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The p53 tumor suppressor and master regulator is central to human DNA repair and damage checkpoints. It also has key roles in many aspects of human biology. Importantly, most cancers are altered for p53 function. The Chromosome Stability Group (CSG) has discovered a greatly expanded universe of p53 targets and human diversity as well as variations in responses to specific stresses such as UV and anticancer agents. The CSG approaches have provided functional analysis of cancer-associated mutants from tumors and revealed functional interactions with the estrogen receptor master regulatory network. FUNCTIONAL P53 TARGET SEQUENCES AND AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE. The DNA binding and transactivation of the master regulator p53 is critical to tumor suppressor activity in response to cellular and environmental stresses. Across hundreds of targeted genes in the p53 stress response network there is considerable variation in p53 dependent expression leading to differences in p53-mediated biological consequences. Much of that is due to target RE sequence. We focus on the functionality of REs, i.e., the ability of REs to support transactivation by p53. The functionality is determined by many factors, the most important being sequence and level of p53. To directly assess transactivation responsiveness of human REs, we developed promoter systems in budding yeast for variable p53 expression (i.e., rheostatable). This has been used to establish the functional evolution of REs across species (discussed below) and has been summarized in our piano model that describes functional variability within a transcriptional network. We have translated many of the findings in yeast to p53 in human cells in culture and ex vivo. Recently, we established that increases in spacer length of only a few bases in a target RE greatly reduces functionality in terms of p53 transactivation. In collaboration with Gilbert Schoenfelder (Berlin), we identified a novel mechanism of p53 transcriptional control of genes through studies of a SNP located in the promoter of the Flt1 gene. This C to T SNP results in generation of a perfect p53 half site RE and is present in 5-10% of the population. Our findings provided the first report of a 1/2 site functional for transactivation in the p53 network. Endogenous p53-dependent induction of FLT-1 mRNA was only observed in cell lines containing the FLT1-T allele in response to several DNA damaging agents such as doxorubicin, UV and ionizing radiation. These results established that p53 can differentially stimulate transcription at a polymorphic variant of the FLT1 promoter and placed the VEGF system directly in the p53 stress-response transcriptional network via FLT1 in a significant number of people. We extended the findings with 1/2 sites and recently examined transactivation capacity towards a panel of 15 p53 1/2 sites in p53-null human osterosarcoma cells (SaOS2) transiently co-transfected with a WT p53 vector. Some 1/2 site REs supported p53 transactivation to levels similar to a weakly responding full site RE from the apoptosis-related AIP gene. This finding greatly expands the potential p53 master regulatory network. INTERACTION OF p53 AND ESTROGEN RECEPTOR MASTER REGULATORY NETWORKS. Further analysis using several FLT1-T promoter::reporters in human cells revealed that the 1/2 site only supported modest p53 transactivation. We identified an estrogen receptor (ERE) 1/2 site RE that was required for enhanced p53 induced transactivation at the p53 RE located 225nt downstream. Transcriptional interaction between the two 1/2 sites in cis, as well as another ERE site, was demonstrated by cooperative stimulation when both ER alpha and p53 were expressed. We have now established a new dimension to the p53 master regulatory network where p53-mediated transcription from a 1/2 site RE can be determined by ER binding at one or more cis-acting EREs in a manner dependent on ER level ER, the type of ligand and specific p53-inducing agent. Recently, we addressed the generality of synergistic transactivation by p53 and ER. The 1/2 site in the FLT1 promoter was replaced with various 1/2 sites, as well as canonical weak and strong human p53 REs.p53 transactivation was greatly enhanced by ligand-activated ER acting in cis. Furthermore, enhanced transactivation extends to several cancer-associated p53 mutants with altered function, suggesting ER-dependent mutant p53 activity for at least some REs and possibilities for reactivation of cancer mutants. We propose a general synergistic relationship between the p53 family and ER master regulators in transactivation of p53 target canonical and noncanonical REs which might be poorly responsive to p53 on their own. We are developing a functional matrix as a tool for genome wide searches for putative p53 target genes via noncanonical sites and augmenting transcriptional factors. For example, in a limited human genome search to identify motifs containing both strong p53 noncanonical RE sequences (including decamers with a CATG core) and associated ER responsive sequences (FLT1-like motifs), we identified the RAP80 gene and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that determine innate immunity. The identification of potential p53 target REs associated with the Toll-like receptors has led to exciting new findings. Among the ten human TLRs, nine had canonical and noncanonical p53 REs that may be functional. In agreement with bioinformatics, genotoxic activation of p53 or upregulation of p53 protein level is able to induce expression of many TLRs in various human cancer cell lines and ex vivo in peripheral blood cells. CANCER-ASSOCIATED P53 MUTANTS. Using yeast-based and human cell systems, we show that functional p53 mutations can lead to considerable diversity in the spectrum of responses from different REs that include 1) decrease/loss-of-function;2) subtle changes;3) altered specificity;and 4) super-transactivation all of which lead to variation in biological responses. Recently we extended our findings regarding transactivation by p53 mutants at full site REs to noncanonical p53 half sites. Most of the functional mutants (8/9) were able to function at 1/2 sites. We extended our analysis of p53 mutants in yeast based systems to a clinical study of breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment prior to surgery. Several transcriptionally active p53 missence mutants identified in breast as well as adrenal gland cancers (ACC) had subtle defects in transcription at REs that can only be revealed at low expression levels achievable in the yeast-based system. The indications so far are that nonfunctional as compared with functional missense mutants were more likely to exhibit stage III progression at diagnosis, high grade cancers and to relapse with cancers at distant sites. There also may be ethnic differences. P53 NETWORK EVOLUTION. We investigated evolution of REs in terms of responsiveness to p53. Individual REs exhibited marked differences in potential transactivation as well as widespread turnover of functional binding sites during p53 network evolution. Only 1/3 of the REs found in humans are predicted to be functionally conserved in rodents. Surprisingly, the p53 responsiveness of the DNA repair/metabolism set of genes in humans has evolved separately from mice suggesting differences in responsiveness to cancer-inducing agents between mice and humans. Of 15 p53 targeted human REs from 12 genes affecting DNA metabolic activities none are p53 responsive in rodents. Interestingly, we found functional conservation of weakly responding REs including 1/2 sites. Among validated p53 REs conserved between rodents and humans, one third were comprised of 1/2 or 3/4 sites, each with a perfect consensus 1/2 site suggesting a selective advantage in retaining weak p53 REs.

--- abstract: 'Given a sequence of resistance forms that converges with respect to the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology and satisfies a uniform volume doubling condition, we show the convergence of corresponding Brownian motions and local times. As a corollary of this, we obtain the convergence of time-changed processes. Examples of our main results include scaling limits of Liouville Brownian motion, the Bouchaud trap model and the random conductance model on trees and self-similar fractals. For the latter two models, we show that under some assumptions the limiting process is a FIN diffusion on the relevant space.' author: - 'D. A. Croydon, B. M. Hambly and [T. Kumagai]{}' date: 'July 25, 2016' title: | Time-changes of stochastic processes\ associated with resistance forms --- [**AMS 2010 Mathematics Subject Classification**]{}: Primary 60J35, 60J55; Secondary 28A80, 60J10, 60J45, 60K37. [**Keywords and phrases**]{}: Bouchaud trap model, FIN diffusion, fractal, Gromov-Hausdorff convergence, Liouville Brownian motion, local time, random conductance model, resistance form, time-change. Introduction ============ In recent years, interest in time-changes of stochastic processes according to irregular measures has arisen from various sources. Fundamental examples of such time-changed processes include the so-called *Fontes-Isopi-Newman (FIN) diffusion* [@FIN], the introduction of which was motivated by the study of the localisation and aging properties of physical spin systems, and the two-dimensional *Liouville Brownian motion* [@Beres; @GRV], which is the diffusion naturally associated with planar Liouville quantum gravity. More precisely, the FIN diffusion is the time-change of one-dimensional Brownian motion by the positive continuous additive functional with Revuz measure given by $$\label{onedfinmeasure} \nu(dx)=\sum_{i}v_i\delta_{x_i}(dx),$$ where $(v_i ,x_i)_{i\in\mathbb{N}}$ is the Poisson point process with intensity $\alpha v^{-1-\alpha}dvdx$, and $\delta_{x_i}$ is the probability measure placing all its mass at $x_i$. Similarly, the two-dimensional Liouville Brownian motion is the time-change of two-dimensional Brownian motion by the positive continuous additive functional with Revuz measure given by $$\label{2dlmeasure} \nu(dx)=e^{\kappa\gamma(x)-\frac{\kappa^2}{2}\mathbf{E}(\gamma(x)^2)}dx$$ for some $\kappa\in(0,2)$, where $\gamma$ is the massive Gaussian free field; actually the latter description is only formal since the Gaussian free field can not be defined as a function in two dimensions. In both cases, connections have been made with discrete models; the FIN diffusion is known to be the scaling limit of the one-dimensional Bouchaud trap model [@BC; @FIN] and the constant speed random walk amongst heavy-tailed random conductances in one-dimension [@CernyEJP], and the two-dimensional Liouville Brownian motion is conjectured to be the scaling limit of simple random walks on random planar maps [@GRV], see also [@DS]. The goal here is to provide a general framework for studying such processes and their discrete approximations in the case when the underlying stochastic process is strongly recurrent, in the sense that it can be described by a resistance form, as introduced by Kigami (see [@Kig] for background). In particular, this includes the case of Brownian motion on tree-like spaces and low-dimensional self-similar fractals. To present our main results, let us start by introducing the types of object under consideration (for further details, see Section \[prelimsec\]). Let $\mathbb{F}$ be the collection of quadruples of the form $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$, where: $F$ is a non-empty set; $R$ is a resistance metric on $F$ such that $(F,R)$ is complete, separable and locally compact, and moreover closed balls in $(F,R)$ are compact; $\mu$ is a locally finite Borel regular measure of full support on $(F,R)$; and $\rho$ is a marked point in $F$. Note that the resistance metric is associated with a resistance form $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{F})$ (see Definition \[resformdef\] below), and we will further assume that for elements of $\mathbb{F}$ this form is regular in the sense of Definition \[regulardef\]. In particular, this ensures the existence of a related regular Dirichlet form $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ on $L^2(F,\mu)$, which we suppose is recurrent, and also a Hunt process $((X_t)_{t\geq 0},\:P_x,\: x\in F)$ that can be checked to admit jointly measurable local times $(L_t(x))_{x\in F,t\geq 0}$. The process $X$ represents our underlying stochastic process (i.e. it plays the role that Brownian motion does in the construction of the FIN diffusion and Liouville Brownian motion), and the existence of local times means that when it comes to defining the time-change additive functional, it will be possible to do this explicitly. Towards establishing a scaling limit for discrete processes, we will assume that we have a sequence $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ in $\mathbb{F}$ that converges with respect to the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology (see Section \[ghpsec\]) to an element $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}$. Our initial aim is to show that it is then the case that the associated Hunt processes $X^n$ and their local times $L^n$ converge to $X$ and $L$, respectively. To do this we assume some regularity for the measures in the sequence – this requirement is formalised in Assumption \[a1\], which depends on the following volume growth property. In the statement of the latter, we denote by $B_n(x,r)$ the open ball in $(F_n,R_n)$ centred at $x$ and of radius $r$, and also $r_0(n):= \inf_{x,y\in F_n,\:x\neq y}R_n(x,y)$ and $r_\infty(n):=\sup_{x,y\in F_n}R_n(x,y)$. We note that this control on the volume yields an equicontinuity property for the local times. [A sequence $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ in $\mathbb{F}$ is said to satisfy *uniform volume growth with volume doubling (UVD)* if there exist constants $c_1,c_2,c_3\in(0,\infty)$ such that $$c_1v(r)\leq \mu_n\left(B_{n}(x,r)\right)\leq c_2v(r),\qquad\forall x\in F_n,\:r\in[r_0(n),r_\infty(n)+1]$$ for every $n\geq 1$, where $v:(0,\infty)\rightarrow(0,\infty)$ is non-decreasing function with $v(2r)\leq c_3v(r)$ for every $r\in\mathbb{R}_+$.]{} [\[a1\] The sequence $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ in $\mathbb{F}$ satisfies UVD, and also $$\label{ghpconv} \left(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n\right)\rightarrow \left(F,R,\mu,\rho\right),$$ in the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology, where $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}$.]{} It is now possible to state our first main result. We write $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$ for the space of cadlag processes on $M$, equipped with the usual Skorohod $J_1$ topology. The definition of equicontinuity of the local times $L^n$, $n\geq 1$, should be interpreted as the conclusion of Lemma \[ltcont\]. [\[main1\] Suppose Assumption \[a1\] holds. It is then possible to isometrically embed $(F_n,R_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R)$ into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ in such a way that if $X^n$ is started from $\rho_n$, $X$ is started from $\rho$, then $$\left(X^n_t\right)_{t\geq 0}\rightarrow \left(X_t\right)_{t\geq 0}$$ in distribution in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$. Moreover, the local times of $L^n$ are equicontinuous, and if the finite collections $(x_i^n)_{i=1}^k$ in $F_n$, $n\geq 1$, are such that $d_M(x_i^n,x_i)\rightarrow 0$ for some $(x_i)_{i=1}^k$ in $F$, then it simultaneously holds that $$\label{ltconv1} \left(L^n_t\left(x_i^n\right)\right)_{i=1,\dots, k, t\geq 0}\rightarrow \left(L_t\left(x_i\right)\right)_{i=1,\dots, k, t\geq 0},$$ in distribution in $C(\mathbb{R}_+,\mathbb{R}^k)$.]{} From the above result, we further deduce the convergence of time-changed processes. The following assumption adds the time-change measure to the framework. [\[a2\] Assumption \[a1\] holds with (\[ghpconv\]) replaced by $$\left(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\nu_n,\rho_n\right)\rightarrow \left(F,R,\mu,\nu,\rho\right),$$ in the (extended) Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology (see Section \[ghpsec\]), where $\nu_n$ is a locally finite Borel regular measure on $F_n$, and $\nu$ is a locally finite Borel regular measure on $(F,R)$ with $\nu(F)>0$.]{} The time-change additive functional that we consider is the following: $$\label{atdef} A_t:=\int_FL_t(x)\nu(dx).$$ In particular, let $\tau(t):=\inf\{s>0:\:A_s>t\}$ be the right-continuous inverse of $A$, and define a process $X^\nu$ by setting $$\label{xnudef} X^\nu_{t}:=X_{\tau(t)}.$$ As described in Section \[rfsec\], this is the trace of $X$ on the support of $\nu$ (with respect to the measure $\nu$), and its Dirichlet form is given by the corresponding Dirichlet form trace. We define $A^n$, $\tau^n$, and $X^{n,\nu_n}$ similarly. The space $L^1_{\rm loc}(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$ is the space of cadlag functions $\mathbb{R}_+\rightarrow M$ such that $\int_0^Td_M(\rho,f(t))dt<\infty$ for all $T\geq0$, equipped with the topology induced by supposing $f_n\rightarrow f$ if and only if $\int_0^Td_M(f_n(t),f(t))dt\rightarrow 0$ for any $T\geq 0$. [\[maincor\] (a) Suppose Assumption \[a2\] holds, and that $\nu$ has full support. Then it is possible to isometrically embed $(F_n,R_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R)$ into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ in such a way that $$\label{xnnu} X^{n,\nu_n}\rightarrow X^\nu$$ in distribution in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$, where we assume that $X^n$ is started from $\rho_n$, and $X$ is started from $\rho$.\ (b) Suppose Assumption \[a2\] holds, and that $X$ is continuous. Then holds in distribution in $L^1_{\rm loc}(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$.]{} The above results are proved in Section \[copsec\], following the introduction of preliminary material in Section \[prelimsec\]. In the remainder of the article, we demonstrate the application of Theorem \[main1\] and Corollary \[maincor\] to a number of natural examples. Firstly, we investigate the Liouville Brownian motion associated with a resistance form, showing in Proposition \[lbmconv\] that Assumption \[a1\] implies the convergence of the corresponding Liouville Brownian motions. This allows us to deduce the convergence of Liouville Brownian motions on a variety of trees and fractals, which we discuss in Example \[lbmexamples\]. We note that Liouville Brownian motion associated with a resistance form is a toy model and we discuss it merely as a simple example of our methods. The more interesting and challenging problem of analysing this process in two dimensions is not possible within our framework. Next, in Section \[bouchsec\], we proceed similarly for the Bouchaud trap model, describing the limiting process as the FIN process associated with a resistance form in Proposition \[btmresult\], and giving an application in Example \[SG55ex\]. Related to this, in Section \[rcmsec\], we study the heavy-tailed random conductance model on trees and a class of self-similar fractals, discussing a FIN limit for the so-called constant speed random walk in Propositions \[rcmtreeresult\], \[ssfrcmresult\] and Examples \[exa6-5\], \[exa6-18\]. Heat kernel estimates for the limiting FIN processes will be presented in a forthcoming paper [@CroHamKum]. Of the applications outlined in the previous paragraph, one that is particularly illustrative of the contribution of this article is the random conductance model on the (pre-)Sierpiński gasket graphs. More precisely, the random conductance model on a locally finite, connected graph $G=(V,E)$ is obtained by first randomly selecting edge-indexed conductances $(\omega_e)_{e\in E}$, and then, conditional on these, defining a continuous time Markov chain that jumps along edges with probabilities proportional to the conductances. For the latter process, there are two time scales commonly considered in the literature: firstly, for the *variable speed random walk (VSRW)*, the jump rate along edge $e$ is given by $\omega_e$, so that the holding time at a vertex $x$ has mean $(\sum_{e:\:x\in e}\omega_e)^{-1}$; secondly, for the *constant speed random walk (CSRW)*, holding times are assumed to have unit mean. From this description, it is clear that the CSRW is a time-change of the VSRW according to the measure placing mass $\sum_{e:\:x\in e}\omega_e$ on vertex $x$. Here, we will only ever consider conductances that are uniformly bounded below, but this still gives a rich enough model for there to exist a difference in the trapping behaviour experienced by the VSRW and CSRW. Indeed, in the one-dimensional case (i.e. when $G$ is $\mathbb{Z}$ equipped with edges between nearest neighbours) when conductances are i.i.d., it is easily checked that the VSRW has as its scaling limit Brownian motion (by adapting the argument of [@CernyEJP Appendix A] to the VSRW, for example); although the VSRW will cross edges of large conductance many times before escaping, it does so quickly, so that homogenisation still occurs. In the case of random conductances also uniformly bounded from above, the analogous result was proved in [@kk] for the VSRW on the fractal graphs shown in Figure \[sg\], with limit being Brownian motion on the Sierpiński gasket. In Section \[rcmfractalsec\], we extend this result significantly to show the same is true whenever the conductance distribution has at most polynomial decay at infinity. Specifically, writing $X^{n,\omega}$ for the VSRW on the $n$th level graph and $X$ for Brownian motion on the Sierpiński gasket, we prove that, under the annealed law (averaging over both process and environment), $$\label{sgvsrw} \left(X^{n,\omega}_{5^nt}\right)_{t\geq 0}\rightarrow \left(X_t\right)_{t\geq0};$$ the time scaling here is the same as for the VSRW on the unweighted graph. For the CSRW, on the other hand, the many crossings of edges of large conductance lead to more significant trapping, which remains in the limit. In particular, if the conductance distribution satisfies $\mathbf{P}(\omega_e>u)\sim u^{-\alpha}$ for some $\alpha\in(0,1)$, then, as noted above, in the one-dimensional case the CSRW has a FIN diffusion limit [@CernyEJP]. Applying our time-change results, we are able to show that the corresponding result holds for the Sierpiński gasket graphs. Namely, writing $X^{n,\omega,\nu}$ for the CSRW on the $n$th level graph, we establish that there exists a constant $c$ such that, again under the annealed law, $$\label{sgcsrw} \left(X^{n,\omega,\nu}_{c3^{n/\alpha}(5/3)^nt}\right)_{t\geq 0}\rightarrow\left(X^{\nu}_t\right)_{t\geq 0},$$ where the limit is now $\alpha$-FIN diffusion on the Sierpiński gasket, which is time-change of the Brownian motion on the limiting gasket by a Poisson random measure defined similarly to (\[onedfinmeasure\]), but with Lebesgue measure in the intensity replaced by the appropriate Hausdorff measure. (Note that, in the case that $\mathbf{E}\omega_e<\infty$, our techniques also yield convergence of CSRW to the Brownian motion, see Remark \[finitemoments\].) Full details for the preceding discussion are provided in Section \[rcmsec\]. At the start of the latter section, we also give an expanded heuristic explanation for the appearance of the FIN diffusion as a limit of the CSRW amongst heavy-tailed conductances. We remark that the specific conclusion of this interpretation is dependent on the point recurrence of the processes involved; by contrast, for the random conductance model on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ for $d\geq 2$, the same trapping behaviour gives rise in the limit to the so-called *fractional kinetics process*, for which the time-change and spatial motion are uncorrelated [@BarCern; @CernyEJP]. Finally, we note there are many other applications to which the notion of time-change is relevant, so that the techniques of this article might be useful. Although we do not consider it here, one such example is the *diffusion on branching Brownian motion*, as recently constructed in [@AndHar]. Moreover, whilst the examples of time-changes described above are based on measures that are constant in time, our main results will also be convenient for describing time-changes based on space-time measures, i.e. via additive functionals of the form $A_t:=\int_{F\times\mathbb{R}_+}\mathbf{1}_{\{s\leq L_t(x)\}}\nu(dxds)$. In particular, Theorem \[main1\] would be well-suited to extending the study of the scaling limits of randomly trapped random walks, as introduced in [@BCCR], from the one-dimensional setting to trees and fractals. Preliminaries {#prelimsec} ============= Resistance forms and associated processes {#rfsec} ----------------------------------------- In this section, we define precisely the objects of study and outline some of their relevant properties; primarily this involves a recap of results from [@FOT] and [@Kig]. We start by recalling the definition of a resistance form and its associated resistance metric. \[resformdef\] Let $F$ be a non-empty set. A pair $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{F})$ is called a *resistance form* on $F$ if it satisfies the following five conditions. RF1 : $\mathcal{F}$ is a linear subspace of the collection of functions $\{f:F\rightarrow\mathbb{R}\}$ containing constants, and $\mathcal{E}$ is a non-negative symmetric quadratic form on $\mathcal{F}$ such that $\mathcal{E}(f,f)=0$ if and only if $f$ is constant on $F$. RF2 : Let $\sim$ be the equivalence relation on $\mathcal{F}$ defined by saying $f\sim g$ if and only if $f-g$ is constant on $F$. Then $(\mathcal{F}/\sim,\mathcal{E})$ is a Hilbert space. RF3 : If $x\neq y$, then there exists a $f\in \mathcal{F}$ such that $f(x)\neq f(y)$. RF4 : For any $x,y\in F$, $$\label{resdef} R(x,y):=\sup\left\{\frac{\left|f(x)-f(y)\right|^2}{\mathcal{E}(f,f)}:\:f\in\mathcal{F},\:\mathcal{E}(f,f)>0\right\}<\infty.$$ RF5 : If $\bar{f}:=(f \wedge 1)\vee 0$, then $\bar{f}\in\mathcal{F}$ and $\mathcal{E}(\bar{f},\bar{f})\leq\mathcal{E}({f},{f})$ for any $f\in\mathcal{F}$. We note that can be rewritten as $$R(x,y)=\left(\inf\left\{\mathcal{E}(f,f):\: f\in \mathcal{F},\: f(x)=1,\: f(y)=0\right\}\right)^{-1},$$ which is the effective resistance between $x$ and $y$. The function $R:F\times F\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ is actually a metric on $F$ (see [@Kig Proposition 3.3]); we call this the *resistance metric* associated with $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{F})$. Henceforth, we will assume that we have a non-empty set $F$ equipped with a resistance form $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{F})$ such that $(F,R)$ is complete, separable and locally compact. Defining the open ball centred at $x$ and of radius $r$ with respect to the resistance metric by $B_R(x,r):=\left\{y\in F:\:R(x,y)<r\right\}$, and denoting its closure by $\bar{B}_R(x,r)$, we will also assume that $\bar{B}_R(x,r)$ is compact for any $x\in F$ and $r>0$. Furthermore, we will restrict our attention to resistance forms that are regular, as per the following definition. [\[regulardef\] Let $C_0(F)$ be the collection of compactly supported, continuous (with respect to $R$) functions on $F$, and $\|\cdot\|_F$ be the supremum norm for functions on $F$. A resistance form $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{F})$ on $F$ is called *regular* if and only if $\mathcal{F}\cap C_0(F)$ is dense in $C_0(F)$ with respect to $\|\cdot\|_F$.]{} We next introduce related Dirichlet forms and stochastic processes. First, suppose $\mu$ is a Borel regular measure on $(F,R)$ such that $0<\mu(B_R(x,r))<\infty$ for all $x\in F$ and $r>0$. Moreover, write $\mathcal{D}$ to be the closure of $\mathcal{F}\cap C_0(F)$ with respect to the inner product $\mathcal{E}_1$ on $\mathcal{F}\cap L^2(F,\mu)$ given by $$\label{e1def} \mathcal{E}_1(f,g):=\mathcal{E}(f,g)+\int_Ffgd\mu.$$ Under the assumption that $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{F})$ is regular, we then have the following. See [@FOT] for the definition of a regular Dirichlet form. [The quadratic form $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ is a regular Dirichlet form on $L^2(F,\mu)$.]{} Given a regular Dirichlet form, standard theory then gives us the existence of an associated Hunt process $((X_t)_{t\geq 0},\:P_x,\: x\in F)$ (e.g. [@FOT Theorem 7.2.1]). Note that such a process is, in general, only specified uniquely for starting points outside a set of zero capacity. However, in this setting every point has strictly positive capacity (see [@Kig Theorem 9.9]), and so the process is defined uniquely everywhere. Moreover, since we are assuming closed balls are compact, we have from [@Kig Theorem 10.4] that $X$ admits a jointly continuous transition density $(p_t(x,y))_{x,y\in F,t>0}$. We note that the Dirichlet form for Brownian motion on ${\mathbb R}^d$ is a resistance form only when $d=1$. However, resistance forms are a rich class that contains various Dirichlet forms for diffusions on fractals, see [@kig1]. Key to this study will be the existence of local times for $X$. As a first step to introducing these, note that the strict positivity of the capacity of points remarked upon above implies that all points are regular (see [@FukuChen Theorems 1.3.14 and 3.1.10, and Lemma A.2.18], for example). Thus $X$ admits local times everywhere (see [@BG (V.3.13)]). In the following lemma, by studying the potential density of $X$, we check that these local times can be defined in a jointly measurable way and satisfy an occupation density formula. [(a) Define the (one-)potential density $(u(x,y))_{x,y\in F}$ of $X$ by setting $$\label{udef} u(x,y)=\int_0^\infty e^{-t} p_t(x,y)dt.$$ It then holds that $u(x,y)<\infty$ for all $x,y\in F$. Furthermore, $$\label{hitlap} E_x\left(e^{-\tau_y}\right)=\frac{u(x,y)}{u(y,y)},$$ where $\tau_y:=\inf\{t>0:\:X_t=y\}$ is the hitting time of $y$ by $X$, and also $$\label{ufluc} |u(x,y)-u(x,z)|^2\leq u(x,x)R(y,z)$$ for all $x,y,z\in F$.\ (b) The process $X$ admits jointly measurable local times $(L_t(x))_{x\in F,t\geq 0}$ that satisfy, $P_x$-a.s. for any $x$, $$\label{occdens} \int_0^t \mathbf{1}_A(X_s)ds = \int_AL_t(y)\mu(dy)$$ for all measurable subsets $A\subseteq F$ and $t\geq 0$.]{} To prove part (a), we essentially follow the proof of [@Barlow Theorem 7.20], and then apply results from [@MR]. First, observe that the definition of the resistance metric at (\[resdef\]) readily implies $$\label{rfluc} \left|f(x)-f(y)\right|^2\leq \mathcal{E}(f,f)R(x,y)$$ for all $f\in\mathcal{F}$, $x,y\in F$. Hence $$f(x)^2\leq 2f(y)^2+2\left|f(x)-f(y)\right|^2\leq 2f(y)^2+2\mathcal{E}(f,f)R(x,y).$$ Using the local compactness of $(F,R)$, for any point $x\in F$, we can integrate the above over a compact neighbourhood of $x$ to obtain $f(x)^2\leq c\mathcal{E}_1(f,f)$ for any $f\in\mathcal{D}$, where $\mathcal{E}_1$ was defined at . We thus have that $f\mapsto f(x)$ is a bounded linear operator on the Hilbert space $(\mathcal{D},\mathcal{E}_1^{1/2})$, and so by the Riesz representation theorem there exists a function $u(x,\cdot)\in\mathcal{D}$ such that $$\label{repro} \mathcal{E}_1(u(x,\cdot),f)=f(x)$$ for all $f\in\mathcal{D}$. From , we immediately obtain that $u(x,x)=\mathcal{E}_1(u(x,\cdot),u(x,\cdot))<\infty$. In combination with , this implies and the finiteness of $u(x,y)$ everywhere. Furthermore, if we define an operator on $L^2(F,\mu)$ by setting $Uf(x):=\int_Fu(x,y)f(y)\mu(dy)$, then by arguing exactly as in the proof of [@Barlow Theorem 7.20], one can check $\mathcal{E}_1(Uf,g)=\int_Ffg d\mu$ for every $f\in C_0(F)$ and $g\in \mathcal{D}$. It follows that $U$ agrees with the resolvent of $X$ on $C_0(F)$, i.e. $Uf(x):=E_x\int_0^\infty e^{-t}f(X_t)dt$ for all $f\in C_0(F)$, and extending the latter statement to all $f\in L^2(F,\mu)$ is elementary. By the continuity of the transition density in this setting, this implies that the function $u$ can alternatively be defined via . To complete the proof of part (a), we note that is proved in [@MR Theorem 3.6.5]. From part (a), we know that $E_x(e^{-\tau_y})$ is a jointly continuous function of $x,y\in F$. Thus, because we also know that all points of $F$ are regular for $X$, we can immediately apply the first part of [@GK Theorem 1] to obtain that $X$ admits jointly measurable local times $(L_t(x))_{x\in F,t\geq 0}$. Furthermore, since $X$ has a transition density, it holds that $\mu$ is a reference measure for $X$, i.e. $\mu(A)=0$ if and only if $U\mathbf{1}_A(x)=\int_0^\infty e^{-t}P_x(X_t\in A)dt=0$ for all $x\in F$ (see [@BG Definition V.1.1]). Thus we can apply the second part of [@GK Theorem 1] to confirm (\[occdens\]) holds. We now describe background on time-changes of the Hunt process $X$ from [@FOT Section 6.2]. First suppose $\nu$ is an arbitrary positive Radon measure on $(F,R)$. As at (\[atdef\]), define a continuous additive functional $(A_t)_{t\geq 0}$ by setting $A_t:=\int_FL_t(x)\nu(dx)$, and let $(\tau(t))_{t\geq 0}$ be its right-continuous inverse, i.e. $\tau(t):=\inf\left\{s>0:\:A_s>t\right\}$. If $G\subseteq F$ is the closed support of $\nu$, then $((\tilde{X})_{t\geq 0},\:P_x,\: x\in G)$ is also a strong Markov process, where $\tilde{X}_t:=X_{\tau(t)}$; this is the *trace* of $X$ on $G$ (with respect to $\nu$). We also define a trace of the Dirichlet form $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ on $G$, which we will denote by $(\tilde{\mathcal{E}},\tilde{\mathcal{D}})$, by setting $$\label{formtrace} \tilde{\mathcal{E}}(g,g):=\inf\left\{\mathcal{E}(f,f):\:f\in\mathcal{D}_e,\:f|_{G}=g\right\},$$ $$\label{domaintrace} \tilde{\mathcal{D}}:=\left\{g\in L^2(G,\nu):\:\tilde{\mathcal{E}}(g,g)<\infty\right\},$$ where $\mathcal{D}_e$ is the extended Dirichlet space associated with $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$, i.e. the family of $\mu$-measurable functions $f$ on $F$ such that $|f|<\infty$, $\mu$-a.e. and there exists an $\mathcal{E}$-Cauchy sequence $(f_n)_{n\geq 0}$ in $\mathcal{D}$ such that $f_n(x)\rightarrow f(x)$, $\mu$-a.e. Connecting these two notions is the following result. [\[trace\] It holds that $(\tilde{\mathcal{E}},\tilde{\mathcal{D}})$ is a regular Dirichlet form on $L^2(G,\nu)$, and the associated Hunt process is $\tilde{X}$.]{} Finally, we note a result that, in the recurrent case, characterises the trace of our Dirichlet form on a compact set. Note that the Dirichlet form $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ is said to be recurrent if and only if $1\in \mathcal{D}_e$ and $\mathcal{E}(1,1)=0$. [\[goodtrace\] If $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ is recurrent and $G$ is compact, then $(\tilde{\mathcal{E}},\tilde{\mathcal{D}})$ is a regular resistance form on $G$, with associated resistance metric $R|_{G\times G}$.]{} Since $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ is recurrent, we have that $\mathcal{D}_e=\mathcal{F}$ (see [@KL Proposition 2.13]). Thus $$\label{etrace} \tilde{\mathcal{E}}(g,g)=\inf\left\{\mathcal{E}(f,f):\:f\in\mathcal{F},\:f|_{G}=g\right\},$$ and also $\tilde{\mathcal{D}}=\{f|_G:\:f\in\mathcal{F}\}\cap L^2(G,\nu)$. By (\[rfluc\]), we moreover have that $\{f|_G:\:f\in\mathcal{F}\}\subseteq C(G)\subseteq L^2(G,\nu)$, and so $$\label{dtrace} \tilde{\mathcal{D}}=\left\{f|_G:\:f\in\mathcal{F}\right\}.$$ Finally, we observe that and give that $(\tilde{\mathcal{E}},\tilde{\mathcal{D}})$ is the trace of the resistance form $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{F})$ on $G$ in the sense of [@Kig Definition 8.3]. Since $G$ is closed, by [@Kig Theorem 8.4], this implies $(\tilde{\mathcal{E}},\tilde{\mathcal{D}})$ is also a regular resistance form on this set, with associated resistance metric $R|_{G\times G}$. Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology {#ghpsec} ------------------------------- In this section we introduce the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology and an extension that we require. For more details regarding such metrics, see [@ADH; @ALWtop]. We start by defining a topology on $\mathbb{F}_c$, which is the subset of $\mathbb{F}$ containing elements $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ such that $(F,R)$ is compact. In particular, for two elements $(F,R,\mu,\rho),(F',R',\mu',\rho')\in\mathbb{F}_c$, we set $\Delta_c((F,R,\mu,\rho),(F',R',\mu',\rho'))$ to be equal to $$\begin{aligned} \label{ghpmetric} \inf_{M,\psi,\psi'}\left\{d_M^H\left(\psi(F),\psi'(F)\right)+d_M^P\left(\mu\circ\psi^{-1},\mu'\circ\psi'^{-1}\right)+d_M(\rho,\rho')\right\},\end{aligned}$$ where the infimum is taken over all metric spaces $M=(M,d_M)$ and isometric embeddings $\psi:(F,R)\rightarrow (M,d_M)$, $\psi':(F',R')\rightarrow (M,d_M)$, and we define $d_M^H$ to be the Hausdorff distance between compact subsets of $M$, and $d_M^P$ to be the Prohorov distance between finite Borel measures on $M$. It is known that $\Delta_c$ defines a metric on the equivalence classes of $\mathbb{F}_c$ (where we say two elements of $\mathbb{F}_c$ are equivalent if there is a measure and root preserving isometry between them), see [@ADH Theorem 2.5]. To extend $\Delta_c$ to a metric on the equivalence classes of $\mathbb{F}$, we consider bounded restrictions of elements of $\mathbb{F}$. More precisely, for $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in \mathbb{F}$, define $(F^{(r)},R^{(r)},\mu^{(r)},\rho^{(r)})$ by setting: $F^{(r)}$ to be the closed ball in $(F,R)$ of radius $r$ centred at $\rho$, i.e. $\bar{B}_R(\rho,r)$; $R^{(r)}$ and $\mu^{(r)}$ to be the restriction of $R$ and $\mu$ respectively to $F^{(r)}$, and $\rho^{(r)}$ to be equal to $\rho$. By assumption, $(F^{(r)},R^{(r)})$ is compact, and so to check that $(F^{(r)},R^{(r)},\mu^{(r)},\rho^{(r)})\in\mathbb{F}_c$ it will suffice to note that: $R^{(r)}$ is a resistance metric on $F^{(r)}$, the associated resistance form $(\mathcal{E}^{(r)},\mathcal{F}^{(r)})$ is regular, and $(\mathcal{E}^{(r)},\mathcal{F}^{(r)})$ is moreover a recurrent regular Dirichlet form. (These claims follow from Theorem \[trace\] and Lemma \[goodtrace\].) As in [@ADH Lemma 2.8], we can check the regularity of the restriction operation with respect to the metric $\Delta_c$ to show that, for any two elements of the space $\mathbb{F}$, the map $r\mapsto \Delta_c((F^{(r)},R^{(r)},\mu^{(r)},\rho^{(r)}),(F'^{(r)},R'^{(r)},\mu'^{(r)},\rho'^{(r)}))$ is cadlag. (NB. In [@ADH Lemma 2.8], the metric spaces are assumed to be length spaces, but it is not difficult to remove this assumption.) This allows us to define a function $\Delta$ on $\mathbb{F}^2$ by setting $$\begin{aligned} \lefteqn{\Delta\left((F,R,\mu,\rho),(F',R',\mu',\rho')\right)}\nonumber\\ &:=&\int_0^\infty e^{-r}\left(1\wedge\Delta_c((F^{(r)},R^{(r)},\mu^{(r)},\rho^{(r)}),(F'^{(r)},R'^{(r)},\mu'^{(r)},\rho'^{(r)})) \right) dr,\label{ghvdef}\end{aligned}$$ and one can check that this is a metric on (the equivalence classes of) $\mathbb{F}$, cf. [@ADH Theorem 2.9], and also [@ALWtop Proof of Proposition 5.12]. The associated topology is the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology, as defined at [@ALWtop Definition 5.8]. From [@ALWtop Proposition 5.9], we have the following important consequence of convergence in this topology. [\[embeddings\] Suppose $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ are elements of $\mathbb{F}$ such that $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)\rightarrow(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ in the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology. It is then possible to embed $(F_n,R_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R)$ isometrically into the same (complete, separable, locally compact) metric space $(M,d_M)$ in such a way that, for Lebesgue-almost-every $r\geq 0$, $$\label{embedconv} d_M^H\left(F_n^{(r)},F^{(r)}\right)\rightarrow 0,\qquad d_M^P\left(\mu_n^{(r)},\mu^{(r)}\right)\rightarrow 0,\qquad d_M(\rho_n^{(r)},\rho^{(r)})\rightarrow 0,$$ where we have identified the various objects with their embeddings.]{} We next note that the measure bounds of UVD transfer to limits under the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology. The proof, which is an elementary consequence of the previous result, is omitted. [Suppose $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}$ is the limit with respect to the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology of a sequence $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ in $\mathbb{F}$ that satisfies UVD. It is then the case that $$\label{uvdforlimit} c_1v(r)\leq \mu\left(B_{R}(x,r)\right)\leq c_2v(r),\qquad\forall x\in F,\:r\in[r_0,r_\infty+1],$$ where $r_0:= \inf_{x,y\in F,\:x\neq y}R(x,y)$ and $r_\infty:=\sup_{x,y\in F}R(x,y)$.]{} Finally, we define an extended version of the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology for elements of the form $(F,R,\mu,\nu,\rho)$, where $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}$, and $\nu$ is another locally finite Borel regular measure on $(F,R)$ (not necessarily of full support). We do this in the obvious way: for elements $(F,R,\mu,\nu,\rho)$ and $(F',R',\mu',\nu',\rho')$ such that $(F,R)$ and $(F',R')$ are compact, we include the term $d_M^P\left(\nu\circ\psi^{-1},\nu'\circ\psi'^{-1}\right)$ in the definition of $\Delta_c$ at (\[ghpmetric\]); in the general case, we use this version of $\Delta_c$ to define $\Delta((F,R,\mu,\nu,\rho),(F',R',\mu',\nu',\rho'))$ as at (\[ghvdef\]); the induced topology is then the extended Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology. It is straightforward to check that the natural adaptation of Lemma \[embeddings\] that includes the convergence $d_M^P(\nu_n^{(r)},\nu^{(r)})$ also holds, where $\nu_n^{(r)}$, $\nu^{(r)}$ is the restriction of $\nu_n$, $\nu$ to $F_n^{(r)}$, $F^{(r)}$, respectively. Local time continuity --------------------- Key to our arguments is the following equicontinuity result for the local times of a sequence satisfying the UVD property. Since the proof is similar to the discrete time version proved for graphs in [@CroyLT Theorem 1.2], we only provide a sketch. [\[ltcont\] If $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is a sequence in $\mathbb{F}_c$ satisfying $\sup_nr_\infty(n)<\infty$ and also UVD, then, for each $\varepsilon>0$ and $T>0$, $$\lim_{\delta\rightarrow0}\sup_{n\geq 1}\sup_{x\in F_n}{P}^{n}_x\left(\sup_{\substack{y,z\in F_n:\\R_n(y,z)\leq\delta}}\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}{\left|L^{n}_{t}(y)-L_t^{n}(z)\right|}\geq \varepsilon\right)=0.$$]{} We start by checking the commute time identity for a resistance form. In particular, if $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}_c$, then we claim that $$\label{commute} E_x\left(\tau_y\right)+E_y\left(\tau_x\right)=R(x,y)\mu(F)\qquad\forall x,y\in F,$$ where $\tau_z$ is the hitting time of $z$ by $X$. Indeed, fix $x,y\in F$. As in the proof of [@Kum Proposition 4.2], there exists a function $g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot)\in \mathcal{F}$ such that: $\mathcal{E}(g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot),f)=f(y)$ for every $f\in\mathcal{F}$ such that $f(x)=0$; $g_{\{x\}}(y,y)=\mathcal{E}(g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot),g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot))=R(x,y)$; and also $g_{\{x\}}(y,x)=0$. By symmetry, we deduce that $$\mathcal{E}\left(g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot)+g_{\{y\}}(x,\cdot),f\right)=\mathcal{E}\left(g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot),f-f(x)\right)+\mathcal{E}\left(g_{\{y\}}(x,\cdot),f-f(y)\right)=0$$ for every $f\in \mathcal{F}$. It follows that $g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot)+g_{\{y\}}(x,\cdot)$ is constant, and so satisfies $$g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot)+g_{\{y\}}(x,\cdot)\equiv g_{\{x\}}(y,x)+g_{\{y\}}(x,x)=R(x,y).$$ Moreover, as at [@Kum (4.7)], we have that $g_{\{x\}}(y,\cdot)$ is the occupation density for $X$, started at $y$ and killed at $x$, and so $E_y(\tau_x)=\int_Fg_{\{x\}}(y,z)\mu(dz)$. Combining the latter two results, the identity at (\[commute\]) follows. We now suppose $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is a sequence in $\mathbb{F}_c$ as in the statement of the lemma, and consider the associated local time processes. From [@BG (V.3.28)], we have that $$\label{tailforlt} {P}^{n}_x\left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}{\left|L^{n}_{t}(y)-L_t^{n}(z)\right|}\geq \varepsilon\right)\leq 2e^Te^{-\varepsilon/2\delta_n(x,y)},$$ where $$\delta_n(x,y)^2:=1-E_x^n\left(e^{-\tau^n_y}\right)E_y^n\left(e^{-\tau^n_y}\right)\leq E_x^n\left(\tau^n_y\right)+E_y^n\left(\tau^n_x\right)=R_n(x,y)\mu_n(F_n),$$ and the final equality is a consequence of (\[commute\]). Hence we obtain that $$\sup_{x,y,z\in F_n}{P}^{n}_x\left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}\frac{\left|L^{n}_{t}(y)-L_t^{n}(z)\right|}{\sqrt{R_n(y,z)\mu_n(F_n)}}\geq \varepsilon\right)\leq 2e^Te^{-\varepsilon/2}.$$ Thus if we set $$\Gamma_n:=\int_{F_n}\int_{F_n} \exp\Big(\frac{\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}\left|L^{n}_{t}(y)-L_t^{n}(z)\right|}{4\sqrt{R_n(y,z)\mu_n(F_n)}}\Big)\mu_n(dy)\mu_n(dz),$$ then it follows that $$\begin{aligned} \label{Gamest} \lim_{\lambda\rightarrow\infty}\sup_{n\geq 1}\sup_{x\in F_n}P_x^n\left(\Gamma_n> \lambda \mu_n(F_n)^2\right)=0.\end{aligned}$$ The result now follows from a standard argument involving Garsia’s lemma, as originally proved in [@Garsia], see also [@GRR]; applications to local times appear in [@BP; @CroyLT], for example. We simply highlight the differences. Choose $y,z\in F_n$ and $t\in[0,T]$. Then let $(K_i)_{i=0}^\infty$ be a sequence of balls $K_i=B_n(y,2^{1-2i}R_n(y,z))$, so that $K_0$ contains both $y$ and $z$, and $\cap_{i\geq 0}K_i=\{y\}$. Write $f_{K_i}:=\mu_n(K_i)^{-1}\int_{K_i}L^n_t(w)\mu_n(dw)$, and then we deduce that $$\begin{aligned} \lefteqn{e^{|f_{K_i}-f_{K_{i-1}}|/16\sqrt{2^{-2i}R_n(y,z)\mu_n(F_n)}}}\\ &\leq& \frac{1}{\mu_n(K_i)\mu_n(K_{i-1})}\int_{K_i} \int_{K_{i-1}} e^{|L^n_t(w)-L^n_t(w')|/4\sqrt{R_n(w,w')\mu_n(F_n)}}\mu_n(dw)\mu_n(dw')\\ &\leq & cv(2^{1-2i}R_n(y,z))^{-2}\Gamma_n,\end{aligned}$$ where the first inequality is an application of Jensen’s inequality, and the second is obtained from UVD and the definition of $\Gamma_n$. Summing over $i$ and repeating for a sequence decreasing to $z$ yields $$\begin{aligned} \label{lteee} \left|L^{n}_{t}(y)-L_t^{n}(z)\right|\leq 16\sqrt{R_n(y,z)\mu_n(F_n)}\sum_{i=0}^\infty2^{-i}\log\left(\frac{c\Gamma_n}{v(2^{1-2i}R_n(y,z))^{2}}\right).\end{aligned}$$ Now, suppose $\Gamma_n\leq \lambda \mu_n(F_n)^2$. The UVD property then gives $\Gamma_n\leq c\lambda v(r_\infty(n))$. Together with the doubling property of $v$ and the assumption that $M=\sup_nr_\infty(n)<\infty$ we thus find that $$\begin{aligned} {\left|L^{n}_{t}(y)-L_t^{n}(z)\right|} &\leq & 16\sqrt{R_n(y,z)v(r_\infty(n))}\sum_{i=0}^\infty2^{-i}\log\left(\frac{c\lambda v(r_\infty(n))^2}{v(2^{1-2i}R_n(y,z))^{2}}\right)\nonumber\\ &\leq & c\sqrt{R_n(y,z)v(M)}\max\{1,\log \lambda^{1/c}M, \log R_n(y,z)^{-1}\},\nonumber\end{aligned}$$ uniformly over $y,z\in F_n$ and $t\in[0,T]$. Combining this estimate with (\[Gamest\]) completes the proof. Note that we also have continuity of the limiting local times. [\[ltcontlimit\] If $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}_c$ satisfies (\[uvdforlimit\]), then the local times $(L_t(x))_{x\in F,t\geq 0}$ of the associated process are continuous in $x$, uniformly over compact intervals of $t$, $P_y$-a.s. for any $y\in F$.]{} Arguing as for (\[Gamest\]), we have that $$\Gamma:=\int_{F}\int_{F}e^{\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}\left|L_{t}(y)-L_t(z)\right|/4\sqrt{R(y,z)\mu(F)}}\mu(dy)\mu(dz)$$ is a finite random variable, $P_y$-a.s., for any $T<\infty$. Hence, by applying the estimate (\[lteee\]), we obtain the result. Convergence of processes {#copsec} ======================== Compact case {#compsec} ------------ In this section, we prove the first part of Theorem \[main1\] in the case that the metric spaces $(F_n,R_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R)$ are all compact (see Proposition \[compactcase\] below). Throughout, we assume that Assumption \[a1\] holds. Note that, by Lemma \[embeddings\], under this Gromov-Hausdorff-vague convergence assumption, it is possible to suppose that $(F_n,R_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R)$ are isometrically embedded into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ such that $$\label{hconv} d_M^H\left(F_n,F\right)\rightarrow 0,\qquad d_M^P\left(\mu_n,\mu\right)\rightarrow 0,\qquad d_M(\rho_n,\rho)\rightarrow 0,$$ where we have identified the various objects with their embeddings. Throughout this section, we fix one such collection of embeddings. Our argument will depend on approximating the processes $X^n$, $n\geq 1$, and $X$ by processes on finite state spaces. We start by describing such a procedure in the limiting case. Let $(x_i)_{i\geq 1}$ be a dense sequence of points in $F$ with $x_1=\rho$. For each $k$, it is possible to choose $\varepsilon_k$ such that $$\label{kcov} F\subseteq\cup_{i=1}^kB_M(x_i,\varepsilon_k),$$ (where $B_M(x,r)$ represents a ball in $(M,d_M)$,) and moreover one can do this in such a way that $\varepsilon_k\rightarrow 0$ as $k\rightarrow\infty$. Choose $\varepsilon^k_1,\varepsilon^k_2,\dots,\varepsilon^k_k\in [\varepsilon_k,2\varepsilon_k]$ such that $(B_M(x_i,\varepsilon_i^k))_{i=1}^k$ are continuity sets for $\mu$ (i.e. $\mu(\bar{B}_M(x_i,\varepsilon_i^k)\backslash B_M(x_i,\varepsilon_i^k))=0$); such a choice is possible because, for any $x\in M$, the map $r\mapsto \mu(B_M(x,r))$ has a countable number of discontinuities. Define sets $K^k_1,K^k_2,\dots,K^k_k$ by setting $K^k_1=\bar{B}_M(x_1,\varepsilon_1^k)$ and $$K^k_{i+1}=\bar{B}_M(x_{i+1},\varepsilon^k_{i+1})\backslash \cup_{j=1}^i \bar{B}_M(x_{j},\varepsilon^k_j).\label{eq:setdec}$$ In particular, the elements of the collection $(K^k_i)_{i=1}^k$ are measurable, disjoint continuity sets, and cover $F$. We introduce a corresponding measurable mapping $\phi^{(k)}:F\rightarrow \{x_1,\dots,x_k\}$ by setting $\phi^{(k)}(x)=x_i$ if $x\in K^k_i$, and a related measure $\mu^{(k)}=\mu\circ (\phi^{(k)})^{-1}$. Of course, the image of $\phi^{(k)}$ might not be the whole of $\{x_1,\dots,x_k\}$ since some of the $K_i^k$ might be empty. So, to better describe it, we introduce the notation $I_k:=\{i:\:K_i^k\neq\emptyset\}$ and $V_k:=\{x_i:\:i\in I_k\}$. (We will often implicitly use the fact that the points $(x_i)_{i\in I_k}$ are distinct, which follows from the definition.) The following simple lemma establishes that the measure $\mu^{(k)}$ charges all the points of $V_k$. [\[muksupport\] The support of the measure $\mu^{(k)}$ is equal to $V_k$.]{} Suppose $i\in \{1,\dots,k\}$ and $\mu^{(k)}(\{x_i\})=0$. Then by definition $$0=\mu(K_i^k)=\mu\left(\bar{B}_R(x_{i},\varepsilon^k_{i})\backslash \cup_{j=1}^{i-1} \bar{B}_R(x_{j},\varepsilon^k_j)\right)=\mu\left({B}_R(x_{i},\varepsilon^k_{i})\backslash \cup_{j=1}^{i-1} \bar{B}_R(x_{j},\varepsilon^k_j)\right),$$ where we use that ${B}_R(x_{i},\varepsilon^k_{i})$ is a continuity set for $\mu$. Now, ${B}_R(x_{i},\varepsilon^k_{i})\backslash \cup_{j=1}^{i-1} \bar{B}_R(x_{j},\varepsilon^k_j)$ is an open set. Thus, because $\mu$ has full support, the fact that the latter set has zero measure implies that it is empty. Hence ${B}_R(x_{i},\varepsilon^k_{i})\subseteq \cup_{j=1}^{i-1} \bar{B}_R(x_{j},\varepsilon^k_j)$. Since the right-hand side is closed, it follows that $\bar{B}_R(x_{i},\varepsilon^k_{i})\subseteq \cup_{j=1}^{i-1} \bar{B}_R(x_{j},\varepsilon^k_j)$, and therefore $K_i^k=\emptyset$. Thus $i\not\in I_k$. In particular, we have established that the support of $\mu^{(k)}$ contains $V_k$. Since the reverse inclusion is trivial, this completes the proof. Next observe that $\sup_{x\in F}R(x,\phi^{(k)}(x))\leq 2\varepsilon_k\rightarrow 0$, and hence $\mu^{(k)}\rightarrow \mu$ weakly as measures on $F$. This will allow us to check that a family of associated time-changed processes $X^{(k)}$ converge to $X$. Indeed, set $$A^{(k)}_t=\int_FL_t(x)\mu^{(k)}(dx).$$ The continuity of the local times $L$ (see Lemma \[ltcontlimit\]) then implies that, $P_\rho$-a.s., for each $t$, $$A^{(k)}_t\rightarrow \int_FL_t(x)\mu(dx)=t.$$ Since the processes are increasing, this convergence actually holds uniformly on compact intervals (cf. the proof of Dini’s theorem). Setting $\tau^{(k)}(t):=\inf\{s>0:\:A^{(k)}_t>s\}$, it follows that, $P_\rho$-a.s., $\tau^{(k)}(t)\rightarrow t$ uniformly on compact intervals. Composing with the process $X$ to define $X^{(k)}_t:=X_{\tau^{(k)}(t)}$, we thus obtain that $X^{(k)}_t\rightarrow X_t$ for all $t\geq 0$ such that $X$ is continuous at $t$, $P_\rho$-a.s. In particular, denoting by $T_X$ the set of times $t$ such that $P_\rho(X\mbox{ is continuous at }t)=1$, this implies the following finite dimensional convergence result. [\[l1\] If $t_1,\dots,t_m\in T_X$, then $d_M(X^{(k)}_{t_i},X_{t_i})\rightarrow0$ for each $i=1,\dots,m$, as $k\to\infty$, $P_\rho$-a.s.]{} We next adapt the approximation argument to the processes $X^n$, $n\geq1$. By (\[hconv\]), it is possible to choose $x_i^n\in F_n$ such that $d_M(x_i^n,x_i)\rightarrow 0$, with the particular choice $x_1^n=\rho_n$. Moreover, by (\[kcov\]), it is possible to suppose that for each $k$ there exists an integer $n_k$ such that, for $n\geq n_k$, $F_n\subseteq \cup_{i=1}^kB_M(x_i,\varepsilon_k)$. Thus, for each $k$ and $n\geq n_k$ we can define a map $\phi^{n,k}:F_n\rightarrow \{x_1^n,\dots,x_k^n\}$ by setting $\phi^{n,k}(x)=x_i^n$ if $x\in K_i^k$. Note that $$\label{closepoints} \lim_{k\rightarrow\infty}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\sup_{x\in F_n}R_n(x,\phi^{n,k}(x))\leq \lim_{k\rightarrow\infty}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\left(2\varepsilon_k+\sup_{i=1,\dots,k}d_M(x_i^n,x_i)\right)=0.$$ We define $\mu_n^{(k)}=\mu_n\circ(\phi^{n,k})^{-1}$, and set $$A^{n,k}_t=\int_{F_n}L^n_t(x)\mu_n^{(k)}(dx).$$ Moreover, let $\tau^{n,k}(t)=\inf\{s>0:\:A^{n,k}_t>s\}$, and define $X^{n,k}_t:=X^{n}_{\tau^{n,k}(t)}$. It is then straightforward to deduce the following lemma. [\[l2\] The law of $X^{n,k}$ under $P^n_{\rho_n}$ converges weakly to the law of $X^{(k)}$ under $P_\rho$ as probability measures on the space $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$. In particular, the finite-dimensional distributions converge for any collection of times $t_1,\dots,t_m\geq 0$, $m\in\mathbb{N}$.]{} Fix $k$, and define $V_k$ as above Lemma \[muksupport\]. Our first step is to characterise the Dirichlet form $(\mathcal{E}^{(k)},\mathcal{D}^{(k)})$ of the Markov chain $X^{(k)}$, which by Theorem \[trace\] is given by (\[formtrace\]), (\[domaintrace\]) with $G=V_k$ and $\nu=\mu^{(k)}$. Since $F$ is compact, we have that $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})=(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{F})$ (see [@Kig p. 35]), and so $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ is recurrent. Hence we have from Lemma \[goodtrace\] that $(\mathcal{E}^{(k)},\mathcal{D}^{(k)})$ is also a resistance form with associated resistance metric $R^{(k)}:=R|_{V_k\times V_k}$. In particular, we obtain that $$\mathcal{E}^{(k)}(f,f)=\frac12\sum_{x,y\in V_k}c^{(k)}(x,y)(f(y)-f(x))^2,$$ where the conductances $(c^{(k)}(x,y))_{x,y\in V_k}$ are uniquely determined by the resistance $R^{(k)}$ [@Kigdendrite Theorem 1.7]. We similarly have that the Dirichlet form $(\mathcal{E}^{n,k},\mathcal{D}^{n,k})$ of the Markov chain $X^{n,k}$ is given by $$\mathcal{E}^{n,k}(f,f)=\frac12\sum_{x,y\in V_{n,k}}c^{n,k}(x,y)(f(y)-f(x))^2,$$ where $V_{n,k}:=\{x^n_i:\:i\in I_k\}$, and we note that for large $n$ we have that the cardinality of $V_{n,k}$ and $V_k$ are both equal. We will now check that $$\label{condlim} \left(c^{n,k}(x_i^n,x_j^n)\right)_{i,j\in I_k}\rightarrow \left(c^{(k)}(x_i,x_j)\right)_{i,j\in I_k}.$$ Observe that, from the definition of the resistance metric, we have $c^{n,k}(x_i^n,x_j^n)\leq R_n(x_i^n,x_j^n)^{-1}$. Hence we find that $$\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\max_{\substack{i,j\in I_k:\\i\neq j}}c^{n,k}(x_i^n,x_j^n)\leq \max_{\substack{i,j\in I_k:\\i\neq j}}R(x_i,x_j)^{-1}<\infty.$$ In particular, for any subsequence $(c^{n_m,k}(x_i^{n_m},x_j^{n_m}))_{i,j\in I_k}$, we have a convergent subsubsequence $(c^{n_{m_l},k}(x_i^{n_{m_l}},x_j^{n_{m_l}}))_{i,j\in I_k}$ with limit $(\tilde{c}(x_i,x_j))_{i,j\in I_k}$. Define an associated form $(\tilde{\mathcal{E}},\tilde{\mathcal{D}})$ by setting $$\tilde{\mathcal{E}}(f,f)=\frac12\sum_{x,y\in V_k}\tilde{c}(x,y)(f(y)-f(x))^2,$$ and $\tilde{\mathcal{D}}:=\{f:V_k\rightarrow \mathbb{R}\}$, and let $\tilde{R}$ be the associated resistance (which may *a priori* be infinite between pairs of vertices). It is then an elementary exercise to check that $c^{n_{m_l},k}\rightarrow \tilde{c}$ implies $(R^{n_{m_l}}(x_i^{n_{m_l}},x_j^{n_{m_l}}))_{i,j\in I_k}\rightarrow (\tilde{R}(x_i,x_j))_{i,j\in I_k}$. However, we also know $(R^{n_{m_l}}(x_i^{n_{m_l}},x_j^{n_{m_l}}))_{i,j\in I_k}\rightarrow ({R}^{(k)}(x_i,x_j))_{i,j\in I_k}$, and so it must be the case that $\tilde{R}=R^{(k)}$. In turn, this implies $\tilde{c}=c^{(k)}$ (see [@Kigdendrite Theorem 1.7]), and the conclusion at (\[condlim\]) follows as desired. Next, note that for each $i\in I_k$ $$\label{mconv} \mu_n^{(k)}(\{x_i^n\})=\mu_n\left(K_i^k\right)\rightarrow \mu\left(K_i^k\right)=\mu^{(k)}(\{x_i\})>0,$$ where we have applied that $\mu_n\rightarrow\mu$ weakly, and that $K_i^k$ is a continuity set for the limiting measure. The fact that the limit is strictly positive was proved in Lemma \[muksupport\]. These observations will allow us to check convergence of the generators. Specifically, the generator of $X^{(k)}$ is given by $$\Delta^{(k)}f(x_i)=\frac{1}{\mu^{(k)}(\{x_i\})}\sum_{j\in I_k}c^{(k)}(x_i,x_j)(f(x_j)-f(x_i)).$$ Similarly, if we define $\pi_{n,k}:V_{n,k}\rightarrow V_k$ by $x_i^n\mapsto x_i$ (which is a bijection for large $n$), then the generator of $\pi_{n,k}(X^{n,k})$ is given by $$\Delta^{n,k}f(x_i)=\frac{1}{\mu_{n}^{(k)}(\{x_i^n\})}\sum_{j\in I_k}c^{n,k}(x_i^n,x_j^n)(f(x_j)-f(x_i)).$$ Hence, (\[condlim\]) and (\[mconv\]) imply that $$\max_{i\in I_k}\left|\Delta^{(k)}f(x_i)-\Delta^{n,k}f(x_i)\right|\rightarrow 0$$ for any $f:V_k\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$. Since the starting points of the processes satisfy $\pi_{n,k}(X^{n,k}_0)= X^{(k)}_0=\rho$ (as local time accumulates immediately), this generator convergence is enough to establish the distributional convergence $\pi_{n,k}(X^{n,k})\rightarrow X^{(k)}$ (see [@Kall Theorem 19.25]). To complete the proof of the first claim, it is thus enough to recall that $d_M(x_i^n,\pi_{n,k}(x_i^n))=d_M(x_i^n,x_i)\rightarrow 0$ for each $i$. For the claim regarding finite-dimensional distributions, one notes that convergence in the space $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$ implies convergence of finite-dimensional distributions at times $t_1,\dots,t_m$ that are continuity times for the process $X^{(k)}$, i.e. times at which $X^{(k)}$ is continuous, $P_\rho$-a.s. Furthermore, it is elementary to check that every $t\geq 0$ is a continuity time for the finite state space continuous time Markov chain $X^{(k)}$. The remaining ingredient we need to establish the result of interest is the following lemma. [\[l3\] The laws of $X^n$ under $P_{\rho_n}^n$, $n\geq 1$, form a tight sequence in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$. Moreover, for any $\varepsilon>0$ and $t\geq 0$, $$\label{merging} \lim_{k\rightarrow\infty}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}P^{n}_{\rho_n}\left(R_n\left(X^n_t, X^{n,k}_t\right)>\varepsilon\right)=0.$$]{} To verify tightness, it will suffice to check Aldous’ tightness criteria (see, for example, [@Kall Theorem 16.11]): for any bounded sequence of $X^n$ stopping times $\sigma_n$ and any sequence $\delta_n\rightarrow 0$, it holds that, for $\varepsilon>0$, $P_{\rho_n}^n(R_n(X^n_{\sigma_n},X^n_{\sigma_n+\delta_n})>\varepsilon)$. Applying the strong Markov property, to establish this it will be enough to show that $$\label{tightness} \sup_{x\in F_n}P_{x}^n\left(R_n(x,X^n_{\delta_n})>\varepsilon\right)\rightarrow 0.$$ To do this, we note that the UVD condition implies the following exit time estimate $$\label{etest} \sup_{x\in F_n}P^{n}_{x} \left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq \delta}R_n\left(x,X^{n}_t\right)>\varepsilon\right)\leq c_1 e^{-\frac{c_2 \varepsilon}{v^{-1}(\delta/\varepsilon)}},$$ uniformly in $n$, where $v$ is the function appearing in the definition of UVD (see [@Kum Proposition 4.2 and Lemma 4.2]). Moreover, the doubling property of $v$ implies that $v(r)\geq c_3r^{c_4}$ for $r\leq 1$, and so $v^{-1}(\delta/\varepsilon)\leq c_5(\delta/\varepsilon)^{c_6}$ for $\delta$ suitable small. The result at (\[tightness\]) follows. To prove (\[merging\]), first note that $$\begin{aligned} \left|A^{n,k}_t-t\right|&=&\left|\int_{F_n}L^n_t(x)\mu_n^{(k)}(dx)-\int_{F_n}L^n_t(x)\mu_n(dx)\right|\\ &\leq&\int_{F_n}\left|L^n_t(\phi^{n,k}(x))-L^n_t(x)\right|\mu_n(dx)\\ &\leq & \mu_n(F_n)\sup_{x\in F_n}\left|L^n_t(\phi^{n,k}(x))-L^n_t(x)\right|.\end{aligned}$$ Now, by (\[hconv\]), $\mu_n(F_n)\rightarrow\mu(F)$, and the compactness of the space $(F,R)$ implies that the latter is a finite limit. Hence, also applying (\[closepoints\]) and the local time equicontinuity result of Lemma \[ltcont\], it follows that $$\lim_{k\rightarrow\infty}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty} {P}^n_{\rho_n}\left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}\left|A^{n,k}_t-t\right|>\varepsilon\right)=0.$$ Taking inverses, we thus find that $$\lim_{k\rightarrow\infty}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty} {P}^n_{\rho_n}\left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}\left|{\tau^{n,k}(t)}-t\right|>\varepsilon\right)=0.$$ From this, we see that, for any $t,\varepsilon,\delta\geq 0$, $$\begin{aligned} {\lim_{\delta\rightarrow0}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}P^{n}_{\rho_n} \left(R_n\left(X^n_t, X^{n,k}_t\right)>\varepsilon\right)}&\leq&\lim_{\delta\rightarrow0}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}P^{n}_{\rho_n} \left(\sup_{s\in[t-\delta,t+\delta]\cap\mathbb{R}_+}R_n\left(X^n_t, X^{n}_s\right)>\varepsilon\right)\\ &\leq&\lim_{\delta\rightarrow0}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\sup_{x\in F_n} P^{n}_{x} \left(\sup_{s\in[0,2\delta]}R_n\left(x, X^{n}_s\right)>\varepsilon\right)\\ &=&0,\end{aligned}$$ where to deduce the second inequality, we apply the Markov property at time $\max\{0,t-\delta\}$, and (\[etest\]) to deduce the equality. Piecing together Lemmas \[l1\] and \[l2\], and (\[merging\]), we obtain that the finite-dimensional distributions of $X^n$ converge to those of $X$ for any collection of times $t_1,\dots,t_m\in T_X$, where we recall that $T_X$ is the set of continuity times of $X$ (see [@Kall Theorem 4.28]). Together with the tightness of $X^n$, as established in Lemma \[l3\], we arrive at the desired conclusion by applying [@Kall Theorem 16.10]. [\[compactcase\] The law of $X^{n}$ under $P^n_{\rho_n}$ converges weakly to the law of $X$ under $P_\rho$ as probability measures on the space $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$.]{} Locally compact case -------------------- In this section, we explain how to extend from the compact case to the locally compact case. The proof will involve considering the trace of the relevant processes on bounded subsets (cf. the proof of [@BCK Theorem 1.4]). Key to this approach is the following lemma, which is an immediate consequence of Lemma \[goodtrace\]. (Recall that we are assuming $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ is recurrent for $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}$.) [\[rtrace\] Let $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}$. For $r\geq 0$, let $(\mathcal{E}^{(r)},\mathcal{D}^{(r)})$ be the trace of $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ on $F^{(r)}$ with respect to the measure $\mu^{(r)}$. Then $(\mathcal{E}^{(r)},\mathcal{D}^{(r)})$ is a resistance form on $F^{(r)}$ with associated resistance metric $R^{(r)}$.]{} A second key ingredient for our argument is the following uniform exit time estimate for sequences of resistance forms satisfying UVD. [\[exittimes\] Suppose $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is a sequence in $\mathbb{F}$ satisfying UVD, then, for any $T<\infty$, $$\lim_{r\rightarrow\infty}\sup_{n\geq 1}P_{\rho_n}^n\left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}R_n(\rho_n,X_t^n)> r\right)=0.$$]{} Similarly to (\[etest\]), we have by [@Kum Proposition 4.2 and Lemma 4.2] that $$\sup_{n\geq 1}P^{n}_{\rho_n} \left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}R_n\left(x,X^{n}_t\right)>r\right)\leq c_1 e^{-\frac{c_2 r}{v^{-1}(T/r)}}.$$ Letting $r\rightarrow\infty$ establishes the result. We are now ready to prove the main result of this section, which establishes the first claim of Theorem \[main1\]. [\[procconv\] Suppose $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ satisfy Assumption \[a1\]. It is then possible to embed $(F_n,R_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R)$ isometrically into the same metric space $(M,d_M)$ in such a way that the law of $X^n$ under $P^n_{\rho_n}$ converges weakly to the law of $X$ under $P_{\rho}$ as probability measures on the space $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$.]{} Under the assumption of the proposition, it is possible to suppose all the objects of the discussion have been isometrically embedded into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ in the way described in Lemma \[embeddings\]. Define $(\mathcal{E}^{(r)},\mathcal{D}^{(r)})$ as in the statement of Lemma \[rtrace\]. By Theorem \[trace\], we have that this is a regular Dirichlet form on $L^2(F^{(r)}, \mu^{(r)})$, and the associated process $X^{(r)}$ is given by a time-change according to the additive functional $$A^{(r)}_t:=\int_FL_t(x)\mu^{(r)}(dx).$$ By monotonicity and the fact that the various additive functionals are increasing, we have that $A^{(r)}_t\rightarrow \int_FL_t(x)\mu(dx) =t$ uniformly on compact time intervals, $P_\rho$-a.s. Similarly to the proof of Lemma \[l1\], it follows that if $t_1,\dots,t_m\in T_X$ for any $m\in\mathbb{N}$ (where again we denote by $T_X$ the continuity times of $X$), then $P_\rho$-a.s., $d_M(X^{(r)}_{t_i},X_{t_i})\rightarrow 0$ for each $i=1,\dots,m$. Moreover, writing $\tau^{(r)}$ for the right-continuous inverse of $A^{(r)}$, we have that for any bounded sequence of $X^{(r)}$ stopping times $\sigma_r$ and any sequence $\delta_r\rightarrow0$, it holds that, for any $\varepsilon,\delta>0$, $$\begin{aligned} P_\rho\left(R\left(X^{(r)}_{\sigma_r},X^{(r)}_{\sigma_r+\delta_r}\right)>\varepsilon\right) &=&P_\rho\left(R\left(X_{\tau^{(r)}(\sigma_r)},X_{\tau^{(r)}(\sigma_r+\delta_r)}\right)>\varepsilon\right)\\ &\leq&\sup_{x\in F}P_x\left(\sup_{s\leq \delta}R\left(x,X_s\right)>\varepsilon\right)+o(1),\end{aligned}$$ as $r\rightarrow\infty$. (We note that $\tau^{(r)}(\sigma_r)$ is a stopping time for $X$.) Since by (\[uvdforlimit\]) we know that the limiting space $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ satisfies uniform volume doubling, we can again apply [@Kum Proposition 4.2 and Lemma 4.2] as at (\[etest\]) to deduce that the probability above is bounded by $c_1e^{-c_2\varepsilon/v^{-1}(\delta/\varepsilon)}$. Letting $\delta\rightarrow 0$, we obtain that Aldous’ tightness criteria holds (cf. the proof of Lemma \[l3\]), and so the laws of $X^{(r)}$ under $P_\rho$ are tight in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$. Combining this with the above convergence of finite dimensional distributions, we obtain that, under $P_\rho$, $X^{(r)}$ converges to $X$ in distribution in the space $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$. Next, let $X^{n,r}$ be the trace of $X^n$ on $F_n^{(r)}$ with respect to $\mu_n^{(r)}$. By Lemma \[rtrace\], the Dirichlet form of this process, $(\mathcal{E}_n^{(r)},\mathcal{D}_n^{(r)})$ say, is actually a resistance form with associated resistance metric $R_n^{(r)}$, cf. the corresponding result in the limiting case. Hence, recalling we have embedded all the relevant objects into $M$ in the way described by Lemma \[embeddings\], Proposition \[compactcase\] yields that, for Lebesgue-almost-every $r\geq 0$, we have that the law of $X^{n,r}$ under $P^n_{\rho_n}$ converges weakly to the law of $X^{(r)}$ under $P_\rho$ as probability measures on the space $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$. Finally, we observe that if $\sup_{0\leq t\leq T+1}R_n(\rho_n,X^n_t)\leq r$, then the time-change functional describing $X^{n,r}$ satisfies $$A^{n,r}_t=\int_{F_n}L_t^n(x)\mu_n^{(r)}(dx) =\int_{F_n}L_t^n(x)\mu_n(dx)=t$$ for $t\leq T+1$. It follows that $X^{n,r}_t=X^n_t$ for $t\leq T$. Thus we find that, for any $\varepsilon>0$, $$P_{\rho_n}^n\left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq T}R_n(X^n_t,X^{n,r}_t)>\varepsilon\right) \leq P_{\rho_n}^n\left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq T+1}R_n(\rho_n,X^n_t)> r\right).$$ By Lemma \[exittimes\], this converges to $0$ as $r\rightarrow\infty$, uniformly in $n\geq 1$. Combining this with the conclusions of the previous two paragraphs completes the result. Convergence of local times {#ltconvsec} -------------------------- Again we suppose that the spaces $(F_n,R_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R)$ are isometrically embedded into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ in such a way that the conclusion of Lemma \[embeddings\] holds. Given the convergence result of Proposition \[procconv\] (and [@Kall Theorem 4.30], for example), it is further possible to suppose that $X^n$ started from $\rho_n$ and $X$ started from $\rho$ are coupled so that $X^n\rightarrow X$ in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$, almost-surely. We will suppose that this is the case throughout this section, and write the joint probability measure as $P$. To prove the finite dimensional convergence of local times as at (\[ltconv1\]), we will follow an approximation argument, based on averaging over small balls. To this end, it is useful to introduce the following functions: for $x\in M$, $\delta>0$, $$f_{\delta,x}(y):=\max\left\{0,\delta-d_M(x,y)\right\}.$$ An immediate consequence of the continuity of local times of $X$ is the following lemma. [\[ltl1\] $P$-a.s., for any $x\in F$ and $T\geq0$, as $\delta\rightarrow0$, $$\sup_{t\in[0,T]}\left|\frac{\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X_s)ds}{\int_Ff_{\delta,x}(y)\mu(dy)}- L_t(x)\right|\rightarrow 0.$$]{} For the case when $F$ is compact, the result follows easily from Lemma \[ltcontlimit\] (and the occupation density formula of ). In the case when $F$ is only locally compact, we note that on the event $\sup_{t\in[0,T]}R(\rho,X_s)\leq r$ it is the case that the local times of $X$ are identical to the local times of $X^{(r)}$ up to time $T$. Since the latter are continuous functions for each $t>0$, almost-surely, then so are the local times of $X$ for $t\in[0,T]$, almost-surely on $\sup_{t\in[0,T]}R(\rho,X_s)\leq r$. Taking $r\rightarrow\infty$, and then $T\rightarrow\infty$, we deduce that the local times of $X$ are continuous functions for each $t>0$, almost-surely, and the result follows in this case as well. [\[ltl2\]$P$-a.s., for any $x\in F$, $T\geq0$ and $\delta>0$, as $n\rightarrow\infty$, $$\sup_{t\in[0,T]}\left|\frac{\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X^n_s)ds}{\int_{F_n}f_{\delta,x}(y)\mu_n(dy)}-\frac{\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X_s)ds}{\int_Ff_{\delta,x}(y)\mu(dy)}\right| \rightarrow 0.$$]{} Fix $x\in F$. It is then possible to choose $r$ such that $\bar{B}_M(x,\delta)\cap{F}\subseteq F^{(r)}$ for every $\delta<1$. Moreover, since our choice of embeddings satisfies the conclusions of Lemma \[embeddings\], we may further suppose that $\mu_n^{(r)}\rightarrow \mu^{(r)}$ weakly as probability measures on $M$. It follows that $${\int_{F_n}f_{\delta,x}(y)\mu_n(dy)}={\int_{M}f_{\delta,x}(y)\mu_n^{(r)}(dy)} \rightarrow {\int_{M}f_{\delta,x}(y)\mu^{(r)}(dy)}={\int_{F}f_{\delta,x}(y)\mu(dy)}>0,$$ where the strict positivity of the limit is a simple consequence of the fact that $\mu$ has full support. Thus it remains to show that, for any $T\geq 0$, $$\label{c0} \sup_{t\in [0,T]}\left|\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X^n_s)ds-\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X_s)ds\right|\rightarrow0.$$ To begin with, suppose that $X$ is continuous at time $t$. It is then the case that, for each $n$, there exists a homeomorphism $\lambda_n:[0,t]\rightarrow[0,t]$ with $\lambda_n(0)=0$ such that $$\label{c1} \sup_{s\in[0,t]}\left|s-\lambda_n(s)\right|\rightarrow 0,$$ and also $$\label{c2} \sup_{s\in[0,t]}d_M\left(X^n_{\lambda_n(s)},X_s\right)\rightarrow 0.$$ Now, $$\begin{aligned} \left|\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X^n_{s})ds-\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X_{s})ds\right|&\leq& \int_0^t\left|f_{\delta,x}(X^n_{\lambda_n(s)})-f_{\delta,x}(X_{s})\right|d\lambda_n(s)\\ &&+\int_0^t\left|f_{\delta,x}(X_{\lambda^{-1}_n(s)})-f_{\delta,x}(X_{s})\right|ds.\end{aligned}$$ The first term in the upper bound here converges to zero by (\[c2\]). As for the second term, we have from (\[c1\]) that $d_M(X_{\lambda^{-1}_n(s)},X_s)\rightarrow 0$ whenever $X$ is continuous at $s$. Since the times at which $X$ is not continuous is at most countable, the dominated convergence theorem yields that the second term also converges to zero, thereby establishing the limit (\[c0\]) pointwise at times at which $X$ is continuous. To extend to the full result is straightforward, using again that the times at which $X$ is not continuous is countable, as well as the monotonicity and continuity of the limit. [\[ltl3\] For any $x\in F$ and $T\geq0$, if $x_n\in F_n$ is such that $d_M(x_n,x)\rightarrow 0$, then $$\lim_{\delta\rightarrow 0}\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}P\left(\sup_{t\in[0,T]}\left|\frac{\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X^n_s)ds}{\int_{F_n}f_{\delta,x}(y)\mu_n(dy)}-L^n_t(x_n)\right|>\varepsilon\right)=0.$$]{} For large $n$, we have that by the occupation density formula $$\left|\frac{\int_0^tf_{\delta,x}(X^n_s)ds}{\int_{F_n}f_{\delta,x}(y)\mu_n(dy)}-L^n_t(x_n)\right|\leq \sup_{y,z\in \bar{B}_n(x_n,2\delta)}\left|L^n_t(y)-L^n_t(z)\right|.$$ Thus if the sequence $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ satisfies $\sup_n r_\infty(n)<\infty$, then the result follows from the local time equicontinuity result of Lemma \[ltcont\]. In the general case, it is possible to obtain the result by considering the restriction to bounded subsets as in the last part of the proof of Proposition \[procconv\]. From Lemmas \[ltl1\], \[ltl2\] and \[ltl3\], we deduce that for any $x\in F$ and $T\geq 0$, if $x_n\in F_n$ is such that $d_M(x_n,x)\rightarrow 0$, then $(L_t^n(x_n))_{t\in[0,T]}\rightarrow(L_t(x))_{t\in[0,T]}$ in $P$-probability in $C([0,T],\mathbb{R})$. This result immediately extends to finite collections of points, which is enough to establish (\[ltconv1\]). Time-changed processes ---------------------- In this section, we prove Corollary \[maincor\], starting by showing convergence of the time-change additive functionals. [\[atn\] If Assumption \[a2\] holds, then $(A^n_t)_{t\geq0}\rightarrow (A_t)_{t\geq0}$ in distribution in the space $C(\mathbb{R}_+,\mathbb{R})$, simultaneously with the convergence of processes $X^n\rightarrow X$ in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,\mathbb{R})$, where we assume that $X^n$ is started from $\rho_n$, and $X$ is started from $\rho$. ]{} We first prove the result in the case that the underlying spaces are compact, i.e. when $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)\in\mathbb{F}_c$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}_c$. Suppose all the objects are isometrically embedded into a common space in the way described at (\[hconv\]), and let $(x_i)_{i\geq 1}$ be as in Section \[compsec\]. Moreover, for each $k$, define $(K_i^k)_{i=1}^k$ as in , but with each set chosen to be a continuity set for the measure $\nu$, rather than for $\mu$. Then, for any $T\geq 0$, we have from the continuity of local times (Lemma \[ltcontlimit\]) that, $P_{\rho}$-a.s., $$\sup_{t\in[0,T]}\left|A_t-\sum_{i=1}^kL_t(x_i)\nu(K_i^k)\right|\leq \nu(F)\sup_{t\in[0,T]}\sup_{\substack{y,z\in F:\\R(y,z)\leq 4\varepsilon_k}}\left|L_t(y)-L_t(z)\right|\rightarrow 0.$$ Next, from (\[ltconv1\]), we deduce that $$\left(\sum_{i=1}^kL^n_t(x_i^n)\nu^n(K_i^k)\right)_{t\geq0}\rightarrow \left(\sum_{i=1}^kL_t(x_i)\nu(K_i^k)\right)_{t\geq0}$$ in distribution in $C(\mathbb{R}_+,\mathbb{R})$, where $x_i^n$ are also chosen as in Section \[compsec\]. Furthermore, for large $n$, we have that $$\sup_{t\in[0,T]}\left|A_t^n-\sum_{i=1}^kL^n_t(x_i^n)\nu^n(K_i^k)\right|\leq \nu_n(F_n)\sup_{t\in[0,T]}\sup_{\substack{y,z\in F_n:\\R_n(y,z)\leq 4\varepsilon_k}}\left|L^n_t(y)-L^n_t(z)\right|.$$ Under $P_{\rho_n}^n$, this converges to zero in probability as $n\rightarrow\infty$ and then $k\rightarrow\infty$ by Lemma \[ltcont\]. Noting that, from Theorem \[main1\], the convergence of local times at (\[ltconv1\]) occurs simultaneously with the convergence of processes, the desired result follows. For the general case, one again proceeds by considering the restriction to bounded subsets similarly to the proof of Proposition \[procconv\]. For this, it is useful to note that it is enough to consider radii $r$ that are continuity sets for both $\mu$ and $\nu$, since the collections of points of discontinuity of the maps $r\mapsto \mu(B_R(\rho,r))$ and $r\mapsto \nu(B_R(\rho,r))$ are both countable. We next check the divergence of the additive functional $(A_t)_{t\geq0}$, as defined at (\[atdef\]). [For $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in\mathbb{F}$, and $\nu$ a locally finite Borel regular measure on $(F,R)$ with $\nu(F)>0$, we have $A_t\rightarrow\infty$, $P_x$-a.s. for any $x\in F$.]{} First note that, by [@FukuChen Theorem 5.2.16], we have that $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ is an irreducible Dirichlet form (see [@FukuChen Section 2.1] for a definition). Since $(\mathcal{E},\mathcal{D})$ is recurrent, we can apply [@FukuChen Theorem 3.5.6(ii)] to deduce that $P_x(\tau_y<\infty)=1$, for all $x,y\in F$. Moreover, by [@MR Theorem 3.6.5], we have that $E_x(\int_0^\infty e^{-t}dL_t(x))=u(x,x)>0$, for all $x\in F$, where $(u(x,y))_{x,y\in F}$ is the potential density of $X$, as defined at (\[udef\]). Combining these two observations, following the proof of [@Croyrogt Lemma 2.3] allows us to deduce that $\lim_{t\rightarrow\infty}\inf_{x\in F^{(r)}}L_t(x)=\infty$ for any $r\geq0$, $P_y$-a.s. for any $y\in F$. This readily yields the result. Note that the previous lemma implies that $\tau(t):=\inf\{s>0:A_s>t\}$ remains finite for all $t\geq 0$, and so confirms that $X_{\tau(t)}$ has an infinite lifetime. We are now in a position to complete the proof of Corollary \[maincor\]. First, suppose we are in case (a); in particular, $\nu(F)$ has full support. Moreover, suppose that we have embedded all the objects of the discussion into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ in the way described by Lemma \[embeddings\], and that the various processes are coupled so that $X^n\rightarrow X$ in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$, and $A^n\rightarrow A$ in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,\mathbb{R}_+)$, almost-surely. As in Section \[ltconvsec\], denote the probability measure corresponding to the coupling by $P$. Now, note that, $P$-a.s., for any $t,\delta>0$ we have that $\int_{F}(L_{t+\delta}(x)-L_t(x))\mu(dx)=\delta>0$, and so, applying the continuity of local times, we can find an $\varepsilon>0$ such that $L_{t+\delta}(x)-L_t(x)\geq\varepsilon$ on a non-empty open set. Since $\nu(F)$ has full support, it readily follows that $(A_t)_{t\geq 0}$ is strictly increasing, $P$-a.s. Thus we can apply [@Whittpaper Theorem 7.2], to deduce that $\tau^n\rightarrow \tau$ in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,\mathbb{R}_+)$, where the limiting function is strictly increasing and continuous, $P$-a.s. (Recall that $\tau^n$ is the right-continuous inverse of $A^n$, and $\tau$ is the right-continuous inverse of $A$.) Together with the convergence $X^n\rightarrow X$, this implies (see [@Whittpaper Theorem 3.1]) that $X^{n,\nu_n}\rightarrow X^\nu$ in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$, $P$-a.s., which confirms the result. The proof of part (b) is essentially the same, but involves different topologies. In particular, from $A^n\rightarrow A$ in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,\mathbb{R}_+)$, it is only possible in general to suppose $\tau^n\rightarrow \tau$ with respect to the Skorohod $M_1$ topology [@Whittpaper Theorem 7.1]. Given this convergence holds simultaneously with $X^n\rightarrow X$ in $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$, where $X$ is assumed to be continuous, we can apply the straightforward generalisation of [@CroyMuir Lemma A.6] to deduce the result. Liouville Brownian motion ========================= Given an element in $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in \mathbb{F}$, the associated Liouville Brownian motion is the process $X^\nu$, defined as at (\[xnudef\]), where $\nu$ is the Liouville measure. To define this, let us first introduce the Gaussian free field on $F$, $(\gamma(x))_{x\in F}$ say, which we will suppose is pinned at $\rho$, and built on a probability space with probability measure $\mathbf{P}$ and expectation $\mathbf{E}$. In particular, we define $(\gamma(x))_{x\in F}$ to be a centred Gaussian field (i.e. $\mathbf{E}\gamma(x)=0$ for all $x\in F$), with covariances given by $${\rm{Cov}}(\gamma(x),\gamma(y))=g(x,y),\qquad \forall x,y\in F,$$ where $g(x,y)$ is the Green’s function of $X$ killed on hitting $\rho$ (cf. the notation $g_{\{\rho\}}$ in the proof of Lemma \[ltcont\]). Note that these assumptions imply that $\gamma(\rho)=0$, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., and yield that an alternative way to characterise the covariances is via the formula $$\mathbf{E}\left(\left(\gamma(x)-\gamma(y)\right)^2\right)=R(x,y),\qquad \forall x,y\in F.$$ (To deduce the latter identity, it is useful to observe that $2g(x,y)=R(\rho,x)+R(\rho,y)-R(x,y)$, see [@Kig Theorem 4.3].) Thus we have from standard estimates for Gaussian random variables that $$\label{tailforgff} \mathbf{P}\left(\left|\gamma(x)-\gamma(y)\right|\geq \varepsilon\right)\leq 2 e^{-\frac{\varepsilon^2}{2R(x,y)}},$$ and substituting this for the estimate (\[tailforlt\]), one can follow the proof of Lemma \[ltcont\] to deduce that, if $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ satisfies the volume doubling estimates of (\[uvdforlimit\]), then $(\gamma(x))_{x\in F}$ is a continuous function, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. (To check this continuity property, one might alternatively note that (\[uvdforlimit\]) yields an estimate for the size of a $\varepsilon$-cover of $F^{(r)}$ of the form $c_1\varepsilon^{-c_2}$, and from this the result is an application of [@MRa Theorem 8.6], for example.) In this case, for $\kappa>0$ fixed, setting (similarly to (\[2dlmeasure\])) $$\nu(dx)=e^{\kappa\gamma(x)-\frac{\kappa^2}{2}\mathbf{E}(\gamma(x)^2)}\mu(dx),$$ yields a locally finite, Borel regular measure on $(F,R)$ of full support, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. (Note also that this choice of normalisation yields $\mathbf{E}\nu(dx)=\mu(dx)$.) Thus, for $\mathbf{P}$-a.e. realisation of $\nu$, we can define $X^\nu$ by the procedure at (\[xnudef\]). Since under $P_x$ the starting point of $X^\nu$ is $x$, the corresponding *quenched law* of $X^\nu$ started from $x\in F$ is well-defined; we will denote this by $P^\nu_x$. Moreover, we can define the *annealed law* of the Liouville Brownian motion $X^\nu$ by integrating out the Liouville measure, i.e.$$\label{anndef} \mathbb{P}^{\rm LBM}_x\left(\cdot\right):=\int P_x^\nu\left(\cdot\right)\mathbf{P}(d\nu).$$ The principal aim of this section is to show that if we have $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)\rightarrow (F,R,\mu,\rho)$ in $\mathbb{F}$ and the UVD property holds (i.e. Assumption \[a1\] is satisfied), then the associated Liouville measures and Liouville Brownian motions converge. To this end, we start by noting the equicontinuity of the Gaussian free fields in the sequence, which we will denote by $(\gamma_n(x))_{x\in F_n}$, $n\geq 1$. As for the continuity of $\gamma$, the proof of this result is identical to that of the local time equicontinuity result of Lemma \[ltcont\], with replaced by , and so is omitted. [\[gammanequi\] If $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is a sequence in $\mathbb{F}$ satisfying UVD, then, for each $\varepsilon>0$ and $r>0$, $$\lim_{\delta\rightarrow0}\sup_{n\geq 1}\mathbf{P}\left(\sup_{\substack{y,z\in F^{(r)}_n:\\R_n(y,z)\leq\delta}}{\left|\gamma_n(y)-\gamma_n(z)\right|}\geq \varepsilon\right)=0.$$]{} We can now deduce convergence of Liouville measures under Assumption \[a1\]; the following result can be interpreted as a distributional version of Assumption \[a2\]. We write $\nu_n$ for the Liouville measure associated with $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)$. [\[nunconv\] Suppose Assumption \[a1\] holds, and that $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ are isometrically embedded into a common (complete, separable, locally compact) metric space $(M,d_M)$ so that the conclusion of Lemma \[embeddings\] holds. It is then the case that $\nu_n\rightarrow \nu$ in distribution with respect to the vague topology for locally finite Borel measures on $(M,d_M)$.]{} By [@Kall Theorem 16.16], it will suffice to show that $$\label{fint} \int_Mf(x)\nu_n(dx)\rightarrow\int_Mf(x)\nu(dx)$$ in distribution, for any non-negative, continuous, compactly supported $f:M\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$. For each such $f$, we note that the support of $f$ is contained in ${B}_M(\rho,r/2)$ for some $r>0$ for which holds. Moreover, under the assumptions of the lemma, we have that $(f(x)e^{\kappa\gamma(x)-\frac{\kappa^2}{2}\mathbf{E}(\gamma(x)^2)})_{x\in F}$ is a continuous function on $F$, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., and Lemma \[gammanequi\] implies the equicontinuity of the functions $(f(x)e^{\kappa\gamma_n(x)-\frac{\kappa^2}{2}\mathbf{E}(\gamma_n(x)^2)})_{x\in F_n}$. Consequently, the result at can be proved in the same way as Proposition \[atn\] if we can show the analogue of (\[ltconv1\]) in this setting, i.e. if $(x_i^n)_{i=1}^k$ in $F_n$, $n\geq 1$, are such that $d_M(x_i^n,x_i)\rightarrow 0$ for some $(x_i)_{i=1}^k$ in $F$, then it holds that $$\left(\gamma_n\left(x_i^n\right)\right)_{i=1,\dots, k}\rightarrow \left(\gamma\left(x_i\right)\right)_{i=1,\dots, k},$$ in distribution in $\mathbb{R}^k$. However, this is straightforward, since all the random variables above are centred Gaussian random variables, and $$\left({\rm{Cov}}(\gamma_n(x_i^n),\gamma(x_j^n))\right)_{i,j=1,\dots,k}\rightarrow\left({\rm{Cov}}(\gamma(x_i),\gamma(x_j))\right)_{i,j=1,\dots,k},$$ where to deduce the latter convergence, it is again helpful to apply the identity $2g(x,y)=R(\rho,x)+R(\rho,y)-R(x,y)$ from [@Kig Theorem 4.3]. From this convergence of Liouville measures, a simple adaptation of Corollary \[maincor\] yields the convergence of Liouville Brownian motion in this setting. In particular, by the separability of the space of locally finite Borel measures on $(M,d_M)$ under the vague topology, we can suppose $\nu_n$ and $\nu$ are coupled so that the conclusion of Lemma \[nunconv\] holds $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. (see [@Kall Theorem 4.30], for example). Under this coupling, the proof of Corollary \[maincor\] yields the almost-sure convergence of quenched laws, i.e. $P_{\rho_n}^{n,\nu_n}\rightarrow P_{\rho}^{\nu}$, weakly as probability measures on $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., where, for $\nu_n$ given, $P_{\rho_n}^{n,\nu_n}$ is the law of $X^{n,\nu_n}$ started from $\rho_n$. Integrating out the above result with respect to $\mathbf{P}$ then gives the following, where $\mathbb{P}^{{\rm LBM}_n}_{\rho_n}$ is the annealed law of $X^{n,\nu_n}$ started from $\rho_n$. [\[lbmconv\] Suppose Assumption \[a1\] holds. It is then possible to isometrically embed $(F_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ so that $$\mathbb{P}^{{\rm LBM}_n}_{\rho_n}\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{{\rm LBM}}_{\rho}$$ weakly as probability measures on $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$.]{} \[lbmexamples\] As simple examples, one might consider graphical approximations to tree-like and low-dimensional fractal spaces. In the following, we briefly introduce some of these. \(i) The most basic example would be to set $F_n$ to be the integer lattice $\mathbb{Z}$ equipped with the rescaled Euclidean distance $R_n(x,y)=n^{-1}|x-y|$, counting measure $\mu_n(A):=n^{-1}|A|$, and distinguished vertex $\rho_n=0$. Then Assumption \[a1\] is satisfied with limit $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ given by $F=\mathbb{R}$, $R$ the Euclidean metric, $\mu$ one-dimensional Lebesgue measure, and $\rho=0$. \(ii) More generally than the previous example, one might consider a family of graph trees $(G_n)_{n\geq1}$ for which there exist scaling factors $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$, $(b_n)_{n\geq1}$ such that $(G_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq1}$ satisfies Assumption \[a1\] for some limiting tree $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in \mathbb{F}$, where: $R_n$ is the resistance metric associated with unit resistances along edges of $G_n$; $\mu_n$ is the counting measure on $G_n$; and $\rho_n$ is a distinguished vertex. (Here and in the following, we call $G$ a graph tree if it is connected and contains no cycle.) In this setting the resistance metric is identical to the usual shortest path graph distance, for which the assumptions are generally easier to check. For example, it is elementary to check the result for the graphs approximating the Vicsek set, as shown in Figure \[vicsek\], with $a_n=3^{-n}$, $b_n=5^{-n}$. \(iii) It is known that the resistance metric on the graphs approximating nested fractals, again when unit resistors are placed along edges, can be rescaled to yield a resistance metric on the limiting fractal (this is an application of the homogenisation result of [@peir Theorem 3.8], for example). In Section \[rcmfractalsec\], we introduce a more general class of fractals, so leave details until later (alternatively, see [@lind] for background on nested fractals). However, as an illustrative example, we note that the Assumption \[a1\] applies to the sequence $(G_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, where: $G_n$ is the $n$th level Sierpiński gasket graph, as introduced at the end of Section $1$ (see Figure \[sg\]); $R_n$ is the associated resistance metric; $\mu_n$ is the counting measure on vertices; $\rho_n$ can be chosen arbitrarily as long as $(\rho_n)_{n\geq1}$ converges in $\mathbb{R}^2$; and the scaling factors are given by $a_n=(3/5)^n$, $b_n=3^{-n}$. Furthermore, we note that the results in this section also establish that $$a_n^{1/2}\sup_{x\in G_n}\gamma_{G_n}(x)\rightarrow \sup_{x\in F}\gamma(x)$$ in distribution, where $\gamma_{G_n}$ is the Gaussian free field on $G_n$, and $\gamma$ the Gaussian free field on the limiting fractal; this refines the result of [@KZ Theorem 2.2] for these examples. \(iv) Finally, another fractal for which our present setting is appropriate is the two-dimensional Sierpiński carpet and its graphical approximations, as shown in Figure \[sc\]. (Again, the results would apply to other low-dimensional carpets.) Whilst the exact resistance scaling factor is not known in this case, previous results allow us to control the resistance in terms of the graph distance (cf. the comments in [@CroyLT Section 5.4]). It follows that there exist subsequences $(G_{n_i},a_{n_i}R_{n_i},b_{n_i}\mu_{n_i},\rho_{n_i})$ (where again $R_n$ is the resistance metric on $G_n$ with unit edge resistances, and $\mu_n$ is counting measure) that satisfy Assumption \[a1\] with $a_n=\gamma^n$ for some $\gamma\in (0,1)$, and $b_n=8^{-n}$. Bouchaud trap model {#bouchsec} =================== We start this section by introducing the (symmetric) Bouchaud trap model (BTM) on a locally finite, connected graph $G=(V_G,E_G)$. To do this, we first introduce a trapping landscape $\xi=(\xi_x)_{x\in V_G}$, which is a collection of independent and identically distributed strictly-positive random variables built on a probability space with probability measure $\mathbf{P}$. Conditional on $\xi$, the dynamics of the BTM are then given by a continuous-time $V_G$-valued Markov chain $X^\xi=(X^\xi_t)_{t\geq 0}$ with jump rate from $x$ to $y$ given by $1/\xi_x$ if $\{x,y\}\in E_G$, and jump rate 0 otherwise. The quenched law of $X^\xi$ started from $x$ (i.e. the law given $\xi$) will be denoted $P_x^\xi$, and the corresponding annealed law, obtained by integrating out $\xi$, by $\mathbb{P}^{\rm BTM}_x$ (cf. (\[anndef\])). To put the BTM into the framework of this article, we note that it can be obtained as a time-change of the continuous time simple random walk on $G$. In particular, let $R_G$ be the resistance metric on $V_G$ obtained by placing unit resistors along edges, and $\mu_G$ be the counting measure on $V_G$ (i.e. $\mu_G(\{x\})=1$ for all $x\in V_G$). As in Section \[rfsec\], we can naturally associate a process $X$ with the triple $(V_G,R_G,\mu_G)$, and it is an elementary exercise to check that this is the continuous-time $V_G$-valued Markov chain with unit jump rate along edges. Moreover, by time-changing $X$ as at (\[xnudef\]) according to the measure $\nu_G$ defined by setting $\nu_G(\{x\})=\xi_x$, we obtain $X^\xi$. Similarly to the previous section, our goal is to present scaling limits of the BTM for sequences of recurrent graphs which, when equipped with resistance metrics and counting measure, satisfy UVD and converge in the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology to a limit in $\mathbb{F}$. We will do this in the case when the trapping environment is heavy-tailed. More specifically, in this section we make the following assumption. [\[btmassu\] Suppose $(G_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is a sequence of locally finite, connected graphs with vertex sets $V_n$, resistance metrics $R_n$ (as above, here we assume that individual edges have unit resistance), counting measures $\mu_n$, and distinguished vertices $\rho_n$. Suppose further that each graph $G_n$ is recurrent, so that $(V_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)\in \mathbb{F}$. Moreover, assume that there exist scaling factors $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$, $(b_n)_{n\geq 1}$ such that $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ satisfy Assumption \[a1\], where the measure $\mu$ of the limiting space $(F,R,\mu,\rho)\in \mathbb{F}$ is non-atomic. Finally, we suppose that each $G_n$ is equipped with a trapping landscape $\xi^n=(\xi^n_x)_{x\in V_n}$ such that $$\label{alphatail} \mathbf{P}\left(\xi^n_x>u\right)\sim u^{-\alpha}$$ for some fixed $\alpha\in(0,1)$, where $f (u)\sim g (u)$ means $\lim_{u\to\infty}f(u)/g(u)=1$.]{} We next describe the limits of the trapping landscape and BTM under the above assumption. We will show that the former is given by the natural generalisation to (\[onedfinmeasure\]) obtained by setting $$\nu(dx):=\sum_{i}v_i\delta_{x_i}(dx),$$ where $(v_i,x_i)$ are the points of a Poisson process on $(0,\infty)\times F$ with intensity $\alpha v^{-1-\alpha}dv\mu(dx)$, and $\delta_{x}$ is the probability measure on $F$ that places all its mass at $x$; note that this is a locally finite, Borel regular measure on $(F,R)$ of full support, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. (where we suppose $\nu$ is also built on the probability space with probability measure $\mathbf{P}$). Moreover, the latter is given by $X^{\nu}$, that is, the time-change of the process $X$ naturally associated with $(F,R,\mu)$ by the measure $\nu$. Reflecting the terminology for the corresponding one-dimensional object, we will call this the $\alpha$-FIN process on $(F,R,\mu)$. In general, this is not a diffusion, but under our assumptions it will be whenever $X$ is, and in this case we will call it the $\alpha$-FIN diffusion. Given $\nu$, the quenched law of $X^\nu$ started from $x$ will be denoted by $P^{\nu}_x$, and the associated annealed law $\mathbb{P}^{\rm FIN}_x$. The following lemma establishes convergence of the trapping landscapes. We write $\nu_n$ for the measure on $V_n$ induced by the trapping landscape $\xi^n$. [\[nunconv2\] Suppose Assumption \[btmassu\] holds, and $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ are isometrically embedded into a common (complete, separable, locally compact) metric space $(M,d_M)$ so that the conclusion of Lemma \[embeddings\] holds. It is then the case that $b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n\rightarrow \nu$ in distribution with respect to the vague topology for locally finite Borel measures on $(M,d_M)$.]{} By [@Kall Theorem 16.16] (and the fact that measures of disjoint sets are independent under both $\nu_n$ and $\nu$), it will suffice to show that $b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n(B)\rightarrow \nu(B)$ in distribution, for every relatively compact set $B\subseteq M$ such that $B$ is a continuity set for $\nu$, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. Since $\nu(B)=0$, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., if and only if $\mu(B)=0$, the latter requirement is equivalent to supposing $B$ is a continuity set for $\mu$. For such a $B$, we have by assumption that $b_n\mu_n(B)\rightarrow \mu(B)$. Hence we have by an elementary computation that $$\label{laplaceconv} \mathbf{E}\left(e^{-\lambda b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n(B)}\right)=\mathbf{E}\left(e^{-\lambda b_n^{1/\alpha}\sum_{x\in B}\xi^n_x}\right)=\left(1-\lambda^\alpha b_n \Gamma(1-\alpha)+o(b_n)\right)^{\mu_n(B)}\rightarrow e^{-\lambda^\alpha \Gamma(1-\alpha)\mu(B)}.$$ Moreover, it is a simple application of Campbell’s theorem [@Kingman (3.17)] that $$\mathbf{E}\left (e^{-\lambda\nu(B)}\right) =\mathbf{E}\left(e^{-\sum_{i:x_i\in B}\lambda v_i}\right)=e^{-\int_{(0,\infty)\times B}\left(1-e^{-\lambda v}\right)\alpha v^{-1-\alpha}dv\mu(dx)}=e^{-\lambda^\alpha\Gamma(1-\alpha)\mu(B)},$$ and so we are done. In light of Lemma \[nunconv2\], and incorporating the scaling factors where appropriate, we can proceed exactly as for the proof of Proposition \[lbmconv\] to deduce convergence of the rescaled BTMs. We write $\mathbb{P}^{{\rm BTM}_n}_x$ for the annealed law of the BTM $X^{n,\xi^n}$ on $G_n$. [\[btmresult\] Suppose Assumption \[btmassu\] holds. It is then possible to isometrically embed $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ so that $$\mathbb{P}^{{\rm BTM}_n}_{\rho_n}\left(\left(X^{n,\xi^n}_{t/a_nb_n^{1/\alpha}}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right) \rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{{\rm FIN}}_{\rho}\left(\left(X^{\nu}_{t}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right)$$ weakly as probability measures on $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$.]{} [\[SG55ex\] [As applications of Proposition \[btmresult\], we can consider the same spaces as discussed in Example \[lbmexamples\]. For instance, for the BTM on the graph approximations to the Sierpiński gasket $(G_n)_{n\geq1}$ of Example \[lbmexamples\](iii), we have the convergence of the annealed law of $(X^{n,\xi^n}_{3^{n/\alpha}(5/3)^nt})_{t\geq 0}$ to the annealed law of the $\alpha$-FIN diffusion on the Sierpiński gasket.]{}]{} Random conductance model {#rcmsec} ======================== We now recall from the introduction the random conductance model; this is defined similarly to the BTM, but with random weights now assigned to the edges rather than to the vertices. As in the previous section, let $G=(V_G,E_G)$ be a locally finite, connected graph. Let $\omega=(\omega_e)_{e\in E_G}$ be a collection of independent and identically distributed strictly-positive random variables built on a probability space with probability measure $\mathbf{P}$; these are the so-called *random conductances*. (Actually, for our model of self-similar fractals, we will allow some local dependence.) Conditional on $\omega$, we define the *variable speed random walk (VSRW)* $X^\omega=(X^\omega_t)_{t\geq 0}$ to be the continuous-time $V_G$-valued Markov chain with jump rate from $x$ to $y$ given by $\omega_{xy}$ if $\{x,y\}\in E_G$, and jump rate 0 otherwise. We obtain the associated *constant speed random walk (CSRW)* $X^{\omega,\nu}=(X^{\omega,\nu}_t)_{t\geq 0}$ by setting the jump rate along edge $x$ to $y$ to be $\omega_{xy}/\nu(\{x\})$, where $$\nu\left(\{x\}\right):=\sum_{e\in E_G:\:x\in e}\omega_e;$$ note that this is the time-change of $X^\omega$ according to the measure $\nu$, and has unit mean holding times at each vertex. An important observation is that the VSRW and CSRW experience different trapping behaviour on edges of large conductance. In particular, if we have an edge of conductance $\omega_e\gg1$ (surrounded by other edges of conductance close to 1), then both the VSRW and CSRW cross the edge order $\omega_e$ times before escaping. However, each crossing only takes the VSRW a time of $1/\omega_e$, meaning that it is only trapped for a time of order 1, whereas each crossing for the CSRW takes a time of order 1, and so the latter process is trapped for a total time of order $\omega_e$. In particular, when the weights are bounded below, we might typically expect the VSRW associated with the conductances $\omega$ to behave like the VSRW on the unweighted graph, which in each of the examples we consider converges under scaling to Brownian motion on the limiting space. Moreover, we might expect the CSRW to behave like the Bouchaud trap model with trapping environment described by $\nu$, and therefore we expect to see FIN-type scaling limits for this process when the conductances are heavy-tailed. The aim of this section is to make the heuristics of the previous paragraph rigourous, in the sense that we will show for the random conductance model on certain sequences of graphs that, if the weights are chosen to satisfy (similarly to ) $$\label{omegatail} \mathbf{P}\left(\omega_e>u\right)\sim u^{-\alpha}$$ for some fixed $\alpha\in(0,1)$, then the rescaled VSRW $X^\omega$ converges to the canonical Brownian motion on the limit space, and the rescaled CSRW $X^{\omega,\nu}$ converges to the $\alpha$-FIN diffusion. The two classes we discuss are graph trees, and a family of self-similar fractals. Random conductance model on trees {#rcmtreesec} --------------------------------- In this section, we will study the scaling limit of the VSRW and CSRW for the random conductance model on sequences of graph trees; our main result is Proposition \[rcmtreeresult\]. As for the Bouchaud trap model, we will need to show that the associated time-change measures converge. The additional part of the argument will be to check that we also have homogenisation of the resistance metric when random conductances are placed along edges. In this setting, this is straightforward, since we can apply the law of large numbers along paths. We start by stating the main assumption of this section, which closely matches Assumption \[btmassu\]. The restriction to compact spaces is only for convenience of presentation, and not essential. [\[rcmtreeassu\] Suppose $(T_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is a sequence of finite graph trees with vertex sets $V_n$, edge sets $E_n$, resistance metrics $R_n$ (here we assume that individual edges have unit resistance), counting measures $\mu_n$, and distinguished vertices $\rho_n$. In particular, $(V_n,R_n,\mu_n,\rho_n)\in \mathbb{F}_c$. Moreover, assume that there exist scaling factors $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$, $(b_n)_{n\geq 1}$ such that $\sum_{n\geq 1}a_n^2<\infty$ and $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ satisfy Assumption \[a1\], where the limit space $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ is in $\mathbb{F}_c$, and the measure $\mu$ is non-atomic. Finally, we suppose that each $T_n$ is equipped with random conductances $\omega^n=(\omega^n_e)_{e\in E_n}$ such that (\[omegatail\]) holds.]{} We start by considering the resistance metrics on the weighted graph trees. In particular, given the conductances $\omega^n$, we define $R_n^\omega$ to be the associated resistance metric on $V_n$. In the following lemma, we show that, for large $n$, these random metrics are uniformly close to a scaled copy of $R_n$. The scaling factor is given by $\varrho:=\mathbf{E}\omega_e^{-1}$. [\[resconv\] Suppose Assumption \[rcmtreeassu\] holds. It is then the case that, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., $$\sup_{x,y\in V_n}a_n\left|R_n^\omega(x,y)-\varrho R_n(x,y)\right|\rightarrow 0.$$]{} Suppose $(V_n,a_nR_n)$ and $(F,R)$ are embedded into the same space $(M,d_M)$ such that holds. Define $(x_i^n)_{i,n\geq1}$ and $(x_i)_{i\geq1}$ as in Section \[compsec\], so that $a_nR_n(x_i^n,x_j^n)\rightarrow R(x_i,x_j)$, for all $i,j\geq1$. Since $R_n^\omega(x_i^n,x_j^n)$ is the sum of $(\omega^n_e)^{-1}$ along the $R_n(x_i^n,x_j^n)$ edges in the path from $x_i^n$ to $x_j^n$, we obtain from (a fourth moment version of) the strong law of large numbers that, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., ${R^\omega_n(x_i^n,x_j^n)}/{R_n(x_i^n,x_j^n)}\rightarrow \varrho$, for every $i,j\geq1$ (it is for this that the assumption $\sum_{n\geq 1}a_n^2<\infty$ is needed). In particular, the combination of the two previous observations implies that, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., $$\sup_{i,j\leq k}a_n\left|R_n^\omega(x_i^n,x_j^n))-\varrho R_n(x_i^n,x_j^n))\right|\rightarrow 0,\qquad \forall k\geq1.$$ Since the resistances of unit edges satisfy $(\omega^n_e)^{-1}\leq 1$, we also have that $R_n^{\omega}\leq R_n$. It thus follows that, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., $$\begin{aligned} \lefteqn{\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\sup_{x,y\in V_n}a_n\left|R_n^\omega(x,y)-\varrho R_n(x,y)\right|}\\ &\leq& \limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\left\{\sup_{i,j\leq k}a_n\left|R_n^\omega(x_i^n,x_j^n)-\varrho R_n(x_i^n,x_j^n)\right|+2\sup_{x\in V_n}\inf_{i\leq k}a_n R_n(x,x_i^n)\right\}\\ &\leq&2\varepsilon_k,\end{aligned}$$ where $\varepsilon_k$ is defined as in Section \[compsec\]. In particular, since $\varepsilon_k\rightarrow0$ as $k\rightarrow\infty$, the result follows. Similarly to Lemma \[nunconv2\], we next check convergence of the measures $\nu_n$, where we define $\nu_n(\{x\})=\sum_{e\in E_n:\:x\in e}\omega_e^n$ for $x\in V_n$. The limiting measure $\nu$ is the FIN measure on $F$, defined as in the previous section. [\[nunconv3\] Suppose Assumption \[rcmtreeassu\] holds, and $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ are isometrically embedded into a common (complete, separable, locally compact) metric space $(M,d_M)$ so that the conclusion of Lemma \[embeddings\] holds. It is then the case that $2^{-1}b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n\rightarrow \nu$ in distribution with respect to the vague topology for locally finite Borel measures on $(M,d_M)$.]{} We first note that, if $\tilde{\mu}_{n}$ is a measure on $V_n$ defined by setting $\tilde{\mu}_{n}(\{x\})={\rm deg}_n(x)$, i.e. the usual graph degree of $x$ in $T_n$, then it is an elementary exercise to check that $d_{T_n}^P(\tilde{\mu}_{n},2{\mu}_{n})\leq2$, where $d_{T_n}^P$ is the Prohorov metric for measures on $T_n$. In particular, it follows that $b_n\tilde{\mu}_{n}\rightarrow 2\mu$ weakly as measures on $M$. We next show that, for all $x\in M$, $r>0$ such that $B_M(x,r)$ is a continuity set for $\mu$, $$\label{ballmeasconv} 2^{-1}b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n\left(B_M(x,r)\right)\rightarrow \nu\left(B_M(x,r)\right)$$ in distribution. Writing $B=B_M(x,r)$, we have that $$\nu_n\left(B\right)=2\sum_{e\in E_n: e\subseteq B}\omega_e+\sum_{e\in E_n:\: e\cap B\neq \emptyset,\:e\not\subseteq B}\omega_e.$$ If we denote by $E_n^1(B)$ and $E_n^2(B)$ the subsets over which the two sums are taken, respectively, then we claim that $$\label{enlimits} b_n\left|E_n^1(B)\right|\rightarrow \mu(B),\qquad b_n\left|E_n^2(B)\right|\rightarrow 0.$$ Indeed, for the second limit, we note that the edges in $E_n^2(B)$ each connect to a distinct vertex in the annulus $\bar{B}_M(x,r+a_n)\backslash B$. It follows that, for any $\varepsilon>0$, $$\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}b_n\left|E_n^2(B)\right|\leq \limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty} b_n\mu_n\left(\bar{B}_M(x,r+a_n)\backslash B\right)\leq \mu\left(\bar{B}_M(x,r+\varepsilon)\backslash B\right).$$ Since $B$ is a continuity set for $\mu$, the right-hand side can be made arbitrarily small by adjusting $\varepsilon$ as appropriate, which confirms the desired result. Given this, the first limit at (\[enlimits\]) is a simple consequence of the identity $\tilde{\mu}_n(B)=2|E_n^1(B)|+|E_n^1(B)|$, and the conclusion of the first paragraph. Thus, exactly as for (\[laplaceconv\]), we have that $\mathbf{E}(e^{-\lambda 2^{-1} b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n(B)})\rightarrow e^{-\lambda^\alpha \Gamma(1-\alpha)\mu(B)}$, which establishes (\[ballmeasconv\]). With the same techniques, it is straightforward to extend (\[ballmeasconv\]) to the result that $$\left(2^{-1}b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n\left(B_i\right)\right)_{i=1}^k\rightarrow \left(\nu\left(B_i\right)\right)_{i=1}^k$$ in distribution, where each set $B_i$ is a finite unions of balls that are continuity sets for $\mu$. In particular, since the collection of such sets forms a separating class (see [@Kall p. 317]), this implies the result (see [@Kall Theorem 16.16 and Exercise 16.11]). From Lemmas \[resconv\] and \[nunconv3\], we are able to prove the main result of this section. We write $P^{{\rm VSRW}_n}_x$ for the quenched law of the VSRW $X^{n,\omega}$ on the tree $T_n$ with conductances $\omega^n$, started from $x$. We write $\mathbb{P}^{{\rm CSRW}_n}_{x}$ for the annealed law of the corresponding CSRW $X^{n,\omega,\nu}$. We write $P_x$ for the law of the Brownian motion on $(F,R,\mu)$ started from $x$, and $\mathbb{P}^{{\rm FIN}}_{\rho}$ is the annealed law of the associated $\alpha$-FIN diffusion, defined as in Section \[bouchsec\]. [\[rcmtreeresult\] Suppose Assumption \[rcmtreeassu\] holds. It is then possible to isometrically embed $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ into a common metric space $(M,d_M)$ so that, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., $$\label{vsrwresult} P^{{\rm VSRW}_n}_{\rho_n}\left(\left(X^{n,\omega}_{\varrho t/ a_nb_n}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right)\rightarrow P_\rho\left(\left(X_{t}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right)$$ weakly as probability measures on $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$. Moreover, $$\mathbb{P}^{{\rm CSRW}_n}_{\rho_n}\left(\left(X^{n,\omega,\nu}_{2\varrho t/ a_nb_n^{1/\alpha}}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right) \rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{{\rm FIN}}_{\rho}\left(\left(X^{\nu}_{t}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right)$$ weakly as probability measures on $D(\mathbb{R}_+,M)$.]{} The proof is essentially the same as that of Theorem \[main1\] and Corollary \[maincor\], but with care needed as the random metric $R_n^\omega$ is different to the metric $R_n$ used for the embedding. (We suppose throughout that the embeddings of $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)$, $n\geq 1$, and $(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ into $(M,d_M)$ satisfy the conclusion of Lemma \[embeddings\].) We first note that, since $R_n^\omega\leq R_n$ and Lemma \[resconv\] holds, we have from the UVD assumption for the underlying space that, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., $$b_n\mu_n\left(B_{n}^\omega(x,r)\right)\geq c_1v(r),\qquad\forall x\in V_n,\:r\in[r^\omega_0(n),r^\omega_\infty(n)+1],$$ and, for every $\varepsilon>0$, $$b_n\mu_n\left(B_{n}^\omega(x,r)\right)\leq c_2v(r),\qquad\forall x\in V_n,\:r\in[\max\{r^\omega_0(n),a_n^{-1}\varepsilon\},r^\omega_\infty(n)+1],$$ where distances are defined with respect to the metric $R_n^\omega$ (note the truncation at $a_n^{-1}\varepsilon$ in the upper bound). These bounds are enough to repeat the proof of Lemma \[ltcont\] (cf. the weaker version of UVD in [@CroyLT]) to deduce the equicontinuity of the rescaled local times $(a_nL^{n,\omega}_{\varrho t/a_nb_n}(x))_{x\in V_n}$ of the VSRW $X^{n,\omega}$ with respect to the distance $a_nR_n^\omega$, and, by Lemma \[resconv\] again, the equicontinuity of these local times with respect to $a_nR_n$. We also claim that the above volume bounds yield that in place of (\[etest\]) we have, for $\delta,\tilde{\varepsilon}>0$, $$\label{exptailest} \limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\sup_{x\in V_n}P^{{\rm VSRW}_n}_{x} \left(\sup_{0\leq t\leq \delta}a_nR_n\left(x,X^{n,\omega}_{\varrho t/ a_nb_n}\right)>\tilde{\varepsilon}\right)\leq c_1 e^{-\frac{c_2 \tilde{\varepsilon}}{v^{-1}(\delta/\tilde{\varepsilon})}},\qquad \mathbf{P}\mbox{-a.s.}$$ Checking this requires only a minor adaptation of results from [@Kum]. Indeed, writing $\tau^{n,\omega}(x,r):=\inf\{t>0:\:a_nR_n(x,X^{n,\omega}_{\varrho t/ a_nb_n})> r\}$ and $h(r) = rv(r)$, the proof of [@Kum Proposition 4.2] gives the existence of constants $c_1, c_2$ such that $$E^{{\rm VSRW}_n}_{x}\left(\tau^{n,\omega}(y,r)\right)\leq c_1h(r), \qquad E^{{\rm VSRW}_n}_{x}\left(\tau^{n,\omega}(x,r)\right)\geq c_2h(r),$$ for all $x,y\in V_n$, $r\in [\max\{a_nr^\omega_0(n),\varepsilon\},a_n(r^\omega_\infty(n)+1)]$ and $n\geq 1$, and from this it readily follows that $$P^{{\rm VSRW}_n}_{x}\left(\tau^{n,\omega}(x,r)\leq s\right)\leq 1-c_3+\frac{c_4s}{h(r)}$$ for every $x\in V_n$, $r\in [\max\{a_nr^\omega_0(n),\varepsilon\},a_n(r^\omega_\infty(n)+1)]$, $s\geq 0$ and $n\geq 1$, cf. proof of [@Kum Lemma 4.2]. To obtain the exponential estimate of , we then follow the chaining argument of [@Kum Lemma 4.2]. This requires us to apply the previous exit time tail estimate for radii no smaller than $c_5v^{-1}(\tilde{\varepsilon}/\delta)$ (with respect to the metric $a_nR_n$). Noting that $a_nr^\omega_0(n)\rightarrow 0$, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., one can thus adjust $\varepsilon$ so that the relevant estimates hold for large $n$. Applying the conclusions of the previous paragraph, the proof of Proposition \[compactcase\] can be followed exactly to yield the result at (\[vsrwresult\]). Moreover, since we have local time equicontinuity and the distributional convergence of time-change measures given by Lemma \[nunconv3\], we also obtain the convergence of local times as at (\[ltconv1\]), and the convergence of the CSRW $X^{n,\omega,\nu}$ under the annealed measure (cf. the proof of Proposition \[lbmconv\] again). [\[exa6-5\] [As a first application of Proposition \[rcmtreeresult\], one might consider the random conductance model on the Vicsek set example of Example \[lbmexamples\](ii). For this, we obtain the quenched convergence of the VSRW, $$\left(X^{n,\omega}_{\varrho 15^nt}\right)_{t\geq 0}\rightarrow \left(X_t\right)_{t\geq0},$$ where $X$ is the Brownian motion on the Vicsek set, and also the annealed convergence of the CSRW, $$\left(X^{n,\omega,\nu}_{2\varrho5^{n/\alpha}3^n t}\right)_{t\geq 0}\rightarrow\left(X^{\nu}_t\right)_{t\geq 0},$$ where $X^{\nu}$ is the $\alpha$-FIN diffusion on the Vicsek set.]{}]{} Random conductance model on self-similar fractals {#rcmfractalsec} ------------------------------------------------- In this section, we study the random conductance model on a class of self-similar fractals, extending the homogenisation results of [@Kum2; @kk] greatly. After introducing the model in Section \[ufrsec\], we then go on to study the renormalisation and homogenisation of associated discrete Dirichlet forms in Sections \[renormsec\] and \[homogsec\], respectively, and derive our main scaling results in Section \[concsec\]. ### Uniform finitely ramified graphs {#ufrsec} For $\beta>1$ and $I=\{1,2,\cdots, N\}$, let $(\Psi_i)_{i\in I}$ be a family of contraction maps on ${{\mathbb R}}^d$ such that $\Psi_i{\bf x}=\beta^{-1}U_i{\bf x} +\gamma_i,~{\bf x}\in {{\mathbb R}}^d$, where $U_i$ is a unitary map and $\gamma_i\in {{\mathbb R}}^d$. Assume that $(\Psi_i)_{i\in I}$ satisfies the open set condition, i.e., there is a non-empty, bounded open set $W$ such that $(\Psi_i (W))_{i\in I}$ are disjoint and $\cup_{i\in I} \Psi_i (W)\subset W$. As $(\Psi_i)_{i\in I}$ is a family of contraction maps, there exists a unique non-void compact set $F$ such that ${F} =\cup_{i\in I}\Psi_i ({F})$. We assume $F$ is connected. Let $Fix$ be the set of fixed points of the maps $\Psi_{i}$, $i\in I$. A point $x \in Fix$ is called an [*essential fixed point*]{} if there exist $i,j \in I,~i \ne j$ and $y\in Fix$ such that $\Psi_{i}(x)=\Psi_{j}(y)$. Let $I_{Fix}:=\{i\in I:$ the fixed point of $\Psi_i$ is an essential fixed point$\}$. We write ${V}_0$ for the set of essential fixed points. Denote $\Psi_{i_{1},\dots,i_{n}}=\Psi_{i_{1}}\circ\dots\circ\Psi_{i_{n}}$. We further assume a finitely ramified property, i.e., if $\{i_{1},\dots,i_{n}\}, \{j_{1},\dots,j_{n}\}$ are distinct sequences, then $$\Psi_{i_{1},\dots,i_{n}}({ F}) \bigcap\Psi_{j_{1},\dots,j_{n}} ({F})=\Psi_{i_{1},\dots,i_{n}}({V}_0)\bigcap\Psi_{j_{1}, \dots,j_{n}}({ V}_0);$$ note that, for each $n\ge 0$ and $i_1,\cdots,i_{n}\in I$, we call a set of the form $\Psi_{i_1,\cdots, i_n}({ V}_0)$ an $n$-cell. A compact *uniform finitely ramified (u.f.r.) fractal* ${F}$ is a set determined by $(\Psi_i)_{i\in I}$ satisfying the above assumptions with $|{V}_0|\ge 2$. Throughout, we assume without loss of generality that $\Psi_1({\bf x})=\beta^{-1}{\bf x}$ and ${\bf 0}$ belongs to ${V}_0$. We observe that u.f.r. fractals, first introduced in [@HK], form a class of fractals which is wider than nested fractals ([@lind]), and is included in the class of p.c.f. self-similar sets ([@kig1]). In particular, the Sierpiński gasket is an example of a u.f.r. fractal. We next introduce the sequence of u.f.r. graphs approximating $F$. In particular, let $${V}_n=\cup_{i_1,\cdots,i_n\in I}\Psi_{i_{1},\dots,i_{n}}({V}_0),$$ noting that ${F}$ is the closure of $\cup_{n=0}^\infty{V}_n$. Moreover, denote by $E_n$ the collection of pairs of distinct points $x,y\in V_n$ such that $x$ and $y$ are in the same $n$-cell, and let $\mu_n$ be the counting measure on $V_n$ (placing mass one on each vertex). We will be interested in the scaling behaviour of $(V_n,R_n^\omega,\mu_n,\rho_n)$ (where $\rho_n$ is some distinguished vertex) and the associated VSRW and CSRW when $R_n^\omega$ is the resistance metric determined by placing random conductances along edges in $E_n$; in this section we generalise slightly from the i.i.d. conductance assumption to allow dependencies within the same $n$-cell. For some of our results, it will be convenient to work in terms of the unbounded u.f.r. fractal and graphs; we define these now. We call ${\hat F}:=\cup_{n=1}^{\infty} \beta^n {F}$ an unbounded uniform finitely ramified fractal. Let ${\hat V}={\hat V}_0=\cup_{n=0}^{\infty}\beta^{n} {V}_n$, and ${\hat V}_{n}=\beta^{-n} {\hat V}$ for $n \in {\mathbb Z}$. We define $n$-cells for $n\in {\mathbb Z}$ as in the compact case, and denote by ${\hat E}_n$ the edges of the unbounded graph, connecting vertices within the same $n$-cell. Finally for this section, we introduce some useful index spaces. In particular, let $$\begin{aligned} \Xi &=&\{\eta \in I^{{\mathbb Z}}: \mbox { there exists $n\in {\mathbb Z}$ such that } \eta_k=1, k \ge n\},\\ \Xi_+ &=&\{\eta \in I^{{\mathbb N}}: \mbox { there exists $n\in {\mathbb N}$ such that } \eta_k=1, k \ge n\}.\end{aligned}$$ There is then a continuous map $\pi: \Xi\to {\mathbb R}^D$ such that $$\pi(\eta)= \lim_{n\to \infty} \beta^n \Psi_{\eta_n}(\Psi_{\eta_{n-1}}(\cdots(\Psi_{\eta_{-n}} ({\bf 0}))\cdots)).$$ It is easy to see ${\hat F}=\pi (\Xi)$. For any $\eta\in \Xi _+$ and $i\in I_{Fix}$, define $[\eta,i]\in \Xi$ as follows; $$[\eta,i](k)=\left\{\begin{array}{rl}\eta_k,&~~k\ge 1\\i,&~~k\le 0.\end{array}\right.$$ Then, ${\hat V}=\{\pi([\eta,i]): \eta \in \Xi_+, i\in I_{Fix}\}.$ ### Renormalisation of forms {#renormsec} In this section, we introduce notation and basic properties for Dirichlet forms and associated renormalisation maps on uniform finitely ramified graphs. To begin with, let ${\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}$ be the set of $Q=(Q_{ij})_{i,j\in I_{Fix}}$ such that $$Q_{ij}=Q_{ji},~~\forall i,j\in I_{Fix},\qquad\sum_{j\in I_{Fix}} Q_{ij}=0, ~~\forall i\in I_{Fix}.$$ Observe that ${\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}$ is a vector space, with an inner product $(\cdot,\cdot)_{{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}}$ given by $$(Q,Q')_{{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}}=\sum_{j,k\in I_{Fix}} Q_{jk}Q'_{jk}=\mbox {Trace}~ Q{}^tQ',\qquad Q,Q'\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}.$$ Let ${\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+=\{Q\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}: {S}_Q(\xi,\xi)\ge 0$ for any $\xi \in l(I_{Fix})\}$, where $${S}_Q(\xi,\xi)=-\sum_{i,j\in I_{Fix}}Q_{ij}\xi_i \xi_j=\frac 12 \sum_{i,j\in I_{Fix}}Q_{ij}(\xi_i-\xi_j)^2,$$ and we define $l(A)=\{f:A\to {\mathbb R}\}$ for a set $A$. Set $$\|Q\|^2=\sup_{\xi\in l(I_{Fix})}\frac{{S}_Q(\xi,\xi)}{\sum_{i\in I_{Fix}}\xi_i^2}.$$ Note that $c_{1}\|Q\|^2\le (Q,Q)_{{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}}\le c_{2}\|Q\|^2$ for all $Q\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+$. Let $$\begin{aligned} {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M&:=&\{Q\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}: Q_{ij}\ge 0, \forall i,j\in I_{Fix}, i \ne j\},\\ \mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)&:=&\{Q\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}: Q_{ij}> 0, \forall i,j\in I_{Fix}, i \ne j\},\\ {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_{irr}&:=&\{Q\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M: {S}_Q(\xi,\xi)=0 \Leftrightarrow \xi \mbox{ is constant}\}.\end{aligned}$$ Note that $\mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)\subset {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_{irr} \subset {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M \subset {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+$. Take $Q_*\in\mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$, and let $$\begin{aligned} {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+:=C(\Xi_+,{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+),~~ {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_M:=C(\Xi_+,{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M),~~{\mbox{$\Theta$}}_{irr}:= C(\Xi_+,{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_{irr}).\end{aligned}$$ Then ${\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$ and ${\mbox{$\Theta$}}_M$ are convex cones. For any $\theta\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$, define ${\hat S}_\theta$ by $${\hat S}_\theta(u,u)=\frac 12\sum_{\eta\in\Xi_+}{S}_{\theta(\eta)}(u(\pi([\eta,\cdot])), u(\pi([\eta,\cdot]))),~~u\in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)},$$ where ${\hat \mu}_0$ is the counting measure on ${\hat V}$. If $\theta\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_M$, then ${\hat S}_\theta$ is a Dirichlet form on ${{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}$. So, there is an associated Markov process $((X^\theta_t)_{t\geq 0}, (P^\theta_x)_{x\in \hat{V}})$. We introduce an order relation $\le$ in ${\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$ as follows: $$\theta\le {\theta'} ~\mbox { if }~ {\hat S}_\theta(u,u) \le {\hat S}_{\theta'} (u,u) ~\mbox { for all }~ u \in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}.$$ The norm on ${\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$ is given by $\|\theta\|^2=\sup_{u\in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}}{\hat S}_\theta(u,u)/\|u\|_{{{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}}^2$. We now define the renormalisation map $\bar{\Phi}$. For any $\theta\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$, let ${\hat S}_\theta^{(1)}:{{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}\to [0,\infty)$ be given by $${\hat S}_\theta^{(1)}(u)=\inf \{{\hat S}_\theta(v,v):v\in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)},~ v(\beta x)=u(x),~x\in {\hat V}\}.$$ By the self-similarity of ${\hat F}$, there is a renormalisation map ${\bar \Phi}:{\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+ \to {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$ defined by setting ${\hat S}_\theta^{(1)}(u)={\hat S}_{{\bar \Phi}(\theta)} (u,u)$ for all $\theta\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$ and $u \in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}$. Let $\iota: {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+\to {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$ be such that $\iota (Q)(\eta)=Q$ for all $\eta\in\Xi_+$ and $Q\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+$. Define a renormalisation map ${\tilde \Phi}:{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+\to{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+$ as ${\tilde \Phi}(Q)={\bar \Phi}(\iota(Q))(\eta)$ for $\eta\in \Xi_+$. Note that it is independent of the choice of $\eta\in\Xi_+$. By Schauder’s fixed point theorem, we know that there exists $Q_*\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M$ (with $(Q_*)_{ij}>0$ for some $i\ne j$) and $\varrho_{Q_*}>0$ such that ${\tilde \Phi}(Q_*)=\varrho_{Q_*}^{-1} Q_*$. Henceforth, we assume the following. \[thm:ass1\] (1) For each $Q\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_{irr}$, there exists $n_0=n_0(Q)\in {\mathbb N}$ such that ${\tilde \Phi}^n(Q)\in \mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$ for all $n\ge n_0$.\ (2) There exists $Q_0\in \mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$ and $\varrho_{Q_0}>0$ such that ${\tilde \Phi}(Q_0)=\varrho_{Q_0}^{-1} Q_0$. In the following, we take one $Q_0\in \mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$, as given by Assumption \[thm:ass1\](2), and fix it. [(1) It is known that $\varrho_{Q_0}>0$ is uniquely determined, i.e. if $Q_1,Q_2\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_{irr}$ satisfy ${\tilde \Phi}(Q_j)=\varrho_{Q_j}^{-1} Q_j$ ($j=1,2$) with $\varrho_{Q_1}, \varrho_{Q_2}>0$, then $\varrho_{Q_1}=\varrho_{Q_2}=\varrho_{Q_0}$. In the class of fractal graphs we consider, we can prove $\varrho_{Q_0}>1$ (see [@kig1], for example).\ (2) Every nested fractal satisfies Assumption \[thm:ass1\].]{} Under Assumption \[thm:ass1\], we set $\Phi=\varrho_{Q_0} {\bar \Phi}: {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+\to{\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$, $\hat\Phi=\varrho_{Q_0} {\tilde \Phi}$ and ${\hat S}_\theta^{\Phi}(u)=\varrho_{Q_0}{\hat S}_\theta^{\bar \Phi}(u)$ for $u \in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}$. ### Homogenisation of forms {#homogsec} In this subsection, we will describe the homogenisation of the discrete Dirichlet forms associated with the random conductance model on u.f.r. fractals, see Theorem \[thm:conth\] for the main result. First, we give some further definitions for later use. Let ${V}_0=\{a_i: i\in I_{Fix}\}$. For $Q^*\in \mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$, $k\in I$, we define a matrix $A_{k,Q^*}\in l(I_{Fix}^2)$ by setting $$(A_{k,Q^*})_{ij}=P^{Q^*}_{\Psi_k(a_i)}\big(X^1_{\tau_{{ V}_0}}=a_j\big),$$ where $X^1$ is a discrete time Markov chain on ${V}_1$ whose transition probabilities are determined by the Dirichlet form obtained by placing a copy of $Q^*$ on each $1$-cell, and $\tau_{{V}_0}=\inf\{n\ge 0: X^1_n\in {V}_0\}$. Then, it is easy to see that the following holds for u.f.r. graphs; $0<(A_{k,Q^*})_{ij}<1$ if $k\ne i$ and $(A_{k,Q^*})_{kj}=\delta_{kj}$. We now define a liberalisation of the renormalisation map around the fixed point $Q_*$. For any $\theta\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$ and $Q_*\in \mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$ with ${\hat \Phi}(Q_*)=Q_*$, define $${\hat S}_\theta^{(2)}(u)=\varrho_{Q_0}{\hat S}_\theta(v,v)\qquad\mbox { for }~~~u \in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)},$$ where $v\in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}$ satisfies $v(\beta x)=u(x),~x\in {\hat V}$, and $v$ is $Q_*$-harmonic on ${\hat V}\setminus \beta {\hat V}$, i.e., $$v(\pi([\eta\cdot i,j]))= \sum_{k\in I_{Fix}} (A_{i,Q_*})_{jk}u(\pi([\eta,k]))\qquad\mbox { for } ~~~i\in I,j\in I_{Fix}.$$ Here $\eta\cdot i\in \Xi_+$ is given by $(\eta\cdot i)_n=\eta_{n-1},~n\ge2$ and $(\eta\cdot i)_1=i$. It is easy to see that ${\hat S}_\theta^{(2)}(u)={\hat S}_{{H_{Q_*}}(\theta)}(u,u)$ for all $\theta\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$ and $u \in {{\mathbb L}^2 ({\hat V},{\hat \mu}_0)}$, where $${H_{Q_*}}(\theta)(\eta)=\varrho_{Q_0}\sum_{k\in I} {}^tA_{k,Q_*} \theta(\eta\cdot k)A_{k,Q_*}.$$ Similarly, we define a linear map $\hat H_{Q_*}: {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+\to {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_+$ by ${\hat H_{Q_*}}(Q)=\varrho_{Q_0}\sum_{k\in I} {}^tA_{k,Q_*} QA_{k,Q_*}.$ Note that $\hat H_{Q_*}(Q_*)=Q_*$. The following properties of $\Phi$ and $H_{Q_*}$ are easy, but important. Note that the corresponding results hold for ${{\hat \Phi}}$. Let $Q_*\in \mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$ satisfy ${\hat \Phi}(Q_*)=Q_*$ and $\theta,{\theta'}\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_+$.\ (1) If $\theta\le {\theta'}$, then $\Phi(\theta)\le \Phi({\theta'})$, $H_{Q_*}(\theta)\le H_{Q_*}({\theta'})$ and $\Phi(\theta)\le H_{Q_*}(\theta)$.\ (2) For $a,b\ge 0$, $\Phi(a\theta+b{\theta'})\ge a\Phi(\theta)+b\Phi({\theta'})$ and $H_{Q_*}(a\theta+b{\theta'})= aH_{Q_*}(\theta)+bH_{Q_*}({\theta'})$. We are now ready to introduce a probability measure $\mathbf{P}$ on $\Theta_M$ to describe our random conductance model in this setting. In particular, we now write $\theta$ for a $\Theta_M$-valued random variable, and suppose that, under $\mathbf{P}$, the elements $(\theta(\eta))_{\eta\in \Xi_+}$ are independently identically distributed ${\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M$-valued random variables such that $C_1 Q_0\le \theta(\eta)$ for $\eta\in \Xi_+$. Note that in [@Kum2; @kk] it was assumed that $\mathbf{P}(\{\theta\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_M: C_1 Q_0\le \theta(\eta) \le C_2 Q_0,$ for $\eta\in \Xi_+\})=1$ for some $C_1,C_2>0$. Here we do not assume such a uniform ellipticity condition from above. We note the following further property of $\Phi$: $$\label{basic10} \mathbf{E}(\Phi(\theta))\le \Phi(\mathbf{E}(\theta)),$$ where the expectation is taken for each element of the matrix in ${\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M$. Let $\Phi^n$ be the $n$-th iteration of $\Phi$. We make the following further assumption, which is possible to verify in the case of nested fractals when the distribution of the individual conductances does not have too heavy a tail at infinity. \[thm:ass2\] There exists $n_0\in {\mathbb N}$ such that $$\mathbf{E}\left[(\Phi^{n_0}(\theta)(\eta)_{ij})^2\right]<\infty,\qquad \forall i, j\in I_{Fix},\:\eta\in\Xi_+.$$ Note that under Assumption $\ref{thm:ass2}$ we have, for all $i\ne j\in I_{Fix}$, $\eta\in\Xi_+$, $$\mathbf{E}[\Phi^{n_0}(\theta)(\eta)_{ij}] \le (\mathbf{E}[(\Phi^{n_0}(\theta)(\eta)_{ij})^2])^{1/2}<\infty,$$ so by (\[basic10\]), $\mathbf{E}[\Phi^{n}(\theta)(\eta)_{ij}]<\infty$ for all $i\ne j\in I_{Fix}$, $\eta\in\Xi_+$, $n\ge n_0$. We next give a sufficient condition for Assumption $\ref{thm:ass2}$ to hold. For $x,y\in V_n$, define $$h_n(x,y)=\min\{k: K_1,\cdots K_k \mbox{ are $n$-cells}, x\in K_1,y\in K_k, K_i\cap K_{i+1}\ne \emptyset, \forall i=1,\dots,k-1\}.$$ Suppose that there exists $n_0\in {\mathbb N}$ such that $\min_{x,y\in V_0, x\ne y}h_{n_0}(x,y)\ge 2$. Suppose also that the law of $\theta(\eta)_{ij}$ has at most polynomial decay at infinity for all $i\ne j\in I_{Fix}$, $\eta\in\Xi_+$, namely there exists $c_1,\gamma_{ij}>0$ such that $\mathbf{P} (\theta(\eta)_{ij}\ge s)\le c_1s^{-\gamma_{ij}}$. Then Assumption \[thm:ass2\] holds. In particular, Assumption \[thm:ass2\] holds for nested fractal graphs if the law of the random conductances has at most polynomial decay at infinity. First, suppose we have two edges with conductance $\omega_1$, $\omega_2$ such that $\mathbf{P}(\omega_i\ge s)\le c_is^{-\gamma_i}$ for $i=1,2$. If the edges are connected in parallel, then the effective conductance is $\omega_1+\omega_2$, which satisfies $$\label{eq:biebi11} \mathbf{P}(\omega_1+\omega_2\ge s)\le \mathbf{P}(\omega_1\ge s/2)+\mathbf{P}(\omega_2\ge s/2)\le 2(c_1\vee c_2)s^{-\gamma_1\wedge \gamma_2},\qquad\forall s\ge 1.$$ Similarly, connect the two conductances in series, and assume that $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ are independent. Then the effective conductance is $(\omega_1^{-1}+\omega_2^{-1})^{-1}$, and we have $$\begin{aligned} \mathbf{P}((\omega_1^{-1}+\omega_2^{-1})^{-1}\ge s) &=&\mathbf{P}(\omega_1^{-1}+\omega_2^{-1}\le s^{-1})\nonumber\\ &\le &\mathbf{P}(\omega_1^{-1}\le s^{-1})\mathbf{P}(\omega_2^{-1}\le s^{-1})\nonumber\\ &\le &c_1c_2s^{-\gamma_1- \gamma_2}, \qquad\forall s\ge 1.\label{eq:biebi22}\end{aligned}$$ Next, note that by the assumption we have $\min_{x,y\in V_0, x\ne y}h_{ln_0}(x,y)\ge 2^l$ for all $l\ge 1$. Let $a_i\in V_0$ be the fixed point of $\Psi_i$. Consider the network on $\beta^{ln_0}V_{ln_0}$ and fix $a_i\ne a_j\in V_0$. Define $H_m=\{z\in \beta^{ln_0}V_{ln_0}: h_{ln_0}(a_i,\beta^{-ln_0}z)=m\}$ for $1\le m \le h_{ln_0}(a_i,a_j)-1$, and $H_{h_{ln_0}(a_i,a_j)}=\{z\in \beta^{ln_0}V_{ln_0}: h_{ln_0}(a_i,\beta^{-ln_0}z)\ge h_{ln_0}(a_i,a_j)\}$. Now short all the vertices that are in the same $H_m$ for $1\le m \le h_{ln_0}(a_i,a_j)$, and let $C_{ij}$ be the effective conductance between $a_i$ and $a_j$ for the induced network. By Rayleigh’s monotonicity principle for electric networks, we see that $\Phi^{ln_0}(\theta)(\eta)_{ij}\le C_{ij}$, where $\eta=(1,1,1,\dots)$. Applying and repeatedly, we see that $C_{ij}^2$ is integrable when $l$ is large enough. Therefore Assumption $\ref{thm:ass2}$ holds in this case. Finally, note that the condition $\min_{x,y\in \hat V_0, x\ne y}h_{n_0}(x,y)\ge 2$ holds for nested fractal graphs due to [@kus Lemma $(2.8)$], so the last assertion holds. We are now ready to state the main result of this section. \[thm:conth\] Under Assumptions $\ref{thm:ass1}$ and $\ref{thm:ass2}$, there exists $Q_{\mathbf{P}} \in\mbox{Int}({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_{M})$ such that, for all $\eta\in \Xi_+$, $$\label{eq:daiji} Q_{\mathbf{P}}=\lim_{n\to\infty}\Phi^n(\theta)(\eta),\qquad \mbox{in }{L}^1({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M,\mathbf{P}).$$ The rest of this subsection is devoted to proving Theorem \[thm:conth\]. The next proposition is a restricted version of the result by Peirone [@peir], whose original ideas come from Sabot [@sab]; see [@Kum2 Appendix $A$] for the proof. \[thm:peir\] Under Assumption $\ref{thm:ass1}$, for each $M\in {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_{irr}$, there exists $Q_M \in \mbox{Int}({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$ such that $Q_M=\lim_{n\to\infty} {{\hat \Phi}}^n(M)$. The next lemma is an adaptation of [@kk Lemma 4.1], but the proof requires serious modification from the latter work to cover our more general setting. We denote by $H^n_{Q_*}$ the $n$-th iteration of $H_{Q_*}$. \[thm:EHX\] Let $Q_*\in \mbox{Int}({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$ satisfy ${{\hat \Phi}}(Q_*)=Q_*$. Under Assumption \[thm:ass2\], there exist $c_{1}>0$ and $0<\varepsilon <1$ such that $$\label{eq:neow} \mathbf{E}[\Vert H^n_{Q_*}(\Phi^{n_0}(\theta))(\eta)-H^n_{Q_*}(\mathbf{E}[\Phi^{n_0}(\theta)])(\eta)\Vert^2]\le c_{1} (1-\varepsilon)^n,~~~\forall\eta\in \Xi_+, n\ge 1.$$ In particular, it $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. holds that $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\Vert H^n_{Q_*}(\Phi^{n_0}(\theta))(\eta)-H^n_{Q_*}(\mathbf{E}[\Phi^{n_0}(\theta)])(\eta)\Vert= 0,\qquad\forall\eta\in \Xi_+.$$ Let the left hand side of $(\ref{eq:neow})$ be $f(n,\eta)$ and set $\theta'=\Phi^{n_0}(\theta)$. Further, let $$\begin{aligned} \theta'^{(1)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)&=&{}^tA_{i_n}\cdots{}^tA_{i_1} \theta'(\eta\cdot i_1\cdots\cdot i_n)A_{i_1}\cdots A_{i_n},\\ \theta'^{(2)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)&=&{}^tA_{i_n}\cdots{}^tA_{i_1} \mathbf{E}[\theta'(\eta\cdot i_1\cdots\cdot i_n)]A_{i_1}\cdots A_{i_n},\\ \theta'_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)&=&\theta'^{(1)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta) -\theta'^{(2)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta),\end{aligned}$$ where we set $A_i:=A_{i,Q_*}$. Then we have $$\begin{aligned} f(n,\eta) &\leq& c\varrho_{Q_0}^{2n} \mathbf{E}\left[\mbox{Trace}\left[\left(\sum_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}\theta'_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)\right)^2\right]\right]\\ &=&c \varrho_{Q_0}^{2n}\sum_{i_1,\cdots,i_n} \mathbf{E}\left[\mbox{Trace}\left[\left(\theta'_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)\right)^2\right]\right]\\ &= &c\varrho_{Q_0}^{2n}\sum_{i_1,\cdots,i_n} \left(\mathbf{E}\left[\mbox{Trace}\left[\left(\theta'^{(1)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)\right)^2\right]\right]-\mbox{Trace}\left[\left(\theta'^{(2)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)\right)^2\right]\right)\\ &\le& c\varrho_{Q_0}^{2n} \sum_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}\mathbf{E}\left[\left(\mbox{Trace}\:\theta'^{(1)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)\right)^2\right],\end{aligned}$$ where the first equality is because $\theta'_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)$ and $\theta'_{j_1,\cdots,j_n}(\eta)$ are independent (because of the finitely ramified property) and mean zero for $({i_1,\cdots,i_n})\ne (j_1,\cdots,j_n)$, and the last inequality is because $\mbox{Trace } (B^2) \le (\mbox{Trace } B)^2$ for any non-negative definite symmetric matrix $B$. Set $A=(a_{ij})=A_{i_1}\cdots A_{i_n}$, $(x_{ij}) =\theta'(\eta\cdot i_1\cdots\cdot i_n)$. Then we have $$\begin{aligned} (\theta'^{(1)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta))_{ij}=\sum_{k,l}a_{ki}a_{lj}x_{kl} =-\frac 12\sum_{k,l: k\ne l}(a_{ki}-a_{li})(a_{kj}-a_{lj})x_{kl},\end{aligned}$$ because $x_{ll}=-\sum_{k:k\ne l}x_{kl}$. Thus, denoting $Q_*=(q_*)_{ij}$, we have $$\begin{aligned} \lefteqn{\mathbf{E}\left[\left(\mbox{Trace}\:\theta'^{(1)}_{i_1,\cdots,i_n}(\eta)\right)^2\right]}\\ &=&\mathbf{E}\left[\left(-\frac 12\sum_i\sum_{k,l: k\ne l}(a_{ki}-a_{li})^2x_{kl}\right)^2\right]\\ &=&\frac 14\sum_i\sum_{k,l: k\ne l}\sum_{i'}\sum_{k',l': k'\ne l'} (a_{ki}-a_{li})^2(a_{k'i'}-a_{l'i'})^2\mathbf{E}[x_{kl}x_{k'l'}]\\ &\le&\frac 14\sum_i\sum_{k,l: k\ne l}\sum_{i'}\sum_{k',l': k'\ne l'} (a_{ki}-a_{li})^2(a_{k'i'}-a_{l'i'})^2(\mathbf{E}[x_{kl}^2])^{1/2}(\mathbf{E}[x_{k'l'}^2])^{1/2}\\ &=&\frac 14\left(\sum_i\sum_{k,l: k\ne l}(a_{ki}-a_{li})^2(\mathbf{E}[x_{kl}^2])^{1/2}\right)^2\\ &\le& c_1\left(\sum_i\sum_{k,l: k\ne l}(a_{ki}-a_{li})^2 (q_*)_{kl}\right)^2,\end{aligned}$$ where the last inequality is because there exists $c_*>0$ such that $\mathbf{E}[(\Phi^{n_0}(\theta)(\eta)_{ij})^2]\le c_*$ for all $i, j\in I_{Fix}$, which is due to Assumption $\ref{thm:ass2}$. In particular, we obtain that $$\begin{aligned} f(n,\eta) &\le&c_2\varrho_{Q_0}^{2n}\sum_{i_1,\cdots,i_n} \{\mbox{Trace }{}^tA_{i_n}\cdots{}^tA_{i_1} Q_* A_{i_1}\cdots A_{i_n}\}^2.\end{aligned}$$ Now, from the proof of [@kus Proposition (5.5)], we have $$\varrho_{Q_0}^{n}~ {}^tA_{i_n}\cdots{}^tA_{i_1}Q_* A_{i_1}\cdots A_{i_n} \le(1-\varepsilon)^n Q_*$$ for some $0 <\varepsilon<1$. (Note that in [@kus] it is assumed that $\sum_{k\ne i}{^tA_kA_k}$ is strictly positive for all $i$, but this assumption is satisfied in our setting; see [@kus Proposition $(7.2)$].) Combining this with $\hat H_{Q_*}(Q_*)=Q_*$, we obtain $$f(n,\eta) \le c'_* (1-\varepsilon)^n (\mbox{Trace }Q_*)^2\le c_1 (1-\varepsilon)^n.$$ Let $\phi_m=\mathbf{E}[\Phi^{m+n_0}(\theta)(\eta)]$ ($\phi_m$ is independent of $\eta$). By Assumption $\ref{thm:ass2}$ and Proposition \[thm:peir\], for each $m\in {\mathbb N}$, there exists $Q_m\in \mbox{Int} ({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$ such that $\lim_{n\to\infty} {{\hat \Phi}}^n(\phi_m)=Q_m$ and ${{\hat \Phi}}(Q_m)=Q_m$. On the other hand, similarly to (\[basic10\]) we see $$\label{eq:rnrm} {{\hat \Phi}}^n (\phi_m)\ge \phi_{n+m}\qquad\forall m,n\in {\mathbb N}\cup\{0\},$$ so that $Q_m\ge Q_{n+m}$. Denote the limit of $(Q_m)_{m\geq 0}$ by $Q_+$; then ${{\hat \Phi}}(Q_+)=Q_+$. (Note that $Q_+\in \mbox{Int}({\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M)$ due to Assumption \[thm:ass1\](1) and the assumption $\mathbf{P}(\{\theta\in {\mbox{$\Theta$}}_M: C_1 Q_0\le \theta(\eta)$ for $\eta\in \Xi_+\})=1$.) For any $\varepsilon>0$, there exists $N_{\varepsilon}\in {\mathbb N}$ such that $$\label{eq:12-add} (1+\varepsilon)Q_+\ge \phi_m\qquad \forall m\ge N_{\varepsilon}.$$ Indeed, if this does not hold, then because there exists $C_*>0$ such that $(\phi_m)_{ij}\le C_*$ for all $i\ne j\in I_{Fix}$ and all $m\in {\mathbb N}$, there exists a subsequence $(l_j)_{j\geq 0}$ such that $\phi_{l_j}\ge (1+\varepsilon)Q_+$ and $\lim_{j\to\infty}\phi_{l_j}=:{\bar \phi}$ exists. On the other hand, by (\[eq:rnrm\]), we have ${{\hat \Phi}}^{l_{j'}-l_j}(\phi_{l_j})\ge \phi_{l_{j'}}$ for all $j'\ge j$ so that $Q_+\ge {\bar \phi}$, which is a contradiction. By the definition of $Q_m$, for each $m$ and $\varepsilon>0$, there exists $L_{m,\varepsilon}$ such that $(1-\varepsilon)Q_m\le {{\hat \Phi}}^n (\phi_m)$ for all $n\ge L_{m,\varepsilon}$. Combining these facts and noting ${{\hat H}}_{Q_+}^n(\phi_m)\ge {{\hat \Phi}}^n(\phi_m)$, we have $$\label{eq:12-1} (1-\varepsilon)Q_+\le {{\hat H}}_{Q_+}^n (\phi_m)\le (1+\varepsilon)Q_+\qquad \forall n\ge L_{m,\varepsilon}, m\ge N_{\varepsilon}.$$ On the other hand, by Lemma \[thm:EHX\], we have $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. that $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\|H_{Q_+}^n(\Phi^{m+n_0}(\theta))(\eta)-{{\hat H}}_{Q_+}^n(\phi_m)\|=\lim_{n\to\infty}\|H_{Q_+}^n(\Phi^{m+n_0}(\theta))(\eta)- H_{Q_+}^n(\iota(\phi_m))(\eta)\|= 0$$ for all $\eta\in \Xi_+$, $m\geq0$. Since $H_{Q_+}^n(\Phi^{m+n_0}(\theta))(\eta)\ge \Phi^{n+m+n_0}(\theta)(\eta)$, we see that the following holds $\mathbf{P}$-a.s.: for some $N'_{\varepsilon,\eta}\in{\mathbb N}$, $$\label{eq:12-3} (1+\varepsilon)Q_+\ge \Phi^{m+n_0}(\theta)(\eta),\qquad \forall \eta\in \Xi_+, m\ge N'_{\varepsilon,\eta}.$$ We now establish some more properties of ${{\hat H}}_{Q_+}$. It is easy to see $\sup_{n}|||{{\hat H}}^n_{Q_+}|||<\infty$, where $|||{{\hat H}}^n_{Q_+}|||:=\sup_{Q\in \mathcal{Q}_M, \|Q\|=1}\|{{\hat H}}^n_{Q_{+}}(Q)\|$, see [@kk Lemma 4.3]. Using this, we see that the size of each Jordan cell corresponding to the largest eigenvalue of ${{\hat H}}_{Q_+}$ is $1$. We thus obtain that there exists an orthogonal projection $P_0: {\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M\to{\mbox{$\mathcal Q$}}_M$ so that for each $k\in {\mathbb N}$, there exists $n_k\in {\mathbb N}$ such that $$\label{eq:12-4} |||{{\hat H}}^{n_k}_{Q_+}-P_0|||\le 2^{-k}.$$ By (\[eq:12-1\]) and (\[eq:12-4\]), we have $\phi_m\ge P_0\phi_m\ge (1-\varepsilon)Q_+$ for all $m\ge N_{\varepsilon}$. Together with (\[eq:12-add\]), we have $$\label{eq:12-5} \lim_{n\to\infty}\phi_n=Q_+.$$ Now, by Fatou’s lemma and (\[eq:12-5\]), $$\label{eq:fatoo} \mathbf{E}\big[\limsup_{n\to\infty}S_{\Phi^n(\theta)(\eta)}(u,u)\big] \ge \limsup_{n\to\infty}S_{\phi_n}(u,u)= S_{Q_+}(u,u),$$ for all $\eta\in \Xi_+,~u\in l(V_{\eta})$, where $V_{\eta}:=\{\pi([\eta,i]): i\in I_{Fix}\}$ is a $0$-cell whose address is $\eta$. (Note that we can use Fatou’s lemma thanks to (\[eq:12-3\]).) By (\[eq:12-3\]) and (\[eq:fatoo\]), we have $$\limsup_{n\to\infty}S_{\Phi^n(\theta)(\eta)}(u,u)= S_{Q_+}(u,u),$$ $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. for all $\eta\in \Xi_+,~u\in l(V_{\eta})$. Applying [@kk Lemma 4.2] with $Y_n=S_{\Phi^n(\theta)(\eta)}(u,u)$ and $Y=S_{Q_+}(u,u)$ (note that $\sup_n \mathbf{E}[Y_n^2]<\infty$ due to Assumption \[thm:ass2\]), we have $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\mathbf{E}\big[|S_{\Phi^n(\theta)(\eta)}(u,u) -S_{Q_+}(u,u)|\big] = 0,\qquad\forall \eta\in \Xi_+,~u\in l(V_{\eta}).$$ Since $l(V_{\eta})$ is finite dimensional, we obtain (\[eq:daiji\]) where $Q_{\mathbf{P}}=Q_+$. ### Application to the random conductance model {#concsec} We are now ready to explain the application of the homogenisation results of the previous section to the random conductance model; see Proposition \[ssfrcmresult\] for the main result. For the setting, we recall the graphs $(V_n,E_n)$, and the associated counting measure $\mu_n$, from Section \[ufrsec\]. We further suppose each graph is equipped with a collection of random conductances $(\omega^n_e)_{e\in E_n}$ such that the conductances within each $n$-cell, $(\omega^n_e)_{e\subseteq \Psi_{i_1,\dots,i_n}(V_0)}$, are independent, and identically distributed as $(\omega^0_e)_{e\in E_0}$ (and built on a probability space with probability measure $\mathbf{P}$). The associated random resistance metric will be denoted by $R_n^\omega$. Note that this family of random graphs can be coupled with the framework of the previous section. In particular, suppose that $(\theta(\eta)_{ij})_{i,j=1}^{I_F}$ is distributed as $(\omega^0_{a_i,a_j})_{i,j=1}^{I_F}$, independently for each $\eta$. Then we easily see that the random weighted graph $(V_n,E_n,\omega^n)$ is identical in distribution to that given by the conductances associated with $\theta$ on $\beta^nV_n\subseteq\hat{V}$. We will fix this identification throughout the section, and typically suppose that Assumptions \[thm:ass1\] and \[thm:ass2\] are satisfied accordingly. This means that we can define the $Q_\mathbf{P}$ for which the conclusion of Theorem \[thm:conth\] holds. We next describe the limiting object. First, let $R_n$ be the resistance metric on $V_n$ induced by placing conductances according to $Q_{\mathbf{P}}$ along edges of $n$-cells, i.e. setting the conductance from $\Psi_{i_1,\dots,i_n}(a_i)$ to $\Psi_{i_1,\dots,i_n}(a_j)$ to be $(Q_\mathbf{P})_{ij}$. From the fact that $\hat{\Phi}(Q_{\mathbf{P}})=Q_{\mathbf{P}}$, it follows that there exists a resistance metric $R$ on $V_*:=\cup_{n\geq 0}V_n$ defined by setting $R:=\varrho_{Q_0}^{-n}R_n$ on $V_n$, where $\varrho_{Q_0}>1$ is the scaling factor given by Assumption \[thm:ass1\]. Moreover, by [@kig1 Theorems 2.3.10 and 3.3.4], taking the completion of the metric space $(V_*,R)$ yields a resistance metric $R$ on the u.f.r. fractal $F$, which is topologically equivalent to the Euclidean metric. It is moreover an elementary exercise to check that $N^{-n}\mu_n\rightarrow \mu$, where $\mu$ is the (unique up to a constant multiple) self-similar measure on $F$, placing equal weight on each $1$-cell; this measure is non-atomic and has full-support. We observe that, for any $\rho_n\in V_n$ such that $\rho_n\rightarrow \rho$ (with respect to $R$, or equivalently the Euclidean metric), we have that $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)\rightarrow(F,R,\mu,\rho)$ in $\mathbb{F}_c$ with respect to the Gromov-Hausdorff-vague topology for $a_n=\varrho_{Q_0}^{-n}$, $b_n=N^{-n}$. We moreover note that $(V_n,a_nR_n,b_n\mu_n,\rho_n)_{n\geq 1}$ satisfies UVD (see [@HK Lemma 3.2]). As in Section \[rcmtreesec\], to get from the convergence of the previous paragraph to the convergence of the VSRW associated with the random conductances $(\omega^n_e)_{e\in E_n}$, we need to establish the convergence of the random metric $R_n^\omega$. This is the aim of the following lemma. [\[ssfresconv\] Suppose Assumptions \[thm:ass1\] and \[thm:ass2\] hold, and that the conductances $(\omega_e^0)_{e\in E_0}$ are uniformly bounded from below (i.e. there exists a constant $c>0$ such that $\omega_e^0\geq c$, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s.). Then it is the case that in $\mathbf{P}$-probability $$\sup_{x,y\in V_n}a_n\left|R_n^\omega(x,y)-R_n(x,y)\right|\rightarrow 0.$$]{} Translating Theorem \[thm:conth\] into the present notation, and noting that, for a finite network, convergence of edge conductances implies convergence of the resistance metric (cf. the proof of Lemma \[l2\]), we obtain for any $x,y\in V_*$ that, in $\mathbf{P}$-probability, $a_nR_n^\omega(x,y)\rightarrow R(x,y)$. Moreover, the fact that conductances are uniformly bounded below implies that there exists a constant $c_1$ such that $R_n^\omega\leq c_1R_n$, $\mathbf{P}$-a.s. From these two facts, one can deduce the result by following the argument of Lemma \[resconv\]. To prove convergence of the CSRW to the $\alpha$-FIN diffusion, we introduce the random time-change measures $\nu_n$, as given by $\nu_n(\{x\})=\sum_{e\in E_n:\:x\in e}\omega_e^n$. In Lemma \[nunconvssf\], we will prove convergence to the limiting FIN measure $\nu$, again obtained from a Poisson process on $(0,\infty)\times F$ with intensity $\alpha v^{-1-\alpha}dv\mu(dx)$, under the following assumption. We note, in this setting, it makes sense to state convergence results with respect to the original Euclidean topology, since the objects already have a natural (non-isometric) embedding there. Moreover, we observe that the assumption is satisfied for i.i.d. edge weights, each with tails satisfying the same distributional asymptotics. [\[ssfassu\] There exists a constant $c>0$ such that the random conductance distribution satisfies $$\mathbf{P}\left(\sum_{e\in E_0}\omega^0_e>u\right) \sim c u^{-\alpha}$$ for some $\alpha\in(0,1)$.]{} [\[nunconvssf\] Suppose Assumption \[ssfassu\] holds, then there exists a constant $c_0>0$ such that $c_0^{-1}b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n\rightarrow \nu$ in distribution with respect to the weak topology for finite measures on $\mathbb{R}^d$.]{} The proof is again similar to the tree case (Lemma \[nunconv3\]). In particular, it is an easy exercise to check that there exists a constant $c_0>0$ such that, for any $i_1,\dots,i_m\in\{1,\dots,N\}$, $b_n^{1/\alpha}\nu_n(\Psi_{i_1,\dots,i_m}(F))\rightarrow c_0\nu(\Psi_{i_1,\dots,i_m}(F))$ in distribution. From this, the result again follows from [@Kall Theorem 16.16]. From Lemmas \[ssfresconv\] and \[nunconvssf\], we are able to prove the main result of this section by a similar argument to the proof of Proposition \[rcmtreeresult\]; we thus state it without proof. We write $\mathbb{P}^{{\rm VSRW}_n}_x$ for the annealed law of the VSRW $X^{n,\omega}$ on the graph $V_n$ with conductances $\omega^n$, started from $x$. (Note that in Proposition \[rcmtreeresult\] convergence of VSRW is shown $\mathbf{P}$-a.s., but here we have only annealed convergence since the convergence in Theorem \[thm:conth\] is in the ${L}^1$-sense.) We write $\mathbb{P}^{{\rm CSRW}_n}_{x}$ for the annealed law of the corresponding CSRW $X^{n,\omega,\nu}$. We write $P_x$ for the law of the Brownian motion on $(F,R,\mu)$ started from $x$, and $\mathbb{P}^{{\rm FIN}}_{\rho}$ is the annealed law of the associated $\alpha$-FIN diffusion, defined as in Section \[bouchsec\]. [\[ssfrcmresult\] Suppose Assumptions \[thm:ass1\] and \[thm:ass2\] hold, and that the conductances $(\omega_e^0)_{e\in E_0}$ are uniformly bounded from below. It is then the case that $$\mathbb{P}^{{\rm VSRW}_n}_{\rho_n}\left(\left(X^{n,\omega}_{t/ a_nb_n}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right)\rightarrow {P}_\rho\left(\left(X_{t}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right)$$ weakly as probability measures on $D(\mathbb{R}_+, \mathbb{R}^d)$. Moreover, if Assumption \[ssfassu\] also holds, then $$\mathbb{P}^{{\rm CSRW}_n}_{\rho_n}\left(\left(X^{n,\omega,\nu}_{c_0 t/ a_nb_n^{1/\alpha}}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right) \rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{{\rm FIN}}_{\rho}\left(\left(X^{\nu}_{t}\right)_{t\geq 0}\in\cdot\right)$$ weakly as probability measures on $D(\mathbb{R}_+, \mathbb{R}^d)$.]{} [\[exa6-18\] [To continue with the example of the Sierpiński gasket graphs from previous sections, one can also apply Proposition \[ssfrcmresult\] for this collection. In particular, assuming that the conductances are uniformly bounded below and have at most polynomial decay at infinity, we know that nested fractals satisfy both Assumption \[thm:ass1\] and \[thm:ass2\], and so we obtain the annealed convergence of the VSRW on the Sierpiński gasket graphs as at (\[sgvsrw\]). Moreover, if it is further the case that the tail behaviour at infinity of the conductances satisfies Assumption \[ssfassu\], then we also have the annealed convergence of the CSRW as at (\[sgcsrw\]).]{}]{} [\[finitemoments\] [When $\mathbf{E}\omega_e^0<\infty$ for each $e\in E_0$, one obtains in place of Lemma \[nunconvssf\] (via the same argument) that there exists a constant $c_0$ such that $c_0^{-1}b_n\nu_n\rightarrow\mu$. 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Subgroup Analysis SIG Objectives Subgroup analysis is routinely conducted in drug development, in various settings; one key aspect is the regulatory requirement to demonstrate consistency of treatment effect across a pre-defined set of subgroups (e.g., ICHE5, E9, E17). This is performed as a risk-benefit assessment, aiming to identify the right patient population to treat - and, here, that set of subgroups is agreed with regulators prior to the trial conduct. Another key aspect is subgroup selection, where the aim is to estimate the effect in the most promising subpopulation (typically for planning another trial). The latter can either be done with respect to the same fixed set of pre-specified subgroups as mentioned earlier, or in a data driven fashion (e.g., biomarker subgroup detection). There are well-known inherent statistical difficulties with all the above; with consistency, due to limited data in the subgroups, there is a high risk of false positives (random highs) as well as a low power to detect true differential effects (since trials are seldomly sized for it). In the subgroup selection setting, it is of key importance to provide an honest estimate discounted for the number of subgroups inspected, in order to not overstate the real effect. Even in a consistency assessment setting, there might well be a certain tendency to focus on the most deviating subgroup results, hence possibly introducing a bias although not formally a 'selection' problem. The PSI Subgroup SIG is devoted to methodologies and aspects around these questions, with a focus on questions related to assessment of a fixed, pre-specified, set of subgroups. As such, the SIG has not yet explored the application to data-driven biomarker subgroup detection area (data mining), although some of the approaches investigated could be used for this purpose. The work aims at providing as much guidance and clarity as possible on the inherent issues and possible approaches to analysis and subsequent detailed investigation of pre-specified subgroups in order to provide context for any subgroup findings. Numerous methods have been suggested in the literature and ranges from interaction testing, permutation-based ordered statistics, Bayesian shrinkage, Bootstrap bias reduction, model averaging and graphical methods. One inherent difficulty, making the analysis less straightforward than it might first appear, is the fact that many subgroups will overlap. Also, non-trivial aspects arise from some subgroup factors being prognostic. The PSI Subgroup SIG submitted a White Paper in May 2018 on some of these aspects, containing an overview of the inherent problems, recommendations for the planning stage, a novel permutation based approach for assessing expected deviations under a null assumption, and some simulation based conclusions where various methods were compared. Due to the complexity not all available methods were initially studied (e.g., the Bayesian ones) and further work is being conducted. The aim is to provide an updated document later when these methods have been developed and evaluated. Who we are: The SIG is currently lead by David Svensson. (Up to May 2018, the lead was Aaron Dane). How to get in touchdavid.j.svensson@astrazeneca.com EXAMPLE GRAPH: TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 2018 APRIL: Update re progress of White Paper, remaining work for 2018. Ideas include further work on Bayesian shrinkage, Model averaging, Simulations under NULL when prognostic factors are present, SEAMOS development for non-linear models and Bootstrap Bias reduction. 2018 JUNE: David PSI presentation on some aspects of Shrinkage, multi-level hierarchical models, and model averaging. Key aspect: many variations exist, and some unknowns regarding performance. Future Events MCP-Mod (Multiple Comparisons & Modelling) is a popular statistical methodology for model-based design and analysis of dose finding studies. This webinar will describe the theory behind MCP-Mod (plus extensions), and how to implement it within available software. Pantelis Vlachos (Cytel) will provide a brief introduction to the methodology and illustrate the MCP-MoD capabilities in EAST 6.5. Saswati Saha (University of Brehem) will discuss new variations and alternatives to MCP-Mod and show how to implement them in R. Neal Thomas (Pfizer) will present further technical details of MCP-Mod by evaluating the method using results from least squares linear model theory.

Q: c# Uri loading non deterministic? I am trying to load some BitmapImages from files held on the file system. I have a dictionary of keys and relative filepaths. Unfortunately the Uri constructor seems non deterministic in the way that it will load the images. Here is my code: foreach(KeyValuePair<string, string> imageLocation in _imageLocations) { try { BitmapImage img = new BitmapImage(); img.BeginInit(); img.UriSource = new Uri(@imageLocation.Value, UriKind.Relative); img.EndInit(); _images.Add(imageLocation.Key, img); } catch (Exception ex) { logger.Error("Error attempting to load image", ex); } } Unfortunately sometimes the Uris get loaded as relative file Uris and sometimes they get loaded as relative Pack Uris. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which will get loaded which way. Sometimes I get all the Uris loading one way, or just a couple, or most of them, and it will change each time I run the code. Any ideas what is going on here? A: Well, sort of... MSDN has this to say about the UriKind: Absolute URIs are characterized by a complete reference to the resource (example: http://www.contoso.com/index.html), while a relative Uri depends on a previously defined base URI (example: /index.html) If you jump into reflector and look around you can see that there are lots of paths for the code to take to resolve what the relative URI should be. Anyhow, it isn't that its non-deterministic, it's more that it is just a major source of frustration for many developers. One thing that you can do is emply the 'BaseUriHelper' class to get to the bottom of how your uris are being resolved. On the other hand, if you know where your resources are being stored (and you should) I would suggest that you just spare yourself the headache and use an absolute URI to resolve your resources. Works every time, and no goofy code behind the scenes to trip you up when you least expect it.

[Coronary angiography in patients over 80 years of age: indications, results, consequences]. Due to the continuous increase of elderly individuals in the society the cardiologist has to deal with elderly patients more often. The apparative expenditures and the invasive procedure require a critical consideration of benefits and risks prior to performing coronary angiography in these patients. The indication and frequency of coronary angiography in patients with eighty years or above were investigated. Furthermore, the results of angiography, the risks of the procedure and the therapeutic consequences were evaluated. The whole study population consisted of 2,500 consecutive patients (1,557 men, 943 women), who underwent coronary angiography at our institution from January 1st to November 16th in 1998. A retrospective analysis of 66 coronary angiographies (3%) in 61 patients (26 men, 35 women) aged 80 years or older was performed. Among these 61 patients, 51 were referred because of suspected coronary artery disease. Due to the clinical presentation a high percentage (42 patients = 82%) was classified as having unstable angina. 10 patients were referred due to valvular heart disease. Single-vessel disease was found in 14, two-vessel disease in 5 and multi-vessel disease in 28 patients, respectively. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 17 patients, among these were 9 patients with multi-vessel disease and PTCA of the culprit lesion, and 3 patients underwent bypass surgery. Medical therapy was decided as to 28 patients. Aortic valve replacement was performed in 2 of 9 patients with aortic stenosis. The clinical appearance of coronary artery disease in elderly patients was mostly unstable angina, explaining the need for intervention. Coronary angiography disclosed multi-vessel disease in 55% of patients. A revascularization procedure could be performed at least in 43% of patients with multi-vessel disease.

During semiconductor processing, a (dry) plasma etch process can be utilized to remove or etch material along fine lines or within vias or contacts patterned on a silicon substrate. The plasma etch process generally involves positioning a semiconductor substrate with an overlying patterned, protective layer, for example a photoresist layer, in a processing chamber. Once the substrate is positioned within the chamber, an ionizable, dissociative gas mixture is introduced within the chamber at a pre-specified flow rate, while a vacuum pump is throttled to achieve an ambient process pressure. Thereafter, a plasma is formed when a fraction of the gas species present are ionized by electrons heated via the transfer of radio frequency (RF) power either inductively or capacitively, or microwave power using, for example, electron cyclotron resonance (ECR). Moreover, the heated electrons serve to dissociate some species of the ambient gas species and create reactant specie(s) suitable for the exposed surface etch chemistry. Once the plasma is formed, selected surfaces of the substrate are etched by the plasma. The process is adjusted to achieve appropriate conditions, including an appropriate concentration of desirable reactant and ion populations to etch various features (e.g., trenches, vias, contacts, etc.) in the selected regions of the substrate. Such substrate materials where etching is required include silicon dioxide (SiO2), low-k dielectric materials, poly-silicon, and silicon nitride.

Colonial Clash Football Tickets on Sale Now FOXBOROUGH, Mass. –Gillette Stadium, the University of New Hampshire and the University of Massachusetts have announced that tickets for the Colonial Clash football game are now on sale to the general public. The game will be played Saturday, October 22, at 3:30 p.m. All ticket prices include parking. Parking lots will open at 11:30 a.m. and tailgating will be permitted. Tickets in designated UNH sections and reservations for UNH fan buses are currently available for purchase through the Whittemore Center Arena Box Office by calling (603) 862-4000, extension 5. UNH will be on the "visiting" team sideline. Fan bus reservations are $28 for the general public and $20 for UNH students. Club Level seating for $30 includes access to the Fidelity Investment Clubhouse during the game. All Club Level tickets are being sold exclusively through the Whittemore Center Arena Box Office. Lower-bowl seats are $25 and there is a group discount available for lower-bowl seats for groups of 20 or more people. Discounted group tickets in the lower bowl are being sold exclusively through Gillette Stadium by calling 1-877-438-7387. UNH student tickets are $10 and may only be purchased in person at the Whittemore Center Arena Box Office. Please note that a valid UNH Student ID is required at the time of purchase. Student tickets may only be purchased in advance. No student tickets will be available to purchase at Gillette Stadium on game day. Last year's contest, the first college football game ever at Gillette Stadium, drew a crowd of 32,848, a record for the annual rivalry and for a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) league matchup. The Wildcats bested the Minutemen, 39-13, en route to their NCAA D-I FCS-leading seventh consecutive playoff appearance. In addition to serving as the home of the three-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and the New England Revolution of the MLS, Gillette Stadium has hosted a wide variety of sports events since opening in 2002, including the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships, FIFA World Cup qualifiers and high school football Super Bowls. UNH football season tickets and individual game tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit www.unhwildcats.com or call (603) 862-4000, extension 5.

Grep cheatsheet Grep is the quintessential text search tool of the Unix shell. Many text search tools like ack and ag are popular now for searching in source code. But, for most common scenarios grep can still be a fast and good enough solution. It is available on every Linux machine you will be working at, so it is a huge bonus to be aware of its usage and capabilities. Trivia: If you type :help grep in the Vim editor, you will see the origin of the name grep: [Unix trivia: The name for the Unix "grep" command comes from ":g/re/p", where "re" stands for Regular Expression.] The most important use of grep is to search for text from standard input. This is usually done by piping output of another command to grep and searching in that. For example: $ ls -1 | grep Xanadu Note that the search text can be a regular expression. You can find more info about regular expressions from other detailed sources. The other common use of grep is to search for text in files. For example: $ grep Xanadu *.txt Note that the *.txt is expanded by the shell and those filenames are passed to grep. Grep does not lookup the filenames. To ignore case of the search text (make it case insensitive), use the -i option: $ grep -i Xanadu *.txt Since the filename lookup is actually done by the shell, it is not recursive by default. To search recursively in all files and directories starting from current directory: $ grep -R Xanadu * Note again, that the wildcard is expanded by the shell and passed to grep. Grep then takes each of those directories and it recurses through them on its own. To reverse the search, that is, to select lines that do not match the pattern: $ grep -v Xanadu * To exclude certain files, say save files, from grep use the --exclude option: To exclude certain directories, say Git directories, from grep use the --exclude-dir option: $ grep --exclude-dir=".git" Xanadu * To exclude files based on glob patterns, you can also put those patterns in a file and pass it to the --exclude-from option. However, this did not seem to work for me. By default, grep prints the file paths which have the search text. To print the line number, along with the file paths, use the --line-number option: $ grep --line-number Xanadu * Grep throws out a wall of text where the searched text can be hard to find. Asking it to use color using --color can be an useful option: $ grep --color Xanadu * On my computer, this shows the file path in purple, the line number in green and the searched text in red. When searching text in source code files, it is helpful to get some context of where the text is found. Using the -C option you can ask grep to show you some lines of context around the result lines. For example, to get 3 lines of context above and 3 lines of context below every result line: $ grep -C 3 Xanadu *.cpp Your shell expands both matching filenames and directories and passes them as input to grep. When grep gets a directory as input, it warns that it Is a directory. For other files it might also give warnings such as No such device or address or Permission denied. To hide such messages use the --no-messages option: $ grep --no-messages Xanadu * Grep does look through binary files by default. If the searched text was found, it will just report that the binary file has that text, it does not try to print the matching line, for obvious reasons (no line separators in binary file). However, if you do not want grep poking around in binary files, use the -I or --binary-file=without-match option:

Effects of carvedilol versus metoprolol on endothelial function and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Data suggest that carvedilol possesses antioxidant properties that might provide vascular protection. We sought to compare the effects of carvedilol and metoprolol tartrate on endothelial function and oxidative stress in a head-to-head trial. Thirty-four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension were randomized to receive either carvedilol (n = 16) or metoprolol (n = 18) in addition to their current antihypertensive medications for 5 months. The following variables were measured pre- and posttreatment: blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin, insulin resistance by homeostasis-model assessment, hemoglobin A1c, lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), 8-isoprostane, asymmetric dimethylarginine, oxidized LDL cholesterol, ultrasound assessment of brachial-artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-induced endothelium-independent dilation (EID), brachial and carotid artery distension, distensibility and compliance, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT). Both carvedilol and metoprolol treatment resulted in significant and similar decreases in systolic (P < .05) and diastolic (P < .0001) blood pressure. Compared with metoprolol, carvedilol significantly improved FMD (P < .001). No differences between groups were noted for any of the glycemic or lipid variables except for HDL cholesterol, which significantly decreased (P < .05) in the metoprolol group compared with the carvedilol group. No differences were observed between groups for CRP, the markers of oxidative stress, EID, arterial stiffness, or cIMT. Compared with metoprolol, carvedilol significantly improves endothelial function in patients with T2DM. Changes in glycemic control and oxidative stress do not seem to explain the observed improvements in FMD, which suggests that other mechanisms may be involved.

Introduction ============ Ensiling is a crop preservation method based onnatural lactic acid fermentation under anaerobic conditions. Epiphytic LAB plays a major role in silage fermentation; however, their count is usually variable in silage crops ([@B12]). The use of different chemical and biological additives is suggested to improved silage quality ([@B1]). According to the composition 6 categories of additives can be mentioned: homofermentative LAB, obligate heterofermentative LAB, combination inoculants (containing obligate heterofermentative + homofermentative LAB), other inoculants (non LAB), chemicals, and enzymes ([@B14]). Microbial inoculants composed of strains of facultatively homofermentative LAB such as *L. plantarum*, *L. casei*, various *Pediococcus* species and *Enterococcus faecium* are the older and most common commercially available additives. In the late 1990s, a new class of inoculants appeared in the market, based on obligate heterofermentative LAB such as *L. buchneri*. This bacterium grows slowly even after the active fermentation period is finished, producing acetic acid that can inhibit the growth of yeasts and filamentous fungi, improving aerobic stability ([@B9]; [@B1]; [@B14]). Nowadays, there is a growing interest in the use of microbiological additives to improve the fermentation process, thus resulting in better quality silage. In Argentina, most of the inoculants are provided by foreign companies as freeze-dried cultures. Spray drying is an interesting and promising low-cost alternative to freeze-drying and allows the continuous production of large amounts of dried cells within short time periods. During this process, bacterial cultures are exposed to different stresses due to the quite harsh conditions of temperature required for product dehydration, which can cause a partial thermal inactivation of cells. It was observed that the success of its application is highly strain specific ([@B16], [@B15]). In this context, the aim of this study was to isolate and characterize LAB from spontaneously fermented maize silage, formulate a spray-dried (SD) inoculant and assess its performance to improve the fermentation profile and the aerobic stability of maize micro-silos. Materials and Methods {#s1} ===================== Samples and Isolation of LAB ---------------------------- Spontaneously fermented maize silages samples (Zea mays) were obtained from two local farms (from Esperanza and Recreo cities, located at 35 and 20 km, respectively, from Santa Fe, Argentina) at the beginning (time = 0) and after 7, 14, and 21 days of silage-making. Samples were taken immediately to the lab for microbiological analysis. Each sample (10 g) was mixed with 90 mL of peptone water (0.1% w/v, Britannia, Buenos Aires, Argentina), homogenized (stomacher, 120 s, low speed) serially diluted and surface-plated on MRS (de Man, Rogose, and Sharpe), MRS bile, MRS-LP, and M17 agar (Biokar, Beauvais, France) ([@B26]). Plates were incubated aerobically (or anaerobically, MRS-LP) at 34°C for 72 h (Oxoid, Basingstoke, United Kingdom). Twenty two colonies presenting typical LAB morphology (examined by phase-contrast microscopy, 1000×) were isolated and purified for Gram-staining reaction, mobility, catalase activity and gas production (in MRS broth with Dürham tube). Presumptive LAB isolates were frozen stored in MRS broth added with 20% v/v glycerol (Ciccarelli, Buenos Aires, Argentina) at -20°C and -70°C. Identification of Isolates -------------------------- Total DNA of isolates was obtained from overnight cultures (20 h) by using the GenElute^TM^ Bacterial Genomic DNA kit (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, United States) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Purified DNA samples were stored at -20°C until use. The identity of isolates was analyzed by amplifying (primers pA: AGA GTT TGA TCC TGG CTC AG, and pH: AAG GAG GTG ATC CAG CCG CA), sequencing and comparing a 1500 bp fragment within their 16S rRNA gene ([@B6]). All PCR reactions were performed using 2 μL of diluted (1:50) DNA as template, 2.5 U Taq DNA polymerase (GE Healthcare, Little Chalfont, United Kingdom), 200 μM dNTPs (GE Healthcare) and 100 nM each primer (Sigma-Genosys, The Woodlands, TX, United States) in a final volume of 50 μL. Amplifications were performed in a GeneAmp PCR System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, United States) under the following conditions: 3 min at 94°C, 36 cycles of 1 min at 94°C, 2 min at 51°C and 2 min at 72°C, and a final step of 7 min at 72°C. The PCR products were separated on 0.8% (w/v) agarose gels in TBE buffer, stained with GelRed (Biotium, Hayward, CA, United States) and visualized under UV light ([@B21]). Amplicons were purified with MicroSpin Columns (GE Healthcare) and their nucleotide sequences were determined by primer extension at the DNA Sequencing Service of Macrogen (Seoul, Korea). The identity of isolates was checked by nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST of the NCBI database^[1](#fn01){ref-type="fn"}^. Growth Kinetics --------------- MRS broth was inoculated (1% v/v) with an overnight culture of each strain \[(previously washed twice with PBS (phosphate buffer solution)\] and incubated at 30, 34, 37, and 43°C in a 96-well microplate (Thermo Scientific Multiskan FC Microplate Photometer). Optical density (OD~570\ nm~) was measured every 30 min during 24 h. The OD data were modeled with Statistica software (Version 8.0; StatSoft., Tulsa, OK, United States), by using the Gompertz equation as modified by [@B27], in order to evaluate the cell growth parameters \[(μ~max~: maximum specific growth rate as variation of OD~570\ nm/h~; λ: lag time in hours)\]. At the same time, MRS broth (10 mL) was inoculated (1% v/v) and incubated for 24 h (at 30, 34, 37, and 43°C). Colony counts (MRS agar, 34°C, 72 h, aerobiosis) were carried out at the beginning and after 24 h of incubation. Results are expressed as (Δ log~10~ CFU/mL), where Δ is the difference between cell counts after 24 h and the initial count. Growth Kinetics in Vegetable-Based Medium and Determination of Organic Acids and Carbohydrates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Vegetable-Based Medium (VBM) A fresh (non-fermented) sample of chopped maize obtained before silage fermentation was mixed (1:10) with distilled water, homogenized (stomacher, 120 s, low power), filtered (QUANTY JP41 Faixa Preta, Londrina, PR, Brazil) and centrifuged (5000 × *g*, 10 min, 5°C). The pH of the supernatant was adjusted to 6.5 with 1 M NaOH, aliquoted and stored at -20°C. Before each experiment, the medium was autoclaved (121°C, 15 min). ### Cell Growth in VBM and Determination of Organic Acids and Carbohydrates by HPLC An overnight fresh culture of each strain (previously washed twice with PBS) was inoculated (1% v/v) in VBM and anaerobically incubated at 34°C, during 72 h. Colony counts were performed at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h in MRS agar. Results are expressed as (Δ log~10~ CFU/mL), where Δ is the difference between cell counts after 24, 48, and 72 h and the initial count. pH was measured after 72 h of culture (Orion 3 Star, Thermo Scientific, Beverly, MA, United States) and the supernatant was recovered by centrifugation (8000 × *g*, 15 min, 5°C). The quantification of organic acids (lactic, acetic, and propionic) and carbohydrates (glucose and fructose) was performed by HPLC according to [@B25]. Chromatographic separation was carried out isocratically at 65°C with a mobile phase of 10 mM H~2~SO~4~ at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min on an Aminex HPX-87H column (300 × 7.8 mm) equipped with a cation H+ microguard cartridge (Bio-Rad Laboratories, United States). The supernatant of cultures after centrifugation was diluted 1:3 with 10 mM H~2~SO~4~, filtered through 0.45 μm membrane (Millex, Millipore, Brazil) and injected into the chromatograph, using a loop of 60 μL. HPLC equipment consisted of a quaternary pump, an on-line degasser, a column oven, a UV-visible detector (all Series 200) and a refractive index detector thermostatized at 35°C (Series Flexar) (Perkin Elmer, United States). The UV detector was set at 210 nm for the detection of organic acids, while the IR detector setting at 35°C was used for the analyses of carbohydrates. Data were collected and processed on a computer with the software Chromera^®^ (Perkin Elmer). Tolerance to Heat Stress ------------------------ Strains were grown overnight in MRS broth, centrifuged (8000 × *g*, 15 min, 5°C), washed twice in PBS (pH 7.2) and resuspended in 5 mL of the same buffer. Cell suspensions were aliquoted (1 mL) and placed into a water bath at 55°C with mild stirring. At time = 0 and after 5 and 15 min, samples were removed and placed in a cold-water bath. Colony counts (MRS agar, 34°C, 72 h, aerobiosis) were carried out to determine the tolerance of strains to heat stress. Microbial Growth as Single or Co-culture in MRS and VBM ------------------------------------------------------- Fresh cultures of the selected strains (*Lactobacillus plantarum* Ls71, *Pediococcus acidilactici* Ls72 and *Lactobacillus buchneri* Ls141, see discussion section) in MRS broth were centrifuged (5000 × *g*, 20 min, 8°C), washed twice with sterile PBS and resuspended in the same buffer to obtain a cell suspension of *c.a.* 2 × 10^8^ CFU/mL. MRS broth or VBM was inoculated (1% v/v) with the strains as pure cultures (positive control of growth) or in co-culture (2 or 3 strains together) and anaerobically incubated at 34°C during 24 h. Cell counts (MRS agar, 34°C, 72 h, aerobiosis) were performed at the beginning and after 24 h. It was previously checked that strains could be differentiated (MRS agar surface plating) according to their colony morphology. Resistance to Spray and Freeze-Drying ------------------------------------- Overnight cultures in MRS broth of the selected strains (*L. plantarum* Ls71, *P. acidilactici* Ls72, and *L. buchneri* Ls141) were centrifuged (5000 × *g*, 20 min, 8°C), washed twice with PBS (pH 7.2) and resuspended in 20% (w/v) (1:1) maltodextrin (Gelfix, Buenos Aires, Argentina)-whey protein concentrate (WPC80) (Arla Foods, Porteña, Córdoba, Argentina). Cell suspensions (prepared as described above) were SD in a laboratory scale spray dryer (Buchi mini spray dryer model B290, Flawil, Switzerland). An inlet air temperature of 138--145°C, an outlet temperature of 81--83 °C and a flux of 600 L/h were used. Cell suspensions were atomized and sprayed into the drying chamber using a two-fluid nozzle. The product dried almost instantaneously, and the residence time was negligible. Three independent replicates were performed for each strain. Cell counts, before and after spray drying, were performed in MRS agar (72 h, 34°C, aerobiosis). Cell suspensions (prepared as described above) were freeze-dried in a laboratory scale freeze dryer (Christ Alpha 1--4 LD Plus, Osterode am Harz, Germany). Freeze drying conditions were 0.002 mBar, -55°C, 20 h. Three independent replicates were performed for each strain. Cell counts, before and after freeze drying, were performed in MRS agar (72 h, 34°C, aerobiosis). Evaluation of the Selected Spray Dried Bacteria as Inoculants in Experimental Maize Silage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Silage was made with fresh-cut maize using a small-scale system of silage fermentation ([@B4]; [@B8]). Chopped maize was taken immediately to the lab for silage-making. Spray dried strains (*L. plantarum* Ls71, *P. acidilactici* Ls72, and *L. buchneri* Ls141) were prepared as described above. The silage treatments were designed as follows: (i) untreated control (UC) (sprayed with sterile water); (ii) substrate (S) (sprayed with a suspension of 20% (w/v) maltodextrin-WPC); (iii) enzyme (E) (sprayed with 0.05% (w/v) *Acremonium* fungal cellulase solution (Milar Enzimas S.R.L., Buenos Aires, Argentina); (iv) spray dried bacteria (SDB) \[(SD culture resuspended in sterile water and sprayed on the forage to a final concentration (of each strain) of *c.a.* 5 × 10^6^ CFU/g of cropped maize)\], and (v) spray dried bacteria + enzyme (SDB-E). All treatments were applied at a rate of 20 mL/kg of the corresponding solution. Approximately 400 g portions of each treatment (in triplicate, for each sampling day) were vacuum-packaged (Turbovac, Bosch) in 200 × 450 mm, 58 microns, high barrier shrink bags (Cryovac: BC40LA) OTR (Oxygen Transmission Rate: 10--18 \[(cm^3^/m^2^) × 24 h × bar\]). The micro-silos were stored at room temperature (25°C) for 60 days. pH was measured after 0, 4, 7, 30, and 60 days of fermentation. Ten grams of each sample were added with 90 mL of sterile distilled water and homogenized (stomacher, 120 s, low power). Microbiological analyses and quantification of organic acids and carbohydrates by HPLC ([@B25]) were carried out at the beginning and after 30 and 60 days of storage. Total LAB were enumerated in MRS agar (34°C, 48 h, aerobiosis) and yeasts and filamentous fungi in chloramphenicol glucose agar (Biokar, Beauvais, France) (25°C, 7 d, aerobiosis). Chemical analyses were performed after 30 \[Dry Matter (g/kg DM; PROMEFA-v2 AOAC, 1990 N° 130.15 and N° 167.03), pH, Ammonia Nitrogen/Total Nitrogen (N~NH3~/N~T~; [@B2]) and Crude Protein (g/kg CP; AOAC, 1998 N° 976.05)\] and 60 days of fermentation \[DM, pH, N~NH3~/N~T~, CP, Ash (g/kg), Acid Detergent Insoluble Nitrogen/Total Nitrogen (NADIN/NT). Acid detergent fiber in feeds. Filter bag technique, Ankom200), Acid Detergent Fiber (g/kg ADF; ANKOM Method validated with ISO13906:2008), Neutral Detergent Fiber (g/kg NDF; ANKOM Method validated with ISO16472:2006), and Metabolisable Energy (ME; Mcal/kg DM)\] (Laboratorio de Análisis de Forrajes, Concentrados e Insumos Agropecuarios de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (FCA), UNL, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina). Analyses were carried out in triplicate. Bucket Silos and Aerobic Stability Measurement ---------------------------------------------- Chopped maize was taken immediately to the lab for silage-making. Spray dried strains (*L. plantarum* Ls71, *P. acidilactici* Ls72, and *L. buchneri* Ls141) were prepared as described in 2.7. For these assay two groups were used: UC and SDB-E. Both treatments were prepared as described above and bacteria were sprayed to a final concentration of 5 × 10^6^ CFU/g of cropped maize. Twelve kilograms bucked silos were prepared (in triplicate), compacted, sealed and stored at room temperature (25°C) during 50 days. At the end of the fermentation period, pH and cell counts of total LAB and yeast and filamentous fungi were determined. Two kilograms of well-mixed silage from the medium portion of each bucket silo (free of visible spoilage) were placed back (without packing) into clean plastic bags (2 bags for each silo, placed inside an expanded polystyrene box covered with a cloth). A digital indoor-outdoor thermometer (Boeco, Hamburg, Germany) was inserted into the center of each silage mass and the temperature was recorded four times a day. The aerobic stability was defined as the time taken to increase the temperature of the feed by 2°C above the ambient temperature ([@B19]). Statistical Analysis -------------------- Data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA procedure of SPSS software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States). The differences between means were detected by Tukey and Duncan's Multiple Range test. Data were considered significantly different when *P* \< 0.05. Results ======= Isolation and Identification of LAB ----------------------------------- Out of 22 isolates, 11 presumptive LAB were subjected to genetic identification by sequencing the 16S region of the rDNA, resulting in *Lactobacillus plantarum* (Ls71 and Hv75); *Lactobacillus amylovorus* (Hv142, Hv212, and Hv214); *Lactobacillus panis* (Hv71, Hv73, and Hv77); *Lactobacillus fermentum* Hv76, *Lactobacillus buchneri* Ls141, and *Pediococcus acidilactici* Ls72. *Lactobacillus* strains were originally isolated from MRS agar and *P. acidilactici* Ls72 from M17 agar. Silage origin of the strains is shown in Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}. ###### Identification, description of the kinetic growth parameters (μ~max~ and λ) and optimal growth temperatures of LAB isolated from silages at different times of fermentation. Isolate N° Silage origin Day of isolation Identification Strain name μ~max~ λ Optimal growth temperature (°C) ------------ --------------- ------------------ ------------------- ------------- -------- ------ --------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- -------- 1 Recreo 7 *L. plantarum* Ls71 0.31 0.27 0.27 3.25 2.83 2.68 34--37 2 Recreo 7 *P. acidilactici* Ls 72 0.22 0.13 0.17 3.38 3.08 2.54 34--37 3 Recreo 14 *L. buchneri* Ls141 0.10 0.08 0.06 15.50 13.00 14.10 34--37 4 Esperanza 7 *L. plantarum* Hv75 0.31 0.35 0.33 3.12 4.47 2.98 34--37 5 Esperanza 7 *L. fermentum* Hv76 0.13 0.19 0.17 2.74 2.08 1.37 34--37 6 Esperanza 21 *L. amylovorus* Hv214 0.07 0.15 0.23 12.7 6.09 5.48 37 7 Esperanza 21 *L. amylovorus* Hv212 0.11 0.15 0.19 7.52 4.91 5.34 34--37 8 Esperanza 14 *L. amylovorus* Hv142 0.15 0.16 0.21 5.96 3.25 2.32 37 9 Esperanza 7 *L. panis* Hv73 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd 10 Esperanza 7 *L. panis* Hv71 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd 11 Esperanza 7 *L. panis* Hv77 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd μ max , the maximum specific growth rate as variation of O.D 560nm/h. ; λ , lag time in hours. Nd, not detected. Growth Kinetics --------------- Cell growth parameters (μ~max~ and λ) at 30, 34, and 37°C are shown in Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}. Since only *P. acidilactici* Ls72 showed a fast growth kinetic at 43°C, the data, at this temperature, were not modeled. For all the strains, except for *L. panis* Hv71, Hv73, and Hv77 since they presented poor growth capacity after several transfers in MRS broth, the most suitable growth temperatures were 34 and 37°C (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). *L. plantarum* Ls71 and *L. fermentum* Hv76 showed the shortest lag phase both at 34°C and 37°C while *L. buchneri* Ls141 showed a long exponential phase until almost 13--14 h of culture. At 30°C, almost all the strains had a longer λ. The cell growth (Δ log~10~ CFU/mL) after 24 h at the different temperatures is shown in Figure [1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}. *P. acidilactici* Ls72 was the only strain able to grow at the four temperatures assessed. *L. buchneri* Ls141 was not able to grow at 30 or 43°C. The results indicate that most of the isolates are mesophilic LAB. For further studies, a growth temperature of 34°C was chosen. ), 34 (), 37 (), and 43 () °C after 24 h, aerobiosis.](fmicb-09-02861-g001){#F1} Growth Kinetics in Vegetable-Based Medium and Determination of Organic Acids and Carbohydrates by HPLC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The capacity to grow in the VBM was strain-dependent (Figure [2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). *L. buchneri* Ls141 showed the highest growth capacity (\> 2 log~10~ CFU/mL after 24 h of incubation) while *P. acidilactici* Ls72 was able to grow only 0.3 log~10~ CFU/mL (after 48 h). Most of the strains grew between 0.6 and 1.1 log~10~ CFU/mL after 24 h of incubation and then viability loss was observed, except for *L. buchneri* Ls141 that showed a maximum growth at 48 h. ), 48 (), and 72 h () at 34°C, aerobiosis.](fmicb-09-02861-g002){#F2} The determination of organic acids and carbohydrates was performed after 72 h of fermentation (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). Two peaks with retention time similar to glucose and fructose were detected in the chromatograms with IR detector. It is important to highlight that sucrose is hydrolyzed during the analysis due to the chromatography conditions used (high temperature and low pH) ([@B25]). So, the results of glucose and fructose are the sum of the basal level in the maize and that providing from sucrose hydrolysis, if it were present. Propionic acid was not detected in any of the samples. *L. plantarum* Ls71 and *L. plantarum* Hv75 produced the highest amounts of lactic acid which correlated with the lowest pH values and an increased consumption of carbohydrates (concentration below the detection limit). *L. buchneri* Ls141 and *L. fermentum* Hv76 produced the highest amounts of acetic acid and the lowest concentrations of lactic acid. pH values were above 4 and there was less consumption of carbohydrates. *L. amylovorus* Hv212, Hv214, and Hv142 acidified the VBM (pH ≈3.8), no acetic acid was detected, and the concentration of lactic acid was between 1.1 and 1.5 mg/mL. ###### pH values and concentration of organic acids, glucose and fructose (mg/mL ± SD) in vegetable-based medium (VBM) after 72 h at 34°C, anaerobiosis. Strains pH Concentration (mg/mL) ------------ ------------- ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- L.b. Ls141 4.33 ± 0.04 0.82 ± 0.01 0.16 ± 0.05 0.20 ± 0.03 0.53 ± 0.04 L.p. Hv75 3.66 ± 0.04 2.41 ± 0.15 0.15 ± 0.04 nd nd L.p. Ls71 3.65 ± 0.06 2.35 ± 0.05 0.09 ± 0.04 nd nd L.a. Hv142 3.76 ± 0.06 1.51 ± 0.07 nd 0.27 ± 0.04 0.51 ± 0.02 L.f. Hv76 4.77 ± 0.11 0.59 ± 0.08 0.18 ± 0.01 0.42 ± 0.08 0.48 ± 0.02 L.a. Hv214 3.88 ± 0.01 1.21 ± 0.01 nd 0.36 ± 0.07 0.60 ± 0.08 L.a. Hv212 3.88 ± 0.10 1.14 ± 0.15 nd 0.31 ± 0.02 0.65 ± 0.08 P.a. Ls72 4.23 ± 0.10 1.01 ± 0.09 nd 0.41 ± 0.09 0.93 ± 0.01 VBM medium 6.5 nd nd 1.00 1.18 nd, not detected. ∗ Detection limit: 0.05 mg/mL; \# detection limit: 0.10 mg/mL. Tolerance to Heat Stress ------------------------ Heat-resistance results (cell death after 5 and 15 min at 55°C) are shown in Figure [3](#F3){ref-type="fig"}. Heat tolerance was strain dependent. *P. acidilactici* Ls72 was the most resistant strain, with a reduction in cell viability of 0.2 log~10~ CFU/mL both after 5 and 15 min. After 5 min there was a cell death between 0.2 and 3.8 log~10~ CFU/mL for all the strains. It was expected that strains with higher thermal resistance will better resist dehydration by spray drying. ) and 15() min at 55°C.](fmicb-09-02861-g003){#F3} Microbial Growth as Single or Co-culture in MRS and VBM ------------------------------------------------------- For both MRS and VBM the initial inoculum of all the strains was about 2 × 10^6^ CFU/mL. Results are shown in Table [3](#T3){ref-type="table"}. As pure culture, all the strains were able to grow more than 3 log~10~ CFU/mL in MRS broth. When the strains were co-cultured a cell growth of more than 2.1 log~10~ CFU/mL was observed for all of them. When VBM was used, a cell growth between 1.16 and 1.89 log~10~ CFU/mL was observed. The combination *L. plantarum* Ls71/*P. acidilactici* Ls72 and *L. plantarum* Ls71/*L. buchneri* Ls141 showed a cell growth of about 1 log~10~ CFU/mL but when *P. acidilactici* Ls72 was cultured with *L. buchneri* Ls141 (or the 3 strains together) it was not able to grow. ###### Cell growth of strains (Δ log~10~ CFU/mL ± SD) as single or co-cultured in MRS and VBM after 24 h at 34°C, aerobiosis. Strain/combination Cell growth (Δ log~10~ CFU/mL) -------------------- -------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- L.p. Ls71 3.14 ± 0.30^∗^ 1.89 ± 0.33 P.a. Ls72 3.11 ± 0.16^∗^ 1.16 ± 0.35 L.b. Ls141 3.04 ± 0.02^∗^ 1.62 ± 0.77 **Ls71** **Ls72** **Ls141** **Ls71** **Ls72** **Ls141** Ls71 Ls72 2.95 ± 0.07 2.78 ± 0.21 -- 1.26 ± 0.07 1.26 ± 0.20 -- Ls71/Ls141 3.28 ± 0.20 -- 2.35 ± 0.03 1.24 ± 0.29 -- 0.93 ± 0.04 Ls141/Ls72 -- 3.03 ± 0.42 2.15 ± 0.83 -- 0.19 ± 0.27 1.12 ± 0.37 Ls71/Ls72/Ls141 2.82 ± 0.25 2.80 ± 0.13 2.47 ± 0.46 1.09 ± 0.20 0.52 ± 0.01 1.31 ± 0.35 ∗ The cell growth of each stain cultured in MRS differs significantly with respect to VBM ( p \< 0.05). Resistance to Spray and Freeze-Drying ------------------------------------- All the strains exhibited satisfactory resistance to both dehydration processes. After freeze-drying, a cell death of 0.56 ± 0.37, 0.46 ± 0.24, and 0.33 ± 0.38 log~10~ CFU/mL was observed for *L. buchneri* Ls14, *L. plantarum* Ls71, and *P. acidilactici* Ls72, respectively. *L. plantarum* Ls71 was the most sensitive strain to spray dried with a loss of viability of 0.92 ± 0.37 log~10~ CFU/mL. On the contrary, *P. acidilactici* Ls72 was the most resistant strain with a cell death of 0.02 ± 0.19 log~10~ CFU/mL (viability rate 95 ± 9%). Evaluation of Selected Spray Dried Cultures as Inoculants in Experimental Maize Silage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pH values of micro-silos after 0, 4, 7, 30, and 60 days of fermentation at 25°C are shown in Table [4](#T4){ref-type="table"}. After 4 days of fermentation, all the samples reached a pH between 3.73 and 3.86 and these values remained stable until the end of the fermentation period. ###### pH values of micro-silos (mean ± SD) after 0, 4, 7, 30, and 60 days of fermentation at 25°C. Sample Days of ensiling -------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- UC 5.90 ± 0.09 3.84 ± 0.01 3.81 ± 0.01 3.78 ± 0.00 3.75 ± 0.01 S 5.90 ± 0.09 3.86 ± 0.06 3.84 ± 0.01 3.79 ± 001 3.80 ± 0.02 E 5.90 ± 0.09 3.84 ± 0.03 3.75 ± 0.01 3.73 ± 0.02 3.78 ± 0.07 SDB 5.90 ± 0.09 3.74 ± 0.00^∗^ 3.72 ± 0.02 3.80 ± 0.03 3.90 ± 0.08 SDB+E 5.90 ± 0.09 3.73 ± 0.02^∗^ 3.71 ± 0.03 3.73 ± 0.02 3.73 ± 0.03 ∗ Values within the same time differ significantly with respect to UC group ( p \< 0.05). UC, untreated control; S, substrate; E, enzyme; SDB, spray dried bacteria; SDB-E, spray dried bacteria + enzyme. Microbiological analyses are shown in Table [5](#T5){ref-type="table"}. After 30 days of fermentation there was a significantly lower (*p* \< 0.05) cell load of filamentous fungi and yeasts ( \< 3 log~10~ CFU/g) for both inoculated micro-silos (SDB and SDB-E), compared to UC, S, and E samples. Likewise, the number of LAB was significantly higher for inoculated samples (more than 8.7 log~10~ CFU/g) and about 6 log~10~ CFU/g for non-inoculated ones. After 60 days of fermentation neither filamentous fungi nor yeasts were detected in SDB and SDB-E (\< 1 log~10~ CFU/g) micro-silos, whereas counts higher than 5.3 log~10~ CFU/g were found for UC, S, and E micro-silos. ###### Microbiological analyses (log~10~ CFU/g ± SD) of micro-silos during storage at 25°C. Sample Cell count (log~10~ CFU/g ± SD) -------- --------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------- ------------- ------------- UC 5.63 ± 0.21 7.09 ± 0.09 4.14 ± 0.81 6.00 ± 0.01 5.59 ± 0.16 6.91 ± 1.13 S 5.63 ± 0.21 7.09 ± 0.09 3.30 ± 0.43 6.15 ± 0.21 5.37 ± 0.58 7.32 ± 0.58 E 5.63 ± 0.21 7.09 ± 0.09 5.14 ± 0.68 6.30 ± 0.01^∗^ 5.84 ± 0.24 6.49 ± 0.44 SDB 5.63 ± 0.21 7.09 ± 0.09 \<3^∗^ 8.78 ± 0.11^∗^ \<1^∗^ 7.46 ± 0.35 SDB-E 5.63 ± 0.21 7.09 ± 0.09 \<3^∗^ 8.77 ± 0.01^∗^ \<1^∗^ 7.76 ± 0.04 ∗ Values within the same time differ significantly with respect to UC group ( p \< 0.05). UC, untreated control; S, substrate; E, enzyme; SDB, spray dried bacteria; SDB-E, spray dried bacteria + enzyme. The content of glucose (time = 0) was significantly higher (*p* \< 0.05) in samples where the enzyme was added (1.50 ± 0.04, 1.30 ± 0.04; 0.48 ± 0.09; 0.38 ± 0.08, and 0.47 ± 0.06 mg/mL for E, SDB-E, UC, S, and SDB, respectively) indicating a possible fast action of the enzyme liberating simple sugars for the fermentation. The content of acetic acid was significantly higher (*p* \< 0.05) in SDB and SDB-E samples after 30 (data not shown) and 60 days of fermentation compared to UC (Table [6](#T6){ref-type="table"}), indicating the production of this acid by the added heterofermentative bacteria. After 30 days of fermentation, no differences in DM content (g/100 g forage) and pH values were observed. However, the content of N~NH3~/N~T~ and CP was significantly higher (*p* \< 0.05) in SDB-E micro-silos compared to UC (data not shown). ###### Chemical analyses of micro-silos (mean ± SD) after 60 days of storage at 25°C. Sample Acetic acid (mg/mL) N~NH3~/N~T~ (%) Ash (%) CP (%) NDF (%) ADF (%) N~ADIN~/N~T~ (%) ME (Mcal/kg DM) -------- --------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ----------------- UC 0.64 ± 0.01^a^ 6.13 ± 0.32^a^ 4.10 ± 0.50^a^ 8.03 ± 0.31^a^ 24.17 ± 5.15^a^ 13.67 ± 2.15^a^ 3.67 ± 1.04^a^ 2.82 ± 0.05^a^ S 0.78 ± 0.02^a^ 6.70 ± 0.62^a^ 4.90 ± 0.36^b^ 8.13 ± 0.45^a^ 27.17 ± 1.81^a^ 15.80 ± 1.28^a^ 3.30 ± 0.62^a^ 2.77 ± 0.03^a^ E 1.08 ± 0.01^b^ 7.50 ± 1.05^a^ 4.77 ± 0.38^a^ 8.70 ± 0.53^a^ 17.67 ± 3.61^b^ 9.97 ± 2.46^b^ 2.60 ± 1.42^a^ 2.91 ± 0.06^b^ SDB 1.29 ± 0.19^b^ 7.20 ± 0.95^a^ 5.00 ± 0.44^b^ 8.50 ± 0.35^a^ 23.50 ± 2.92^a^ 12.90 ± 1.31^a^ 2.87 ± 0.67^a^ 2.84 ± 0.04^a^ SDB-E 1.92 ± 0.22^c^ 8.90 ± 0.17^b^ 5.53 ± 0.15^b^ 8.83 ± 0.38^b^ 18.63 ± 1.21^a^ 10.57 ± 1.44^a^ 1.47 ± 0.55^b^ 2.90 ± 0.03^a^ a,b Values with different superscripts differ significantly ( p \< 0.05). UC, untreated control; S, substrate; E, enzyme; SDB, spray dried bacteria; SDB-E, spray dried bacteria + enzyme. Values referred to dry basis. Chemical analyses after 60 d of fermentation are shown in Table [6](#T6){ref-type="table"}. No differences were found for DM content among samples (data not shown). In SDB-E micro-silos the content of N~NH3~/N~T~ and CP was significantly higher (*p* \< 0.05), whereas that of N~ADIN~/N~T~ was significantly lower (*p* \< 0.05) compared to the other groups. No differences were observed for NDF, ADF, and ME concentrations between samples, except for E micro-silos. Ash content was significantly higher (*p* \< 0.05) in S, SDB, and SDB-E micro-silos compared to UC. Bucket Silos and Aerobic Stability Measurement ---------------------------------------------- After 50 days of fermentation, the pH values were 3.66 ± 0.02 and 3.73 ± 0.02 for UC and SDB-E bucket silos, respectively. Total number of viable LAB was significantly higher (*p* \< 0.05) in SDB-E than in UC samples (8.49 ± 0.22 and 7.11 ± 0.62 log~10~ CFU/g, respectively) and a significantly lower cell load of yeast and filamentous fungi was found in inoculated silos compared with controls (2.36 ± 1.92 and 6.51 ± 0.12, respectively). This phenomenon was also checked visually when the bucket silos were opened. Figure [4](#F4){ref-type="fig"} shows the temperature (T~silo~-T~ambient~) of the silos during 17.5 days (420 h). The aerobic stability was significantly improved (*p* \< 0.05) in SDB-E silos compared with controls since an increase of about 5°C was observed in UC samples after 24 h. On the contrary, the temperature of SDB-E silos remained stable for more than 15 days (360 h). Moreover, two maximum temperature picks were detected after 2 (48 h) and 8.16 days (196 h) in UC silos. ). Mean values ± SD are shown.](fmicb-09-02861-g004){#F4} Discussion ========== Plants are a natural habitat for certain species of LAB since these bacteria can be found on their surfaces. Even though the role of LAB on plants is not known, it is believed that they have a protective effect against pathogenic microorganisms by producing antagonistic compounds. After harvesting and compressing the plant material, *Enterococcus faecalis* and *Leuconostoc mesenteroides* usually initiate the fermentation. These are, in turn, replaced by more acid-tolerant species such as *L. brevis*, *L. plantarum*, and *L. buchneri* ([@B7]). LAB species identified in our work correspond to those commonly found in silages ([@B5]; [@B13]; [@B22]). Out of 22 isolates, 5 were obtained from silages harvested in Esperanza (from which 3 were selected for further studies), and 17 were obtained from silages harvested in Recreo (from which 8 were selected for further characterization). The criteria that were taken into account to select preliminary different isolates were: silage origin, macroscopic characteristics of the colonies grown in different media, gas production and cellular morphology (examined by phase-contrast microscopy, 1000x). Most of the strains were isolated after 7 days of natural fermentation of maize; *L. buchneri* Ls141 was isolated after 14 days and *L. amylovorus* strains were isolated after 14 or 21 days of fermentation (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Some published data suggest that *Pediococcus* species would be responsible for starting the acidification process in silage when the growth of *Lactobacillus* strains is not favored because of the high pH value of the forage ([@B13]). A successful application of inoculants in silage is based on the compatibility between the plant and the microorganisms used. This compatibility can be assessed by the ability of the microorganisms to use carbohydrates present in the forage and to produce metabolites of interest, primarily in the preservation of silage (e.g., acetic and lactic acids) ([@B1]). In our study, *L. buchneri* Ls141 showed the highest growth ability in VBM after 24 and 48 h of incubation at 34 °C and both *L. plantarum* strains (Ls71 and Hv75) produced the largest amounts of lactic acid. *L. plantarum* is a homofermentative LAB when glucose is not a limiting factor, otherwise, it is a facultatively heterofermentative strain. This fact could explain the production of acetic acid by these strains. Three strains were selected for further characterization and to study their performance as a spray dried culture in maize micro and bucket silos. Selected strains were *L. plantarum* Ls71 since it showed a high growth rate in MRS broth at 34°C and a high capability to produce lactic acid in VBM; *P. acidilactici* Ls72 because it was the most heat-resistant strain and *L. buchneri* Ls141 which showed good growth ability in VBM and it is a heterofermentative LAB that produces acetic acid. Moreover, these LAB species are normally found in commercial inoculants. Regarding the capacity of the selected strains able to grow in co-culture in MRS broth and VBM, satisfactory results were obtained in MRS; nevertheless, inhibition was detected for *P. acidilactici* Ls72 when cultured together with *L. buchneri* Ls141 in VBM. Although it would appear that *L. buchneri* Ls141 inhibits, *in vitro*, the growth of *P. acidilactici* Ls72, this does not imply that the same fact would happen in silage, which is a more complex environment. Important challenges to overcome by a strain for its industrial use are the stressors found during manufacture and storage. The three selected strains tolerated satisfactorily both spray and freeze-drying. *P. acidilactici* Ls72 was the most heat resistant strain and showed the highest resistance to spray and freeze-drying. While freeze-drying is most commonly used, other drying processes for microorganism preservation have been tested. Spray drying is a low-cost alternative to freeze-drying (only 12--20% of the cost of freeze-drying) and allows the production of large amounts of dried cells in a continuous process. The feasibility to apply spray-drying to LAB will depend on the technological conditions applied ([@B17]; [@B24]; [@B18]). To the best of our knowledge, there are no spray dried silage inoculants in the market so far. Most of them are commercialized as freeze-dried powders or as water-soluble concentrates for which a strict cold chain is needed to warrant high cell viability. In this study, the performance of three selected SD LAB was evaluated in maize micro and bucket-silos. Moreover, it was checked that the matrix used to spray dry the cells had no influence on the fermentation process. The most common measurements used for evaluating silage fermentation are pH, the concentration of organic acids, alcohols, NH~3~/N and microbial populations ([@B10]). Even though after 4 days of fermentation at 25°C the pH values of all samples were lower than 3.9, indicating that natural fermentation had occurred, a faster decrease was observed in both inoculated micro-silos (SDB and SDB-E). Maize silages normally have a final pH of 3.7--4.0 because it is a crop that has a low buffering capacity. The low pH from lactic acid stabilizes silage fermentation by inhibiting the growth of or killing acid-intolerant microorganisms ([@B10]). Furthermore, a significantly lower cell load of yeasts and filamentous fungi was found in inoculated micro-silos after 30 days and levels lower than 1 log~10~ CFU/g were found at the end of the fermentation period (60 days). Similar results were found in bucket silos after 50 days of fermentation. The use of LAB as bio-preservative agents in food due to their antimicrobial activity is well documented. Among LAB, several strains *of L. plantarum* are known for their ability to produce antifungal substances ([@B11]; [@B23]). [@B20] reported that phenyllactic acid production by *L. plantarum* has been associated with the antifungal activity against strains belonging to species of *Aspergillus*, *Penicillium*, and *Fusarium*. Therefore, the use of *L. plantarum* Ls71 in inoculated silages could have contributed to the control of filamentous fungi. On the other hand, the reduction in the number of undesirable microorganisms could also be attributed to the production of acetic acid by *L. buchneri* Ls141 which correlated with the highest concentration of acetic acid in SDB (0.90 ± 0.03 and 1.29 ± 0.19 mg/mL) and SDB-E (1.40 ± 0.33 and 1.92 ± 0.22 mg/mL) micro-silos after 30 and 60 days of fermentation, respectively. [@B19] reported that the cell load of yeasts was extremely low or no detectable in silages treated with the strain *L. buchneri* 40788 and higher than 4 log~10~ CFU/g in control samples. Additionally, the number of total LAB was higher in inoculated than in control silos. In a meta-analysis of the effects of *Lactobacillus buchneri* on the fermentation and aerobic stability of maize and grass and small-grain silages, [@B9] suggested that treatment of maize silage with the lower application rates of *L. buchneri* (\< 10^5^ CFU/g of fresh forage) resulted in a 10-fold decrease in numbers of yeasts compared with the untreated silage and, the treatment with LB2 (\> 10^5^ CFU/g of fresh forage) decreased the numbers of yeasts more than 100-fold. After 30 days of fermentation chemical analyses in micro-silos showed that there was no amino acid degradation, deamination or excessive degradation of proteins. Plant and microbial proteolytic activity lead to changes in nitrogenous compounds in silages. Both E and SDB-E micro-silos showed the highest values of N~NH3~/N~T~ (6.63 ± 0.67 and 6.07 ± 0.61%, respectively), which could be due to the addition of cellulase. After 60 days of fermentation, the pH remained below 3.90 for all samples. Values of NDF and ADF were significantly lower in E and SDB-E micro-silos compared to UC. Values of N~ADIN~/N~T~ remained below 15%, indicating that there was no production of indigestible compounds, with a significant reduction observed in SDB-E samples. The continuous infiltration of air during the storage period of the forage in the silo facilitates the growth of aerobic microorganisms that metabolize organic matter to generate a disposable rotten material for use in animal feed. In general, acid-tolerant and lactate-assimilating yeasts initiate this process of deterioration by consuming carbohydrates and acids produced during fermentation, which generates an increase in the temperature and pH of the ensiled material ([@B3]; [@B10]). In our work, no significantly heating was observed in SDB-E silos after 15 days (360 h), indicating a high aerobic stability. These results correlated with the lower number of yeast and filamentous fungi found in inoculated silages compared to controls. Literature data suggest that *L. buchneri* successfully improves the aerobic stability of a variety of silages; however, the effects are strain-specific and dose-dependent ([@B14]). Conclusion ========== In this work, eleven strains belonging to six species of LAB were isolated from naturally fermented maize silage. After characterization, *L. plantarum* Ls71, *P. acidilactici* Ls72, and *L. buchneri* Ls141 were selected to be dehydrated by spray-drying and to evaluate their performances in micro and bucket-silos. Results indicate that the selected strains have the potential to be produced as a SD silage inoculant for maize ensiling since they accelerated the fermentation process, controlled the development of filamentous fungi and yeasts, improved some nutritional and chemical relevant silage quality variables and significantly enhanced aerobic stability. Author Contributions ==================== PB and MB designed the study, analyzed data, and contributed to the writing of the manuscript. RP was responsible for the spray drying treatments and for the optimization of the drying process. AB performed the molecular identification of the strains. MP contributed to the experimental design of the work and to the writing of the manuscript. CB performed the HPLC analysis. JR, GV, and RM participated in the writing and revision of the manuscript and scientific discussions. Conflict of Interest Statement ============================== The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. <https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi> [^1]: Edited by: Javier Carballo, University of Vigo, Spain [^2]: Reviewed by: Giuseppe Spano, University of Foggia, Italy; Anna Reale, Istituto di Scienza dell'Alimentazione (ISA), Italy [^3]: This article was submitted to Food Microbiology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Microbiology

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA In Re: Nomination Petition of : Neil Makhija for the Democratic : Nomination for Representative : in the General Assembly from the : 122nd Legislative District in the : Democratic Primary of April 26, 2016 : No. 108 M.D. 2016 : Heard: March 11, 2016 Petition of: Bryan Price and Michael : Spairana, Jr. : BEFORE: HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge OPINION BY PRESIDENT JUDGE LEAVITT FILED: March 17, 2016 Bryan Price and Michael Spairana (Objectors) have petitioned to set aside the nomination petition of Neil Makhija (Candidate), who is scheduled to appear on the ballot in the primary election of April 26, 2016, as a Democratic Party candidate for Representative of the 122nd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Objectors contend that the Candidate’s Affidavit contains a materially false statement that renders Candidate’s nomination petition null and void. Specifically, Objectors contend that Candidate’s statement that he is eligible to serve in the General Assembly is not true because he became a Massachusetts resident during his term of study at Harvard Law School. As a result, Objectors argue that Candidate does not meet the Pennsylvania residency requirements for a state representative set forth in the Pennsylvania Constitution.  Background On March 11, 2016, the Court conducted an evidentiary hearing on Objectors’ petition. Both Objectors and Candidate offered, and had admitted, exhibits to support their respective positions on whether Candidate’s actions during law school effected a change in his domicile from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. Candidate was the sole witness for both parties. In response to questioning by Objectors, Candidate readily acknowledged that he voted in Massachusetts on November 6, 2012, and November 4, 2014. He also testified that he obtained a Massachusetts driver’s license, registered his vehicle in Massachusetts and filed a state income tax return there in 2013 and 2014. On direct examination, Candidate testified that he never abandoned his Pennsylvania domicile. He was born and raised in Carbon County, where his father has practiced medicine for over 30 years after immigrating to the United States from India. Candidate left Pennsylvania for his undergraduate education at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and later for his legal education at Harvard University in Massachusetts. Upon receiving his J.D. in 2015, Candidate immediately returned to Pennsylvania. Candidate explained that in 2008, while a student at Sarah Lawrence College, he voted in Pennsylvania by absentee ballot. In 2009, he received his B.A. and began a position in the federal government as a White House Fellow. In 2010, he worked for Joseph Sestak, the Democratic Party candidate for Pennsylvania’s seat in the United States Senate. While campaigning for Sestak in 2010, Candidate applied for an absentee ballot but never received it. As a result, 2 he was forced to drive to the Carbon County Courthouse to obtain the absentee ballot and vote. After Mr. Sestak lost the election in November 2010, Candidate began working for United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in her New York office. Candidate informed the Senator that his tenure would be short because he planned to enter law school. In August 2012, Candidate entered Harvard Law School, renting an apartment in Cambridge. Candidate explained that his decision to vote in Massachusetts was prompted by his unsuccessful attempt in 2010 to procure an absentee ballot.1 Candidate obtained a Massachusetts driver’s license because he needed to register his vehicle in Massachusetts in order to obtain a Cambridge resident parking permit.2 He filed state income tax returns in Massachusetts because anyone present in Massachusetts for more than 183 days must file a return there. Candidate never worked in Massachusetts. His summer law school positions in 2013 and 2014 were located in New York City.3 Candidate testified that it was always his intent to return to Pennsylvania. Notably, while at Harvard Law School, he received a scholarship 1 Candidate notes that the Pennsylvania Department of State website states that college students have the choice of voting at their home address or at their school address. http://votespa.com/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1174122&mode=2 (last visited March 17, 2016). See also Exhibit R-1. 2 Candidate submitted the resident parking permit requirements for Cambridge, Massachusetts. Exhibit R-7. It states that to be able to park in a residential “Permit Parking Only” location, one’s vehicle must be registered in Massachusetts with a Cambridge address. 3 In 2013, Candidate worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and in 2014 he was employed as a summer associate at Arnold & Porter LLP. Candidate testified that he was offered a position at Arnold & Porter upon graduation, but he did not accept it because he wanted to return to Carbon County. 3 available only to residents of Carbon County.4 Candidate did not qualify for Massachusetts in-state tuition because Massachusetts will not qualify an individual “for resident status if your only reason for living in Massachusetts during [the qualifying period] was to attend school here.” Exhibit R-10. Candidate offered several documents showing that he listed his Carbon County address as his “home” while he attended law school.5 Following his graduation in 2015, Candidate returned to Carbon County and took the Pennsylvania Bar Examination, which is the only state bar examination that he took. Upon receiving his law license, Candidate set up a private law office in Carbon County, where he continues to practice law. Applicable Law Eligibility to serve as a Representative in the General Assembly is governed by Article II, Section 5 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. It states as follows: Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age and Representatives twenty-one years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of the State four years, and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State), and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service. 4 A copy of his scholarship award for 2013-14 was submitted into evidence. Exhibit R-4. 5 Candidate submitted the following items: a travel insurance confirmation dated March 17, 2013, listing his Carbon County address, Exhibit R-2; a receipt for software he purchased in law school on May 15, 2013, billed to his Carbon County address, Exhibit R-3; a travel insurance confirmation issued November 29, 2014, listing his Carbon County address, Exhibit R-5; and numerous Instagram pictures and comments from Candidate referencing his “home” in Carbon County dated 2012 through 2015, Exhibit R-6. 4 PA. CONST. art. II §5 (emphasis added). The meaning of Article II, Section 5 has been addressed in several appellate court decisions. Although none is precisely on point with the facts of this case, this case law points the way. The precedent begins with In re Lesker, 105 A.2d 376 (Pa. 1954), in which the Pennsylvania Supreme Court discoursed at some length on the residency requirement in Article II, Section 5. Lesker involved a challenge to the eligibility of a candidate seeking the Democratic Party nomination for state representative. The objectors contended that the candidate’s address on his nomination petition was false because the candidate was actually living at a different address with a woman to whom he was not married. Acknowledging the challenge of construing “citizen” and “inhabitant” as used in Article II, Section 5, the Supreme Court explained that [i]t seems impossible to restrict the terms habitation, residence and domicile to airtight, waterproof compartments. Their meanings seem bound to escape their lexicographical boundaries and mingle with the others since a person’s place of residence may be identical with his domicile, and habitation is always a component part of residence and domicile. However, in strict technical terminology a habitation may be defined as an abode for the moment, residence a tarrying place for some specific purpose of business or pleasure, and domicile the fixed, permanent, final home to which one always intends to return. A person’s civil status is determined by his domicile. Thus, a business man may have his family home in the suburbs of a city where he lives with his wife and children. No matter where he travels nor how long he remains away, he always returns to this abode. This is his domicile. For business reasons he may have a residence in the city, even living there for many months of the year. This residence can never become the basis for voting or for candidacy for office. If traveling, he may stay at a hotel, boarding or rooming house. This would be his habitation and, regardless of expression of intention, could never become his legal domicile. 5 Lesker, 105 A.2d at 380 (emphasis in original). The Supreme Court concluded that “[t]o accomplish a change of domicile there must be not only the animus to change but the factum as well. There must be an actual transfer of bodily presence from one place to the other.” Id. Ultimately, the [o]ne almost conclusive criterion of domicile is the animus manendi. There must be the intention to remain. Id. (emphasis in original). Because the objectors in Lesker failed to establish that the candidate “moved bag and baggage” to a new address, the Supreme Court held that they did not prove that the candidate had changed his domicile. It upheld the decision of the lower court to dismiss the objectors’ petition. In re Nomination Petition of Vidmer, 442 A.2d 1203 (Pa. Cmwlth.), aff’d without opinion, 444 A.2d 100 (Pa. 1982), involved a candidate seeking the Democratic Party nomination for state representative. To be eligible, the candidate had to be domiciled in Pennsylvania as of November 1, 1978. The objectors presented evidence that the candidate enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1963. Thereafter, in 1968, the candidate took steps to receive the reduced tuition of an in-state resident. Specifically, in order to qualify as a Michigan resident to obtain a lower tuition fee, [the candidate] dropped out of school, took up a residence in Michigan and worked for the required period of time to qualify as a permanent resident of that state. Id. at 1205 (emphasis added). The candidate also voted “as a Michigan resident in the 1976 and 1978 elections.” Id. at 1206. After graduation, the candidate moved to Virginia, where he worked. In 1979, the candidate registered to vote in Pennsylvania but continued to work in Virginia. The candidate testified that in 6 spite of his peregrinations, he considered Pennsylvania his home and expected to return. This Court concluded that the candidate did not begin his Pennsylvania residency until 1981. In doing so, the Court focused on the candidate’s significant effort to establish permanent residency in Michigan: Were it not for [the candidate’s] action in 1968 when he clearly disassociated himself from his parents’ home in Pennsylvania in order to establish himself as a permanent resident in Michigan, we would be constrained to hold that Petitioners had not met their burden in this case to establish that [the candidate] was not an inhabitant and citizen of Pennsylvania in November of 1978. Given that change of domicile, however, and the subsequent events in [the candidate’s] life to which he candidly testified, it is clear to us that he did not physically relocate in Pennsylvania until 1981. Id. (emphasis added). The holding turned on the candidate’s decisive, year-long effort to become a “permanent Michigan resident,” not on his votes in Michigan. The next significant ruling was In re Prendergast, 673 A.2d 324 (Pa. 1996). In that case, the candidate sought to appear on the primary election ballot as a Democratic Party candidate for state representative. The candidate was born in Pennsylvania in 1963, where she lived until 1990 when she moved to Arlington, Virginia to attend law school. While in law school, she obtained a Virginia driver’s license; registered her vehicle in Virginia; paid reduced tuition available only to Virginia residents; and voted in Virginia. In 1994, the candidate graduated, returned to Pennsylvania, registered to vote and took the Pennsylvania Bar Examination. It was the only bar examination for which she sat. The objector argued that the candidate was not eligible for office in the 1996 election because she did not satisfy Pennsylvania’s four-year residency 7 requirement. In removing the candidate from the ballot, this Court focused on the fact that she had voted in Virginia. The Court pointed to the Pennsylvania Election Code,6 which establishes the criteria for an elector in Pennsylvania. Section 704(h) of the Election Code states: If a person goes into another state and while there exercises the right of a citizen by voting, he shall be considered to have lost his residence in this State. 25 P.S. §2814(h). The candidate appealed, and the Supreme Court affirmed. It explained its holding as follows: A domicile is the place at which an individual has fixed his family home and principal establishment for an indefinite period of time. A domicile once acquired is presumed to continue until it is shown to have been changed and where a change is alleged, the burden of proving it rests upon whoever makes the allegation. A new domicile can be acquired only by physical presence at a new residence plus intent to make that new residence the principal home. Intent is the actual state of facts, not what one declares them to be. An established domicile, however, can be retained without physical presence or residence until it be proven that a new domicile has been acquired. Applying the established law to the instant case, we find that [the objector] met his burden of demonstrating that [the candidate] established a new domicile in Virginia. [The candidate] registered her vehicle in that state, she registered to vote there, and, most importantly, she voted as a Virginia citizen in several elections. As noted by the Commonwealth Court, Section 704(h) of the Pennsylvania Election Code, Act of June 3, 1937, as amended, 25 P.S. § 2814(h), provides that, “if a person goes into another state and while there exercises 6 Act of June 3, 1937, P.L. 1333, as amended, 25 P.S. §§2600-3591. 8  that right of a citizen by voting, he shall be considered to have lost his residence in this State.” Moreover, like the candidate in [In re Nomination Petition of Vidmer, 442 A.2d 1203 (Pa. Cmwlth), affirmed without opinion, 444 A.2d 100 (Pa. 1982)] [the candidate] qualified for the reduced tuition granted only to citizens of Virginia. Prendergast, 673 A.2d at 327-28 (internal citations and footnote omitted) (emphasis added). Acknowledging the candidate’s immediate return to Pennsylvania after graduation, the Supreme Court nevertheless concluded that she had taken the actions of a person intending to move her domicile to Virginia. The most recent precedent on the constitutional residency requirement is this Court’s decision in In re Nomination of Pippy, 711 A.2d 1048 (Pa. Cmwlth.), aff’d without opinion, 709 A.2d 905 (Pa. 1998). In Pippy, the candidate sought the Republican Party’s nomination for state representative. The objectors contended that the candidate was not eligible because he had not resided in Pennsylvania for four years preceding the November 3, 1998, election. This Court made the following factual findings: The Candidate was born in Thailand, and was raised in Everett, Massachusetts. In 1988, the Candidate entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. While attending the Academy, he met his future wife who was a resident of Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On May 30, 1992, the Candidate graduated from the Academy. The Candidate stated that upon his graduation, he was required to serve an additional five years of active duty with the United States military. On June 1, 1992, the Candidate and his wife were married in West Point, New York. The Candidate credibly testified that prior to their marriage, he and his wife had decided to reside near her parents in Moon Township, Allegheny, County, Pennsylvania. Accordingly, after his graduation and their marriage, the Candidate and his wife moved in with her parents. The Candidate registered his vehicle with the Pennsylvania 9 Department of Transportation, and obtained car insurance listing his in-laws’ address as his own. On August 1, 1992, the Candidate and his wife signed a six- month lease on an apartment in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania that was to expire on January 31, 1993. However, in November of 1992, the Candidate was called up for active duty, and was sent to the military base at Fort Hood, Texas. The Candidate credibly testified that because no housing was available in the base at that time, he was required to obtain an apartment off base in Killeen, Texas for a couple months. The Candidate’s wife left Coraopolis and joined him in Texas. While residing at this address, the Candidate applied for a Texas driver’s license, and both he and his wife registered to vote. By early December of 1992, the Candidate had obtained housing on the base and both he and his wife moved to Fort Hood. While at the Fort Hood address, the Candidate obtained a duplicate Texas driver’s license, and both he and his wife again registered to vote. In addition, his wife enrolled as a student at Central Texas College listing the Fort Hood address as her local address, and listing her parents’ address in Moon Township as her permanent address. The Candidate credibly testified that although he was stationed in Texas at that time, he and his wife always intended to return to Western Pennsylvania and raise their family here when he completed his service in the military. He also credibly testified that in the Spring of 1994, he applied for entry into an early release/retirement program whereby he could satisfy his active duty commitment with the Army through an assignment to the Reserves. He indicated that he applied for an assignment with a unit located in Brookville, Pennsylvania. On September 20, 1994, the Army accepted the Candidate’s application for entry into the program, and indicated that he would be assigned to the unit in Brookville. Subsequently, the Army issued a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty that indicated the Candidate was honorably discharged from the Army effective May 30, 1995. The certificate indicated that the Candidate supplied an address in Moon Township as his mailing address after separation from the Army. It also indicated that the Candidate had requested that a copy of the certificate be sent to the Pennsylvania 10  Director of Veterans Affairs. The Candidate credibly testified that he and his wife have resided in Moon Township since his acceptance into this program. Id. at 1057-58 (internal footnotes omitted). This Court concluded that the objectors did not meet their burden of proving that the candidate had established residence in Texas. The candidate moved to Texas because he was “under orders issued by the military authorities.” Id. at 1059. Indeed, domicile for military personnel is presumed not to change after enlistment. Id. (quoting Bernhard v. Bernhard, 668 A.2d 546, 550 (Pa. Super. 1995)). This Court did not find the candidate’s vote in Texas dispositive, explaining that if an individual is required to reside in another jurisdiction by forces beyond his control, the mere fact that he exercises his right of franchise while compelled to be in that jurisdiction does not, in and of itself, constitute a change of domicile. Id. at 1059 n.17 (emphasis omitted). Further, there was no evidence that the candidate’s wife, who was attending college in Texas, received the reduced tuition available to Texas residents. Acknowledging Prendergast, this Court concluded: [T]he mere fact that the [c]andidate or his wife voted in Texas cannot, standing alone, compel this court to determine that they were domiciliaries of Texas. This fact must be considered in conjunction with the other facts of record in making such a determination. Pippy, 711 A.2d at 1059 n.17 (emphasis added). Objectors’ Contentions Objectors argue that the Supreme Court’s ruling in Prendergast is dispositive because the facts here are nearly identical to those in Prendergast. The candidate in Prendergast was a Pennsylvanian who moved to another state to 11 attend law school and while there voted, paid taxes, registered a vehicle under the laws of that state and paid the reduced tuition available only to state residents. The only difference here is that Candidate did not pay a Massachusetts tuition rate because Harvard Law School is a private institution. The Massachusetts voter registration form contains a recital that the signatory acknowledges that Massachusetts is “home.” Thus, by signing this form, Candidate took decisive action to abandon his Pennsylvania domicile. Voting in Massachusetts, according to Objectors, was the tipping point. They rely upon the Supreme Court’s reference to Section 704(h) of the Election Code and description of Candidate Prendergast’s votes in Virginia as the “most important[ ]” factor. Prendergast, 673 A.2d at 328. Candidate responds that Lesker, 105 A.2d 376, established the foundational principles for determining whether a candidate has been a Pennsylvania citizen and inhabitant for the four years preceding the general election date. He disagrees that voting is the key factor in determining residency. Candidate notes that in Vidmer, 442 A.2d 1203, it was not the candidate’s vote in Michigan that caused his removal from the ballot but, rather, the decisive actions that the candidate took to establish a Michigan domicile, i.e., dropping out of school and working for one year in Michigan. In Prendergast, the Supreme Court cited Vidmer with approval; it neither distinguished nor overruled Vidmer. Further, it was the combination of many factors that resulted in the Supreme Court’s removal of Candidate Prendergast from the ballot, not solely her votes in Virginia. The Supreme Court referred to Section 704(h) of the Election Code and used the modifier “most importantly.” However, those two words cannot be read to mean that voting was more important than taking the steps necessary to qualify for in- state tuition, as had occurred in Vidmer. Lest there be any doubt, in Pippy, 711 12 A.2d 1048, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court, this Court refused to remove a candidate from the ballot even though he and his wife voted in Texas. Instead, this Court emphasized the decision of the candidate’s wife not to seek Texas residency for in-state tuition and her use of her family’s Pennsylvania address on school documents. Likewise, here, Candidate continued to use his family’s home address in Carbon County for several purposes while in law school. Not only would Candidate not qualify for Massachusetts in-state tuition, he had to be a Carbon County resident to qualify for his scholarship to Harvard Law School. Analysis A nomination petition is presumed valid; thus, “challenges to a nomination petition must overcome the presumption of validity.” Pippy, 711 A.2d at 1057. Accordingly, Objectors bear “the heavy burden” of demonstrating that the Candidate’s nomination petition is invalid. Id. That burden requires proof that Candidate acquired a new domicile in Massachusetts while attending law school. As the Supreme Court has explained, [a] domicile is the place at which an individual has fixed his family home and principal establishment for an indefinite period of time. A domicile once acquired is presumed to continue until it is shown to have been changed and where a change is alleged, the burden of proving it rests upon whoever makes the allegation. A new domicile can be acquired only by physical presence at a new residence plus intent to make that new residence the principal home. Intent is the actual state of facts, not what one declares them to be. An established domicile, however, can be retained without physical presence or residence until it be proven that a new domicile has been acquired. Prendergast, 673 A.2d at 327-28 (internal citations omitted) (emphasis added). Further, “the term ‘inhabitant’ or ‘resident’ as stated in Article II, Section 5, 13 ‘cannot mean one sojourning temporarily, or for some special purpose, but refers to one who has a permanent abode ….’” Prendergast, 673 A.2d at 327 (quoting Lesker, 105 A.2d at 376). Objectors emphasize Section 704 of the Election Code, which establishes rules for determining residence “of a person desiring to register or vote.” 25 P.S. §2814. Section 704(h) provides that a person who votes in “another state ... shall be considered to have lost his residence in this State.” 25 P.S. §2814(h). Candidate notes, in response, that Section 703 of the Election Code provides that “no person shall be deemed to have ... lost [his residence] by reason of his absence ... while a student of any institution of learning ....” 25 P.S. §2813. Sections 703 and 704 are of limited value to a resolution of this case. First, the purpose of Section 704 is to determine who can vote in Pennsylvania. It does not determine candidate eligibility, which is a matter committed to the Pennsylvania Constitution. Simply, Section 704(h) makes it clear that a person who votes in Massachusetts cannot also vote in Pennsylvania. Indeed, no person may lawfully vote in two elections held on the same day. Second, although the Supreme Court in Prendergast referred to Section 704(h), it did not make it dispositive of the residency requirement in Article II, Section 5. At best it found Section 704(h) of the Election Code instructive. Prendergast did not make voting in another state the sine qua non of abandoning a long time domicile in Pennsylvania. Third, to the extent the Election Code speaks to the question of when domicile changes, it is ambiguous. This is because Section 703 states that a citizen’s absence “while a student of any institution of learning” does not effect a change in residence. 25 P.S. §2813. 14  Lesker set forth the definitive and still extant principles for changing one’s domicile: To accomplish a change of domicile there must be not only the animus to change but the factum as well. There must be an actual transfer of bodily presence from one place to the other. The animus and the factum do not need to be simultaneous, but until they coincide the change of domicile is not effected. In the law a domicile is as deep rooted as a tree and to transfer it from one location to another requires an operation as intensive as the digging up, loading, transportation, and replanting of an elm or maple. Lesker, 105 A.2d. at 380. The question is whether Objectors’ evidence has shown that Candidate demonstrated both the animus and factum needed to effect a change in domicile from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. The Court concludes that the evidence is lacking.7 It is true that Pippy emphasized that Candidate Pippy was not in Texas by choice. Likewise, here, several of Candidate’s “actions” were not by choice. He had to live where he went to school, and he needed to be able to park on the street by his apartment. Filing a tax return in Massachusetts and registering his vehicle in Massachusetts were not voluntary acts. His vote in Massachusetts was voluntary, but it appeared permissible under the law of both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. That Candidate chose to vote in Massachusetts and not in Pennsylvania by absentee ballot did not demonstrate an intention to abandon his Pennsylvania domicile.8 7 In reviewing the evidence, the Court finds Candidate credible in every respect. 8 Candidate Pippy made the same choice. This Court found that he did not effect a change in his domicile from Pennsylvania to Texas by not voting in Pennsylvania by absentee ballot. 15  Candidate was drawn to Cambridge, Massachusetts by a prestigious law school. It was a logical decision to attend Harvard Law School given the current hard job market for new law school graduates. In that regard, the choice was “coerced” by economic reality. Throughout his law school career, Candidate returned to Carbon County for holidays and family visits. He referred to Carbon County as “home” to others. He listed his parents’ Carbon County address as his home address on a variety of forms for doctor visits, job applications and travel insurance. He maintained his bank accounts in Pennsylvania. He never worked in Massachusetts. After Candidate passed the Pennsylvania Bar Examination, he moved out of his parents’ house to Jim Thorpe, Carbon County, where he began his law practice. Objectors’ evidence did not demonstrate the coincidence of animus and factum by which a person effects a change of domicile. Lesker, 105 A.2d at 380. Voting in another state while a student in that state does not, as contended by Objectors, demonstrate a coincidence of animus and factum for purposes of domicile. Conclusion For these reasons, the petition of Objectors to set aside the nomination petition of Neil Makhija is denied. ______________________________________ MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge 16  IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA In Re: Nomination Petition of : Neil Makhija for the Democratic : Nomination for Representative : in the General Assembly from the : 122nd Legislative District in the : Democratic Primary of April 26, 2016 : No. 108 M.D. 2016 : Petition of: Bryan Price and Michael : Spairana, Jr. : ORDER AND NOW, this 17th day of March, 2016, following hearing on the petition to set aside the nomination petition of Neil Makhija for the Democratic Nomination for Representative in the General Assembly from the 122nd Legislative District in the Democratic Primary of April 26, 2016, the petition is DENIED. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is directed to certify the name of Neil Makhija for inclusion on the ballot for the office of Representative in the General Assembly from the 122nd Legislative District in the Democratic Primary of April 26, 2016. The Chief Clerk is directed to send a copy of this order to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Each party to bear his own costs. ______________________________________ MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge 

INTRODUCTION ============ Free gingival graft is the most commonly practiced predictable technique for gingival augmentation. It is used to increase the keratinized gingival width and depth of the vestibule, prevent gingival recession, improve plaque control and esthetics, and decrease or eliminate root hypersensitivity \[[@B1], [@B2]\]. This surgical procedure, however, results in an open wound in the palate that heals within 2--4 weeks \[[@B3]\]. The open wound causes pain and discomfort for patients after surgery. In cases requiring multiple gingival grafts, a minimum of 4-week interval is required between the surgical procedures to allow complete healing of the palate \[[@B4]\]. Various materials and methods have been used to accelerate palatal wound healing including laser therapy \[[@B5]\] and topical application of ozonated oil \[[@B6]\], platelet-rich fibrin \[[@B7]\], and medicinal plant extracts \[[@B8]\]. Evidence shows lower infection rate and degree of shrinkage induced by scarring in wounds covered with biological dressings compared with those that remain exposed or are covered with synthetic materials \[[@B9]-[@B11]\]. Therefore, biological dressings that do not undergo degradation for a certain period might be beneficial for wound healing. The amniotic membrane (AM) is a biological dressing with many therapeutic effects \[[@B12]-[@B16]\]. There is a growing interest to use this material for periodontal tissue repair \[[@B17]\]. AM is the most internal layer of the placenta, which consists of three layers: an epithelial monolayer, a thick basement membrane, and a collagen-rich underlying stroma. It has no nerves, muscles or lymphatic vessels, and can be easily separated from the underlying chorion. Studies have shown that AM induces re-epithelialization and angiogenesis and decreases the inflammatory response. It also has antibacterial properties and contains growth factors such as tumor growth factor-alpha and fibroblast growth factor-beta as well as mesenchymal stem cells with different differentiation potential \[[@B18], [@B19]\]. AM is also a suitable material for allografts because of its low immunogenicity. It has anti-inflammatory properties, protects the wound and decreases scar tissue formation. AM has been used for decades in various clinical settings, including ophthalmology and wound care \[[@B20]\]. It decreases the level of pain and inflammation and risk of infection since its stromal surface adheres to the wound surface, covers the exposed free nerve endings in the wound area, protects the wound surface from trauma and external stimuli, and minimizes the protein and fluid loss from the wound \[[@B21]\]. This study was conducted to assess the effect of lyophilized AM, as a biological dressing, applied on palatal donor site in free gingival graft surgery. The objective was to find a proper dressing for wound coverage to decrease pain and discomfort following the surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS ===================== STUDY DESIGN This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Allocation of patients to the test and control groups was carried out using sealed opaque coded envelopes that were opened right before the surgery. Study Population Thirty-four patients requiring gingival augmentation referred to the Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, were examined to assess their eligibility for participation in this study. Of 34 patients, 27 (14 males and 13 females, aged 18--70 years, mean age of 54 years) met the inclusion criteria. The exclusion criteria were: O'Leary's plaque index \>20% \[[@B22]\], smoking, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, immunocompromised patients or those taking immunosuppressive drugs, pregnant women, and patients suffering from mucosal and skin diseases. The surgical procedures were thoroughly explained to all patients who signed informed written consent forms. The research protocol was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2016021321069N1. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Preparation of the Human AM Graft The AM was procured from the placenta of healthy pregnant women undergoing elective Cesarean section. The pregnant women were excluded if they had immunodeficiency, transmissible diseases or infectious diseases. The AM graft was prepared and preserved as described by Kim and Tseng \[[@B23]\]. The human placentas were obtained shortly after the deliveries. Under a hood with laminar air flow, the placenta was washed with normal saline to eliminate blood clots. The AM was readily separated from the chorion by blunt dissection. The membrane was then washed with phosphate buffered saline containing 1000 U/mL penicillin, 20 mg/mL streptomycin, and 2.5 µg/mL amphotericin B three times. The membrane was freeze-dried at -80 °C, packed in a two-layer polyethylene bag and transferred to the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency in a radiation box for sterilization. Surgical Technique Initial periodontal therapy was performed for all patients. An experienced periodontist performed all the surgical procedures. The procedures were carried out under local anesthesia according to the most commonly used technique described by Sullivan and Atkins \[[@B24]\] and developed by Miller. After harvesting the graft, it was correctly positioned at the site, firmly adapted to the bed, stabilized with simple periosteal sutures and protected by periodontal dressing in both groups. The donor site was manually compressed with wet gauze for 1 min to achieve hemostasis in both groups. The AM was cut to a size slightly larger than the actual size of the wound by sterile scissors and was then immersed in normal saline to remain hydrated. In the test group, the AM was placed over the donor site and sutured such that the polyethylene surface was in contact with the wound ([Fig 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). The control group donor site was sutured with 4-0 braided silk and protected with periodontal dressing ([Fig 2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). Patients were provided with post-operative instructions aiming to prevent mechanical trauma to the surgical site, which included discontinuation of tooth brushing and flossing around the surgical sites until the day of periodontal dressing removal (day 7). Amoxicillin (500 mg, TID, 7 days), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Gelofen, 400 mg), and 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate mouthwash) BID, 14 days) were prescribed for all patients. All the patients were followed on days 7, 14, and 21 for further evaluation of the donor site. {#F1} {#F2} Clinical Variables Examined The patients were examined at days 7, 14, and 21 post-operatively. Standard photographs were taken of the donor site during the follow-up visits with a digital camera (Canon, Tokyo, Japan) under standard conditions from a distance of 20 cm and perpendicular to the palatal donor site. The photographs were observed by three independent and masked periodontists who were asked to express their opinion about the clinical healing of the donor sites. The inter-rater reliability was high (correlation coefficient: 0.85--0.90). The results of the stricter examiner were used for statistical analysis. The pattern of clinical healing of the palatal donor site was compared between the test and control groups by evaluating the degree of color match, tissue texture and inflammation. The color match of the donor site with the adjacent and contralateral palatal mucosa was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). The VAS scores ranged from '0' to '10' where '0' indicated "no color match" while '10' indicated "excellent color match" \[[@B25]\]. The tissue texture of the donor site (similarity of the tissue texture of the palatal donor site to the adjacent tissue) was evaluated using a 4-point scale: '0' indicated no similarity; '1,' less than 50% similarity; '2,' \>50% similarity; and '3,' complete similarity. Inflammation at the donor site was also assessed using a 4-point scale: '0' showed no inflammation at the outer borders of the palatal wound; '1,' mild inflammation; '2,' moderate inflammation; and '3,' severe inflammation. Pain Assessment During the 21 post-operative days, all the patients were requested to fill out a questionnaire regarding the number of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics they took for pain relief and a VAS score for pain between 0 and 10 ('0' indicated no pain; '1,' minimal pain; and '10,' severe pain) \[[@B26]\]. Since the VAS pain scores reached zero during the first post-operative week, only the VAS pain scores during the first week were reported. Statistical Analysis One-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test revealed that the variables studied did not have normal distribution. Therefore, Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of variables. A p value \<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results ======= The clinical healing of the surgical site was uneventful in all studied patients. [Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"} shows the color match, tissue texture and inflammation scores in the two groups. The mean VAS score for color match was higher in the test group on days 14 and 21 compared with that in the control group (p\<0.001 and p꞊0.02, respectively). Tissue texture score (p꞊0.01) and inflammation score (p꞊0.02) were significantly different between the two groups only on day 14. ###### Mean±SD color match, tissue texture, and inflammation scores in the AM and control groups on days 7, 14, and 21 post-surgery Variable Baseline 7^th^ day 14^th^ day 21^st^ day ---------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ------------ AM group 0.00±0.00 6.60±1.12 8.87±0.74 9.87±0.35 Control group 0.00±0.00 5.75±0.97 7.92±0.79 9.25±0.62 p value 1.00 0.06 0.00 0.02 Tissue texture AM group 0.00±0.00 1.80±0.56 2.67±0.49 3.00±0.00 Control group 0.00±0.00 1.42±0.52 2.08±0.29 2.67±0.49 p value 1.00 0.14 0.01 0.15 Inflammation AM group 3.00±0.00 1.07±0.59 0.40±0.51 0.00±0.00 Control group 3.00±0.00 1.58±0.67 1.08±0.67 0.33±0.49 p value 1.00 0.05 0.02 0.15 Analgesics intake and pain scores decreased during the first week after surgery ([Table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). Pattern of pain relief, based on VAS pain scores, was better in the test group compared with the control group, especially in during the first days, although no significant difference was observed between the two groups. ###### Mean±SD number of analgesics taken by patients and the reported VAS pain scores within 7 days of surgery in the two groups Variable Day --------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Number of analgesics taken AM group 2.80±0.41 2.40±0.91 1.93±1.03 1.67±1.29 1.27±1.11 1.27±1.11 0.13±0.52 Control group 2.67±0.99 2.50±1.45 2.25±1.42 2.17±1.34 1.25±1.66 1.17±1.85 0.00±0.00 p value 0.90 0.49 0.40 0.35 0.61 0.37 0.79 Visual analog scale pain scores AM group 6.73±2.94 5.07±2.46 4.00±2.30 3.80±2.24 3.07±2.25 2.80±2.54 2.00±2.39 Control group 7.33±2.67 6.83±2.55 5.83±2.35 4.67±2.64 4.25±2.53 4.17±3.13 1.83±2.55 p value 0.68 0.08 0.24 0.22 0.14 0.26 0.78 DISCUSSION ========== This randomized clinical trial aimed at assessing the effect of applying lyophilized AM to palatal donor site on its pain and healing. In the present study, the pattern of healing and the time of wound repair were evaluated through color match and similarity of the texture of the donor site to the adjacent tissue. In any intervals, the test group showed better results than the control group, which indicated that AM improved and expedited healing process of palatal wound. These two indices studied were also used in similar studies as indicators of healing in palatal donor site \[[@B1], [@B5], [@B8]\]. We also used a VAS for assessing color match and tissue texture similar to the study conducted by Keceli, *et al* \[[@B8]\]; by this approach, we tried to evaluate the healing process more objectively and accurately. AM has been studied as a biological wound dressing material over oral mucosal defects in various intraoral surgeries. Different forms of AM such as cryopreserved \[[@B26], [@B27]\], hyper-dry \[[@B20]\], fresh \[[@B28]\], and lyophilized (freeze-dried) have been applied in these studies. Based on the results, AM promotes healing and wound epithelialization; it reduces granulation tissue formation in large open wounds with no specific side-effects. Velez, *et al* \[[@B27]\], evaluated the efficacy of cryopreserved AM on wound healing after dental implant surgery. They showed that the cryopreserved AM effectively enhances cicatrization and wound healing. The cryopreserved AM supports epithelial growth and subsequently facilitates their migration and reinforces their adhesion. It also decreases pain. The efficacy of AM has also been investigated as a biological wound dressing material for mucosal surgical defects in the oropharyngeal region. Researchers assessed the pain score, granulation tissue formation and surface epithelialization of the graft site. The results indicated that AM can be used as an acceptable biological dressing to cover mucosal defects in the oropharyngeal region \[[@B28]\]. The results of the aforementioned studies were in line with ours and showed that the AM could facilitate the palatal donor site healing and the lessen the patients' pain. In our study, inflammation was also assessed as an objective indicator of clinical healing. The inflammation on the sidelines of the donor site was more pronounced in the control group at all follow-up visits, although the difference was just significant on day 14 (p\<0.05). GCF is an inflammatory exudate and its assessment has been introduced as a non-invasive tool to monitor periodontal inflammatory responses in different clinical circumstances \[[@B29], [@B30]\]. Kumar, *et al* \[[@B31]\], studied the anti-inflammatory, anti-infective and clinical properties of AM when used for guided tissue regeneration in contained interdental defects. The interleukin-1β and human b-defensin-2 levels were measured in the gingival crevicular fluid of the test (AM with bone graft) and control (bone graft only) sites. The AM resulted in a significant reduction in the level of interleukin-1β and an insignificant increase in the level of human b-defensin-2 in GCF. The AM demonstrated a marked anti-inflammatory effect, confirming by the results of our study. In the study of Velez, *et al* \[[@B27]\], the clinical signs or symptoms of inflammation) swelling or redness), pain and abscess formation were also evaluated after placement of AM over surgical wound of implant surgeries. None of the patients showed inflammation or reported adverse events at any time points. No infection was clinically suspected; therefore, no cultures were obtained. Therefore, the authors concluded that AM can reduce inflammation and infection rate, which was similar to what we found that AM application could decrease the risk of infection at the palatal donor site. In the present study, the overall analgesics intake and the VAS pain scores decreased during the first week after the surgery. However, between-group analysis did not show any significant difference at any intervals. So, the use of AM may have a limited effect on pain. On the other hand, Velez, *et al* \[[@B27]\], reported that significantly fewer patients experienced pain in the AM group, and when present, the severity of pain was significantly less than that in the control group. This difference could be due to the location of the dressing, which was less susceptible to trauma (implant surgical site *vs*. the palatal donor site) and the type of surgeries. Arai, *et al* \[[@B20]\], used a hyper-dry AM for treatment of 10 patients with secondary defects in the tongue and buccal mucosa after surgical removal of cancerous or precancerous lesions. The pain scores were recorded in the first week and expressed by patients and categorized as good (none to mild), fair (mild to moderate), and poor (severe). Pain relief was good in five patients and fair in five others. Their results were not consistent with ours, which can be attributed to the location of the dressing (tongue and buccal mucosa vs. the palatal donor site), greater surgical ulcers, and lack of a control group for comparison. In the study by Khademi, *et al* \[[@B28]\], the pain score was categorized as good (none to mild), fair (mild to moderate), and poor (severe) according to a questionnaire filled out by patients during the first 7 days, post-operatively. The results were favorable in all patients. In the present study, clinical photographs and questionnaires were used to assess the efficacy of AM. Clinical photographs have been taken under standardized conditions with similar exposure settings to accurately assess color match, tissue texture and inflammation, and it was technically difficult to obtain standardized shots from the same patient at different visits. Other limitations of our study included absence of histological examination, and variability and problems with different scoring systems. Finally, although care was taken to harvest the graft with a uniform thickness, standardization of wound depth and graft thickness was difficult. Based on the results of this study, the use of AM as a biological dressing can prevent the complications of free gingival graft (such as pain and bleeding) and may accelerate healing. Further randomized controlled clinical trials involving histological, immunological and microbiological examinations with longer follow up visits are necessary to confirm the efficacy of AM as a biological dressing. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: ====================== **None declared.** FINANCIAL SUPPORT: ================== **This research was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, grant \# 94-04-52-30217.**

Introduction {#s0005} ============ The semi-arid deserts of north Sinai represent a very important agricultural extension to the Nile Valley. Governmental plans are underway to develop agriculture productivity, especially through the mega project of El-Salam (Peace) canal. The canal brings Nile water, mixed with the Delta drainage water (1:1, v/v), to reclaim 150,000 ha. This long-term planning project is confronted with a number of ecological concerns, in respect of upsetting the long-established biodiversity of flora and microflora, and possible erosion and salination of soils. Therefore, and since 1995, the microbe--plant--soil systems of north Sinai are under investigations through a number of successive research projects. As a result, the existing microflora--flora interactions were documented in a number of publications [@b0005; @b0010; @b0015]. Special attention was given to prevailing N~2~-fixers (diazotrophs) and future manipulation of their representatives as biofertilizers [@b0020; @b0025]. In addition, efforts were devoted to specific plant--microbe models of ecological importance, e.g. fixing sand dunes and inhabiting salt-affected areas. In this respect, Othman et al. [@b0015] demonstrated the richness of the plant--soil system with various groups of rhizospheric microorganisms (RMOs). They also drew the attention towards a potential group of plants possessing sand sheath encasing roots of plants, a phenomenon that was actually reported years ago [@b0030]. It appeared that the rhizosheath in itself acts as additional compartments under the effect of plant roots, being chemically and physically enriched and subsequently nourishing functional populations of microorganisms [@b0005]. In particular, it is reported to be a potential repository for the nitrogen fixing bacteria [@b0035]. Aware of the ecological and economical importance of associated microflora, it was of rather interest to further explore the flora of north Sinai for rhizospheric microorganisms (RMOs), nesting the interior of roots (endorhizosphere) and shoots (endophyllosphere), as well as the unique root adjacent compartment known as rhizosheath. Special efforts are given to the prevailing groups of nitrogen-fixing (diazotrophs) community prevailing under the extremely harsh and variable environmental semi-arid conditions of north Sinai deserts. Material and methods {#s0010} ==================== Experimental sites {#s0015} ------------------ The studied region extends 160-km eastwards of the Suez Canal into north Sinai, from Rummanah (30°58′35.94″N-32°45′35.94″E) to Wadi El-Arish (30°43′49.80″N-34°25′10.68″E). Based on the records of the regional meteorological station of El-Arish, the climatic data of the studied areas is outlined in [Table 1](#t0005){ref-type="table"}. The summer months (July and August) are the hottest, and the mean temperature was highest in August (32.9 °C) and lowest in January (8.0 °C). Very narrow variation in relative humidity is reported throughout the whole year, ranged from 70% in April to 76.0% in August. The total mean of annual rainfall was 157.11 mm during the period 1995 to 2005. The wind velocity reached its mean maximum (10.0 knot) in January and minimum (4.0 knot) in May till October. The study covers three potential areas [Fig. 1](#f0005){ref-type="fig"}. The first area is "Rummanah-Bir El Abd" characterized by an open plain of gravely desert having scanty quantities of rainfall with very few inland salines. Seven plant samples were collected from three sites. The second area is "Rafah-El Arish" coastal area with scattered semi-stable dunes and coastal salines to the north. A number of 13 plant samples were obtained representing four sites. "Wadi (Valley) El-Arish" is representing the third area with 23 plant samples. It covers a virtual triangular with sides of ca. 29 km, 39 km and base of 40 km, and respective apices at Bir Lahfan, Abu Ujaylah and Gebel (heights) Libni. The area contains stable and semi-stable sandy fields, supported with relatively higher amounts of rainfall (ca. 100 mm/year) and low soil salinity that permits agricultural activities. The environmental conditions prevailing in the studied areas are presented in [Table 1](#t0005){ref-type="table"}. Sampling of flora {#s0020} ----------------- Sinai lies in the semi-arid regions of the world. Its natural flora is mainly xerophytes and dominated by Mediterranean elements; in addition to Saharo-Arabian and Irano-Turanian elements in the second position. Plants were sampled during their optimum growth in the rainy seasons (October--May) of 2004 and 2005, and identified at Cairo University Herbarium (CAI) based on the authentic herbarium specimens and available literature [@b0040; @b0045; @b0050; @b0055]. Each plant sample is a composite of at least three plants exists in the sampling site. The identified specimens were deposited as herbarium specimens in the "Research Center for Agro-biotechnologies, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University", Rafah, north Sinai. Sampling of plant--soil systems {#s0025} ------------------------------- Bacteria closely associated to the surface layers of root tissues (named as rhizoplane or tentatively endorhizosphere) and shoots (endophyllosphere) of various plant--soil systems were examined for total culturable populations of bacteria and associated nitrogen-fixing bacteria (diazotrophs). Phyllosphere samples were obtained by first insertion and separation of the vegetation part of plant into plastic bags. Then, the root system (intact roots with closely-adhering soil) was removed and transferred to plastic bags. All samples were kept in a cold bow and brought within 24 h to the laboratory. Samples were kept in the refrigerator until analyses within 72 h of sampling. Preparation of samples for microbial analyses {#s0030} --------------------------------------------- Surface sterilization for either roots or shoots was carried [@b0060], the intact shoot or root was carefully washed with tap water, treated with 95% ethanol for 30 s followed by 3% sodium hypochlorite for 30 min, then thoroughly washed five times with sterile distilled water. Sterility check was carried out by placing segments of sterilized plant materials on the surface of prepared nutrient agar plates. Finally, the plant materials were triturated for 5 min in Warring blender using sufficient amount of half strength basal salts of the N-deficient combined carbon sources medium (CCM) liquid medium [@b0065] as a diluent. Further serial dilutions were prepared, using the same diluent, for enumerating bacterial groups in the roots and shoots. Roots with encasing sand sheath were divided into sub-samples prepared for: (a) the loose free sand; (b) the encasing compact sand of the rhizosheath (sand sheath); (c) roots carefully deprived of their sand load by sterile forcipes (naked root/rhizoplane) and (d) surface-sterilized roots (endorhizosphere) using ethanol and sodium hypochlorite [@b0060]. For each sub-sample, enough soil and/or plant material were used to prepare the first dilution in 100 ml glass bottles containing 45 ml diluent (the basal salt of CCM medium), shaked (150 rpm) for 60 min, then further serial dilutions were prepared for culturing representative groups of bacteria. Bacteriological determinations {#s0035} ------------------------------ Suitable dilutions of prepared samples, three replicates for each plant sphere, were analyzed for total culturable bacteria using the nutrient agar and the pour plate method [@b0070]. Diazotrophs were cultured using the surface-inoculated plates and the N-deficient combined carbon sources medium (CCM) [@b0065]. Incubation took place at 30 °C, and the developed c.f.u were counted during 2--7 days of incubation [@b0005; @b0010]. The *Gluconacetobacter*-like populations were enumerated using the most probable number (MPN) and the semi-solid N-deficient LGI culture medium [@b0060; @b0075]. For each suitable dilution, 1 ml aliquots were transferred to five tubes containing 5 ml of semi-solid LGI medium, incubated at 30 °C for 7 days. MPN estimates were derived using tables of Meynell and Meynell [@b0080]. For the culturable spore-forming populations, just prior to plating, suitable dilutions were pasteurized at 80 °C for 15 min. In general, bacterial populations were calculated on dry matter (105 °C for soils and 75 °C for plant materials) basis. Isolation, purification and identification of representative isolates of diazotrophs {#s0040} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Representative colonies developed on CCM agar plates were selected for single colony isolation. In addition, sets of semi-solid CCM medium inoculated with 0.5 ml aliquots of suitable dilutions were also prepared, incubated for 48--72 h. at 30 °C. Acetylene reducing activity [@b0085] was measured for tubes exhibiting good growth, and cultures produced more than 5 nmoles C~2~H~4~ culture^−1^ h^−1^ were considered positive, streaked on CCM agar plates and incubated for 48--72 h. at 30 °C. For further purification of all selected isolates, single colony isolation was performed on agar plates of CCM. Pure isolates were re-examined for acetylene-reducing activity, colony morphology and cell characteristics according to Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology [@b0090]. Representative isolates were also examined for growth and cultural characteristics based on API microtube systems gallery [@b0095]; API 20E for Enterobacteriaceae; API 20 NE for non-Enterobacteriaceae and API 50CHB for bacilli. For *Gluconacetobacter*-like diazotrophs, the MPN tubes of LGI medium showing typical dark-orange surface pellicle and clear colorless medium below were considered positive. Representative isolates were obtained by single-colony isolation on agar plates of the same medium. After 7--10 days, pure orange colonies were transferred into LGIP medium. For more purification, isolates were streaked on potato agar [@b0075], modified LGIP medium [@b0100] and glucose--yeast--CaCO~3~ (GYC) [@b0105; @b0075] agar plates. Pure isolates were re-examined for acetylene reducing activity, colony morphology and cell characteristics and identified according to Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology [@b0090]. The API microtube systems 20E and 20NE were further used as a standardized micro-method [@b0095]. The *Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus* type culture (ATCC 49037) was used as a reference strain. Culture media {#s0045} ------------- Nutrient agar [@b0070]: It contains (g l^−1^): beef extract, 3.0; peptone, 5.0; glucose, 1.0; yeast extract, 0.5; agar, 15; pH, 7.2. N-deficient combined carbon sources medium, CCM [@b0065]: It comprises of (g l^−1^): glucose, 2.0; malic acid, 2.0; mannitol, 2.0; sucrose, 1.0; K~2~HPO~4~, 0.4; KH~2~PO~4~, 0.6; MgSO~4~, 0.2; NaCl, 0.1; CuSO~4~, 0.08 mg; ZnSO~4~, 0.25 mg; MnSO~4~, 0.01; yeast extract, 0.2; fermentol (a local product of corn-steep liquor), 0.2; KOH, 1.5; CaCl~2~, 0.02; FeCl~3~, 0.015; Na~2~ MoO~4~, 0.002. Sodium lactate was included as 0.6 ml (50% v/v). LGI medium [@b0075]: It contains (g l^−1^): K~2~HPO~4~, 0.2; KH~2~PO~4~, 0.6; MgSO~4~·7H~2~O, 0.2; CaCl~2~·2H~2~O, 0.02; Na~2~MoO~4~·H~2~O, 0.002; FeCl~3~·H~2~O, 0.01; bromothymol blue 0.5% solution in 0.2 N KOH, 5 ml; agar, 1.8; crystallized cane sugar, 100; PH, 6.0. Modified LGIP medium [@b0100]: It contained per liter: 0.02 g of Na~2~MoO~4~·2H~2~O, 0.1 mg of biotin, 0.2 mg of pyridoxal HCl l and 5 ml of sugarcane juice (pressed from fresh sugarcane stem). The final pH was adjusted to 5.5 using 1% acetic acid. For single colony isolation, diluted cells were spread on solid LGIP agar medium (15 g of agar per liter plus 50 mg of yeast extract per liter). Potato agar [@b0075]: It comprises of (l^--1^): potato extract 200 ml; sucrose 100 g, agar 15 g. Glucose yeast extract CaCO~3~, GYC [@b0105; @b0075]: It contains (g l^−1^): glucose, 100; yeast extract, 10; CaCO~3~, 20; agar, 15; distilled water, 1000; pH 6.8. Statistical analysis {#s0050} -------------------- Data obtained were statistically analyzed using STATISTICA 6.0 (StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, USA). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the independent effects as well as possible interactions. Correlation coefficient and linear regression were also computed. Results {#s0055} ======= Diversity of total cultlurable bacteria and diazotrophs in the endorhizosphere and endophyllosphere of tested plants {#s0060} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The studied region is extending eastward from Rummanah-Bir El Abd to Wadi (Valley) El-Arish [Fig. 1](#f0005){ref-type="fig"}. Sampling was carried out during the rainy seasons of 2004 and 2005. Forty-three species, 30 annuals and 13 perennials, were collected and showed the highest dominance and frequency as well as adaptation to north Sinai environment. Based on the data collected at El-Arish metrological station during the period 2003/2007 [Table 1](#t0005){ref-type="table"}, it is documented that the environmental conditions are extremely harsh and variable, being reflected on the vegetation and associated microflora. Under such environment, it was of rather interest to report on the diversity of culturable bacteria nesting the naked surfaces and their lining tissues of plant roots and shoots, tentatively referred to in this study as endorhizosphere and endophyllosphere respectively. [Table 2](#t0010){ref-type="table"} summarizes the botanical status of plants sampled throughout the study. The endorhizospheric and phyllospheric populations of total culturable bacteria and diazotrophs are reported and ranked in [Fig. 2](#f0010){ref-type="fig"}. Majority of plant roots and shoots (96%) were nested with populations ranged from 10^6^ to 10^8^ cfu g^−1^ dwt of endorhizosphere and phyllosphere. The plant species *Eremobium aegyptiacum,* *Neurada procumbens,* *Fagonia mollis*, *Chenopodium murale*, *Pseudorlaya pumila*, *Haloxylon salicornicum* and *Silene succulenta* were particularly the richest in associated endophytic microflora compared to *Erodium oxyrhynchum* and *Panicum maritimum* [Fig. 3](#f0015){ref-type="fig"}. Total cullturable diazotrophs, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, did positively correlate with the total bacterial populations [Fig. 2](#f0010){ref-type="fig"}. Their populations in roots and shoots of majority of plants were in the range of \>10^6^--10^8^ cfu g^−1^ dwt. For the endorhizosphere, *E. aegyptiacum* and *N. procumbens* were top ranked [Fig. 3](#f0015){ref-type="fig"}a compared to *P. maritimum* and *E. oxyrhynchum* the very poorest [Fig. 3](#f0015){ref-type="fig"}b. The wealthiest plants in endophyllosphere (\>10^8^ cfu g^−1^) were *E. aegyptiacum*, *C. murale* and *N. procumbens*. Four plants supported populations less than 10^6^ cfu g^−1^ dwt, with *E. oxyrhynchum* being the poorest. The study areas were inhabited with 11 plants characterized by having a sand sheath closely adhering to the plant root [Table 2](#t0010){ref-type="table"}. The specific sand load (g sand/g dwt root) did vary among plants, being extremely thick (62 g) for *Cypreus laevigatus*, because of its intensive root biomass and network, and very thin (0.7 g) for *Lolium perenne* [Fig. 4](#f0020){ref-type="fig"}. Besides the free sand, the successive root spheres of sand sheath, rhizoplane and endorhizosphere were analyzed for their microbial load of total culturable bacteria, diazotrophs, total sporeformers and spore-forming diazotrophs. ANOVA analysis indicated the significant independent effects of plant type, sphere and microbial groups tested [Fig. 5](#f0025){ref-type="fig"}. Among plants, the poorest in total culturable microbial communities were *Trisetaria koelerides,* *Stipagrostis scoparia* *and* *C. laevigatus*, being statistically inferior to the remaining eight plants among which differences were not significant except for *B. madritensis*, the richest of all [Fig. 5](#f0025){ref-type="fig"}. As to spheres, the free sand was statistically the poorest and rhizoplane the highest. Of interest is that the microbial load differences among sand sheath and rhizoplane of all tested plants were insignificant. It appears that the microbial communities in the root spheres were active and mobile in order to migrate and/or invade the root interiors (endorhizosphere) with substantial populations (⩾10^5^ cfu g^−1^ dwt). Differences among culturable bacterial groups were significant, following the descending order of total bacteria, total diazotrophs, total spore-forming bacteria and spore-forming diazotrophs. The various combinations of 2-way interactions are illustrated in [Fig. 5](#f0025){ref-type="fig"}B. The total culturable bacteria ranged from 10^5^ to 10^9^ cfu g^−1^ dwt, significantly enriched in the root region, being highest on the rhizoplane followed by sand sheath, being lowest in the free sand [Fig. 5](#f0025){ref-type="fig"}B3. The total culturable diazotrophs followed a similar trend, and were found abundant in the root spheres, representing more than 70% of the total population. The interaction between plants and bacterial groups [Fig. 5](#f0025){ref-type="fig"}B1, again indicated the statistical inferiority of *S. scoparia*, *C. laevigatus* and *T. koelerides*, together with the descending order of total bacteria, total diazotrophs, total spore formers, and spore-forming diazotrops. Irrespective of bacterial groups [Fig. 5](#f0025){ref-type="fig"}B2, the tested microbial communities were highest in the rhizoplane and sand sheath, with insignificant differences among them, compared to the free sand. The above conclusions were further confirmed by 3-way interaction. The spore-forming bacteria, either diazotrophic or not, did occupy a significant niche, with populations ranged from \>10^3^ to 10^6^ cfu g^−1^ dwt; representing 50--85% of the microbial population [Fig. 5](#f0025){ref-type="fig"} B. Compared to the free sand (10^3^--10^5^ cfu g^−1^ dwt), the sand sheath and the root surfaces (rhizoplane) harbored higher populations (10^6^ to 10^7^ cfu g^−1^ dwt) reported for 8 out of 11 tested rhizosheathed plants. The spore-forming bacteria were able to taxi and nest the interiors of plant roots (endorhizosphere) with substantial populations of \>10^3^ to 10^5^ cfu g^−1^ dwt, representing 50--97% of total endophytic bacterial community. Endophytic nitrogen-fixing isolates reported {#s0065} -------------------------------------------- Special attention was given to the nitrogen-fixing pure isolates nested the roots and shoots of xerophytic plants. Forty-one pure isolates were secured and subjected to taxonomic analyses. The spore-forming diazotrophs were predominant and well represented by the genus *Bacillus* (23 isolates), particularly the species *Bacillus megaterium* (14), *Bacillus pumilus* (4), *Bacillus polymyxa* (2), *Bacillus macerans* (1), *Bacillus licheniformis* (1) and *Bacillus circulans* (1) [Table 3](#t0015){ref-type="table"}. The non-sporing population was represented by 18 isolates. They belonged to the genera *Enterobacter* spp. (*E. cloacae*, *E. agglomerance*, *E. sakazaki*), *Serratia* spp. (*S. adorifera*, *S. liquefaciens*), *Agrobacterium* spp. (*A. radiobacter*), *Klebsiella* spp. (*K. oxytoca*), *Pseudomona* spp./*Brevundimonas* spp. (*P. vesicularis*, *P. putida*), *Chrysemonas* spp. (*C. luteola*), *Stenotrophomonas* spp. (*S. maltophilia*), *Ochrobactrum* spp. (*O. anthropi*) and *Sphingomonas* spp. (*S. paucimobilis*) [Table 4](#t0020){ref-type="table"}. Both spore- and non-spore forming diazotrophs were present endophytically in roots or in the shoots of plants, but one *B. circulans* and one *B. polymyxa* were found in sand sheath layers [Table 3](#t0015){ref-type="table"}. In general, the specific load of spore-forming community in the sand sheath differed among tested plants. Five plants, belonged to Gramineae (Poaceae), harbored in their sand sheath populations exceeded 10^6^ cfu g^−1^ dwt. They followed the descending order *B. madrietensis*, *L. perenne*, *B. scoparius*, *P. turgidum* and *H. murinum*. The load of *C. laevigatus*, of the family Cyperaceae, was particularly the lowest (\<10^6^ cfu g^−1^ dwt) [Fig. 5](#f0025){ref-type="fig"}A. A trend that is very much comparable to the spore-forming community nesting the intact root surfaces (rhizoplane). Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus {#s0070} -------------------------------- The endophytic *Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus*, present inside roots or shoots, were abundant in the selective LGI semi-solid culture medium. For the majority of plants (75--80%), their culturable populations in shoot and root tissues ranged from 10^4^ to 10^7^ cfu g^−1^ [Fig. 6](#f0030){ref-type="fig"}. Among the richest plants, both in roots and shoots (\>10^7^), were *Heliotropium dignum*, *Malva parviflora*, *Svignya parviflora*, *N. procumbens* and *S. succulenta* while the poorest (⩽10^4^) were *E. oxyrhynchum*, *F. mollis*, *Thymelaea hirsute*, *Cornulaca monacantha*, *Astragalaus kahiricus* and *H. salicornicum*. Highly significant correlation coefficient (*r* = 0.9382) was reported between populations harbored the shoots and roots of plants. The taxonomic profile using API 20E and API 20NE (data not shown) of 10 pure isolates was comparable to the reference type culture strain (ATCC 40379). Of interest is that the selective LGI culture medium did also support the growth of another group of isolates that did not match with the taxonomic profile of *Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus* but *Pantoea* spp. [Tables 5 and 6](#t0025 t0030){ref-type="table"} and other species of diazotrophs, namely *Enterobacter agglomerance*, *Enterobacter sakazaki*, *Serratia plymuthica*, *Aeromonas sobria*, *Erwinia* spp., *Bukholderia* (*Pseudomonas*) *cepacia*, *Chrysemonas luteola*, *Agrobacterium radiobacter* and *Stenotrophomonas* (*Xanthomonas*) *maltophilia* [Tables 6](#t0030){ref-type="table"}. All diazotrophic isolates were present endophyticaly in roots or in the shoots of plants, but one *Bukholderia* (*Pseudomonas*) *cepacia* was found in the sand sheath layers [Table 6](#t0030){ref-type="table"}. Discussion {#s0075} ========== The major goal of this study was to document the diversity of bacteria associated to the plant cover of north Sinai deserts. This necessitated surveying the predominant plant species and assaying the culturable bacteria associated to the plant canopy and root systems. Since microflora might be used as bioindicators of plant--soil health, suitability and perturbation; the size, composition and nature of microbial populations are used as indicators of biological status of soil/plant health and nutrition. However, a lot of problems are encountered with culturable population of bacteria, either total or specific groups [@b0110]. Although Frankenberger and Dick [@b0115] concluded that plate count technique is not reliable measure of microbial growth and activity in plant--soil system, there is evidence that this technique is useful in comparative ecological studies of specific microbial population [@b0120]. Within the studied areas, 30 annual and 13 perennial plants were encountered and selected for microbiological analyses. This number is rather limited compared to those recorded earlier in north Sinai. Gibbali [@b0050] in his extensive survey reported more than 300 species. It is expected that the number of existing plant species are declining along the years because of low rainfall as well as the on-going human interaction through rural and agricultural developments and activities. As to the xerophyte--microbe--environment panorama; several factors are expected to support the microbial establishment and growth in this particular environment, e.g., beneficial root exudates, shedding of plant parts to improve soil fertility, presence of shade to reduce the direct sun-rays, favorable pH, low soil salinity, plant stability among soil layers, limited fluctuations in rainfall and temperature, absence of allelopathic and/or bacteriostatic plant compounds and wide root/shoot ratio [@b0010]. Both endorhizosphere and endophyllosphere of xerophytes tested accommodated high total culturable bacterial populations of ca. 10^8^ cfu g^−1^ dwt, which proves many more bacterial infections of inner plant tissues. Similarly, associative diazotrophs were extraordinary reported in both plant niches. Due to definition of James et al. [@b0125], endophytes are heterotrophic microorganisms that are able to invade and penetrate plant organs encompassing roots, stems and leaves. The studies of Reis et al. [@b0130] have shed the light upon the invasion process and indicated that the endophyte first colonizes the root surfaces and then infects the roots via lateral root junctions and/or root tips. The endophyte, thereafter, enters the root vascular system from whence it translocates to the lower stem in the xylem. In addition to the possibility of infection at lateral root junctions, James et al. [@b0135] suggested that there are at least two other potential sites of infection; wounds and stomata. In either location, the bacteria elicited a localized host defense response in the form of a polymeric matrix material that surrounded them. The invasion process appears not always to be detrimental to plant nutrition and health but may even be confer some growth benefits [@b0130]. In accordance, Chanway [@b0140] reported that some endophytic bacteria are thought to produce compounds that render plant tissues less attractive to herbivores, while other strains may increase host plant drought resistance. Endophytic bacteria comprise only part of the non-pathogenic microflora exist naturally inside plant tissues. Work with plant species of agricultural and horticultural importance indicates that some endophytic bacterial strains stimulate host plant growth by acting as biocontrol agents, either through direct antagonism of microbial pathogens or by inducing systemic resistance to disease-causing organisms. Other endophytic bacterial strains may protect crops from parasitic nematodes and insects. In Brazil, the N~2~-fixing endophytes of sugarcane, *Acetobacter diazotrophicus*, (now *Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus*), and *Herbaspirillum* spp. colonize internal root, stem and leaf tissues, and are thought to provide up to 80% of the host plant's nitrogen needs [@b0140]. Other endophytic bacteria stimulate plant growth via mechanisms yet to be elucidated. As reported by Olivares and James [@b0145], at early stage of the plant--microbe interaction, the numbers of endophytes inside plant tissues appear to be quite high (10^7^--10^8^ cells g^−1^ fresh weight), although it should be noted that such numbers certainly include many surface-dwelling bacteria that have survived via tight adherence to plant surfaces within mucus and/or a preference for colonizing cracks and crevices. This applies very well to the present results of dense endophytic populations reported for the tested xerophytic plants of north Sinai. Three hundred bacterial isolates were secured from endorhizosphere and endophyllosphere of tested plants. Among those, 41 isolates were further purified and identified based on colony and cell morphology as well as API (20E, 20NE and 50CHB) profiles. Of the forty one identified strains, 23 were BNF *Bacillus* spp. The majority of bacilli strains were *B.* *megaterium* followed by *B. pumilus*, *B. polymexa*, *B. macerans*, *B. circulans* and *Bacillus licheniformis*. The family Enterobacteriaceae was represented by *Enterobacter agglomerans*, *Enterobacter sackazakii*, *Enterobacter cloacae*, *Serratia adorifera*, *Serratia liquefaciens* and *Klebsiella oxytoca*. Among non-Enterobacteriaceae were *Pantoae* spp. *Agrobacterium rdiobacter*, *Pseudomonas vesicularis*, *Pseudomonas putida*, *Stenotrophomonas* *maltophilia*, *Ochrobactrum* *anthropi*, *Sphingomonas* *paucimobilis* and *Chrysemonas luteola*. The taxonomic profile of *Pantoae* spp. isolates is most likely matches with the reported *P. anans* (2 isolates) and *P. citrea* (two isolates) [@b0150; @b0155]. Similarly, other workers have reported isolation of indigenous endophytic bacteria from yellow dent type corn [@b0160], sweet corn [@b0165] and alfalfa [@b0170]. The present study presents original data on the indigenous bacterial endophytes isolated from the natural plant cover of deserts, in particular north Sinai. The endophytic microorganisms were recovered based on the method of surface sterilization with ethanol and sodium hypochlorite followed by triturating of plant organs. Other methods such as Scholander pressure bomb was proposed [@b0175] for releasing endophytes. They mentioned that crushing method mainly recovers the endophytes that residing the root cortex particularly Gram positive species as *Bacillus* spp. while the pressure bomb procedure detects vascular colonists such as *Agrobacterium radiobacter* and less common species. Genera like *Pseudomonas* and *Phyllobacterium* were recovered with equal frequencies using both techniques. In fact, bacilli, particularly N~2~-fixing species, have already been found in association with grass roots. Among those, *Bacillus polymyxa* is well documented colonizer of wheat rhizosphere [@b0140], while *Bacillus circulans* was identified in maize rhizosphere by [@b0180]. The present study, as well as of Othman et al [@b0010], are among the original reports on these species as endophytic diazotrophs to xerophytic plants. *Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus*, previously known as *Acetobacter diazotrophicus* [@b0185], is a strict aerobic N~2~-fixing endopyte originally isolated from sugarcane roots and stems [@b0075]. It has been estimated that *G*. *diazotrophous* can fix up to 150 kg N ha^−1^ year^−1^ in sugarcane [@b0190]. Such high levels of N~2~-fixation have not been reported in any other system outside legume-*Rhizobium* symbiosis. The bacterium has subsequently been isolated from sweet potato [@b0195], sorghum [@b0200], coffee [@b0205], some tropical grasses [@b0210], finger millet [@b0215] and pineapple [@b0220]. The bacterium was also able to establish an endophytic association with wheat [@b0060]. This bacterium is of special interest because, besides fixing atmospheric dinitrogen in the presence of KNO~3~ and at low pH values \<3.0, it can secrete up to 50% of the fixed N~2~ in a form potentially available to plants [@b0225]. Such an endophytic diazotroph was also isolated from sugarcane in Mexico, Cuba, Australia and Egypt [@b0230; @b0235; @b0060]. The occurrence of the microorganism was reported in roots, tubers and stems of sweet potato which confirm the endophytic nature of this particular diazotroph [@b0240]. So far, no information is available in literature on the natural endophytic occurrence of this particular diazotroph in xerophytic plants. Therefore, this work presents original data on the endophytic existence of *Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus* in the rhizo- and plyllo-spheres of a number of desert plants in Sinai environment. But in several instances, difficulties in finding this bacterium may be related to methods used for surface sterilization and isolation. Here, Youssef et al. [@b0060] reported that surface sterilization of plant organs by combined treatment with ethanol alcohol and sodium hypochlorite was very successful and efficient for the elimination of contaminants and hence facilitated the isolation of the diazotroph. The root system of plant is as complicated as the shoot in its diversity, in its reactions with the matrix of substances and with the myriad organisms that surround it [@b0245]. This complexity was illustrated in the much studied corn root system, covering the changes along the framework roots: the surface tissues and their interactions with the soil, the water conducting xylem, whose gradual elaboration dictates the water status of the root. A conspicuous manifestation of the changes is the rhizosheath, whose microflora differs from those on the bare zones. The multitude of fine roots is the most active part of the system in acquiring water and nutrients, with its own multitude of root tips, sites of intense chemical activity, that strongly modify the soil they contact, mobilize reluctant ions, immobilize toxic ions, coat the soil particles with mucilage and select the microflora. Therefore, it was of rather interest to study in this work the phenomenon of rhizosheath formation during the ecological study on the plant community of Sinai deserts. Microbiological analysis indicated, generally, the richness of sand grain sheath compared to the surrounding free sand soil. In addition, microbial populations in rhizosheaths were comparable to those reported on the intact roots of tested plants. This indicates that the rhizosheath environment extends the root continuum that favors microbial activity and consequently magnifies plant--microbe interactions [@b0015]. As to xerophytes examined, the rhizoplane of *Bromus madritensis* accommodated extraordinary bacterial loads of both total bacteria and diazotrophs (ca. ⩾10^9^ cfu. g^−1^ dwt) while *Bromus scoparius* (ca. ⩽10^7^ cfu. g^−1^ dwt) was the poorest. This emphasizes that plant effect is among the major biotic criteria that governs the plant--microbe interaction in desert environments. In addition, the richness of sand sheath in microbial populations of total bacteria and diazotrophs, with bacterial load corresponding to ca. 93% of the root surfaces, is a distinguished phenomenon of ecological importance in the studied desert environment of north Sinai. Indeed, the cylindrical sand grain sheaths encasing the root of grasses were first reported for the Egyptian desert flora [@b0030]. Such sand grains are thought to be cemented by various bonding agents including secretions of mucilage and root cap tissues [@b0250]. Microbial exudates might also be involved [@b0255]. Exopolysaccharides either capsular or hydrosoluble, are produced by a group of microorganisms in the root zone of different xerophytes encompassing *Leuconostoc mesenteroides*, *Rhonella aquatilis* and *Enterobacter amnigenus* [@b0260] and *Agrobacterium* sp. [@b0265]. An explanation for the high microbial load in sheath zones of xerophytes tested in the present study is the possible richness in organic products [@b0035], greater moisture content [@b0270] and possible reduction of oxygen concentration [@b0275] throughout the rhizosheath. This would create an environment which favors the activity of associative diazotrophs [@b0255], and significantly high linear acetylene reducing activity was recorded in either intact-soil-plant cores or disintegrated rhizosheath. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the great diversity of culturable endophytic bacteria, particularly diazotrophs, in the plant--soil systems of north Sinai deserts. Their prevalence with dense populations suggests their very possible contribution to the survival of such xerophytic plants under the stress conditions of north Sinai deserts. The successful colonization of such bacterial endophytes to other plant species strongly suggests their possible future application as bio-preparates for plant nutrition (biofertilizers) and health (bio-pesticides). {#f0005} {#f0010} {#f0015} {#f0020} {#f0025} {#f0030} ###### Metrological data of north Sinai based on recordings of El-Arish regional station 2003--2005.[a](#tblfn1){ref-type="table-fn"} Item January February March April May June July August September October. November December Mean ----------------------------------- --------- ---------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ -------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------ Mean air temp (°C) 13.9 14.5 20.1 18.5 21.5 23.9 26.0 26.5 25.2 23.3 19.9 15.8 20.7 Mean RH% 70.0 69.0 67.0 67.0 68.0 72.0 74.0 75.0 71.0 73.0 71.0 66.0 70.3 Mean wind speed (m/sec) 4.7 5.5 5.7 4.8 4.6 4.5 4.3 4.0 4.1 3.5 3.9 4.6 4.5 Sun shine duration (h) 6.2 6.0 7.1 7.9 9.8 11.9 11.4 10.5 8.8 7.7 6.9 6.0 8.4 Net solar radiation (Mj/m^2^/day) 11.2 13.1 17.2 20.4 24.5 27.9 26.9 24.5 20.1 15.9 12.4 10.7 18.7 Rain (mm/month) 20.3 17.1 12.0 6.1 3.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.6 6.0 16.2 22.2 8.7 ETO (mm/day) 1.9 2.4 3.2 3.8 4.7 5.5 5.5 5.2 4.4 3.2 2.5 2.2 3.7 Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC 2006). Annual Climatic Book. Pp. 21. Ministry of agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. ###### Perennial and annual plants reported and sampled in the studied areas of north Sinai during the seasons 2004 and 2005. No. Host plant Family Area-site [a](#tblfn2){ref-type="table-fn"} Season ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- --------------------------------------------- -------- *Perennial* 1 *Cyperus laevigatus* L[b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Cyperaceae I Site 2 2005 2 *Pancratium maritimum* L Amaryllidaceae II Site 3 2005 3 *Thymelaea hirsuta* (L.) Endl Thymeliaceae II Site 1 2005 4 *Astragalaus kahiricus* DC Fabaceae III Site 5 2004 5 *Cornulaca monacantha* Delile Chenopodiaceae III Site 3 2004 6 *Fagonia arabica* L Zygophyllaceae III Site 1 2004 7 *Fagonia mollis* (Labill.) H.L. Wendl Zygophyllaceae III Site 1 2004 8 *Haloxylon salicornicum* (Moq.) Bunge ex Boiss Chenopodiaceae III Site 1 2004 9 *Heliotropium dignum* (Forssk.) C. Chr Boraginaceae III Site 3 2004 10 *Panicum turgidum* Forssk[b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae III Site 4 2004 11 *Stipagrostis scoparia* (Trin. & Rupr.) de Winter [b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae III Site 2 2004 12 *Zilla spinosa* (L.) Prantl Brassicaceae III Site 8 2004 13 *Zygophyllum album* L. var. amblyocarpum (Baker.) Hadidi Zygophyllaceae III Site 3 2004 

 *Annual* 14 *Centaurea pallescens* Delile Asteraceae I Site 1 2005 15 *Chenopodium murale* L Chenopodiaceae I Site 1 2005 16 *Launaea capitata* (Spreng.) Dandy Asteraceae I Site 1 2005 17 *Polycarpaea repens* (Forssk.) Asch. & Schweinf Caryophyllaceae I Site 3 2005 18 *Silene succulenta* Forssk Caryophyllaceae I Site 3 2005 19 *Trachynia distachya* (L.) Link = *Brachypodium distachyum* (L.) P. Beauv [b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae I Site 1 2005 20 *Anchusa humilis* (Desf.) I.M. Johnst Boraginaceae II Site 4 2005 21 *Bromus madritensis* L[b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae II Site 2 2004 22 *Bromus scoparius* L[b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae II Site 2 2004 23 *Erodium crassifolium* L' Hér Geraniaceae II Site 4 2005 24 *Iflago spicata* (Forssk.) Sch. Bip Asteraceae II Site 1 2005 25 *Malva parviflora* L Malvaceae II Site 4 2005 26 *Phalaris minor* Retz Poaceae II Site 4 2005 27 *Polycarpon succulentum* (Delile) J. Gay Caryophyllaceae II Site 4 2005 28 *Pseudorlaya pumila* (L.) Grande Apiaceae II Site 1 2005 29 *Senecio glaucus* L. subsp. *coronopifolius* (Maire) C. Alexander Asteraceae II Site 4 2005 30 *Trisetaria koelerioides* (Bornem and Hackel) Meldris[b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae II Site 4 2005 31 *Asphodelus tenuifolius* Cav Liliaceae III Site 9 2005 32 *Cotula cinerea* Delile Asteraceae III Site 10 2005 33 *Cutandia memphatica* (Spreng.) K. Richt[b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae III Site 2 2004 34 *Cyperus capitatus* Vand[b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Cyperaceae III Site 2 2004 35 *Eremobium aegyptiacum* (Spreng.) Asch. & Schwienf. var. aegyptiacum Brassicaceae III Site 11 2005 36 *Erodium oxyrhynchum* M. Bieb Geraniaceae III Site 4 2004 37 *Euphorbia retusa* Forssk Euphorbiaceae III Site 9 2005 38 *Hordeum murinum* L [b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae III Site 6 2004 39 *Lolium perenne* L.[b](#tblfn3){ref-type="table-fn"} Poaceae III Site 7 2004 40 *Neurada procumbens* L Neuradaceae III Site 3 2004 41 *Oligomeris linifolia* (Hornem.) J.F. Macbr Resedaceae III Site 10 2005 42 *Svignya parviflora (Delile.) Webb* Brassicaceae III Site 4 2004 43 *Trigonella stellata* Forssk Leguminosae III Site 9 2005 For detailed information on sites, please refer to the detailed map ([Fig. 1](#f0005){ref-type="fig"}); I, II and III are the major three studied areas; 1, 2--11 are the number of sites within each area. Plants possessed sand sheath and subjected to further microbial analyses. ###### Taxonomic position of endophytic spore-forming isolates of diazotrophs obtained from roots and shoots of tested xerophytes (based on API 50CHB). Host plant Area Isolate code Sphere N~2~-ase activity (nmoles C~2~H~4~ h^−1^ 5 ml culture^−1^) Proposed position Identification ---------------------------------------------------- ------ -------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ---------------- *C. pallescens* I B 1/B/48 Root \>41.88 *B. megaterium* Excellent *L. capitata* I B 15/B/48 Root 31.41 *B. macerans* Good *S. succulenta* I B 36/B/48 Root \>41.88 *B. pumilus* V. good *T. distachya*[a](#tblfn4){ref-type="table-fn"} I B 18/B/48 Sand sheath 12.26 *B. polymyxa* V. good *T. distachya*[a](#tblfn4){ref-type="table-fn"} I B 17/B/48 Root (endorhizosphere) \>41.88 *B. megaterium* Excellent *I. spicata* II B 45/B/48 Root 17.95 *B. megaterium* V. good *I. spicata* II B 46/B/48 Root 23.03 *B. megaterium* Excellent *M. parviflora* II B 116/B/48 Root 14.96 *B. megaterium* Excellent *B. scoparius*[a](#tblfn4){ref-type="table-fn"} II B 142/B/48 Root (endorhizosphere) 22.44 *B. megaterium* V. good *T. koelerioide*[a](#tblfn4){ref-type="table-fn"}s II B 5/B/48 Sand sheath 6.58 *B. circulans* Excellent *M. parviflora* II B 117/B/48 Shoot 17.95 *B. polymyxa* Good *A. tenuifolius* III B 60/B/48 Root 26.33 *B. pumilus* V. good *C. cinerea* III B 87/B/48 Root 28.42 *B. megaterium* Good *C. cinerea* III B 89/B/48 Root 41.29 *B. megaterium* Good *Z. spinosa* III B 145/B/48 Root \>41.88 *B. licheniformis* V. good *H. salicornicum* III B 168/B/48 Root 25.13 *B. megaterium* Excellent *H. murinum*[a](#tblfn4){ref-type="table-fn"} III B 129/B/48 Root (endorhizosphere) 14.96 *B. megaterium* V. good *C. capitatus*[a](#tblfn4){ref-type="table-fn"} III B 165/B/48 Root (endorhizosphere) \>41.88 *B. megaterium* V. good *A. tenuifolius* III B 61/B/48 Shoot 6.58 *B. pumilus* V. good *E. retusa* III B 65/B/48 Shoot 19.44 *B. megaterium* Excellent *E. aegyptiacum* III B 71/B/48 Shoot \>41.88 *B. megaterium* Excellent *O. linifolia* III B 79/B/48 Shoot 19.44 *B. megaterium* V. good *Z. spinosa* III B 144/B/48 Shoot \>41.88 *B. pumilus* Good Rhizo-sheathed plants. ###### Taxonomic position of endophytic non-spore-forming isolates of diazotrophs obtained from roots and shoots of tested xerophytes (based on API 20E and 20NE). Host plant Area Isolate code Sphere N~2~-ase activity (nmoles C~2~H~4~ h^−1^ 5 ml culture^−1^) Proposed position Identification ------------------- ------ -------------- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ---------------- *S. succulenta* I S 39/NE/24 Root 31.14 *Sphingomonas paucimobilis* V. good *P. pumila* II E 53/E/48 Root \>41.88 *Enterobacter agglomerance* Excellent *P. pumila* II B 50/NE/24 Root 13.46 *Brevundimonas* (*Pseudomonas*) *vesicularis* Good *P. maritimum* II O 94/NE/24 Root not determined *Ochrobactrum anthropi* V. good *P. maritimum* II E 91/E/24 Root 27.52 *Enterobacter cloacae* Good *P. maritimum* II E 92/E/48 Root 22.44 *Enterobacter sakazaki* V. good *M. parviflora* II C 115/NE/24 Shoot 29.92 *Chrysemonas luteola* Good *S. glaucus* II A 28/NE/24 Shoot \>41.88 *Agrobacterium radiobacter* Excellent *E. aegyptiacum* III K 78/E/48 Root 29.92 *Klebsiella oxytoca* Good *F. Arabica* III S 155/E/24 Root 28.42 *Serratia adorifera* Good *F. Arabica* III S 156/E/24 Root \>41.88 *Serratia adorifera* Good *A. tenuifolius* III B 58/NE/24 Root 26.92 *Brevundimonas* (*Pseudomonas*) *vesicularis* Good *H. murinum* III E 123/E/24 Root 14.96 *Enterobacter agglomerance* Good *H. murinum* III P 131/NE/48 Root 35.9 *Pseudomonas putida* V. good *Z. album* III S 147/NE/24 Root \>41.88 *Stenotrophomonas maltophilia* (Xantho. maltophilia) Excellent *Z. album* III S 148/E/24 Root 17.95 *Serratia liquefaciens* V. good *E. oxyrhynchum* III A 138/NE/24 Shoot 29.32 *Agrobacterium radiobacter* Excellent *H. salicornicum* III A 170/NE/48 Shoot \>41.88 *Agrobacterium radiobacter* Excellent ###### Taxonomic position of *Pantoae* spp. isolates obtained during the present study in relation to representatives of those reported in literature. Characteristics 9C[a](#tblfn5){ref-type="table-fn"} *P. agglomerans*[b](#tblfn6){ref-type="table-fn"} *P. ananas*[b](#tblfn6){ref-type="table-fn"} *P. terrea*[b](#tblfn6){ref-type="table-fn"} *P. punctata*[c](#tblfn7){ref-type="table-fn"} *P. citrea*[c](#tblfn7){ref-type="table-fn"} *P*96 *P*92 *P*89 *P*88 *P*65 ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Indole production − V \+ − − − \+ \+ \+ − − Citrate utilization \+ \+ \+ \+ \+ − \+ \+ \+ − − Acid production in sorbitol \+ − \+ − − − \+ \+ \+ − − Acid production in sucrose \+ \+ \+ \+ \+ − \+ \+ \+ − − Acid production in inositol − − \+ − − − \+ \+ \+ \+ − Nitrate reduction − \+ V V \+ \+ − − − − − Gelatine liquefaction − \+ \+ − − − − \+ \+ − \+ Motility \+ \+ \+ \+ − − \+ \+ \+ − \+ *Pantoae* isolates (Ref. [@b0280]). *P. agglomerans* and *P. ananas* (Ref. [@b0150]); V, variable reaction. *P. terrea*, *P. punctata* and *P. citrea* (Ref. [@b0155]). ###### Taxonomic position, based on API 20 E and 20 NE, of endophytic isolates of diazotrophs other than *Gluconacetobacter* spp. developed in LGI semi-solid medium. Plant Area Isolate code Sphere tested N~2~-ase activity (nmoles C~2~H~4~ h^−1^ 5 ml culture^−1^) Proposed position Identification ------------------ ------ -------------- --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ---------------- *L. perenne* III S 14/E/24 Root 2.69 *Serratia plymuthica* Good *L. perenne* III E 15/E/24 Root 8.68 *Enterobacter sakazaki* Good *E. aegyptiacum* III E 16/E/24 Root 3.29 *Enterobacter sakazaki* Good *C. pallescens* I E 21/E/24 Shoot 3.74 *Enterobacter agglomerance* Good *S. succulenta* I E 43/E/24 Shoot 10.17 *Enterobacter agglomerance* Good *P. pumila* II A 49/E/24 Root 39.04 *Aeromonas sobria* Excellent *A. tenuifolius* III E 52/E/24 Shoot 41.88 *Enterobacter agglomerance* Good *E. aegyptiacum* III E 61/E/24 Root 2.99 *Enterobacter sakazaki* Good *O. linifolia* III E 62/E/24 Root 5.68 *Enterobacter agglomerance* Good *P. maritimum* II E 76/E/24 Root ND *Erwinia* spp. V. good *C. capitatus* III E 87/E/24 Root ND *Enterobacter sakazaki* Good *C. cinerea* III P 65/E/24 Shoot 3.74 *Pantoae* spp. Good *C. capitatus* III P 88/E/24 Shoot 2.99 *Pantoae* spp. Good *C. capitatus* III P 89/E/24 Shoot 10.50 *Pantoae* spp. Good *C. capitatus* III P 92/E/24 Root 18.7 *Pantoae* spp. Excellent *P. minor* II P 96/E/24 Shoot 2.24 *Pantoae* spp. Excellent *S. parviflora* III B 2/NE/24 Shoot 1.5 *Bukholderia* (*Pseudomonas*) *cepacia* Excellent *L. capitata* I B 4/NE/24 Root 2.24 *Bukholderia* (*Pseudomonas*) *cepacia* Excellent *L. capitata* I B 6/NE/24 Root 20.94 *Bukholderia* (*Pseudomonas*) *cepacia* Good *P. turgidum* III B 19/NE/24 Sand sheath 10.62 *Bukholderia* (*Pseudomonas*) *cepacia* Good *C. pallescens* I A 22/NE/24 Shoot 20.94 *Chrysemonas luteola* Good *L. capitata* I A 25/NE/24 Shoot 29.92 *Agrobacterium radiobacter* Good *C. murale* I X 57/NE/24 Root 6.73 *Stenotrophomonas* (*Xanthomonas*) *maltophilia* Excellent *E. aegyptiacum* III B 59/NE/24 Shoot 15.71 *Bukholderia* (*Pseudomonas*) *cepacia* Good *E. aegyptiacum* III C 60/NE/24 Shoot 15.71 *Chrysemonas luteola* Good *P. minor* II C 97/NE/24 Root 20.94 *Chrysemonas luteola* V. good ND, not detected.

Raney '81 Raney '81 is an album by jazz guitarist Jimmy Raney with his son, Doug Raney, that was released by Criss Cross Jazz in 1981. The album was the first release for the label and the CD release added six alternative takes. Reception Scott Yanow of AllMusic states "Together they perform one original and six standards in light but forcefully swinging style. The interplay between the two guitarists is a major plus". Track listing "What Is This Thing Called Love?" (Cole Porter) – 5:40 "This Is New" (Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin) – 6:01 "My Shining Hour" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) – 4:55 "Peri's Scope" (Bill Evans) – 5:15 "Sweet and Lovely" (Gus Arnheim, Jules LeMare, Harry Tobias) – 6:29 "Chewish Chive and English Brick" (Jimmy Raney) – 4:49 "If I Should Lose You" (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) – 6:40 "What Is This Thing Called Love?" [alternate take] (Porter) – 5:40 Bonus track on CD release "Peri's Scope?" [alternate take] (Evans) – 5:27 Bonus track on CD release "My Shining Hour" [alternate take] (Arlen, Mercer) – 5:02 Bonus track on CD release "Sweet and Lovely?" [alternate take] (Arnheim, LeMare, Tobias) – 6:32 Bonus track on CD release "If I Should Lose You?" [alternate take] (Rainger, Robin) – 6:38 Bonus track on CD release "Chewish Chive and English Brick?" [alternate take] (Jimmy Raney) – 4:48 Bonus track on CD release Personnel Jimmy Raney, Doug Raney – guitar Jesper Lundgaard – bass Eric Ineke – drums References Category:Jimmy Raney albums Category:Doug Raney albums Category:1981 albums Category:Criss Cross Jazz albums

# Module for Foreman-defined classes (e.g. Compute Resources) module Foreman::Model end

Search.... Monday, August 23, 2010 You know when you cook a big dinner and there's foods left over, you'll need something to store it in, right? What if you wanted to eat that left-over mac 'n cheese, but your container isn't microwavable or its glass? Should you throw that food away? No! Invest in a Pyrex Storage Container that is non-porous glass, has fitted lids, and safe in the microwave, oven, freezer, and refrigerator! You can even reheat a family meal and place it right on kitchen table. I own one of these (thanks Mum) and I use it every time I cook a big dinner (especially around the holidays). To be honest, I haven't yet tried this product; but as a person who loves creativity when it comes to foods, I have to say that I would love to try it (especially the curry chili salt). Sounds like a good mix with BBQ ribs or pan-seared chicken! I'm going to request a sample and get back with you on this! If you're like myself and love experiencing with anything that spells food: then check this out product! I had one of these sent to me from Open Sky and I must say that every cook should have one of these in their kitchen. I use mine every time that I'm cooking dinner. Even if you aren't a at-home cook, but you watch your diet, this would be a good gadget for you as well. I enjoy mine and even recommend it to people that I know. You should get one today! Monday, July 19, 2010 Are you in the mood for a healthy snack? If so, you've come to the right place. Normally, rhubarb would be associated with strawberries or baking. Rhubarb (also known as "pie plant") is a tart vegetable with reddish stalks, acidic/toxic roots, and is edible when cooked or sweetened. I've decided to take these 3 ingredients to form a tasteful snack or festive appetizer for friends and family. Hope you enjoy this recipe! Rhubarb and Cottage Cheese Crostini(appetizer or snack) serves: 6 2 rhubarb stalks, diced 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 6 slices baguette bread, cut diagonally 1/2-inch thick 1 oz olive oil about 5-6 oz cottage cheese In a medium saucepan, add the water and diced rhubarb. Boil, then simmer for 5-6 minutes. Add the sugar; stir, but don't mash the rhubarb. On a baking sheet, lay out the slices of bread and brush it with the olive oil. Bake in a toaster oven for 5-10 minutes (275 degrees) or toasted to your liking. When the bread is toasted, spread cottage cheese on the bread and place a spoonful of sweetened rhubarb on top. Wednesday, July 14, 2010 Everybody loves chicken, right? There are many ways you can cook chicken. You could broil it, grill it, saute it, fry it (pan-fry & deep-fry), and bake it. Well, I have a recipe that you would loooove to try. And its a healty way of eating it. Trust me, you dont' have to enjoy this alone. This recipe is to serve 8 people. Chicken Wrap w/ Blue Cheese Sauce 8 tortilla wraps or bread wraps 1 cup shredded american cheese 8 lettuce leaves 2-1/4 cup whole milk 2 tbsp unsalted butter 1 small Spanish onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp all-purposed flour 1/4 tsp kosher salt pinch cayenne pepper 1/2 lbs crumbled blue cheese For the sauce; in a small saucepan, bring milk to a simmer over low heat. Heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and ook until soft. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the warm milk and continue to whisk until thickened. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Continue cooking for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in the blue cheese. If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a little extra milk. Cook the chicken to your preference (bake, grill, saute, and etc). Make sure chicken is cooked thoroughly, the internal temp of 170 degs. When the chicken is done, cut the meat into strips. Set aside. For the wrap (you can warm the bread wrap if you want to), first, put the sauce on the bread wrap, then the lettuce leave, next is the chicken strips, and lastly, the shredded cheese. Fold the bottom of the wrap up, and then fold in both of the sides. Take a big bite. Yummy! Monday, July 12, 2010 Hello all! I just started an account with bloglines.com; in which I blog about foods and have blogrolls that you can check out! Okay, Labour Day will be hitting the corner pretty soon, so have any of you thought of Labour Day meals or family-styled BBQs? How about some creamy coleslaw with BBQ pulled pork sandwich? A glass of Luizanne Iced Tea? (just remember, don't wear white after Labour Day, lol). Here's my recipe for creamy coleslaw: 2 carrot, shredded 1 red onion, medium, shredded 1 cup mayo 1/4 cup sour cream 1 head green cabbage, shredded 2 tbsp white vinegar 1/2 tbsp salt 1/2 tbsp blk pepper 2 tbsp sugar In a large bowl, combine the carrots, onions, and cabbage. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Add the wet ingredient to the cabbage mix. Toss well, so the cabbage mix is well-coated. Put in refrigerate to chill. Wednesday, July 7, 2010 I was searching the web for "balsamic vinegar" and tried to figure out a recipe that I could make using it. To be honest, I'm not very familiar with this vinegar. As I found out, it can be used on sweet and savory dishes. Meats (beef, poultry, fish), salads, desserts, and etc. So, tonight, I figured that I would do a taste test of all the different recipes of balsamic glaze, pick the one I like best and use it to create a unique dish! Here's a recipe that I found to make basic balsamic glaze:1 cup balsamic vinegar1 cup water1/4 cup brown sugar*this recipe makes 2 cups. it takes about 30 minutes of simmering or until the sauce thickens at your liking. remember to keep stirring, so the sauce won't burn. Tuesday, July 6, 2010 Just joined multiply.com (my badge is above) and foodblogs.com (their badge above). I created a second foodie's journal. It also has it where you can set up shop, but i don't know if I'm going to go that route yet. Just wanted to give you all a heads up.

1. Technical Field The present invention relates in general to an improved method and system for data processing, and in particular to an improved method and system for memory updates within a multiprocessor data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method and system for memory updates within a multiprocessor data processing system which can complete atomic load and store instructions at a higher level within a memory hierarchy without interrogating lower levels of the memory hierarchy. 2. Description of the Related Art In order to enhance performance, state-of-the-art data processing systems often utilize multiple processors which concurrently execute portions of a given task. To further enhance performance, such multiple processor (MP) data processing systems often utilize a multi-level memory hierarchy to reduce the access time required to retrieve data from memory. A MP data processing system may include a number of processors, each with an associated level-one (L1) cache, a number of level-two (L2) caches, and a number of modules of system memory. Typically, the memory hierarchy is arranged such that each L2 cache is accessed by a subset of the L1 caches within the system via a local bus. In turn, each L2 cache and system memory module is coupled to a system bus or interconnect switch, such that an L2 cache within the MP data processing system may access data from any of the system memory modules coupled to the bus or interconnect switch. Because each of the number of processors within a MP data processing system may modify data, MP data processing systems must employ a protocol to maintain memory coherence. For example, MP data processing systems utilizing PowerPC.TM. RISC processors utilize a coherency protocol having four possible states: modified (M), exclusive (E), shared (S), and invalid (I). The MESI state associated with each cache line (i.e., the line state) informs the MP data processing system what memory operations are required to maintain memory coherence following an access to that cache line. Depending upon the type of MP data processing system utilized, a memory protocol may be implemented in different ways. In snoop-bus MP data processing systems, each processor snoops transactions on the bus to determine if cached data has been requested by another processor. Based upon request addresses snooped on the bus, each processor sets the MESI state associated with each line of its cached data. In contrast, within a directory-based MP data processing system, a processor forwards memory requests to a directory at a lower level of memory for coherence ownership arbitration. For example, if a first processor (CPUa) requests data within a memory line that a second processor (CPUb) owns in exclusive state in CPUb's associated L1 cache, CPUa transmits a load request to the system memory module which stores the requested memory line. In response to the load request, the memory directory within the interrogated system memory module loads the requested memory line to CPUa and transmits a cross-interrogation message to CPUb. In response to the cross-interrogation message, CPUb will mark the requested cache line as shared in its associated L1 cache. Among designers of MP data processing systems, there has been a recent interest in the use of load-reserve and store-conditional instructions which enable atomic accesses to memory from multiple processors while maintaining memory coherence. For example, load-reserve and store-conditional instructions on a single word operand have been implemented in the PowerPC.TM. RISC processor instruction set with the LARWX and STCWX instructions, respectively, which will be referenced as LARX and STCX. In MP data processing systems which support LARX and STCX or analogous instructions, each processor within the system includes a reservation register. When a processor executes a LARX to a variable, the processor, known as the requesting processor, loads the contents of the address storing the variable from the requesting processor's associated L1 cache into a register and the address of the memory segment containing the variable into the reservation register. Typically, the reservation address indexes a segment of memory, called a reservation granule, having a data width less than or equal to the requesting processor's L1 cache line. The requesting processor is then said to have a reservation with respect to the reservation granule. The processor may then perform atomic updates of the reserved variable utilizing store-conditional instructions. When a processor executes a STCX to a variable contained in a reservation granule for which the processor has a reservation, the processor stores the contents of a designated register to the variable's address and then clears the reservation. If the processor does not have a reservation for the variable, the instruction fails and the memory store operation is not performed. In general, the processor's reservation is cleared if either a remote processor stores data to the address containing the reserved variable or the reserving processor executes a STCX instruction. Additional background information about load-reserve and store-conditional instructions in a multiprocessor environment may be found, for example, in Sites, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,167. Typically, MP data processing systems which include a memory hierarchy track the reservation state of each reservation granule utilizing a reservation protocol similar in operation to the memory coherence protocol discussed above. Such MP data processing systems generally record each processor's reservation at the system memory (main store) level. For example, each main memory module may include a reservation register for each processor that indicates which reservation granule, if any, is reserved by the associated processor. Because processor reservations are maintained at the system memory level, each execution of an instruction which affects the reservation status of a reserved granule requires that a reservation message be transmitted to the system memory module containing the target reservation granule. These reservation messages slow overall MP system performance because of the additional traffic they create on the interconnect switch or system bus and because of delays in determining if a requesting processor may successfully execute a STCX. Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an improved method and system for memory updates in a MP data processing system in which reservations may be resolved at higher levels within the memory hierarchy, thereby minimizing reservation messaging and enhancing MP data processing system performance.

Classism – 004 17 April 2015 (Original Post Date) Didn’t quite manage an update last week for… reasons. I’m almost back on track now; it just means I have to put off the next Gijinka another week. For funsies, though it has no bearing to story: You can barely tell that the mysterious person is holding a gun, I’m pretty sure the elf shouldn’t have seen a gun before, and guns aren’t really everywhere yet, but I still wanted to make a stupid “don’t shoot” joke. XD

Goldman Sues O.J. Over Regan Book DECEMBER 19--The father of Ron Goldman today sued O.J. Simpson, claiming that the disgraced athlete fraudulently profited from 'If I Did It,' the canceled book that reportedly contained Simpson's fictionalized account of how he could have killed Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. In the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Fred Goldman alleges that Simpson pocketed about $1 million in the deal for 'If I Did It,' which was to be published last month by ReganBooks, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The title was scrubbed in the face of widespread public criticism. In his complaint, a copy of which you'll find below, Goldman contends that Simpson has tried to hinder the collection of a $38 million judgment arising from a civil verdict that found the former football star liable for the wrongful deaths of Goldman and Brown, who were murdered in 1994 (a Los Angeles criminal jury acquitted Simpson of the killings in October 1995). The hefty judgment remains unsatisfied, the complaint notes, 'other than nominal sums collected through various levies.' Along with Simpson, Goldman today named Lorraine Brook Associates as a defendant in the federal action. The Florida firm was incorporated in March by attorney Leonardo Starke, a Simpson golfing buddy. Goldman charges that Simpson fraudulently conveyed his intellectual property rights to the shell company, which then cut the book deal with Regan. The complaint claims that jurisdiction lies in Los Angeles since 'some or all' transactions involving 'If I Did It' occurred at the Century City office of Regan, who was fired last week. In a statement, Goldman's lawyers said they anticipate adding Regan, HarperCollins, and the publisher's parent company, News Corporation, as lawsuit defendants. Additionally, they expect to depose Regan, Rupert Murdoch, and others involved in negotiations for the book and a related Fox Television interview. (9 pages)

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 Rocky Delgadillo may think he is running for Attorney General, but he is more likely to be indicted by the Attorney General before anything else. YES, Zuma Dogg is here to tell you, it is over for Rocky Delgadillo. The legal smackdown is coming. I heard it's all over because I heard people saying that Rocky is nothing more than a shakedown, extortionist -- and we are talking much worse than pay for play. IRS will be saying hello to Mr. Delgadillo. FBI? ROCKY...IT IS FUCKING OVER, BITCH! I TOLD YOUR ASS ALL ALONG. So no need to worry about Rocktard Delgadilldo as California Attorney General Candidate. IT'S ABSOLUTELY, 100%...O-V-E-R...HE'S TOAST...HE'S GOING DOWN...Have a nice day, bitchass Delgadillo. You thought you could jury tamper and purger against Zuma Dogg...WRONG BITCH! YOU LOSE. Say hello to MD Angel from Housing, Dickadillo! First of all, they had FABULOUS different kinds of shrimp, including Teryiaki shrimp like I had never had at Wendy Greuel's City Controller Party on the CBS Radford lot. Zuma Dogg had a great time making movers and shakers nervous that I was there. CM Jose Huizar, Carmen Trutanich, David Nahai, CD 2 Candidates Chris Essel, Roger Krekorian and Frank Sheftel were there, along with David Hernandez and a bunch of other dignitaries were in attendance. (Joe B, Abbey, Kristen and other locals, too!) It was a lot of fun for ZD, who is very burnt out and at the end of his activist rope, to mingle among the crowd and be so warmly received by the masses who let me know they are watching ZD on TV 35 and digging what I am saying. And ZD met the Chris Essel posse, and ZD was very nauseated to see that a lot of the people he liked on some other campaigns were supporting Chris, and there was a big matchmaking push behind out mutual friends to get ZD and Chirs to meet. ZD was nervous about getting in trouble from people on HIS side, and vica versa. But Chris got the go ahead nod from her people that a photo op with ZD would be GOOD thing, and although ZD is a long way from endorsing Chris Essel, looks like ZD may have to use a double strength nose clip to get behind any candidate, cause I'm sure as HELL not gonna get behind Tamar Galatzan if she runs, and Paul Krekorian...NOT...for reasons that will be discussed later. Paul's not a bad guy, and I don't like to take sides, but I have a few issues with him. So anyway, it was at least to meet Chris who is very charming, but I think she really is pretty green and will be the bend-over puppet of all time, so we'll see. ZD AND WENDY HUG!!!: When ZD took a picture with Chris Essel, Wendy REFUSED to get in the picture with ZD and I think she even physically shoved me away. (Just kidding, she just RAN away.) But, Wendy saw ZD having a good time and I may have appeared almost human to her at some point. So when I was torturing Huizar by telling him all the stuff I am hearing (that's what the relationship has been reduced to, I just punish him by telling him all the dirt I hear about him), Wendy had to come over to say goodbye to Huizar, and she gave him a hug. So Wendy had no choice but to say, "Bye Zuma Dogg." Cause I was standing right there when she hugged Huizar, so Zuma Dogg says, "I want a hug, too!" You're controller now, you're not a councilmember. We're starting fresh. You're not a councilmember, anymore. And I imposed my hug on Wendy and she endured it and embraced it for an appropriate amount of time and she didn't completely push me away. YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY! ZD AND WENDY HUGGED! Biggest shocker since the Berlin Wall coming down! But seriously, it was a good energy, ZD was well received by the crowd (and that's not ego, but a good sign that I use to judge things) and I felt like a human being in society for a little. JACK WEISS RUMOR MILL: Now the only reason I am not saying this is for sure is because I can't believe Villaraigosa would even do it. BUT, today, ZD heard that tomorrow Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will announce Jack "Jackass" Weiss to that LAX airport security job people have been talking about; and upon the announcement L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley will indicit the FUCK out of Antonio Villaraiogsa until there's nothing left. HEY ANTONIO, IF THIS IS TRUE...YOU BETTER MAKE THE WEISS ANNOUNCEMENT THEN HOP ON A PLANE TO DUBAI AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF TOWN. MAN, oh MAN, Jack Weiss must have the goods on you. What is it Antonio? Pictures of some naked dancing days? I mean seriously, brotha...HOW COME YOU ARE LETTING JACK WEISS RUIN YOU? Antonio, my man...no bullshit, son. If you make that Jack Weiss announcement, YOU WILL BE INDICTED, LIKE DURING YOUR SWEARING IN. ZUMA TIMES HAS LEARNED THAT DISTRICT ATTORNEY STEVE COOLEY HAS WHAT HE NEEDS TO PUT THE SMACK DOWN AND ANTONIO IS REALLY IN A CORNER. IT'S OVER BRO! YOU BLEW IT. AND SOMEONE TOLD ME THEY "CONFIRMED IT." I mean I spoke with some people on the phone today who seem very certain about this, and they are PISSED certain, not boasting certain. So that's it...it's High Noon Showdown on Spring Street at Wednesday's Mayoral, City Attorney and Controller showdown. If Antonio makes the announcement that Jack Weiss is even getting a job selling hot dogs at the airport concession stand, INDICTMENTS WILL FALL...THEY GOT ANTONIO...ON A HELL OF A LOT. IT'S OVER KIDDIES. WENDY AIN'T EVEN GONNA GET HER OFFICE SUPPLIES LINED UP BEFORE SHE IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR AGAINST GARCETTI, ZUMA DOGG, JAN PERRY AND RICK CARUSO. Now, if you watch Garshady respond to Zuma Dogg in the first (top link) at the end of my public comment, he makes up some reason (being loud, or something) as the reason I was banned. But if you watch this ORIGINAL video, you can hear him say, "profane and slanderous" when announcing the free speech ban. Either way, here's the original video, and remember, it wasn't for being "loud" because although he asked me to lower my voice, he did not cut me off and ban me. It was when I said, "losers" for which he declared being "profane and slanderous." Loudness is not profane or slanderous. So as you can see, we have some non-congruent communication happening. (Stop lying Eric. It's all on TV for people to see, and for Zuma Dogg to link to. It's very unbecoming, and makes people call other things you say into question, dough.) Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Here's a fun video from the Carmen Trutanich City Attorney Victory Party as Zuma Dogg encroaches LA District Attorney Steve Cooley as he is being interviewed by KABC radio. Steve recognized the legendary icon and steps in to the frame of the ZumaCAM where ZD gets a little enthusiastic. Let's face it, if there is ONE thing that makes people from across the country and around the world want to come to Los Angeles more than any dumb attraction City Council or the mayor tries to push, it is Venice Beach. So with tourism down in L.A., due to the economy (less people flying and less people can afford the expensive city), Zuma Dogg had to get out there with the ZumaCAM to document some of the fun, free entertainment and culture you can immerse yourself in at Venice Beach. So the icon had to take to the cement, for something other than sleeping on, to perform and document some of the cultural reality. We got Matt Dowd on GEE-TAR, Tony B. Concious on Art and Hip Hop Freestyle Poetry coming up, but first, here's a clip to help promote LA tourism. This is the kind of fun that makes people want to visit and move to L.A. Janice Hahn ain't doing anything, so ZD had to step up and take charge, again. BONUS VIDEO: Zuma Dogg encounters a random member of the community who recognized Zuma Dogg as soon as he stepped onto the Venice Beach Ocean Front Boardwalk on Sunday Thursday, June 18, 2009 [Pictured: What Zuma Dogg felt like this morning and afternoon and most of the evening. It starts again in 5 1/2 hours, or less. UGH!] If today was part of the movie of my life as an un-witting activist, to compare it to "Titanic" we would be at the scene where it's only Leo and Kate as he slips away into the abyss, right before Celine starts singing. Two days ago, or yesterday (recently in the past 48 hours, the days all just run together), THIS guy got a dose of THE MOST SLEEP DEPRIVED AND DESPERATE ZUMA DOGG EVER, EVER, EVER. Put it this way, based on my early morning Twitter tweets, he already called me by 6:30am to get me breakfast at a local shopping plaza. Here's the post from the guy that I really shouldn't even post, cause it's not exactly a warm and fuzzy moment. But as a crazy street performer whose life seems to be somewhat of an open book in public, I gotta let it fly, cause it's a good inside look. http://bit.ly/Yb7uw So it was already pretty bad then (my sleep deprivation and no nutrition)...and it ain't goin' uphill, so today, the timing belt on ZD's brain snapped worse than ever. And I kinda felt like today was a turning point in my life as far as becoming more degenerate in my helplessness to pull myself out of this rut. (I need the helicopters to fly in and drop the roll-up rescue ladder for an extraction.) What can I tell you. It's humiliating and embarrassing. I'm supposed to be the upbeat comedy-based guy, BUT, I've become a public persona at some level, and I didn't care in the first place, then I cared when it became more of a high profile situation, but now, since I feel good enough about the past three years of activism, I don't care if people know that larger than life person you see on TV, hear on the radio and see fun videos on the blog, is basically bitter, cranky, desperate, isolated, hungry, sleep deprived guy who turns into a pumpkin the second the on-air sign goes off. And it's interesting, because August will be the 9 year anniversary of the infamous debut of the now legendary "The Zuma Dogg Show" that caused LA Weekly's website to plainly refer to Zuma Dogg as a "public access icon." (But I usually just chop the quote down to "icon" to save space.) So when I started the show, all I know is I was living in a nice guest unit in Malibu and before that worked in NYC at a top radio station where I took limos and walked red carpets and hung out backstage and at parties with Keith, Mick, Elton, Bruce, Robert & Jimmy, Mariah, Tina...don't want to bore you with details like when I had dinner with Gene and Paul, or sat next to Tina at dinner. Seal's record company credits a certain BZD as the guy who broke him in the U.S. when no station in America was playing him. So, over the past eight years, the people of L.A have got to witness quite a personal decline, as the public persona gains momentum. The more one yings and the other yangs, it creates more and more combustion in my chambers that causes it all to explode in Twitter tweets like the one this morning, that should be very, very amusing. Remember, you know what they say about us creative, artistic, comedic types. And then someone who went to ever council meeting for over a year just because he's pissed off. WHAT DO YOU THINK, Y'ALL? (See "Jackie Gleason Story.")I'd be long gone by now, but I never got into coke or smack or meth or any of that stuff and I don't like Jack Daniels. So I'm just lingering around in good spirits over the "energy" I feel from the city and "the people" but am too miserable at the physical level to where that's all I can really focus on most of the day. And I frenetically post blog missiles in between the turmoil. It used to be a lot better. But I still got all the good memories of all the people I've met and all the smiles I've seen in between moments.

Golden Retriever Working Like a Dog, Helping Master Mow the Lawn and Plow Fields This dog gives new meaning to man's best friend.Rambo the Golden Retriever has become quite the attraction in County Down, Northern Ireland. Locals watch in disbelief as he enjoys riding tractors and lawn mowers, sometimes by himself. A Victoria veterinarian issued a warning to dog owners after her golden retriever was said to have been pulled under water and bitten by otters . Dr Paula Parker, president of the Australian Veterinary Association, spoke to BuzzFeed and offered this warning to pet owners Not all of the copy-cat posts feature Golden Retrievers – or even dogs ! Goldie, who is owned by Dr. Claudia Campbell, was out for a walk in Beacon Hill Park with her dog walker on Tuesday when she decided to go for a swim. According to the Facebook post from Kindred Spirits Veterinary Hospital, where Campbell works, Goldie then spotted an otter swimming nearby. "Like any dog, Goldie decided to swim towards the otter to investigate (and let's face it, she probably wanted to chase the otter, dogs will be dogs after all)," reads the post. Environment Canada warns of snow, freezing rain on P.E.I. on Sunday Environment Canada is warning Islanders there may be an extended period of freezing rain or 'significant' snowfall on Sunday depending on where you are in the province. The national weather forecaster has issued special weather statements for the province that say rain Saturday evening may turn into freezing rain over the central and eastern regions of P.E.I. on Sunday. Western regions of P.E.I. can expect significant snowfall after the rain changes to snow tonight. MORE P.E.I. NEWS | P.E.I.'s investment in art bank 'a bit feeble,' artist says MORE P.E.I. A Victoria veterinarian is reminding pet owners to be vigilant after she says three otters attacked her dog and pulled it under the water. A Facebook post from the Kindred Spirits Veterinary Hospital described the attack , which happened when Dr. Claudia Campbell’s dog walker took her golden A dog and its owner are recovering after a vicious encounter with a pit bull in Coquitlam. As for Lilly the golden retriever , her vet bill is at ,500 and rising – and owner Nicole, who sustained cuts to her hands and arms, says she feels lucky to be alive. However, there were actually three otters in the water and they didn't want to play with Goldie. The post states the otters grabbed Goldie and pulled her under the water. Goldie is not small, she weighs almost 60 pounds, but she was no match for the angry otters. "Despite her best efforts to escape they had a solid hold on her," reads the post. "Goldie's dog walker had to run into the ocean up past his waist and wrestle Goldie from the otters." By that time, only her nose was showing above the water. "If the dog walker had not been able to intervene, this may have had an awful ending." READ MORE: B.C. dog learns to push a snowblower, fetch a beer The post states this is not the first time staff at the hospital have had reports of otters trying to lead dogs out into the ocean. One person airlifted to Calgary hospital after avalanche near Golden, B.C. Police say one person was taken to hospital by air ambulance following an avalanche near Golden, B.C. RCMP were alerted Friday afternoon that a slide had occurred in the backcountry near Hospital Creek. The force says one person was seriously injured and airlifted to a hospital in Calgary. Avalanche Canada issued a special warning Thursday, urging anyone venturing into B.C.'s backcountry to take extra caution. The group warns that nearly three weeks of storms have created a snowpack with a complex mix of weak layers. Less than a week after the video that inspired the trend appeared on Twitter, thousands of pet owners have uploaded videos of their own pups – with mixed results. H/T to BuzzFeed. Featured Images via Twitter/Haley Bowers. Source: FS – Dogs – iHD Veterinarian Warns : “ Golden Retriever Egg "She said she knew it was meant to be because their last golden [ retriever ] also came out of a vet 's office in Huntington. They took him home that night." Goldie's new mom already had two other animals — a Havanese dog and a cat. After being attacked by dogs Goldie escaped the incident with just a few bite marks and the dog walker was a bit shaken up and cold from his chilly February swim. The otters carried on swimming. But staff at Kindred Spirits wanted to warn other dog owners this type of incident can happen. "Please keep an eye out for otters while walking your dogs near water," they wrote on Facebook. "If you notice otters at the beach, you may want to stay on leash or find another place to walk." A Victoria veterinarian is reminding pet owners to be vigilant after she says three otters attacked her dog and pulled it under the water. A Facebook post from the Kindred Spirits Veterinary Hospital described the attack , which happened when Dr. Claudia Campbell’s dog walker took her golden A dog and its owner are recovering after a vicious encounter with a pit bull in Coquitlam. As for Lilly the golden retriever , her vet bill is at $2,500 and rising – and owner Nicole, who sustained cuts to her hands and arms, says she feels lucky to be alive. Less than a week after the video that inspired the trend appeared on Twitter, thousands of pet owners have uploaded videos of their own pups – with mixed results. H/T to BuzzFeed. Featured Images via Twitter/Haley Bowers. Source: FS – Dogs – iHD Veterinarian Warns : “ Golden Retriever Egg "She said she knew it was meant to be because their last golden [ retriever ] also came out of a vet 's office in Huntington. They took him home that night." Goldie's new mom already had two other animals — a Havanese dog and a cat. After being attacked by dogs Golden Retriever information including pictures, training, behavior, and care of Golden Retrievers and dog breed mixes. Dogs who are highly sensitive, independent thinking, or assertive may be harder for a first-time owner to manage. Friendly with everyone, including other dogs , the Golden Retriever has very little, if any, guarding instincts. While unlikely to attack , Goldens make good watchdogs, loudly The patience I learned from that man. It was hard raising a puppy after 30 years of not having one. I grew up with a dog and a cat. Pictured: Horror injuries suffered by golden retriever attacked by stray Staffordshire bull terrier during walk in the park. Dog was later put down after officers decided it was a danger to public. With no owner in sight, the dog began tearing into 10-year-old Harvey and bit Mrs Town's hand as she tried to One immediate benefit is that veterinarians , dog owners and dogs won’t have to wait until the study is complete to see results that may help influence and improve veterinary medicine. After all, they are Golden Retrievers .” Calgary sisters devastated after Arizona crash leaves triplet dead, her husband in a comaPatti Lou Doornbos, 60, — who goes by Lou — and Ron Doornbos, 60, were on a sidewalk on their way to go hiking in Fountain Hills, about 50 kilometres northeast of Phoenix, when they were hit from […] Ariel Jeffrey Kouakou: Reward raised to $25,000 in search for missing childMontreal champion boxer Adonis Stevenson has donated $15,000 to the family of the 10-year-old boy who went missing last Monday, making it possible for them to increase significantly the reward being offered to the […] Ariel Jeffrey Kouakou, 10, had left his home in Ahuntsic-Cartierville to walk to a friend's house when he went missing. His parents say they believe he was abducted. After completing door-to-door and backyard alley searches within a 400-metre radius of where Ariel was last seen, […] Hockey players tribute fallen teammateFifteen-year-old Roy Pejcinovski, described as a promising hockey player, was found dead in his family's home in Ajax, Ont., on Wednesday, alongside his mother Krassimira Pejcinovski and 13-year-old sister Vanallia, who was badly injured and later […]

1. Technical Field The present invention relates in general to improvements in operating systems and data processing systems, and in particular to enhancements in operating system and data processing system efficiency in utilization of system resources. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for enhancing the efficiency of the allocation of system resources in a data processing system by permitting an operating system to utilize multiple selectable schedulers. 2. Description of the Related Art Modern data processing systems typically permit a multitude of programs or applications, each having multiple processes and/or threads, to be present within memory at the same time, permitting the central processing unit to be shared by those programs. This technique improves the efficiency of the computer system by permitting more "throughput" in that more tasks may be accomplished in less time. Such techniques result in highly efficient utilization of a central processing unit. The objective of such systems is to have a task running at all times, in order to maximize utilization of the central processing unit. Therefore, if there is more than one task desired at a particular time, one task is processed while the remainder wait until the processor is free and can be rescheduled. It should therefore be apparent that means must be provided for deciding which pending task will next receive the service of the central processor. This is typically a function of the scheduling and dispatching portions of an operating system. Many scheduling methods are known in the prior art. Typical examples include the provision of a plurality of queues of different priorities, tasks which are assigned based upon user determined priorities which determine the initial queue assignment. Other examples include straightforward First-Come First-Served, or Shortest-Job-First schedulers. Schedulers are typically included within operating system kernels and often combined with the dispatcher. This situation makes modification of a scheduler for different environments difficult and further prevents scheduler modifications by anyone who does not have rights to access the kernel source code. This becomes a problem due to the fact that operating system kernels may need to run in many different environments. The same operating system kernel may also run on many different hardware platforms and in multiple operating environments. It is also possible for an operating system to be utilized as a base to run software written for another operating system. The different environments in which an operating system kernel may run can result in a situation in which different schedulers would be necessary for each environment and useful in order to optimize system resource allocation. For example, an interactive environment may require a time sharing scheduler which fairly allocates central processing unit time between processes, threads, or users. A manufacturing environment may require a real time scheduler, which gives central processing unit time to a process immediately, upon the occurrence of some event. It should therefore be apparent that operating system and data processing system efficiency, portability, and utility may be greatly enhanced by providing an operating system kernel which may utilize multiple diverse schedulers in order to optimize allocation of system resources and allow correct operation of different types of applications on data processing systems which include that operating system kernel.

Painting, siding, roofing, decks, kitchen/bath renovations, new construction. Free estimates. Insured. Call us today at 207-944-9988. For more information, photos and more - find us on Facebook at yourspacebangor. More Painting, siding, roofing, decks, kitchen/bath renovations, new construction. Free estimates. Insured. Call us today at 207-944-9988. For more information, photos and more - find us on Facebook at yourspacebangor. More

Disparities in smoking and acute respiratory illnesses among sexual minority young adults. Morbidity and mortality from cigarette smoking remain major public health issues. Particularly, smoking has been associated with increased risk of acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs). Literature indicates that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (i.e., sexual minority) persons smoke more than the general population. Additionally, young adulthood is the second-most prevalent period of smoking uptake. Given this constellation of risk correlates, the authors examined whether sexual minority young adults experience increased odds of ARIs (i.e., strep throat, bronchitis, sinus infection, and asthma). Using cross-sectional data from the Spring 2006 National College Health Assessment, prevalence estimates of smoking were generated among young adult (age range, 18-24 years) lesbian/gay, bisexual, unsure, and heterosexual college students (n = 75,164). Nested logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether smoking status mediated the risk of ARIs among sexual orientation groups. Compared with heterosexual smokers, gay/lesbian smokers were more likely to have had strep throat, and bisexual smokers were more likely to have had sinus infection, asthma, and bronchitis. Whereas smoking mediated the risk of ARI, sexual minorities still showed higher odds of ARIs after adjustment for smoking. Sexual minority young adults may experience respiratory health disparities that may be linked to their higher smoking rates, and their higher rates of smoking lend urgency to the need for cessation interventions. Future studies are needed to explore whether chronic respiratory disease caused by smoking (i.e., lung cancer, COPD, emphysema) disproportionately affect sexual minority populations.

Protective Factors of Suicide and Suicidal Behavior Relevant to Emergency Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Post-2007 Reviews. Suicide is a major public health concern and, with recent societal changes, such as economic and technological changes, there may be emerging protective factors that mitigate suicide risk that are unrecognized in emergency healthcare. This systematic review aims to identify protective factors for suicide that can feasibly be assessed in time-limited emergency healthcare settings. A systematic review of reviews was conducted via PsycINFO, CINAHL and Medline (2007-2015). Reviews were assessed for methodological quality using AMSTAR. A total of 24 reviews met the inclusion criteria and 8 were assessed as high quality and included in a narrative synthesis. Known protective factors were identified (e.g., social support), along with emerging protective factors (e.g., internet support). The review synthesizes recent research evidence on protective factors and discusses their relevance to emergency healthcare.

Film director Joss Whedon recently launched a site called SaveTheDay.vote to encourage people to get out and vote this November. To spread the message, he got a bunch of his celebrity friends together to make the hilarious video above. If you’re a fan of the McRib, you’ll love this. J. Kenji López-Alt of Serious Eats shows you how to make one of your own from scratch, using high-quality ingredients and far better cooking technique than anything you’ll find at McDonald’s: We all know that fast food is junky, but sometimes junky food just hits the spot. The McRib, with its cheap thrills of liquid smoke, sugar, and salt, might not be the junkiness we need, but it’s the junkiness we want. The problem is that, while the McRib might be inspired by real barbecue, it’s ultimately a lie. Despite its corrugated appearance, it has little to do with actual ribs. (McDonald’s doesn’t even indicate that the product contains actual rib meat.) It’s not smoked, as one would expect of barbecue ribs. Indeed, it’s not even grilled—it’s cooked on a griddle. We can do better. I love the way the recipe video keeps backing up to show how yet another ingredient in the process can be homemade. I don’t normally care to read about other people’s home improvement projects, but this one by Reddit user /u/NotElizaHenry is pretty entertaining if you click through to the Imgur album and read the captions (FYI, they have lots of NSFW language): 1. I decided to do a herringbone [flooring] pattern because I hate myself. 2. I found almost zero information on the internet about how to fill in gaps in vinyl peel & stick floors, I guess because nobody is dumb enough to do what I did. When you let people in, yes, you increase the likelihood that something bad will happen. You also increase the potential that something good could happen. If you want to make America greater, if you are at all hopeful about this country, you need to increase that potential. […] We have a simple no-politics rule at our company — say what you want on social media, or at home, but leave it there — and in general we stick to it. In this case, there is a direct line between a relatively liberal immigration policy in the 1970s and the salaries of everyone at the company. Without that immigration policy there would be no Postlight, no offices on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, no paychecks and health insurance, and no huge tax bills to pay (grudgingly, but with respect) into the federal, state, and city governments. We just…wouldn’t exist. I could not have built this on my own. I couldn’t agree more about that first quoted paragraph. The very foundation of this country was built on the idea that anyone should be able to come here and make a life for themselves. We all benefit from this, bad seeds or no. I don’t think there is such a thing as a bad book for children. Every now and again it becomes fashionable among some adults to point at a subset of children’s books, a genre, perhaps, or an author, and to declare them bad books, books that children should be stopped from reading. I’ve seen it happen over and over; Enid Blyton was declared a bad author, so was R. L. Stine, so were dozens of others. Comics have been decried as fostering illiteracy. It’s tosh. It’s snobbery and it’s foolishness. There are no bad authors for children, that children like and want to read and seek out, because every child is different. They can find the stories they need to, and they bring themselves to stories. A hackneyed, worn-out idea isn’t hackneyed and worn out to someone encountering it for the first time. You don’t discourage children from reading because you feel they are reading the wrong thing. Fiction you do not like is the gateway drug to other books you may prefer them to read. And not everyone has the same taste as you. Well-meaning adults can easily destroy a child’s love of reading: stop them reading what they enjoy, or give them worthy-but-dull books that you like, the twenty- first-century equivalents of Victorian “improving” literature. You’ll wind up with a generation convinced that reading is uncool and, worse, unpleasant. * * * Got any suggestions for articles, videos, stories, photographs, and any other links you think we should be posting in our weekly Quality Linkage? Please do let us know on Twitter.

Q: Using this.store.filter with the ID of the belongs_to model I'm trying to retrieve all the layouts for a given account. /app/models/account.js import DS from 'ember-data'; export default DS.Model.extend({ companyName: DS.attr('string'), layouts: DS.hasMany('layout') }); /app/models/layout.js import DS from 'ember-data'; export default DS.Model.extend({ name: DS.attr('string'), account: DS.belongsTo('account', { async: true }) }); /app/routes/layouts.js import Ember from 'ember'; export default Ember.Route.extend({ model: function() { return Ember.RSVP.hash({ layouts: this.store.filter('layout', { account_id: 1 }, function(layout) { console.log(layout.get('account').content.id); return layout.get('account').content.id === 1; }) }); } }); The console.log line is outputting the ID that I'm expecting (1). In Ember inspector I can see 5 layout models and under 'Belongs To' I can see: account : <DS.PromiseObject:ember960>. Clicking that brings up content : <batmics@model:account::ember600:1> and clicking that brings up the properties, including the correct ID. But in my templates layouts is empty... and I've no idea why. Incidentally, layouts: this.store.find('layout', { account_id: 1 }) works, but I need it to use the filter so that it's an active array. A: Ember Data works with all its IDs as strings. Changing your check to === '1' should get this going for you. import Ember from 'ember'; export default Ember.Route.extend({ model: function() { return Ember.RSVP.hash({ layouts: this.store.filter('layout', { account_id: 1 }, function(layout) { console.log(layout.get('account').content.id); return layout.get('account').content.id === '1'; }) }); } });

1. Field The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to pet kennels and, more particularly, to a pet kennel having structures that facilitate assembly. 2. Background Pet kennels are generally well known in the relevant art for various pet-related purposes. Such pet kennels typically include an enclosed space within which an animal can be retained for purposes of transport, training, and as a place in which the animal can sleep, by way of example. While such pet kennels have been generally effective for their intended purposes, they have not been without limitation. Known pet kennels have typically been formed from a pair of shells which, when assembled together with fasteners or the like, and with the addition of a door between the shells, form the kennel. The shells typically have been configured to nest, one within the other, for shipment, sale, and storage, but typically are assembled by the consumer after purchase. After assembly, however, the fasteners have often been lost in the ordinary course of use of the pet kennel. Also, the fasteners can be difficult or at least tedious to use in assembling the kennel. Moreover, and depending upon the size of the kennel, the holes formed in the shells through which the fasteners are received can be difficult to align, adding further complexity to the assembly process. It thus would be desirable to provide an improved pet kennel that overcomes these and other shortcomings in the relevant art.

Q: Не удаеться найти главный класс Здравствуйте. Столкнулся с проблемой, указанной в названии темы. В интернете искал ответ, но, к сожалению, не могу решить проблему. Вот код: import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.*; import java.awt.event.*; public class Keyboard extends JApplet implements ActionListener { JTextArea ta; JButton digits[]=new JButton[10]; JButton a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z,point,comma,enter,space,backspace,shift; JLabel l1; public void init(){ l1 = new JLabel("Enter your message here: "); add(l1); ta = new JTextArea(); add(ta); GridLayout gl=new GridLayout(5,12); setLayout(gl); for (int amount = 0; amount < 10; amount++){ digits[amount] = new JButton(""+amount); } a = new JButton("a"); b = new JButton("b"); c = new JButton("c"); d = new JButton("d"); e = new JButton("e"); f = new JButton("f"); g = new JButton("g"); h = new JButton("h"); i = new JButton("i"); j = new JButton("g"); k = new JButton("k"); l = new JButton("l"); m = new JButton("m"); n = new JButton("n"); o = new JButton("o"); p = new JButton("p"); q = new JButton("q"); r = new JButton("r"); s = new JButton("s"); t = new JButton("t"); u = new JButton("u"); v = new JButton("v"); w = new JButton("w"); x = new JButton("x"); y = new JButton("y"); z = new JButton("z"); point = new JButton("."); comma = new JButton(","); enter = new JButton("enter"); space = new JButton("space"); backspace = new JButton("backspace"); shift = new JButton("shift"); for (int amount = 0; amount < 10; amount++){ add(digits[amount]); } add(a); add(b); add(c); add(d); add(e); add(f); add(g); add(h); add(i); add(j); add(k); add(l); add(m); add(n); add(o); add(p); add(q); add(r); add(s); add(t); add(u); add(v); add(w); add(x); add(y); add(z); add(point); add(comma); add(enter); add(space); add(backspace); add(shift); for (int amount = 0; amount < 10; amount++){ digits[amount].addActionListener(this); } a.addActionListener(this); b.addActionListener(this); c.addActionListener(this); d.addActionListener(this); e.addActionListener(this); f.addActionListener(this); g.addActionListener(this); h.addActionListener(this); i.addActionListener(this); j.addActionListener(this); k.addActionListener(this); l.addActionListener(this); m.addActionListener(this); n.addActionListener(this); o.addActionListener(this); p.addActionListener(this); q.addActionListener(this); r.addActionListener(this); s.addActionListener(this); t.addActionListener(this); u.addActionListener(this); v.addActionListener(this); w.addActionListener(this); x.addActionListener(this); y.addActionListener(this); z.addActionListener(this); point.addActionListener(this); comma.addActionListener(this); enter.addActionListener(this); space.addActionListener(this); backspace.addActionListener(this); shift.addActionListener(this); setBackground(Color.yellow); } public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae){ String ac = ae.getActionCommand(); switch (ac) { case "point": ta.setText(ta.getText()+"."); break; case "comma": ta.setText(ta.getText()+","); break; case "enter": ta.setText(ta.getText()+"\n"); break; case "space": ta.setText(ta.getText()+" "); break; case "backspace": ta.setText(ta.getText()+"\b"); break; case "shift": ta.setText(ta.getText()+"////////////////////////"); break; default: ta.setText(ta.getText()+String.valueOf(ac)); break; } } } Посмотрите, пожалуйста. что не так, и скажите, как правильно создавать подобный проект, если ошибка в создании. Говорю сразу, с апплетами доселе не имел дела. Код писал в NetBeans 8.1 A: По идее у Вас должно выкидывать исключение java.lang.NullPointerException т.к Вы не инициализировали массив: JButton digits[]; объявите его как JButton digits[]=new JButton[10]; и проблема отпадет

There are a variety of treatment modalities that may be delivered to treat a diseased tissue. Endometrial ablation, for example, is a medical procedure that is used to remove (ablate) or destroy the endometrial lining of a uterus. This technique is most often employed to treat women who suffer from excessive or prolonged bleeding during their menstrual cycle and who either cannot or do not wish to undergo a hysterectomy. Such heavy menstrual bleeding is most commonly due to dysfunctional uterine bleeding or adenomyosis. There are a number of challenges to delivering treatment to tissue that is located within body cavities and lumens which are not easily accessible to the physician. Moreover, it is often difficult to deliver the appropriate treatment to the entirety of the tissue surface due to irregular convolutions and contouring of the tissue surface. This difficulty is further compounded by fact that each patient presents his or her own unique anatomical features and differences, that a one size fits all approach cannot be employed and the treatment or delivery system must be customized to accommodate the patient's unique anatomy.

Retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of minimally invasive, fluoroscopic-assisted reduction and stabilisation of unicondylar humeral fractures. This study evaluated the proficiency in executing closed, fluoroscopic-assisted reduction of unicondylar humeral fractures. The following were hypothesised: experienced surgeons would be highly successful in performing closed reduction; body weight, time to surgery and surgeon experience would influence the reduction method; and the reduction method would not affect technical aspects of the repair. All unicondylar humeral fractures stabilised between January 2007 and January 2017 were reviewed. Signalment and time to surgery, experience of the attending surgeon, and the initial and definitive reduction methods were recorded. Initial and subsequent postoperative radiographs were used to assess fracture reduction, implant placement and complications. Univariate polychotomous logistic regressions, Fisher's exact test, Kruskal-Wallis rank sums non-parametric test or equivalence tests were used to compare parameters evaluated based on the approach employed (P < 0.05 significant). A total of 36 dogs with 37 fractures were identified (median weight: 5.4 kg; median time to surgery: 3 days). Of these, 11 of 15 attempted closed reductions were successful. Successful closed reductions had shorter times to surgery than limited open or open reductions (P = 0.009). Age, weight and surgeon experience did not influence the definitive reduction method. Technical aspects of reduction and stabilisation were similar among the reduction methods. Surgery times were shorter for closed reductions (P = 0.034). Of the fractures, 75% healed without complications and 85% had excellent long-term function. The results suggested that closed, fluoroscopic-assisted reduction is a proficient (73% successful) and efficient (shorter surgery times with comparable technical results compared with other limited open and open reduction) means of stabilising acute unicondylar humeral fractures.

Measuring site-level success in brownfield redevelopments: a focus on sustainability and green building. This research has met the following four objectives within the broader research topic of characterizing and quantifying success in brownfield revitalization: (1) to define 40 total indicators that define and determine the success of brownfield redevelopments in four categories: environment-health, finance, livability, and social-economic; (2) to use these indicators to develop a partially automated tool that stakeholders in brownfield redevelopment may use to more easily assess and communicate success (or failures) in these projects; (3) to integrate "green" building as an important aspect of successful brownfield redevelopments; and (4) to develop this tool within the framework of a specific multi-attribute decision method (MADM), the analytical hierarchical process (AHP). Future research should include the operationalization and application of this tool to specific sites. Currently, no such indicator framework or automated tool is known to exist or be in use. Indicators were chosen because of their ability to reduce data into comprehensible measurements and to systematically measure success in a standardized fashion. Appropriate indicators were selected based on (1) interviews with prominent private developers and national leaders in brownfield redevelopment, (2) a review of the relevant literature, (3) objective hierarchies created in this project, and (4) the ability for each indicator to serve goals in more than one of the four categories described above. These were combined to form the Sustainable Brownfields Redevelopment (SBR) Tool. A survey was conducted to serve as a preliminary assessment and proposed methodology for judging the validity of the SBR Tool. Professionals in the academic, private, and public sector were asked to provide an evaluation of the management tool and a weighting of the relative importance of each indicator and each of the four categories listed previously. Experts rated the tool at 7.68 out of 10 suggesting that this framework will be useful in evaluating these redevelopments upon completion and in formulating initial site plans and building design.

Q: Can't unescape scraped HTML document I am trying to unescape this HTML document with C# so that I can retrieve data from it later. I tried unescaping the document with the following functions: var url = @"..."; var httpClient = new HttpClient(); var html = await httpClient.GetStringAsync(url4); Microsoft.JScript.GlobalObject.unescape() HttpUtility.HtmlDecode() System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.Unescape() However none of these methods seem to do anything. Is there something I am doing wrong? A: In your html all \s, "s and /s are escaped. You can use html = Regex.Unescape(html); That will return you a clean html var client = new HttpClient(); var html = await client.GetStringAsync("https://www.examenblad.nl/examenrooster/2018?api=get_filtered_exam_table&a=%7B%22periode%22:%22tijdvak%22,%22dag%22:%2210-05-2017%22,%22tijdvakken%22:[%22vg41h1h4i9pl%22,%22vg41h1h4i9pm%22],%22sectoren%22:[%22vg41h1h4i9qe%22,%22vg41h1h4i9qd%22,%22vga6k854m5p9%22,%22vga3db3c9od8%22,%22vga3db3c9od6%22,%22vga3db3c9od5%22],%22filterjaarid%22:%22viwvlbcs3nyv%22%7D"); html = Regex.Unescape(html); Final html " <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="styletable"> <tr class="bg rij1"> <th class="fontwit cel1">Datum</th> <th class="fontwit">Tijd</th> <th class="fontwit">Examen</th> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">%tijdvak1sep%</td> <td class="fontwit">&nbsp;</td> <td class="fontwit">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/engels-bb-vmbo/2018">Engels BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/nederlands-kb-vmbo/2018">Nederlands KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/nederlands-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">Nederlands GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/natuurkunde-havo-2/2018">natuurkunde, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-a-vwo/2018">wiskunde A, vwo (bezemexamen)</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-a-vwo-2/2018">wiskunde A, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-b-vwo/2018">wiskunde B, vwo (bezemexamen)</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-b-vwo-2/2018">wiskunde B, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-c-vwo/2018">wiskunde C, vwo (bezemexamen)</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 14 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-c-vwo-2/2018">wiskunde C, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 15 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/muziek-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">muziek GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 15 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/geschiedenis-havo-3/2018">geschiedenis, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 15 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/geschiedenis-vwo-3/2018">geschiedenis, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 15 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/economie-bb-vmbo/2018">economie BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 15 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-kb-vmbo/2018">wiskunde KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 15 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">wiskunde GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 15 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/engels-havo-2/2018">Engels, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 15 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/frans-vwo/2018">Frans, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-10:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/geschiedenis-en-staatsinrichting-3/2018">geschiedenis en staatsinrichting BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/geschiedenis-en-staatsinrichting-2/2018">geschiedenis en staatsinrichting KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/geschiedenis-en-staatsinrichting/2018">geschiedenis en staatsinrichting GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/filosofie-havo/2018">filosofie, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/maatschappij-wetenschappen-vwo/2018">maatschappij­wetenschappen, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/maatschappij-wetenschappen-vwo-2/2018">maatschappij­wetenschappen, vwo (pilot)</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/nederlands-bb-vmbo/2018">Nederlands BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/engels-kb-vmbo/2018">Engels KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/engels-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">Engels GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/handvaardigheid-havo/2018">handvaardigheid, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/textiele-vormgeving-havo/2018">textiele vormgeving, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/tekenen-havo/2018">tekenen, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 16 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/engels-vwo-2/2018">Engels, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-10:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/aardrijkskunde-bb-vmbo-2/2018">aardrijkskunde BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/duits-kb-vmbo/2018">Duits KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/duits-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">Duits GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/muziek-havo/2018">muziek, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/latijnse-taal-en-cultuur-vwo/2018">Latijnse taal en cultuur, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-bb-vmbo/2018">wiskunde BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/biologie-kb-vmbo/2018">biologie KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/biologie-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">biologie GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/nederlands-havo-2/2018">Nederlands, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 17 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/scheikunde-vwo-2/2018">scheikunde, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 18 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-10:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/duits-bb-vmbo/2018">Duits BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 18 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/aardrijkskunde-kb-vmbo-2/2018">aardrijkskunde KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 18 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/aardrijkskunde-gl-en-tl-vmbo-2/2018">aardrijkskunde GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 18 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/duits-havo/2018">Duits, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 18 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/filosofie-vwo/2018">filosofie, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 18 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/natuur-en-scheikunde-ii-gl-en-tl/2018">natuur- en scheikunde II GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 18 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/economie-havo-2/2018">economie, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 18 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/nederlands-vwo-2/2018">Nederlands, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/maatschappijkunde-kb-vmbo/2018">maatschappijkunde KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/maatschappijkunde-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">maatschappijkunde GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/aardrijkskunde-havo/2018">aardrijkskunde, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/duits-vwo/2018">Duits, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/frans-bb-vmbo/2018">Frans BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/frans-kb-vmbo/2018">Frans KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/frans-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">Frans GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/frans-havo/2018">Frans, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 22 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/biologie-vwo-2/2018">biologie, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-10:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/maatschappijkunde-bb-vmbo/2018">maatschappijkunde BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/beeldende-vorming-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">beeldende vorming GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/kunst-algemeen-havo/2018">kunst (algemeen), havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/griekse-taal-en-cultuur-vwo/2018">Griekse taal en cultuur, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/natuur-en-scheikunde-i-bb-vmbo/2018">natuur- en scheikunde I BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/economie-kb-vmbo/2018">economie KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/economie-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">economie GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/management-en-organisatie-havo/2018">management en organisatie, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">woensdag 23 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/economie-vwo-2/2018">economie, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/dans-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">dans GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/drama-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">drama GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/voertuigentechniek-gl-vmbo/2018">voertuigentechniek GL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/transport-en-logistiek-gl-vmbo/2018">transport en logistiek GL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/aardrijkskunde-vwo-2/2018">aardrijkskunde, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/biologie-bb-vmbo/2018">biologie BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/natuur-en-scheikunde-i-kb-vmbo/2018">natuur- en scheikunde I KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/natuur-en-scheikunde-i-gl-en-tl/2018">natuur- en scheikunde I GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-a-havo-2/2018">wiskunde A, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/wiskunde-b-havo-2/2018">wiskunde B, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">donderdag 24 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/natuurkunde-vwo-2/2018">natuurkunde, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/fries-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">Fries GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/maatschappij-wetenschappen-havo/2018">maatschappij­wetenschappen, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/maatschappij-wetenschappen-havo-2/2018">maatschappij­wetenschappen, havo (pilot)</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/muziek-vwo-2/2018">muziek, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/spaans-bb-vmbo/2018">Spaans BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/turks-bb-vmbo/2018">Turks BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/arabisch-bb-vmbo/2018">Arabisch BB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/spaans-kb-vmbo/2018">Spaans KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/turks-kb-vmbo/2018">Turks KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/arabisch-kb-vmbo/2018">Arabisch KB, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/spaans-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">Spaans GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/turks-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">Turks GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-15:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/arabisch-gl-en-tl-vmbo/2018">Arabisch GL en TL, vmbo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/scheikunde-havo-3/2018">scheikunde, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">vrijdag 25 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/management-en-organisatie-vwo/2018">management en organisatie, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 28 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-12:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/kunst-algemeen-vwo/2018">kunst (algemeen), vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 28 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/biologie-havo-3/2018">biologie, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 28 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/handvaardigheid-vwo/2018">handvaardigheid, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 28 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/textiele-vormgeving-vwo/2018">textiele vormgeving, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">maandag 28 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/tekenen-vwo/2018">tekenen, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/fries-havo/2018">Fries, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/russisch-havo/2018">Russisch, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/fries-vwo-2/2018">Fries, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">09:00-11:30</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/russisch-vwo-2/2018">Russisch, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/spaans-havo/2018">Spaans, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/turks-havo/2018">Turks, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/arabisch-havo/2018">Arabisch, havo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/spaans-vwo-2/2018">Spaans, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/turks-vwo-2/2018">Turks, vwo</a></td> </tr> <tr class="bg"> <td class="fontwit cel1">dinsdag 29 mei 2018</td> <td class="fontwit">13:30-16:00</td> <td class="fontwit"><a href="/examen/arabisch-vwo-2/2018">Arabisch, vwo</a></td> </tr> </table> "

Generally, one omits parentheses in formulas, when there is no ambiguity. For example, a formula (φ) can be simply written φ. As such, the parentheses are also called the auxiliary symbols. 2. The other logical symbols are obtained in the following way : φ∧ψ :=def⁢¬⁡(¬⁢φ∨¬⁢ψ) ⁢φ⇒ψ :=def⁢¬⁢φ∨ψ φ⇔ψ :=def(φ⇒ψ)∧(ψ⇒φ) ⁢∀x⁢(φ) :=def⁢¬⁡(∃x⁢(¬⁢φ)) where φ and ψ are formulas. All logical symbols are used when building formulas. 3. In the literature, it is a common practice to write Σω⁢ω for FO⁡(Σ). The first subscript means that every formula in FO⁡(Σ) contains a finite number of ∨’s (less than ω), while the second subscript signifies that every formula has a finite number of ∃’s. In general, Σα⁢β denotes a language built from Σ such that, in any given formula, the number of occurrences of ∨ is less than α and the number of occurrences of ∃ is less than β. When the number of occurrences of ∨ (or ∃) in a formula is not limited, we use the symbol ∞ in place of α (or β). Clearly, if α and β are not ω, we get a language that is not first-order. First Order Languages as Formal Languages If the signature Σ and the set V of variables are countable, then S⁢(Σ),T⁢(Σ), and F⁢(Σ) can be viewed as formal languages over a certain (finite) alphabetΓ. The set Γ should include all of the logical connectives, the equality symbol, and the parentheses, as well as the following symbols R,F,V,I,#, where they are used to form words for relation, formula, and variable symbols. More precisely, • V⁢In⁢# stands for the variable vn, • R⁢In⁢#⁢Im⁢# stands for the m-th relation symbol of arity n, and • F⁢In⁢#⁢Im⁢# stands for the m-th function symbol of arity n, where m,n≥0 are integers. The symbol # is used as a delimiter or separator. Note that the constant symbols are then words of the form F⁢#⁢Im⁢#. It can shown that S⁢(Σ),T⁢(Σ) and F⁢(Σ) are context-free over Γ, and in fact unambiguous.

The first deoxyribozyme (DNA enzyme) was identified by in vitro selection in 1994 and cleaves an RNA phosphodiester bond[@R1]. Since that time, DNA has been shown to catalyze many reactions, including several preparatively useful transformations[@R2]. RNA cleavage is the most studied DNA-catalyzed reaction[@R3], and deoxyribozymes with practical cleavage abilities for nearly all RNA dinucleotide target sequences have been developed[@R4],[@R5]. However, DNA-catalyzed hydrolysis of other biologically relevant bonds, such as amide (peptide) or DNA phosphodiester linkages, has not been reported. Non-site-selective Cu^2+^-dependent oxidative cleavage of DNA has been described[@R6]. These reactions appear to proceed through a diffusible intermediate, resulting in nonhydrolytic and nonspecific DNA cleavage. Self-hydrolysis of G-quadruplex DNA has been reported, but the sequence scope appears to be limited[@R7]. Amide and especially DNA phosphodiester linkages are intrinsically more difficult to hydrolyze than RNA, by about a factor of 20 for amides[@R8] and at least 400 and possibly much more for DNA. Estimates of the uncatalyzed half-life of DNA at near-physiological conditions range from \~4000 years[@R9] to 30 million years[@R10] to over 10 billion years[@R11], which makes catalysis of DNA hydrolysis an especially challenging goal[@R12]--[@R14]. In this study, we initially sought to use in vitro selection to identify deoxyribozymes that cleave amide bonds[@R15] by presenting a tripeptide sequence to a random N~40~ DNA region in the structural arrangement of [Fig. 1a](#F1){ref-type="fig"}. The desired reaction site was held across from the initially random DNA enzyme region by Watson-Crick interactions between fixed DNA sequences of the substrate and complementary binding arm sequences of the deoxyribozyme strand. This arrangement has been used to identify deoxyribozymes with a variety of catalytic activities including RNA cleavage[@R2], and here it allows us to focus on the fundamental ability of DNA to catalyze cleavage of our substrate. The selection strategy was derived from two precedents: (1) many successful selections for deoxyribozymes that cleave RNA linkages[@R3]; and (2) our own extensive efforts to identify deoxyribo-zymes that ligate two RNA substrates.[@R2],[@R16] During the key bond-cleavage step of each selection round, the incubation conditions included 40 mM MgCl~2~, 20 mM MnCl~2~, and 1 mM ZnCl~2~ in 70 mM Tris, pH 7.5, and 150 mM NaCl at 37 °C. Three divalent metal ions were included to enable emergence of a potentially wide range of catalytic mechanisms. The substrate ([Fig. 1b](#F1){ref-type="fig"}) incorporated an Ala-Ser-Ala tripeptide cleavage target between two DNA sequences designed to interact with fixed DNA elements ("binding arms") that flank the N~40~ region. The C-terminal Ala of the tripeptide was connected by an amide bond to 5′-NH~2~-T of DNA, and the N-terminal Ala was joined to DNA via a short γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) linker. This substrate offers for cleavage four amide bonds as well as numerous DNA phosphodiester bonds. At the outset, our expectation was that peptide bond cleavage should be favored over DNA hydrolysis, due to the intrinsic reactivity difference noted above. After nine selection rounds with the substrate of [Fig. 1b](#F1){ref-type="fig"}, the DNA pool achieved 35% substrate cleavage during the 14 h incubation period ([Supplementary Methods](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). A tenth round with 2 h incubation led to 16% substrate cleavage, which did not increase after additional rounds. Individual round 10 deoxyribozymes were screened for activity, cloned, and sequenced essentially as described previously[@R16],[@R17]. Of 44 clones, a total of four different cleavage sites in the substrate were used by nine unique deoxyribozymes ([Fig. 1c](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). Surprisingly, all four cleavage sites corresponded to hydrolysis at specific DNA phosphodiester linkages, whereas no substrate amide bond was hydrolyzed by any deoxyribozyme. The precise location of each DNA cleavage site and the integrity of the hydrolyzed DNA termini were assigned and verified by MALDI mass spectrometry of PAGE-purified reaction products ([Supplementary Fig. 2](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"} and [Supplementary Table 2](#SD2){ref-type="supplementary-material"}), comparison with PAGE standards ([Supplementary Fig. 3](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}), and biochemical ligation assays using the reaction products and T4 DNA ligase ([Supplementary Fig. 4](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Four new deoxyribozymes, named 10MD9, 10MD1, 10MD14, and 10MD5 (one for each observed cleavage site), were characterized further. All four deoxyribozymes require both Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^ ([Supplementary Fig. 5](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Mg^2+^ is either dispensable (10MD9 and 10MD5), supportive of two-fold higher yield than with Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^ alone (10MD1), or several-fold inhibitory (10MD14). While 10MD9, 10MD1, and 10MD14 function better in Tris than in HEPES buffer, 10MD5 has higher activity in HEPES and is inhibited by high concentrations of Tris ([Supplementary Fig. 6](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Standard incubation conditions of 70 mM Tris or HEPES (as appropriate), pH 7.5, 20 mM MnCl~2~, 1 mM ZnCl~2~, and 150 mM NaCl at 37 °C were used in further assays. 10MD9 and 10MD1 strictly require the presence of the tripeptide region in the substrate ([Fig. 2a](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). 10MD14 retains some activity with an all-DNA substrate but is \~40-fold faster when the tripeptide region is included ([Fig. 2a](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). The role of the tripeptide region in catalysis has not yet been examined. All three deoxyribozymes cleave a DNA phosphodiester linkage very close to the tripeptide region (additionally, 10MD9 appears to catalyze a secondary reaction of its product resulting in loss of the GHB moiety; [Supplementary Fig. 7](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). In contrast, 10MD5 hydrolyzes a DNA linkage four nucleotides removed from the tripeptide region ([Fig. 1c](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). 10MD5 cleaves an all-DNA substrate as efficiently as the original tripeptide-containing substrate (*k*~obs~ 2.7 ± 0.3 h^−1^ and yield 66 ± 4% \[n = 11\]; [Fig. 2a](#F2){ref-type="fig"}), with formation of 5′-phosphate and 3′-hydroxyl DNA termini as established above. We evaluated the 10MD5 deoxyribozyme for its tolerance of DNA substrate sequences ([Fig. 2b](#F2){ref-type="fig"}; data in [Supplementary Fig. 8](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Outside of the ATG trinucleotide segment immediately 5′ of the hydrolysis site as well as the T immediately to the 3′-side, 10MD5 tolerates all substrate nucleotides, as long as Watson-Crick base-pairing is maintained. The detailed sequence requirements within this ATG\^T "recognition site" are currently under investigation. As a divalent metal ion cofactor, none of Cu^2+^, Fe^2+^, Co^2+^, or Ni^2+^ affects 10MD5 cleavage activity when included at either 0.1 μM or 1 μM along with Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^. None of Cu^2+^, Fe^2+^, Co^2+^, or Ni^2+^ at 0.1 μM through 10 mM can substitute for either Mn^2+^ or Zn^2+^, whereas 1 mM Cd^2+^ can substitute for Mn^2+^ with \~10^5^ lower DNA cleavage rate. In addition, 40 mM Ca^2+^ can substitute for Mn^2+^ with \~40-fold lower rate ([Supplementary Fig. 9](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). When 10MD5 was tested with Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^, the *K*~d,app~ was 5 ± 2 mM for Mn^2+^ (at 1 mM Zn^2+^); the optimal Zn^2+^ concentration was \~1 mM (at 20 mM Mn^2+^; [Supplementary Fig. 10](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}), with little activity below 0.5 mM Zn^2+^. The importance of monovalent ions was also examined ([Supplementary Fig. 11](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). When Na^+^ was decreased from 150 mM to either 10 mM or 0 mM, activity was slightly suppressed, whereas increasing Na^+^ to 450 mM or replacing 150 mM Na^+^ with 150 mM K^+^ had little effect. Finally, the pH dependence of 10MD5 was examined ([Supplementary Fig. 12](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). The deoxyribozyme has a rather sharp pH optimum near 7.5 (as measured for the 1 M buffer stock solution), with substantially reduced activity when the pH was increased or decreased by merely 0.1--0.2 pH units. Changing the sulfonic acid buffer from HEPES to MOPS led to comparable activity. Both the rather sharp Zn^2+^ optimum and the strong pH dependence of 10MD5 are similar to our observations for a different Zn^2+^-dependent deoxyribozyme that catalyzes an unrelated RNA ligation reaction[@R18]. Several other deoxyribozymes and ribozymes are known that either require or can Zn^2+^ as a cofactor[@R19]. To validate that 10MD5 catalyzes hydrolytic rather than oxidative DNA cleavage, we performed additional experiments. When the 10MD5-catalyzed cleavage reaction was performed in ^18^O-water (^18^OH~2~), we observed by mass spectrometry that ^18^O was incorporated into the 5′-phosphate group ([Supplementary Fig. 13](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). This observation is consistent with a hydrolysis reaction in which water is the source of the new oxygen atom but inconsistent with oxidative cleavage, in which O~2~ from the air would be the source of the oxygen atom. Of course, much work remains to investigate the mechanism(s) of DNA-catalyzed DNA hydrolysis, including dissection of structural and catalytic roles of Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^. With unrelated inorganic catalysts, "formal hydrolysis" of DNA can result from an oxidative pathway.[@R20] We also evaluated the effect of including Mn^3+^, H~2~O~2~, or (NH~4~)~2~S~2~O~8~ (ammonium persulfate) as potential oxidants, either in addition to Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^ or in place of one of the two metal ions. In all cases, no effect of the added oxidant was observed ([Supplementary Figure 14](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Finally, we included either or both of catalase or superoxide dismutase; suppression of DNA cleavage was not observed ([Supplementary Figure 14](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Taken together, these experiments validate the conclusion that 10MD5 catalyzes DNA phosphodiester cleavage via a hydrolytic rather than an oxidative mechanism. In sharp contrast, the Cu^2+^-dependent deoxyribozymes reported by Breaker and coworkers involve diffusible intermediates, resulting in relatively nonselective DNA cleavage by "oxidative destruction" of a nucleotide[@R6]. The new DNA-hydrolyzing deoxyribozymes are capable of multiple turnover. When the "binding arms" of 10MD5 were shortened, which is anticipated to promote product release[@R4], at least 40 turnovers were observed ([Supplementary Fig. 15](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Similar results were found for the other three deoxyribozymes. When the 10MD5 deoxyribozyme was isolated after a multiple-turnover reaction and treated with piperidine to induce strand cleavage at any damage sites, strand-cleavage events were not observed ([Supplementary Fig. 16](#SD1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}), further validating nonparticipation of oxidizing species in 10MD5-catalyzed DNA hydrolysis. In summary, we have identified numerous deoxyribozymes that require two different divalent metal ions, Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^, to catalyze sequence-specific cleavage of DNA phosphodiester linkages. A requirement by a deoxyribozyme or ribozyme for two different metal ions simultaneously is rare but precedented[@R19]. The DNA-catalyzed heterobimetallic DNA hydrolysis activity was identified here despite the presence in the selection substrate of four nearby amide bonds, which have a much higher uncatalyzed hydrolysis rate. The reason that the peptide bonds in the selection substrate were not cleaved is currently unknown. One focus of our ongoing efforts is to identify deoxyribozymes that function with peptide substrates[@R21]. These efforts include revised selection strategies specifically seeking DNA-catalyzed amide bond cleavage. The rate enhancement of the 10MD5 deoxyribozyme, which sequence-specifically cleaves an all-DNA substrate with multiple turnover, is at least 10^8^ and possibly as high as 10^14^ over the uncatalyzed DNA hydrolysis reaction, as calculated from the corresponding half-lives. Mechanistic analyses of the new deoxyribozymes are warranted, especially regarding the roles of Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^ because many natural enzymes are DNA or RNA nucleases that require multiple metal ion cofactors[@R22],[@R23]. Considerable attention has been devoted to small model systems for DNA nuclease activity[@R13],[@R14]. The identification of heterobimetallic DNA catalysts that sequence-specifically hydrolyze DNA phosphodiester linkages suggests that deoxyribozymes have significant potential as practical sequence-specific DNA cleavage reagents[@R24],[@R25]. Supplementary Material {#S1} ====================== This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (GM065966), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (BRBAA08-L-2-0001), and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. A.S. was partially supported by the NIH (NIGMS) under Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32 GM070421. We thank Durga Ghosh and Prof. Philip Bevilacqua (Penn State) for independently verifying the cleavage activity of the 10MD5 deoxyribozyme with an all-DNA substrate. We thank Leigh Anne Furgerson Ihnken and Prof. Wilfred van der Donk for expert assistance with and access to the ESI mass spectrometer for the ^18^O-water experiment. Note: Supplementary information is available on the Nature Chemical Biology website. **Author contributions** M.C. performed in vitro selections using substrates synthesized by A.S. M.C. and A.S. characterized the deoxyribozymes. S.K.S. conceived the project, assisted M.C. and A.S. with analysis of experimental data, and wrote the manuscript with input from M.C. and A.S. {ref-type="supplementary-material"}.](nihms120635f1){#F1} {ref-type="supplementary-material"}. The PAGE image shows cleavage of the all-DNA substrate by 10MD5. (**b**) Summary of DNA substrate sequence requirements for 10MD5, which efficiently cleaves an all-DNA substrate with a modest recognition site.](nihms120635f2){#F2}

The other day, I was wondering about why there was such an appeal to marketing courses that taught secrets of unconscious persuasion, stealth tactics, invisible influence, secret closes, ninja strategies etc. The implication of all of these approaches was that no one would notice what you were doing. No one would notice that you were steering them towards buying from you. They would just, unexplainably, feel compelled to trust and buy from you. They’d just leave the conversation with your product proudly in their hand thinking that they had made the decision when, in fact, it was all you and the secret arsenal of tactics you’d deployed throughout the conversation. Neuro Linguistic Programming comes to mind in this. I think the reason that these workshops are so popular (and why even the most conscious of us have taken them or been drawn to them) is because we think marketing is bad. We think we are doing something bad by sharing our products or services with others. And so, we’re trying not to get caught (but, of course, we need to do it to pay rent). It strikes me as a similar dynamic to what I’ve seen in the pick-up workshops offered to men. This same offering of ways to get what we want, as men, without being noticed. I’m sure there are workshops out there for women that offer the same things. I see this often in human interactions when someone is deeply ashamed of their own needs and scared to make any requests of others that might meet them. And so much of it seems to be rooted in shame. So much of it seems to be rooted in the deep sense that I’m doing something I shouldn’t be doing. And so, of course, we are drawn to anything that promises that our actions will have the intended effect while going unnoticed. When this is at play, I notice that we, as humans, tend to become all manner of fake, sneaky, passive aggressive, creepy, controlling, underhanded, plastic and worse. Recently a friend asked a favour of me she was terrified to ask. She was in a conflict with a mutual friend and she asked me if I’d be willing to commit to not vetting any letters this friend might want to send her way. She wanted me not to get involved in between. I was happy to agree to that as I knew this other friend had plenty of other people who would be happy to read whatever letters she might send and to give feedback on them. My friend broke down into tears. She had been so scared to ask me. She felt it was wrong. When I said ‘yes’ so easily, some switch flipped in her. What if there was nothing wrong with asking for what you want? What if there was nothing wrong with expressing your desires? What if there was nothing wrong with sharing what you have? What if it was just a matter of learning how to do so skillfully? What if it actually felt better to be direct in some matters than indirect? What if we’re all craving candour and directness? What if marketing was just saying, “I’m a needy human like you. I have needs. You have needs. Here’s what I’d like to offer you in exchange for your money. Does this feel fair?“ What if the reason it feels ‘off’ is because we’re ashamed of doing it not because it’s inherently shameful to do it? What if marketing could feel good? What if marketing wasn’t about getting anyone to say ‘yes’ but about having a human conversation about whether or not it was a fit? What if this was true about dating too? What if our attention was more focused on the truth of the moment than our goal of what we think we want? What would marketing look like without shame? What would it look like if we felt no need to hide what we were doing? What if marketing felt bad not because it was shameful but because we were ashamed of it. I came across Greg Faxon (pictured here) about a year ago when someone shared his brilliant article Why You Don’t Need A Niche (And 11 Simple Alternatives). Well, as it turned out, Greg got a few clients from my sharing that article and we ended up connecting on Facebook and decided to get on the phone with each other to have a call. During the call, I learned that his central passion was about selling and how to have effective enrollment conversations. This got my attention because it’s not something I do in my own business model but it’s a place of much struggle for so many of my clients. The first group of clients this is a struggle for are those who’ve never learned how to do them. They’re winging it every time. They get on the phone with a potential client and hope for the best. They’re terrified with being too pushy and often end up giving their client a free session to try to solve the whole thing right there. It’s a kind of collapsed, over giving. The second group of clients for whom this is a struggle are those who have learned how to do these processes and, even though they were taught to them by ostensibly conscious marketing gurus, they still feel uneasy about it. It still feels pushy and salesy. The rest sort of beat around the bush with people in indirect ways or avoid conversations around their business like the plague as if this is a sign of enlightenment. Personally, I’d rather build my business model so that I don’t have to have these conversations. As Peter Drucker put it, “The purpose of marketing is to make selling redundant.” Additionally, I’m not a fan of wasting my time in conversations with people who aren’t likely to buy. I’ve got no interest in trying to convince anyone of anything. This is why I’m so big on people figuring out and clearly communicating their point of view, figuring out their niche and creating things like an Are You Sure? page to filter out those clients who aren’t likely to be a good match. There’s a lot you can do to make sure that, by the time you’re talking to them one on one, it’s likely going to go somewhere. And, even if you filter a whole lot, there are going to be times where people are going to need to talk to you directly about what you’re offering and times when you’re going to want to talk to them to make sure they’re actually a fit. You can call that conversation a lot of things (e.g. sales conversation, enrollment conversation etc.) but sometimes two humans have to talk it out a bit. Greg submitted himself to a rigorous interview with me and has given his insights extremely generously here. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did talking with him. * What’s your story? How did you get so nerdy about enrollment conversations? The short version is that I’m a guy who has always been really obsessed with transformation. I’ve always been fascinated by what allows people to grow and evolve in different areas of their lives. And so when I found out there was this thing called “coaching”, where that’s what you help people do all day, it was obviously really compelling for me. I started holding small personal development workshops, and I even picked up a client or two. The problem was, I only made about $1,000 in the first 6 months of my business. In some ways it was really cool to have made money helping people. But I also knew that it wasn’t going to be sustainable. What I realized was, it doesn’t really matter how good you are at the coaching piece if you don’t have coaching clients. I had been avoiding enrollment conversations because it felt safer to work on my website and think about URL names and get logos designed. That all changed when I invested in my first group coaching program and my coach called me out on the fact that I wasn’t spending time in conversation. So over the next month I had over fifty enrollment conversations, got some great longer-term clients, and left my consulting job. I actually made twice as much from my coaching business the month after I left my job. In the process, I became really interested in how to hold an enrollment conversation that not only results in an ideal client, but actually transforms the person in front of me. And so that’s where my passion to teach this stuff comes from. What have been your major influences in selling? I’ve had a lot of great coaches and mentors throughout the years, but there are three books that I’d recommend for people who want to really understand how sales works in business. I’ll be honest though. A lot of the stuff I found around selling just didn’t work that well for me when I applied it to my coaching business specifically. And so that’s why I eventually reached a point where I decided I was going to have to create my own system. What is sales? What is the role of selling in a business? Sales is not just the process of exchanging money for a product or service. Sales is about helping someone visualize and take action towards a future outcome that they want. Sales is the lifeblood of every business. If you do not sell, you do not make money. If you don’t make money, you don’t get to keep playing the game of business. And if you don’t get to keep playing, you don’t get to keep serving people through that business. If you want to create transformation in people’s lives, but you don’t know how to enroll people in what that transformation requires, it’s game over. Here’s the good news: Sales is not something that you do before the real work starts. Sales is the work. It’s what we do as leaders, coaches, and human beings every day. What if instead of viewing sales as a necessary evil, you learned to love it instead? Why do people hate the idea of selling so much? A couple of reasons: They see sales as inherently pushy and inauthentic. The fix here is to reframe selling from something manipulative to something transformative. Selling can be one of the most important services you provide for your customers and clients. If you don’t help them make the decision about whether your offer is right for them, or if they don’t know what you have to offer them in the first place, they will never experience the benefit of it. When you view selling as an extension of the product or service you offer, you put more intention into the sale. They haven’t discovered their own way of selling.One that feels authentic to them. Everyone has their own unique style, and the way I sell will look different from the way you sell. The problem with scripts is that they take us out of the moment with our potential clients and we end up sounding stilted and awkward. The solution is having a system that allows you to play to your natural strengths. That’s what I give people. I really believe that if you don’t like selling, you’re doing it wrong. You say that sales is one of the best ways to provide people with the transformation they’re looking for. How so? When someone comes to us with a problem they haven’t yet solved, or a vision they haven’t yet achieved, there’s a reason they haven’t gotten the results they want yet. And it’s rarely because they don’t have enough information. Often the reason is simply indecision. They say they want something, but they haven’t truly “thrown their hat over the fence” and committed to getting it handled. It’s our job to figure out what’s stopping them from making that commitment. Often times, indecision comes down to fear – fear of failure, fear of success, fear of being judged. I find myself wondering if this is really ‘indecision’. It sounds like they’ve decided not to, or, at least, not decided to. I notice a resistance to framing it as indecisive when it sounds like, for very good reasons, they’ve decided not to proceed. I’m not sure I agree. Think about the person who really wants to lose weight, but they haven’t lost it yet. Is that because they’ve decided not to lose weight? Or is it because they haven’t committed to what the transformation requires? If people have already decided, then why do we shoot videos and write marketing copy? Other example: if people haven’t chosen a niche, is it because they’ve decided not to choose a niche? Is it because they shouldn’t choose a niche? Or is there an opportunity to support them in that decision making process? Are there irrational fears holding them back from specializing? I’ve actually shared this post with some of my groups, and I like and agree with the overall thesis. People are not indecisive by nature. But they do need help making the decision – that’s why sales exists. “They’re not indecisive, they’re just not sure it’s a fit. They’re not sure it’s worth the investment. They’re not sure it’s the best use of their money. They’re not indecisive, they’re deciding. And our job is to facilitate the decision-making process (whether that’s towards a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’).” I think the lines become blurred here, because if they’re not sure it’s a fit, that to me is what indecision means. They’re not sure what decision to make. The barrier is indecision. That’s why we are having a conversation about their challenges and goals and dreams. In a way where they are not being controlled by their own fear or limitations. By helping them see clearly what it’s costing them to stay where they are, and all the positive ramifications of accomplishing their goals, we make it easier to throw their hat over the fence emotionally, logically and financially. We make it easier to confront that fear head on – whether they decide to work with us or not. If we get this part wrong – if we don’t uncover their deeper challenges and motivations enough to flip the commitment switch – then it will be very hard to support them through the rest of the journey (even if we get them to commit temporarily). If we get the enrollment conversation right, though – if by the end of the enrollment call they’ve committed 100% to accomplishing what they want – then everything after that becomes way easier because we can see when they are falling into old patterns and we can remind them why they are taking this journey. By helping them confront the truth of their situation, and by inspiring them into action, we provide one of the greatest services one human being can for another. This seems to me to be where this conversation can go horribly wrong and this piece of digging into the pain and building up the future is one of the parts that often feels like the most manipulative to people on the giving and receiving end. What are your thoughts about this? You’re right. This is one of those times where we have to be very careful about the power we yield as marketers and salespeople. Because it’s absolutely possible to do this in a manipulative way. This makes me think of a brilliant Seth Godin post called Marketing Morality. Consider this. If a client comes to me who is wanting to create a certain result in their life, we’re going to discuss the exact same things. That’s how you create momentum and gravity for them. You’re going to discuss why they want this thing now, why they are seeking change. You’re going to talk about the future they see for themselves. The line that separates manipulation from transformation here is your agenda as the coach. Are you doing this in service to your client or in service to you? Don’t confuse the tool of sales or the tool of marketing with how different people might use it. These days, I notice people are leery about ‘discovery sessions’ because they’re pitched as a ‘high value coaching session’ and yet – they end up being an hour long sales pitch. What’s your take on this? You’re right. And I think it’s understandable that some people are leery. But I actually see that as a good thing; it means that if you really overdeliver during that session, you’ll set yourself apart from all of the other coaches out there. The best way to combat that hesitancy is to build trust before you offer a strategy session and then to be very specific about what you will cover during the session itself. If you know the right way to frame your discovery sessions, you’ll have no problem getting the right people to sign up. What do you see as the top three mistakes people make in enrollment conversations? Not having a framework. If you don’t have a consistent, proven system to walk your potential client through, you’ll get inconsistent results. That’s because you’ll be flying on the seat of your pants every time. You’ll be more confident and more effective once you’ve learned the exact steps to take someone through. Now, this doesn’t mean you want to use a script. But you need to understand the optimal flow of an enrollment conversation so that you can inspire your ideal clients to step forward and pay you if it turns out that you are a fit. Not having your inner game handled. It’s one thing to understand the external strategies of enrollment. But the truth is, you’re not going to be able to enroll many people if you haven’t also installed the key mindsets of successful coaches. Our clients are a mirror for our own doubt, fear, and insecurities. So for example, if you have blocks around money or around your own value, it’s going to be really hard to make any system work for you. Not leaving enough time. I’m not a big fan of 15 or 30 minute taster sessions. I suggest leaving up to 90 minutes to have your enrollment conversation unless you are very well established and have a lot of demand for what you offer (in which case the enrollment conversation is just more of a formality/sanity check). A good enrollment conversation requires depth, and you need time to go deep. You also need to leave enough time at the end to propose your services if it turns out they are a fit. There’s nothing worse than being all teed up to propose right when one of you has to hop on another call. This notion of ‘fit’ feels central. I’m curious what you do or recommend that people do in order to really identify and make sure that there is a fit between yourself and your potential client. What do you before the call and during the call to facilitate clarity around this? One of the most important things here is for you to know your ideal client criteria. So asking yourself in the Connect phase: Can I help this person? Do I want to help this person? You can figure out what the red flags are by looking back at previous clients and seeing what the most successful ones had in common, and which one’s you enjoyed working with most. Amen. I teach the same thing in my workshops. So important. So, what are the Three C’s? We discussed this in a call we had a while ago. This seems to be central to your point of view on selling. The 3C Sales System is something that I initially developed just for myself because I had studied all of these complex sales frameworks and I needed something really simple to follow so that I could focus on the person I was talking to. It all came into place when I noticed that virtually all effective enrollment conversations followed the same three steps. When I focused on following my own system, I started getting a lot more clients. And then I shared it with my fiance, who is a teacher and permaculture practitioner, and she made her first sale right off the bat. That’s when I realized I was onto something and so I started sharing it with other coaches and service providers. The Three C’s are Clarify, Connect, and Commit. The first step, Clarify, is about getting really clear about the other person’s problems, vision, and challenges. Plus the deeper impacts and motivations behind all of those things. So not only do you get clearer about what the person needs, but they get to step back and finally see the truth of their situation, which is really valuable. Often we can’t see our relationship to our problems and goals because we are so close to them. Think about the person who shows up at the doctor and their arm is hurting, so they want some pain medication. If the doctor finds out that their arm is broken, that’s really important information because the prescription will be different. So the final thing we do in the Clarify stage is to recap what we are hearing, both to make sure we are on the same page and to have them understand what’s really going on. That’s our bridge to the next step. The second step is Connect. This piece is something that almost no other sales trainers I know even talk about, but it’s one of the most important parts. Connect is all about connecting what they need to the service that you offer. If you get this stage right, they’ll see you as the best fit for their situation (if in fact you are the best fit). Finally we have Commit. This is where we propose a solution and support them in making a decision to either get this area of their life handled with you or continue to work through it on their own. It’s also where we’ll help address whatever concerns come up for them in a non-pushy way. A lot of people focus on the “closing” phase of the conversation, but the truth is you should spend most of your time in the first two C’s. That way when it finally comes time to make a decision they are totally clear on what they want and need. So that’s the high-level summary. The cool part about the Three C’s is it can expand or contract based on what you need from it. If you just need to remember the general flow of the conversation, then you have a really simple process to follow. And all of it is expandable, so my clients and I can go deep into each section and learn how to be most effective in that phase of the enrollment conversation. This piece about ‘connecting’ is so compelling. What are the consequences of skipping this step? The Connect step is all about building a bridge. Most people go straight from clarifying to closing. The problem with doing that is the person won’t be able to see the connection between their situation and the thing you are offering them. If you get this step wrong, then the person will be really clear on what they need, but they won’t understand why you’re solution is relevant to them. They may even assume that there’s nothing special about them and that you are just proposing the same thing to everyone you talk to, which shouldn’t be the case. You shouldn’t be proposing the same thing to each person? How so? So depending on what your offerings are, you probably have a few ways of helping people. It’s possible that the program you are enrolling for isn’t actually the best fit for that person. It’s possible that your 1:1 coaching is all bespoke, in which case you are customizing each proposal. It’s possible that this person isn’t a good fit for you in general, in which case you shouldn’t be proposing your stuff at all. Basically, what you are helping them commit to should be different depending on what you helped them clarify. When we spoke before, you related this to dating, could you share this? Sure thing. So in dating, there are different levels of intimacy, right? And each step that you go through in the relationship needs to be bridged in just the right way or you’ll get stuck. A great example of this is in the later stages of a relationship, during a marriage proposal. It would be pretty strange if things were going well in the relationship and one person just went ahead and asked “Hey, want to get married? I have the ring here.” Not many people would do that, and it probably wouldn’t be successful. Actually it would be really jarring because there’s no connection between the good time you’ve been having and marriage. Most couples talk about what the future would look like together. And they tell each other what they like about the other person. This all culminates in the actual proposal, where traditionally one person gets down on a knee and connects the experience they’ve been having up to this point to the life they imagine with the other person. They talk about why it’s such a great fit, and how they’re feeling about the relationship. So when they finally pop the question, there is a clear connection that’s been established. That’s exactly what we want to do before we propose to a potential client. Minus the ring. What are some of the things you do to help people see the connection between where they’re at and what you offer? Remember that the goal of the Connect stage is for them to connect their problems and desires to the solution you are about to propose. One of the questions I like to ask at this point is “What’s been the most helpful part of the conversation so far for you?” Whatever answer they give here, it reinforces the fact that they’ve gotten clarity as a result of speaking with you. They start to build that bridge themselves between their situation and you as a trusted advisor. The second thing I do is suggest a game plan for them based on what we’ve learned in the Clarify stage. So I’ll boil down the insights we’ve gotten into a strategy, adding my own insights as I go. At this point I still haven’t offered them anything paid. What I’m doing is giving them a sense of what we would want to work on together, and connecting those things to the results that they’ve said they want. So it looks something like “It sounds like here’s what you need ______ and here’s what we’d do moving forward if we were to work together.” The final thing I do here is what I call the “Yes Test” (learn more here – it’s tip #4). You speak about telling people something like, “I feel like we could be a really fit. You’re my ideal client and here’s why…” – Can you say more about this and why it matters? So one of the really important parts of Connect is that you have to figure out if there actually is a strong connection between what this person needs and what you offer. If there isn’t, you need to send them to something or someone who can better serve them. A big part of this decision is figuring out if this person could be an ideal client. Can you help this person? Do you want to help this person? If the answer is yes, then I want you to tell them why. Why are they such an ideal client for you? What specifically tipped you off? This isn’t just about stroking their ego. It’s really about demonstrating that you have standards, and that they have met those standards. When we feel as though we’ve been chosen for a specific reason, that opportunity is now much more appealing to us. To use the relationship metaphor, this isn’t someone just looking for a one night stand with anyone. This is someone who is interested in me for a specific reason. There’s a fit here. What are objections all about and what do we do with them? Objections are a natural response to any commitment that we are considering in our life. Often, right before people get engaged or married, they have doubts and concerns. A lot of times these aren’t rational concerns, but what we’re doing is processing them in advance because we know that once we’re in, that’s it. So objections are actually a healthy part of any good decision making process. The role of the coach or service provider here is to be a mirror for the potential client as they bring up their concerns. The most common objections are usually lack of time, lack of money, or lack of certainty. This is when people often say “I need to think about it.” Your goal in the Commit phase is not necessarily to get them to say yes, it’s just to get the truth so that they can commit to a Yes or a No. What are they really concerned about? What are they scared of? For example, someone who says they can’t afford it might actually be saying that they don’t know how to justify it to their spouse. If you know this, you can help coach them through that concern directly. The biggest mistake people make in this phase is trying to justify themselves or make the potential client wrong. All this does is create something for them to push back against. So what we want to do is continue asking questions, reminding them of what they talked about in the Clarify stage, and giving them lots of space to process the decision. One thing I often find when I’m selling coaching is that the objection the person gives is actually pointing right to the thing that’s holding them back from their goals. If they feel like they don’t have enough time, for example, I’ll often ask, “Is that a pattern that comes up for you often? Not having enough time? How might that be affecting your results in this area.” The truth is that we all have the same amount of time, but we get to choose our priorities. If the person decides not to move forward, it’s because they don’t believe that the amount of money they would have to pay is worth what they think they would be getting. If they say yes, it’s because the perceived value of what you offer, or the cost of staying where they are, is more than what they would have to pay. So helping them see that value and that cost is really important in this phase. Sometimes people get into this grey zone of ‘should I? shouldn’t i?’ You have thoughts that this might not actually be a good thing. Why not let people stay in the grey zone? And can you speak about the difference between the micro and the macro? The thing about sitting on the fence is that it’s really uncomfortable. We waste a lot of time and energy there. There’s a lot of power that comes from making a decision one way or the other. There are lots of ways we can combat this, but one obvious way is deadlines. Deadlines are the best. I love deadlines. Because instead of dragging that decision out forever, I have to commit to making a decision by a certain date and time. And then I can put my focus back on actually doing the work. Part of your duty as the service provider is helping the person make a sound decision. And neglecting that duty, just because you’re scared to stay in that tension with them, I think is a cop out. So on the macro level, we need to help them commit to doing something different in this area of their life. If nothing changes, nothing changes. So if they’re talking to you it’s probably because something’s not working as well as it could be. They need to really get this loud and clear by the time you end the conversation. Maybe they don’t actually want to make a change, and they’ve just kind of been saying that they will. Well, now we know that and so they can give that up. Either way, how are we moving forward? Then on a micro level, we need to help them decide whether our solution is what they want and need. This is really critical, because, if it is, we want to get started helping them right away. And if it’s not, they’re going to need to find another solution right away. Wasting time in indecision is usually what gets us stuck in the first place. And that’s where fear and doubt start to creep in. That’s why I’m not a fan of the grey zone. Do you tell people that one of the goals you have for the conversation with them is to help them make a decision one way or the other? How explicit are you with them about this and your opinion about the grey zone before the call begins or during the call? This seems like it could be an important piece of filtering information for them. I could imagine some people being drawn to that and others being repelled by that like, “It’s not your business to decide what I need.” The entire time I’m asking permission. So when I offer the session, I talk about why it will be valuable for them as well as why I am offering the session. At the beginning of the session, I talk about what I’d like to cover and that, if after that it seems like we might be a good fit, that we can talk about that. Towards the end of the session, I ask if they would like to hear more about what it might look like to continue working together. At the very end, I ask what they would need to know in order to be able to make a decision. If that’s something I can address on the call, then we do that. If not, I ask if we can schedule a specific time to follow up together. I’m never deciding what they need. I’m telling them what I see, asking if they see it, and offering my perspective on what next steps they might consider. I love that last sentence so much. That’s beautiful. You speak about helping people understand what’s required of them? Why does this matter and how do you do this? As I’m about to process their payment, I stop and say “Hey, are you really sure about this? Because this is going to take more than just your money. It’s going to take time and energy and bravery. So I want to make sure you’re committed to doing whatever it takes.” I don’t necessarily get specific unless I know something about that person that is a red flag for me. But I do have them re-affirm their commitment. This pause upfront makes the rest of the engagement a lot easier. If people want to learn more about your work, where do they go and what are the main options? The notion that people struggle to make decisions is one of the classic premises used to justify pushy and manipulative sales techniques. The logic goes like this. Your product or service is great and high value. It could really help people. People have a hard time deciding. So you have to help them decide. Helping them to decide is a service to them. And that’s actually fine as it goes. It depends what we mean by ‘helping them decide’. What that usually translates into is ‘helping them say yes’ or, stated another way, ‘getting the sale.’ Let me ask you, the first time you fell in love, did you decide to or did it just happen? Do you remember the first house or apartment you fell in love with? Did you decide to? When people see something they like, they like it. This notion that ‘people have a hard time making decisions’ is one of those core beliefs about humanity that feels similar to the notion that ‘kids won’t learn unless we bribe them with gold stars, grades and punishment’. If I believe that you need what I have (which is the first thought worth questioning) and that you have a hard time deciding things (the second thought work questioning) then I will manipulate you. Those two thoughts are all I need to justify my use of pressure-filled, sneaky tactics to get you to say ‘yes’ to working with me. I’ve heard it said outright by well-known sales trainers that you need to sell yourself on your product so that you walk in absolutely certain that what you’re offering can help those people and then to do whatever it takes to sell them because you’re actually doing them a service by pushing them. If I believe those two thoughts, I will also be blind to what’s really going on. They’re not indecisive, they’re just not sure it’s a fit. They’re not sure it’s worth the investment. They’re not sure it’s the best use of their money. They’re not indecisive, they’re deciding. And our job is to facilitate the decision-making process (whether that’s towards a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’). If we let go of those thoughts and are willing to accept that we have no idea if others need what we’re offering and we let go of the idea that deciding is hard then what we’re left with is that some people decide to work with us and some don’t. Without those two thoughts, we can see potential customers as capable human beings who are in the process of making difficult decisions. Some of them will be a good fit for us and some won’t. Some of the ones who are a good fit for us will decide to work with us and some won’t. That’s how it is. “Hey Tad, just want to say how much I love you work and continue to follow your blog and content all the time.” These kinds of messages always find a good home in my world. It’s easy to think that people like me are constantly told how much they are appreciated, but it’s not always the case. You put things out in the world and, sometimes, have no real idea how they land. So, when someone takes the time to express their appreciation, it means a great deal even if I don’t always have time to respond personally. “Oh you.” I replied. “Thank you.” * And then the conversation took a turn for the worse. * “I’d love to tell you more about a really conscious company that offered me a great detox. It’s a 10 day transformation cleanse.May I share a video with you?” I sighed, “Let’s slow this conversation down just a little bit.” I was already feeling exhausted for having to have this conversation with someone again. I already had a sense of where it was going. “Is this a company with which you are personally involved? Is this a MLM type company (even if it might prefer another term) and, were I to sign up for this cleanse, would you receive any financial compensation?” I wasn’t feeling upset, or at least not that feeling alone and not really towards the woman who was writing to me. It was an upset about how this culture fails us and how the sales training of MLM companies utterly fails people. I was sad that this conversation needed to happen still. Though, given where I began in sales myself and how aggressive and pushy I was, I am in no position to point fingers at anyone. “It’s a network marketing company that supports sustainability and offers non GMO, organic foods and products.” she said. “I offer the product as part of my nutritional services. I prefer these than the past retail products I used to recommend.” * I paused for a moment to decide how candid I wanted to be with her. I decided to be as direct as I could. * “Thanks for clarifying. This isn’t something I’m interested in right now. And… ” I paused for a moment to decide how candid I wanted to be with her and decided to be as direct as I could be. “Here’s what felt off for me with this. It felt like a mini ambush a bit. You opened with a sincere compliment and then, suddenly, I was being pitched. It felt like the conversation was opened in one way and then, immediately, became about something else. A woman I used to date met a woman at a cafe. They had a great conversation. The woman invited her out for coffee and she agreed because the interaction had been so nice. When she got there, the woman began to pitch her on Amway and her heart broke a little bit. Her head was swirling in wondering how sincere the compliments and good connection had been at all. I don’t doubt that your words to me are sincere and I’m grateful for them and… there’s a beauty to directness too. I’m sitting with what might have felt better for me as an approach here. Here’s one I’m imagining… You: “Tad, you came to mind today and I wanted to reach out to you about two things. The first was that I just read _____ blog post recently and I loved it and I love your work and wanted to tell you. And then, as I thought about you and knowing that you’re into health and wellness, I thought you might, or might not, be interested in something I’ve been involved in. Do you ever do cleanses? I don’t know if that sort of things is something you’re interested in.” Tad: “Sometimes. I should probably do it more.” You: “I know the feeling. Well, to put it out there, there’s a ten day cleanse I’ve come across and it’s the best one I’ve found. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to know more about it or not but there’s a video I can send you about it. No pressure on this. And a disclaimer, it’s an MLM company so, if you signed up I would make some money but there’s also a direct link I could give you where you could buy it directly and I wouldn’t get any money. I just think it’s a great thing. Again, no pressure, I know you’re busy.“ “That sort of direct conversation, with context given as to why you thought it might be relevant to me, with the disclaimer about the profit motive might have felt a bit better. It just suddenly went into a pitch. And I appreciate very much that you asked permission to share the video. That feels good. How does that all land for you?” I asked hoping this had not been too much for her but also aware that I had not asked for her pitch at all and it had found me in a Facebook message on my personal profile and leveraged that connection and opportunity for her business. I reflected on the incredible importance of Permission Marketing in which you don’t market to people without having their permission to do so first. She replied, “That’s very good. Thank you for for offering that suggestion. Sorry if it felt intrusive. I’m a bit excited about it and what I experienced. I definitely will apply this as it does feel better. My appreciation for your work is authentic and sorry of that felt otherwise.” It was a relief to feel her openness to my words. I have had to cut off relations with colleagues in the past because they couldn’t hear my feedback on similar issues. “I think part of it is that Facebook is such a personal medium for me and so I assume messages I receive here are in that vein. MLM is a very tricky situation because the level of stigma around it is large (and not unearned). What that means is that, if people even get a sniff that it is MLM there will be pressure present because now they will see you in a particular way. And if they smell it and get the sense that it’s being hidden, all of the alarms go off. This is all true in sales in general but it’s extra true in MLM. There’s a need to be direct but also to keep focused on constantly diffusing pressure. Another approach that could feel really good would be to simply message me and say, “Tad, can I pitch you on something?” I’d likely say, “Ha. Sure. What you got?” “And then you could give me your best pitch for your cleanse with all of the disclaimers and ‘no pressures’ etc. And then I’d be able to sit with it and see if it felt like a fit. There would be no suspicion about intentions. I think sometimes people think it’s not very ‘hippy’ or ‘conscious’ to be that blunt and direct but it’s actually deeply appreciated if it’s balanced with a detachment, a lack of assumption that this is going to be a fit etc. A hard pill to swallow is that our natural enthusiasm, unchecked, will often read as sales pressure. On your end, if feels like you’re being authentic and effusive and, on the receiving end, it comes across as pushy. It can be hard to tone down our vibe. It can be hard to be chill about these conversations but it’s important to remember that most people have an incredibly hard time saying ‘no’ and so our passion can actually be something that bullies someone into doing something that doesn’t feel right for them. It can have us want to move the conversation faster than is right for the other person. There is a deep need to keep slowing ourselves and the conversation down.” I reflected on how my colleagues Jesse and Sharla often speak about the importance of surfacing the concerns the others might have before signing any documents. They suggest that you literally stop the conversation and say, “Are there any concerns you have that might stop you from moving forward on this?” and then to really, really listen. It had me think about my recent practice of creating an ‘are you sure?’ page that interrupts and slows down the buying process. It had me think about how selling and marketing feel so unnatural to so many of us and how brave people are to even try, like this good woman did, to extend herself and take the risk of offering something she believed in. It reminded me of how many people have had some version of the following experience: “I went to a 1/2 day workshop about envisioning your future and I liked the information and the presenter. The women then offered free 1 hour consultation to go deeper and see if we could work together. During the 1 hour consolation I told her something pretty vulnerable (I don’t do vulnerable easy but she seemed like she was genuine) and then later in the call she used that information in a way that made me feel bad about myself and like pressure to work with her. I will never work with her. Now if someone offers free time, I say upfront I just want to know more about your ability to support me but if you are going to do a hard sell I will not waste your time. I really felt like she had no integrity – I’m sure it’s something she learned from her coaching course – but it felt very mean. (Feel free to post this anonymously if you are sharing this with others).” The real work in selling, for most of us, is not about learning how to be more convincing, it’s about learning how to identify and remove sources of pressure so that we can have a human conversation with people instead of giving them a pitch. * Additional Reading: To read more thoughts on my notions of how to approach people with graciousness I recommend reading The Classy Cold Approach. This must be one of the most awkward things that humans have ever created. No one likes to sell. No one like to be sold to. That’s the reality. But it’s also real that we need people to buy from us. And to do that we may need to engage customers in conversations. There’s a lot to say about this, but the following ideas may be of some use. ENGAGING IDEA #1: Watch others. This is likely the most important piece of advice I could offer you. Go to other Farmer’s Markets and craft shows and notice how the different vendors relate (or avoid relating) with the public. You’ll notice that the most successful ones never give off an air of ‘selling’ anything. It’s just a fun, warm and generous experience being in their presence. Take notes and see what style of engagement feels right for you. I can offer no better advice to you than this. ENGAGING IDEA #2: Know what matters most to your customers. A presentation I saw made the provocative claim that environmental impact and the food being natural, though it might matter most to be, was not the most important for many. It’s something to consider in our marketing. Safety means, ‘will it make me sick?’ Judy Leith Zastre pointed this out to me, “Just as important is the issue of Food Safety. Farmers mostly do things that are great for food safety but are not able to prove it to their customers. There have been big store owners in the past (i.e. name starts Galen Wes…) who claim farmers markets will kill people due to lack of food safety. Using the Good Agricultural Collection Practices (GACP program), a program developed by the food industry participants, not government, you can PROVE that you are doing things right. I’ve used for about 8 years. Makes a great marketing tool! Check out how farmers can get free training in Alberta and possibly B.C. and Saskatchewan.” I suspect most places offer this kind of training. Nutrition means both what’s in the food (vitamins, minerals, fat etc.) but also other dietary restrictions (is it dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, low fat, low sodium, does it have soy, nuts, wheat free?). For more excellent thoughts on this check out this slide show (particularly slides 20 & 21). This will shift from booth to booth – but it’s good to have a strong sense of what matters most to your customers. It can inform what goes on your signs, what you talk with them about when you meet them and what you post about on social media. ENGAGING IDEA # 3: Conversation starting signs. Can you put something interactive and engaging on signs? One cafe I know has a quiz of the day. There is a question and a multiple choice of four answers. It doesn’t make me come back to see it but it does create the opportunity for a conversation with the cashier which wouldn’t have otherwise happened and that conversation could create a connection that would have me come back. Or what about a joke of the day. A food fact of the day. A gardening tip relevant to something you sell, a nutritional tip, a snack ideas, or some other fun “thought for the day”. Some sort of conversation starter that has people pause for a moment. ENGAGING IDEA# 4: Connection first. When someone approaches your booth they are bringing with them a tremendous amount of pressure to buy something from you. They don’t want to disappoint you or hurt your feelings by not buying from you. It’s why they did a whole round of walking around the Farmer’s Market and looking at all of the booths before finally stopping at yours. I think the central focus of the initial meeting is to remove pressure – not to add to it. If you move right into pitching what you do it may push them away. Ideally, your display and signage are clear enough that only people who are interested in what you’re offering engage you anyway. My friend Jason Guile told me once, “It’s not at all uncommon to attend a farmers market and have a really bad customer service experience. Some PR 101 couldn’t hurt in some instances, and in others, it’s just getting real that not everyone belongs behind the table serving clients.” Evonne Smulders, who has worked many booth in her days shares, “Prepare, then tuck those notes in your pocket, walk out there and open your heart and tell them a good story. They will want to connect with you as they connect with the land. That’s all. That’s what you taught me and I give it back to you my friend. Connect connect connect.” Dani Hollis points out, “Smile and address every person walking by. If you are having fun, they will want to join the fun. Start a conversation and it is likely that the customer will buy something.” Anna Baker reaffirms this all from years of experience, “I’ve worked at our local farmers’ market doing sales for friends who do the farming and here’s my take: acquire or hone your customer service skills. Great products will do well, but the hustle and ability to chat up customers and schmooze a bit can really help sales. Keep it authentic but focus on building those relationships with your customers – it makes a big difference.” ENGAGING IDEA #5: Have some conversation starters. Not everyone is an extrovert. Not everyone has a gift for the gab. It can be useful to have some back pocket conversation prompters in the beginning. Once you get the hang of it, you won’t need them anymore. You don’t always have time for a big conversation when the market’s busy, but, when the opportunities are there, it’s good to be ready. Here are a few for yourself and your staff. Commenting on something they’re wearing and asking about it. Asking them if they’ve bought something else at the market and speaking about them in warm and favourable ways. “Is it your first time here at the market?” Asking where they are from and, if they say, the name of the town you’re in, you might ask them if they are from here originally. Finding out where people are from often opens up wonderful conversations. “If you had a booth here, what would you sell?” ENGAGING IDEA #6: Remember names. This is huge. When I go to a market and a vendor remembers my name, it blows me away and I want to go back to their stall because it feels like we’re friends. This is true of restaurants and cafe’s too. Make it a game for yourself. See if you can remember people’s names and a little something about them each time you’re at the market. If they come back the next week and you get their name right and remember that little thing – watch them come back to you week after week. Samantha Bennett suggests, “Why not start an initiative to get to know your customers a bit better — ask their names, find out if they’re regulars, discover some of their likes and dislikes. If any vendor (farmer’s market or bricks-and-mortar) ever asked me my name I would fall over with joy. After all, it’s a pretty personal interaction and I’m there every week for crying out loud.” Felicia Friesema suggests brilliantly, “Keep track in a client book their favorite crops and special requests. This valuable market data engenders devotion.” ENGAGING IDEA #7: Refunds. If someone complains, use your own best judgement at all times. It’s often worth it to give them the refund or a replacement for the goodwill it builds over time. Trust your gut in each situation. ENGAGING IDEA #8: Things to consider for staff at the booth. Your staff should not be eating or on their phones unless it’s deadsville. Their job needs to be about engaging people walking by starting up friendly conversations. “Smile and engage the customer, playing on your phone does not sell products” says Mike Johnston Be dressed well, not too far up or down. Look the part. Make sure you’re wearing clean clothes and consider wearing name tags. Consider having all staff wear a t-shirt with the farm’s name and logo on it. ENGAGING IDEA #9: Hire good people and train them well. Make sure you and your staff know the difference between a Gala, a Cox Pippin and a Pink Lady apple. “I don’t know,” ends the conversation. Customer service should be one of your biggest focuses. What’s worse than training someone and losing them? Not training them and keeping them. My friend Joey Hundert used to work at a hemp products stand at the Strathcona Farmer’s market in Edmonton. He is an incredible extrovert and would regularly have his stand surrounded by a dozen people as he answered questions about hemp oil, hemp seeds and more. Joey knew his science and kept knocking it out of the park. Once he had a few people stopped, more would quickly join to hear his Coney Island style pitches. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Pro tip: Don’t bring a chair. Chairs encourage you to sit which will make you less approachable. ENGAGING IDEA #11: Create an experience. This one isn’t going to be for everyone but it’s worth considering how you could bring more theatre into your booth. Brent Schmidt says, “I would suggest checking out the Pike Market in Seattle to remind them that to build a business that customers rave about it’s important to remember that consumers buy more than the product.” Morgana Rae says, “There’s a guy at my farmer’s market who is an artist with rapidly slicing apples into animal heads…and giving you tastes along the way. He creates an audience with entertainment and seduces you to buy.” Something like this I imagine. Emily Levy gives more ideas, “For drawing more farmers’ market shoppers to their stall, it’s all going to be about setting themselves apart, like Shayla and Samantha said. Having a product no one else does, or recipes, or someone juggling their produce, or tasting of the produce or a dish made with their produce … lots of options.” Deb Vail gives this practical tip, “We always had special things for the kids – little single flowers to hand out so they could put in their hair or taste the edible ones. We would walk out of the booth and greet them.” ENGAGING IDEA #12: Offer bulk prices on lower grade produce. Let’s face it, not all of your tomatoes are as good. They aren’t all as pretty. So why not offer it at a discount to your best customers off of the side of the truck. Especially during canning season/peak season when people just might want a lot of them and not care about how good they look.. Instead of just selling tomatoes, could you also sell tomato sauce? Instead of just berries, could you make and sell some jam? Instead of just selling potatoes, could you make perogies? Instead of just selling raw meat could you make sausages? ENGAGING IDEA #14: Stand in front of the booth. If you’re able to stand in front of the booth so it’s easier to engage with clients, that’s ideal. So many vendors, hide behind their booths. They sit there and look hopefully at people walking by or not at all. Get out there. Engage and talk to people. ENGAGING IDEA #15: Offer Free Samples This is not a new idea, and it’s likely something you already do but, if you don’t already, free samples of what you offer at your booth can make a big difference. If you sell rhubarb and apples could you offer a tasty sample of them stewed together, warm out of a crock pot? Or a slice of pie made from your fresh cherries and then give them the recipe (with a gorgeous picture of the pie on it) if they buy a pint? Steven Budden shared his experience, “I worked at a few farmer’s markets while I worked on farms and could sell out anything just by telling clients interesting ways they could use items (because I also love cooking).” Also, if you sell fish, could you give them some free parsely to go with it? Some free rosemary to go with potatoes? Pro Tip: Make sure you have the proper receptacles you need for the free samples (e.g. tiny dixie cups, little spoons, napkins etc. (and make sure that’s on your packing checklist)) as well as a garbage container for them when they’re done. ENGAGING IDEA #16: Bundle Products Could you bundle some products together with a recipe card for a cool salad or a soup? Could you make a “Meal in a bag”? Samantha Bennett wondered about this, “I’d love to see more demonstrations of what to do with all that great produce – maybe offer printed up versions of recipes that use ingredients from a few different vendors – so it’s kind of a treasure map?” Most people who go to the Farmer’s Market bring cash. And most Farmer’s Markets, wisely, have ATMs. But, why not make sure you’re able to accept credit card just in case. I predict that, within two years, it will be the norm for vendors to be able to do this. You can use a tool like Square Up easily if you have a smart phone. ENGAGING IDEA #18:Presell Your products. My colleague George C. Huang shared this, “I once spoke with a young guy who was making Kambucha; it was great stuff! Better than anything you’ve find on a mass, commercial basis. He went around to Farmer’s Markets. But one time, he was bummed out, because he had an upcoming market, but his batch wasn’t ready for sale. I told him to show up and put up a sign and PRESELL his next batch. He nearly sold out his next batch!” Please leave any thoughts, tips, resources or ideas that could help farmers grow their businesses in the comments section below. After a few weeks, I promise to read through them all and weave anything relevant and useful into the blog itself so that they can be of the most use to the most farmers. This blog post is the first in a series of posts exploring the connection between marketing and The Work of Byron Katie. * Frankly, I’m tired of hearing people talk about the importance of working on your ‘inner game’ in business. Because most of what I hear feels like self pressuring bullshit to constantly do more, be more positive, be better and keep persisting no matter what. Most of it feels like what John Kenneth Galbraith was speaking about when he said, “The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” Most of it seems based on toxic assumptions about money and an unwillingness to question this suicide economy we’re a part of. Most of it seems to have no interest in seeing anything except the possibility of closing the sale and growing our business. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all about perseverance. But I’m more about awareness and being real about our situations. As P.T. Barnum put it, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. But, if you still don’t succeed, quit. Don’t be a damned fool.” Most of the inner game work feels bereft of much that I’d call real learning which is, by its nature expensive. Sometimes we just have to quit or drop a certain perspective. Which can be hard. Hard to find it and harder to question it until it loses its grip on us. And there’s something there. There’s something about the way we are seeing our business problems that actually is the problem. For years, I’ve delved deep into The Work of Byron Katie and, more than any other tool, it has been a source of incredible insight, genuine learning, deep and unsought humility and humiliation and a profound sense of peace. The basis is that we suffer because of our unquestioned, stressful thoughts. And, in business there is one thought I’ve seen which seems to cause more stress than just about any other. But it comes in disguise. It often sounds like, “Why aren’t people buying from me?” asked in a frustrated tone. But hidden just underneath it, like a tortoise hides in its shell, is often the thought, “People should buy from me.” This is crucial to understand because it’s a place too many people get stuck. Before you read further or inquire into this on your own… remember: learning is expensive. Really doing the work means encountering unsought and often unwelcome things and it requires you to pay with the thing you can least afford. You pay for learning with what you think you know. So let’s explore this idea that people should buy from us and see if it can earn its keep as a worthy and useful idea. Question #1: Is it true? This is the first question in The Work. We’re asked to inquire if the thought, in this case, “People should buy from me.” is true. When I sit with it, I realize it’s not true. I want them to but they don’t need to. Busted. I can skip… Question #2: Can I absolutely know this is true? I absolutely can’t. Question #3: What happens and how do I react when I think this thought? If you find yourself frustrated and annoyed with Life and the marketplace because you’re not making it and no one is responding to your offerings… pause and see if you can spot that thought that “People should buy from me.” See if you can notice it. Then see if you can sit with that thought and see how it’s affecting you. Almost like you’re watching some never before seen animal for the first time in the wild to see what kind of a creature it is and how it affects its environment. I know when this thought arises for me I immediately feel bitter. I feel resentful of people. I feel powerless and angry. I am jealous of anyone who seems more successful than me. “Why do they buy from that person and not me? I’m a good person!” But then I begin to wonder, “Maybe there’s something wrong with me… Maybe I’m broken.” If they aren’t buying, there’s an urge to push them harder to buy. In a panic, I want to add more hype or pressure. I want to cut my price down. And, at the bottom of it, I feel utterly confused. They should be buying but they aren’t. What’s wrong with this universe? Why don’t I understand it? And, if I’m honest, when looking at my world through the lense of this thought, I am deeply angry with the universe for encouraging me to start a business that will not sustain me. It’s like it tricked me and lied to me. I’ve met people who are deep in the thrall of this thought. They are not fun to be around. The energy is heavy around them. They are desperate. Their sense of other people’s boundaries are poor. Their desperation makes them incredibly vulnerable to manipulations of anyone promising them an easy path to wealth and sales. If I think this thought I will either collapse or I will apply pressure in selling situations without even meaning to. Sales pressure comes from the agenda to get the sale. If I believe you should buy from me and you aren’t, then of course I will try to make sure we correct this and this will occur as pressure to you. The tragedy is that they do everything except the thing they need to do. They are utterly blind to what’s required of them because the problem lays out in the world and not with them. If ‘those’ people would just get their heads out of their asses and see what a good person I am and what high quality work I do then every thing would be okay. Damnit. When I think this thought, I feel superior to everyone. Everyone else is stupid and blind that they can’t see how awesome I am. WTF is wrong with them anyway? So this thought lays heavy on us. Question #4: Who would you be without this thought? But, and this is truly the heavy lifting, if we are able to set that thought aside for even a moment and see our same situation without it, a miraculous thing happens. Imagine it. Nothing has changed in the outer world. No one is buying from you. That’s the same, but you are not able to think the thought that they should be buying from you. It’s as if a sieve went through your brain and removed all traces of it. Utterly gone. And yet you’re looking at the same evidence. When I do this I suddenly feel at peace. Right, they’re just doing what they do. They’re buying what they want to buy. They don’t see that what I’m doing is a fit for them or a priority. And right! That’s my job. That’s marketing. Marketing is about establishing the value beyond the immediately apparent. And, apparently, it’s not immediately apparent how valuable our work is. Or, maybe, I might even be able to see, as humbling as it is to see it, that I’m not as good at what I do as I thought I was. When you can let go of the thought that they should buy you are freed up to see the real reasons why they don’t buy. This is so vital. Underneath the question, “Why aren’t people buying from me?” asked in a curious tone is never the thought, “People should buy from me.” Without this thought, I am filled with an easy sense of wondering and an openness to learning the truth of why people aren’t spending money with me. I’m open to asking people directly and getting feedback. I’m vulnerable in the best of ways. I’m at peace. I see the evidence of people not buying as just a chance to learn something about life and the market place. Wow. When people feel this openness from you, they relax. They begin to tell you the truth. You stop getting objections and you get real questions. Or you get a real ‘no’ that you can trust because there’s no long anything in you trying to convince anyone to buy from you – and that makes you more trustworthy. It might seem like I’m overstating the impact of questioning one thought but I’m not. If people aren’t buying from you and this is causing you emotional stress and frustration and anger at the marketplace, there’s a good chance you’re buying into this idea that they should be buying from you. The Turnarounds: This last part of The Work is all about twisting the initial stressful thought around and looking at it from different angles. We’re not trying to find the new, true thought, we’re just trying to see more. Turnaround #1: “People should not buy from me.” Bam. Try that one on for size. Consider if this might be just as true, if not more true, than the idea “People should be buying from me.” If you really sit with this one, what opens up is the possibility to see all of the parts of your business that, frankly, need work. I will likely see all of the ways that I’ve been pressuring people and… wow. God bless these people for not rewarding my desperate and pressuring ways with their business. Who are these honest angels who have so consistently and kindly not pretended to be okay with my confused behaviour? I am suddenly open to seeing clearly. I am able to look at the holes in my marketing, business model, customer service, quality of work, and packages and see all of the reasons why it’s so true that they should not be spending money with me. This can be a vulnerable but life changing moment for an entrepreneur. Looking through this lense, I am able to see my business through the eyes of those not buying and I learn so much. Turnaround #2: “I should buying from me.” Honestly, I don’t get much from this turnaround though I’m sure there’s something there. Turnaround #3: “People should buy more from whoever the hell they want.” This one feels humbling to me. When I look for reasons this is true, I am suddenly brought back to the reality that my potential customers are other, autonomous human beings who exist for reasons other than taking care of my ass. I’m realizing that I want that freedom to buy from whoever for myself. I’d never want to be pressured to buy something I didn’t really want to buy so why on Earth would I put that on anyone else? Turnaround #4: “I should buy from people.” I should be buying the advice they’re giving me in their not buying. I should be be believing their feedback. They’re not interested or, for some reason, it’s not a fit and yet I’m not buying it. Huh. What if I was willing to take it at face value? I’ve been making them wrong for years for not buying what I have to offer and yet not making my self wrong for not buying the honest reflections they keep giving me. And they’re so persistently generous! They never seem to buckle and buy from me just to be nice. They really want me to get this feedback. How kind of them! One of the hugest stumbling blocks I see in business is arrogance. This thought people have that they already know what people need. They already know that their product or service is amazing. And that blinds them to ever seeing that maybe they don’t know and maybe what they’re offering isn’t actually that great. Humility and not knowing, the being open to feedback and curious to know what clients really think, being a safe place to share this will grow your business faster than almost anything I know. When I am done this, I notice that the thought, “They should be buying from me.” doesn’t hold the same purchase it did in the beginning. I’m free to see a bit more clearly and that seeing allows me the freedom to make the kinds of changes that might actually have them want to buy (whether I think they should or not). Where does this all leave us? I have no idea. There’s no empowering belief we’re trying to get to here. We’re just trying to see more. In business, there’s nothing we’re supposed to do or that we need to do, we just need to see more. And, when we see more, we often, intuitively, know exactly what to do. When we stop insisting that our map is right and take a look at the actual territory in which we find ourselves we make better decisions. When we stop making the marketplace wrong for how it’s responding to our business we have a chance to actually learn something useful from it that might show us the path to grow our business. Years ago, I got an email from a client that said something to the effect of, “I feel like the sales letter kind of hyped this up and it wasn’t what you said it was. I went back and read the sales letter and there was nothing inaccurate but . . . it just felt like it wasn’t what was promised. I need a refund.” Those aren’t the kinds of words I’d wanted to wake up to in my email that morning for my newly launched ebook on niching. It was a slim 30 pager, nowhere near as large or comprehensive as it would eventually become in the form of my book The Niching Nest, and she just wasn’t impressed with it. And I had to wonder if I should refund her or not. * Once you’ve been in business for a while, eventually, someone is going to ask you for a refund. And how you respond to that moment has everything to do with the growth of your business. On one hand, you may have been on the receiving end of a stingy refund policy and felt terrible about it or had the refund freely given and felt incredible relief and gratitude. On the other hand, does it make sense to have no boundaries on when and where refunds will be given? Probably not. But it’s an important thing to figure out because word of mouth is the dominant force in the marketing word. And enough upset customers venting about the terrible experience they had with you because you refused to give them your money and that you’re a big, unfair meanie can do serious damage to your marketing. But it’s also true that developing a reputation of being a push-over who they can use and then disregard once they’ve received the benefit is also unfair. So, what you say in the moment (and I promise I will give you some words) is actually the least important part of the conversation. The first thing is to make sure you’ve got a clear and fair refund policy spelled out and that the customer knows this policy when they buy. This is crucial. It’s a similar dynamic to the “no shows” I wrote about in my blog post Don’t Mess With Their Rice Bowl in that it’s crucial to have standards that protect yourself as a business. Simply having a clear policy will handle 90% of the upset. You’ll never handle the remaining 10% because there’s no policy to handle crazy. The second thing is to understand why they’re even asking for a refund in the first place. It might be that they’re in crisis or sudden financial desperation. They had the money when they signed up but they don’t now. It could be that they’ve had a change in what matters. They signed up for a workshop on dating and then met the woman of their dreams. They no longer need it. They signed up to learn how to make money from Donald Trump but then became an anarchist. But, often, it’s that what they bought isn’t giving them the benefits they’d hoped it would (or they don’t trust that it will). This is the one I want to focus on. * Back to the woman wanting a refund on the niching ebook. I immediately refunded her money (as I think we should if there’s any chance that the fault was in a lack of clarity in our marketing). I sat with her words for a while. I felt awful. Here I am, teaching authentic marketing and she felt mislead. Ugh. Worst. So, I went to look at the sales page to see just how wrong she was and to be able to point out that she hadn’t really read the sales letter. I mean, sure she had. But not really really. But, as I read it, I began to see what she was saying. It was a bit hyped up. I could see that I’d given the impression that it did more than it could actually do and was for a broader group than it actually was. It was humbling to see it. I’d put a list of “This ebook could be for you if . . .” but I’d not made a similar list of, “This ebook might not be for you if . . .” I realized that this ebook was actually not for people who already knew niching was crucial and the ebook was making the case for it. It also wasn’t for people who wanted a nuts and bolts how-to guide on niching. It was a primer for people who were considering niching but feeling hesitant about it. I took an hour, rewrote the sales page so it felt more true to what it was and sent her an email asking what she thought. “This is great!” she replied. “I wouldn’t have bought it!” * If we see the role of marketing as being about getting people to say “yes” then the result of someone saying, “perfect! I wouldn’t have bought!” is a failure. This is how so many people view marketing. Even in writing emails they try to write a sexy subject line that gets people to open an email that might not even be of any use to them. But what do you do when, despite your best efforts, they’re asking for a refund because it wasn’t what they thought it would be? But, what exactly do you say? I suggest the first thing you say is, “I’ll absolutely refund your order.” If there’s any chance that your marketing was to blame for them buying something that wasn’t a fit, refund the money and consider it a business expenses in market research. Because it is. The second thing you say is something along the lines of, “Thank you for letting me know my marketing wasn’t as clear as I would like it to be.” Honestly, when people tell us this, we should be getting down on the ground and bowing to them in gratitude. The second thing we should say is something like, “Would you be willing to let me know what I could change on the sales page so that you would have known for sure it wasn’t a fit for you?” That question might seem simple, but it’s actually huge, it will, over time help you hone and refine your sales copy until no one who isn’t a fit buys at all. That’s the goal. And, often, the feedback won’t even be that big. Just a little change here and there but a small change in wording or emphasis or order can make a huge difference. If the refund request is for some other reason, I don’t have much advice other than to have clear policies, sit with it, do what feels right to you and always err on the side of generosity, not stinginess. And, regardless of the reason, see if there’s something you can learn, some business system that would make it less likely that it would ever happen again. Years ago, a woman attended a pay what you can, weekend workshop I was running. She paid a $100 deposit to attend and then she paid $500 at the end of the workshop based on the value she’d received. A month or so later she sent me an email saying she’d received no value at all and demanding her money back. She was also someone I’d give two hours of free coaching to because she’d gotten locked out of the building by accident. There’s more to the story, but the whole thing felt off. I didn’t feel like I wanted to refund her money but eventually gave back half just to get her out of my hair. If I’d had more money at the time, I might have just given it all back. Who needs the drama? Refunds can also help you hone your niche . . . One of the beautiful benefits of people asking for refunds is that you start to see who is a fit for you and who isn’t. Your sense of who your ideal client is comes into clearer relief. Your sense of what you want to do and how becomes more focused. If you will choose to over-respond (vs. over-reacting) to each request for a refund and use it as a chance to narrow in on your role in the community and the niche you want to fill you might be amazed at how much faster your business becomes what it wanted to become all along. Bonus Thought: Check Boxes If there are certain catches and conditions of buying from you, it can also be good to list them as boxes to check in the order form. For example, for a weekend, pay what you want, marketing course I might have one for: DEPOSIT: I understand that my space is not confirmed until I’ve paid my non-refundable $100 deposit. PYWY: I understand that the deposit is just to hold my space and, at the very end of the workshop, I’ll be given a chance to contribute more based on a mix of what the workshop was worth and what I can afford. Having these as boxes they have to check off help to ensure that important conditions are not accidentally missed by someone skimming over your sales letter (which 95% of people will). I’m a coach and I’m also a consumer of the industry via other coaches and healers. So are most of my colleagues. While we don’t have to be consumers of this industry, per se, many of us believe that in order to learn the things we want to learn and become the leaders and business owners we want to be, investing in ourselves through other coaches and programs, trainings and certifications is not just preferable, it’s necessary. We spend thousands of dollars investing in ourselves. A lot of that money is well-spent. But some of it isn’t. One of the reasons that trust between practitioners and consumers gets eroded within the personal development industry is that it’s commonplace to market one thing and deliver something else, skimp on value or simply leave out important details. I wonder what the breaking point is. When will coaches, who are here to make a difference, but get burned over and over, exit the industry altogether? Recently, I signed up for a free session with a representative of a successful coaching business. The session was described to me ahead of time. A coach would help me uncover a subconscious issue that I’m having. Even though I sometimes take issue with the entire idea of “blocks”, I resonated with the owner of the coaching company’s story and what she had to say. I asked the owner if the session would include solutions or ways to address these issues once they had been identified. She assured me that solutions would be provided during the session. I had the session with a perfectly nice coach who worked for the company. At the top of the call, as is standard procedure, she explained to me how the session would proceed and that she’d invite me to invest in a program – if I was interested – at the end of the call. Later, the block that she identified, and the metaphors she used to illustrate it, did not resonate with me. After that portion of our call, when I asked how I might address the block, she simply invited me to listen to the pitch. In other words, there was no solution to be provided on the call. I’d have to pay for that. There are a few things that got me quite frustrated as a result of this call: 1) When I signed up for the call, there was no indication that I would only receive a solution in the form of being invited to invest in a program. In fact, an invitation to invest was not even mentioned. This is what marketing strategist Beth Grant calls failing to set a “covenant.” You set a covenant with someone when you are clear with them that you intend to invite them to invest with you (possibly further if they have already invested) during a portion of a call, talk, webinar, or workshop. I’ve had dozens of free calls with people in this industry and I strongly believe this is a necessary step that establishes trust. I don’t mind if you invite me to invest with you. In fact, I expect you to invite me to your program (and in many cases I’m excited to hear about it!) but you need to tell me that you are going to invite me. 2) The coach who called me, while personable and sweet, had a method that I ended up being extremely skeptical of. She didn’t really explain whether she was channelling someone or something, using her own intuition or applying a system based on my written answers that I had supplied before the session. The insight and story she came up with just seemed like – I’ll just say it – bullshit. It didn’t resonate with me. It didn’t remind me of anything from my life. It just seemed arbitrary and inauthentic. I am not anti-woo, by any means. I believe in past lives. I channel my unborn baby’s spirit frequently. I trust my vedic astrologer 110%. I think the metaphysical world has lots to offer. But there is authenticity and there is fluff. And all I can say is if you subscribe to any of this stuff, you know in your bones which is which. There was a shakiness in this portion of session that I just couldn’t ignore, as much as I wanted to (because any time I am investing my time in something that I think could help me, I want it to work!) 3) Because I only had my “block” diagnosed, but literally no suggestions as to how I might address the block other than pay money to invest in a program (which I was not intending to do as a result of this call), I hung up the phone feeling like crap about myself. Yes, I didn’t need to believe this was my block (and I don’t), and I didn’t need to subscribe to any of the things this person told me since they didn’t resonate with me. But even though I’m a little embarrassed to admit it – given my experience in this industry – for at least an hour after the call, I felt worse off than before I had the call. What a waste of an afternoon! Or maybe not a waste, because I certainly learned something from it and have these insights which I’m writing about right now. That said, how can this be considered responsible or ethical? How, in this industry, can it be considered standard to use a marketing strategy that, in many cases, leaves someone worse off than they were before you talked to them? I know that many of the leaders in this field think differently or, at least, frame this issue differently. They say that you can’t solve someone’s problem on an introductory/marketing/sales call because then they won’t invest. I disagree. While I understand that I want to leave something to be desired so that someone will buy my product or service, I also believe that in every interaction I have with a prospective client (or even current client), it’s my responsibility to leave someone better off than they were before. Many leaders, I’m happy to say, do subscribe to the idea that it’s not just okay, but necessary to be generous with solutions, to give away your best stuff. And I would say it’s even more necessary today to do just that because the levels of trust in this industry have reached a level akin to California’s water reserve – rapidly diminishing. It’s absolutely possible to provide value in the form of SOLUTIONS to someone, even if they have not yet paid you. You are not reducing your ability to make a sale. You are establishing trust. Moreover, I would go a bit further: in a field where we are supposed to be helping people help themselves, helping guide people to better lives, highlighting problems to be fixed, without giving at least some airtime (and I would argue more than half the airtime) to solutions is dirty. It feels manipulative and completely out of alignment with the healing work we are trying to illuminate and get out into the world in a way that catches on with multitudes of people. So, how do you bypass the dirt? First and foremost, I’m going to assume that mostly everyone in this industry means well and they may just not be considering how their marketing is landing with their potential clients. With that said, if you are a practitioner offering a free session, there are a couple things that build trust and credibility right off the bat: 1) Think about your session as not just marketing, but an offering. You got into this business to help other people solve some sort of a problem, right? You want to offer a solution. So, begin by offering some sort of solution during your free session. It’s okay if your solution includes an invitation where you are able to more fully address the client’s problem, but be upfront about that. When I’m describing my consult to prospective clients, I say something to them like “After I get a sense of your situation, I’ll make some suggestions, one of which may be working with me.” Can I solve their problem in one 45 minute call? Probably not, which is why, if it turns out they are the right match to work with me, one of the most helpful suggestions I can make is the invitation to work with me. Don’t be afraid of offering up some gems during your initial consult that you know would help them immediately. If you give value, even if the person doesn’t buy from you on the spot, you are establishing your expertise and starting off a relationship by creating trust. The more value you can give in a “free call,” the more likely someone is going to buy something from you either right away, or in the future. 2) Creating a form or application for your session gives you a chance to weed out freeloaders who are never going to buy from you or aren’t the right fit AND it allows the people who are genuinely curious about what you offer to get a better sense of who you are and what you’ll cover. You can even use the form to describe the session so that it’s transparently clear how the session will proceed. Finally, the consumer also has some responsibility in this equation. If you’re looking to take advantage of some free offers, ask yourself if the person is a good fit for you or if you have genuine curiosity about the service they provide. Your time is too precious to be taking advantage of all the free stuff that people offer. Not only is it not a good use of your time, but filling your schedule with free offers could be detrimental to your own productivity and forward movement in your life or business. Tune in to your inner guidance about who really speaks to you and only then, take advantage of a free offer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the sign-up process. If there is something you want to get from the session, ask! Treat these free offers as an investment you’re making, because the truth is, you are investing your time and energy, and maybe even possibly, the belief that there are people who truly can offer you the exact support you desire. A Bit About the Author: Tamar Henry, “The Curveball Coach,” supports women to navigate the unexpected curveballs of life in their relationships, health, career and fertility. Through neural-repatterning, somatic methods and more, she guides her clients to find peace, relief and joy. Find out more at www.curveballcoaching.com. How do we make it feel like a warm invitation where it feels like an open door with a welcome mat without the pressure to enter. We’ve all been in the boat where we have something to offer and we want to bring it up but we don’t want it to be pushy, gross or awkward. Often this results in us not bringing it up at all. Which results in us being broke. It’s an important question, but, I want to suggest that, hidden inside this question, are a number of assumptions. The biggest assumption is that we are meeting someone for the first time. And that is the wrong time to make any kind of offer. Offers work best when they come from a place of real connection and some form of relationship. It might just be a few minutes if the vibe is right but there needs to be some connection present before we make any kind of offer. Another way to say it is that people must feel that we get them. They need to feel that we genuinely empathize with them and their experience. A simple way to do this, which I learned from my colleague Sharla Jacobs, is this: after someone has shared a struggle that you could help them with… don’t give them advice. Just say something like, “Wow. How is that for you?” and let them vent a bit more. Empathize. Hear them. Try to get what it must be like to be in their shoes. Let them feel really ‘gotten’. This will have them relax and feel much more open to you and anything you might have to offer. A little empathy goes a long, long way. Secondly, you can ask them, “How do you want it to be instead?” and, again, really listen. You’re just getting a sense of your context. Thirdly, you might ask them, “If I had something that I thought might be able to help that, would you want to hear about it right now?” They might say yes. They might say no. But it’s good to get permission if you have any doubt about their openness. Sometimes that can open beautifully into a conversation about what you do. Other times, you’re at a cocktail party and it’s not the right space to go into it. But we often misunderstand how long it can take for a genuine sense of safety and trust to be built between us and a potential client. We secretly hope it will happen with minutes but, sometimes it can take weeks to years. That’s the reality. And, if you make an offer to someone who doesn’t feel safe with you or trust you… well… that likely won’t go well. There are a number of steps we need to go through to get from being a total stranger to someone being excited to work with us. Robert Middleton brilliantly speaks about this in his analogy of how marketing is like baseball. You just can’t skip bases. These things take time. What can build safety and trust dramatically faster is working with hubs (i.e. being endorsed by those who your potential clients already love and respect). If you’re at a party and you meet someone by the punch bowl and get to talking, that’s great. But if the host of the party then comes over and says, “Oh my god! Tad is the best person ever! I’m so glad you’re finally meeting him!” and then raves about you… that’s better. That person will instantly relax and feel more safe around you because someone they respect respects you. This seems obvious but most of us don’t weave this principle into our marketing. And you can read my best blog posts about that here. So, working strategically with hubs is a key way to build trust quickly. Another approach to to make sure you have a thoughtfully designed business model or sales funnel. My colleague Mark Silver speaks a lot about how the first journey of marketing is about us giving to them. This often takes the form of giving them free samples of our work so they can feel if it’s a fit or not. After someone has expressed their struggles and you’ve made space for them to share how that’s been for them and what they want instead you can start by offering them something free. Maybe you email them a blog post, a link to a video. Sometimes I’ll just give people a free copy of an ebook I sell. The key is to start with giving, not selling. If they like that, then you can take a next step. And, if your sales funnel is well designed enough, that may not take a lot of effort. But safety and trust is not always enough. And this is really my point. You can build the coziest vibe in the world, and have people want to spend money on you and work with you and still be broke. At some point, you need to make an offer. At some point, you need to invite them to work with you. This might seem obvious but I have seen countless people become incredibly well known and loved in a community and yet secretly be broke (when everyone assumes they’re thriving) because they would never make any meaningful offers. There’s so much collapsing that happens. How to craft a good offer? That’s a topic for another time (though you can read related blog posts here). But, whether it’s via email or in person, we need to put ourselves out there and risk rejection. Which is hard because the whole notion of marketing feels so gross to most people. Luckily, there are ways we can invite people to work with us that are very low key, down to earth and non-pressurey. Marketing can feel good. The main idea here is to just invite people to work with you. Simple as that sometimes. But how? What words do you say? What I’ve found is that when there’s connection and trust built and we’re coming from a centered and composed place, the words find themselves. And they’re usually fairly direct. Nothing fancy. CASE STUDY #1: Workshop Invitation I wrote about an actual example of this that happened to me recently in a blog post about how to invite people to your workshops. The personal invite is so often missed (because we don’t want to come across as pushy). CASE STUDY #2: Meet Up Group Follow Up My colleague and client (and dear friend) Russell Scott and I were chatting about it recently and he was feeling a bit flummoxed with how to create more business from a regular living room get together he hosts called his Wisdom Circles. It was such a beautiful, intimate and warm event and the last thing he wanted to do was to turn it into a pitch fest. So, we spoke about it and realized there was a specific approach he could use that would likely result in many people working with him that would also feel good to everyone involved. You can read more about that here. Sometimes it’s just this simple: a direct invitation. No funny business. No tricks. No stealth marketing tactics. No hard closes. We can make this more complicated than it needs to be. First we create connection and safety and then we just open up a conversation to see if there might be a fit. It’s really just that. Objections tend to show up when people are feeling pressured by us. If you have any stories of this in your work, I’d love to hear them in the comments below. And if you’re looking for more help with how to invite people to work with you, I commend checking out my Heart of Selling product where you can learn the basics of how to invite people to work with you (and rebook with you if they already have) without any of the awkwardness. Shopping Cart Items in Your Cart Get Your Free 195 Page Ebook I'd like to give you a hefty summary of the content I cover - my take on how you can get more clients and increase your cashflow without doing things that feel 'gross'. I'll send you emails from time to time (only cool stuff, don't worry). Your email will never be sold. No spam. Etc.

56 posts in this topic The Puzzler 491 I have posted a similar post in my own Atlantis Discussion Thread but since it is over 1000 posts now, not many newer members involve themselves there so I wanted to bring up a new topic, I'd love anyone to give me any thoughts on it at all, so one exclusively for the discussion of ancient esoteric religion, ancient physics, as Herodotus told us the Pyramid is a symbol of physics, Plato and his narratives, especially the actual narration of Timeaus and the Creation of the Universe and apon looking closer at that part I can see him telling the same story as the story he relates about Atlantis. The Origins of the Gods of Atlantis. The Religion of the World Axis, the Pole Cult that developed into the religion of the Pillar, the megalithic pillars all over the world, into the Sun Cult known by the Egyptians as being reverred at Heliopolis, Baalbek being a Heliopolis too, created by Ptah (Hephaestus) the Creator of everything including the dome of the Primordial Mound. Hephaestus, he who seeded both Greeks and Egyptians, according to Plato. Zeus being a son of a Titan, who came from the North, also had the same ancestors. The original inhabitants of Egypt may not have but by the time of Menes it was introduced via migration from Sumeria, the Egyptians of ancient Egypt are a mixed race is what the evidences are saying to me. Triangles I believe Plato tells us everything is made up of, equal to the atom. Hyperborea. Home of the ancient Indo-Europeans. Knowing that Atlas came from there as well as Apollo and then obviously Artemis and so Leto and the Buto cult, led me to more investigations. Following the Persians and Aryans back into pre-history we also come to areas around the Caspian Sea and references to lands like Hyperborea. What about the legends and stories of a sunny, green land in a perfect climate at the North Pole, what about how legends emerge about entering Inner Earth there, I doubt it means an actual different world inside our planet but a place to arrive at the Inner Self. In the new issue of NEW DAWN magazine I came across an article that just jumped right out at me, since I have spent the last few days reading up on many things, particulary the part of Timaeus that nobody reads, the actual part that Timaeus narrates about the Creation of the Universe to see what clues I could find there in accordance with my own ideas on the Primordial Mound, there is many, many clues in it actually, it has led me to reading about physics, esoteric religions and theosophy not to mention ancient world history. Quite a co-incidence when I walked into the newsagency and the magazine just jumped right off the shelf into my hands... This is not claiming Arkaim as any sort of ancient Atlantis but does explain how it is part of the worldwide ancient beliefs of the Pillar culture. Here is some paragraphs from it that I wanted to discuss: The Babylonians believed in a mysterious paradise in the far north where a race of great sages lived; and the ancient Greeks too extolled a northern Elysium in which they believed the Hyperboreans, a wise, peaceful and long-lived race, lived in great splendour and prosperity. Even though Delphi was regarded as the centre of the Greek world, its god Apollo and his sister, the goddess Artemis, were acknowledged to be originally deities of this secret land far to the north, where stood the cosmic axle that the Greeks called Helice, That Which Turns. Many Greek historians as well as later scholars located this northern paradise in Scythia or the Altai, and as having its source in the shamanism that grew up around the semi-mythical magicians and pole-lords of Altai. But research and sacred tradition both suggest its origins go further back still to north-eastern Asia within the Arctic Circle, to a society that flourished on the shores of the Siberian Sea. So, it speaks of the legendary Hyperborea with Apollo and Artemis having a pre-history even further North, a World Axis beginning... The truth is that Arkaim was a troy town, so-called after the city in Asia Minor that the Greek king Agamemnon destroyed during the Trojan Wars. Built on the same circular principle as Troy, as described in Homers Iliad, but at least six hundred years older, Arkaim finds its prototype in Platos Atlantis with its three concentric circles of canals; in legendary Electris, the Hyperborean city some said was built under the Pole Star by the sea-god Poseidon; and in Asgard, the sacred city dedicated to the Norse god Odin that is described in the Icelandic saga, the Edda. All these legendary troy towns have the same circular ground plan. They have gone down in history as Neolithic Wisdom centres and the seats of ancient god-kings, and this undoubtedly throws light on the cultic function of Arkaim in its day, as we shall see. Arkaim was a Troy Town, the same set up as Troy and many others even going back to Plato's Atlantis description, shem Tov's theory involves a troy town too, also connected to famous Labyrinth. Note the part about Electris, built under the Pole Star by Poseidon. Poseidon God of the Sea, Earthquakes, Horses and early on the Bull. Is Atlantis indeed up North? Seems Atlantis is possibly the epitome or original version of Troy town but what about that Pillar religion and the Moon and then the Sun, Heliopolis, the place of Ptah, Hephaestus, the Creator? Some may remeber the maze I was intrigued with in darkbreeds thread that even turned up with the Etruscans and how the site mentioned could it tie in with Atlantis, it does, getting to the centre of the labyrinth brings you to 'awareness', or consciousness. In Russias more mystical quarters there is intense interest in the ancient town, seeing it as the city temple built by the legendary King Yuma, ruler of the Aryans in the Golden Age, which will once again becoming the centre of the world. vi However, the discovery of the settlement has opened an historical aperture onto far more than the battles and conquests of an aggressive Indo-European people waged across Eurasia and south into the Mediterranean lands, where their war chariots shattered the peace of Old Europe. What the Land of Cities has revealed in its very structure and history is above all the still earlier past of the Ural-Altaic peoples a past of such enormous antiquity that it presents more mysteries than it solves. Built in the unique architectural mould of Nordic Asgard, the most sacred shrine of the Aesir of which the Prose Edda relates that men call it Troy, Arkaim may have been a shrine dedicated to the Aryan Sun religion, yet the roots of its dedication would have lain ultimately in the far older cult of the Pole star. Essentially, this was the religion of the shaman, the wizard, the medicine-man and other wonder-workers in touch with the spirits of nature. This is certainly not mainstream but reading Timaeus again Plato has actually described to us the story of Atlantis, it is in Timaeus' narrative not in Socrates or Critias dialogue. I will show in a new post how it is in it...but back to that Aryan Pole Star religion of which the Sun cult is an offshoot. And what about the Swastika, ancient as ancient can be, found in India and used by the Nazi's, whom believed they were using it as an Aryan symbol, which indeed it was. Thus the swastika, thought to be the exclusively Aryan symbol of sun-worship misappropriated by the Nazis, vii and found depicted on many of the clay pots unearthed in Arkaim, is an older religious and metaphysical symbol than that attached to the Aryan Sun God, its roots lying in totemic shamanism. René Guénon, the eminent French esotericist, points out that the swastika, symbolizing eternal motion around a motionless centre, is a polar rather than a solar symbol, and as such was a symbol central to the Pole star cult, originally dedicated to a planetary deity connected to Ursa Major, the Great Bear. This centre, Guénon stresses, constitutes the fixed point known symbolically to all traditions as the pole or axis around which the world rotates The swastika is therefore known world-wide as the sign of the pole. Only later did the Sun, as the centre of the revolving stellar system, replace the Pole Star as the supreme deity of the Pillar cult and lead to the elevation of the Sun God of the Indo-European peoples. It led to their greater intellectual development, to complex civilizations, to advanced arts and sciences and the transcendence of nature. So, can we find Troy towns in Sumeria, the first civilisation we know of? Sure can, along with their mysterious origins and Gods: Troy towns like Electris and like Arkaim were built as stellar observatories. Their function was to unite earth to the starry cosmos above according to the principle of as above so below by means of a central axis symbolized by a stone pillar. Thus Diodorus Siculus of the first century BCE, quoting the historian Hecataeus, described the sanctuary of Electris as a troy town after the pattern of the spheres, by which he meant an astronomical design similar to that of Stonehenge and other ancient sun temples, in which the scheme of the heavenly spheres or astral shells surrounding the earth was represented diagrammatically by a series of concentric circles marked by walls, ditches or moats around a central pillar-stone. ix These enclosed and heavily guarded sanctuaries sacred to the gods of the greater cosmos were inhabited only by initiated priests and their families, and were forbidden to the wandering nomads beyond the ramparts. The mystery to archaeologists is how such an advanced astronomical science can have been pursued at a time when hunter-gatherers still roamed the land. Colin Wilson, a highly accredited investigator, in answer takes us back to the Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia, a people who almost certainly had their origin in Central Asia, as the Bible states: As men migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar [sumer] and settled there. Sumer is regarded as the site of one of the first true civilizations in human history. Wilson points out that the Sumerians were accomplished astronomers who had compiled tables of the motions of all the planets, including Uranus and Neptune, as early as five thousand years ago, long before the existence of Arkaim. He adds that according to the library of clay tablets compiled by the Assyrian King Assurbanipal (669 626 BCE) and unearthed during the nineteenth century, the Sumerians had also understood the precession of the equinoxes, and therefore knew about the zodiac. In the centre of Atlantis we find the concentric circles, the 'primordial mound' with the temple of Poseidon & Cleito there with the Pillar, just as described above. Evidently Arkaim was a Wisdom Centre in a network of such Centres that once related all the prehistoric peoples of the earth to each other under the spiritual aegis of the Pillar religion and its priestly elites. The remains of countless similar stone circles, menhirs and troy towns are scattered throughout Europe, the Americas, Eurasia and the Pacific lands, memorials to great crisscrossing migrations of peoples, all loyal to the same axial principle that relates earth to the heavens. As I have said, various versions of the cult of the World Pillar as it spread around the world were once known from the Americas to northern Africa, where the blond Tamahu worshipped the Magna Mater and her spouse the Heaven-Bearer, as did their cousins in Brittany and Spain. In Hindu India the World Axis, Mt. Meru, ascended into the revolving heavens above through the centre of the three worlds, and in the Canary Islands the Cro-Magnon Guanches, now extinct, worshipped with sacrifices the god of the World Pillar whom they called the God who Holds the Heavens, and who thus prevented the collapse of the foundations of the world. xiv A remnant of this belief-system survives in the legend of Jacobs Ladder in the Hebrew Book of Exodus, in which we learn that on this Ladder angels ascend and descend between heaven and earth. Each race has considered a certain tree as symbolic of the World Pillar and therefore sacred. In the Voluspa, the song of the Old Norse prophetess, the tree on which the god Odin hung in order to receive the sacred runes was called Yggdrasil, the heaven-pole or world axis. The World Ash Yggdrasil was declared to be the greatest of all trees and the best; its limbs spread over the world and above the heavens, its shaft the pivot of the ever-revolving sky. At the foot of that tree the laws were first brought into being by the Aesir, the Norse gods, and Yggdrasil was worshipped as the source of all higher knowledge. In reference to the Biblical Tree of Knowledge we can clearly see the representation in it and possibly even the Bible and Creation as a whole. When I read Timaeus again last night, his Creation was just like a more clarified version of Genesis. I was also absorbed by the Biblical phrase of before the Flood there was 'men of old, men of renown'. In looking for the 'original' Mt Meru I have stumbled onto much greater Mt Meru's knowling all along I would find Atlantis at one of them. To the inhabitants of Sumer, whose language is unknown being neither Indo-European nor Semitic - the Pillar was a dominant religious feature: thus Nippur, one of Sumers chief cities, as long ago as 3800 BCE had the meaning of Bond of Heaven-Earth. A prominent researcher on this subject says that in the text of the Sumerian Enuma Elish, clues to the purpose of Nippur were found in references to a heavenward tall pillar reaching to the sky. xvi In ancient Egypt, the land of the Hamitic peoples, the city of An or Anu, which was renamed Heliopolis by the Greeks, originally meant Pillar City. xvii As a commentator has pointed out, this fact may shed light on the mysterious djed pillar, the backbone of Osiris, often associated with Heliopolis. I was also looking for references to Heliopolis when I realised that was where Ptah was worshipped, the Primordial Mound creator. I'm not suprised the legends of Osiris pop up in here too and his djed Pillar. In the following we can surely find our 'men of old, men of renown.' Who, then, were these mysterious Hyperboreans or as we might perhaps better call them, these Elders, these early Masters of Wisdom who understood the importance of the World Axis? The records of most of the Bronze age nations have a legend that an unknown race of Elders gave us kingship and civilization and that they came from the gods and understood the most powerful secrets of our planet secrets that have since been lost. Who, then, were these mysterious Hyperboreans or as we might perhaps better call them, these Elders, these early Masters of Wisdom who understood the importance of the World Axis? The records of most of the Bronze age nations have a legend that an unknown race of Elders gave us kingship and civilization and that they came from the gods and understood the most powerful secrets of our planet secrets that have since been lost. The Elders have been known as the Nephilim, the Sons of God, the Annunaki, the Watchers and many other appellations; G. I. Gurdjieff spoke of them as agents of the divine Demiurge from a previous cycle of humanity. But beyond being credited with great wisdom and magical powers as well as having giant stature and extremely high craniums, little more is known about them. Did they really exist? All that can be said with certainty is that they remain a benign shadowy presence moving inscrutably in the background of virtually all the prehistoric traditions of our race. Next we have what looks right out of a Zechariah Sitchin book but when read correctly it means the people came from the area of Sirius Major and moved down into Europe from their Northern areas, mixed with other races and became a more intelligent people than had previously been in the World apart from up in the North (Hyperborea) ie; Sumerians. These souls from Sirius, say the ancient texts, descended down the World Axis and incarnated on earth long ago in order to aid our fledgling species. When a great catastrophe towards the end of the Ice Age, around the twelfth millennium BCE, threatened us with extinction, these sons and daughters of the gods instituted the hieros gamos, a genetic science that mingled their genes with ours and so bred a superior human stock with a greater survival potential that spread gradually from the heart of Asia on one hand, and Atlantis on the other, to the rest of the world. Last but not least: The climate changed again around the ninth millennium BCE, which is widely regarded as the date of the demise of Atlantis and the enforced dispersal of its people both westward to Central America and eastwards to Europe. Bringing catastrophic earthquakes and coastal flooding to vast areas of the globe xxx and a severe threat to the survival of our species, it was a racial crisis that brought another response from the senior race. Although the Elders had gone, their dynastic descendants, a long line of Neolithic priest-kings, began a new evolutionary programme. In their migrations from Central Asia, the Ural-Altaic race is credited with establishing in every corner of the earth its Pillar religion, which Platos Critias vividly describes as also the religion of the Atlanteans. I'm not sure we lived successively over time, but when one reads up alot on the Gods and other mystical things, especially of monks and Shangri-La's and Shambala (also called Inner Earth) you start to see that maybe don't know alot of our prehistory. Didn't Churchward (of Mu) get his ancient Mu information from monks of northern Asia? Pillars in the Pacific. So, in saying all that, Atlantis may not be here but the Atlanteans a people who derived from them, with knowledge and religion of Gods of the Pillar, the World's Axis or World Tree seen in visions of Mt Meru and Primordial Mounds, of the most ancientest of wisdom, with even the Pillars of Heracles deriving from this lost land of the Arctic. Any opinions? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Essan 2,933 Before we go any further - are we still talking about a Bronze Age culture that fought another Bronze Age culture 6,000 years before the earliest evidence for any Bronze Age culture existing anywhere on the planet? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites The Puzzler 491 Before we go any further - are we still talking about a Bronze Age culture that fought another Bronze Age culture 6,000 years before the earliest evidence for any Bronze Age culture existing anywhere on the planet? It depends on what we deem 'time'. What Plato says is 9000 years may not be 9000 years at all in what we understand it as either. Taking into account how old Gods are and even the Egyptians give the Gods as going back around 20,000 years. What does that all mean? The narrative is called Timaeus and at the core is the theme of, what else, TIME. Timaeus is not about Atlantis, Timaeus is about the Creation of the Universe. What is time, is a question we should be asking ourselves, how did time come about? It is based in the celestial bodies and once they knew about their movements and the Earth's rotations and the Moon's phases could time even be comprehended... Time, an interesting concept in itself. It also depends on how you want to look at the narratives, a bit like the Bible and Creation, look deep enough and don't take it all literally and it will fall into place eventually, in my opinion, as it seems to be doing for me. I do hold out for an actual place of Atlantis, as descendants of these people I speak of above, the Hyperboreans of the Arctic Circle, the original Aryans and thier Pillar cult. It also sees a connection to Atlantis, the 7 number again, there are 7 steps in alchemy to creating the Philosopher's stone, which I found an interesting parallel also to Plato, him being a philosopher. Creating gold from base metal to achieve immortality....... The centre of the labyrinth is a place to achieve a 'perfect state', the inner self, on a plane with spiritual immortality. The essence of life itself. What Plato is describing in Timaeus. More on labyrinths: "Labyrinths are linked to Mandalas - sanskrit for 'circle that contain the Essence'. Like mandalas, labyrinths are archetypal collective symbols that transcend all cultures because they are grounded in consciousness itself." This is an ancient symbol, showing up everywhere in the ancient world, many of the pictures in the first website are the same 7 sided Cretan labyrinth, which Theseus, the Greek hero and killed that pesky Minotaur, half man/bull God. With the help of a little magic thread... "Benben, in Egyptian mythology, or more specifically, in the Ogdoad, is the mound that arose from the primordial waters, Nu, that had upon it Atum, sitting. It was said to have turned into a small pyramid, located in Annu, which was the place Atum was said to dwell within. The Benben stone, named after this, was a sacred stone in the solar temple of Heliopolis. It is thought to have been the prototype for later obelisks, and the capstones of the great pyramids were based on its design." Poseidon and Cleito 'having intercourse' copulation, the word means benben, on a Primordial Mound, that of Atlantis. Hephaestus also 'seeded' the Greeks and Egyptians in Timaeus, in the Greek myth, having his sperm creating people. Hephaestus being Ptah, the Primordial Mound creator God. 1st God of Egypt according to Manetho. Martial (Epigr. Lib. VIII. 78; Ibid. Epigr. VIII. 50), calls Domitian’s triumph over the Dacians “triumph over the Hyperboreans” and in another place “triumph over the Gigants”. In another epigram he celebrates in this way Domitian’s victories: “Three times did he cross the treacherous horns (the legendary arms) of the Sarmatic Ister; three times he bathed his sweaty horse in the snow of the Getae; and always modest, he refused the triumphs which he deserved, and brought with him only the glory to have defeated the world of the Hyperboreans” (Ibid, Epigr. Lib. IX. 102). Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 627 ff (trans. Seaton) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) : "The deep stream of Rhodanos [the Rhone] which flows into Eridanos [mythical northern river of Hyperborea]; and where they meet there is a roar of mingling waters. Now that river, rising from the ends of the earth, where are the portals and mansions of Nyx (Night), on one side bursts forth upon the beach of Okeanos, at another pours into the Ionian sea, and on the third through seven mouths sends its stream to the Sardinian sea and its limitless bay. And from Rhodanos they entered stormy lakes, which spread throughout the Keltic mainland of wondrous size; and there they would have met with an inglorious calamity; for a certain branch of the river was bearing them towards a gulf of Okeanos." The island of the Hyperboreans, as Hecateus tells us in one of his fragments, also had the name Helixoea In the Apollinic legends, near the pious Hyperboreans, and north of the Greek zone, appears also the archaic Ocean, which plays such an important role in the Urano - Saturnian theogony. Hecateus Abderitas tells us that Apollo's island from the region of the Hyperboreans, was in the parts of the Ocean. The name Sibylla per Suidas is Latin. In fact it is proto-Latin. In prehistoric antiquity, when the art of divination had such an important role in public and private life, there were a number of famous Sibyls and they were known to classical times by the names of the various lands where they had originated. But none of these prophetic women originated in Greek lands. The Sibyls were inspired by a deep mystical religious feeling, and this character was lacking to the Greek spirit. According to what Pausanias tells us (lib. X. 12. 1), the first Sibyls were at Delphi, at the renowned temple and oracle, founded there, among the mountains, by the Hyperborean shepherds from north of the Lower Ister. Sibyla Erythrea had not been the only one to represent the northern oracles in southern lands. A whole group of northern prophets were known in antiquity, like the Hyperborean shepherds, who founded the oracle of Delphi (Pausanias, lib. X. 5. 7), like Abaris the Hyperborean, who wrote a whole book of oracles known under the name of "Scythicae" (Suidas, 'Abaris), and also like the anonymous founders of Apollo's oracle of Delos. Finally, Latona (Leto) and Ilithyia, worshipped as divinities, and the virgins Arge and Opis, celebrated in the religious songs of the Delians and Ionians (Herodotus, lib. IV. 35), belong to the same category of holy women gone south from Hyperborean lands. Sibylla Erythrea, by her biographical data, as well as by her severe religious principles not influenced by the Greek spirit, was an illustrious representative of the wisdom and religion of the Hyperboreans, or Pelasgians from north of the Istru. "The people of Ellada call me a woman from "another country" says she in her oracles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shemTov 0 Before we go any further - are we still talking about a Bronze Age culture that fought another Bronze Age culture 6,000 years before the earliest evidence for any Bronze Age culture existing anywhere on the planet? 29 April 2007 Hungarian burial site yields unique archaeological find Archaeologists exploring a Neolithic burial site in Tolna County (Hungary), have discovered what may easily be the most exciting tomb ever unearthed in Europe, Professor Istvan Zalai-Gaal, who has been leading the diggings, reported. The tomb is 7,000 years old and was the burial chamber of a tribal chieftain. There is a heavy upright log in each corner, believed to have originally held an aboveground structure over the 2x2m tomb. Inside, said Zalai-Gaal, archaeologists found polished stone axes and other stone tools typical of the Neolithic, as well as the largest stone knife ever to be recovered from that period. They also discovered a decorated bullhorn, a marble war club and an axe head that though stone, bears the shape of a Bronze Age weapon. Scientists believe the tribe was aware of metal tools but did not have the metal to make any, leading them to copy the form. Also discovered was a necklace made of hundreds of bronze beads, combined with shells from the Mediterranean, the latter obviously traded goods, said Zalai-Gaal. One had to be extraordinarily wealthy to have a necklace like this, he pointed out. Some 14,000 square metres have been excavated on this site, probably the largest known Stone Age dig in Europe. Over one million artefacts have been uncovered, Zalai-Gaal added, saying that the exploration was ongoing, though the site was in the pathway of a motorway that was under construction. I agree shem, Hyperborea was actually above Boreas' land of Thrace, which unlike today must have been a very cold place in it's northern areas. The Carpathians may have been part of lower Hyperborea, which I believe went up as far as they knew then, possibly to the Baltic Sea, whose people would have been aware of lands even further North. So indeed the religion of the Pillars and the North Axis as well as the area of the origins of the Aryans or Indo-Europeans was in the area you speak of, but I don't see it as being Atlantis myself, but an ancestor of the Atlanteans and certainly somewhere associated with Apollo before they headed south. Atlas spends some time in Hyperborea but 'golden haired' Leto, Apollo and Artemis are certainly Hyperboreans. I have also added a post into my Atlantis Discussion Thread of where I am placing Atlantis in a geological position after absorbing all this new info. Link to post Share on other sites shemTov 0 my atlanteans are haplogroup j or more specifically j2 and their daddy was IJ gravettians [from the balkans] are haplogroup i and their daddy was IJ the aurignacians lived on the choicest land in a sea of foothill and mountain gravettians into the post glacial [8000bc]. they had been there for over 30000years. i don't consider the gods to be atlanteans do you? the magdalenians kept their respectful distance at the western edge of the carpathian basin. my atlanteans are haplogroup j or more specifically j2 and their daddy was IJ gravettians [from the balkans] are haplogroup i and their daddy was IJ the aurignacians lived on the choicest land in a sea of foothill and mountain gravettians into the post glacial [8000bc]. they had been there for over 30000years. i don't consider the gods to be atlanteans do you? the magdalenians kept their respectful distance at the western edge of the carpathian basin. I don't think Aurginacians are the Hyperboreans, they are in France aren't they? These people don't have to have the same haplogroup but they are of the same religion. The original female (Cleito) of the area of what became Atlantis mixed with a God (religion) to become Atlantis. Not like a male called Poseidon actually conceived with her, the myth names are used in allegory of what they represent. A female who adopted the Pillar cult, also seen as a Phallic symbol. Like Geb holds up the sky with his 'phallus', Atlas can also be seen as a representation of the same. My reasons are in my post at my Atlantis Discussion thread. I consider the Gods and their Pillar/Sun cult to be the ancestors of the Atlanteans, Poseidon being a God himself and ancestor of the Atlanteans, they certainly would have lived by the Godly rules, the pillar religion is my basis for most of this, being associated with the World Axis, North Pole, constellations of the far north, Pillar of the Sky and the Pillar they poured the libation over in Atlantis, in other words, Atlas. I also believe that Atlantis comprised from Northern Thrace across to Macedonia with Thessaly and the Aegean Sea across to Lemnos and the northern part of the Dardanelles, giving a rectangular shape and Mt Olympus itself being the representation of Atlas, I believe there is also a temple to Isis and Osiris at Mt Olympus. The Greeks Mt Meru or primordial mound. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shemTov 0 The bearers of most or all Upper Paleolithic technologies were H. sapiens. Some locally developed transitional cultures (Szletian in Central Europe and Chatelperronian in the Southwest) use clearly Upper Paleolithic technologies at very early dates and there are doubts about who were their carriers: H. sapiens or Neanderthal man. Nevertheless, the definitive advance of these technologies is made by the Aurignacian culture. The origins of this culture can be located in what is now Bulgaria (proto-Aurignacian) and Hungary (first full Aurignacian). By 35,000 B.C., the Aurignacian culture and its technology had extended through most of Europe. Link to post Share on other sites The Puzzler 491 Since I have discovered Osiris's origins which appear to be in the area of the lower Danube as the God Zamolxis, I have also had my own thoughts reinforced that the Egyptians came from this area also. This all relates to following the Sky Column or Pillar/World Axis/Polaris religion. The Djed Pillar is a representation of this. This is a religion that the Pelasgians adopted and then spread. I also think that there was a Pannon Sea, a fresh water sea in the Carpathians where Wallachia is now due to rereading myths once again. Here is some interesting reading that gives some evidences of the Pillar cult of the Lower Danube originating in Hyperborea spreading all around the world, it's long but if anyone really is interested in solving mysteries, should take the time to read. XIV. 6. The Sky Column from the Carpathians as symbol of the Egyptian trinity. The colonization and reign of the Pelasgians in North Africa begins in times extremely remote. Egypt in particular is characterized by a Neolithic European civilization, whose character is Pelasgian (Morgan, Recherches sur les origins de l’Egypte, Paris, 1896-97). Herodotus mentions the Pelasgian colonies in Africa. In the western parts of the river Triton, or in the province called “Africa” at the time of the Romans, existed an agricultural population called Maxyes, who, as they said, were originated from the nation of the Trojans (lib. IV. c. 191). Carthage itself was Pelasgian in the beginning, later though this city fell under the rule of a commercial colony from Tyre (Silius Italicus, Punica, lib. XV. p.444). But the population from the territory subjected to Carthage was not Phoenician. It had remained Pelasgian, as can be ascertained from the big progress made by the Roman civilization in those parts, as well as from the particularities of the folk Latin language which has developed there. Other African tribes had European mores and traditions too. Getulii, the most numerous people of Libya (Mela, lib. I. c. 3; Eustathius, Commentarii in Dionysium, v. 215), which began at the shores of the Atlantic ocean and stretched towards south of Mauritania, Numidia and Cyrenaica, appear by their name, as well as by their traditions and ethnic character, as a population migrated there from the south-east parts of Europe. The episcope Isidor of Sevilla writes about them: “It is said that Getulii were Getae, who departing from their places in very large numbers, with their ships, had occupied the Syrtes of Libya, and because they had come from the territory of the Getae, they were called Getuli” (Origines, lib. IX. 1. 118). Other pastoral tribes which had gone forth from the Carpathians and the Lower Danube, had settled in Ethiopia even in very remote times. Pliny the Old mentions in the upper parts of the Nile, in Ethiopia, a tribe with the name of Dochi, and near them another population with Pelasgian mores and beliefs, called by the Greek authors Macrobii (lib. VI. 35. 12), long lived. Under this name were known in Europe the Hyperboreans, about whom it was said that they lived longer and happier than any other people in the world (Mela, lib. III. 5). Among the Ethiopian kings some have until late the name of Ramhai, Letem, Rema and Armah (Drouin, Les listes royals Ethiopiennes, Paris 1882, p.50-53), names the origin of which goes back to ante-Roman times. But the Pelasgians of Egypt had played a special role in the civilization of Africa. Ammon was one of the most ancient kings of Libya and Egypt. This Ammon was, as traditions tell us, a great shepherd, a “man rich in sheep” (Tertullian, De pallio. 3), nephew of Atlas from the country of the Hyperboreans (according to some old traditions Ammon’s mother was Pasiphae, the daughter of Atlas – Plutarch, Agis, c. 9), that Atlas who appears at the same time as the ancestor of a number of famous dynasties and families of Hellada, Troy and Latium. In the sacred texts of the Egyptians, Ammon has also the name of Altaika (Pierret, Le livre d. morts, Ch. CLXV. 1-3), a form derived from Alutus, Greek ‘Atlas, which corresponds to the Romanian ethnic name of “Oltean”, from the region of Olt. He is also named Remrem (Ibid. Ch. LXXV. 1. 2), meaning Ramlen, Arim or Ariman and Harmakhis or Armakhis (Pierret, Le Pantheon egyptien, p. 95), which presents only an Egyptian form of the ethnic Greek work ‘Arimaspeios and ‘Arimaspos, which in turn was only a simple variant of the name ‘Arimaios and ‘Arimfaios. Suidas also mentions that ‘Arimanios was the god of the Egyptians (see ‘Arima). Thebes, the oldest and biggest city of Egypt and of the whole world, the center of a prosperity without equal in history, the ancient seat of the Egyptian dynasty and the metropolis of the cult of Ammon, has a Pelasgian name. These Thebans, as Diodorus Siculus writes, said that they were the most ancient among all the mortals (lib. I. 50. 1; Ibid, I. 87. 9). One of their religious symbols was the bird par excellence of the high mountains, the vulture (aquila, aetos). The most ancient kings of Egypt mentioned by the sacred archives of the temples had been Vulcan, the son of Vulcan, Saturn (Osiris and Isis, the children of Saturn), Typhon, Mars, Hercules and Apollo (Manethonis Sebennytae, Fragmenta in Mullerus, Fragmenta Hist. graec. Tom. II. p.526-531), these being the great personalities of Pelasgian history in Europe, whose names were neither Greek, nor Egyptian. Saturn had reigned over Libya and Sicily and had colonized those lands (Polemonis Iliensis, Fragm. 102 in Gragm. Hist. gr. III. 148). And Diodorus Siculus tells us that Saturn, the brother of Atlas, had reigned over Sicily, Libya, Italy and had extended his empire over all the western regions, establishing garrisons everywhere, in citadels and in fortified places (lib. III. 61). Even during the Neolithic epoch, countless tribes of Pelasgians departed with their large flocks from the Carpathians towards Hellada and Asia Minor, and from Asia Minor continued little by little down, along the shores of Lebanon, and finally, together with other tribes from Hellada and the islands of the archipelago, they reached the expansive plains of the Nile. Disciplined people, religious, laborious and warlike at the same time, the Pelasgian shepherds and farmers were masters during those remote times, wherever they settled. They took with them their national institutions, an established ancestral religion, their divinities and priests, and they formed their political centers wherever they settled. But the sacred country of the Egyptian Pelasgian religion was still that particular one from the ends of the earth, from the Oceanos potamos or Istru. In that part of the world were for the ancient Pelasgians of Egypt “the divine region”, their ancient religious monuments, the images of their protective gods, the country of their ancestors, worshipped as gods. Their sacred mountains, the sky columns were there. According to ancient Egyptian beliefs the divine region of the wheat was there (Pierret, Le livre d. morts. Ch. CXI. 5), there was the place of abundance, where the wheat grew 7 ells high, the straw 4 ells and the ear 3 ells. There was the place of rebirth, the country of eternal life, which the Hyperboreans, and later on the Getae and the Dacians, promoted with such religious conviction. There the souls of the dead of Egypt migrated, in order to continue with a new and blessed life (Pierret, Le livre d. morts. Ch. LV. 1; Ch. LXXV 1. 2), exactly like the souls of the Pelasgian heroes of Hellada did. There was the great divine river, called Nun, “father of the gods” (Ibid. Ch. XVII. 3-4), which flew from west towards east, identical with Oceanos potamos or prehistoric Istru. Exactly like in the Pelasgian legends of Greece, the sun rose from the great divine river Nun (Oceanos) and set also in it (Ibid. Ch. XV. 18, 19). During the day the disc of the sun sailed on the river Nun in its divine boat (Maspero, Egypte et Chaldee, p.18), and at night it disappeared in the straits of the mountains called Dait, in the somber shadows of the night (Ibid, p.19). As the papyri tell us, the souls of the Osiric faithful crossed the river Nun in the boat of the sun, to this divine country (Pierret, Le livre d. morts, Ch. I. 18. 19; Ch. LXVII. 2), to till the earth, to plough, saw and harvest (Ibid. Ch. LXXV. 1; ChXII. 1. 2; Ch. CIX. 13; Ch. CXX. 2). Crossing over the river Nun, the Egyptian souls stood firstly in front of the gods, to be judged by them (Ibid. Ch. VI; XII. XVII. 95; LXIX. 5; LXXII; CXXV) at the place called “the region of truth” (Ibid. Ch. CXXV 12-13), where there was also an iron enclosure called Rosta and Rostau (Ibid, Ch. XVII. 1; Ch. CXIX. 2; CXXVI 4-5; CXXX. 9. Rosteiu means in Romanian language iron bars, or interwoven iron or wooden rods used as grilles for windows, etc). And after the Egyptian deceased were examined, purified and their heart hold the balance of the scales, they passed into the divine lower region which the Egyptian papyri call the place of rebirth (Ibid. Ch. VI; XV. 15. 21; LVIII. 2; XVII. 79), the country of eternity (Ibid. Ch. XV. 7). This region was inhabited by the spirits and the people called Mani (ancestors), 8 ells tall, and in its eastern side were the spirits and people called Harmakhis (Ibid, Ch. XV. 15; LV. 1; CIX 4-6; CXLIX 4-5, 18, 332). These Egyptian beliefs were based on an ancient Pelasgian doctrine. It was the institution of the great mysteries of the Hyperboreans for the purification and expiation of the crimes done during lifetime, mysteries whose purpose was the belief in life after death and the necessity to expiate one’s sins through penitence. The Pelasgians were the initiators and organization of the first mysteries known in antiquity. To them belonged the initiation of the mysteries of Samothrace, Crete and Eleusis. These mysteries were based on the cult of the subterranean divinities (chtonic, lower) and the purification was made in the name of these divinities. They were usually celebrated at night and in subterranean places, in order to excite even more the imagination of those initiated. Plato mentions the institution of the great Hyperborean mysteries from the north of Istru in Axiochus. The virgins Opis and Hecaerge, sent by the Hyperboreans with gifts to Delos, had taken there also two copper tablets, which contained a detailed description of this institution. It was said that the souls of the deceased went firstly to a subterranean dwelling, to the palace of Pluto. The entryway which led to this palace was shut with an iron grille. After the gate opened, the souls went firstly before the judges Minos and Rhadamanthis in the “Field of Truth”. There the judges examined in detail the life of each, and those who had done good in life were given a place in the region of the pious, where the earth produced all sort of fruit and the plain is full of flowers, where is neither harsh winter, nor excessive heat, but a temperate air, warmed by the sweet rays of the sun, where the souls enjoy themselves in feasts and play, in philosophical discussions and assist to theatre or music representations. The tablets said finally that Hercules and Dionysos or Osiris had been also initiated there in those mysteries The image with which the ancient Egyptian theology symbolized the principal, or eastern pillar of the sky, was only a faithful copy of the north face of the column which exists even today on Omul Peak on the Carpathians. As the divine region or of the gods was, according to Egyptian traditions and beliefs, in the northern parts of the world, across the river Nun or Istru, the Egyptian theology had similarly adopted the religious symbol of the creation, represented by the gigantic column of the sky from the Carpathians, exactly as the Pelasgians of Mycenae had also done. The symbol of the Egyptian trinity presents the same contours as the exterior shape of the north-western face of the column from the Carpathians. Even more: there is an absolute identity between the two, when we examine the figures which we see shown on these archaic monuments. In the upper part of the column from Omul Peak can be seen even today the contours of a woman’s naked body, with her back up and face down, with her head to the west and the thighs to the east, a figure represented in the same style in which the Egyptian symbol presents Nut, the lady of the sky. We also find here the same particularities of the line which forms the upper contour, while the lower line marks also the shape of the woman’s breast. Finally, on the same face of the column, in the middle, towards left, can be made out even today, but with great difficulty, the marks almost vanished of the bust of the divinity Chnum, whose attribute was the head of the ram. The Pelasgians had reigned over Egypt during the primitive times of history (Maspero, Egypte et Chaldee, p.47), like they had reigned also over Hellada and over the western parts of Asia. But they shared the same fate of those of Hellada. A new element, another race of men brought there probably from the upper regions of the Nile, rose later to the rule over the ancient Pelasgian stratum, which had made from the swampy plains of Egypt an agricultural country, which had put there the first foundation of civilization. It was the pharaonic population, which at the time when it settled in Egypt had been neither pastoral nor agricultural. Very probably these ante-historic Semites had been brought into Egypt by Pelasgians to serve as slaves to their great irrigation and reclamation works, for the canals which crisscross the entire Egypt, for the tilling of the fields, for opening new roads and for their cyclopean buildings. These signs of enslavement are expressed even in the prayers addressed by the souls of the Egyptian mummies to their supreme divinities residing at the north of Istru. These pharaonic Egyptians considered that the first inhabitants of the plains of the Nile had been the gods who had reigned over Egypt in prehistoric times (Homer calls the Pelasgians “divine”, meaning that they drew their origin from the gods – Iliad, X. v. 429; Odyss. XIX. v. 177), and whose the principal country and residence had been at the north of Istru (Nun). To these men-gods, who had once ruled over the south and north regions (Africa and Europe), address the Egyptian mummies their prayers, to be allowed in the other world to till the earth, to plough, to sow, to harvest, to floods the rivers over the dry earth and to transport sand from west to east (Pierret, Le livre d. morts, Ch. VI. 1; Ch. VI. 3; Ch. XII. 2; Ch. CXX. 2). They are called in their Osiric prayers Ro – bi, meaning slaves (Ibid. Ch. CIV. 2. 3). These Egyptians, descendents of Sem and Cham, considered themselves happy to work as slaves for their gods, even in the life destined to eternal rest. It had been a severe religion, with a social and political character, formed by the priestly caste of the ruling Pelasgians, in order to subject a race of men destined to a perpetual servitude. When the African race took the reign, the ancient history of Egypt changed. The new race had adopted under the Pelasgian empire the elements of an ancient advanced civilization, had adopted the political and social institutions and the religious principles of their masters, but which it had largely modified and to which it had given forms suitable to its African character. For this new element in the history of Egypt, the geographical region of the north, the ancient domain of the Pelasgian race, became a mythological region. And the Column from the Carpathians symbolized for these Osiric Egyptians the territory of the terrestrial paradise [3]. The Pelasgians of Sicily had, as we see, exactly as the Pelasgians of Greece and Italy, a belief in a survival in another blessed terrestrial region. It was the doctrine of the Hyperboreans. It was the same belief, as expressed in the tablets sent by them to Delos, that the souls of the deceased went for the supreme judgment to a certain place of their country, from where those who had led virtuous lives passed into the region of the pious (Plato, Opera, Ed. Didot, Tom. II. p. 561). According to the ancient ethnic genealogies, the territory of the titan Atlas from the country of the Hyperboreans appears as the original country of several tribes and a number of important princely families from Hellada, Asia Minor, Africa and Italy. Atlas, writes Diodorus Siculus (lib. III. c. 60), had several daughters, who, by marrying the most distinguished heroes and even gods, had sons who for their virtues were called heroes and gods, and were at the same time the originators of several families. On a fragment of a vase discovered in Apulia, Atlas, the lord of the blessed country of the Hyperboreans, founder of several southern Pelasgian families, that Atlas in whose kingdom not only the fruit, but also the branches of the trees were of gold, is shown sitting on a throne, in complete regal paraphernalia (Roscher, Lexikon der gr. u.rom. Mythologie. I. p.710). Doubtless, this image had a genealogical character. The artist had wished to represent one of the most glorious ancestors of some Ausonic family of Apulia. As for the mythological representation of the titan Atlas, he is shown on another vase from Apulia supporting the sky, figured in the shape of a globe (Ibid. I. p.710). He appears in the same way also on an Etruscan mirror from Vulci (Daremberg, Dict. d. ant. See Atlas). The idea to represent the sky or the universe in the shape of a globe is very ancient. According to Plato (Axiochus – Ed. Didot. Tom. II. p. 561), the Hyperboreans had been the first to consider the universe as a sphere, at the centre of which was the Earth. And according to Diodorus Siculus (lib. IV. 27. 5), king Atlas, whose empire was near Oceanos (potamos), had possessed very exact knowledge of astrology and had been the first to regard the universe as a globe, because of which it was said that the entire firmament rests on Atlas (Pliny, Hist. Nat. lib. II. 2; lib. II. 6. 3; lib. VII. 57. 12). This mystical sign, which prehistoric archaeology could not explain so far, represents on its lower part the sky column, in the shape of a stunted pyramid (trapeze), having figured above it the sky, in the same shape as on the hieroglyphic monuments of Egypt, a horizontal line with the ends bent downwards. This religious symbol of the future life and of the divine region tells us therefore that the ancient Etruscan religion was the same as the religion of the Pelasgians from the Istru, Argos and Egypt. This symbol expressed in particular the same religious belief that the souls of the deceased went to the residence of the gods (at the Oceanos potamos), where was the Atlantean Olympus, in the country of the just, long lived Hyperboreans, where the sky was supported on the earth, where the supreme judgment took place, where was the place of happiness, the region of the pious We find the Sky Column from the Carpathians represented on two antique monuments of Sicily. One is a painting on a ceramic vase, the other is a funerary stela. We shall talk here about both these relics of great importance for the history of the Sky Column from the ancient country of the Hyperboreans. According to Homer (Iliad, XVIII. v. 140 seqq), the smithy of Vulcan was on ancient Olympus. Thetis, Achilles’ mother, addresses the following words to her sisters: “I am going to the great Olympus, to Vulcan, the illustrious master craftsman, to have him make fine, shiny weapons for my son”. On the vase from Sicily the smithy of Vulcan is indicated as being close to the rock to which Prometheus is led, and this rock, we say it again, presents in everything the contours of the W-NW face of the column from the Carpathians. We have here therefore an important document from the Italo-Greek antiquity, a document which gives us an absolute certitude that the prehistoric Olympus of the theogony, the Olympus from the ends of the earth, according to Hesiod, was that mountain on which were the legendary columns of the sky, Atlas from the country of the Hyperboreans, Olympus atlantiacus at Calpurnius (IV. v. 83), today Omul Peak of Bucegi Mountains, near the Lower Istru, where there are, apart from the columns, the other monuments famous in the history of theogony, the figure of Zeus aigiochos and the cyclopean altars. This same belief is expressed also by Hesiod when he says that the souls of the heroes fallen in the wars of Thebes and Troy had been taken to the blessed islands from the ends of the earth, near the Ocean with deep eddies (Opera et Dies, v. 161 seqq). One of these blessed islands was, as we know, Leuce island from the mouths of the Danube (Pliny, lib. IV. 27. 1: “eadem Leuce et Macaron appellata”). Here the legends and the ancient paintings show us Achilles, Ajax, Telamon, Patroclus, Antilochus, Menelaus, Helena and Agamemnon, leading a happy and eternal life (Pausanias) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shemTov 0 Since I have discovered Osiris's origins which appear to be in the area of the lower Danube as the God Zamolxis, I have also had my own thoughts reinforced that the Egyptians came from this area also. This all relates to following the Sky Column or Pillar/World Axis/Polaris religion. The Djed Pillar is a representation of this. This is a religion that the Pelasgians adopted and then spread. I also think that there was a Pannon Sea, a fresh water sea in the Carpathians where Wallachia is now due to rereading myths once again. Here is some interesting reading that gives some evidences of the Pillar cult of the Lower Danube originating in Hyperborea spreading all around the world, it's long but if anyone really is interested in solving mysteries, should take the time to read. Everything has fallen into place, the Egyptians and Osiris' origins, the myths that just didn't gel in the areas they said, Troy, Herodotus, Sesostris and those darn Colchians, Ethiopia, Phoenicians, Zamolxis also has a name that starts with Gebel....Gebel being Byblos, Etruscans, just looking at an Etruscan book I got at the library I couldn't help but notice a vase with picture exactly the same art as the Naqqada pictures, lined sails, everything makes sense to me now. The funny thing is, notice how in each link I have given Plato makes confirmation of so much of this in his other works, he knows what's going on alright. 9000 years is simply 'God' years, we can see that in the Egyptian legends, Gods having been around for over 20,000 years. Note also it cannot have been same time frame all along because at first 'ships and sailing were not of yet' but later in the story by the time they are building up the mound, they have triremes able to pass under the bridges in the canals. As to the Pillars of Heracles and Gades, I have my own ideas I need to just build into it some more. I can make it work in one of 2 ways. These people certainly did subjugate Tyrrhenia to Egypt. This part you obviously noted in Wiki was the giveaway that made me go, hmmm. How would one remember that from half a million years ago? Both Homer (Odyssey, XII. 1) and Hesiod (Theogonia, v.242. 959) in their theogonic legends exclusively refer to the lower Danube as the Okeanos Potamos, possibly due to it being remembered as the remnant of when the Pannonian and lower Danubian basins were under water. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shemTov 0 gebeleizis is a combo of two parts, gebel and azizis. you can find azizis on the tabula peutingeriana. azizis itself is very ancient, seen it anywhere before as someones son? its just a few kliks away from caput bubula [first cow or cow grandmother] on the tabula. today you might hear caput bubula called parta [big cow cult centre now called sag] and azizis is called jebel. zalmoxis had a great underground dwelling built [secretly?] where he retreated for 3? years. during that time a great catastrophe struck the people. he reappeared and saved the remainders. i would call his dwelling the apsu, vara of yima, royal enclosure of the tuat, pen of geryon etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kidchaos 0 gebeleizis is a combo of two parts, gebel and azizis. you can find azizis on the tabula peutingeriana. azizis itself is very ancient, seen it anywhere before as someones son? its just a few kliks away from caput bubula [first cow or cow grandmother] on the tabula. today you might hear caput bubula called parta [big cow cult centre now called sag] and azizis is called jebel. zalmoxis had a great underground dwelling built [secretly?] where he retreated for 3? years. during that time a great catastrophe struck the people. he reappeared and saved the remainders. i would call his dwelling the apsu, vara of yima, royal enclosure of the tuat, pen of geryon etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GGG guy 1 My user name GGG stands for the "Grand Global Genome" hypothesis which I've created due to research on my surname Burian. I believe I can show this name as originating from the Siberian "Buryan" tribe at ~15-20,000 BC. I've studied this since ~1973 based on what my family and relatives could ascertain concerning family name origins. Two spellings surfaced as proto-Burian's, i.e. Buryan, and Burjan, the latter being Arabic of the other. My y-DNA (male) test claims I'm R1a1 haplogroup, and I carry the M45 Siberian-Central Asian marker, and also higher concentrations as India (Hindi), E. Iran, and Bohemian-European. I'm now Czech-Slavic-(Austrian-Bohemian (Prague-Praha, from after ~1882-American. Thus, this blind DNA test had me pegged as Bohemian which "is" correct. I believe this tribal name is also the name and a proto-Hyperborean tribe, where one can reduce this to Boreans. A quick timeline: Buryan tribe name would start in Siberia (Lake Baikal) and today is called Buryatia. Note the horizontal crescent moon on their flag, and also Azerbaijan's flag, where Azer (As people) and Baijan (Burjan) people. Buryans would be shaman Tangrenist (where Earth god lives at the tops of mountains, and caves are sacred chapels, i.e. pyramids. To date Siberian Buryans, they would also be Paleo-Indians who came to America ~15-20,000 BC, and thereafter. Thus, American Indians are my distant cousins, allowing for the fact I'm also Bohemian, post Columbus, none-the-less. This is the root for the "GGG hypothesis", and is very name specific. Buryans were called the "wolf people", and also Buryan means "loosely" Sky-God, and in later periods also as the "wolf's Soul". National Geographic and the History channels both did specials on domesticated dogs, and make the claim that nearly all domesticated dogs originate from Siberian wolves, and that dogs all show this DNA connection as their predecessor. Thus, Buryan's likely domesticated the Siberian wolf, and were called the "Wolf People". Because American Indians brought this dog with them, I can extrapolate this date. In Beringa (Bering Sea land bridge), archaeologist find dog remains and date to ~12,000 BC. Also dogs of Kurdistan (Halafians) date to about 11,000 BC. Thus, Buryans migrated in two directions (east and west) from S. Siberia, and would be where this name was first used. The same can be said for the horse too, but at later dates, and more Central-Asia, and/or Pamir Knot regions of the NW Himalaya's. Also, African artifacts have been found at Malta and Buret (by Lake Baikal) and carbon date to 22-25,000 BC. Thus, there is a direct African DNA connection to this region just before, or coincidental to when this name appears, suggesting other proto-Buryan migrations wouldn't be needed to make this date, and origins claim cohesive using DNA analysis. This becomes "very clean" from this perspective, if using current DNA migration theories. Buryans would be "blue wolf" as is Burte Chino (blue wolf) in Mongolian mythology. They are Baskhorts (Bashkirs and also as Burzyan, Burzhan) where Bashkort can mean "Blue Wolf" and/or "Head of the Wolf". The Buryan (Burjan) is al-Burjan lands in Iranian mythology and today called Georgia, but wherein in Romania, you find Colchus people who originate from Georgia. The term Iberia I believe is I-Berians, where you find Iberia=Iberu=Hebrew=Ebur River, Spain where you find Buriana Beach today on it's delta-sea end delta. In Greek terms, they are Zeus,Apollo, and most interesting, Hephaestus (ref: Ptah-Egypt, and Thor-Germany) and that all three exhibit a hammer. They are miners, blacksmiths, and forgers of metals. Burjans and Hephaestus can both be traced to Lemnos Island in the Aegean and I estimate a date here at 10-1500 BC. Burjans were here with the Amazons, but data suggest they preferred Thracian woman. Thracians at one time ruled this island as well. I have every reason to believe that it was Burjans who wrote Jason and the Argonauts because they come from Colchus anyway, and knew these things that the Greeks didn't. In Romania, Buryan (Burjan) is actually the Buri tribe (I think), and thus is also the 1st Nordic god Buri, and his sons Wodan (Odin, Oden), and in particular Bor (Borri). In Turkish, Bori can mean "Nobel Female b****", not cursing but likely to be understood as Asena, the "she-wolf" goddess to Gok-Turks (proto-Turks to mean Blue Turks, and affiliates as Blue Bulgars, also called Hons). Note that the Asena Goddess also exhibits a "blue mane". Also note that the Romulus and Remus saga matches the Asena Saga real well. Buryans founded Rome in my opinion at 753 BC, and are likely, also Etruscans. To understand a true history of the Buri tribe, whose name is claimed to be from the Nordic god Buri, and located on Ptolomy's maps as Lugi-Buri about where Berlin sits, watch the movie "Gladiator". The battle is recorded in Roman anals, and occurs at ~170 AD at the upper Vistula River region of Poland today. Not the "Wolf's Soul" interpretation in this movie. I believe they have this correct. I believe Buryans are Burzyans (Gok-Turks and relative to American Atsina Indian tribe (200BC-400AD migrations fleeing the Huns from Central Asia), Iberians, Colchus, Dacian (from the word Daci=Daos-wolf)and leads to Denmark. There is a Buri province in Romania, Burridava village, and Burzenland. I believe Burgunland may be the same, and also Beierjnland (Netherlands) to be possiblly the same people as well. The Buriano Bridge (Tuscany, Italy) is believed to be the one in the Mona Lisa painting. This name in Tuscany is actually a Lombardic migration at ~800 AD into Colonna de Buriano, and their capital at Milan. They are Angelic-Saxon of origins though, not exactly Italians, but of similar albeit more ancient stock. I believe that it may actually be the Burians who wrote many mythological stories and other sources have suggested this. I have no reason yet to dispute this notion, and find this name is global. I believe that Burians (Buri-ans) may be reponsible for building the Romanian wooden type henge at Sarmisegetuza. So who were the Hyperboreans? I'm certain they are Buryans, Burjans, and/or Burians, which happens to be my surname, too. They would be R1a1 haplogroup for DNA buffs, and cover a large NE-NW European domains, and also "virtually all" Arctic domains. They are also American Indians, and originate in S. Siberia during Paleolithic times. They are Tangrenist shamans, sacrifice children, and have all of the "Barbaric" virtues. Indeed the word "Barbaric" could be derived from their name, and they possess the "correct credentials" to fit your theories quite well. If you simply make Boreans=Buryans=Burjans (misspelled Arabic as Burdjan), than this starts to make sense, and pan out. There is much to be done yet with my hypothesis. I think you'll find my data suggestions ring true. I have a lot more yet, and, I am seeking publishers for my research, which is ongoing. If interest exist for this topic, feel free to contact me for more exchanges of data. I hope this opens up new avenues for your readers and staff. The Burian name is global. PS, Suggest we team up, and publish this as a group analysis because this name is too global for any one person to really effectively manage. You need to be a historical "superman" to sort out all these pieces of historical snippets. Your analysis of Hyperboreans fits mine quite well. I'm in need of cross verified historical data, and to cover as many diciplines as possible. Your reports herein seem to fit within this scope, and comments are welcome to this end. Thanks for the blog page. I have yet to read more of your topics on your web site. Also, your pillar concept fits mine, where Stonehenge pillars are Apollo worshippers in Cornwall (Burrinton), England. They are also relative to Bury coins which exhibit wolf and crescent moon symbols (Ref Norfolk England and older wooden type henges 2-4000 BC here). Bury may be Buryan, or Buri=Bury. Anyway, a few more pillars to consider, and a new location for you all. Is the Romanian wooden henge related? Let me know what you think? More later. GGG guy, a freelance historian. I'm not sure who your post is directed at in the thread but I started it a few years back, so I'll reply to your very interesting post and thanks for adding it here. I must say it's been a while since this thread has been out and it was only short and much more am I aware of now. I'm still following leads and looking for the elusive Atlantis, it's mostly what I follow and have for years now. I'm hardly any sort of research scientist in any field or academic circles if your post was directed at me, that's why I ask. Anyways, here at UM it's a discussion group for many of us to try and understand some ancient historic events better and maybe someone else could also add something to this. I'll certainly get back to you after I read your post again and understand more what you're saying, feel free to give some more explanations for anything. GGG you said this: My user name GGG stands for the "Grand Global Genome" hypothesis which I've created due to research on my surname Burian. I believe I can show this name as originating from the Siberian "Buryan" tribe at ~15-20,000 BC. I've studied this since ~1973 based on what my family and relatives could ascertain concerning family name origins. Two spellings surfaced as proto-Burian's, i.e. Buryan, and Burjan, the latter being Arabic of the other. My y-DNA (male) test claims I'm R1a1 haplogroup, and I carry the M45 Siberian-Central Asian marker, and also higher concentrations as India (Hindi), E. Iran, and Bohemian-European. I'm now Czech-Slavic-(Austrian-Bohemian (Prague-Praha, from after ~1882-American. Thus, this blind DNA test had me pegged as Bohemian which "is" correct. I believe this tribal name is also the name and a proto-Hyperborean tribe, where one can reduce this to Boreans. In Romania, Buryan (Burjan) is actually the Buri tribe (I think), and thus is also the 1st Nordic god Buri, and his sons Wodan (Odin, Oden), and in particular Bor (Borri). In Turkish, Bori can mean "Nobel Female b****", not cursing but likely to be understood as Asena, the "she-wolf" goddess to Gok-Turks (proto-Turks to mean Blue Turks, and affiliates as Blue Bulgars, also called Hons). Note that the Asena Goddess also exhibits a "blue mane". Also note that the Romulus and Remus saga matches the Asena Saga real well. Buryans founded Rome in my opinion at 753 BC, and are likely, also Etruscans. and an early part placing them at the mouth of the Vistula in Poland. Have you see my posts on Poland, I can trace nearly everything there. A line possibly from Opscii, in Hesperia, (Italy) to Poland, I can only find the same word variation, check Wiki for the name variations, in Polish, a place name, so I don't know how valid that is, but I was trying to establish a line, possibly early amber trade, from the mouth of Vistula into Italy, with the Etruscans being a possible product of this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SlimJim22 32 Alien Abducter Member 32 4,667 posts Gender:Male Location:Wales "As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." Carl Jung Welcome GGG, I really like your theories. There are a few I didn't see you mention such as Berbers, Bretons (I-berians really). You have pieced an impressive amount together though and it does seem to work. I agree with the idea of Apollo worshipers in Hyperborea. Apollo is the deity most connected to wolves. I'll probably have to reread your post because there was so much info in there. Most intriguing.

Possible role of prolactin in growth regulation. To study the possible role of prolactin on growth regulation pituitary grafted rats of different ages and their sham-operated controls have been used. After the transplant operation of one pituitary gland from a litter-mate donor on day 5 or on day 30 of life, a marked prolactin increase has been observed. This increase has been immediate in 30 day-old rats and delayed in 5 day-old rats in which the elevation starts being significant on day 20 for females and on day 25 for male rats. Pituitary grafting on day 5 of life, with an adult donor gland, resulted in an immediate and marked increase of prolactin values in both sexes. Litter-mate donor pituitary grafting, on day 5 of life, resulted in an increase in body weight that could be directly correlated with the increase in prolactin levels. Adult pituitary grafting resulted in an increased body weight in females with no effects being detected in males. In 30 day-old grafted male and female rats, marked body weight increases were seen, over the whole studied period, together with an increase in nose-tail length (1 cm in female and 1.5 cm in males longer than the control animals). All these changes do not seem not be related to GH modifications in pituitary grafted rats, since GH changes were very slight with a final tendency to lower values in female rats but not in males. All these data could suggest that prolactin might exert a direct effect on growth both in male and female rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In recent years, further efficiency improvement and NOx reduction are being required of a gas turbine comprising a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, etc. by the regulations and social demands for environmental conservation. As a method for the efficiency improvement, in this type of gas turbines adopted is a method of increasing the temperature of the combustion gas existing from the combustor to the inlet of the turbine. However, there is a possibility that the amount of NOx emission increases with the increase in the temperature of the flame formed in the combustor. Combustors designed to reduce the NOx emission include those employing premix combustion. The premix combustion is a combustion method in which air-fuel mixture obtained by previously mixing fuel and air together (premixed gas) is supplied to the combustor and brought into combustion. A combustor of this type comprises a burner having a premixer and a combustion chamber arranged downstream of the burner in the flow direction of the air-fuel mixture. The premixer is a device for generating the air-fuel mixture. The air-fuel mixture is supplied from the premixer to the combustion chamber and combusts in the combustion chamber. In the premix combustion, the fuel and air are previously mixed together and supplied to the combustion chamber, by which the temperature of the flame formed in the combustion chamber is uniformized and the NOx emission from the combustor is reduced. However, if the air temperature or the hydrogen content in the fuel increases, the combustion speed increases and the possibility of the so-called “flashback” (the flame formed in the combustion chamber flowing back to the premixer and so forth) arises. In consideration of the above-described situation, there has been proposed a combustor excelling in flashback resistance while also reducing the NOx emission (see Patent Literature 1, for example).

The surveillance footage shows an obviously upset Berry pick the animal up by its collar, throw it on the ground, and repeatedly punch it in the face. The docile canine can been seen trotting beside its handler, waging its tail, as it endures abuse that would make any pet owner cringe. After the attack escalates, the dog is able to escape, and runs back to the casino. The footage shows Berry run after the animal before striking it multiple times outside a vestibule, police say. After the security guards reported his assault upon the dog to the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Berry was sent home from the K-9 trials, placed on administrative leave (also known as paid vacation), and charged with animal cruelty. He was subsequently sentenced to (just) a year of probation. In April, he was fired by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. However, on October 31 an arbitrator ruled that Berry should be reinstated, because this is the only time he has been caught on camera savagely beating a dog and he said he feels really bad about it. Of course, someone who has a documented history of resorting to violence when angry doesn’t pose a threat to the public while working as a cop. Instead, he will be on double secret probation and will not be allowed to work with K-9’s anymore. In a decision filed Monday, state arbitrator Gil Vernon wrote that the sheriff’s office did not sufficiently consider mitigating factors when it moved to fire Berry, and those factors show Berry is at a low risk of future misconduct. He noted that Berry had been forthright about his behavior that night and he sought alcohol abuse treatment afterward. “The record shows he has nearly 20 years of incident-free service with good evaluations,” Vernon wrote. “He spontaneously, contritely, sincerely and without equivocation accepted his responsibility. Next he without prompting moved immediately to address his underlying personal issues.” Vernon noted that the canine Boone suffered no physical injuries, and several of Berry’s supervisors said they expected no problems if he returned to service. Vernon ordered that Berry be reinstated to active duty immediately but with the restriction that he cannot work with canines. He also ruled that the county does not have to repay Berry the back wages he lost since his termination in April. “The permanency of his reinstatement is dependent on the successful completion of the terms of his misdemeanor probation,” Vernon wrote. “Based on (Berry’s) record and reaction to this incident, the Arbitrator is convinced that it was an aberration and that he deserves another (but last) chance to resume his career.” Kelly is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, who’s been very active in local grassroots activism, as well as on a national level during his extensive travels. He’s also the founder/main contributor of Nevada Cop Block, served as editor/contributor at CopBlock.org and designed the Official Cop Block Press Passes. ____________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Kelly at these social networks; Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Associations of plasma leptin to clinical manifestations in reproductive aged female patients with panic disorder. Preclinical studies suggest the implication of the adipocyte hormone leptin in anxiety and fear processes. We explored for potential differences regarding plasma leptin, cortisol and the ratio leptin/Body Mass Index (BMI) between 27 medication-free female patients with Panic Disorder (PD) and 42 age-matched female controls, and for potential associations between plasma leptin and psychometric evaluations including number of panic attacks during last week, Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) and Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Cortisol levels showed no differences between patients and controls, or correlations to leptin or to any clinical features. Both groups demonstrated a strong positive correlation between leptin and BMI and similar leptin and leptin/BMI, despite patients' lower BMI. However, patients -but not controls- demonstrated significant negative correlations of leptin to the 'somatization', 'anxiety', and 'phobic anxiety' SCL-90-R subscales. Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation of leptin and of leptin/BMI ratio to the number of panic attacks during last week, while higher CGI-S was associated with lower leptin/BMI ratio. Our results, limited to PD female patients, suggest that lower leptin serum levels are significantly associated with greater severity of psychopathological manifestations, including number of panic attacks, symptoms of somatization, anxiety and phobic anxiety and overall clinical presentation.

Vince Dennery Vincent Paul "Vince" Dennery November 17, 1916 - August 9, 1989) was an American professional football player who appeared in 9 games for the New York Giants of the National Football League in 1941. References Category:1916 births Category:1989 deaths Category:New York Giants players

Christie Park Real Estate - Calgary Search Christie Park homes for sale & real estate in Calgary. Homes for sale in Christie Park are nestled within a scenic, upscale west-end community that borders Strathcona Park. Situated on a hill that overlooks downtown Calgary as well as the Elbow and Bow River Valleys, the Christie Park real estate market offers a variety of fine homes and properties at higher-than-average prices in this area. For information about Christie Park neighborhood properties for sale or to schedule a private home showing, contact your Christie Park real estate experts today. This 1400 Square Foot Walk-out Bungalow Offers Estate Living In A Very Sought-after Location! This Executive Residence Has Been Recently Upgraded With All New Windows And Doors And Features One Of The Largest Lots In The Manor. The Main Flo This 1400 Square Foot Walk-out Bungalow Offers Estate Living In A Very Sought-after Location! This Executive Residence Has Been Recently Upg ...(more) The Rarest Of Opportunities! This Renovated Luxury Corner Bungalow With Its Intimate Entryway, Mature Landscaping, Opposite The Tennis Courts & Park, A 2 Min Walk To The Ravine Pathway System And A Quick Walk To The Best Schools & Westside The Rarest Of Opportunities! This Renovated Luxury Corner Bungalow With Its Intimate Entryway, Mature Landscaping, Opposite The Tennis Court ...(more) Beautiful 2 Storey Home With Double Attached Garage On A Corner Lot In Christie Park. Very Well Maintained Home. Great Views, Good Location Close To C Train And Downtown. Very Desireable District. 3 Bedrooms Up Hardwood On The Main And Deve Beautiful 2 Storey Home With Double Attached Garage On A Corner Lot In Christie Park. Very Well Maintained Home. Great Views, Good Location ...(more) Christie Park Real Estate Market Christie Park housing market statistics: As of August 14, 2018 there are currently 5 properties for sale in Christie Park listed as active, with an average asking price of $868,940. The highest-priced property is $1,195,000; the lowest priced property can be purchased for $599,900. Christie Park neighbourhood listings have an average price of $402 per square foot, based on listings with 3.8 bedrooms, 3.4 baths, and 2,174 square feet of living space. Christie Park Home Prices and Real Estate The Christie Park and Christie Park Estates real estate market is encompassed by 17th Avenue to the South and Strathcona Drive to the North with Sarcee Trail running on the east side of the neighbourhood. This architecturally-controlled community was built in the early 1990s and features estate homes on crescents and cul-de-sacs and the hilly terrain allows for real estate with walk-out lots. Elegant two-storey houses are the predominant style with a limited number of multi-family options with listing prices under $400,000. Home exterior facades are primarily brick and stucco in this housing market. Homes for sale offer generous square-footage and can be priced on average in the $600,000 to $700,00 range with some reaching upwards of $1.5 million. Lots sizes are large enough for most to accommodate triple-car garages. Christie Park Neighbourhood Highlights This community has great pathways for walking or biking enthusiasts and is just a minute away from the Westside Recreation Centre. Christie Park homes for sale are located close to several public and private schools, making Christie Park a perfect place for families. Westside Recreation Centre is within walking distance with a pool, gymnasium and recreation programs for the whole family. A landmark of the Christie Park neighbourhood is the spire of the Calgary Islamic Centre. Living in Christie Park This picturesque community with traditional and solid family homes is an excellent family neighbourhood. It’s a wonderful community to walk in and residents love the natural park by the ravine on the northern edge of the district. Getting in and out is easy with the LRT right along 17 Ave and downtown a short drive on Sarcee and Bow Trails. Shopping centres and the local library aren’t far away either. Christie Park is managed by the SCA Community Association. Christie Park Schools Christie Park Real Estate Agents Thinking of buying or selling a house in Christie Park? Let our team of local real estate professionals guide you through the purchase of your next home, or skillfully negotiate the successful sale of your current Calgary property. As local Christie Park real estate agents, we're experts on the Calgary housing market dynamics unique to Christie Park real estate. Our team of professionals will get to work for you today! The trademarks MLS® System, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license. Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed by CREB®.

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(a) g (b) 1/5 (c) u a Let l = 1 + -1. Let o = -3.414 - -3.4. Let x = o + 0.214. Which is the nearest to l? (a) -3 (b) x (c) -0.5 b Let h = -288 + 291. What is the closest to -1 in 0.5, h, -0.1? -0.1 Let p = -0.1 + 3.1. Let f = -3.19 + p. Let d = f - -0.09. Which is the closest to -2? (a) -1 (b) d (c) 0.4 a Let g = 804 + -794.02. Let z = g - -0.02. Let i = z - 10.1. What is the closest to 0.2 in i, 0, -3? 0 Let f = -7.07 + 10.07. Which is the nearest to 3/4? (a) -0.4 (b) 0.4 (c) -0.3 (d) f b Let r(q) = -q**2 + 6*q + 4. Let j be r(9). Let h = j - -45/2. What is the nearest to 2/3 in -3, -0.1, h? -0.1 Let h be (4/(-6))/((-15)/(-9))*5. What is the nearest to -1/4 in 4, h, -3? h Let d = -353/705 - 14/141. What is the nearest to -1 in 5, 2, d? d Let v = 9 - 17. Let l = -381/28 + 3/28. Let f = l + 14. Which is the nearest to 1? (a) f (b) v (c) -0.3 a Let l = -0.2 + 0.1. Let u(s) = -s**3 - 14*s**2 - 9*s + 54. Let v be u(-13). Which is the closest to l? (a) -0.3 (b) v (c) 0.3 a Let s = 86 - 87. Which is the closest to -1? (a) s (b) 1/6 (c) 2 a Let l = -553.2 - -553. What is the closest to -0.1 in -0.1, 1/5, 1, l? -0.1 Let l = -1143.9 + 1144. Let x be 2/3 + 20/6. Let q be x/4 + (0 - 4). What is the nearest to l in -4, 1/7, q? 1/7 Let k = 0.1 + 0. Let j = 216 - 211.84. Let i = -0.16 + j. What is the nearest to k in i, 0.3, 0? 0 Suppose 3*o = -o + 52. Let l = o - 11. Let q be l - ((-93)/(-24) + -2). Which is the nearest to -1? (a) -4 (b) q (c) 0.2 b Let t = -2713 + 2712.9. Let s be (-6)/(-21) + (-16)/105. What is the closest to s in t, -5, -0.2? t Let a = -718 + 723. What is the nearest to 0.2 in 4, a, 0.2, 2/7? 0.2 Let o = -109 + 113. Suppose -4*y = -o + 20. Which is the nearest to 2? (a) y (b) -1/2 (c) -0.2 c Let p = -2.2 + 14.2. Let b = -11.75 + p. Let g = b - 0.35. What is the nearest to 5 in 0, g, 4? 4 Let x = -30.53 - -30.5. What is the nearest to 0 in 0, 4, x? 0 Let u be (-40)/70 + (-3)/7. What is the nearest to 8 in -4, u, -1/2, 2? 2 Let g be ((-2)/(-8))/(6/8). Let z be (0*(-15)/75)/(-8). Which is the closest to z? (a) -4 (b) 5 (c) g c Let x = 3.09 + -2.99. Which is the nearest to x? (a) 1 (b) -3 (c) -9 (d) 1/10 d Let u be ((-21)/(-28))/3 + (-19)/(-4). Suppose u*m - 13*m = -56. Let y = -0.2 + 0.2. What is the nearest to y in 5, m, 4? 4 Let y(b) = -b + 1. Let w be y(-3). Let g = -0.141 - -0.041. What is the closest to -1 in w, 5, g? g Let r = -41 + 288/7. Let c = -83 + 416/5. What is the nearest to c in 1/8, 2/3, r? r Let h = -19.2 + 19.1. What is the nearest to h in 0.081, 0.1, 3, -3? 0.081 Let w = 0.3 + 1.1. Let n = -1.3 + w. Let r = 0.4 + n. Which is the nearest to 0? (a) -0.1 (b) 0.3 (c) r a Let j = -85.073 - -1.073. Which is the nearest to -2/7? (a) -5 (b) j (c) 5 a Suppose 3*a = -3*q - 39, -3*q = -0*a + a + 15. Let d = a - -11. Let j = -3.3 + -1.7. What is the nearest to d in j, 2/9, -8? 2/9 Let o = 1123 + -1118. What is the closest to 0.1 in 0, o, -1/6? 0 Let f = -307 - -308. Let h be (((-9)/15)/(-3))/(-1). What is the nearest to f in -1/2, 4/11, h? 4/11 Let w = -427.8 - -428.3. Let y = 10.7 + -15. Let l = y - -4. What is the nearest to -0.1 in l, -0.4, w? l Let q = 200 + -200.1. Which is the nearest to 3? (a) -1 (b) q (c) 1/7 (d) 2/9 d Let m = -389 - -388. Which is the closest to m? (a) -59 (b) 0.3 (c) -0.4 c Let q = -0.372 + 5.372. Which is the nearest to -0.2? (a) 1/2 (b) q (c) -0.2 c Let w be 9/(15/(-5)) - -3. What is the closest to w in 2, -7/9, 1? -7/9 Let g be 152/(-114)*((-2)/2 - 2). Let q = 8/59 + -50/1239. What is the closest to 0 in q, g, 2? q Let q = 0.399 + 0.601. Which is the closest to -17? (a) -0.01 (b) q (c) 0.1 a Let l(o) = -o**3 + 8*o**2 - 6*o - 8. Let q be l(7). Let r = -29 + 34. Which is the nearest to q? (a) 3/4 (b) -1 (c) r b Suppose j - 3*j + 2*v - 30 = 0, -4*j = -5*v + 61. Let n be (-51)/210 - 2/j. Which is the nearest to 0? (a) -0.03 (b) n (c) 2/15 a Let k = -72.8 - -142. Let r = k + -69. Which is the closest to r? (a) -5 (b) 0.1 (c) -2/5 b Let z = -3.7 - -3.7. What is the closest to 2 in 1/6, z, 13? 1/6 Let k = 2/119 - 482/357. Which is the closest to 0? (a) k (b) -6/7 (c) -1/7 c Let f = 264 + -264.06. What is the nearest to -3 in -0.3, f, 0.3, -4? -4 Let f = 233/12 - 56/3. Let d = 0.7 - 1. Which is the nearest to 0? (a) f (b) d (c) -2 b Let j = -0.007 - -1.007. Let p = 0.13 + -0.1. Let u = 0.03 - p. Which is the closest to 1? (a) u (b) -1/6 (c) j c Suppose -2*l - 63 = 4*q - 9, 0 = 3*l - 2*q + 89. Let t = l - -173/6. Suppose 6*f + 2 + 4 = 0. Which is the closest to f? (a) t (b) 0.5 (c) 0 a Let f = -0.4 - -0.3. Let t = 648.93 + -654. Let h = t - -1.07. Which is the closest to f? (a) h (b) -0.4 (c) 5 b Let c = 278 + -278. What is the nearest to c in 21, -0.3, -1, 14? -0.3 Let g be (-51)/135 + 15/25. Let x be (-1 - -4)*10/6. Let p = -5 + x. What is the nearest to 2 in -0.2, p, g? g Let f be (3 + 15/(-6))/2. Which is the closest to 0.4? (a) f (b) -16 (c) -4 a Let s be (-22)/(-6) + (-5)/(-10)*-6. Let n = -1.97 - -2. Let b = 2.97 + n. What is the nearest to s in b, 2/9, -0.2? 2/9 Let u = -1/17 + -25/153. Let l = -0.2 - -0.2. Let n = -0.454 + 0.254. Which is the nearest to l? (a) n (b) 1 (c) u a Let r be (3 + 336 + -3)*3 + 0. Let y be 4/(-9) + 16/r. What is the closest to 2 in 0.3, -5, y? 0.3 Let y = 37/87 + -19429/6612. Let q = 24/19 + y. Suppose -5*r + 10 = -2*n - 0, 0 = -5*r + 10. Which is the nearest to n? (a) -4 (b) q (c) 0 c Let j = 47 - 103. Let q = -55.9 - j. Let t = 0 - -0.2. Which is the closest to t? (a) -1/8 (b) 0.2 (c) q b Let i = -15/2 - -7. Let n = -1/6 - i. Let z = 86 + -81. What is the nearest to n in 0, -3, z? 0 Let h = -4.28 - -3.88. What is the closest to -18 in h, 0.2, 2/7? h Let f = -5.9 - -6. Let m = -0.16 + -0.34. Let k = 3.6 + -8.6. What is the nearest to f in m, 2/13, k? 2/13 Let c = 0 + -0.1. Suppose 2*w + 4*u + 33 = -23, -96 = 2*w - 4*u. Let s = w - -416/11. What is the nearest to 1/4 in s, c, 4? c Let g be -8 + ((-14)/(-21) - (-30)/9). Suppose -2*k + 63 = k - 3*t, -t = -5*k + 101. Let x be ((-1)/7)/(5/k). Which is the closest to -3? (a) g (b) x (c) 5 a Let m = 790.8 - 791. What is the nearest to -1/4 in 4, -0.37, m, -5? m Let j = -1652.192 - -1652. What is the nearest to -3 in j, 0.5, 5? j Let k = -3/5 + 37/45. Which is the closest to 0.03? (a) -0.5 (b) 2/17 (c) k b Let w = -48 + 70. Let k = w + -19. Which is the nearest to 2/9? (a) 0.1 (b) 0.2 (c) k b Let t = 50 - 54. What is the closest to -1 in -1, t, 4/7, 1/3? -1 Let w be (-6)/4*12/(-9). Let z be w/3*2/6. Suppose -12 = -2*f + x, -f + 0*x + x + 7 = 0. Which is the nearest to -0.1? (a) 0.5 (b) z (c) f b Let y = 1 - 2. Let f = -140 - -136. Which is the nearest to 1/4? (a) f (b) y (c) 0.4 c Suppose 0 = -5*i - 5*v - 20, 0 = 5*i + 4*v + 4 + 13. What is the closest to i in -0.1, 10, -2/9, 0? -2/9 Let g = 30 - 30. Let b be ((-2)/2 - -1)*1. What is the nearest to g in 1/4, -2, b? b Let w = 45 - 45.33. Let y = w - -0.23. Which is the nearest to 1/2? (a) y (b) -5 (c) -3 a Let s = 511 - 510.5. Which is the closest to -17? (a) s (b) 2 (c) 4 a Let p = -0.8 + 0.3. Suppose u = 3*y - 4*u - 31, -u + 3 = 4*y. Let o = 91 - 90. Which is the nearest to o? (a) y (b) -7 (c) p a Let d = 26.8 - 27. Let x = -27 + 28. Which is the nearest to x? (a) -1 (b) -0.06 (c) d b Let o = 1.8847 + 0.0153. Which is the closest to 5? (a) o (b) -3/2 (c) -0.2 a Let h = 1071 + -1064. Which is the nearest to 19? (a) h (b) 2/7 (c) 4 a Let o = -0.3 - -0.1. Let w = 117 - 198. Let m = -82 - w. Which is the closest to m? (a) 5 (b) o (c) -1/6 b Let o = 97.2 + -96.9. Which is the nearest to 2/7? (a) o (b) 1 (c) -2/5 (d) -1.6 a Let l be (-1)/(5 + (0/(-4) - -2)). Which is the nearest to -315? (a) 0.5 (b) -2 (c) 2 (d) l b Suppose -2*r + g = -10, -2*r - 4*g = -11 - 9. What is the nearest to -1/6 in r, -0.1, -5/3? -0.1 Let u = 17.9 + -16. Let q = -11.5 + 11.6. Let i = q + u. What is the nearest to i in -5, -0.2, 3? 3 Let p be 28/42 + 19/(-24). Which is the nearest to -1/4? (a) 3/7 (b) p (c) 0.3 (d) -5 b Let p = 62.7 + -63.7. Let t = -7 + 7.3. What is the closest to p in t, 2/17, -4? 2/17 Let i(t) = 5*t**2 - 3*t - 4. Let g be i(-1). Which is the nearest to -

Q: Python inherit method from arbitrary class I'm sure this will be a duplicate question, but I can't seem to find the words to locate one. I have a set of very similar models I'd like to code up. The models are all the same, apart from a single function / line of code. I'd like to avoid any code repetition. Let' see an MWE: import numpy as np class SinModel: def __init__(self): self.x = np.linspace(-np.pi, np.pi) def run(self): # Computations which are invariant of the function we use later self.y = np.sin(self.x) # More computations which are invariant of which funcion was used Our second model will involve the same series of computations, but will use a different function mid way though (here, cosine instead of sine): class CosModel: def __init__(self): self.x = np.linspace(-np.pi, np.pi) def run(self): # Computations which are the same as in SinModel self.y = np.cos(self.x) # More computations which are the same as in SinModel Here I have lots of code repetition. Is there a better way to implement these models? I was hoping it would be possible to create a class Model which could inherit the differing function from an arbitrary class. An important note is that the function which changes between models may take different arguments from self depending on the model. A: The words you're looking for are inheritance (allowing a class to inherit and extends / specialize a parent class) and the "template method" design pattern (which is possibly the most common design pattern - the one everyone discovers by itself long before reading about design patterns). Expanding on your MWE: import numpy as np class ModelBase(object): def __init__(self): self.x = np.linspace(-np.pi, np.pi) def run(self): # Computations which are invariant of the function we use later self.y = self.compute_y() # More computations which are invariant of which funcion was used def compute_y(self): raise NotImplementedError("class {} must implement compute_y()".format(type(self).__name__)) class SinModel(ModelBase): def compute_y(self): return np.sin(self.x) class CosModel(ModelBase): def compute_y(self): return np.cos(self.x) This being said, creating instance attributes outside the initializer (the __init__ method) is considered bad practice - an object should be fully initialized (have all it's attributes defined) when the initializer returns, so it might be better to move the self.y = self.compute_y() line to the initializer if possible, or, if self.y always only depends on self.x, make it a computed attribute: class ModelBase(object): def __init__(self): self.x = np.linspace(-np.pi, np.pi) @property def y(self): return self._compute_y() def _compute_y(self): raise NotImplementedError("class {} must implement _compute_y()".format(type(self).__name__)) def run(self): # Computations which are invariant of the function we use later # no need to explicitely set self.y here, just use `self.y` # and it will delegate to self._compute_y() #(you can't set it anymore anyway since we made it a readonly propery) # More computations which are invariant of which funcion was used class SinModel(ModelBase): def _compute_y(self): return np.sin(self.x) class CosModel(ModelBase): def _compute_y(self): return np.cos(self.x) Also at this point you don't necessarily need subclasses anymore, at least if that's the only thing that changes - you can just pass the proper function as a callback to your model class ie: class Model(object): def __init__(self, compute_y): self.x = np.linspace(-np.pi, np.pi) self._compute_y = compute_y @property def y(self): return self._compute_y(self) def run(self): # code here cos_model = Model(lambda obj: np.cos(obj.x)) cos_model.run() sin_model = Model(lambda obj: np.sin(obj.x)) sin_model.run()

// Package treeprint provides a simple ASCII tree composing tool. package treeprint import ( "bytes" "fmt" "io" "reflect" ) type Value interface{} type MetaValue interface{} // Tree represents a tree structure with leaf-nodes and branch-nodes. type Tree interface { // AddNode adds a new node to a branch. AddNode(v Value) Tree // AddMetaNode adds a new node with meta value provided to a branch. AddMetaNode(meta MetaValue, v Value) Tree // AddBranch adds a new branch node (a level deeper). AddBranch(v Value) Tree // AddMetaBranch adds a new branch node (a level deeper) with meta value provided. AddMetaBranch(meta MetaValue, v Value) Tree // Branch converts a leaf-node to a branch-node, // applying this on a branch-node does no effect. Branch() Tree // FindByMeta finds a node whose meta value matches the provided one by reflect.DeepEqual, // returns nil if not found. FindByMeta(meta MetaValue) Tree // FindByValue finds a node whose value matches the provided one by reflect.DeepEqual, // returns nil if not found. FindByValue(value Value) Tree // String renders the tree or subtree as a string. String() string // Bytes renders the tree or subtree as byteslice. Bytes() []byte } type node struct { Root *node Meta MetaValue Value Value Nodes []*node } func (n *node) AddNode(v Value) Tree { n.Nodes = append(n.Nodes, &node{ Root: n, Value: v, }) if n.Root != nil { return n.Root } return n } func (n *node) AddMetaNode(meta MetaValue, v Value) Tree { n.Nodes = append(n.Nodes, &node{ Root: n, Meta: meta, Value: v, }) if n.Root != nil { return n.Root } return n } func (n *node) AddBranch(v Value) Tree { branch := &node{ Value: v, } n.Nodes = append(n.Nodes, branch) return branch } func (n *node) AddMetaBranch(meta MetaValue, v Value) Tree { branch := &node{ Meta: meta, Value: v, } n.Nodes = append(n.Nodes, branch) return branch } func (n *node) Branch() Tree { n.Root = nil return n } func (n *node) FindByMeta(meta MetaValue) Tree { for _, node := range n.Nodes { if reflect.DeepEqual(node.Meta, meta) { return node } if v := node.FindByMeta(meta); v != nil { return v } } return nil } func (n *node) FindByValue(value Value) Tree { for _, node := range n.Nodes { if reflect.DeepEqual(node.Value, value) { return node } if v := node.FindByMeta(value); v != nil { return v } } return nil } func (n *node) Bytes() []byte { buf := new(bytes.Buffer) level := 0 levelEnded := make(map[int]bool) if n.Root == nil { buf.WriteString(string(EdgeTypeStart)) buf.WriteByte('\n') } else { edge := EdgeTypeMid if len(n.Nodes) == 0 { edge = EdgeTypeEnd levelEnded[level] = true } printValues(buf, 0, levelEnded, edge, n.Meta, n.Value) } if len(n.Nodes) > 0 { printNodes(buf, level, levelEnded, n.Nodes) } return buf.Bytes() } func (n *node) String() string { return string(n.Bytes()) } func printNodes(wr io.Writer, level int, levelEnded map[int]bool, nodes []*node) { for i, node := range nodes { edge := EdgeTypeMid if i == len(nodes)-1 { levelEnded[level] = true edge = EdgeTypeEnd } printValues(wr, level, levelEnded, edge, node.Meta, node.Value) if len(node.Nodes) > 0 { printNodes(wr, level+1, levelEnded, node.Nodes) } } } func printValues(wr io.Writer, level int, levelEnded map[int]bool, edge EdgeType, meta MetaValue, val Value) { for i := 0; i < level; i++ { if levelEnded[i] { fmt.Fprint(wr, " ") continue } fmt.Fprintf(wr, "%s   ", EdgeTypeLink) } if meta != nil { fmt.Fprintf(wr, "%s [%v] %v\n", edge, meta, val) return } fmt.Fprintf(wr, "%s %v\n", edge, val) } type EdgeType string const ( EdgeTypeStart EdgeType = "." EdgeTypeLink EdgeType = "│" EdgeTypeMid EdgeType = "├──" EdgeTypeEnd EdgeType = "└──" ) func New() Tree { return &node{} }

Apathy: a practical guide for neurologists. Apathy is an under-recognised and underestimated problem for people with chronic neurological disorders. Despite being common and disabling, it is seldom volunteered as a symptom by patients or even their caregivers. Yet apathy undoubtedly has an important impact on caregiver stress, functional disability and quality of life. A detailed clinical assessment can distinguish apathy from depression and allow clinicians to make practical suggestions to reduce the impact of symptoms on individual patients and their families. Pharmacological approaches to treatment include cholinesterase inhibitors, dopamine agonists and stimulants. CASE 1A 66-year-old man with progressive supranuclear palsy returned to clinic for review. His wife was upset and finding it difficult to cope. She described him as 'completely lazy', as he just sat in his chair all day watching television, even though he could still do things for himself. She felt that he could not be bothered to speak to her anymore because he was 'obsessed with TV'. He did not seem to engage with the visits to the grandchildren that she arranged. He said that he felt fine apart from the problems with his walking.The neurologist was confident that the patient was not depressed, and that the wife's concerns reflected the apathy that is often very pronounced in progressive supranuclear palsy. By explaining to the man's wife that these problems were due to his disease, their relationship improved and she felt more able to cope with caring for him. CASE 2A 75-year-old man attended clinic with his wife. She had worried about him for over a year, as he had become increasingly withdrawn. He used to enjoy going to the local pub but now stayed at home all day. He seemed less concerned about his personal appearance, about which he used to be meticulous. More recently, she had noticed that he had become forgetful. On examination, he had a mild episodic memory deficit but no impairments in other domains.He was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment but the presence of apathy suggested a high risk of him developing Alzheimer's disease. He did not improve with a trial of antidepressant treatment but had useful input from an occupational therapist. His apathy improved after he started a cholinesterase inhibitor a year later, when his cognitive symptoms had progressed.

Introducción {#sec0005} ============ La Comunidad de Madrid es la más afectada de nuestro país con 71.503 casos de COVID-19 (diagnosticados por PCR y test de anticuerpos) y 8.826 fallecidos a consecuencia de esta enfermedad (datos a fecha de 15 de mayo de 2020)[@bib0110]. Esta situación nos ha obligado a modificar nuestra práctica habitual para adaptarnos a las necesidades de la población. Así pues, el Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, uno de los hospitales de gran complejidad de la Comunidad de Madrid, que cuenta con 1.256 camas de hospitalización, ha dedicado la mayor parte de sus recursos a la atención de pacientes con COVID-19, como los demás centros hospitalarios. El servicio de Urología, al igual que el resto de servicios quirúrgicos de nuestro país[@bib0115], ha tenido que adaptarse a esta situación, de tal manera que la actividad quirúrgica programada fue suspendida desde el 16 de marzo de 2020, realizándose solamente cirugía urgente. Mientras tanto, los urólogos hemos realizado labores asistenciales integrados en equipos de atención a pacientes con COVID-19 (hospitalarios y hoteles medicalizados), así como llevando a cabo consultas telefónicas en pacientes urológicos. Actualmente, la superación del pico del brote de coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 indica la necesidad de reiniciar la actividad quirúrgica programada, ya que para muchos pacientes el retraso de su intervención puede asociarse a un peor pronóstico o a grave perjuicio de su calidad de vida[@bib0120], [@bib0125], [@bib0130]. Esto requiere una planificación adecuada que permita garantizar una atención sanitaria segura y de excelencia, minimizando el riesgo de infección por SARS-CoV-2, que puede asociarse a complicaciones importantes[@bib0135]. Para ello constituimos un grupo de trabajo que desarrolló un protocolo asistencial, que adapta las principales recomendaciones de las sociedades científicas a nuestro medio. En este artículo presentamos las principales recomendaciones recogidas en este protocolo, así como un análisis de sus resultados iniciales. El objetivo principal del protocolo es organizar la actividad quirúrgica de tal manera que se ajuste a las necesidades terapéuticas del paciente, evitando en lo posible retrasos que pudiesen condicionar una mala evolución de su patología y reduciendo el riesgo de contagio por el coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 tanto para nuestros pacientes como entre los profesionales sanitarios. Los objetivos específicos son el de normalizar las pautas de actuación en el Área Quirúrgica, adaptándolas a la mejor evidencia científica posible, a la disponibilidad de recursos y a la optimización de la utilización de estos, y analizar la evolución posquirúrgica de nuestros pacientes. Material y métodos {#sec0010} ================== Diseño del protocolo {#sec0015} -------------------- El servicio de Urología, junto con la Unidad de Calidad, realizamos una primera propuesta de plan de trabajo, a la que posteriormente se unieron representantes de los servicios de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Admisión, Medicina Preventiva, Prevención de Riesgos Laborales, Microbiología, Radiodiagnóstico, Análisis Clínico, la Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y miembros de la Dirección médica y de enfermería así como Continuidad Asistencial y Atención al Paciente. Para que este protocolo fuese de aplicación a todo el Área Quirúrgica, participaron representantes de todas las especialidades quirúrgicas. Revisamos las principales recomendaciones de las sociedades quirúrgicas y de anestesiología (en el caso de Urología utilizamos las de la European Association of Urology[@bib0140]), así como las principales bases de datos (Medline y Embase), utilizando como palabras clave «COVID-19», «SARS-CoV-2» y «Surgery». No se aplicaron restricciones de idioma o fecha de publicación, y se revisaron las referencias bibliográficas de los artículos y documentos incluidos. A partir del análisis realizado se propuso un documento consensuado, que fue aprobado por la Comisión de Dirección de nuestro hospital. Plan asistencial {#sec0020} ---------------- Establecemos pautas de actuación dependiendo de las diferentes etapas del proceso, que se resumen en la [figura 1](#fig0005){ref-type="fig"} .1.Selección de pacientes: incluimos aquellos con prioridad 1 de lista de espera quirúrgica ([tabla 1](#tbl0005){ref-type="table"} ), teniendo en cuenta las comorbilidades que pudiesen suponer un incremento del riesgo quirúrgico[@bib0145] (EPOC, HTA, inmunodeficiencias, obesidad, diabetes, neoplasias y enfermedad cardiovascular). Contactamos telefónicamente con ellos para descartar afectación o síntomas relacionados con COVID-19 y contactos con enfermos en los últimos 14 días. Les informamos del posible riesgo de complicaciones relacionadas con esta infección. Así, en caso de no existir sospecha de enfermedad, y aceptando los riesgos que conlleva el procedimiento, se programa la cirugía.Tabla 1Patologías incluidas en prioridad 1Tabla 1Patología tumoralPatología no tumoral*Cáncer renal estadio T1b o superior*: Nefrectomía radical\ \ *Carcinoma urotelial del tracto superior*: Nefroureterectomía\ \ *Carcinoma vesical:*\  RTU vesical: Tumores de aspecto infiltrante (\> 3 cm, sólidos, uropatía obstructiva...) en pacientes subsidiarios de tratamiento con intención curativa (cistectomía o quimio-radioterapia)\  Cistectomía radical: Tumores de alto riesgo\ \ *Carcinoma de próstata de alto riesgo*: Gleason 7 o superior, PSA \> 20, estadio T2c-T3\ \ *Otros tumores*: pene, testículo, tumores retroperitoneales y carcinoma suprarrenalPatologías que produzcan importante repercusión sobre la situación clínica del paciente: hematuria persistente, ITU/sepsis de repetición...\ \ Patologías que supongan una importante repercusión sobre la calidad de vida del paciente: fístula urinaria, dolor persistente...2.Valoración preoperatoria: además de la evaluación preanestésica, en las 24-72 h antes de la intervención realizamos un estudio para intentar descartar COVID-19, ya que si es positivo se suspenderá la cirugía:a.PCR para coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.b.Analítica con hemograma, LDH, proteína C reactiva y ferritina y estudio de coagulación. Si se presenta alguna alteración sugerente de COVID-19, con PCR negativa se valora clínica y radiológicamente.c.Tomografía computarizada (TC) de tórax: se realiza en caso de alta sospecha de COVID-19 en analítica, con clínica y PCR negativa, y en aquellos pacientes de alto riesgo anestésico y/o quirúrgico.3.Establecimiento de circuitos diferenciados: se incluyen en el circuito COVID-19 negativo (circuito L), con plantas de hospitalización, quirófanos y reanimación diferenciados de los pacientes positivos o en estudio.4.Medidas de protección para el paciente: se extreman las medidas de precaución incluyendo restricción de visitas y acompañantes (información telefónica), ingreso en habitaciones individuales, limitación de desplazamientos del paciente y utilización de mascarilla quirúrgica en todo momento por parte del paciente. En cuanto a los profesionales debemos extremar la higiene de manos, así como utilizar guantes, mascarilla quirúrgica y bata desechable.5.Procedimientos en quirófano: existe una alta probabilidad de encontrar pacientes de COVID-19 sin síntomas aparentes y con resultado negativo en la PCR. Para reducir la posibilidad de contagio entre el personal sanitario se incluyen precauciones de contacto y para transmisión aérea en los procedimientos de riesgo, como aquellos que se realizan sobre la vía respiratoria (intubación, aspiración de secreciones...), así como en intervenciones quirúrgicas con producción de aerosoles o riesgo de salpicaduras de sangre o contenido entérico. Estas medidas incluyen recomendaciones sobre los equipos de protección individual (EPI).6.Actividad docente: la participación de médicos residentes como cirujanos principales o ayudantes se sopesa según el procedimiento y el riesgo del paciente y si participan, se extreman las precauciones de protección personal con una adecuada supervisión. Figura 1Resumen del plan asistencial. Evaluación de resultados {#sec0025} ------------------------ Estudio prospectivo y descriptivo de los primeros pacientes intervenidos aplicando las medidas recogidas en el «Protocolo para actividad quirúrgica durante fase de transición de la pandemia por coronavirus SARS-CoV-2» del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. Se han recogido diferentes variables e indicadores para la monitorización del protocolo, incluyendo datos demográficos, estudio diagnóstico y preoperatorio y procedimiento indicado, resultados de las valoraciones clínicas, epidemiológicas y analíticas previas a cirugía, complicaciones postoperatorias, aparición de COVID-19 en el postoperatorio inmediato y evolución de estos pacientes. Para la obtención y análisis de los datos se solicitó el consentimiento de los pacientes incluidos en el estudio, y cumple los requisitos exigidos por el Comité Ético de Investigación con Medicamentos (CEIm) del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. Resultados {#sec0030} ========== El 4 de mayo de 2020 se reinició la actividad quirúrgica programada. En ese momento existían 43 pacientes en lista de espera con prioridad 1. De ellos, 23 presentaban patologías oncológicas. Durante las 2 primeras semanas dispusimos de un quirófano diario, dado que todavía parte del área quirúrgica se dedicaba a la atención de pacientes con COVID-19. Se valoraron 23 pacientes, de los cuales ninguno presentaba antecedentes de COVID-19, clínica sospechosa ni contacto estrecho con enfermos de COVID-19. De ellos, 4 no fueron programados por diferentes motivos: uno fue intervenido en otro hospital (prostatectomía radical), otro por tromboembolismo de pulmón de reciente diagnóstico (adenomectomía láser) y otros 2 estaban en tratamiento quimioterápico (tumor suprarrenal y neoplasia vesical). A los 19 pacientes programados (todos ellos asintomáticos) se les realizó PCR para coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 y analítica según protocolo ([tabla 2](#tbl0010){ref-type="table"} ). Dos pacientes fueron suspendidos, uno por positividad para PCR (tumor de uretra programado para uretrectomía), y otro (tumor renal programado para nefrectomía radical) por presentar alteraciones en la analítica (linfopenia, elevación de PCR y coagulopatía). En este segundo caso, a pesar de la negatividad de la PCR para coronavirus, se realizó una radiografía de tórax que demostró la presencia de un infiltrado en campo medio de pulmón izquierdo sugerente de neumonía en probable relación con COVID-19.Tabla 2Pacientes programadosTabla 2Edad (mediana)69 años (intervalo 29-83)SexoMujer: 2\ Varón 17ASA anestésicoASA I: 2\ ASA II: 10\ ASA III: 4\ ASA IV: 3DiagnósticoNeoplasia vesical: 8 pacientes\ Carcinoma renal: 2 pacientes\ Carcinoma de próstata: 2 pacientes\ Carcinoma de pene: 1 paciente\ Neoplasia testicular: 1 paciente\ Liposarcoma retroperitoneal: 1 paciente\ Carcinoma uretral: 1 paciente\ Infección prótesis de pene: 1 paciente\ Litiasis ureteral: 1 paciente\ Hiperplasia benigna de próstata: 1 pacienteProcedimientoRTU vesical: 7 pacientes\ Prostatectomía radical laparoscópica: 2 pacientes\ Cistectomía radical laparoscópica + conducto ileal: 1 paciente\ Nefrectomía parcial abierta: 1 paciente\ Nefrectomía radical laparoscópica: 1 paciente (suspendido[a](#tblfn0005){ref-type="table-fn"})\ Uretrectomía: 1 paciente (suspendido[b](#tblfn0010){ref-type="table-fn"})\ Orquiectomía radical: 1 paciente\ Penectomía parcial: 1 paciente\ Exéresis liposarcoma por retroperitoneoscopia: 1 paciente\ Retirada de prótesis de pene: 1 paciente\ Ureterorrenoscopia: 1 paciente\ Adenomectomía láser: 1 pacientePCR coronavirus SARS-CoV-2Negativos: 18 pacientes\ Positivo: 1 pacienteDiagnóstico COVID-19 preoperatorioCOVID-19 negativos: 17 pacientes\ COVID-19 positivos: 2 pacientesSeguimiento postoperatorioMediana: 10 días\ (rango: 4-14 días)Complicaciones postoperatorias1 dehiscencia de herida quirúrgica en penectomía parcialMortalidadVivos: 19 pacientes\ Fallecidos: 0 pacientesDiagnóstico COVID-19 postoperatorioNegativos: 17 pacientes\ Positivos: 0 pacientes[^1][^2] De los 17 pacientes intervenidos, 14 presentaban diagnóstico de neoplasia. Solamente 3 pacientes lo hicieron con diagnóstico no oncológico (una litiasis ureteral, una infección de prótesis de pene y una hiperplasia benigna de próstata). Durante el seguimiento postoperatorio, con un intervalo de entre 4 y 14 días (mediana de 10 días), ningún paciente presentó datos de infección por coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Como complicaciones relevantes, solo encontramos una dehiscencia de herida quirúrgica en una penectomía. Discusión {#sec0035} ========= De acuerdo con los datos epidemiológicos, la fase de desaceleración del periodo epidémico por COVID-19 comenzó a mediados de abril. Algo que se traduce en una menor dedicación de recursos humanos y de consumo de materiales dedicados a esta pandemia. Esto hace posible reiniciar, al menos parcialmente, la actividad quirúrgica. Para ello debemos garantizar una atención segura tanto para los pacientes como para el personal que los atiende siguiendo las recomendaciones de las autoridades sanitarias y de las sociedades científicas, adoptando las mejores prácticas disponibles en nuestro medio[@bib0150], [@bib0155]. A partir de estas premisas elaboramos nuestro protocolo asistencial, que tiene como puntos destacados una adecuada selección de los pacientes (según criterios de prioridad), un estudio riguroso previo de su situación respecto a la COVID-19, y el establecimiento de circuitos y procedimientos que garanticen, en la medida de lo posible, la seguridad de pacientes y profesionales. Necesitamos una adecuada priorización de nuestros pacientes, no solo en cuanto a si se trata de patología oncológica o no oncológica, sino también en cuanto a posibles complicaciones asociadas[@bib0115], [@bib0140], [@bib0155], [@bib0160]. Hemos de considerar que el retraso en la cirugía puede suponer un empeoramiento de su pronóstico, no solo en pacientes oncológicos, sino también un aumento de complicaciones en pacientes no oncológicos[@bib0120], [@bib0125], [@bib0130]. En nuestro caso hemos optado por mantener nuestra clasificación por prioridades, que incluye no solo patología tumoral sino también aquellos pacientes con complicaciones potenciales que tienen una importante repercusión clínica y sobre su calidad de vida. La respuesta al estrés quirúrgico se asocia a importantes cambios en la inmunidad de los pacientes[@bib0165]. Estas alteraciones hacen necesario extremar las precauciones en los pacientes quirúrgicos, sobre todo cuando se ha comunicado un 20% de mortalidad en pacientes asintomáticos, que se intervinieron en el periodo de incubación de la COVID-19[@bib0135]. Además, hemos de tener en cuenta que la mayor parte de estos pacientes presentan patologías oncológicas, lo que parece asociarse a una mayor vulnerabilidad, entre otras infecciones, frente a la COVID-19[@bib0170]. Para ello determinamos de manera previa a la cirugía el estatus del paciente frente a la COVID-19 mediante una breve encuesta epidemiológica, y si es negativa realizamos la PCR para coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 y una analítica buscando alteraciones que sugieran COVID-19[@bib0175]. Dada la posibilidad de un falso negativo en la PCR para coronavirus, en caso de sospecha por alteraciones analíticas estaría indicada la realización de una TC de tórax para descartar COVID-19[@bib0180], [@bib0185]. Se podría plantear la realización sistemática de TC de tórax a todos los pacientes de manera previa a cirugía, sin embargo, hemos de tener en cuenta la capacidad de cada centro en relación con el volumen de cirugías que se realizan. En nuestros primeros casos hemos encontrado un paciente con alteraciones analíticas sugerentes de COVID-19, con PCR para coronavirus negativo. En este no se llegó a realizar TC de tórax, ya que la radiografía de tórax fue diagnóstica de neumonía. Una vez establecida de manera razonable la negatividad del paciente para COVID-19, debemos asegurar las condiciones necesarias para garantizar que la intervención y el postoperatorio se desarrollen de manera segura[@bib0150], [@bib0155]. Para ello establecemos un circuito COVID-19 negativo (circuito L), diferenciado del que atiende pacientes con COVID-19 diagnosticados y pendientes de estudio. Incluye áreas de hospitalización, quirófanos y camas de reanimación/UCI diferentes. Asimismo, es imprescindible extremar las medidas para evitar contagios durante el ingreso, mediante la higiene de manos, así como con la utilización de guantes, mascarillas y batas desechables por parte de los profesionales. Debemos limitar las visitas, utilizar habitaciones individuales y limitar los movimientos de los pacientes fuera de estas. Para evitar el aislamiento del paciente, podemos proporcionarle una tablet con la que realizar videollamadas a sus allegados, y priorizar medidas de recuperación rápida para que el alta sea lo más precoz posible[@bib0155]. La protección de los profesionales tiene que ser una prioridad. En el caso concreto del quirófano se establecen como recomendaciones generales la limitación del personal dentro del quirófano y su circulación, la realización de los procedimientos por parte de cirujanos de experiencia y la reducción de las labores docentes[@bib0190], [@bib0195]. La utilización de equipamiento de protección en Urología se basa en la posibilidad de generar aerosoles, así como en el riesgo de que se produzcan salpicaduras (riesgo de sangrado importante y contaminación con contenido intestinal[@bib0200]). Así pues, la presencia de ácidos nucleicos de coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 en orina, a pesar de que no se ha demostrado su transmisión por esta vía, hace recomendable considerar precauciones[@bib0140]. Dentro de estas disponemos bata y calzas impermeables, pantallas o gafas protectoras y mascarillas IIR (resistentes a salpicaduras). El abordaje laparoscópico nos aporta una mejor recuperación para nuestros pacientes, pero podría asociarse a un mayor riesgo de contagio a través del humo que se genera durante la cirugía. Debemos mantener el neumoperitoneo a una presión lo más baja posible, y ser cuidadosos para evitar fugas mediante la utilización de trocares del menor calibre posible o su aspiración antes de la retirada de los trocares y de la apertura para extraer la pieza quirúrgica[@bib0140], [@bib0190], [@bib0205], [@bib0210]. Como limitaciones de estudio se pueden incluir el que se trata de una serie limitada en cuanto al número de pacientes, y que el seguimiento es corto (aunque todos los pacientes superan la media del periodo de incubación de COVID-19). Sin embargo, creemos que las actuaciones llevadas a cabo para la elaboración de este protocolo, así como las recomendaciones que incluye, podrían ser de utilidad a otros grupos que actualmente están diseñando su estrategia para reiniciar la cirugía programada. El cumplimiento de estas medidas debe monitorizarse de manera continua, así como los resultados en nuestros pacientes. La detección de casos de COVID-19 asociados a la asistencia sanitaria nos obligaría a revisar tanto las medidas de selección de los pacientes como la valoración preoperatoria y por supuesto el funcionamiento del circuito COVID-19 negativo. Conclusiones {#sec0040} ============ La progresiva desaceleración de la epidemia de COVID-19 nos permite entrar en una nueva etapa en la que se debe reiniciar la actividad quirúrgica programada. Debe realizarse de tal manera que se garantice la seguridad de nuestros pacientes, sin olvidar la de los profesionales sanitarios. La protocolización de los procedimientos nos permite ofrecer una asistencia de calidad, minimizando el riesgo relacionado con la infección por el coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Resultados preliminares indican que el protocolo diseñado para asegurar la correcta aplicación de medidas de prevención de transmisión de la infección por coronavirus está siendo seguro y efectivo. Financiación {#sec0045} ============ Este estudio no ha recibido ninguna financiación. Conflicto de intereses {#sec0050} ====================== Los autores de este estudio declaran que no presentan ningún conflicto de intereses. [^1]: Paciente suspendido por COVID-19 diagnosticado por alteraciones analíticas y radiografía de tórax con imagen de neumonía (PCR negativa). [^2]: PCR para coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 positiva.

JUDGMENT Court of Appeals First District of Texas NO. 01-13-00267-CV JAY H. COHEN, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE JHC TRUSTS I AND II, Appellant V. SANDCASTLE HOMES, INC., Appellee Appeal from the 234th District Court of Harris County. (Tr. Ct. No. 2010-20973B). This case is an appeal from the final judgment signed by the trial court on February 22, 2013. After submitting the case on the appellate record and the arguments properly raised by the parties, the Court holds that the trial court’s judgment contains no reversible error. Accordingly, the Court affirms the trial court’s judgment. The Court orders that the appellant, Jay H. Cohen, Individually and as Trustee of the JHC Trusts I and II, pay all appellate costs. The Court orders that this decision be certified below for observance. Judgment rendered February 26, 2015. Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Massengale and Huddle. Opinion delivered by Chief Justice Radack. y 

Unexpected Roadturns One of myDream Into It corporate students can’t get past the idea that there are situations in life that are beyond our control. She can’t see the sense in talking about Dreams and desires in the face of a sometimes ugly reality. Have you ever felt that way? Has life ever had you pinned up against the wall? The truth is that none of us know what’s coming next and chances are, if you live long enough, you’re going to die. You may be feeling healthy and optimistic one moment, then on the floor gasping for breath the next. Your money can be stolen, your heart broken, and your children rise up to curse you. It happens. None of us are exempt from sorrow and tragedy. You see, it’s not what happens to us that determines who we are–it’s what we think about it and what we do about it that counts. My student has seen some tough scrapes in life. Now, she’s bitter and afraid to hope for a brighter future. This country has seen some tough scrapes too–and the worst thing we can do is to lose hope and let anger and fear preside. Politics aside, President Obama gave this country something it needs badly when he addressed Congress last week. No, it probably wasn’t a job plan that is going to bail us out of our economic woes. He gave us something much more important than that: He reminded us that we are citizens of the United States of America, that we always look forward in hope and faith, and that we don’t give up. We never give up. And we never will.

How Not to Embarass Yourself in a Foreign Country Travelling is supposed to be fun, and you’d want to explore new places feeling as confident and relaxed as possible. But before you head to the airport to catch a flight to Korea, Japan or US, take a look at this cheat-sheet to manage your expectations on cultural customs and behaviors. 1. Know when (and when not) to touch a person Whether to touch or not can be confusing when you are in a foreign land. In many European countries, invading personal space for a bit may not be a big deal. But with much of African and Asian countries, you wouldn’t want to appear clingy. In France and Italy, maintaining eye contact, touching the other person and reaching out are considered more polite gestures than just staring at the person with your hands crossed over your chest. However, in Nigeria, maintaining eye contact can be perceived as threat or an overly bold move. 2. Mind the table manners Although you were always taught that elbows should always be off the table and do not leave anything on your plate when done eating, table manners vary widely from country to country. In India and certain parts of Africa, it’s more than just keeping your elbows off the table. You also have to be mindful of your left hand—it shouldn’t touch anything on the table or it will be considered dirty. In Japan, you can slurp the soup, but do that in China and you’ll get all the strange stares at the table. In China, eating your rice with chopsticks is customary, but in Thailand it is considered inappropriate (use a spoon, instead). 3. Know whether you need to tip or not In America, people do not leave a restaurant without leaving 15 percent tip on the table. However, in many countries around the world, tipping is either already part of the bill, unnecessary because the staff are paid much higher or just plain rude. Do not tip in Australia, Brazil and Japan. Leave at least five percent tip in Germany, France and Italy, while at least 10 percent tip in Russia, Egypt, South Africa and Hong Kong. 4. Dress appropriately Unless you are headed somewhere In U.S., it’s best to dress more conservatively when in a foreign land. Cover your arms and legs and avoid wearing shirts with graphics and slogans that are too loud to the sight. 5. Learn the most basic local phrases This is an obvious one, but we’ll say it again: learning the foreign language of basic phrases like “Hi,” “Hello,” “Please,” “Thank you,” “Where’s the bathroom,” and “Do you speak English” will go a long way in making you appear more friendly to the locals. It only takes a few minutes to learn these magic phrases that can greatly help turn strangers to friends anywhere you are. Above all, be observant. Try to be the tourist that does not make the locals roll their eyes behind your back. Posted by Editor on Jun 11, 2019 in Travel | Comments Off on How Not to Embarass Yourself in a Foreign Country

Dung Beetles Navigate via the Milky Way - komuW https://voices.nationalgeographic.org/2013/01/24/dung-beetles-navigate-via-the-milky-way-an-animal-kingdom-first/ ====== pavlov Ancient Egyptians considered dung beetles sacred, and believed that they were responsible for rejuvenating the sun during the night. Egyptians also had a keen spiritual and scientific interest in astronomy. Now it's revealed that dung beetles can perceive the galaxy. Coincidence? I think not. Obviously dung beetles are descended from a race of astronavigators who taught the Egyptians everything. _They are the ancient astronauts._ [Cue theremin music] ~~~ BartSaM Is this Reddit now? ~~~ bcbrown pavlov's account was created 3130 days ago; that's 8.5 years. BartSam's account was created 37 days ago. ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯ ~~~ jrimbault Everyone should read the guidelines really. >If your account is less than a year old, please don't submit comments saying that HN is turning into Reddit. It's a common semi-noob illusion, as old as the hills. ~~~ BartSaM I am on HN since many years, a user just recently. I was not implying that HN turns in to Reddit. I was implying that this comment is worthy Reddit, not HackerNews - a professional website that strives to hold on to some standards. I have read the guidelines. Really. ~~~ tim333 There doesn't seem anything in the guidelines saying you shouldn't make jokes. Or it being a professional website for that matter. ~~~ sethrin This is true. However, while jokes are not expressly against the rules, the community moderation rarely favors them. Personally, I read a lot of Slashdot, and to some degree enjoy the level of humor, political debate, and anonymous commentary there. I find that the signal to noise ratio here is somewhat better. I don't think it likely that anyone would be banned for exclusively making joke comments, but generally I think the expectation is that while informative or insightful commentary may also be humorous, the primary purpose here is not entertainment. ------ njharman This is less surprising if you imagine evolution to be a reinforcement machine learning system. The dung beetle actors are given all the sensory inputs of their environment. Those that used the inputs (which happened to be our galaxy) where better at satisfying goal and thus had higher selection rate for next iteration of system. The actors, much like machine leaning, AI, don't have any logic nor any reasoning. They simply are a ludicrously complex, but deterministic state machine of inputs -> mess -> outputs. The mess being seeming unintelligible, not rational, with lots of "cruft". ~~~ lioeters I think that's a relevant metaphor, to look at evolution as a kind of machine learning system - especially the aspect of actors not "knowing" or understanding the logic/reasoning behind their (seemingly?) intelligent behavior. That might be a way to explain "intelligent design" in nature, without bringing God or consciousness into the narrative. ~~~ nashashmi > without bringing God or consciousness into the narrative. Are you that afraid of God? Honestly though, the more you break apart and put together the world through science, the stronger are the signs of a higher order. The more you take comfort in shallow explanations, the dimmer and darker your world becomes. Machine learning! Hah! It is nothing more than pattern recognition. Reactions to that pattern are a different thing entirely. ~~~ stouset Are you that desperate for a God that you recoil when scientists and mathematicians find a natural explanation for some phenomenon? The more you break apart the world through science, the more you realize that even the simplest of rulesets can give rise to an incredibly complex network of of structure, behavior, and incentives — no deity required. Enjoy your ever-shrinking God of the Gaps. ~~~ nashashmi There is nothing natural about a dung learning to navigate using the stars. Nothing that great either. A creature will always try to figure its way using objects as a reference point. An incredibly complex network of structures is more proof of a higher order. Enjoy your belief in a perpetually self-correcting field of science and a perception of the world that never ceases to change. By definition, you'll never find peace. ~~~ gnaritas > There is nothing natural about a dung learning to navigate using the stars. Yes there is, it's perfectly natural as was just explained to you above. No magic required, simple evolution. > An incredibly complex network of structures is more proof of a higher order. No, it isn't. It's well established that very simple rules can create incredibly complex network of structures with no higher order whatsoever. > Enjoy your belief in a perpetually self-correcting field of science and a > perception of the world that never ceases to change. By definition, you'll > never find peace. Nonsense. If you require iron age superstition to achieve peace, that's you; others don't have that requirement. ~~~ nashashmi I honestly wished you made better backup points to your arguments. I'm left with nothing to go on as it is now. Not natural does not imply magic. Nature by my reasoning is magical though. Simple rules fail in the subject of the Heisenberg principle. ~~~ gnaritas > I honestly wished you made better backup points to your arguments. I'm left > with nothing to go on as it is now. I don't need to, you either understand evolution or you don't; it's not an opinion to be argued, it is how the world works. There's nothing you can refute, any refutation is simply evidence you do not understand the facts of reality. You can't argue with someone who denies evolution, their mind doesn't value facts. > Nature by my reasoning is magical though. Then your reasoning is flawed. Magic is that which breaks the rules of nature, like your god for example. Nature is not magical, the natural world is the very definition of not magic. > Simple rules fail in the subject of the Heisenberg principle. You don't understand evolution, you're nowhere near ready to approach the topic of quantum mechanics. ~~~ nashashmi I give up. An atheist is not an atheist by logic. But rather by arrogance and ignorance. And the nature of your tone seems to prove it. My only advice is to tone down your hate and aversion to all things theological and reduce your pride in the explanation of science. Because when it gets old and stale and the excitement wears off, you will see things in a more "connected sense." Like theology is just another version of science kind of thing. ~~~ gnaritas > Because when it gets old and stale and the excitement wears off, you will > see things in a more "connected sense." No, reason and logic don't get old or stale, and they prevent me from thinking how I "see things" has anything to do with reality. Nature is what it is, it doesn't care about your beliefs and fears and need for an afterlife. Never mind the humor in the one with an imaginary friend he's trying to push on others calling others arrogant and ignorant, lol, don't project your flaws on me. People are here talking about a dung beetle story and you're prothletising, it's disgusting; keep that shit to yourself. ------ vermontdevil Saw this in the twitter thread where this topic was started A dung beetle goes into a bar. He doesn't order a drink. He just takes a stool. ------ komuW I have found the link to the original paper: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.12.034](http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.12.034) ------ rexfuzzle For context: TED talk where navigation via the sun is discussed and shown- [https://www.ted.com/talks/marcus_byrne_the_dance_of_the_dung...](https://www.ted.com/talks/marcus_byrne_the_dance_of_the_dung_beetle) ------ olegkikin But how do they know it's not based on just a few bright stars? Milky way is pretty hard to see with our large human eyes. Insect eyes are good for panoramic views, but much less efficient at low light acuity. ~~~ njharman > Milky way is pretty hard to see with our large human eyes. It's not, at all. It's just become hard to see in the last 100 years or so of massive light pollution. ~~~ sliverstorm Piling on, a real dark-sky site is worth a visit. First one I've been too is the Cosmic Campground. I don't have my photos on hand, but it really looks like this to the naked eye, maybe even more vibrant: [http://www.darksky.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/01/CC_MilkyWa...](http://www.darksky.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/01/CC_MilkyWay-700x366.png) (Be careful, at the CC we accidentally were "those guys"\- there were no lights at all except red headlamps, and our car kept lighting up like a Christmas tree) ------ joelrunyon Here's the tweet thread that brought this to the forefront today - [https://twitter.com/GeneticJen/status/897153736669356032](https://twitter.com/GeneticJen/status/897153736669356032) ------ lai That dung beetle helmet is hilarious. ------ mcone Previous discussion: [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6422393](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6422393) ------ zoom6628 Dung beetles 1 Humans 0 There are so many things left to discover and understand on the planet. Great time to be a scientist, or a maker. ------ samstave "little cardboard hats" I never thought a dung beetle could sound so cute. ------ Moshe_Silnorin What wonders we see in nature. ------ ythn Wow, they put the beetles in a planetarium? Nice

Gene therapy with antisense oligonucleotides silencing c-myc reduces neointima formation and vessel wall thickness in a mouse model of vein graft disease. Gene therapy for avoiding intimal hyperplasia of vein grafts after coronary artery bypass grafting is still discussed controversially. A promising application of gene therapy in vein grafts is the use of antisense oligonucleotides to block the expression of genes encoding cell cycle regulatory proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells. C-myc, either directly or by regulating the expression of other proteins, controls cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell survival, tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, cell metabolism, production of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and also participates in cell transformation. Forty C57BL/6J mice underwent interposition of the inferior vena cava from isogenic donor mice into the common carotid artery using a previously described cuff technique. Twenty mice received periadventitial administration of antisense oligonucleotides directed against c-myc (treatment group), the other twenty mice received no treatment (control group). All vein grafts were harvested two weeks after surgery, dehydrated, wax embedded, cut into slides of 2 μm thickness, stained and histologically and immunohistochemically examined under light microscope. In our study, we could show the promising effects of antisense oligonucleotide treatment in a mouse model of vein graft disease including the significant reduction of neointimal, media and total vessel wall thickness with a significantly lower percentage of SMA positive cells, elastic fibres and acid mucopolysaccharides in the neointima and media, a decreased vascularization, and a lower expression of PDGFR ß, MMP-9 and VEGF-A positive cells throughout the whole vein graft wall.

# Translation of Odoo Server. # This file contains the translation of the following modules: # * mass_mailing_slides # msgid "" msgstr "" "Project-Id-Version: Odoo Server saas~12.5\n" "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: \n" "POT-Creation-Date: 2019-08-26 08:16+0000\n" "PO-Revision-Date: 2019-08-26 08:16+0000\n" "Last-Translator: \n" "Language-Team: \n" "MIME-Version: 1.0\n" "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8\n" "Content-Transfer-Encoding: \n" "Plural-Forms: \n" #. module: mass_mailing_slides #: model_terms:ir.ui.view,arch_db:mass_mailing_slides.slide_channel_view_form msgid "<span class=\"o_stat_text\">Mail Attendees</span>" msgstr "" #. module: mass_mailing_slides #: model_terms:ir.ui.view,arch_db:mass_mailing_slides.slide_channel_view_kanban msgid "Mail Attendees" msgstr "" #. module: mass_mailing_slides #: code:addons/mass_mailing_slides/models/slide_channel.py:0 #, python-format msgid "Mass Mail Course Members" msgstr "" #. module: mass_mailing_slides #: model:ir.model,name:mass_mailing_slides.model_slide_channel msgid "Slide Channel" msgstr ""

Deca durabolin y polysteron You can take several steps to mitigate the risks, such as incorporating valuable supplements (anti-estrogens, anti-hypertensive medications, and diuretics) and keeping a close eye on your diet and workout routine. What should I expect in my Deca Durabolin before and... Turbolino tcs Item will come in original packaging. If we can't fix it, we will issue you an Amazon Gift Card for full replacement value. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in... Turboline 3000 control system Meditech is a brand but not the original Dbol. In this case, there's 2925 mg of total ingredients divided up among the ingredients included in the formulation, but we have no idea how much of each ingredient is included in... Liv 52 dosage dbol Turinabol is also not presently being manufactured for veterinary use either, leaving the black market as the only available source for this anabolic steroid. Without PCT, testosterone levels may never return to normal and replacement therapy may be required permanently.... T bol only results Conclusion Turinabol is a unique steroid in its nature, which can be rightfully considered as a perfect combination of the benefits found in dianabol and anavar. Since it is a c17aa steroid, it presents certain liver toxicity. Oral Turinabol... Dosage of oral turinabol These types of Turinabol cycles are very flexible and can be utilized for multiple goals, applications, and desires. The workanabolic steroids that are to provide the quality muscle and strength gains are the other two compounds aside from Testosterone: Trenbolone... Test cyp turinabol cycle Clomid and HCG are recommended for use at the end of the cycle to prevent muscle loss, restore natural testosterone production and keep under control the above-mentioned side-effects. We can provide you with high purity oral turinabol raw powder! Whatever...

Shopping The finish of the first 10 years of the new millennium is quick approaching and while the world has not altered in many of the methods that people anticipated, there have also been developments in technologies have altered how we store and even how we socialize. 1 example is the Xmas holiday. Much more and … Read moreDangers Of On-Line Shopping A Product. Clearly, you require something to sell. This could be software program, or items you promote on eBay, or a services, or an information item. People get hung up on how to arrive up with an item — and the reality is that products are the easiest thing in the world to get. It’s … Read moreGift Playing Cards – Buyer Beware

vg when four letters picked without replacement from ggggggggvgggvgvvgg? 91/765 Four letters picked without replacement from sfufssskkkskffkkks. Give prob of sequence sfks. 7/612 What is prob of sequence fnf when three letters picked without replacement from nvtcfcfn? 1/84 Two letters picked without replacement from {j: 3, f: 5, t: 2}. Give prob of sequence jf. 1/6 Calculate prob of sequence hssh when four letters picked without replacement from {h: 2, s: 5}. 1/21 Calculate prob of sequence aaaa when four letters picked without replacement from {i: 10, a: 4}. 1/1001 What is prob of sequence mnnn when four letters picked without replacement from {m: 4, n: 10}? 120/1001 Two letters picked without replacement from {g: 2, q: 3, u: 1, f: 1, a: 3}. What is prob of sequence qu? 1/30 What is prob of sequence xdgj when four letters picked without replacement from ddjgjxdjdddxjx? 3/1001 Two letters picked without replacement from {x: 2, n: 1, t: 7}. What is prob of sequence nt? 7/90 Four letters picked without replacement from {b: 4, g: 6}. What is prob of sequence gbgb? 1/14 Four letters picked without replacement from {j: 1, w: 10, h: 4, y: 2, u: 2}. Give prob of sequence hwjy. 5/5814 What is prob of sequence sm when two letters picked without replacement from vsuosvommmvvoummmy? 2/51 Three letters picked without replacement from nvnnvuuuvnvuun. What is prob of sequence vnv? 5/182 What is prob of sequence jhh when three letters picked without replacement from {h: 7, j: 9}? 9/80 Calculate prob of sequence ojgp when four letters picked without replacement from {o: 1, p: 2, g: 9, j: 3, z: 3}. 1/1360 What is prob of sequence zz when two letters picked without replacement from zyzgoy? 1/15 Four letters picked without replacement from eoejeijeiejii. Give prob of sequence ieei. 2/143 Two letters picked without replacement from {u: 2, y: 1, t: 1, d: 2, z: 1}. Give prob of sequence yt. 1/42 Calculate prob of sequence gx when two letters picked without replacement from yggxmmymryfyryg. 1/70 Three letters picked without replacement from jjxjpjixgjggxxijjip. Give prob of sequence jpx. 28/2907 Calculate prob of sequence sw when two letters picked without replacement from {w: 2, o: 4, s: 1}. 1/21 What is prob of sequence vvd when three letters picked without replacement from {f: 2, d: 3, v: 13}? 13/136 Two letters picked without replacement from {b: 3, m: 3}. What is prob of sequence mb? 3/10 Calculate prob of sequence ucts when four letters picked without replacement from {u: 1, m: 1, c: 1, s: 1, b: 5, t: 3}. 1/3960 Three letters picked without replacement from {r: 2, s: 5}. Give prob of sequence rss. 4/21 What is prob of sequence tr when two letters picked without replacement from rttrrrrttrtt? 3/11 Three letters picked without replacement from dnlnn. Give prob of sequence lnn. 1/10 Calculate prob of sequence cnnw when four letters picked without replacement from hhcwnhcwnhwp. 1/990 Two letters picked without replacement from urgyurrruiryyrd. What is prob of sequence di? 1/210 Calculate prob of sequence bbz when three letters picked without replacement from {v: 3, z: 1, c: 3, s: 1, g: 1, b: 2}. 1/495 What is prob of sequence css when three letters picked without replacement from gscsccgccrgcccvcc? 1/204 Calculate prob of sequence iij when three letters picked without replacement from tji. 0 Three letters picked without replacement from {i: 1, g: 1, o: 1, e: 2}. What is prob of sequence goi? 1/60 Calculate prob of sequence kknn when four letters picked without replacement from nkkkn. 1/10 Two letters picked without replacement from eemhi. What is prob of sequence im? 1/20 Three letters picked without replacement from {n: 7, t: 4, q: 1, r: 2, k: 3}. What is prob of sequence krk? 1/340 Three letters picked without replacement from {y: 1, b: 3, i: 2, u: 1, x: 4}. What is prob of sequence xbi? 4/165 What is prob of sequence ana when three letters picked without replacement from nnanaaa? 6/35 Calculate prob of sequence ci when two letters picked without replacement from zziezcizzzczizizzzz. 4/171 Three letters picked without replacement from gtgnngggtgggeeeggng. Give prob of sequence gge. 55/969 Two letters picked without replacement from xgixpxigpxxgggxxx. Give prob of sequence px. 1/17 Four letters picked without replacement from {g: 2, j: 6, w: 3, h: 4, s: 3}. What is prob of sequence sjsh? 1/510 What is prob of sequence dnd when three letters picked without replacement from {d: 2, h: 1, n: 2}? 1/15 Calculate prob of sequence eo when two letters picked without replacement from {e: 3, d: 3, a: 1, o: 7}. 3/26 Three letters picked without replacement from {k: 1, m: 1, y: 1, b: 2, t: 1, p: 1}. What is prob of sequence tky? 1/210 What is prob of sequence avvn when four letters picked without replacement from nvnonanvavdn? 1/198 Two letters picked without replacement from {h: 1, m: 1, o: 2, a: 1}. What is prob of sequence am? 1/20 Four letters picked without replacement from {y: 2, v: 1, a: 1, s: 1, m: 1, n: 1}. What is prob of sequence masn? 1/840 What is prob of sequence djjj when four letters picked without replacement from {j: 4, d: 16}? 16/4845 Three letters picked without replacement from {k: 1, x: 1, p: 1}. Give prob of sequence kpx. 1/6 Calculate prob of sequence ulbu when four letters picked without replacement from qubluluquqmu. 1/297 Three letters picked without replacement from pllllllllllll. What is prob of sequence llp? 1/13 What is prob of sequence ta when two letters picked without replacement from ttttauttt? 7/72 What is prob of sequence ln when two letters picked without replacement from {y: 1, j: 2, i: 1, l: 1, n: 2}? 1/21 Four letters picked without replacement from ttmbtmmb. Give prob of sequence bmtm. 3/140 What is prob of sequence vte when three letters picked without replacement from vtcwesw? 1/210 Calculate prob of sequence utuu when four letters picked without replacement from tttuttutttuttttutttt. 16/4845 Four letters picked without replacement from yyaaayauuya. What is prob of sequence yyay? 1/66 Calculate prob of sequence ff when two letters picked without replacement from {y: 1, f: 7, h: 10}. 7/51 Four letters picked without replacement from hhmcnnnhtnjthhnhnj. Give prob of sequence chmt. 1/6120 Calculate prob of sequence eues when four letters picked without replacement from {u: 2, s: 5, e: 4}. 1/66 Four letters picked without replacement from {k: 4, c: 2}. Give prob of sequence kkck. 2/15 Four letters picked without replacement from vtvvtttvtvtvvt. Give prob of sequence tvtv. 21/286 Calculate prob of sequence ijj when three letters picked without replacement from ijijiiiiiiijiiijjj. 5/68 Calculate prob of sequence pr when two letters picked without replacement from rkssskklekkpk. 1/156 Four letters picked without replacement from {w: 3, o: 4, j: 4}. What is prob of sequence wjow? 2/165 Calculate prob of sequence ewee when four letters picked without replacement from {w: 2, e: 8}. 2/15 Four letters picked without replacement from omopmiompoioiooooomp. What is prob of sequence pipp? 1/6460 Two letters picked without replacement from {o: 1, j: 1, e: 1, d: 1, y: 1, c: 2}. What is prob of sequence jy? 1/42 Two letters picked without replacement from {g: 2, k: 1, v: 3, n: 2, o: 4}. Give prob of sequence oo. 1/11 Calculate prob of sequence yl when two letters picked without replacement from {p: 2, l: 1, y: 1}. 1/12 Four letters picked without replacement from {r: 4, v: 3, x: 2}. What is prob of sequence vrrr? 1/42 Calculate prob of sequence ssh when three letters picked without replacement from {h: 4, m: 1, s: 2}. 4/105 Two letters picked without replacement from {c: 1, m: 4, e: 1, f: 4, y: 10}. Give prob of sequence ff. 3/95 Calculate prob of sequence ww when two letters picked without replacement from xxwmmxmxxxwmxxxy. 1/120 What is prob of sequence gg when two letters picked without replacement from {g: 3, e: 4}? 1/7 Two letters picked without replacement from dseeedllxslldedlse. Give prob of sequence ds. 2/51 Three letters picked without replacement from rqr. What is prob of sequence rrq? 1/3 What is prob of sequence kn when two letters picked without replacement from nmknknknkk? 2/9 Three letters picked without replacement from {t: 1, l:

Fish are eating lots of plastic - petethomas https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-bad-news-is-that-fish-are-eating-lots-of-plastic-even-worse-they-may-like-it/2017/09/01/54159ee8-8cc6-11e7-91d5-ab4e4bb76a3a_story.html ====== userbinator I really wish plastics were recycled/reused a lot more, because they are such ideal materials --- being rather unreactive, flexible, resilient, and (in the case of thermoplastics, which make up the bulk of this waste) easily reprocessed. Although the throwaway culture and low cost means that a lot of it doesn't, I wonder if in the future, if the prices go up in following petroleum trends, "mining" for plastics would start becoming profitable and recycling increase significantly. I also see some parallels with CFCs --- another substance with some great properties, but which became so common and cheap that we started to use them too carelessly and caused a lot of environmental damage in the process. Hopefully, this time we'll collectively realise, and plastics won't get banned like that. ~~~ Ninjalicious I'm sort of banking on that. I expect our landfills will be mined by junkers. There is a lot of rare earth elements, metals, and plastics that won't biodegrade very quickly. Little snake bots tunneling through could pick them all up. It's all a matter of need, we'll deplete the finite resources soon. ~~~ throwaway613834 > I'm sort of banking on that. I expect our landfills will be mined by > junkers. I'm sorry, but all you're doing in reality (whether you realize it or not) is finding some vague resemblance of a justification for our irresponsible culture. I would either try to do something to address the problem or just avoid trying to keep up hopes like this. It only makes people feel better about not helping without actually solving anything. ~~~ wiz21c Yep that culture of "let's create more problems so we can sell more solutions" is despicable... ------ acd We buy lots of cheap plastic made of carbon oil co2 emissions. Then we throw the plastic waste into the oceans. Plastic has weak estrogen hormone disturbance in them from BPA. Then we humans eat the fish and thus gets the estrogen from BPA. This is bound to have human reproduction issues down the line. [http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/plastic](http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/plastic) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A) ~~~ blitmap Children of Men/Fish ------ dev_throw Bioaccumulation is a serious thing. I suspect increase of plastic in fish might be related to the reduction in sperm count in men.[0][1] _[0][https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bpa-semen- quality...](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bpa-semen-quality/) _ _[1][http://www.deepseanews.com/2014/10/a-story-about-fish- plasti...](http://www.deepseanews.com/2014/10/a-story-about-fish-plastic- debris-and-sex/) _ ~~~ PerfectElement Eating lower in the food chain is a practical and accessible solution. ~~~ HillaryBriss yeah. that's certainly been the approach for reducing exposure to mercury. but, with plastics, i wonder how significant the exposure reduction is for, say, consuming sardines, given that _the plastic particles themselves_ may be mistaken for plankton. in other words, what percentage of a low food chain fish's or mollusk's diet is _pure plastic?_ ------ jxramos I wish they would have provide a quantitative measure of something about how much fish and how much plastic has been found to have been eaten by marine life. Maybe it's in the link they give to "enormous quantities of plastic trash", but it would be nice to have a scale to the problem. ~~~ acdanger Here is some research: [https://wedocs.unep.org/rest/bitstreams/11700/retrieve](https://wedocs.unep.org/rest/bitstreams/11700/retrieve) Page 93 has some specifics on recorded incidence of plastic ingestion among certain species. ------ spodek Hardly a word about reducing production and consumption. There's no mystery where the plastic is coming from -- us. We can live without it, certainly with a lot less of it. While we wait for legislation, at least on a personal level we can take responsibility for our externalities and reduce our personal consumption. ------ jwilk The submission title makes the article appear less exciting than it actually is. It's not news that fish are eating plastics. The news is that now we know they do it because apparently plastics smells good. Can we add "Even worse, they may like it" to the submission title? ------ andy_ppp How much plastic in fish flesh compared to say leaching into a bottle of water or dust from plastic clothing? Which fish are worst, where is tuna on this list? By what mechanism is fish liver function effected and will this translate to humans? It goes without saying we should avoid dumping plastic in the sea, but we have no information how harmful fish twice per week is really. ------ amigoingtodie I recently began bodybuilding and have been relying on canned tuna for protein. I eat other sources, but eat at least 1 to 2 cans daily. Is the plastic worse than the mercury? What would be a healthy, affordable, and easy to prepare (this is very important) alternative? Also, is canned tuna a US thing? How often do you consume canned tuna? ~~~ tomkinstinch Consider the humble sardine: rich in protein, omega-3s, and (with bones) calcium. They're much lower in the food chain than tuna, so there's less bioaccumulation of mercury, etc. And they taste good. I like the ones in harissa (pepper) paste. [http://m.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=1+can+sardines](http://m.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=1+can+sardines) ------ somberi Two relevant articles - one about the amount of plastic in the Ocean, and the other about plastic-eating caterpillars (seems like they don't eat that much to be of use). 1- [https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/05/daily-...](https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/05/daily- chart-6) 2- [https://www.economist.com/news/science-and- technology/217213...](https://www.economist.com/news/science-and- technology/21721328-escape-shopping-bag-triggers-idea-plastic-eating- caterpillars-could) ------ iNerdier The irony of the first ad I'm shown being a coffee machine with unrecyclable pods to fill it makes me both amused and sad. Sort of sums up the whole problem really. ~~~ jbg_ If it's Nespresso (or a compatible system) that you were shown an ad for, the "unrecyclable" line that seems to often get repeated is actually false. The pods _are_ recyclable, but whether they actually _get_ recycled is a legitimate concern. In Switzerland and Germany, currently about 50% of used pods are recycled, and this is growing rapidly. Additionally, Nestle claims that the proportion of recycled aluminium (from all sources, not just used pods) in all manufactured pods now approaches 80%. ~~~ oh_sigh Approaching 80% of recycled aluminum is great, but remember that aluminum recycling rates in general are very good (~70%) ------ clebio > This article was originally published on > [theconversation.com.]([https://theconversation.com/bait-and-switch- > anchovies-eat-pl...](https://theconversation.com/bait-and-switch-anchovies- > eat-plastic-because-it-smells-like-prey-81607)) ------ pvaldes With only the info available in the article, It seems that there are some serious flaws with the design of this study. I didn't read the original article and I could be wrong but at this moment is not conclusive to me. ~~~ pvaldes Ok, I found the link to the study. This is one of the things that I was looking for: _these behavioural responses were absent in clean plastic and control treatments_. Much better then. Some questions remaining still. Anchovies are preys. Is aggregation a signal of food or are they just afraid of a strange odour?. ------ sml156 What's wrong with fish these days, They didn't do that when I was a kid. ~~~ saagarjha That's because there wasn't as much plastic in the water for them to consume. ------ carapace I have a plan, but it's taking me a bit longer than I'd hoped: [http://phoenixbureau.github.io/ReGPGP/](http://phoenixbureau.github.io/ReGPGP/) > The only way to clean up such a huge mess is to create a system that mimics > the way life would do it. Really, if something could eat plastic there > wouldn't be quite such a bad problem. It is because no living creature can > digest plastic that it stays around and accumulates. So the solution is to > create a kind of artificial life that can eat the plastic. Robots that > replicate themselves, with a little bit of manual assistance, and collect > and convert the trash into forms that can be used by living creatures. A little help? ~~~ bsder That's called a bacterium. Why not create an actual bacterium to break plastic down like everything else in the environment? It's not really that hard--high school students have done it before. [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-plastic- eati...](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-plastic-eating- bacteria-20161116-story.html) Bonus points if you can make the bacterium specific to particular kinds of plastic. ~~~ avodonosov Yes. One possible problem: if the bacteria also eat plastic in our useful devices, not yet garbadge. ~~~ bsder You do realize that "plastic" encompasses a _lot_ of very chemically different compounds? Breaking down a "plastic" is going to be a very specific thing because it takes a _LOT_ of energy to do so (plastics are really stable--that's why we use them). In addition, if it's so evolutionarily advantageous to eat plastic, something would have evolved already. It's really not--plastic is very stable, and doesn't really give you anything useful when you break it down. So, even if you created a plastic-eating grey goo, it will evolve to eat something that takes less energy very quickly. ~~~ avodonosov Hm, interesting, thanks. In this case we feed them in reward for collecting plastic. As flowers feed bees for spreading their pollen. ------ Aron Just proves how dumb they are. Plastic doesn't have any calories or hedonistic value at all really. ------ pvaldes And also cetaceans, sea-birds and turtles. ~~~ fairpx I was watching a documentary, that proposed Humans do as well, since we end up consuming some of the fish that eat that stuff. ~~~ shellbackground That's exactly what article is talking about. ------ harryf Prediction: evolution will solve what humans are incapable of. That means species of fish evolving that specializes in eating plastic. Kinda makes sense. While plastic isn't bio-degradeable in the normal sense, perhaps the digestive system of a specialized fish will succeed. After all there is an abundance. ~~~ lobster_johnson The evolutionary pressure to cause a mutated, plastic-eating fish to outcompete non-plastic-eating fish would suggest that there would be areas where plastic was more abundant that the other things (plankton, mostly) that fish normally feed on, i.e. other fish would be at a disadvantage because they couldn't process plastic. That's a pretty dire scenario for humans. ~~~ pm90 Not necessarily. A lot of the flora and fauna in the New World developed somewhat independently from that in the old one. So we might have these new species evolve in regions of the oceans where the plastic is more abundant. ------ guskel Maybe toxic fish could curb overfishing. ~~~ QAPereo I've never felt better about having a lifelong dislike of fish. ------ turk183 Let's be honest about the plastic in the oceans: It is not first world countries causing most of the problem. Ships do drop their trash in the ocean, that needs to stop, and we're all guilty to some degree, but if you want to stop the worst of the pollution you have to go to the Far East, Latin America, and Africa. ~~~ blunte Actually that's not correct. The first world consumer society demands and consumes a lot of products - products made with plastic, packed in plastic, handed out in plastic bags, bottled in plastic, etc. We buy, then toss (trash bin, recycle bin, or on the ground) the packaging and even old/broken bits we no longer need. Certainly the developing world needs some education and behavior changes to limit their impact, but we have much responsibility ourselves. And our trash/recycling is often shipped to their lands - then stored, dumped, or otherwise "recycled" poorly. Weather events or just poor planning allow some of that waste to end up in water systems.

Q: How should I remove all items from an NSTableView controlled by NSArrayController? I'm using an NSArrayController, NSMutableArray and NSTableView to show a list of my own custom objects (although this question probably applies if you're just showing a list of vanilla NSString objects too). At various points in time, I need to clear out my array and refresh the data from my data source. However, just calling removeAllObjects on my NSMutableArray object does not trigger the KVO updates, so the list on screen remains unchanged. NSArrayController has no removeAllObjects method available, which seems really weird. (It does have addObject, which I use to add the objects, ensuring the KVO is triggered and the UI is updated.) The cleanest way I've managed to cause this happen correctly is: [self willChangeValueForKey:@"myArray"]; [myArray removeAllObjects]; [self didChangeValueForKey:@"myArray"]; ...so I'm kind of having to do the KVO notification manually myself (this is in my test app class, that contains the myArray property, which is NSMutableArray, as mentioned.) This seems wrong - is there a better way? From my googling it seems a few people are confused by the lack of removeAllObjects in NSArrayController, but haven't seen any better solutions. I have seen this solution: [self removeObjectsAtArrangedObjectIndexes: [NSIndexSet indexSetWithIndexesInRange: NSMakeRange(0, [[self arrangedObjects] count])]]; but this looks even more unpleasant to me. At least my solution is at least marginally self-documenting. Did Apple not notice that sometimes people might want to empty a list control being managed via an NSArrayController object? This seems kind of obvious, so I think I must be missing something... Aside: of course, if I add new items to the array (via NSArrayController), then this triggers a KVO update with the NSArrayController/NSTableView, but: Sometimes I don't put any items in the list, because there are none. So you just see the old items. This is a bit yucky anyway. A: You don't remove items from a table view. It doesn't have any items—it just displays another object's items. If you bound the array controller's content array binding to an array property of some other object, then you should be working with that property of that object. Use [[object mutableArrayValueForKey:@"property"] removeAllObjects]. If, on the other hand, you haven't bound the array controller's content array binding, then you need to interact with its content directly. Use [[arrayController mutableArrayValueForKey:@"content"] removeAllObjects]. (You could also work with arrangedObjects instead of content. If one doesn't work, try the other—I've only ever done things the first way, binding the array controller to something else.) A: Had this problem as well and solved it this way: NSArrayController* persons = /* your array controller */; [[persons content] removeAllObjects];

Updated clinical overview on cardiac laminopathies: an electrical and mechanical disease. Cardiac laminopathies, associated with mutations in the LMNA gene, encompass a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, involving electrical and mechanical alterations of cardiomyocytes. Thus, dilated cardiomyopathy, bradyarrhythmias and atrial or ventricular tachyarrhythmias may occur in a number of combined phenotypes. Nowadays, some attempt has been made to identify clinical predictors for the most life-threatening complications of LMNA-associated heart disease, i.e. sudden cardiac death and end-stage heart failure. The goal of this manuscript is to combine the most recent evidences in an updated review to show the state-of-the-art of such a complex disease group. This is supposed to be the starting point to collect more data and design new ad hoc studies to identify clinically useful predictors to stratify risk in mutation carriers, including probands and their asymptomatic relatives.

Q: Target both x86 and x64 in the Windows Installer (VS2008) Is there any way to create a Windows Installer using Visual Studio 2008 to target both x86 and x64 operating systems. In the TargetPlatform property, I have just : x86, x64, Itanium. And I know that there is another one somewhere called Any CPU but I can't find it. Also, I don't want to create two Setup. Any ideas ? Thanks. A: It can be done, but not directly with Visual Studio. The general approach is this: create a generic MSI which contains both 32-bit and 64-bit resources create MST transforms (one for 32-bit and one for 64-bit) which modify the MSI based on the target platform use an EXE bootstrapper to dynamically detect the platform and apply the correct transform to your MSI You can create transforms with Orca. If you want a commercial solution, you can try Advanced Installer or InstallShield. If this seems too complicated, you can simply use separate 32-bit and 64-bit packages. A: It can be done, but not with the VS installer. I have a colleague who has achieved this with the InstallShield product, but let me say that it was an absolute hack, and in the end he ended up with a much better result making two distinct installers, one for each target bitness. I also need to enlighten you: In the TargetPlatform property, I have just : x86, x64, Itanium. And I know that there is another one somewhere called Any CPU The TargetPlatform property doesn't change the bitness of the application you are installing, you are getting it mixed up with the target platform of the assemblies themselves. The MSI is the delivery vehicle, the .Net assemblies in it are the payload. TargetPlatform setting on the MSI doesn't govern how the .Net assemblies are JIT compiled, instead it is used to help determine installation paths (if it is set to x86 then the default installation path should be %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%, and the different registry hives will be targeted.

// author: Jannik Strötgen // email: stroetgen@uni-hd.de // resources automatically created; see our EMNLP 2015 paper for details: // https://aclweb.org/anthology/D/D15/D15-1063.pdf // // no translations found THISISADUMMYPATTERN // english: "and","and" - no translation found // english: "or","or" - no translation found // english: "to","to" - no translation found

script "CoreEngineReturn" /* Copyright (C) 2016 LiveCode Ltd. This file is part of LiveCode. LiveCode is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License v3 as published by the Free Software Foundation. LiveCode is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with LiveCode. If not see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>. */ -------- private command SetTheResultTo pValue return pValue end SetTheResultTo -------- Test behavior of no return statement -- Engine behavior is that script handlers reset 'the result' to empty before -- they execute, so this should be seen outside the handler if there is no -- return. private command DoNothingThenNoReturnInCommand end DoNothingThenNoReturnInCommand private function DoNothingThenNoReturnInFunction end DoNothingThenNoReturnInFunction -- Engine behavior is that 'the result' is not touched if there is no return -- statement, so the last value 'the result' was set to in the handler should -- be its value after the handler has finished executing. private command DoTailThenNoReturnInCommand pValue SetTheResultTo pValue end DoTailThenNoReturnInCommand private function DoTailThenNoReturnInFunction pValue SetTheResultTo pValue end DoTailThenNoReturnInFunction on TestNoReturn SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" DoNothingThenNoReturnInCommand TestAssert "no return in command leaves it and sets the result to empty", \ it is "TheIt" and \ the result is empty SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" TestAssert "no return in function leaves it, returns empty and sets the result to empty", \ DoNothingThenNoReturnInFunction() is empty and \ it is "TheIt" and \ the result is empty SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" DoTailThenNoReturnInCommand "NewResult" TestAssert "no return in tail command leaves it and sets the result to the result of the tail", \ it is "TheIt" and \ the result is "NewResult" SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" TestAssert "no return in tail function leaves it, returns the result of the tail and sets the result to the tail", \ DoTailThenNoReturnInFunction("NewResult") is "NewResult" and \ it is "TheIt" and \ the result is "NewResult" end TestNoReturn -------- Test behavior of the return statement private command DoReturnInCommand pValue return pValue end DoReturnInCommand private function DoReturnInFunction pValue return pValue end DoReturnInFunction on TestReturn SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" DoReturnInCommand "NewResult" TestAssert "return in command leaves it and sets the result", \ it is "TheIt" and \ the result is "NewResult" local tFu SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" TestAssert "return in function leaves it, sets the result to return value and returns the return value", \ DoReturnInFunction("NewResult") is "NewResult" and \ the result is "NewResult" and \ it is "TheIt" end TestReturn -------- Test behavior of the return for value statement private command DoReturnValueInCommand pValue return pValue for value end DoReturnValueInCommand private function DoReturnValueInFunction pValue return pValue for value end DoReturnValueInFunction on TestReturnValue SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" DoReturnValueInCommand "NewIt" TestAssert "return value in command sets it and clears the result", \ the result is empty and \ it is "NewIt" SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" TestAssert "return value in function leaves it, clears the result and returns the return value", \ DoReturnValueInFunction("ReturnValue") is "ReturnValue" and \ the result is empty and \ it is "TheIt" end TestReturnValue -------- Test behavior of the return for error statement private command DoReturnErrorInCommand pValue return pValue for error end DoReturnErrorInCommand private function DoReturnErrorInFunction pValue return pValue for error end DoReturnErrorInFunction on TestReturnError SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" DoReturnErrorInCommand "NewResult" TestAssert "return error in command clears it and sets the result", \ the result is "NewResult" and \ it is empty SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" TestAssert "return error in function leaves it, sets the result to the return value and returns empty", \ DoReturnErrorInFunction("ReturnValue") is empty and \ the result is "ReturnValue" and \ it is "TheIt" end TestReturnError -------- Test that nested uses of 'return for' don't affect the return action -------- of a caller. private command DoReturnInNestedCommand pValue DoReturnInCommand pValue end DoReturnInNestedCommand private command DoReturnValueInNestedCommand pValue DoReturnValueInCommand pValue end DoReturnValueInNestedCommand private command DoReturnErrorInNestedCommand pValue DoReturnErrorInCommand pValue end DoReturnErrorInNestedCommand private function DoReturnInNestedFunction pValue get DoReturnInFunction(pValue) end DoReturnInNestedFunction private function DoReturnValueInNestedFunction pValue get DoReturnValueInFunction(pValue) end DoReturnValueInNestedFunction private function DoReturnErrorInNestedFunction pValue get DoReturnErrorInFunction(pValue) end DoReturnErrorInNestedFunction -- This checks that the absence of a return clause is not affected by any -- return clause present in a handler called by the handler with no return -- clause. on TestReturnNested SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" DoReturnInNestedCommand "NewResult" TestAssert "return handler called in no-return handler leaves it and sets the result", \ the result is "NewResult" and \ it is "TheIt" SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" DoReturnValueInNestedCommand "NewResult" TestAssert "return value handler called in no-return handler leaves it and sets the result to empty", \ the result is empty and \ it is "TheIt" SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" DoReturnErrorInNestedCommand "NewResult" TestAssert "return error handler called in no-return handler leaves it and sets the result", \ the result is "NewResult" and \ it is "TheIt" SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" TestAssert "return function called in no-return function leaves it, sets the result to the return value and returns the return value", \ DoReturnInNestedFunction("ReturnValue") is "ReturnValue" and \ the result is "ReturnValue" and \ it is "TheIt" SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" TestAssert "return value function called in no-return function leaves it, sets the result to the return value and returns the return value", \ DoReturnValueInNestedFunction("ReturnValue") is empty and \ the result is empty and \ it is "TheIt" SetTheResultTo "TheResult" get "TheIt" TestAssert "return error function called in no-return function leaves it, sets the result to the return value and returns the return value", \ DoReturnErrorInNestedFunction("ReturnValue") is "ReturnValue" and \ the result is "ReturnValue" and \ it is "TheIt" end TestReturnNested on TestMessageMessagesResultMode local tPath put format("%s/../_trace.livecodescript", the filename of me) into tPath start using stack tPath set the traceReturn to true set the traceStack to the long id of me DoReturnValueInCommand "foobar" local tIt, tResult put it into tIt put the result into tResult TestDiagnostic "it" && tIt TestDiagnostic "result" && tResult TestAssert "result mode is not clobbered in messageHandled", tIt is "foobar" set the traceStack to empty stop using stack tPath end TestMessageMessagesResultMode

/*============================================================================= Copyright (c) 2001-2011 Joel de Guzman Copyright (c) 2001-2011 Hartmut Kaiser http://spirit.sourceforge.net/ Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt) =============================================================================*/ #ifndef BOOST_SPIRIT_INCLUDE_KARMA_REPOSITORY #define BOOST_SPIRIT_INCLUDE_KARMA_REPOSITORY #if defined(_MSC_VER) #pragma once #endif #include <boost/spirit/repository/home/karma.hpp> #endif

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Impaired and preserved aspects of feedback learning in aMCI: contributions of structural connectivity. Distinct lines of research demonstrated that patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a potential precursor of Alzheimer disease (AD), are particularly impaired in remembering relations between items and that the use of emotional targets can facilitate memory in patients with AD. We link these findings by examining learning through positive and negative feedback in patients with aMCI, and explore its anatomic underpinnings with diffusion tensor imaging and tractography. Compared to healthy controls, patients with single-domain aMCI were impaired in learning from positive feedback, while learning from negative outcomes was preserved. Among pathways within the brain circuit involved in feedback learning, abnormal white matter microstructure was observed in tracts, which connect left-hemispheric amygdala with hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. In all participants, reduced white matter integrity in this left fiber tract was specifically associated with learning from positive outcomes. Microstructure of right-hemispheric tracts between amygdala and entorhinal cortex was related to learning from negative feedback, and was not compromised in aMCI patients. Our results provide new insight into how anatomical connections might contribute to impaired and preserved aspects of learning behaviors in the early AD process and indicate potential compensatory mechanisms.

Different virus antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients suffering from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Complement fixing (CF) antibody titers to measles, parainfluenza (PI) types 1 and 3, mumps, herpes type 1, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 33 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) were evaluated. Results were analyzed in comparison to 11 patients with neurological diseases other than SSPE and 7 normal subjects. All SSPE patients had elevated serum and CSF measles antibody titers. The number of SSPE patients manifesting elevated titers other than measles did not reach statistical significance when compared to controls, except for PI type 1. This suggests a possible dual infection with measles and PI in SSPE. The anticomplementary effect detected in the serum and CSF of some patients indirectly suggests the presence of immune complexes.

The invention relates to a roller bearing replacement device for replacement or exchange of a roller bearing of a roller hearth furnace comprising: a housing that is sealed off from the external atmosphere, which has a sluice that can be coupled on the roller hearth furnace through which access to a roller bearing that is to be demounted is possible from the inside of the housing while excluding the external atmosphere, and at least one roller bearing handling device that is arranged moveably in the housing and is designed so it can be moved out at least partly through the sluice. Furthermore the invention relates to a process for replacement or exchange of roller bearings of a roller hearth furnace by means of a roller bearing replacement device, in which the roller bearing replacement device is moved laterally near the roller hearth furnace to the position of the roller bearing that is to be replaced, the roller bearing is decoupled from a drive unit and then the roller bearing replacement device is moved towards the roller hearth furnace to the roller bearing that is to be demounted, in which a sluice of the roller bearing replacement device is coupled in a gas-tight manner on the roller bearing furnace, and in which then the roller bearing that is to be demounted is moved by a roller bearing handling device that is arranged in a moveable manner in the housing. A roller bearing replacement device of the type identified at the start is for example known from the patent DE 10 2011 079 771 A1, in which from this application a process for roller bearing replacement according to the type identified at the start is also to be taken. This known roller bearing replacement device is moveable laterally near the roller hearth furnace and has an enclosed carrier roller bearing handling device, i.e. a roller bearing handling device housed in a housing of the roller bearing replacement device. For roller bearing exchange or replacement, the roller bearing replacement device is moved alongside the longitudinal axis of the furnace and positioned at the appropriate exchange position. Then a sluice of the roller bearing replacement device is screwed on in a gas-tight manner to the roller bearing replacement device, so that a gas-tight insulation exists between the inside of the housing of the roller bearing replacement device and the environment. In case of a roller bearing replacement, a lance of the roller bearing handling device travels into the hollow roller bearing in order to lift the roller bearing that is to be replaced and to pull the roller bearing out of an opening that is designed and constructed in the wall of the roller hearth furnace, in which the roller bearing is placed in a rotatable manner while in operation. The roller bearing that is demounted is then deposited in a shelf or rack inside the housing according to this known state of the art. The patent DE 10 2011 079 771 A1 provides for several racks or shelves or similar, which offer place for the accommodation of a corresponding number of defective or demounted roller bearings. The following is disadvantageous in this known state of the art: after the demounting of a roller bearing through the opening via the sluice of the housing, the furnace atmosphere with a temperature of 1000° C. for example penetrates into the inside of the housing and causes a significant increase in the temperature of the housing atmosphere i.e. the atmosphere within the roller bearing replacement device, which has a destructive effect on the electronic components installed inside and on the roller bearing replacement device. Moreover the hot roller bearing that has been demounted from the roller hearth furnace radiates heat powerfully, and this likewise increases the temperature inside the housing considerably.

CEO of troubled Iowa brokerage in court, charged FILE - This Monday, April 4, 2011 file photo shows Russ Wasendorf, Sr., CEO of Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A complaint filed Friday, July 13, 2012 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids says Wasendorf, Sr., 64, made false statements to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission about the value of customer funds held by his company, Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office says Wasendorf was arrested Friday by FBI agents and is due in federal court in Cedar Rapids for an initial appearance. (AP Photo/Waterloo Courier, Rick Chase, File) — AP FILE - This Monday, April 4, 2011 file photo shows Russ Wasendorf, Sr., CEO of Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A complaint filed Friday, July 13, 2012 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids says Wasendorf, Sr., 64, made false statements to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission about the value of customer funds held by his company, Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office says Wasendorf was arrested Friday by FBI agents and is due in federal court in Cedar Rapids for an initial appearance. (AP Photo/Waterloo Courier, Rick Chase, File) / AP FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 file photo, Russ Wasendorf, chairman and chief executive officer of PFGBest poses at the new building nearing completion in Cedar Falls, Iowa. A complaint filed Friday, July 13, 2012 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids says Wasendorf, Sr., 64, made false statements to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission about the value of customer funds held by his company, Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office says Wasendorf was arrested Friday by FBI agents and is due in federal court in Cedar Rapids for an initial appearance. (AP Photo/Waterloo Courier, Brandon Pollock)— AP FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 file photo, Russ Wasendorf, chairman and chief executive officer of PFGBest poses at the new building nearing completion in Cedar Falls, Iowa. A complaint filed Friday, July 13, 2012 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids says Wasendorf, Sr., 64, made false statements to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission about the value of customer funds held by his company, Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office says Wasendorf was arrested Friday by FBI agents and is due in federal court in Cedar Rapids for an initial appearance. (AP Photo/Waterloo Courier, Brandon Pollock) / AP CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A federal prosecutor says the chief executive of an Iowa-based brokerage firm carried out a $200 million fraud scheme that could land him in prison for years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan said Friday that Peregrine Financial Group Inc. CEO Russell Wasendorf Sr. could face "a wide range of criminal charges" for the scheme in which he allegedly falsified bank records to embezzle customer funds for 20 years. Deegan made the comment during Wasendorf's initial federal court appearance in Cedar Rapids on charges that he made false statements to financial regulators. Another hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. Wasendorf appeared healthy during the hearing. He'd been hospitalized after attempting suicide outside the company's headquarters on Monday. Investigators say he admitted in a suicide note to carrying out an elaborate embezzlement scheme. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. The chief executive officer of an Iowa-based brokerage firm admitted in a suicide note that he carried out an elaborate fraud scheme in which he embezzled more than $100 million from customers over nearly two decades, federal investigators said Friday. FBI agents arrested Russell Wasendorf, Sr., 64, of Cedar Falls on Friday. Federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal complaint charging the CEO of Peregrine Financial Group, Inc., with making false statements to regulators and released documents detailing a wide-ranging fraud scheme that apparently fooled colleagues, customers and regulators for years. Wasendorf had been hospitalized at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after attempting suicide outside the company's headquarters in Cedar Falls on Monday by hooking up a tube to his car's tailpipe. His company filed for bankruptcy Tuesday, the same day the industry's top regulator filed civil fraud charges alleging the firm misused customer money and falsely claimed a bank account contained more than $220 million when it actually had about $5 million. The money in that account belonged to customers, and was supposed to be kept separate from Peregrine's own money. Officials from another industry regulator, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, were on site at Peregrine's Cedar Falls offices to examine the firm Friday. The agency regulates broker-dealers that buy and sell stocks. The losses apparently are centered in the part of Peregrine that sold commodity options and futures. An affidavit by FBI agent William Langdon, made public with the criminal complaint, says authorities found Wasendorf unresponsive Monday in his vehicle, along with a suicide note addressed to his wife and a signed statement in which he detailed his fraud. "Through a scheme of using false bank statements I have been able to embezzle millions of dollars from customer accounts at Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. The forgeries started nearly twenty years ago and have gone undetected until now. I was able to conceal my crime of forgery by being the sole individual with access to the US Bank accounts held by PFG," he wrote in the note, according to court documents. Wasendorf said that he faced "a difficult decision" when his access to capital was limited earlier in his career.

Richard Chai Named Creative Director of Filson Richard Chai and Filson aren't two brands we'd have thought of together—Chai is famous for a slouchy, androgynous, very-New York cool and Filson is a staunch, 115-year old purveyor of old-timey masculine outdoor gear and those famous messenger bags that every stylish dude on the subway carries. But an aesthetic difference between the two seems to be the whole point, and Chai seems excited about bridging the gap. “Our partnership will be rooted in everyday wear, approachable with unexpected fabrications and details that are signature to my collections," he said in a press release, "all while staying true to the heritage of the Filson Brand.” Their first outing together will hit stores this fall, including a six-piece capsule collection of Chai's re-workings of classic Filson jackets.

Bob Carr Robert John Carr (born 28 September 1947) is a retired Australian politician who served as Premier of New South Wales from 1995 to 2005, as the leader of the Labor Party. He later entered federal politics as a New South Wales senator, and served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2013. Carr was born in Sydney and attended the University of New South Wales. Before entering politics he worked as a journalist. Carr entered the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1983, and the following year became a cabinet minister. He served under Neville Wran and Barrie Unsworth until the Labor government was defeated in a landslide at the 1988 state election. Carr subsequently replaced Unsworth as party leader, thus becoming leader of the opposition. He led Labor to the 1991 election, where it recovered many of the seats it had lost in 1988, and then became premier after a narrow victory in 1995. As premier, Carr was known for his emphasis on conservation and his use of public–private partnerships to fund infrastructure projects. His government oversaw much of the planning for the 2000 Summer Olympics, which Sydney hosted. Carr was re-elected twice, in 1999 and 2003, eventually resigning as premier in 2005 after 10 years in office. Only Henry Parkes served as premier for longer, and no one has served a longer consecutive term. Carr remained a public figure after leaving the premiership, and entered federal politics in 2012 at the urging of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He served as foreign minister under both Gillard and Kevin Rudd, but retired following Labor's defeat at the 2013 federal election. Early life and career Carr was born in the suburb of Matraville, Sydney to Edward and Phyllis Carr. He was educated at Matraville High School from which he graduated as dux in 1964. He was the first person in his family to finish high school, and became interested in a career in politics in his teenage years. While still a 15-year-old student at school, Carr joined the local branch of the Australian Labor Party. He would go on to become the President of the New South Wales branch and then the national President of Young Labor in 1970 and 1972 respectively. He completed his tertiary education at the University of New South Wales, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History. After graduation, Carr worked as a journalist for the ABC Radio's AM and PM current affair programs from 1969 to 1971. He was also a reporter on industrial relations and politics for The Bulletin magazine from 1978 to 1983. He later recalled that his work as a journalist provided good preparation for his political career. He also spent a period working as an education officer for the Labor Council of New South Wales (1972–78). In 1972, Carr met a Malaysian economics student, Helena John on a holiday in Tahiti, and they married on 24 February 1973. Helena Carr became a successful businesswoman, while she largely remained out of the political spotlight during her husband's career. New South Wales state politics (1983–2005) Carr entered the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at a by-election in October 1983 as the member for Maroubra, representing the Australian Labor Party. In December 1984 he was appointed Minister for Planning and the Environment in the Neville Wran government. In February 1986 he also took on the Consumer Affairs portfolio, which he held until he became Minister for Heritage in July 1986 when Barrie Unsworth became premier. As planning minister, Carr released a new metropolitan planning strategy for the capital, to replace the 1968 Sydney Region Outline Plan. Leader of the opposition (1988–1995) The Unsworth Labor government was defeated in a landslide in March 1988, in the context of a 'time for a change' sentiment after 12 years of Labor. Carr was interested in international relations, and his long-term ambition was to enter federal politics and become Minister for Foreign Affairs. However, following the election Carr was pressured by his own rightwing faction to stand for the leadership. Further, the party organisation did not want Laurie Brereton as leader; he would go on to represent the federal seat of Kingsford Smith, which Carr viewed as his path to federal politics. Thus Carr reluctantly agreed to become Leader of the Opposition, as revealed in his diary entries from the time: Despite his misgivings, Carr's performance as Opposition Leader gained approval in the party. Polling in the lead-up to the 1991 election predicted another heavy defeat. However, Labor regained all but one of the seats lost at the previous election. As a result, while the Coalition won 52 per cent of the two-party vote, Labor scored a 10-seat swing and came up only four seats short of Carr becoming Premier. Greiner was forced into a minority government with the support of independents. In 1992 Greiner resigned following adverse findings against him from the Independent Commission Against Corruption. John Fahey replaced him as premier, but was hampered by his need to negotiate with independents. Labor won the 1995 election with a majority of one seat, elevating Carr to the office of Premier of New South Wales. In 1992 federal Liberal leader John Hewson controversially attacked Carr for his lack of family life when compared to Fahey: "You've got to be suspicious of a guy that doesn't drive, doesn't like kids and things like that. When he's up against a full-blooded Australian like John Fahey, he hasn't got a hope", but was later forced to withdraw his remarks. Bob and Helena Carr did not respond to Hewson's attack. Bob Carr however did expressed his frustration with the Hewson attack in his diary: "What a business to be in where your private life gets blasted all over the media…In the middle of an assault like this one feels crushed; you want to crouch at home; you wonder why friends don’t ring.” Premier of New South Wales (1995–2005) Following the narrow 1995 victory, Labor was re-elected by a much bigger margin in the 1999 poll with 55 seats out of 93. He was re-elected with the same margin in the 2003 election. In the 1999 poll the defeated Liberal opposition leader was Kerry Chikarovski; in the 2003 poll it was John Brogden. Carr's government was characterised by conservative financial management and to a certain extent the encouragement of market forces, along with a "tough on crime" policy. It was also seen as having a strong pro-environment character and being committed to curriculum rigour (especially history), testing and literacy initiatives in schools. Carr ventured periodically into national policy issues, particularly issues concerning the environment, population growth, embryonic stem cell research, federal–state relations and support for a minimalist model of an Australian Republic. Carr's government, under State Treasurers Michael Egan and Andrew Refshauge, delivered ten consecutive budget surpluses. Carr became the first Premier who was not his own Treasurer for the entirety of his premiership since Barrie Unsworth. Nature conservation Nature conservation was a priority for the government and for Carr personally. Carr moved to ban canal estates because of their impact on. river systems, and when in office he implemented a 1995 election pledge to prevent logging in parts of southeastern NSW by creating the South East Forest National Park along NSW's coastal range from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border. Carr's election policies had also included commitments to protect of old-growth forest and wilderness areas through a string of new national parks. The promise was exceeded with gazettal of between 1995 and 2005. The initiative was supported by a 6 million forestry restructuring package to build a modern mill and provide a 20-year guarantee of alternative timber. Following the 1999 victory, Carr's government declared 100 new national parks between Nowra and the Bega Valley. Carr claimed in 2009 that: "rural towns did not 'die' as a result of these conservation measures. The old timber towns now boast communities with a strong economic base, world-class national parks on their doorstep and thriving nature-based tourism". In its first term, the government banned the removal of old-growth vegetation from farmlands and introduced pricing for rural water and an environmental allocation to the state's river systems. In June 2001 jet skis were banned from Sydney Harbour. Carr said: "You wouldn't allow motor bikes in the Botanic Gardens". The curbs on the clearing of nature vegetation were mounted as a serious anti-greenhouse gas measure, helping Australia achieve its Kyoto targets. In addition, in January 2003 the Carr government launched the world's first greenhouse gas trading scheme, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme, which set a limit on carbon emissions by electricity retailers. It was listed by the World Bank as the world's first carbon trading scheme. In 2003 Carr launched the building sustainability index (BASIX) which mandated reductions in energy and water use of up to 40 percent in every new dwelling built after July 2004. Regarding environmental and education improvements, Carr noted in his diary for 21 April 1997: "Yesterday our school reforms were announced. All the ideas I'd formulated in Opposition. Four-unit English for the HSC. Compulsory exams at the end of Year 10. Soft options gone ... I mark the package with forestry. I could leave politics and be satisfied with my achievements." Tort reform During its second term (1999-2003) the Carr government embarked on tort law reform, in a manner that earned Carr a description from Forbes magazine as a "dragon slayer". In 1999, with the cost of many forms of injury insurance increasing, Carr gave his Minister John Della Bosca the task of carrying reforms out. As a consequence, procedures which Carr called "legal rorts" were in many cases stripped from the system. The average price of a green slip (compulsory third party motor accident insurance) was to drop $150 on 1999 prices. Carr argued that this created what he called: "the most comprehensive tort reform that any government has developed ... at the expense of the plaintiff lawyers who had fed on a culture of rorts and rip-offs". Carr noted in his diary: "It's not worth being Premier unless you can take privileges off the undeserving." However the fact that the law effectively made it impossible to claim for any injury worth less than around $60,000 was criticised by New South Wales Chief Justice James Spigelman and others. Spigelman argued that it effectively "eliminates small claims" entirely, giving "people the right to be negligent and injure someone up to a given level before they become liable". Spigelman said: The introduction of a requirement that a person be subject to 15 percent of whole of body impairment—a percentage that is lower in some states—before being able to recover general damages has been the subject of controversy. It does mean that some people who are quite seriously injured are not able to sue at all. More than any other factor I envisage this restriction will be seen as much too restrictive. Drug laws As a result of a 1999 drug summit the Carr cabinet introduced Australia's first medically supervised injecting room for heroin users, located in King's Cross. The government argued it was a harm minimisation measure to keep drug users alive until they make the decision to get off drugs. Other reforms included the introduction of drug courts and a voluntary diversion program that allows magistrates to refer offenders to treatment rather than impose prison sentences. Police reform During his time as opposition leader, Carr had backed a motion by independent parliamentarian John Hatton in May 1994 to establish a Royal Commission into corruption in the NSW Police. Once installed in the premiership, Carr inherited the work of the Royal Commission and its reports. In November 1996 one of the reports recommended that the government give increased power to the Police Commissioner to hire and fire all staff, random drug and alcohol testing of all police officers, the formation of the police detection commission to detect and audit police corruption. But the recommendations sparked strong objection from the Police Association backed by the Labor Council and demonstrations at parliament house by 1500 police. There was a revolt in Carr's parliamentary party. Carr was adamant that the commissioner must have the increased power if the police force were to be rid of corrupt or compromised officers, and the legislation was passed. Private–public partnerships The Carr Government pioneered private–public partnerships (PPPs) to fund additional infrastructure, creating a model followed in other states. Five projects delivered Sydney a ring road system including the M5 Extension, the Eastern Distributor, the M2 Hills Motorway, the Westlink M7, the Lane Cove Tunnel, and the Cross City Tunnel. These projects had a total cost of $5.4 billion, while all but $800 million was contributed by the private sector. According to the press release, in 2007 Infrastructure Partnerships Australia awarded three projects that began under Carr's Premiership as the best PPPs in Australia: the Westlink M7 opened in late 2005; school construction and maintenance which the Auditor General said had saved tax payers $55 million; and the maintenance of 626 new rail carriages. The focus on roads spending instead of public transport has been criticised as the wrong priority on environmental grounds: "It was clear even then that NSW desperately needed public transport investment." Other matters A year after his appointment as premier, Carr caused controversy when he recommended that the newly appointed New South Wales Governor, Gordon Samuels, not live at Government House, which would become a museum open to the public. This decision was seen by monarchists as an attempt by Carr, a republican, to downgrade the importance of the office of governor. Carr's government was in power during much of the building of facilities and the conduct of the 2000 Olympic Games. Carr was to boast that the 2000 Olympics were paid in full without a cent in debt. Resignation By March 2004, public support for Carr started to slip; Newspoll showed that for the first time since 1998 more people were dissatisfied than satisfied with the Premier. The Liberal opposition frontbenchers were exploiting a public view that the government had underspent on urban infrastructure and public transport. Despite a series of announcements and re-announcements of more trains, power stations and a desalination plant, by June 2005, only 35% were satisfied with his performance whereas his dissatisfaction rating had been over 51% since September 2004. After a decade as Premier, Carr announced his resignation both as Premier and as the Member for Maroubra on 27 July 2005 to be effective from 3 August. His successor as Premier was former Health Minister Morris Iemma. Shortly after Carr's resignation, Andrew Refshauge and Planning Minister Craig Knowles also left parliament. Legacy Retired Premier Neville Wran described Carr as "the very model of a modern Labor premier, an articulate and powerful public performer who identified himself with the contemporary policy issues of education and the environment." Wran noted that the Carr model became a template for other Australian Labor Party leaders, with some regarding him as a mentor. After Carr the NSW government was able to claim that while in 1994 there were 328 national parks covering four million hectares of NSW, Carr's policies increased this to 770 national parks covering 6.6 million hectares by 2006. Wilderness protection was expanded: there were in 1994, by 2006 nearly two million hectares. The North Side Sewage Tunnel, funded by the government in its first term, stopped more than 20 billion litres of sewage reaching Sydney Harbour and saw whales and dolphins return to it. The government also built pollution traps to capture litter and rubbish that would have otherwise been flushed with storm water onto Sydney beaches. In 1994, before the election of the government, of waste was being generated by every Sydney resident each year, and only being recycled. Reforms to the waste industry saw a 28 percent reduction to per person and a 65 percent increase in recycling to per person. He received credit for the increase in the number and size of the state's national parks, while criticism was made about rail transport which recorded a period of poor on-time running and a damaging industrial dispute in 2004. The Carr government is also known for its considerable infrastructure contribution. Total State Sector Real Growth from 1995 to 2005 was 41%. Infrastructure projects included the Eastern Distributor, M5 East, three bus expressways costing $300 million in Western Sydney, Lane Cove Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, the Epping to Chatswood railway line, the start on the South West Rail Link and the North West Rail Link and the M7 Westlink which at 42 kilometers is the longest urban road in Australia and slashed travel times in Western Sydney by one hour. After state politics (2006–12) After leaving state parliament, Carr continued his involvement in public debate. He championed embryonic stem cell research, writing in The Daily Telegraph on 24 August 2006: "Stem cell research enjoys great public support. Let the doctors and scientists get on with the job. Their research might save a life in your family or mine". In another opinion piece he urged support for somatic cell nuclear transfer (sometimes known as 'therapeutic cloning'). He continued to advocate nature conservation, for example by calling for national park declarations over the River Red Gums. He wrote in 2009 that the river red gums are "Australian icons, part of our folklore, symbols of inland Australia". He was an opponent of a charter of rights. Carr wrote in The Australian that, "if the public believed the executive arm of government were stifling freedoms, Australia slipping behind other democracies, there would have been a decided shove towards a human rights act". He continued "Instead…it sunk below the water, not leaving a slick of printer's ink". Pursuing his interest in literacy he urged an opening of the Australian book market to permit the import of cheaper books. The rise in the annual immigration intake brought Carr into the debate on what he called 'Australia's carrying capacity'. Carr argued that "The debate is about whether immigration should be running at very high levels. It's about whether we end up with a population of 36 million in 2050 in contrast to the previous expectation of 28.5 million". Carr took up the issue of obesity and argued that chain restaurants should be forced by law to put calorie measurements next to menu items, that trans fats be banned as in some US states and food manufacturers be made to reduce salt content. In retirement Carr made speeches at international conferences on climate change, Australia–China relations and multiculturalism. In October 2005 Carr became a part-time consultant for Macquarie Bank, advising the company on policy, climate change, renewables and strategic issues with a focus on the United States and the People's Republic of China. Carr continued pursuing his literary interests, interviewing authors and lecturing at the Sydney Writers' Festival. He appeared as a guest reporter for the ABC television show Foreign Correspondent, conducting an interview with friend Gore Vidal. In 2008 he attended the Australia 2020 Summit as part of the economy panel, and raised the issues of an Australian Republic and childhood obesity. He has been a member of the board of directors at the United States Studies Centre since 2009 and is a charter member of the Chester A. Arthur Society, a US political trivia group named after the US president, 1881–1885. In 2009 he was appointed to the council of Voiceless, the animal protection institute. In 2010 he was appointed Patron of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Foundation and Patron of the Chifley home, Bathurst. In April 2013, Fairfax journalist Philip Dorling identified Carr from a searchable database of declassified US State Department diplomatic cables as having criticised the Whitlam Government and provided information on internal Labor Party politics during discussions with the American consul-general in Sydney during the early 1970s. Asked about these contacts with US diplomats, Senator Carr said: "I was in my 20s. I could have said anything." Federal politics (2012–2013) On 2 March 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that Carr would be nominated to fill a casual vacancy in the Australian Senate caused by the resignation of Mark Arbib. This term would expire on 30 June 2014. Gillard also announced Carr would become the new Minister for Foreign Affairs in succession to Kevin Rudd. Carr confirmed that he would seek election to the Senate for a further full six-year term and was subsequently nominated at the head of Labor's New South Wales Senate ticket for the 2013 poll. Carr was formally chosen to fill the vacant Senate position by a joint sitting of the NSW Parliament on 6 March 2012. He was sworn as a Senator and Minister for Foreign Affairs on 13 March. As Foreign Minister, Carr's principal focuses were Australia's (successful) bid for a temporary position on the United Nations Security Council, passage of a global Arms Trade Treaty, the Middle East peace process, the conflict in Syria and stronger relations between Australia and the Asia-Pacific particularly Myanmar, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. United Nations Security Council Carr's term as Foreign Minister coincided with the final stages of Australia's campaign for a UN Security Council seat. The campaign, initiated in 2009, placed Australia in the ballot for a seat in the "Western Europe & Other" category, against European nations Luxembourg and Finland. In the context of the bid, Carr supported Security Council reform including permanent membership for Japan, Brazil and India and two permanent seats for Africa. Carr credited Australia's successful campaign to promotion of Australia's diplomatic links with African nations and environmental and cultural links with small island states in the Caribbean and Pacific. In October 2012 Australia was elected to the Security Council, winning an absolute majority of votes in the first round of balloting - the first time Australia had held a seat since 1985-86. Known for his fastidious eating habits, Bob Carr responded to the suggestion he would celebrate this success with champagne by saying "I’ll be having, as soon as I can, a generous cup of hot water, boiling water, with a slice of lemon". Carr advocated adoption by the UN of a global Arms Trade Treaty to track and reduce the supply of weapons to rogue states or terrorist groups. Carr twice travelled to New York to personally campaign for the treaty. The treaty was passed by the UN by 154 votes to 3. Middle East peace process Carr secured Australian Government support for abstention on a motion before the UN General Assembly to grant observer state status to the Palestinian Authority. This represented a shift from Australia's previous opposition to the motion, championed by then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Carr argued that abstention on the motion allowed Australia to "reach out to moderate Palestinians who want a peaceful solution [to conflict with Israel] and say we're not opposing you." The UN motion to grant observer state status for the Palestinian Authority was ultimately carried by 138 votes to nine, with 41 abstentions. In January 2013, in a joint communique with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, Carr called for US leadership in resuming direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians. The communique also noted that both countries had voted to abstain on the UN motion on Palestinian status and that both viewed Israeli settlements on the West Bank as illegal under international law. Asia-Pacific Closer to home, Carr worked to build stronger relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), holding in-country talks with all ten member states, twice attending the East Asia Summit and repeatedly emphasizing Australia's interest in regional convergence and co-operation. In 2012 Carr described the health and centrality of ASEAN as critical to Australia's security and prosperity, but warned against ASEAN nations falling into a "middle income trap" of lower growth as a consequence of institutional rigidity and a slowing of internal reform. Carr also worked to restore global diplomatic relations with Myanmar following the Myanmar Government's release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and introduction of limited domestic political reform. Australian sanctions on Myanmar were lifted in 2012, though an arms embargo was maintained. Carr lobbied European and United States leaders to follow suit, with the European Union lifting its sanctions April 2013 and the US moving to increase engagement on trade and investment. Carr urged the Myanmar Government to continue its progress towards democracy, while welcoming the release of political prisoners and commitments to address ongoing ethnic and religious violence. He announced a doubling of Australia's foreign aid for Myanmar to $100 million by 2015, with a focus on education and maternal health. A further $9 million was provided to assist the Rohingya and other communities affected by civil conflict in Rakhine State. Carr visited Indonesia on four occasions as Foreign Minister, raising issues such as people smuggling, aid, education links and trade. As Minister for AusAID, Carr oversaw an increase in assistance to Indonesia, to a total of more than $500 million a year for maternal health and education, and $47 million over 5 years to improve facilities in religious schools. China Engagement with China was the subject of Carr's first substantive speech in the role. Speaking to the CSIS Banyan Tree Leadership Forum in April 2012, Carr argued that China's economic and cultural expansion was not new. Rather it was "a return to the position of strength that China possessed before its decline during the Qing dynasty." Carr highlighted the sacrifices made by the Chinese people in achieving independence and noted the rapid pace of Chinese industrial growth: It's a faster industrialisation and on a bigger scale than that of America itself in the 19th century. It happened faster, more people are affected, more dramatic effects for the world than even America's rise to industrial dominance. ... Few could be untouched by what it means for the Chinese people – liberated from poverty, historic poverty; few could be reluctant to see this renewed China take its place in the councils of the world. On the first of three visits to China in May 2012 Carr faced questions from Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi who expressed concern about Australia's blocking of Huawei Technologies in its bid to supply equipment for the National Broadband Network, and about the November 2011 decision to have US Marines rotationally deployed in Darwin. Carr responded that the Huawei decision reflected Australia's right to make decisions on the resilience and security of its infrastructure. He argued Australia had a welcoming approach to Chinese investment, pointing to its 20-fold increase over the preceding five years and to 380 individual proposals from Chinese firms that had been approved in Australia since 2007. He argued the Marines presence reflected Australia's long-term Australian security relationships: "Australia has had a small population, vast distances, a desire for great and powerful friends, and a sense of exposure to its north ever since Japan defeated Russia in 1905 and Alfred Deakin looked for support (from the US)." Carr returned to China with Prime Minister Gillard in April 2013 for the annual Boao Forum for Asia, with a focus on strengthening bilateral relations. The Chinese Government agreed to the direct convertibility of Australian currency into yuan - only the third such agreement in China's history. Gillard and Carr also secured agreements for an annual leadership dialogue with their Chinese counterparts. China's President Xi Jinping was reported as intending to lift Australia-China relations "to a new level" following Forum discussions. In a speech following the visit, Carr said Australia's achievements at the Forum had been to create the bilateral architecture needed to support future Australia-China relations - annual leaders and foreign minister's talks, and an ongoing economic dialogue between Australia's trade and competitiveness ministers and the Chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission. Carr praised China's leadership for being "determined, confident and pragmatic" about the continued economic and geopolitical rise of their country. His third visit, in July 2013, was to open Australia's fourth diplomatic post in China, a consulate-general in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu. At the opening Carr emphasised trade issues, highlighting Chinese investment in Australia and saying the new consulate would assist Australian firms in establishing a presence in western China. G20 Carr also represented Australia at the 2013 G-20 Saint Petersburg summit. His G20 interventions included as a member of a panel comprising Russian business and international labour, and in a leader's debate on chemical weapons in Syria. At a sideline meeting convened by UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Carr also secured international agreement on a medical pact in Syria to protect hospitals and health care workers from targeted attacks and to maintain humanitarian access for medical NGO's and for the distribution of aid. Syria Carr's "medical plan" for Syria became an issue he pursued in international fora. The plan aimed to use international pressure to force an informal agreement between all parties in the Syrian civil war, to end the targeting of hospital or medical personnel, avoid the use of hospitals as bases and ensure the safe distribution of civilian medical aid. Speaking after Australia's successful push for the UN Security Council position in 2012, Carr said the plan represented his first priority in its new United Nations role. Australia's foreign aid for the Syrian crisis was increased to more than $100 million, focusing on shelter, medical support and child protection for refugees fleeing to Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. In the absence of a ceasefire or UNSC action on Syria, Carr's plan received international support including from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Arab League and leaders at the 2013 G20 Summit. Resignation On 23 October 2013, Carr announced his resignation from the Senate, which took effect the following day. He was replaced by Deborah O'Neill on 13 November 2013. As Carr had been elected to the Senate at the 2013 federal election for a six-year term to commence 1 July 2014, the timing of his resignation created a constitutional quirk, as he was resigning both his current term and a subsequent term that had not yet commenced. To resolve this, O'Neill had to be re-appointed to the Senate by the New South Wales Parliament after the commencement of the 2014–2020 Senate term. To mitigate the cost of recalling both houses of the parliament for a joint sitting (estimated at AUD $300,000), Premier Mike Baird convened a sitting on 2 July of two government members and two opposition members before the President of the Legislative Council to appoint O'Neill to the Senate for the term which began on 1 July. Academic career After his resignation, Bob Carr accepted the position of Director, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology, Sydney and Carr also accepted a professorial fellowship with the University of Sydney Southeast Asia Centre as a Professorial Fellow, and in May 2014 became head of the Australia-China Relations Institute, a think-tank at UTS established with a donation from Huang Xiangmo, a Chinese billionaire with links to the Communist Party of China. Carr is no longer affiliated with the Australia-China Relations Institute. He also took up a position as Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales. Literature Carr is the author of several books, including Thoughtlines (Viking, 2002), My Reading Life (Penguin, 2008), and Diary of a Foreign Minister (2014), which received a mixed reception with Carr ridiculed for his perceived arrogance. In May 2003, author Marilyn Dodkin authored a biography, Bob Carr: the reluctant leader, partly based on Carr's private diaries and including his often uncomplimentary thoughts on various political personalities. A second biography, Bob Carr: A Self-Made Man, by Andrew West and Rachel Morris, was published in September 2003 by Harper Collins. Carr participated in the 2004 Sydney Festival in conversation with Sir Tom Stoppard. He has served as a board member of book retailer Dymocks since July 2007. Advocacy Carr has been a long time campaigner against high immigration. since leaving politics he has campaigned on cutting immigration numbers. Awards For his work in improving Australia–US relations he was awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Fellow Award Scholarship. He donated the prize money to launch scholarships for the State's teachers to complete studies abroad. For his services to conservation he was given the World Conservation Union International Parks Merit Award and made a life member of the Wilderness Society. In 2008 he was awarded the Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic), the second of five grades of the order, in recognition of his services to Italian culture. On 5 July 2013, he was given the United Macedonian Diaspora's Macedonia Friendship Award for his friendship of the Australian-Macedonian community and his work to advance bilateral relations between Australia and Macedonia. See also Second Gillard Ministry Second Rudd Ministry References Further reading External links Australian Parliament House web site: Senator the Hon Bob Carr Bob Carr's blog   |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Category:1947 births Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Labor Right politicians Category:Australian ministers for Foreign Affairs Category:Australian radio journalists Category:Australian republicans Category:Delegates to the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998 Category:20th-century Australian politicians Category:Gillard Government Category:Former government ministers of Australia Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Category:Leaders of the Opposition in New South Wales Category:Living people Category:Members of the Australian Senate Category:Members of the Australian Senate for New South Wales Category:Members of the Cabinet of Australia Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Category:People from the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) Category:Politicians from Sydney Category:Premiers of New South Wales Category:Rudd Government Category:University of New South Wales alumni Category:University of Technology Sydney faculty Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales Category:ABC journalists associated with the Australian Labor Party Category:21st-century Australian politicians Category:Australian memoirists

Brexit negotiations: is Europe softening its stance? The Economist Intelligence Unit's Europe team has updated an index that it constructed in April 2017, which measures the intensity of the EU27 countries' opposition to the UK's negotiating positions on core issues related to Brexit. These issues are defined by the objectives laid out by the UK government in a white paper on the future relationship, published in June 2018. Our index shows that countries with the closest trade ties to the UK may be willing to support the free-trade area for goods proposed by the UK, but that most are against ending free movement of people. The majority of member states are keen to maintain strong defence and security ties, but some are opposed to a special arrangement on financial services. Overall, the aggregate stance of the EU27 has softened since we first measured it. In part this reflects the resolution of some of the most contentious issues and possibly a greater willingness to compromise as the negotiations have progressed. Member states have been reluctant to break ranks to support the UK for fear of undermining EU unity; however, if there is no breakthrough in the negotiations in the coming months, some may be more willing to lobby for a softer approach. The issues at the core of Brexit negotiations have evolved since we categorised them in our original index as follows: the Brexit bill; the four EU freedoms (movement of goods, services, workers and capital); trade arrangements; and defence ties. A financial settlement has been reached in the withdrawal agreement, and the UK's vision of future trade arrangements and its approach to the four EU freedoms has been outlined in a white paper published by the government in June 2018. We have therefore amended the core negotiating issues in our index as follows: a free-trade area for goods, with a common rulebook; an end to free movement of people; a special regulatory arrangement for financial services; and strong defence and security ties. We have assessed the stance of EU member states on each issue in our updated index. Free-trade area for goods, with a common rulebook The government's white paper proposes an association agreement between the UK and the EU, drawing on precedents set by the free-trade agreement between the EU and Canada, and the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine, both of which include an overarching institutional structure as well as a free-trade area. According to the white paper, a free-trade area for goods would protect the integrated supply chains and "just-in-time" processes that have developed across the UK and the EU, and avoid customs procedures at the border, including between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This would mean establishing a common rulebook for manufactured goods and agri-food to ensure that trade is frictionless, and would require the UK to continue participating in (and therefore contributing funds to) some EU agencies, particularly those for highly regulated sectors. The UK would pay "due regard" to European Court of Justice (ECJ) case law in areas covered by the common rulebook. Countries with existing close trade ties to the UK may be more willing to accept the rulebook proposal than others, who may push for the UK to adhere to all EU product regulations. We assume that seven countries would be supportive of this plan—including Ireland, Cyprus and Poland—whereas the vast majority would probably support it but would have big reservations about aspects of the framework and may push for adjustments to it. Only France, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are likely to take a hard line against the plan on the grounds that it allows the UK to have selective access to the single market and does not require it to adhere to all EU product regulations. End free movement of people Immigration is the issue on which we expect EU member states to take the hardest stance. The UK government wants free trade in goods to continue, but by saying that free movement of people will end, it is seen to be "cherry-picking" from the four freedoms. From the start of the negotiations this has been a red line for the EU and an issue on which most member states are aligned. Most of the founding members of the European project—Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany—will take a hard line here, and many others have implied in the past that the trade-off between access to the single market in a new trade arrangement and migration restrictions will be strict. Reflecting this, we have 13 countries categorised as "hardcore" on this issue, and the remaining 14 categorised as "hard". The UK has proposed a mobility framework that would allow UK and EU citizens to travel freely (without a visa) for tourism and temporary business activities, and facilitate mobility for students. However, this may still be too restrictive an arrangement for most member states to accept. Special regulatory arrangement for financial services The UK's proposed free-trade area would not cover services, and the UK would no longer operate under the EU's "passporting" regime. However, owing to the inter-connectedness of the UK's and the EU's financial services markets, the UK government has called for a more comprehensive arrangement than third-country equivalence would provide, namely a new regulatory arrangement that would encompass a broader range of crossborder activities, with institutional dialogue to keep rules compatible, a "mediated solution" to avoid divergence of rules, and reciprocal supervisory co-operation to protect financial stability. This proposal reflects the UK view that the EU's existing equivalence regime for third countries is not appropriate for the depth of UK-EU ties in this sector. Equivalence also applies only in certain areas and can be withdrawn by the EU at 30 days' notice, introducing inherent risks and uncertainties into UK financial institutions' operations. Meanwhile the EU has objected to the "joint" nature of the arrangement proposed by the UK, as equivalence is granted unilaterally and is based only on EU rules. However, there is probably scope for a special deal between the EU and the UK on financial services, and our index reflects that. London is a crucially important service provider, and many countries would be adversely affected by the prospect of no deal in this area. As a result, most countries take a relatively soft stance on the issue, with the exception of those aiming to bring more London-based activities "in house", such as Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. For the same reason, France takes the hardest stance on this issue; in November 2017 Paris was selected as the city to host the European Banking Authority (EBA) after Brexit, and is already home to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Maintain defence ties Defence and security is the issue on which the UK-EU vision for the post-Brexit relationship is most closely aligned. The UK has proposed a new security partnership that maintains existing operational capabilities (including access to data), UK participation in Europol and Eurojust, active co-ordination on foreign policy issues and joint capability development (for example the interoperability of UK and EU militaries). Moreover, in June France, Germany, Belgium, the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Spain and Portugal signed a letter of intent to form a new military force. The Nordic and Baltic states and Poland are concerned that security guarantees from the EU could be imperilled by looser ties with the UK. Fearing that Russia might lash out and worried about US support for NATO under the presidency of Donald Trump, these countries will be keen to continue security co-operation with the UK, the EU's pre-eminent defence power. Neither Sweden nor Finland are militarily aligned, and although both countries are members of NATO's Partnership for Peace, they depend on bilateral defence agreements, including a Nordic Defence Co-operation pact, and security protections offered by the EU. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have voiced concerns about losing the UK's involvement in European security policy, particularly given the UK's military presence in these countries as part of NATO's effort to build up forces in the area. Moreover, once the UK leaves the EU, France will be the only remaining standing member of the UN Security Council in the bloc, and the only nuclear power. France is therefore also likely to want to maintain close ties with the UK on defence after Brexit, and may take the lead on EU defence negotiations, as this is one area in which it is the stronger partner in the Franco-German relationship. A softer stance by most Based on updated and more specific negotiating objectives laid out by the UK, more EU countries have shifted their stance into the softer categories. This is partly because one of the most contentious aspects of the negotiations, the financial settlement, on which most member states took a hardcore stance last year, has been resolved in the withdrawal agreement. However, a softer stance from some member states might also result from a clarification of the UK's position. There may also be a greater willingness to compromise by some countries as the negotiations have progressed and as the deadline to reach a deal draws closer. Nonetheless, even those countries that are most sympathetic to the UK will continue to be bound by the EU's most important red line and will refrain from doing anything that might undermine the future cohesion of the bloc. Most EU member states believe that the UK's withdrawal must be costly and that any future trade arrangement must offer worse terms than full membership did, and the importance of maintaining good relations with the remaining EU members will dissuade them from undermining the group's overall negotiating position. As has been the case from the start, the EU's negotiating stance is determined by the overarching goal of defending the interests of the bloc and discouraging others from following the example of the UK at a time when member states are demanding more national sovereignty. For the EU's founding members, France and Germany in particular, protecting the future cohesion and stability of the EU will trump a softly-softly approach on trade or other issues. Nevertheless, given that many member states have an interest in maintaining close trading, financial and security relations with the UK, there is the potential for internal discord among the EU27, especially if there is no breakthrough in the negotiations in the coming months and a no-deal Brexit becomes more likely. Some member states might then lobby for a softer approach, and there may be scope for the UK to use this leverage to get a better deal.

Over the past twenty years, research progress in maize, the single most important food staple in sub-Saharan Africa, has been comparable to progress in other primarily smallholder maize systems in the developing world, ...

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Q: Optimize SQL date function I’ve written a function (Oracle SQL) that calculates the number of business days between two dates based on different countries’ calendars. It needs to be run thousands of times, so speed is very important. You input a startdate, an enddate and the name for the given calender for example ‘US’, ‘UK’ and so on. The input parameters are passed through in different SQL’s, but right now I’m still testing. The function uses a holiday table to look up non-business days between the days. The table contains all weekends and national holidays in different countries. The problem is that the function is quite slow, despite using cursors. Does any have any tips, on how to make the function faster? I’m suspecting the select query in the function to be the problem. I might be wrong but nevertheless I don’t know what to do about it. CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION Test (in_dt1 DATE, in_dt2 DATE, in_Calender VARCHAR) RETURN NUMBER IS Count_days NUMBER := 0; beg_dt DATE; End_dt DATE; Curr_dt DATE; Cursor_dato DATE; CURSOR C1 IS SELECT b.holiday FROM calendars a INNER JOIN holidays b ON a.calik = b.calik WHERE a.cal = in_Calender AND holiday >= in_dt1 AND holiday <= in_dt2; BEGIN OPEN c1; beg_dt := LEAST (in_dt1, in_dt2); End_dt := GREATEST (in_dt1, in_dt2); Curr_dt := beg_dt + 1; <<OUTER>> WHILE Curr_dt <= End_dt LOOP FETCH c1 INTO cursor_dato; WHILE cursor_dato IS NULL LOOP Count_days := Count_days + 1; Curr_dt := Curr_dt + 1; EXIT OUTER WHEN Curr_dt = End_dt + 1; END LOOP; WHILE Curr_dt < cursor_dato LOOP Count_days := Count_days + 1; Curr_dt := Curr_dt + 1; EXIT OUTER WHEN Curr_dt = End_dt; END LOOP; IF Curr_dt > cursor_dato THEN Count_days := Count_days + 1; END IF; Curr_dt := Curr_dt + 1; END LOOP; CLOSE c1; RETURN Count_days; END; A: select trunc (end_dt) - trunc(beg_dt) from dual; gives you number of days between two dates. select count(1) from holidays where holiday >= beg_dt AND holiday <= end_dt; gives you number of holidays between two dates. First - second give you your result. Without cursors, loops and so on. So something like: CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION Test (in_dt1 DATE, in_dt2 DATE, in_Calender VARCHAR2, p_country varchar2) RETURN NUMBER IS Count_days NUMBER := 0; beg_dt DATE; End_dt DATE; count_holidays number := 0; begin beg_dt := LEAST (in_dt1, in_dt2); End_dt := GREATEST (in_dt1, in_dt2); count_days := trunc(end_dt) - trunc(beg_dt); select count(1) into count_holidays from holidays where holiday >= beg_dt AND holiday <= end_dt and country = p_country; return Count_days - count_holidays; end; I've added parameter for country to count proper holidays.

The construction of Pokhara Regional international Airport will initiate soon as the pre-construction work is currently going on. According to the airport Project Manager Pradeep Adhikari, “At the present time, the construction of temporary residence for the workers is going on at the project site. We are expecting to start the project after Bhadra 2074 as before that the rainy weather will not support us.” Construction of Pokhara International Airport (at Chinnedanda-3 km to the east of Pokhara’s present domestic airport) was inaugurated with placing foundation stone by then Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on April 13, 2016. The tender was secured by the Chinese Engineering Company CAMCE. The Company is going to construct the International Airport with projected amount of 215.96 Million US Dollar which is obtained via loan from Exim Bank of China. Due to prolonged process in acquiring loan, the construction of the airport experienced some delays. The loan agreement was finalized on 11th July, 2017. As per the construction plan and the feasibility report, the total length of the runway will be 2500 meters whereas the terminal building will cover 14,000 sq. m. The project is expected to be completed by 2021 subject to some delays. The aircraft like Boeing 757, Airbus A319, and Airbus A320 will be able to land at the runway of Pokhara Regional International Airport. Also, the airport will be able to handle 10 lakh passengers and tourists. Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is currently the only international airport handling congested air traffic in the country. To decrease the pressure at TIA, some other international airports are under construction namely Pokhara, Nijgadh and Gautam Buddha International Airport however; the construction work is unable to acquire pace and concern from authorities.

DraftKings NHL DFS Picks – December 4th While our DraftKings NHL DFS Picks didn’t exactly work last night, it was a real tough night considering four of the six teams in play scored two goals or less, three of which only scored one. The good news is we completely avoided two of the teams that scored one goal in the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers. The bad news is we faded the Tampa Bay Lightning which came back to hurt us. Our three-man Stars stack did some damage in the form of a Jamie Benn goal, but unfortunately both Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza missed the scoresheet with Spezza posting an ugly goose egg on the night. The only production I got from my three-man Predators stack came from a Roman Josi assist as the Predators edged the Sabres by a 2-1 score. The two-man Devils stack I rolled out also got just one assist from Sami Vatanen as New Jersey was thumped 5-1 by the visiting Lightning. It was a slow night in the NHL last night, but the action ramps up to a 10-game slate this Tuesday night! Let’s go! C – John Tavares (TOR) – $6,700 vs. BUF There aren’t many tougher back-to-backs than the one the Sabres face tonight as John Tavares and the Maple Leafs invade Buffalo tonight, just one night after the Sabres took a loss to the Nashville Predators on the road last night. There’s no doubt the Sabres have improved on the back end this season, but good, bad or indifferent, this Maple Leafs team has beat up on opposing defenses and penalty kills this season, so I want a couple slices of that pie beginning here with Tavares who comes at a cheaper cost given the return of Auston Matthews. He’s enjoying a big season in his first year in blue and white as Tavares has scored 17 goals in just 27 games this season to go along with 13 helpers on 97 shots. He’s scored seven of those goals over the last 10 games and has tallied 11 goals in just 13 games on the road this season. Despite perhaps ranking second on the Leafs’ depth chart at center, Tavares has the best winger in the Leafs lineup by his side in Mitch Marner at both even strength and on the lethal top power play unit, so let’s roll with the superstar forward against a vulnerable Sabres club tonight. C – Colin White (OTT) – $4,500 vs. MON The Senators’ offense has more than surpassed expectations so far this season and the get a nice road matchup tongiht against the Montreal Canadiens who are tied for 27th with 3.33 goals against per game at home this season. White comes at a very nice price tonight as he centers breakout rookie Brady Tkachuk and Mark Stone at even strength and on the Senators 1B power play unit. As a result, White is enjoying a nice campaign with seven goals and 16 points in 26 games this season, with four of those goals coming on the power play. The latter could be key as the Canadiens have also been no good on the penalty kill at home this season, ranking 21st with a 77.1% mark at the Bell Centre. Given the Senators’ productive offense and the Canadiens struggles on the back end, I am liking the value upside we are getting with the young pivot in a nice matchup tonight. W – Mitch Marner (TOR) – $7,000 vs. BUF A lot of his points come in the form of assists, but that’s more than okay with me as Marner teams up with Tavares tonight in Buffalo. Entering play tonight, Marner ranks fourth in NHL scoring with 38 points in 27 games this season while his 32 assists ranks him second to Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen and his 34 helpers. What I like about Marner is the fact that the Maple Leafs’ power play unit essentially runs through him on the right side of the ice. In other words, he’s the biggest reason why the Maple Leafs rank third with a 29% clip on the man advantage this season. With Auston Matthews back in the lineup, the power play becomes all that more dangerous. While we didn’t pay up for Matthews, the highest-priced skater on this slate, we get exposure to the sniper on the power play unit with the Tavares/Marner combo while this duo creates plenty of offense at even strength as well. The Maple Leafs are the league’s highest-scoring road team with 4.15 goals per game away from home this season, so I feel real confident about this mini-stack tonight. W – Mark Stone (OTT) – $6,400 vs. MON As mentioned, Stone sits to the right of White at both even strength and on the Senators 1B power play unit, and I am choosing him over Tkachuk in this lineup tonight. Stone enters play this evening with 12 goals and 29 points in 27 games to go along with 64 shots on goal. His 18.8% shooting percentage is a little high at this point, but he gets that favorable road matchup against a soft Canadiens back end this evening. He’s also entering play with a fairly hot hand after scoring three goals and adding two helpers over his last four games. While his home/road splits would tell you that he is more productive in Ottawa, Stone has actually notched two goals and two assists over his last two road games as those splits begin to even out. I figure this one to be a fairly high-scoring game tonight, and given the Canadiens’ recent struggles, I like the way this one is shaping up for the 26-year-old tonight. W – Yanni Gourde (TB) – $4,600 vs. DET After scoring five goals for the third consecutive game in New Jersey last night, it’s abundantly clear that the Lighting offense is firing on all cylinders right now, and I am going to get some exposure to that group with a reasonably-priced three-man stack beginning here with Gourde. Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov have been doing the damage of late, but Gourde lines up in a nice spot tonight alongside Steven Stamkos at both even strength and on the Lighting’s lethal top power play unit, so the value upside here is real. After breaking out with 25 goals last season, Gourde has 10 goals and 22 points in 28 games while firing 56 pucks on goal. He also snapped a five-game pointless streak with a goal in last night’s win over the Devils, and we’ve seen this guy score in bunches over the last year and change. Let’s hope another hot streak has begun with Gourde as he sits in a favorable spot in the lineup for this one tonight. D – Victor Hedman (TB) – $5,400 vs. DET Hedman isn’t racking up points at quite the same clip we have seen over the last couple of seasons, but he still has four goals and 14 points in 21 games and I think the cost is very reasonable against a Detroit defense that can be vulnerable at times. He is starting to get back into the groove after missing some time in early November as Hedman has tallied four assists over his last three games. Another factor to consider with these Lightning is the fact they have just dominated the Red Wings in recent history. Over their last 10 games against the Red Wings, Tampa Bay is a perfect 10-0-0 and have averaged 3.9 goals per game over that stretch. Hedman will line up with Gourde on the top power play unit, a group that ranks first with a 38.6% clip on the power play on the road this season. Can’t help but love him in this spot tonight. D – Dylan Demelo (OTT) – $3,600 vs. MON It’s time for some notable value in this lineup and I think we can get that with Demelo as he takes on the Canadiens while completing our three-man Senators stack for this one tonight. He has chipped in a little bit offensively with two goals and seven points in 27 games to go along with 39 shots and 46 blocked shots as well. The first-year Senator actually tallied a solid 20 points in 63 games last season with the Sharks, a number that looks even better when we consider he averaged just 14:12 of ice time per game. That number is approaching 19 minutes with the Senators this season, ice time that includes power play minutes where he is skating alongside White and Stone, making this a three-man stack at even strength and on the top power play unit. Some production from the 25-year-old would go a long way for this lineup tonight. G – Sergei Bobrovsky (CLS) – $8,100 vs. CGY He might not be the first goaltender to pop out at you on this slate, but Bobrovsky quietly has a nice matchup with the Flames tonight. The first thing to note is that while Calgary has been a deadly offense at home, they actually rank 21st with just 2.50 goals per game on the road and 26th with a 14% power play clip away from home. Bobrovsky is coming off a month of November where he got back into form with a .932 Sv%, and he sports a solid 2.41 GAA and .919 Sv% at home this season. He has allowed two goals or less in eight of his last 12 starts and just one goal against in six of those last 12 starts. Columbus is 7-4-1 at home and the Jackets are -130 favorites in this one, so I will lock in the two-time Vezina winner for this matchup tonight. UTIL – Ondrej Palat (TB) – $3,500 vs. DET Palat’s production has seen better days as he has yet to score in 12 games in this injury-shortened season, but the good news is Palat is set to skate with Gourde on the Steven Stamkos line tonight, so his first goal shouldn’t be too far away. It’s not like he has been completely silent with seven assists in those 12 games, but just don’t expect much of a floor here considering he has just 15 shots in that time. It’s also nice that Palat gives us exposure to the Tampa Bay second power play unit as well. He’s had trouble staying healthy in his career, but He’s averaging well over a half point-per-game clip in his career and that includes this season. At this price and alongside Stamkos and Gourde, I think Palat can bring a lot to the table at what should be relatively low ownership in a favorable matchup tonight. TheSportsGeek.com is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site of any kind. We are simply here to provide information about sports betting for entertainment purposes. Sports betting and gambling laws vary by jurisdiction. We are not able to verify the legality of the information we provide, or your ability to use any sites that are linked to on this site, for every combination of your location, the sites’ location, and the type of service those sites provide. It is your responsibility to verify such matters and to know and follow your local laws.

Q: popup grow right and up i am trying to make a smooth transition, when i am opening a popup. see codepen.io https://codepen.io/andrelange91/pen/QamNZK i am using -webkit-transition: width 1s, height 1s; /* For Safari 3.1 to 6.0 */ transition: width 1s, height 1s; on two different elements, i have an image which should "grow" and a info-popup div element. i am trying to make them grow smoothly to the right and up. but it is jerky (ie, not smooth), and on my info-popup, it isn't working.. .info-popup{ display:none; width:300px; height:150px; -webkit-transition: width 1s, height 1s; /* For Safari 3.1 to 6.0 */ transition: width 1s, height 1s; &[data-display="true"]{ display:block; height:400px; width:850px; background:grey; position:absolute; bottom:65px; left:2%; } } on my "image", it's sort a working. .programImage{ position:absolute; bottom:0; z-index:2; width:100%; height:90px; -webkit-transition: width 1s, height 1s; /* For Safari 3.1 to 6.0 */ transition: width 1s, height 1s; img{ width:100%; height:100%; } &[data-playerinfo-expanded="true"]{ height:150px; width:360px; } } I have searched google for a lot of different solutions, but none seems to fit. i also tried using Scale, but that created alot of new problems. Performance wise, would it be better to use transform ? and how would that look ? in an ideal world, both the programImage (image) and info-popup, would grow at the same rate, so it almost looks like the big "info-popup" is pulling on the smaller element "image" A: I do some adaptation on my fork codepen of yours, this is not clean but you can get what to do. I removed the animation that you done with JS, and set the transition for popup and image. Also you could not make any transition if you go from display:none; to display: block;. You have to use different tricks, for example : with: 0px; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; opacity: 0; transition: height 1s, width 1s, opacity 0s 1s; and when you want this to popup : with: 850px; height: 300px; opacity: 1; transition: height 1s, width 1s, opacity 0s; https://codepen.io/Alvan/pen/JMLbqm

I've decided to keep the site online for the foreseeable future as a reference for Elantra owners. If you'd like to help with costs or still believe in this resource, please use the Donate link to help out. Thank you. I own a 2011 Genesis Coupe and I am quite active on GenCoupe.com and the Pennsylvania sub-forum. My wife just bought a 2013 Elantra GT. Since I maintain the car I wanted to join this forum. Since this is my wife's car there will not be much modding. I am thinking a catch can and a simple K&N filter will probably be about it. We live in the far Northwest suburbs of Philadelphia in Montgomery County. Hello from Jacksonville, Florida. Just picked up a used 2008 Elantra GLS. Been driving it for 4 days now. I enjoy the gas milage compared to my truck and feels like it drives quite sporty. Looking forward to contributing and getting involved on the site. I've had my baby since June of 2008 she's brought me through some bad times in my life.at this point in time from me being out of work For over 3 years due to medical issues im in jeopardy of losing my car it would devastating for me as well as my 14 year old daughter. Me bring a single father and being disabled I could really use a miracle I've worked really hard in the past and made many serious sacrifices to have what little I possession as well as gaining custody of my child.its Christmas time and all I ask of people is a little mention of me and mine in their daily prayers.,and if you ever come across someone in need of help ni matter how small it may be ,make that little extra effort to help those in need thank you very much and bless you all. DANZO I've had my 2013 Elantra Limited for over a year and love the car. Just recently joined this forum in hopes of learning how to get the most out of my vehicle. Hoping to get some tips on customizing my vehicle. Currently living in North Carolina but moving to Indiana in a couple weeks. Greetings from LA/Pasadena, where it's still sunny and the taxes are high. When my wife and I bought our last car, I found the boards to be incredibly helpful and insightful, and thought that I'd come here given that we're 90% sure the Elantra will be joining our family soon. So, I apologize in advance for my lurking and random questions... but thanks for having me! Good Morning all, I am new to the group and just wanted to make sure i fully described what i was about with in the group in hopes to not violate or disrespect any forum rules or regulations. I am a Hyundai Sales person at Pohanka Hyundai in Capitol Heights,MD, Since working here i ve grown to have a large respect for the Elantra as well as the other models Hyundai is producing these days. Now as far I go , I am here to one assist anyone who may be looking to purchase a new or preowned Elantra or other Hyundai, two assist anyone who may need service help with their vehicle, and three meet some enthusiast about the Elantra and Hyundai brand in that I plan to own one in the near future. I hope these intentions follow all the guidelines and if not please feel free to give me a heads up. Thanks alot Hello!From time to time I flipping the forum and this time I took a step and signed up.I have a hyundai elantra 2006 2.0L silver,Love the car, serves me well.i'm love detailing and Riding a bicycle (70 KM 3 days a week) I'd love to join the community here, to help and to ask questions and laugh. Been a while since I been back here. Not for the lack of love. This forum will always be a special place for me. Car Facts:*2003 XD GT Manual*94,000 miles*No longer racing it My car has survived my insanity rather well. Not without problems but given my history of abuse, I cannot complain. List of recent problems and repairs:*Brakes of course. No longer running slotted/drilled rotors or Hawk pads. Just off the shelf stuff from Advance Auto Parts. There is a dramatic difference but it is not so important to me anymore. *Front Wheel Bearing. Holy crap was that a damn nightmare. Got the bearing and had to have it pressed out since about the only tool I don't have is a press and found out the spindle was bad so had to order one of those. It would not have been so bad I guess if I could have done the press work myself but I went to a motorcycle shop for the work and had to interupt their business twice. They were cool and didn't have a problem with it but it was supposed to be a simple quick thing that took 2 days and 2 trips. *Front struts. Not fixed yet but bad *Energy suspension bushings. Not fixed but bad. *Sunroof motor. Not fixed but bad. *Clutch. Going to need to be replaced but not slipping. *OBX Header/Exhaust/Muffler. Removed yesterday and oem exhaust put back on. Easy and fairly quick as I took it off when the car had about 3000 miles on it. Other than that there's not much else wrong. I have continued to clean out the "GUCK" from the wheelwell and those are still rust free. I did notice whilst under the car yesterday that there is rust occurring in the rear where water channels down from the rear door area. That is going to creep up the rocker panel is the next year or two. However there absolutely no rust showing anywhere on the car. Now I want to let you all know about something I have discovered recently about getting parts for your cars whatever brand they may be. This may have been covered here already but I will confirm it. AdvanceAutoParts.com has great promo codes that you can get off the internet. You can save as much as $50 off a $125 order. I was pricing new struts (03 Tirburon GT of course) and the KYB's were $103 (I see then for around $70 on Ebay). I added the replacement energy suspension bushings and I get one strut and one set of bushings for $76. For $152 I get both struts and both bushing sets. You have to place 2 separate orders to get the $50 off for each order. They have a variety of other discount codes so you can find the right one for you. I have stood in the store and ordered parts over the website from my phone and then walked up to the counter to get them. You can't get these discounts at the counter, only online. Personally things have not changed much. Still married thanks to so much understanding and forgiveness on my wife's part. LOL 23 years. Both kids still not postnatal aborted (i.e. murdered by their parents) and in college. I've converted from playing the drums to playing guitar. I'm in a band playing all original music. Gigging tonight as a matter of fact. Joe Hopkinson (former regular on this forum) and I became good friends as a result of this site and have remained good friends for almost 10 years now. He is from Canada and got a job in NYC where he met is now wife Katie. I was the bestman in his wedding on August 3rd. I took him to Montreal for his bachelor party which was "Epic"! He has now moved to Ohio, near Columbus with his wife and will be able to work his same job but from Ohio instead of Manhatten. So I just bought a 2013 Elantra GT with the Touch and Go package, and am excited to pick it up tomorrow. Any tips on maintenance and driving off the bat? Also I have 18' ASA rims on the 03 maxima SE that I'm trading in, and having them put the stock wheels back on so I can keep my aftermarkets. Think it's worth it to machine straighten the one that's bent ($99) and put them on the GT? I hear it might make the ride a little rougher as it did with the SE, but kinda wanna protect the new rims from awful, awful road conditions in NY. I bought the car from a member on here. It has 156k miles. It's got Koenig imagine wheels, H&R lowering springs with the 1" drop. A K&N air filter. Resonator box removed and a Tiburon Shifter with a Momo shift knob. The bad is the rear hatch is stuck shut, the windshield is cracked and the timing belt an water pump need to be replaced. Also after getting it home I found the ebrake didn't hold. After some inspecting, found one of the cables to the brakes was froze. So I gotta put some money into it. I replaced the hyper white fog lights with some yellow ones I had left from my last 03 GT. Also installed my tiburon foot pedals. My first mod was to the fog light switch to make the bulbs come on with the running lights. So you'll see me around. Hoping the car lasts me me a long time. Update - I bought a new brake cable so now it works awesome. Then I changed, the timing belt, water pump and other belts. Then today tinkered and got the rear hatch fixed! Some pieces from the spoiler broke off and fell down into the latch and jammed it. I am new here and own a new 2013 Elantra Limited (red w/black interior). I purchased this car just over a month ago and absolutely love this car!!! This in not my first Hyundai, I owned a new Elantra back in 2001 which saved me and my (2) children's lives. We got hit behind and the car was totaled. The rear bumper was almost flush with the rear window!! Nether me or my children hurt in the accident. But I know that car saved our lives!!! I told myself that day that I will definitely own another Hyundai someday........ Well, the day has finally came. I'm looking forward to being part of this great community of Elantra owners. hi all! My wife and I got 2013 Elantra GTs earlier this year, and while I spend a lot of time over at hyundai-forums.com in the GT section there, I haven't come thru this way before! Glad to find the board, and I'm looking forward to reading some fun posts. I enjoy modding my GT (K&N intake, KYB shocks, tinted, looking at a 2.25" cat-back exhaust, and a new swaybar going in as soon as progress finishes it!), and will be looking for ECU tunes on an ongoing basis, to uncork this badboy! I've taken it to the track, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time there (writeup at h-f.com). Just thought I'd say hello. Just purchased my first real car all on my own (2008 gray Elantra) and really excited to start doing some work on it. Looking forward to posting some results and getting some feedback in the future. Take care all! Hello,I purchased my Elantra hatchback (non GT) in 2006 while working at GEMA as a contract worker in gage management. GEMA is a Chrysler engine plant in Dundee, MI with a joint venture with Mitsubishi and Hyundai and now Fiat. I had to travel 50 miles each way back and forth and needed a reliable, fuel efficient vehicle that was affordable. The people in Ann Arbor were so kind in helping me find such a car. It was a terrific purchase back then with a 5year/ 100k mile warranty on the power train. It has been a good car to me only giving me some problems with the side view mirrors. I just happened to stumble on this site by chance while looking for brake parts. Glad I did. Hello everyone. Just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself, my name is Larry and I am from Carthage, NY. Just bought a 2013 Elantra Coupe less than a week ago. Found this forum while searching Google for mods and upgrades for it. This is my first Hyundai (actually bought it for the wife). Been searching for upgdrades for it and honestly haven't found a whole lot yet. I'm sure in time more will become available. Here is how it sits now, bone stock. So far all I have is done is wash, polish and wax it using Turtle Wax Black kit. I bought a 13 Elantra Coupe GS last weekend. Looking around on different sites and forums i have noticed all these Letters and Numbers. I really hope someone can explain what they mean and Which letter number is my car? Other than that i can not wait to seek through all these threads and check out everyone's rides! I sure hope to soak up some of the information and knowledge also. Maybe just maybe i will find something that can help me with what i want to do to my car. Ok guy's here we go, it's my first venture in the hyundai world but family and relatives have been running a float of them for years and i am assured these cars are tough traded in a 2011 ford fiesta for the elantra, the car wasnt up to my need anymore, good little cars, just not for me anymore , grew out of it , I took a hit money wise but i knew it ! So here comes the car it's a canadian market elantra GT GS A6 in platinum gray , went to the dealer it was the only color i was coming back to so i told the salesman this was it ! much to my surprise after all was written down for the montly payment , I learned it was a canceled delivery and it came with tinted windows, sherlock and 9 years warrantied rustproofing for free. for now the car stands at 200kms and i already intalled santa fe alloy wheels (from my parents 2009 santa fe) and a bike rack on it. I have a roll of carbon fiber vinyl from a previous project waiting to be used as a grille wrap (3m dinoc) . HID are on order as the local company (ebay shipping is horrid to quebec) didnt have any 4300k H11 in stock and an order has been placed for i30 Led foglights. I have owned a Hyundai for the last 10 years now. My first was a 2003 Elantra GT chianti red with leather and 5 sp tran. Loved it and it is still going after 85000 miles, although I had to replace the clutch last month. In 2008 I purchased a new Sonata with a V6, since my wife wanted a larger car. Last April, I went back to the Elantra and purchased a 2012 GLS with fogs and upgraded interior, this one also red. Difference is I bought it for my son, who turned 16, because of the cars appearance (sporty) and the fact that my insurance would be lower than if I purchased the Genesis Coupe. Not too mention the price difference and the fact that I didn't want my son to kill himself in that genesis. So here was the goal: make the elantra as sporty as possible with after-market products. The car has chrome around both front and back headlights, the windows are tinted, I have two 12'' subs in the trunk and the foglights have moulding around them. Aside from custom wheels and tires, anyone else have recommendations for further appearance enhancement? I just bought the new elantra GT and i love it! The car is so smooth and quick. For the size of engine it has its pretty fast with nice pickup. Im looking to do a few mods to it but i was wondering if itll void any of my warrenties? Like lowering and an exhaust system. im 27, from maryland and drive an 03 elantra and an 05 mustang. i worked for a ford/kia dealer as a tech from 2004ish to 2011. info on the elantra is in the mod list section but here is a quick run down....

Fire that killed 3 girls 32 years ago being investigated as a homicide Conor Trindle20 Sep 2019, 20:18 GMT+10 On the 32nd anniversary of a fire that destroyed a home on Kilcock, Co Kildare, and killed 3 girls aged 3, 8 and 20, gardai are firming on the view that the fire was deliberately lit. New evidence which emerged two years saw the decades-long investigation into the fire upgraded to a murder investigation. The horrific fire occurred on 20 September 1987. CO KILDARE, Ireland - On the 32nd anniversary of a fire that destroyed a home on Kilcock, Co Kildare, and killed 3 girls aged 3, 8 and 20, Gardai are firming on the view that the fire was deliberately lit. New evidence which emerged two years saw the decades-long investigation into the fire upgraded to a murder investigation. The horrific fire occurred on 20 September 1987. Aidan and Elizabeth Byrne, who lived at the home with their two daughters Mary Ellen Byrne, 8, and Kerrie Anne Byrne, 3, were having a night out at a 21st birthday party in the neighbourhood. Elizabeth's sister Barbara Doyle stayed over to babysit her two nieces. Between 3:00am and 4:00am that Sunday morning a fire was reported at the house. When the fire was extinguished firefighters found the remains of the Byrnes' two daughters and Barbara Doyle. "Two years ago on the 30th anniversary of the fire, new evidence came into our possession and garda now believe the fire was started deliberately," Gardai said in a statement released on Friday. "The investigation was upgraded to a murder investigation and an incident room has been established at Leixlip Garda Station." "Garda firmly believe that there are persons in the community who have information in relation to this fire." "We are appealing to any person who has any information to contact Leixlip Garda station at 01-6667800 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111," the statement said. "Garda would further appeal that the privacy of the Byrne and Doyle families is respected at this time."

Morning Minutes: Nov. 18 Word of the Day, Website of the Day, Number to Know, This Day in History, Today’s Featured Birthday and Daily Quote. Comment News Eagle - Hawley, PA Writer Posted Nov. 18, 2013 at 7:05 AM Posted Nov. 18, 2013 at 7:05 AM Word of the Day counterpoise KOUN-ter-poiz (verb) to balance by an opposing weight; counteract by an opposing force; to bring into equilibrium; Archaic. to weigh (one thing) against something else; consider carefully. (noun) a counterbalancing weight; any equal and opposing power or force; the state of being in equilibrium; balance; Radio. a network of wires or other conductors connected to the base of an antenna, used as a substitute for the ground connection. — www.dictionary.com Website of the Day The Zoom Project http://thezoomproject.com/ The Zoom Project sends reporters to cover stories through photographs, with requests taken from the Twitterverse via the hashtag #ZOOMPROJECT. Number to Know 1928: On this date in 1928, the animated short “Steamboat Willie” is released as the first fully synchronized sound cartoon. It features the third appearances of cartoon characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, but is considered by the Disney corporation to be Mickey's birthday.

studying (clinical, biology, AND physics) & preparing for conferences (2-4 hrs per day) while working 9-10 hr days and trying to maintain a healthy & active life. word of advice: take your time while learning...dont try to do too much at once. you will inevitably get swamped and hurt the learning process. study with residents...it makes it easier and they can teach you tricks and vice-versa. you can also use your co-resident as a gauge on how you are doing... Moderator Emeritus learn a little always. dont cram. make mistakes and stupid questions now, dont be embarrassed. more people will be wondering than you realize and if we were expect to know you wouldnt need 5 years of training. Always to find a way to enjoy what you are doing. Some elements of work and studying are inherently less enjoyable than others. So it might take a little creativity on your part, but if you can find a way to enjoy it, you will do whatever "It" is just that much better. I was also hoping if there were some thoughts about the interaction/ dynamics between the rad onc residents and the med oncs/ surgeons/ physicists/ nurses/ dosimetrists/ radiation therapists on a day to day level and also at conferences/ journal club presentations. Any insights on how to get along better, and have fun learning experiences! Moderator Emeritus show respect =, learn what you do and what they do so you can talk about it. it makes you a great doc and earns their respect. Do NOT let them treat you like the phlebotomy/technician team on hand to do their bidding. you are a cancer doctor and radoncs often know more than the medoncs/surgeons. Act as such (not that you "know more" but that you are a cancer specialist) Nurses are professionals. treat them that way. Dosimetrists and physicists can make you look good, teach you more than you can imagine and save your ass. treat them that way. Basically, be a nice guy and things will fall your way.Just enjoy learning and it will roll smoothy. Nothing fancy. I was also hoping if there were some thoughts about the interaction/ dynamics between the rad onc residents and the med oncs/ surgeons/ physicists/ nurses/ dosimetrists/ radiation therapists on a day to day level and also at conferences/ journal club presentations. Any insights on how to get along better, and have fun learning experiences! Ask a lot of questions to the specialists (H&N surgeons, surg oncs, med-oncs) about their area of expertise. Go to all the tumor boards you can, even the ones off your service if you have time. If an opportunity to give a talk arises, take it - you learn a lot, and you'll gain respect amongst the other specialists. Steph is right - we aren't 'radiation therapists'. We don't do what a specialist wants - we do what's right for the patient. Dosimetrists are crucial to a junior resident. When contouring, ask a million questions about fields, wedges, collimator angles, etc. Ask why they do things the way they do. Most dosimetrists like to teach the residents, and they can break it down very simply for you. I'd say talk to the physicists, but they just seem to confuse me further right now. I'm sure as I learn more, I will learn from them, too. RTs are great and the key to delivery of treatment. At the beginning, when you are new and asked to approve things, be wary and don't be rushed. They just want to get things rolling, so if you aren't sure, don't just say 'ok' to appease the tech. Take another film if you need to, call an attending if you need to, and don't get rushed. But, when looking at films, ask them for pointers on landmarks and quick ways to match up things. They do this a million times a week, so they have good shortcuts. As far as studying, I don't know what to say but read lots. Some UpToDate, some textbook, some journal articles, just a little bit every day and more before conference or when giving a talk. Nothing really clicks at the beginning. It's too overwhelming, and it doesn't seem to help. But, each time you go over something, some of it sticks. It's like "Karate Kid", when Daniel-san is asked to clean the floors and paint and doesn't get why and gets all mad (like me reading Khan). Then finally, when sen-sai spars with him, he realizes why - he was building baseline skills and reflexes (like when I drop a tight four-field plan for a rectal ca). Sorry for the 2.5 year bump...you can blame the spring of 4th year, LOL! I thought this would be a great thread to get going again. I love learning from those who have gone before me so that I can learn from their experiences/lessons/mistakes. Thank you very much for all who contribute.

Expression of the tumour antigen T21 is up-regulated in prostate cancer and is associated with tumour stage. • To define the expression pattern of the tumour antigen T21 at the protein level in prostate tissues, prostate cell lines and a panel of normal tissues. • To correlate the expression pattern of T21 in prostate cancer with clinical parameters. • Tissue samples were collected from 79 patients presenting at clinic with either prostate cancer (63 patients) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, 16 patients). • A tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed from 44 of the prostate cancer tissues and areas of benign disease (43 patients) from these tissues were also included on the TMA. The remaining tissues (prostate cancer 19 patients and BPH 16 patients) were mounted fresh frozen onto cork boards and sectioned. • Full ethical approval was granted for all aspects of the study and informed patient consent was taken before tissue collection. • Immunohistochemistry was used on the prostate tumour TMA, the normal tissue TMA and the fresh-frozen prostate tissues. Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry was performed on prostate cell lines. • Expression of T21 was highly restricted within normal tissues with only the stomach, ovary, breast and prostate having detectable T21 expression. • T21 was significantly over-expressed in prostate cancer glands compared with benign tissue and was present in >80% of the malignant specimens analysed. • Increased expression was positively correlated to pathological stage of prostate tumours. • Additionally, T21 was associated with Gleason grade and prostate-specific antigen recurrence, although statistical significance was not reached in this restricted cohort of patients. • Taken together these results show that T21 is a potential new biomarker for advanced disease and that elevated levels of T21 appear relevant to prostate cancer development.

1. Field of the Disclosure This disclosure pertains in general to full duplex communication systems, and more specifically to echo cancellation in full duplex communication systems. 2. Description of the Related Art Full duplex communication system allows communication between devices in both directions simultaneously. Data is transmitted in both directions on a signal carrier coupling the devices at the same time. Echo cancellation may be used to prevent echo from travelling across a full duplex communication system. By using echo cancellation techniques, an echo signal, which may be a delayed copy of an original signal, may be identified and removed from the original signal that is sent or received by one or both of the devices. Nevertheless, echo cancellation residual error may exist due to loading difference, termination and process random mismatch, especially in high speed full-duplex communication systems. The echo cancellation residual error interferes with signals in the full duplex communication system as it modifies the amplitude and/or the timing of the signals sent and received by devices. Intersymbol interference may result and the performance of the full duplex communication system may be limited. As a result, there is a need for better solutions to calibrate devices with echo cancellation to eliminate echo cancellation residual error.

Hi all I have already posted same message to java-user group yesterday, no response yet, please help me out of problem I have text docs similar to the TREC format some think like this <file> <author>xxxxxxxx</author> <publisher>yyyyyyyy</publisher> <text> Full text search with one or more keywords with advanced search operators to enhance search has to be implemented. Advanced search with document attributes like author, title, type and Meta keyword in addition to the search term should be implemented. </text> </file> with this type of doc I can index text between "<text>" tags, but I want to preserve the data in the other tags as well like <author>xxxxxxxx</author> <publisher>yyyyyyyy</publisher>. Because the user when searching for docs he will use author as attribute for searching Doc, Is there any possibility to index the author and publisher data and use in the search. please tell me how can I index and use in search. And also please guide me with methods or references in IR that use attributes of DOC for search purpose. Thanks in advance Madhu Madhu Satyanarayana. Panitini PASS GCA Solution Centre Pvt Ltd. 601 Aditya Trade Centre, Ameerpet, Hyderabad, India. www.pass-consulting.com

All my shipments this holiday season have been at least a week late. One package came in one month after being ordered (shipped nov 29 from Winnipeg .. arrived dec 27 Edmonton ... ). I feel like ordering some IC7 ..

Lacey and His Friends Lacey and His Friends is a 1986 compilation of science fiction short stories by American writer David Drake, published in 1986 by Baen Books. It contains five stories, three of which are about the titular Jed Lacey, a ruthless individual, convicted for raping a former contemporary as an act of revenge for betraying him, turned detective by a computer that allocates people to work in areas where their "psych profile" indicates they will be effective. The other stories are two unconnected, time travel stories. Lacey lives in a world of constant sousveillance and surveillance. People have chosen to live in this world rather than it being enforced from above by an unelected and unaccountable government. The government, in choosing to ignore its own laws, sets Lacey free from his former punishment in exchange for his silence about its own apparently illegal activities. External links David Drake's comments concerning the book and its effect on him Category:1986 short story collections Category:Science fiction short story collections Category:Baen Books books

Is 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' worth a shot? Amidst all the hype on the Internet regarding DC Extended Universe's (DCEU) latest offering, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," for the past one and a half years, the movie opened to a positive response from fans. The response seems justified, given that this is overall a good movie, despite certain elements not meeting expectations, especially in the direction and the story. [SPOILERS AHEAD] Direction "Dawn of Justice" is Zack Snyder's second venture into superhero movies after DCEU's debut "Man of Steel" (2013). Snyder will also be directing the upcoming two-part film of the franchise, "Justice League," titled "Justice League Part One" and "Justice League Part Two." Known for his unique directing style, Snyder's approach to the movie is somewhat similar to "Man of Steel" and his earlier films like "300" and "Watchmen." However, unlike "Man of Steel" that managed to maintain its grasp, "Dawn of Justice" lacks the grip and hence, is comparatively untenable, which is a little disappointing. Acting The world loved Christian Bale as Christopher Nolan's incarnation of Batman in "The Dark Knight" trilogy. However, "Dawn of Justice" will have both fans and detractors, the dividing line being those who read the original comic books, including everything about Superman and Batman way before Nolan's "Batman Begins" even hit the theatres, and those who didn't read the books at all. Ben Affleck's Batman is much closer to the comic book counterpart (especially to Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns") and is nothing like Bale's version of the Caped Crusader. Hence, even though Affleck's Batman is a perfect adaptation of the original comic book, it dissapoints when it comes to the cinematic version as it is nowhere near Nolan's incarnation. Henry Cavill's Superman isn't up to the mark, and has lost its "Man of Steel" charm significantly. Even though he is one of the two titular characters, Superman's role is largely diminished. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is undoubtedly the show-stopper, and perfect in the role of Amazonian princess. The Lex Luthor played by Jesse Eisenberg is entirely new, and never before seen in any of the antagonist's previous incarnations. However, even though the character has a unique personality, it fails to impress much. Besides, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne and Jeremy Irons have played their respective roles well, but without any remarkable impression. Storyline The story of "Dawn of Justice," though drawn heavily from the comic books, fails miserably to meet expectations. There are numerous instances in the movie that seem to be just thrust upon without any plausible explanation, and look like a desperate attempt to pave the way for the upcoming "Justice League" movies. The major plots in the film have been created out of nowhere. Whether it be the reason behind Batman and Superman's clash or the introduction of future superheroes in the DCEU like The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, it is all done hurriedly, leaving the audience irritated and annoyed. Overall Execution "Dawn of Justice" is a good movie indeed. Though it hasn't lived up to the hype, it was not a total disappointment. Certain elements could have been improved. For example, the scene transitions are poorly done and don't maintain continuity. Before the audience know it, the scene changes and an entirely different side of the story starts to unfold, resulting in further annoyance. Verdict A must-watch for a one-time watch. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" might not be the usual Marvel pleasure trip, but it has its own genuineness. Comic book lovers are definitely going to love it, and for the rest of audience, it is undoubtedly worth a shot.

453 B.R. 819 (2011) In re Anthony Roberts, Elita ROBERTS, Debtors. James Atkisson, Plaintiff v. Anthony Roberts, Defendant. Bankruptcy No. 10-31154(1)(7). Adversary No. 10-03043. United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Kentucky, Louisville Division. July 6, 2011. *820 R. Eric Craig, Hayden & Craig, PLLC, C. Dodd Harris, IV, Louisville, KY, for Plaintiff. Charity Bird Neukomm, David M. Cantor, Seiller Waterman LLC, Louisville, KY, for Defendant. MEMORANDUM-OPINION JOAN A. LLOYD, Bankruptcy Judge. This matter came before the Court for trial on the Complaint of Plaintiff James Atkisson ("Atkisson") against Defendant/Debtor *821 Anthony Roberts ("Debtor"). The Court considered the testimony of the witnesses and the documentary evidence submitted. For the following reasons, the Court will enter the attached Judgment in favor of the Debtor. The following constitutes the Court's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law pursuant to Rule 7052 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. FINDINGS OF FACT Atkisson owned a company called Diversified Financial Group, Inc. ("Diversified") which sold financial and investment planning products. He first met Debtor while he was a property and casualty agent with Allstate Insurance Company. Debtor had an independent agency that he owned with Michael Bush called Commonwealth Risk Management, LLC ("Commonwealth"). In 2008 Debtor approached Atkisson about buying into Diversified because he was dissatisfied with Allstate. Atkisson and Debtor agreed that Debtor would purchase part of Diversified for $108,000. This money was to be used as seed money to grow the company. Atkisson testified that the money Debtor put into Diversified was to be used to pay expenses and that Debtor would obtain stock in Diversified from his own sweat equity. In order to obtain the seed money to put into Diversified, Debtor had to sell Commonwealth. In the fall of 2008, Jessica Wagner agreed to purchase Commonwealth from Debtor. Wagner's original financing for the purchase fell through and Debtor told her he could carry the Note on Commonwealth while she obtained new financing. Debtor made two payments of $5,669 each on the Note before Wagner obtained the new financing. Wagner paid these payments to Debtor and Debtor put these funds into Diversified. Wagner ultimately obtained financing and paid $108,537 to complete the sale transfer with Debtor. In September 2008, Atkisson gave Debtor a company credit card for use in the business of Diversified. Debtor testified he was given no instructions regarding the use of the credit card. Although Debtor was an officer of Diversified at the time he was issued the credit card, Atkisson personally guaranteed the debt on the card. Debtor's role at Diversified was to generate new business. Debtor was a licensed insurance agent and Atkisson had experience with equities. At the time of the sale of Commonwealth, Debtor had deferred lease payments on his Allstate office until the sale to Wagner was consummated. Debtor had also received money from his mother's IRA. These debts had to be repaid before the deal with Wagner could close. Atkisson acknowledged at trial that he agreed to pay these debts in order to get the deal closed. Atkisson and Debtor originally devised a plan where each would get draws from Diversified. Debtor began receiving draws from Diversified in August 2008. In the fall of 2008, Debtor brought $17,000 in commissions that he contributed to Diversified. He also rolled over a $25,000 commission from Commonwealth before he contributed his $108,000 of seed money to Diversified. In May of 2009, Debtor told Atkisson he was having financial troubles. The draws from Diversified had stopped and Debtor was receiving no income from Diversified. Debtor told Atkisson he had to use the credit card for personal expenses. Debtor purchased $800 worth of gift certificates from Ruth Chris' Steakhouse for use in meetings with potential clients. The evidence also showed that Debtor used the credit card for personal living expenses. *822 Atkisson was aware of these charges. Once the seed money contributed by Debtor was gone, Atkisson personally paid the credit card bills on Debtor's behalf. Atkisson acknowledged that he agreed to pay these items. He told Debtor that the credit card bill was getting high and that he had to be judicious with his spending and use of the card. He did not tell Debtor to stop using the card. On June 10, 2009, Atkisson sent Debtor an email severing their relationship. Neither the email nor anything else in writing references Debtor's alleged misuse of the Diversified credit card as the reason for the severance. Debtor testified that Atkisson told him the bill was getting high and to be careful with its use but he did not instruct him to discontinue use of the card nor did he ever demand the card's return from Debtor. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW The Second Amended Complaint of Atkisson states two causes of action against Debtor. Plaintiff seeks to have Debtor's debt excepted from discharge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A) and (a)(6). The Court finds that the Plaintiff's case falls short of necessary evidence to prove his claims under either theory. Exceptions to discharge are narrowly construed. This furthers the Congressional policy favoring the provision of a fresh start for debtors. In re Finnegan, 428 B.R. 449 (Bankr.N.D.Ohio 2010). The party seeking to have a debt declared nondischargeable bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. Grogan v. Garner, 498 U.S. 279, 111 S.Ct. 654, 112 L.Ed.2d 755 (1991). In the case at bar, Plaintiff failed to meet his burden of proof. In order to prove a debt is nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A), the movant must show actual fraud, other than a statement respecting the debtor or an insider's financial condition. These elements must be proven: (1) the debtor obtained the money through material misrepresentation that, at the time, the debtor knew was false or made with gross recklessness as to its truth; (2) the debtor intended to deceive the creditor; (3) the creditor justifiably relied on the false representation; and (4) the creditor's reliance was the proximate cause of the loss. In re Rembert, 141 F.3d 277, 281 (6th Cir.1998). In support of this claim, Atkisson contends Debtor induced Atkisson to pay down his existing debts and that Diversified would gain income as a result. Atkisson also contends that Debtor misused the company credit card for personal expenses. The evidence presented by Atkisson in support of this claim does not meet the required elements of § 523(a)(2)(A). There is no evidence that Debtor obtained money through a material misrepresentation that he knew was false or made with gross recklessness. Debtor's use of the corporate credit card was authorized by Atkisson. Debtor admitted that he used the card to pay personal expenses but he informed Atkisson of this fact because he was not receiving a draw or income from Diversified. Atkisson did not instruct him to stop using the credit card nor did he take the credit card back from Debtor. In fact, once Atkisson decided to sever his business relationship with Debtor on June 10, 2009, misuse of the company's credit card was not set forth in writing as one of the reasons for severing the business relationship. The other material allegation that Atkisson used to support his claim under § 523(a)(2)(A) was that Debtor misrepresented to Atkisson that if he paid down his debts Diversified would gain income. The evidence established that Atkisson did pay down several of Debtor's debts in order for *823 Debtor to close the sale of Commonwealth to Jessica Wagner. Diversified's failure to succeed appears to be the real basis of Atkisson's fraud allegations. The evidence, however, does not support any claim that Atkisson paid down the debts based on a misrepresentation by Debtor. Atkisson testified that he willingly paid these debts in order to close the sale. In return, Debtor put $108,000 of the sale proceeds, plus two installment payments of $5,669 each, into Diversified. Debtor also contributed commissions as part of his capital contribution to Diversified. While the company did not obtain the sales that both Atkisson and Debtor had hoped for, there is no evidence to support Atkisson's theory of nondischargeability based on misrepresentation. Plaintiff simply failed to carry his burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence on the elements required to succeed on a claim under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A). Atkisson's second claim is asserted under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6). Under this Count, Atkisson alleges that any debt is nondischargeable due to it being a willful and malicious injury. The debtor must actually intend the injury caused, not merely intend the act that causes the injury. Kawaauhau v. Geiger, 523 U.S. 57, 61, 118 S.Ct. 974, 140 L.Ed.2d 90 (1998). Unless the "actor desires to cause consequences of his act, or ... believes that the consequences are substantially certain to result from it," a willful and malicious injury has not been committed as defined under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6). In re Markowitz, 190 F.3d 455, 464 (6th Cir.1999). There was no evidence of an intentional and malicious injury as required by the statute. Atkisson's claim under § 523(a)(6) also has no merit and fails for lack of evidence. CONCLUSION For all of the above reasons, judgment in favor of Debtor/Defendant Anthony Roberts will be entered on the Complaint of Plaintiff James Atkisson. JUDGMENT Pursuant to the Memorandum-Opinion entered this date and incorporated herein by reference, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Judgment is entered in favor of Debtor/Defendant Anthony Roberts on the Complaint of Plaintiff James Atkisson. This is a final and appealable Judgment. There is no just reason for delay.

Posterior interosseous nerve syndrome after pneumatic hammer use: An uncommon condition. This case report presents a 27 year-old manual worker with right wrist extension deficit after pneumatic hammer handling. MRI and electromyographic studies revealed partial compromise of the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) proximal to the branch for the extensor digitorum communis. The patient enrolled a 6-week rehabilitation period and recovered without remaing symptoms. PIN syndrome has mostly been associated with compressive neuropathies of the upper limb, but has seldom been reported in labor contexts. This case exemplifies an unusual presentation of PIN compression without a definite imaging diagnosis, where clinical presentation and electrodiagnostic studies are paramount for an accurate approach and understanding of the underlying condition.

Combination treatment for glioblastoma with temozolomide, DFMO and radiation. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant primary brain tumor with dismal prognosis. This tumor is characterized by extensive heterogeneity, thus is difficult to treat and every established or new treatment faces significant hazard of resistance. Temozolomide (TMZ), an oral alkylating agent, is the first-line treatment for GBM, but resistance to TMZ is a major problem. Herewith, we investigated the combined effect of TMZ, difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, and radiation in GBM cell lines. We used the U87G, U251MG and T98G GBM cell lines. A linac 6MV accelerator (Varian Medical Systems) was used for cell irradiation. Viability and proliferation of the cells were examined with trypan blue exclusion assay, crystal violet and xCELLigence system. Cell cycle and activation of caspase-8 were evaluated with flow cytometry. The combination treatment resulted in a consistent higher suppression of proliferation in all cell lines treated and induced a significant higher cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase in U251MG and T98G cell lines. In U251MG cells caspase-8 was increased with each treatment alone, however the combination treatment had lower level of caspase-8 induction, suggesting a co-existence of another mechanism of cell death apart from apoptosis. In T98G cells the combination treatment increased the activation of caspase-8. Combination treatment with DFMO, TMZ and radiation significantly reduced cell viability in all cell lines tested. Given that both TMZ and DFMO can be administered orally and are related to minimal toxicities, this combination treatment may be a novel treatment strategy for GBM that deserves further investigation.

Q: Коллекция без дублирования элементов Допустим, есть строки А, Б, В, Я, В. После добавления в какую коллекцию в ней будет только А, Б, В, Я? Или велосипед писать? A: HashSet, TreeSet и LinkedHashSet относятся к семейству Set. В множествах Set каждый элемент хранится только в одном экземпляре, а разные реализации Set используют разный порядок хранения элементов.

Gynacantha bullata Gynacantha bullata, the black-kneed duskhawker, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and shrub-dominated wetlands. Gynacantha bullata is a very widespread species, however deforestation is a threat in parts of its range and the impacts of this needs to be monitored. At present, it is not thought that this will cause the global population to decline at a sufficient rate to qualify or nearly qualify the species for a threatened category under criterion A; therefore it is assessed as Least Concern. References Clausnitzer, V. 2005. Gynacantha bullata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 9 August 2007. Category:Aeshnidae Category:Insects described in 1891 Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

The following studies will be conducted to elucidate the chemical mechanism of action of purine nucleoside phosphorylase: 1. Mechanistic studies to distinguish between A1 and A2 mechanisms employing 31PNMR; 18O/16O and 14C/12C kinetic isotope effects, isotope trapping experiments. 2. Synthesis, testing of affinity and photaffinity labels to elucidate the nature of the active site residues. 3. NMR studies on enzyme bound substrates and inhibitors to determine the presence of substrate distortion; 19F, 13C labelled external probes synthesized incorporated into affinity labels to test the active site environment.

// Copyright 2016 The prometheus-operator Authors // // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); // you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. // You may obtain a copy of the License at // // http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 // // Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software // distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, // WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and // limitations under the License. package k8sutil import ( "strings" "testing" "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/validation" ) func Test_SanitizeVolumeName(t *testing.T) { cases := []struct { name string expected string }{ { name: "@$!!@$%!#$%!#$%!#$!#$%%$#@!#", expected: "", }, { name: "NAME", expected: "name", }, { name: "foo--", expected: "foo", }, { name: "foo^%#$bar", expected: "foo-bar", }, { name: "fOo^%#$bar", expected: "foo-bar", }, { name: strings.Repeat("a", validation.DNS1123LabelMaxLength*2), expected: strings.Repeat("a", validation.DNS1123LabelMaxLength), }, } for i, c := range cases { out := SanitizeVolumeName(c.name) if c.expected != out { t.Errorf("expected test case %d to be %q but got %q", i, c.expected, out) } } }

Q: IF-Statement in SQLite: update or insert? I Can't run this query with SQLite if 0<(select COUNT(*) from Repetition where (Word='behnam' and Topic='mine')) begin update Repetition set Counts=1+ (select Counts from Repetition where (Word='behnam' and Topic='mine')) end else begin insert Repetition(Word,Topic,Counts)values('behnam','mine',1) end It says "Syntax error near IF" How can I solve the problem A: SQLite does not have an IF statement (see the list of supported queries) Insetad, check out out ERIC B's suggestion on another thread. You're effectively looking at doing an UPSERT (UPdate if the record exists, INSERT if not). Eric B. has a good example of how to do this in SQLite syntax utilizing the "INSERT OR REPLACE" functionality in SQLite. Basically, you'd do something like: INSERT OR REPLACE INTO Repetition (Word, Topic, Counts) VALUES ( 'behnam', 'mine', coalesce((select Counts + 1 from Repetition where Word = 'behnam', AND Topic = 'mine) ,1) ) A: Another approach is to INSERT ... SELECT ... WHERE ... EXISTS [or not] (SELECT ...); I do this sort of thing all the time, and I use jklemmack's suggestion as well. And I do it for other purposes too, such as doing JOINs in UPDATEs (which SQLite3 does not support). For example: CREATE TABLE t(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, c1 TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE, c2 TEXT); CREATE TABLE r(c1 TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE, c2 TEXT); INSERT OR REPLACE INTO t (id, c1, c2) SELECT t.id, coalesce(r.c1, t.c1), coalesce(r.c2, t.c2) FROM r LEFT OUTER JOIN t ON r.c1 = t.c1 WHERE r.c2 = @param; The WHERE there has the condition that you'd have in your IF. The JOIN in the SELECT provides the JOIN that SQLite3 doesn't support in UPDATE. The INSERT OR REPLACE and the use of t.id (which can be NULL if the row doesn't exist in t) together provide the THEN and ELSE bodies. You can apply this over and over. If you'd have three statements (that cannot somehow be merged into one) in the THEN part of the IF you'd need to have three statements with the IF condition in their WHEREs.

{ "runs": 1 }

J. H. Bowman James Henry Bowman, MBE, JP (died 6 November 1940) was a local politician from the English county of Lincolnshire who served as Vice-Chairman of Kesteven County Council. Life James Henry Bowman was the third son of Edward Bowman. He was a member of the building and contractors company Messrs. Bowman and Sons. Bowman was elected to Stamford Town Council in 1911 and elevated to Alderman in 1926. He was a long-serving chairman of the Town Council's Finance Committee and was mayor of Stamford in 1926, 1927 and 1928. Bowman was also elected to Kesteven County Council in 1917 and was made an alderman in 1931. In 1937, he was appointed its Vice-Chairman and served until his death. He was also chairman of its Education Committee and in 1938 was President of the East Midlands Educational Union. During the General Strike of 1926, Bowman was a food officer and in World War I, he was a distribution officer for the Ministry of Food and a director of transport for the North Midland Division; he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of this service. In 1926 he was also appointed a justice of the peace for Kesteven and three years later was made a magistrate for Stamford. He was a Liberal and chaired the Rutland and Stamford Divisional Liberal Association. Bowman died on 6 November 1940, aged 66. References Category:1940 deaths Category:English justices of the peace Category:English politicians Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:People from Stamford, Lincolnshire Category:Councillors in Lincolnshire