an active enzyme into inactive form b) providing enzyme with protective covering c) changing a soluble enzyme into insoluble state d) changing pH so that enzyme is not able to carry out its function 13. Biogas is produced by a) aeobic breakdown of biomass b) anaerobic break down of biomass c) with the help of methanogenic bacteria d) both b and c 14. Name the first organic acid produced by microbial fermentation a) citric acid b) lactic acid c) acetic acid d) none of the above 15. Vinegar is obtained from molasses with the help of a) Rhizopus b) Acetobacter c) Yeast d) both b and c Learn more:	https://www.mcqbiology.com/2012/10/mcq-on-microbiology-microbes-in-human.html
Catalyst began as a research project on November 1st, 2011. Since then, the team of #catalystas has grown to include 90 community organisations, 8 academic departments, 15 co-investigators, 4 full time postdoctoral research staff, a part time project manager, and a host of affiliated research students. Catalyst explores deep questions about the role of digital technology in modern society, and the relationship between digital technology and pressing social problems. The technology revolution has changed our lives. Mobile digital communications have contributed (both positively and negatively) to key world events ranging from the London riots and the subsequent ‘clean up the streets’ campaign to the so called ‘Twitter revolutions’ in Tunisia and Egypt. But do modern digital technologies really make it easier for communities to change the world? Or do they lead to problems of access to information, solidifying the status quo in power structures, and illusions of a quick technological fix? And how should we design future digital technologies – technologies with a social conscience built in? Catalyst takes a practice-based approach to investigating these questions. That is, we research by doing. We form partnerships of researchers and social entrepreneurs who together define the problem and develop the digital solution; and by so doing, we gain an in-depth understanding of how technology can or cannot contribute to social change in practice. Catalyst funds a range of projects, each of which are partnerships between the University and its community. Projects are competitively bid for, and range from small proof-of-concept studies (launchpads) to larger projects which receive support from a team of 4 full time postdoctoral scholars (sprints). To date, Catalyst has funded 11 projects in a variety of social contexts ranging from homelessness to climate change.	http://www.catalystproject.org.uk/about/
# Pabst Theater The Pabst Theater is an indoor performance and concert venue and landmark of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Colloquially known as "the Pabst", the theater hosts about 100 events per year. Built in 1895, it is the fourth-oldest continuously operating theater in the United States, and has presented such notables as pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, actor Laurence Olivier, and ballerina Anna Pavlova, as well as various current big-name musical acts. The Pabst is known for its opulence as well as its role in German-American culture in Milwaukee. It is officially designated a City of Milwaukee Landmark and a State of Wisconsin Historical Site, and was also designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991. It is sometimes called the "Grande Olde Lady", being the oldest theater in Milwaukee's theater district. The Pabst is a traditional proscenium stage theater with two balconies, for a total capacity of 1,300 people. It hosts approximately 100 events per year, including music, comedy, dance, opera, and theater events. The theater also has a hydraulic orchestra pit, adding to its suitability for virtually any performing arts event. The auditorium itself is drum-shaped and is decorated in reds and maroons with gold and silver accents. A large, 2-ton Austrian crystal chandelier hangs over the auditorium. The theater also boasts a staircase crafted from white Italian Carrara marble and a proscenium arch highlighted in gold leaf, which frames the stage. The theater features a historic organ, which once provided accompaniment for silent films. The instrument is a 4 manuals; 20 ranks opus of M.P. Moller. ## History Brewer Frederick Pabst purchased the Nunnemacher Grand Opera House in 1890 from Jacob Nunnemacher and his son, Hermann, and renamed it Das Neue Deutsche Stadt-Theater (The New German City Theater). The structure was damaged by arson in 1893, and subsequently completely destroyed by fire in January 1895. Pabst ordered it rebuilt at once, and it reopened as The Pabst Theater later in 1895. The Pabst was designed by architect Otto Strack in the tradition of European opera houses and the German Renaissance Revival style. He made it one of the most fire-proof theaters of its day, as well as one of the most opulent. The Pabst played an important role in the German American culture of early 20th century Milwaukee, when the city was known as Deutsch Athen (German Athens). The venue was home to the German-language productions for many years, due to declining revenues began scheduling performances in English by 1918. The Pabst has undergone several renovations, the first of which occurred in 1928. In 1976, after a long decline, it was restored to its original style. In 1989, a colonnade was added connecting the theater to the Milwaukee Center. The latest renovations took place in 2000 after the Pabst Theater Foundation purchased the facility. Michael Cudahy began the renovation fundraising by contributing $1 million. Work included adding two elevators, public restrooms, replacing some seats and upgrading the ventilation system. The theater also added Cudahy's Irish Pub in an expanded lobby space. As the Pabst Theater was designed after the best German Opera Houses, its acoustics are outstanding. ## Technological innovations Otto Strack employed many technological innovations when designing the theater, including one of the country's first fire curtains, all-electrical illumination, and a very early air conditioning system which employed fans and large amounts of ice. The theater also contained an electric organ, an innovation at that time. The theater is believed the first to employ a counterweight system for hoisting scenery, which was installed after World War I and remains in use today. ## Other uses In 2016, the Aaron Biebert documentary, A Billion Lives, made its North American premiere at the Pabst and in 2017 the Pabst hosted the premiere of Batman & Jesus by Milwaukee native Jozef K. Richards. ## Inscription The Pabst Theater has the names of 15 notable artists inscribed about the cornice of the drum-shaped auditorium: Ibsen, Wagner, Molière, Aristotle, Michelangelo, Dante, Aeschylus, Thespis, Homer, Raphael, Shakespeare, Garrick, Beethoven, Goethe, and renovator Bernard O. Gruenke of Conrad Schmitt Studios.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pabst_Theater
(1) Student Construction Department "Resonance" The product description To date significant number of examples of water solution modifications have been accumulated. Physical characteristics of water (conductivity, dielectric constant, redox potential, surface tension, etc) and chemical activity (variations of speed and even direction of chemical reactions) change as a result of increase of free energy in hydrogen bonds while chemical composition remains the same. This is possible under condition that components of the system remain electron-excited and interact with each other due to constant circulation of energy at their common electronic levels. Being the most cooperative system, water act as a matrix for these interactions. ----The newest hardware and software diagnostic complex "IKAR-TEST" is based on this principle. This device allows to record biochemical processes, as well as stages of development of microbial community without disturbance of hermeticity of the propagator and without contact with cultures of cells. ----The multifunctional complex "IKAR-TEST" in the form of the working prototype is ready for duplication, however several things need to be done: 1) the further accumulation of an empirical material; 2) further research of mechanisms of the phenomenon; 3) development and optimization of the accessories in order to make the production sample. ----The principle of operation of the device comes to recording dynamic processes in water systems and microbial cultures through polymeric walls impervious to fluids and gases (fig. 1). Fig. 1. The schematic diagram of hardware-software complex "IKAR-TEST" ----Source of a signal can be the diversified chemical and biological processes running in water solutions which generate the factor of modification of water solutions (FMWS). FMWS penetrates through walls of polymeric containers and spread to surrounding medium. The know-how of the project consists in the hypothesis explaining the nature of the factor and the basic patterns of its display; this hypothesis. is quite developed . The elementary detector is a water solution with low concentration of ion generating substances. A water solution can immerse FMWS, accumulate energy up to a detected level and re-radiate it in the form of quanta with high energy (for example radio-frequency or even ultraviolet emission). The primary measuring transformer is double electric stratums (DES) in dissymmetric electrode system. System DES remains in disequilibrium and aspires to reduce proper energy of a surface. Therefore its sensitivity becomes apparent at much lower energy levels of influence, than in case of physical and chemical sensors in equilibrium state. The recording system and system of indication in the form of the prototype is the modified device intended for measuring рН and redox potential (ORP) - pH-150. The prototype needs to be completed and automated, and new sensors should be developed, more specialized and sensitive than a platinum electrode (PE-02) and a silver-chlorine reference electrode (auxiliary laboratory electrode) used at present. ----The innovative potential is high enough for successful embodiment and commercialization of the project. Researches and design efforts are carried out on the basis of the scientific research center "Resonance technologies" (department of the Udmurt State University), where students of various faculties and specialties work at experimental projects of interdisciplinary character developing innovative ideas. Manager of the ESC "RT" is scientific manager of Joint-Stock Company NITS "IКАR" Shironosov V.G. Joint-Stock Company NITS "IКАR" deals with problems of water purifying, electrochemical modification of water environment for more than 16 years. The company was founded by the Russian Academy of Science, it has the international recognition and has been awarded at numerous exhibitions and the congresses (http://ikar.udm.ru). An innovative infrastructure of the enterprise (science - formation – business) is most effective for embodying the project. -All the necessary equipment is ready for the assembly and embodiment of the first lot of devices by staff and students of UNTS "RТ". ----The phenomenon of transmission of FMWS from chemical reactions and biological objects has been recently discovered in the laboratory ESC "RТ". Patent search has not found any devices using similar principles. The present phenomena had been recorded earlier, but biological objects have been used as sensors (instability of indications, labor-intensiveness of recording, etc.), and the other sensors were not sensitive enough. The comprehension of descending processes has allowed to create artificial model of biological detection and to realize it in the form of a sensitive device with significant sphere of application that is not defined yet. ----Competitive advantages Performance of microbiological analysis is a labor-intensive process with the minimal automation and high cost of active storages, this process demands professional training of the staff. These requirements decrease due to the offered device. It allows to reduce the price considerably and to computerize laboratory examinations, to expand a net of hygiene and sanitary laboratories, to enlarge number of analyses due to the methods of screening and express-tests. ----Calculations had shown that economy that can be achieved by introduction of the "IKAR-TEST" will make 42 million 410 thousand roubles annually only in Izhevsk and the Udmurt republic with only 20 % of all realized analyses. Payback period is 1 year. More considerable economic performance can be achieved through increase of analytical work. ----Spheres of application of "IKAR-TEST": 1) technological processes control in industrial chemical and microbiologic synthesis (food stuffs, medicines, fibers, etc.); 2) the sanitary-and-epidemiologic control; 3) clinical diagnostics - cheap screening and express methods of laboratory medical analysis and research.	http://eng.ikar.udm.ru/sb/sb42-2e.htm
The Villa Musica Classical Guitar Ensemble is a community-based group that appeals to a wide range of ages, abilities and backgrounds. It offers fully-vaccinated participants an exciting opportunity to collaborate with other musicians and experience the joy of performing within the security of a larger group. At the end of each semester, the participants present a public recital showcasing the repertoire learned during the sessions. The ensemble performs works from classical, popular, folk and contemporary genres. In past concerts the ensemble has performed works ranging from Bach to Bartók, The Beatles to The Police and Flamenco. The ensemble’s players’ abilities range from early intermediate to upper advanced. To accommodate the diversity of the ensemble, and provide different challenges for intermediate and advanced guitarists, the parts are distributed based on each player’s experience. No audition is necessary; to join you need a nylon string guitar and the ability to read music in first position.	https://villamusica.org/event/classical-guitar-ensemble-spring-semester/2023-02-17/
The Intermediate Methods in Interpretation Certificate - Cohort is entirely web-based and consists of five courses each culminating with an applied assignment that relates to your organization or a case study organization. This course of study provides you with the opportunity to work with a mentor to develop your assignments, in addition to receiving individualized feedback from knowledgeable instructors who review the elements of your portfolio. Upon successful completion, you'll receive a certificate issued by the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, Indiana University. You will also earn 24 hours toward credit with the National Association for Interpretation. Course Schedule The course schedule will be emailed to you. The cohort officially begins on January 29 and ends in May. Course Progression: - Course 1: Interpretation on the Move - Course 2: Essential Elements of Interpretive Writing - Course 3: Design Elements in Interpretive Media - Course 4: Social Media and Interpretation - Course 5: Introduction to Dialogic Interpretation The certificate program includes the following elements: - Five self-paced, self-study e-courses - Companion assignments, which allow you to apply what you have learned in the courses and are reviewed by course instructors, with substantive feedback provided. - Optional micro-webinars - A Virtual Classroom site for storage of work and feedback - Informational text - Interactive activities - "Learn More" opportunities - Supplemental reference materials - Informal assessment quizzes - Final assessments - Rigorous, field-based assignments Following each course, you will complete an assessment which requires you to demonstrate your understanding of key course concepts. You will also complete assignments that will be reviewed by qualified instructors. Upon successful completion of the assessments and assignments, you will be awarded a certificate of completion, which will be mailed to the address you provide. Be able to: - Demonstrate understanding of the concepts learned in each e-course. - Apply concepts learned in the e-courses to interpretive programs in your agency. Recommended Background Intermediate Methods in Interpretation is intended for interpreters who possess basic skills in interpretation and who wish to expand their knowledge. FAQ Aside from an internet connection, what resources will I need for the course? No additional resources are required for this course. Will I get a certificate after completing the course? Yes! All courses include a final assessment to evaluate your understanding of key course concepts. A certificate of completion will be offered to you if you complete the assessment with a score of 80% or higher. You will earn a certificate of completion for a certificate program after completing all program assignments and the assessments with a score of 80% or higher. Why should I take this course? Each Eppley e-course is designed collaboratively among experienced instructional designers, subject matter experts, and our partner organizations and institutions. The course curriculum includes current information and best practices in the field and is recognized by national leaders in parks, recreation, and land management. Not only will this course benefit your career by expanding your knowledge base, but it will also enhance your application and problem-solving skills. For more frequently asked questions, please visit our Help Center.	https://provalenslearning.com/national-association-for-interpretation/intermediate-methods-in-interpretation-certificate-cohort
Английский - простой, но очень трудный язык. Он состоит из одних иностранных слов, которые к тому же неправильно произносятся. JOSEPH LISTER 1827-1912 Joseph Lister, an English surgeon, was born in 1827 at Upton, Essex. He was the founder of antiseptic surgery. Joseph was the fourth of seven children of whom four were boys and three girls. His father was a well-known scientist. Joseph Lister was the first to discover the reasons for injection and the way to prevent it. He wrote his famous paper The Early Stage of Inflammation. About that time, he began work on coagulation of the blood, a subject related to the early stages of inflammation. Joseph was a strong, healthy, good-looking boy. He loved to ride his father’s horses, play cricket or go skating with his brothers and sister. He was very interested in nature and birds. Joseph loved the country all his life. In his later years, whenever, he had a difficult problem on his mind, he went for long walks to think it over. Like his father, Joseph became interested in science. Even at school he began to dissect animals. It was clear that Joseph Lister was born to be a surgeon. When Joseph was about twelve, he was sent to a Quaker* school. ____________________ Quaker — (a member) of a Christian religious group called the Society of Friends. Quakers believe in \|inner light\|. have no ministers or organized service, and often spend their religious services (called Meetings) in silence. Quakers are known for their opposition to violence and war and are active in helping other people and in education. ____________________ There he began to study anatomy. While the other boys were playing, Joseph was drawing various parts of the human body and naming the bones. One day during the school holidays, when he was left alone in the house, he killed and dismembered a frog and reconstructed its skeleton. Anatomy interested him so that when he was fourteen he told his father that he was sure he wanted to become a surgeon. His father did all he could to give his son a good start in his career. When he was seventeen, Joseph Lister was sent to University College in London. At first Joseph was not at all happy. He hated London and missed the country but soon he threw himself heart and soul into his work. He worked so hard that in 1848 his health broke down, and he had to take a long rest. Lister’s medical training lasted for nearly eight years. In 1852, his student days were over. Professor James Syme, then the most famous surgeon in Europe, advised him to work for a time at the important medical school in Edinburgh. ____________________ Syme, James (1799-1870) — Scottish surgeon. ____________________ In 1853, Lister went there. He only meant to stay in Edinburgh a month. Instead he stayed seven years. His work was simple: he had to assist the Professor in operations, and make notes on the cases. In 1856, he married Agnes Syme, the daughter of Professor Syme. They lived together 37 years. Mrs Lister helped her husband with his work, taking down his lectures from dictation. This was a great help, for Joseph Lister could dictate far more fluently that he could write. He was very delightful with his work. He worked very hard. At first he did not like lecturing. He often spent most of the night composing his lectures, tearing up page after page and beginning again. Little by little he overcame his early nervousness and became an extremely good speaker. He no longer read his lectures but spoke with help of a few notes. He soon had a class of nearly 200 students — the largest medical class in the country. Then he was asked to take charge of the surgical section of Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary. It was there that he carried out his revolutionary work for which he is now famous. To understand the great work, which Joseph Lister did, we must know the conditions in the hospitals in those early days of the 19th century. Operating rooms were usually in separate buildings so that the other patients in the hospital could not hear the screams of the unhappy patient who was strapped to the operating table. Because of the terrible pain, the surgeon had to operate as quickly as possible. The operating tables were little better than kitchen tables. Under these tables a tub of sand was placed to catch the blood from the operation. The instruments were often not even washed. The surgeons were not indifferent or careless. They had simply no understanding at all of the bad effects of dirt. They were sorry that their patients died so often but they did not connect this with dirt. Indeed nearly half the people died from blood poisoning after operations. When Lister began operating at the Royal Infirmary at Glasgow, he too lost patient from blood poisoning. In Lister’s times there was a woman whose name is known all over the world shows how the reasons of the effects of dirt were found. Her name was Florence Nightingale. Born in Florence, Italy, on May 12, 1820, she was raised mostly in Derbyshire, England and received a classical education from her father. In 1849, she went abroad to study the European hospital system, and in 1850 she began training in nursing at the Institute of Saint Vincent de Paul in Alexandria, Egypt. Then she studied in Germany. In 1853, she was superintendent of the Hospital for Invalid Gentlewomen in London. After the Crimean War broke out in 1853, Florence Nightingale, stirred by reports of the primitive sanitation methods and inadequate nursing facilities at the British barracks-hospital in Uskudar (now part of Istambul, Turkey), sent a letter to the British Secretary of War, volunteering her services. ____________________ Crimean War (1853- 1856) — a war in which Russian fought against Turkey, Britain, France, and Sardinia, began because of an argument over the holy places in Palestine and ending with the fall of the Russian base in Sevastopol. ____________________ Unaware of her action, the Minister of War proposed that she assumed direction of all nursing operations at the war front. She went to Turkey accompanied by 38 nurses. Under Nightingale’s supervision, efficient nursing departments were established at Uskudar and later at Balaklava in the Crimea. Through her tireless efforts the mortality rate among the sick and the wounded was greatly reduced. At the close of the war in 1860, with a fund raised in tribute to her services, Nightingale founded the Nightingale School and Home for Nurses at Saint Thomas Hospital in London. The opening of this school marked the beginning of professional education in nursing. Nightingale’s contributions to the evolution of nursing as a profession were invaluable. Before she undertook her reforms, nurses were largely untrained personnel who considered their job a menial chore; through her efforts the status of nursery was raised to a medical profession with high standards of education and important responsibilities. In 1907, she became the first woman to receive the British Order of Merit. ____________________ *Order of Merit — instituted in 1902 and limited in number to 24 men and women of eminence. It confers no precedence or knighthood. ____________________ She died in London in 1910 on August 13. Her works were translated in many languages. Florence Nightingale’s new kind of nursing went hand in hand with Joseph Lister’s work. Modern surgery was not possible until doctors had learned the importance of cleanliness. When Lister read Pasteur’s papers, they were a revolution to him. The French scientist said that gangrene was caused not by air itself but by tiny organisms on microbes, called bacteria or germs, in the air. Not all bacteria are harmful. There are bacteria that help plants grow, living in soil and making it better for growing crops. Still other bacteria do their work by causing chemical changes. Of course, it was not the air itself that caused the inflammation and the gangrene. It was something in the air, something introduced into the wound from the outside. Could these tiny creatures come from other sources than the air? From the dirty hands of the surgeons? From badly washed instruments? If so, it was the surgeon who was responsible for the death of his patient. So Lister set to work to find a way of preventing these microbes from reaching the open wound. After Lister’s many experiments a visitor from the city of Carlisle told him that the city’s sewerage system had been in need of a disinfectant and carbolic acid was used and thanks to it the smell had disappeared. Lister disappeared and asked him to get him some carbolic acid. Soon after, a boy who had suffered a bad accident was brought into the hospital. He had broken his leg so badly that the broken bone could be seen. Lister ordered a bottle of carbolic acid. Then he went to work. He saturated his hands, instruments and everything that came in contact with the patient, with the disinfectant. He put on a white apron. The water in which he and his assistants washed their hands was mixed with acid. He cleaned the wound, set the broken bone, and then covered the wound with bandage soaked in carbolic acid. He thought that the carbolic acid would kill any germs in the wound and the bandage would keep more from falling it. The carbolic acid did what Lister had intended. It killed the germs. After four days there was no sign of fever and blood poisoning. At the end of six week the little boy was able to walk. The discovery of asepsis (the control of infection) created a new kind of surgery. Lister pioneered in these discoveries and brought about quite a new concept in the practice of medicine. But Lister wanted to find a milder from of antiseptic that would be less irritating to the skin than carbolic acid. After many experiments he found that boracic acid was a better antiseptic. Beside his work on antiseptics, Joseph Lister made many other contributions to surgery. Among them was the use of catgut ligature. During Lister’s early days as a surgeon, silk ligatures were used. Their ends were left outside the wound until the surgeon could pull them out. This system was not good. Lister knew that the human body could absorb foreign particles. He wondered whether antiseptic silk might be absorbed too. In 1867, he made the first experiment. The patient was an old horse. Lister cut open the horse’s neck and tied a silk signature around an artery. He sewed up the opening. One stormy night many years later when Lister was in bed with the flu he learned that the horse was dying. Lister rushed to the stable and by the light of a lantern he opened up the neck of the horse. He saw what he had hoped to see: the silk had been neatly walled off by the surrounding tissue. Now he knew that it was no longer necessary to remove the ligatures used inside the body. To find a material stronger than silk Lister experimented for over a year. Finally he found catgut. Lister became famous all over the world. Surgeons could now do different operations thanks to antiseptic methods. Lister had become a national and world hero. Gradually other surgeons began to adopt Lister’s methods. They learned that germs in the air were not the chief danger. The big danger came from germs that might be on the hands or clothes of the surgeons or on the surgical instruments or bandages. Lister won the battle against germs in the operating wards. In fact he was the first surgeon to insist on the habit of cleanliness in hospitals, and hand-in-hand with him in this work was Florence Nightingale.	https://engtime.ru/portreti/joseph-lister-1827-1912
Differentiation of selected Salmonella enterica serovars by Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy. Salmonella enterica serovars include pathogens responsible for high numbers of foodborne salmonellosis. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy can be used to rapidly and accurately identify microorganisms based on unique spectra of bacterial cell components. The objectives of this study were to discriminate closely related Salmonella enterica serovars by using FT-IR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis and to compare the performance of three techniques for differentiating among Salmonella serovars. Selected serovars of S. enterica were streaked onto plate count agar and incubated (37 degrees C, 24 h). Isolated colonies were suspended in phosphate buffer or 50% ethanol (10 microL). Suspensions were placed on (1) ZnSe crystals for transmission, (2) disposable polyethylene membranes (DPM) for transmission, and (3) diamond crystal plate for attenuated total reflectance (ATR) analyses; all samples were dried under vacuum. Classification models, soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), from derivatized infrared spectra (1300-900 cm(-1)), discriminated among Salmonella serovars presumably attributed to cell's lipopolysaccharides (1000-980 cm(-1)). Samples on DPM required high cell density for reliable spectra. High-quality spectra were obtained when a single colony was suspended in ethanol or buffer and mounted on ZnSe crystals for transmission or diamond plate for ATR analysis. Prediction of unknowns, representative of serovars used to construct classification models, showed that all techniques were suitable for the rapid and accurate differentiation of Salmonella serovars.
Staff Attorney (Judicial Strategy) - The Center for Reproductive Rights The Center for Reproductive Rights is looking for a legal warrior who wants to make a difference and is interested in serving as Staff Attorney with our Judicial Strategy team. We are the premier global organization, using the power of the law to advance reproductive rights as human rights! If you want to make a difference RIGHT NOW, apply today! The Center’s Judicial Strategy team works inside and outside of the courts to defend and expand constitutional protection for reproductive rights in the United States. Judicial Strategy works collaboratively across the U.S. Program and with external partners to support the Center’s litigation and policy advocacy, while also developing original legal research, analysis, publications, and strategies to build stronger legal guarantees for reproductive decision-making and access to care over the long-term. The Staff Attorney, Judicial Strategy will join the Center at a critical moment for reproductive rights and access in the U.S. From the Texas ban on virtually all abortions in the state, to Mississippi’s challenge to Roe v. Wade in a case the Court will hear this fall, we are fighting nationwide to defend nearly fifty years of abortion precedent. At the same time, the Center is equally committed to building, over the long-term, a comprehensive and enduring right of reproductive autonomy grounded in principles of equality; racial, gender, and economic justice; and human rights. The Judicial Strategy team plays a central role in developing and implementing strategies to achieve this long-term goal. The Staff Attorney will be responsible for supporting all aspects of Judicial Strategy work, including this priority under the Center’s new Strategic Plan. The Staff Attorney will report directly to a Senior Staff Attorney, work closely with all members of the Judicial Strategy team, and collaborate with other U.S. Program staff, including Center litigators, policy, and human rights counsel. The Staff Attorney will also collaborate with other Center Departments, including Pro Bono, Communications, and Development to support our programmatic work and external partnerships.	https://www.sabany.org/node/1898
An extraordinary exhibition at the Snite Museum of Art’: “‘Looking at the Stars’: Irish Art at the University of Notre Dame” has captivated the University community since its opening in August. The exhibit contains more than twenty paintings that were part of a generous gift by the Keough Family. They include such jewels as Paul Henry’s Roadside Village, Mary Swanzy’s Young Claudius, and Jack B. Yeats’ Driftwood in a Cave. Also included are the loan of several modern and contemporary masterpieces from the renowned collections of Pat and John O’Brien of Chicago as well as compelling black-and-white photographs by the Irish artist Alen Macweeney, who will speak at the museum on Tuesday, October 8. In a statement acknowledging the Keough Family’s gift, Keough-Naughton Institute Director Patrick Griffin, the Madden-Hennebry Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, issued this statement: “This gift of Irish paintings is all the more meaningful because it comes from the Keough Family, one of our University’s and our Institute of Irish Studies’ most generous benefactors. Don and Marilyn Keough made the leadership gift in 1992 that established our Institute. We are proud to include the Keough name in our title. “Since our founding we have worked to lay claim to the position of world leader in Irish Studies. “Up to this point, our focus has been on language, literature, and history. Most recently we have ventured into a new area: modern Ireland. “Despite all our efforts, in the visual arts we have lagged behind. The Keoughs’ gift will allow us to forge a new path. Our scholars and students can now better appreciate the depth, range, and vitality of the visual arts within Ireland’s artistic culture. The Keough Collection augments the university’s collection of prints and helps to foster relationships with such prominent Irish art collectors as John and Patricia O’Brien of Chicago. Moreover, as we have endeavored to demonstrate through our programming partnership with the Snite Museum this fall, the Keough Collection paintings are also a springboard for amplifying other modes of artistic expression—literary, poetic, and musical. “Thus, right in the galleries that house the paintings, we have sponsored a reading by the prominent Irish playwright Marina Carr, listened to Professor Frank Shovlin speak on the life of the novelist John McGahern, and reveled in the program “Songs from Joyce” by musicians John Feeley and Fran O’Rourke. Still this semester, we look forward to a reading by one of Ireland’s leading poets, John Deane (Friday, November 1, 3:30 p.m.), in the O’Shaughnessy Galleries where the exhibition is on display, and a talk by ethnomusicologist Aileen Dillane on the distinctive “conversation” that occurs between music and paintings (Tuesday, November 12, 12 noon). “While thrilled on so many fronts for the Keough Family’s incredible gift, I am perhaps most grateful for the way that, right from the start, this collection of Irish art has enriched the experiences of our Irish Studies graduate and undergraduate students. Our students have explored the paintings on individual visits and during our Irish Studies events in the galleries. Their understanding of Irish culture will also be enriched by the insights of the president of O’Brien International and curator of the O’Brien Family Collection Marty Fahey, who will lead our students through several visualization exercises, all designed to create a deeper engagement with these works of Irish art. “In all these ways, the Keough Family’s gift has served both as the foundation for and an impetus for a fuller understanding of Irish art and Irish culture. The paintings are more than an aesthetic contribution to Notre Dame. They are a gift that helps to build a bridge between Ireland and America—an endeavor that is at the very heart of our Institute.” For a complete and up-to-date list of events surrounding the “Looking at the Stars” exhibit, please see the Snite Museum of Art’s EVENTS page. Credit for the painting represented above: Mary Swanzy (1882–1978), Young Claudius (detail), 1942, oil on canvas, 20 × 24 inches. Gift of the Donald and Marilyn Keough Foundation, 2019.001.002. © The Artist’s Estate.	https://research.nd.edu/news/the-snite-museums-exhibition-of-irish-art-looking-at-the-stars-captivates-the-university-community/
The Children’s Council of Watauga County has announced that there are still spaces available for free pre-kindergarten classes at Cove Creek School and Valle Crucis School. The classes are offered as part of the NC Pre-Kindergarten (NC Pre-K) program, which provides high quality early childhood education for four year olds from eligible families. Children in NC Pre-K attend classes of 18 or fewer children led by a professional teacher and receive a wide range of child development and early education services. In Watauga County, the program operates for the same hours and on the same calendar as the K-8 schools where it is based. Applications for the program are available from The Children’s Council of Watauga County (828 262-5424, 225 Birch St. #3 in Boone) and on the Watauga County Schools website. On the WCS website, the application is on the forms page, which is available under the For Parents and Students heading on the homepage. Children in NC Pre-K must be four-years old on or before August 31st and must also meet additional state eligibility standards. The family’s gross income must be at or below 75% of the state median, with adjustments for family size; or the child must have specific risk factors such as developmental disabilities, limited English proficiency, educational need, or a chronic health condition; or the child must be from specific types of military families. The income limits increase with each additional member of a family. For example, a child from a two person family is eligible if their gross income does not exceed $34,090, and a child from a family of five can be eligible with a gross family income of up to $58,154. There are also pre-kindergarten classrooms at Green Valley, Hardin Park, and Parkway School. Parents interested in enrolling a child at one of these sites can submit an application and will be placed on a waiting list in case an opening occurs during the current school year. For questions and more information, please contact Hunter Varipapa, the local NC Pre-Kindergarten Coordinator, at (828) 262-5424. Pre-K Changes Lives: Teacher and Parent Perspectives By Hunter Varipapa Over ten years ago, I began my venture as a teacher in the Watauga County Schools’ Pre-Kindergarten Program. Each day my goal was to teach the children how to be ready to enter into kindergarten. I read stories to children who had never held a book. Each day my goal was to make children eager to learn. We counted rocks, measured sticks, and experimented with water, sand and dirt. The children used art materials to create tigers, princesses, robots, fall foliage or other things that interested them. My curriculum followed the children’s desires and each morning they entered my classroom full of anticipation as to what the day would hold. Each day my goal was to nurture the children and create a caring, kind and empathetic community. We ate breakfast, lunch and snack together and learned about each other’s lives through meaningful conversations. Each year, my classroom was filled with children, some with developmental delays and some who were typically developing. Some of the children I taught had autism, cerebral palsy, speech delays or other developmental delays. Every day we all learned from each other. My assistant and I were not the only teachers in the classroom. The children taught each other how to put on their mittens, climb ladders, wait their turn for the slide, how to determine which block building was taller, and how to be part of a community. Two years ago, I began working for The Children’s Council of Watauga County and became the NC Pre-Kindergarten Coordinator. I now help support the pre-kindergarten program through coordinating and monitoring all of the NC Pre-Kindergarten funded classrooms. I oversee the application process, the individual sites, go to committee meetings, coordinate developmental screenings, complete contractor reporting requirements and support the overall quality of the program. Through this position I get to see caring classroom communities, teachers, administrators and families. However, I do not get to have the same connections I used to have with the children and families each day. The children used to become my best friends and their families became my extended family. This year, when asked to write an article about the NC Pre-Kindergarten program, I asked the teachers to ask families if they could share their success stories with me. I received a story from a mother whose child attends one of our NC Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. I was touched by her words, her story and the successes her child has achieved this year by being part of the NC Pre-Kindergarten program. Here is her story: When my child was first accepted into the pre-k program I was very excited yet nervous for him. This was a huge step for a little boy that had been through tremendous struggles in his first 5 years of life. He was diagnosed at 3.5 months old with Tuberous Sclerosis, a disease that causes tumors to grow on or in any organ in your body. He has tumors in his brain, eyes and kidneys. He also has problems in his spine, bowels and feeding issues. He has had seizures almost every day of his life due to the tumors in his brain. We have tried over 20 different seizure medications, brain surgery removing the right side temporal and frontal lobes, and a special diet to get his seizures under control. He has also been in a medical induced coma, had bowel resection surgery, his appendix removed, and a feeding tube placed. He is non-verbal, but is working on communication with an augmentative communication device. He has global developmental delays. Feeding has been a major issue in his life. At the beginning of the school year, he was only able to eat pureed foods, was not able to feed himself, and still could not drink anything from a cup. We knew that the pre-k eats meals together and we wanted him to be able to experience this with his classmates. He has now started to feed himself with a spoon with some assistance and he can drink from a cup! His classmates have seen him change so much at meal times. The first time he fed himself with the spoon his classmates cheered! What a special moment for him. Before Thanksgiving break, with the help of his nurse holding the cup he drank a whole cup of juice during lunch with his peers watching and being so excited for his achievement. Now, he is able to hold the cup by himself and drink. He has learned to throw away his lunch trash away. I truly believe seeing his peers perform these task daily has made an impact on his ability to do the same. Before Pre K it was hard for him to look at and pay attention to other children. The children in his classroom really love and care for him and want him to participate. They have encouraged him all year to play with them. A lot of times he ignores other people but these children have not given up on getting him to participate in activities with them. We knew circle time could be a struggle. It has always been hard for him to sit still and focus. He is an on-the -go kind of boy, times 10! He used to struggle to be in a circle time for more than 5 minutes. Now he is able to sit in circle time all by himself some days! I came to pick him up one day and saw him sitting all by himself in the group and actually participating! The song on the Smartboard said to wiggle and he moved his legs!! The list could go on and on. He has started watching his peers, playing ball with some of his peers, he is learning his colors, trying to learn how to color and he can spell his name. He can find his spot on the rug for circle time, walk in a line, go to the sink to wash his hands, put his own folder in the box where it is to go each day. These are huge milestones for my child. I really feel like Pre-K is playing a huge role in helping him get ready for kindergarten. Pre-K has been a huge factor in the growth in his development. My child does not talk, but his actions say a lot. When we arrive at school each morning, he gets so happy in his car seat! He makes a few of his happy noises and kicks his legs. I have to say his teachers in the Pre K room are so amazing, kind and patient. He has an amazing team of therapists and nurses that contribute greatly to his successes. And as I mentioned before, his peers have made such an impact on his life. They have such a love for our precious little boy and take the time to engage with him every single day. When I pick him up several of them want to tell me about his day or something he has accomplished that day. I absolutely cannot wait to see what the last half of the year has in store for him! This is just one of the success stories that happen in our pre-kindergarten classrooms. I am grateful to the teachers, families, therapists and administrators that make these successes possible. All of the pre-kindergarten classrooms are inclusive to children who have delays and disabilities. Studies show that children with diverse abilities and children who are typically developing benefit in multiple ways from being involved in inclusive early childhood education settings. Some of the benefits for children who are typically developing include improved academic outcomes and increased appreciation and acceptance of individual diversity and differences. Some of the benefits of inclusion for children with delays or disabilities include having peer role models for academic, social and behavior skills, and increased achievement in meeting the goals of their Individual Education Plans, and higher expectations of success. Studies have also shown that children with and without disabilities that are involved in inclusive early childhood education classrooms gain meaningful friendships. If you would like your child to be part of this program and gain all the benefits it can provide, I encourage you to apply. Every child that is eligible and that we have the space to serve will be welcomed, loved, and supported to become all that he or she can be. For questions and more information about the Pre-K program, please contact Hunter Varipapa, the local NC Pre-Kindergarten Coordinator, at (828) 262-5424.	https://www.hcpress.com/front-page/pre-k-spaces-available-cove-creek-valle-crucis-reflection-pre-k-changes-lives.html
1.1 During January 2022, the Maritime Continent experienced a mix of below- and above-average rainfall, with Mainland Southeast Asia experiencing its typical dry season, apart from northern Lao PDR and Viet Nam that experienced above-average rainfall (Figure 1). For the Maritime Continent, both satellite-derived rainfall estimates datasets (GSMaP-NRT and CMORPH-Blended) show large negative anomalies (drier conditions) over the Malay Peninsula and the southern half of the Philippines. However, there are some discrepancies between the two datasets elsewhere. CMORPH-Blended (Figure 1b) recorded below-average rainfall for much of the region, apart from the northern Philippines, and isolated parts of Sumatra and Borneo. GSMaP-NRT (Figure 1a) however, recorded more extensive areas of above-average rainfall with isolated areas of below-average rainfall primarily over parts of Borneo and Java. 1.2 The mix of below- and above-average rainfall for the Maritime Continent with no clear regional pattern is in line with the subseasonal weather outlooks for January 2022, which predicted a mix of below- to above-average rainfall depending on the outlook (27 December – 9 January, 10 – 23 January, and 24 January – 6 February), although the wetter conditions over northern Lao PDR and Viet Nam were not included in any of the outlooks. 1.3 Near- to above-average temperature was recorded in Southeast Asia in January 2022, apart from northern Myanmar where below- to near-average temperature was recorded (Figure 2). The largest positive anomalies (more than 1°C warmer) were over central and eastern parts of Mainland Southeast Asia. For the Maritime Continent, the largest positive anomalies were over the Malay Peninsula (0.25°C – 1°C warmer), with the rest of the area near- or slightly above-average. 2. Climate Drivers 2.1 A Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) signal was present over the Western Pacific (Phase 7) at the start of January 2022, based on the MJO phase diagram below (Figure 3). In the second week of January, the signal entered the Western Hemisphere (Phase 8) and then weakened rapidly. In the second half of January, there was no MJO signal. Phase 7 tends to bring drier conditions to the western Maritime Continent and expanding in Phase 8 to most of the Maritime Continent at this time of the year. 2.2 Over the tropical Pacific Ocean, La Niña conditions were present. Sea surface temperatures in the Nino3.4 region (used to monitor ENSO) and the atmospheric indicators over the tropical Pacific Ocean were consistent with La Niña conditions. La Niña events tend to bring wetter-than-average conditions to much of the Maritime Continent during the December to February period.	http://asmc.asean.org/subseasonal-weather-review-of-regional-weather-conditions-for-january-2022/
In a recent study it was published that people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries had more chances of developing dementia. And the risk of developing dementia increased in people who suffered from multiple traumatic brain injuries. Wondering what is dementia? According to Dallas Emergency Trauma Care, dementia is decline in the ability that is so severe that it impacts the routine life. Memory loss is one of the most common forms of dementia. People often wonder if there is a link between traumatic brain injuries and dementia. But there hasn’t been a concrete study or research that can establish a strong link between the two. However, recently several studies have been conducted to find connection between TBI and dementia and the results speak a lot. A study was conducted by a renowned Psychiatrist on 2.7 million people. Out of the population as many as 132000 people has suffered from TBI at some or other point in their life. The study further focused on finding medical, psychiatric, or neurological illness in people who have had a history of TBI Vs people who never suffered from traumatic brain injury. The results were self explanatory. It was found that as compared to people who never suffered from a traumatic brain injury, the chances of developing dementia was 24% more in people who suffered traumatic brain injury in any point in their life. That’s not all; the risk of dementia was triple in people who suffered more than 5 TBIs in their life. And an individual with single instance of TBI had 17% risk of developing dementia. According to Trauma & Emergency Care in Dallas, the study is just the beginning and there is still that needs to be discover about dementia and its link with traumatic brain injuries. If any of your loved ones suffer from a brain injury, you should immediately seek medical help from 24/7 Trauma Care in Dallas, TX so that the injury is treated as soon as possible and the risk of developing dementia or other complications in future is reduced.	https://frontlineerdallas.com/the-link-between-traumatic-brain-injuries-and-dementia/
Brain trauma and aging in California According to a recent study, a traumatic brain injury may be responsible for premature aging and other complications in the future. As part of the study, 99 people who had suffered a brain injury were given a brain scan as little as one month after the injury and as many as 46 years after the injury. These scans were then compared to scans of those who had not suffered an injury. In addition, researchers used a computer model to estimate a person’s brain age by looking at the amount of white and gray matter inside of a given brain. Research concluded that those who suffered from head injuries had brain structures that were similar to those in older people. Overall, those who had suffered an injury had a brain that was almost five years older than their biological age. Researchers hope to use these models as a method of screening for head injuries in the future. They also hope to use it as a tool to screen for any possible signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia in those who are currently healthy. By catching indications of brain disease early enough, it may be possible to enroll people in medical trials to potentially stave off the disease or its symptoms for as long as possible. A traumatic brain injury could result in pain and suffering for many months or years after the injury occurs. It could also result in secondary conditions that could erode an individual’s quality of life. Those who have been injured through no fault of their own such as in a slip-and-fall accident or after being involved in a car crash caused by the negligence of another driver may wish to consult an attorney to determine the remedies that may be available.	https://maryalexanderlaw.com/blog/brain-trauma-and-aging-in-california/
Dr. Maribeth Murray is the Executive Director of the Arctic Institute of North America and Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology. She has worked in the Arctic and subarctic for over 20 years where her research is focused on past and present interactions and feedbacks among climate, the marine environment and people. Northern Seas is an extension of historical ecological and climatological work she started in Alaska while at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She joined the faculty at the University of Calgary in 2013. Dr. Gabriela Ibarguchi is an ecological and evolutionary biologist whose research has focused on biogeography and the adaptation of species to marine and harsh environments including alpine, polar and arid regions. Her role in the North Seas project is to develop a biogeographical profile of past marine animal ecology and environmental conditions by integrating GIS methods and the study of historical specimen collection. Dr. Patricia Wells is an archaeologist and documentary researcher. She has studied pre-contact arctic cultures through the analysis of their material remains, and has conducted land use and occupancy research in Labrador, drawing much of her data from historical records. Her role in the Northern Seas project is to assemble information on the marine systems including climate, ice conditions and sealing and whaling records from a number of historical documentary sources. Dr. Ravi Darwin Sankar is a coastal geologist/geomorphologist. His primary research interests center on the potential impacts of climate change on the coastal zone resulting from the near-term effects of sea-level rise and storms. His role in the Northern Seas project is to develop accurate model predictions of geomorphic change by combining historical and recent data, in order to plan future coastal management and adaptation strategies that reduce the vulnerability of human/marine systems in the Arctic region.	https://arctic.ucalgary.ca/researcher-biographies
One thing plenty of Collier County influencers have in common? Leadership Collier Foundation‘s GAIN program on their resumes. More formally known as Growing Associates in Naples, the program associated with the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce has held a pivotal role in Collier County since 1989. The focus: building great friendships, connections and, of course, roots in the community among Naples’ young professional set. Here, Amanda Beights, vice president of LCF, shares what you need to know about getting involved. —Mykala Fowler What interested you about the Leadership Collier Foundation? I’m somebody who personally is motivated by work that makes my heart happy. The fact that I get to come to work everyday and work with over 1,000 alumni that are making a difference outside of their jobs and with the foundation everyday is very inspiring. I’m more or less inspired on a daily basis by the people I get to work with, which is pretty fantastic. What does the GAIN program entail? The GAIN program starts mid-February and runs through early April. It is held on Tuesdays for eight consecutive weeks from approximately 3-5:30 p.m. The first session is geared towards getting the class connected and focusing on bonding activities, and the rest of the sessions are focused on community education. They are going out into the community and learning about our school system, healthcare system, the environment, law enforcement and government structures. We’re going to the venues—we are not in a classroom—and we hope that we are placing our young professionals in areas in which they have never been before and probably would never go had it not been for the GAIN program. What is the application process for GAIN? Applications are available online until Nov. 30. We typically receive 80-plus applications for a class of about 40. Part of the selection process I always like people to be aware of is that the selection committee, which has no involvement with staff, is striving to make a very diverse class. Who can apply? Anyone between ages of 21 and 40; hopefully, they are living and working in Collier County. Overall, we are looking for people who want to do the program more for how they can get involved in the community and how the community can benefit and less of how they can benefit. How are participants selected? There is a selection committee comprised of community leaders, GAIN graduates and board members who go through all of the applications and try to create a diverse class of applicants who demonstrate that they sincerely want to make a difference in the community, and part of that is shown with the current work they are doing. Most of our applicants are already involved and trying to make differences in the community. The GAIN program is just an opportunity to further that desire. How do individuals benefit from the GAIN program? Be engaged; be informed; be the difference—this is the ultimate goal for a candidate who goes through any of the programs. Graduates from multiple classes have echoed that “This program has changed my life.” They have made connections they would have never made out of their professional opportunities. Great friendships, community connections and roots are made in our programs, no matter if you are new to the community or have grown up here. What are some standout connections or opportunities GAIN graduates have had as a result of their participation? People have been connected to joining the Naples Chamber’s Public Policy Committee; there have been young professionals who have been inspired to run for an elected position; and many other connections have been made. Classes have done community work as individuals—and an engagement even happened from the GAIN program! This is a collection of like-minded individuals who connect in many ways.	https://www.thenewnaples.com/2016/10/the-new-naples-gain-leadership-collier/
Pumpkin Bread in Disguise I know that the more appropriate time to post a recipe for pumpkin bread would be in the fall, but the last time I mentioned pumpkin bread on this blog it was April, so I’m getting closer to the mark! You might also be thinking that what you see in the photo doesn’t look like “bread” but it is! It’s the wonderful kind of bread that allows you to live in denial about actually eating cake. I decided to embrace the “cake-ness” though and turn the recipe into cupcakes. With generous dollops of cream cheese frosting they were delicious! I got this recipe from my dear friend Kelly the last time we lived at West Point. I love having a box full of recipe cards hand-written by old friends. I remember everyone I get a recipe from but it’s even better when they write it out themselves. Start with the water, eggs, oil and pumpkin. Add the sugar…. …and mix again. Assemble the spices. Dump in the dry ingredients and mix again. Fill the cupcake papers half-way. (This batter tastes wonderful by the way.) Bake the cupcakes in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 19 minutes. I had some scrumptious left-over cream cheese frosting from a recipe that my new friend Lisa C. gave me this fall. She makes delicious cupcakes, so you can expect to hear her credited again on this blog! I doubled the frosting recipe the first time I made it and I obviously shouldn’t have. However, that tub of excess frosting generated the bolt of inspiration to turn pumpkin bread into cupcakes, so it was a fortuitous mistake! Lisa C.’s Cream Cheese Frosting 1 cup butter 16 oz cream cheese 3 1/2 cup of powder sugar 1/2 cup shortening 1 tablespoon of vanilla (I left this out because I’m just not a fan of vanilla in most recipes.) 1/2 tsp of salt The recipe makes a lot. I usually get three loaves of bread. This time, I got 24 cupcakes and…. …had enough batter left over to make one loaf. The bread needs to bake for 50 minutes to an hour at 350, until a toothpick comes out clean. My new position on baking with pumpkin is that the season should be extended until at least May, so go raise the eyebrows of the grocery clerk with a can of pumpkin next time you check out!	https://thekitchencatwalk.com/tag/pumpkin-bread/
There are provided a method of synthesizing axial power distributions of a nuclear reactor core using a neural network circuit and an in-core protection system (ICOPS) using the same, in which using the neural network circuit including an input layer, an output layer, and at least one hidden layer, each layer being configured with at least one node, each node of one layer being connected to nodes of the other layers, node-to-node connections being made with connection weights varied based on a learning result, optimum connection weights between the respective nodes constituting the neural network circuit are determined through learning based on various core design data applied to the design of a nuclear reactor core of a nuclear power plant, and axial power distributions of the nuclear reactor core are synthesized based on ex-core flux detector signals measured by ex-core neutron flux detectors during operation of a nuclear reactor, so that the initial time required to perform a start-up test of the nuclear reactor can be reduced since basic data for synthesizing axial power distributions need not be separately measured in the start-up test of the nuclear reactor contrary to a conventional ICOPS, thereby improving the economic efficiency of the nuclear power plant, and so that overall nuclear reactor core design data can be used rather than actual measurement data in the start-up test (i.e., at the beginning of a period of nuclear fuel), thereby more accurately replicating axial power distributions of the nuclear reactor core throughout the overall period of the nuclear fuel.
Priming ditransitive structures in comprehension. Many studies have shown evidence for syntactic priming during language production (e.g., Bock, 1986). It is often assumed that comprehension and production share similar mechanisms and that priming also occurs during comprehension (e.g., Pickering & Garrod, 2004). Research investigating priming during comprehension (e.g., Branigan, Pickering, & McLean, 2005; Scheepers & Crocker, 2004) has mainly focused on syntactic ambiguities that are very different from the meaning-equivalent structures used in production research. In two experiments, we investigated whether priming during comprehension occurs in ditransitive sentences similar to those used in production research. When the verb was repeated between prime and target, we observed a priming effect similar to that in production. However, we observed no evidence for priming when the verbs were different. Thus, priming during comprehension occurs for very similar structures as priming during production, but in contrast to production, the priming effect is completely lexically dependent.
The Artificial Intelligence Class was founded by Prof. Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, world-leading computer scientist in 2019, with a view to cultivate high-achieving talents in the AI field. Aiming to establish a solid foundation in AI for students, the program offers a wide range of courses, spanning from core theoretical underpinnings in math and computer science to applications in robotics, finance, biology, health, psychology, etc. It also provides students with opportunities to participate in cutting-edge AI research and interdisciplinary research with other fields, to develop their skills and subject understanding on AI, and to tackle problems in related fields by coupling rigorous theory with real-world applications. The Artificial Intelligence Class welcomes aspiring young students who are interested in AI to join the program.	http://nsibirsk.com/en/aiclass
All Columns articles – Page 10 View all stories with this category. - Opinion In search of ultimate selectivity A catalyst that reacts only with aryl iodides, spurning bromides and chlorides - Opinion How teenagers are disrupting drug discovery A citizen science project to improve access to malaria drugs - Opinion Reformatskii reaction The survivor of a once-great empire of zinc chemistry - Opinion What are the rate-limiting steps in drug discovery? Getting more drugs to market is not just a chemistry problem - Opinion Chiral curiosities The challenges posed by asymmetry go hand in hand with fascinating insights into developmental biology - Business How many papers do you read a week? Everyone needs a strategy to keep up with the literature - Opinion No U-turns Why punish leaders just for changing their minds? - Opinion How to be a chemical tourist Why I travel the world in the name of science - Opinion How science shapes our psychology We learn to embrace the unexpected, follow evidence over opinion and accept that most experiments fail - Opinion Gene-editing put in the spotlight What now after a rogue geneticist has created the first genetically modified humans? - Opinion Welcome to the International Year of the Periodic Table Celebrating both 150 years of chemistry’s roadmap and 100 years of Iupac - Opinion 23 things that happened in chemistry in 2018 Lot’s of chemistry happened in 2018, here’s a review of the year in numbers - Opinion Bullying is everyone's problem Tackling bad behaviour is a shared responsibility - Opinion The Koflers’ hotbench Why do we bother with melting point measurements? - Opinion Pushing the limits of patent protection Some methods of extending exclusivity rights raise legal and ethical questions - Opinion Curtius rearrangement An explosive tale of serendipitous discovery - Opinion Playing the science Trump card Scientists could make ideal politicians - Opinion How do you keep plant reactions cold? When a really big tub of ice just doesn’t cut it - Opinion What would a 1980s student make of modern research?	https://www.chemistryworld.com/columns/54.subject?page=10
The company’s revenues increased more than 65 times year on year. The American pharmaceutical company Moderna, which developed a vaccine against the new coronavirus, recorded over $4 billion in revenue for the past quarter. As follows from the quarterly financial statements published on Thursday, the company’s revenues increased more than 65 times year on year. Thus, for the three-month reporting period ended June 30, the company’s revenue amounted to $4,354 billion. For the six-month period, data on this indicator amounted to $6.291 billion. For the same periods last year, the company’s revenue was $67 million and $75 million, respectively. The company’s net profit for the three-month period amounted to $2.78 billion. During the same period last year, Moderna suffered losses of $117 million. For six months, the company earned $4 billion, although losses were recorded for $241 million last year during the reporting period. Moderna is one of the three manufacturers of the coronavirus vaccine in the United States. Along with it, a consortium of the American company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech developed their vaccines, as well as Moderna, which produces a two-component drug, and Johnson & Johnson, a division of which Janssen produces a one-component drug.	https://usfreenews.com/moderna-recorded-quarterly-revenue-of-over-4-billion/
MILTON, Fla. — The Far West region of the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association (FABA) will conduct their monthly “Hammer In” – an open house – on Saturday, March 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Butler’s Countryside Farm, 4112 Bell Ln, Milton, FL 32571. All are welcome to attend, watch and ask questions of our region’s blacksmiths during any Florida Artist Blacksmith Association (FABA) monthly meeting. This month we are offering a special class on making a traditional Viking-style utility knife for those who sign up in advance at https://traditions-workshop.square.site/. The class will start at 9:30 a.m. following the FABA business .meeting. Lunch is included in the cost for the class and there is a $20 discount for FABA members – send an email to david@traditonsworkshop.com to get your membership discount code. If you wish to join FABA, a Family membership is only $30/year. Sign up at the meeting or online at www.blacksmithing.org.	http://niceville.com/blacksmith-viking-knife-making-class-march-27/
Southwest Health is a non-profit health care system offering residents of southwest Wisconsin a broad span of medical services through its various facilities, including a hospital in Platteville, and Southwest Behavioral Services as well as Epione Pavilion in Cuba City. We are a model healthcare organization, providing the highest quality care at the lowest possible cost while working to create healthier communities. We are committed to quality health care. Proof of this committment is our accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. We've been awarded full accreditation because we strive to provide the best care possible, and we've proven it by meeting the Joint Commissions's standards for high quality care. Our Long Term Care Facility has also successfully completed two consecutive years of deficiency free surveys by the Department of Health and Family Services - Bureau of Quality Assurance. Our hospital features birthing suites, 24-hour a day emergency services, complete diagnostic services, an out-patient specialty clinic, community health programs, comprehensive rehabilitation services (physical, occupational, speech therapies), and respiratory therapy services to name just a few. Job Title Radiology Technologist Posting Date January 9, 2019 Requirements - Associate Degree or two-year degree program of a school of Radiologic Technology required. - National Registration with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) R-Radiology. - Must be licensed with State Of Wisconsin. - Previous experience with several modalities preferred. - Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required. - Knowledge of profession’s code of ethics required. - Knowledge of radiology equipment and testing required. - Knowledge of safety hazards common to radiology including equipment, body mechanics, and patient movement required. - Experience in emergency, surgical and specialty care preferred. - Proficient in computerized word processing and knowledge of Hospital Information Systems preferred. Work Hours We are seeking a casual Radiology Technologist to fill in on a as needed basis. Job Summary The Radiology Technologist performs day-to-day operations of the radiology department under the direction of the Radiology Director and in conjunction with the core values of the organization and the professional practices encompassed within the department. We believe that together we can change lives, and we anticipate your life will change in the process. If you aspire to help others find hope and live better, we invite you to submit your application at www.southwesthealth.org. Benefits SH is truly an outstanding place to work. A full benefit package is available for employees working 20 hours/week or greater which includes: Health, Dental, Vision and Life insurance. Also available are long and short term disability, cell phone discount, flexible spending plan, paid time off, retirement plan with an employer contribution, fitness membership discount as well as use of exercise equipment at the facility.	https://jobs.accessdubuque.com/job.cfm?jobid=551189
This pandemic has been particularly painful for those people who lost their loved ones. The question arises: What does one do after this loss? A song like Paau Kahaa attempts to encapsulate such emotions of the aftermath. At the same time, it doesn’t offer any straight answers given the touchy nature of its subject matter. Instead, as the song’s YouTube description reads, it is ‘an ode to that eternal connection that we form beyond loss..and a warm hug to everyone who has been left behind…’. Hence, without sounding preachy, singer-songwriter-producer Shashwat Singh weaves an intimate portrait of love and loss that is deeply personal and yet universally relatable at the same time. His mellow vocals are perfectly suited to the ambient instrumentals and emotional lyricism. The song is also accompanied by a visual that Singh himself directed. The video finds him solemnly walking through his house and staring at the photos of a soul that is no more with him. Instead of crying out loud, the singer’s expressions display another side of sadness: the confusion and emptiness that follows a tragedy. It is a somber and aesthetic short that some might relate to. Coming back to the music, the only complaint that some listeners might have is Paau Kahaa’s slow pace. The pacing obviously seems to be deliberate given its sensitive themes but maybe a slightly more dramatic interlude could have served as a good segue. Dedicated listeners would still have a good time if they are into melancholic Hindi indie-pop. All in all, it is a great addition to Shashwat Singh’s emotion-driven discography. The personal aspect makes Paau Kahaa all the more emotional. Verdict: A moving tribute to the ones who we have lost.	https://highonscore.com/shashwat-singh-paau-kahaa-score-indie-reviews/
7 factors that impact clinical trial patient recruitment For patients, joining a clinical trial is a significant decision. Before signing on, it's important to consider everything from how easy it is to get to the site location to whether or not the goals of the trial resonate with you. From the perspective of a clinical trial sponsor, this decision-making process can seem opaque. That's why Antidote asked nearly 4,000 patients about their views on participating in clinical trials. Elements that influence patient decision-making typically fall into three buckets: protocol, site performance, and communication. Successful patient recruitment starts with designing a trial that reflects patient needs — and requires keeping the patient perspective in mind from start to finish. Below, we'll share how you can optimize your trial for the factors that impact patient recruitment at every step. Eligibility criteria Overly-stringent eligibility criteria can make it more difficult to find qualified patients for your study. When analyzing your eligibility criteria, identify and remove items that are unnecessary to the safety of participants, or that aren't related to answering the primary research questions. Challenging eligibility criteria can also reduce diverse participation in your trial. The FDA recently issued guidelines on enhancing the diversity of clinical trial populations, specifically focusing on eligibility criteria, enrollment practices, and trial design guidance for the industry. The FDA guidance notes that some common exclusions have less scientific backing, such as excluding those at extremes of the weight range, those with organ dysfunction, and those with HIV. The FDA recommends broadening these eligibility criteria, when appropriate, to reach a more diverse patient population. The FDA also suggests moderating exclusion criteria that may be scientifically sound, but too broad. For example, in a heart disease study, while those with severe heart failure may be excluded, those with more mild disease may be able to participate. If it's not too late to make adjustments to your protocol, consider taking this step before starting recruitment, or requesting a protocol amendment. Patient need Does your clinical trial address symptoms or challenges that are meaningful to patients, and will improvements be captured as endpoints? In our research, we found that patients are very interested in knowing the goal of a clinical trial, and preferred certain types of goals over others. Overall, our survey respondents were most interested in clinical trials researching a cure for their condition or a new treatment option, and were less interested in trials researching treatments for side effects of other existing medications. This chart shows the frequency of respondents who answered “likely” or “very likely” to partake in the specified type of trial by demographic categories and odds ratios of responses by demographic information (referent group indicated as “Ref.”). Before launching your trial, your patient recruitment strategists should consider whether or not the trial meets patient needs. If it doesn't, you may want to reexamine your protocol. Assuming it does, the next step is to consider how to communicate that goal to patients. While scientific endpoints are important, consider highlighting the quality-of-life goals for the trial that may resonate with patients more. If trial endpoints can't be easily amended after a trial launches, consider addressing additional ways the trial may appeal to patient need. Benefits of taking part may include receiving care from an expert in their condition area, or the opportunity to help science in a meaningful way. Site locations Trial sponsors know that it's important to choose sites that already have relationships with patients in the condition area, and that are located in an area with a significant patient population. This may be simple enough in urban areas but can become more difficult when dealing with rural areas or patient populations with less access to transportation. In our research, we found that in general, logistical benefits aren't as important to patients as other factors, overall. However, these accommodations were more important to patients who historically have been less likely to participate in research: people of color and low-income participants. Our research suggests that offering transportation support or virtual site visits may be more valuable for some site locations than others. This chart illustrates the count and frequency by race and ethnicity of respondents who answered “likely” or “very likely” to the question: If you were considering taking part in a clinical trial, how important would the following be to you? (Please note: Non-white and non-Hispanic individuals served as the referent group for statistical analysis.) The COVID-19 pandemic has caused sponsors to re-think what it means to have a site at all. Researchers have been getting creative, trading traditional processes for virtual or decentralized opportunities. One major advantage of decentralized trials is that they remove the burden from patients and encourage participation from wherever patients may be, all while minimizing health risks for patients taking part. Consider adding elements of decentralized trials to your protocol. Patient follow-up services Location isn't the only factor that can impact site performance. Even if a site is in the ideal location, inexperienced staff or poor training can still slow the patient recruitment process. Before starting recruitment, ask sites what would help them be successful in their efforts. Working with a patient recruitment company that helps reduce the burden on sites by offering their own follow-up services to reach out to patients can help. Seasonality This factor can refer both to weather patterns at specific site locations, as well as to seasonal events such as holidays. Symptoms may also worsen for some conditions during different times of the year — for example, asthma during allergy season, or lupus rashes during the summer. When creating a patient recruitment plan, account for seasonal dips in enrollment. Patient recruitment resources Before launching your clinical trial, ensure that you've budgeted enough funds to comfortably reach your endpoints. Use a clinical trial recruitment rate calculator to estimate how many patients should come from each site per month. Then, consider what support sites will need to reach those numbers. At Antidote, we've found that including patient recruitment services early on in your trial can ultimately help reduce costs over the course of a clinical trial, as opposed to only invoking "rescue" support. Messaging materials Even the most easily accessible, well-designed clinical trial will have trouble reaching enough patients without engaging outreach materials. Before choosing a patient recruitment agency, consider asking to see successful outreach materials they've created in the past. The best advertisements capture the patient experience and highlight benefits and goals that resonate with your patient population. Outreach materials, when used strategically, can help assuage several of the challenges included in this list by highlighting the benefits of taking part. Want to learn more about how targeted recruitment plans can lead to time-saving results? Download our patient recruitment case studies.	https://www.antidote.me/blog/7-factors-that-impact-patient-recruitment
The main objective of this research proposal is to investigate neuropharmacologically the cellular mechanisms of arousal and sleep with a special emphasis on the pathogenesis of narcolepsy. Hypocretins/orexins, newly discovered peptide neurotransmitters, and their receptors will be studied. Hypocretins/orexins and their receptors play a role in narcolepsy and sleep disorders and in the regulations of food intake. Currently little is known about their physiological effects on brain neurons. Previous studies have shown that lack of excitation produced by hypocretins/orexins through hypocretin2/orexin2 receptors in the brain nuclei is the central component of narcolepsy. Proposed projects focus on further elucidating their actions at the cellular and molecular level by using dissociated primary cultures of rat and mouse brain nuclei that are involved in regulating arousal and sleep. The specific projects are: (1) to elucidate hypocretin/orexin effects on histaminergic neurons in the tuberomammillary nucleus which are rich in hypocretin2/orexin2 receptors, (2) to determine the transmitter effects on noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus which are rich in hypocretin1/orexin 1 receptors, and (3) to investigate hypocretin/orexin effects on cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert. In addition, a heterologous system (HEK293A) which is transfected with each type of hypocretin/orexin receptor will be used. All of these projects emphasize elucidating signal transduction mechanisms of hypocretins/orexins, and determining the identity and roles of G proteins. Electrophysiological techniques (patchclamp) and pharmacological techniques combined with molecular biological methods will be used. These projects are important for deepening the understanding of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. The knowledge obtained is essential in developing more effective treatments for narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. This research on the sleep-arousal centers of the brain will contribute in helping those who suffer sleep disorders.
This project has results Can Personalized Encouragement Help People with Sickle Cell Disease Take Hydroxyurea Therapy Regularly? Results Summary and Professional Abstract Peer Review Summary Peer review of PCORI-funded research helps make sure the report presents complete, balanced, and useful information about the research. It also assesses how the project addressed PCORI’s Methodology Standards. During peer review, experts read a draft report of the research and provide comments about the report. These experts may include a scientist focused on the research topic, a specialist in research methods, a patient or caregiver, and a healthcare professional. These reviewers cannot have conflicts of interest with the study. The peer reviewers point out where the draft report may need revision. For example, they may suggest ways to improve descriptions of the conduct of the study or to clarify the connection between results and conclusions. Sometimes, awardees revise their draft reports twice or more to address all of the reviewers’ comments. Peer reviewers commented, and the researchers made changes or provided responses. The comments and responses included the following: - The reviewers asked that the report give more attention to the difficulty of obtaining sufficient data from subjects for this study, noting that the reminder intervention seems a positive tool. However, they explained that the mobile directly observed therapy (MDOT), requiring subjects to submit videos when taking medication, raised issues of privacy, ease of use, and effectiveness. The researchers added discussion to the report about the limitations of the study’s approach and the intrusiveness of MDOT. They noted that adherence to the study protocol of submitting videos may underestimate the participants’ adherence in taking hydroxyurea (HU) therapy because participants did not always send a video when they took HU. - Reviewers suggested that reframing the research as a mixed-methods study would be beneficial. The reviewers explained that in this type of study, the qualitative findings could better enhance the quantitative results, which the sample size limits. The researchers explained that while they reached thematic saturation in the qualitative analysis, it concerned them that this would be lost when conducting quantitative subgroup analyses, and they preferred to keep the analyses separate. - Reviewers noted that different types of sickle cell disease (SCD) produce different challenges and needs. They wondered if more insights would have been gleaned if this study identified patients by type of SCD. The researchers agreed that patients with different forms of SCD might have different responses to HU but said that this study did not have the statistical power to distinguish impact in patients with different types of SCD. - Reviewers noted that the rate of video submission seemed poor, and that the researchers’ use a rate of 25 percent adherence cut point to categorize groups seemed too low. The researchers acknowledged that they did not set a priori an adequate level of adherence for video submission, since there were no previous standards for this. They explained that 25 percent was much lower that what previous research has set as a benchmark for good medication intake adherence (e.g., 80 percent). However, as they learned from qualitative interviews that participants often took medications but did not submit videos, they determined post hoc that the appropriate inflection point categorize groups was 25 percent adherence with video submission. Conflict of Interest Disclosures View the COI disclosure form. Project Details Telemedicine Other Health Services Interventions Technology Interventions ^Lakshmanan Krishnamurti was affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh when this project was funded.	https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2013/can-personalized-encouragement-help-people-sickle-cell-disease-take
BARBARA KIMMEL INTERVIEWS RANDY CONLEY, DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICES AND TRUST PRACTICE LEADER AT THE KEN BLANCHARD COMPANIES Barbara Kimmel: Randy – tell us a bit about your background, qualifications and expertise. If you have written a book, please provide the title. Randy Conley: I’ve been a part of The Ken Blanchard companies for nearly seventeen years, where I hold two roles: Director of Client Services and Trust Practice Leader. I think my dual role allows me to have a “real world” perspective when I work with clients to help them improve their abilities to build trust in their leadership practices. I have a Master’s Degree in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego, and although I haven’t written a book (yet!), I do quite a bit of writing on my blog (www.leadingwithtrust.com). On the personal side, my wife and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year and our relationship has definitely been a living laboratory on the importance of trust in relationships! Barbara Kimmel: Trust Across America’s mission is to rebuild trustworthy business behavior across the globe. How would you generally define trustworthy business behavior? Randy Conley: I would define trustworthy business behavior as “doing the right thing” regardless of the circumstances. This applies to individual leaders as well as organizations as a whole. Of course there are many different components that fall under the umbrella of “doing the right thing” and that’s the beauty of the trust alliance Trust Across America has put together. bit.ly/13TX5Kj All of us have strengths and passions in the different aspects of trustworthy business behavior and together we can make a big difference in organizations around the world. Barbara Kimmel: In your opinion, what are some of the specific components of trustworthy business behavior? Randy Conley: My specific focus is the component of interpersonal trust. I believe that trustworthy business practices start at the individual level. How do you and I build trust as leaders and members of an organization? Once you’re clear on that, then I think you can apply the same principles and practices to the other areas of your business such as organizational governance, sustainability, public relations, brand management, etc. Barbara Kimmel: We all know that the erosion of corporate trust is a big problem. What are companies doing to combat this, and is it enough? Randy Conley: Some companies, not enough, but some are starting to “get it” when it comes to understanding the value of being trustworthy organizations. They are realizing that being trustworthy is not just the right thing to do in terms of ethical business practices, but there are bottom-line economic benefits to being trustworthy. Barbara Kimmel: Is the global “trust” climate improving or worsening? What actions will turn things around? Randy Conley: When you look at the various surveys and reports it appears that the climate of trust isn’t improving. It’s been at historic lows and is continuing to stay there. Leaders have to take specific, proactive steps to build and maintain trust with their stakeholders. Trust doesn’t “just happen” over time. It takes intentional effort over an extended period of time. Barbara Kimmel: Can you provide a few examples of companies that are doing the “right” thing in your opinion? What steps are being taken by these companies that sets them apart? Randy Conley: I think Whole Foods is a good example. Their CEO, John Mackey, is a proponent of trustworthy business behavior and puts specific focus on it as part of how he runs his company. I also work with a range of companies, from those in the Fortune 500 to small businesses that understand the importance of trust and are implementing training and development programs to create cultures of trust. Barbara Kimmel: Anything else you would like to add as a closing comment? Randy Conley: The last thing that I would add is that I don’t see a more important leadership competency than that of building trust. Trust is the foundation of any successful and healthy relationship and the most successful leaders in the 21st century are going to be those that have the ability to create trustworthy relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Barbara Kimmel: Randy, it’s always a pleasure hearing your insights on building cultures of trustworthy business. Thank you for your time. Randy Conley can be reached at randy.conley@kenblanchard.com and more information about The Ken Blanchard Companies can be found at:	https://www.trustacrossamerica.com/blog/?p=745
000140685 520__ $$aIn this text, we introduce the basic concepts for the numerical modelling of partial differential equations. We consider the classical elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic linear equations, but also the diffusion, transport, and Navier-Stokes equations, as well as equations representing conservation laws, saddle-point problems and optimal control problems. Furthermore, we provide numerous physical examples which underline such equations. We then analyze numerical solution methods based on finite elements, finite differences, finite volumes, spectral methods and domain decomposition methods, and reduced basis methods. In particular, we discuss the algorithmic and computer implementation aspects and provide a number of easy-to-use programs. The text does not require any previous advanced mathematical knowledge of partial differential equations: the absolutely essential concepts are reported in a preliminary chapter. It is therefore suitable for students of bachelor and master courses in scientific disciplines, and recommendable to those researchers in the academic and extra-academic domain who want to approach this interesting branch of applied mathematics.	https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/140685/export/hm?ln=fr
Hello and thank you for taking my question. I understand that selective breeding by humans has led to an agricultural industry reliant on species with a relatively small gene pool, which may lead to increased susceptibility to infection. Are there efforts in genetic modification research to not just rectify such genetic susceptibilities, but to prevent future catastrophes by increasing the genetic variety of current crops? That is a good question and the simple answer is yes. Under genetic modification in the broad sense, this would fall within random genetic modifications caused by applying radiation. Genetic modifications using Agrobacterium and or CRISPR/Cas 9 system are targeting single or a few genes, so rather “rectifying genetic susceptibilities” due to narrow genomes then by general increase in diversity. General increase in genetic diversity is done much more effectively by crossing with exotic or wild relatives of the agriculturally important species in so called pre-breeding activities, e.g. generating material to be used in breeding.	https://gmoanswers.com/ask/hello-and-thank-you-taking-my-question-i-understand-selective-breeding-humans-has-led
Historical fictions are a genre of literature through which the writers often take an attempt to express the social conditions of a past age while blending that historical context with their own imagination. This paper aims to go on a journey, to explore the way the characters in these revolutionary stories of Dickens and Hugo and the speakers of Baudelaire’s poems are exceedingly involved with the pre-revolutionary atmosphere. As we move ahead in the journey, we will explore the way these characters and the speakers react during the French Revolution. Finally we will end our journey by entering the domain of exploring the causes and effects of the revolution that are very impactful on the characters and the speakers. For this purpose the emphasis will be placed on Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, Hugo’s Les Misérables and Baudelaire’s following poems: “The Death of the Poor,” “The Murderer’s Wine” and “The Swan”. This paper is divided into an introduction followed by three chapters, and finally conclusion. In the first chapter I will talk about the causes which led to the French revolution. In the second chapter, we will try to see the indisputable occurrence of chaos, destruction and anarchy during the revolution and in the final chapter, we will explore the both constructive and disparaging effects of the revolution. Having studied the fictional portrayal of the French Revolution, I have found that there is no specific formula behind any revolution as every human being is not the same and therefore they are not predictable. Consequently, every revolution is different according to its culture, religion and people. In my findings, things that I find in common are within the causes of the revolution, such as the uncanny difference between the class interest of different classes, poverty and social injustice. Presence of chaos, blood-sheds and havoc during the revolution is another common factor in most of the revolution. Moreover, alienation, isolation, devastation and anarchy are the fundamental effects of the revolution that I find through my research. In reference to my understanding with the complete study of Dickens, Hugo and Baudelaire, I would like to draw a conclusion that, a revolution can bring constructive changes to a society if the people of the society really intend to incorporate the necessary changes, otherwise it can also create epidemic, chaos and anarchy in that same society.	http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/xmlui/handle/10361/2955