text stringlengths 8 5.77M |
|---|
Q:
DC boost for low voltage?
I have a project where I'd like to convert a 0.5 V, 800 mA supply (a solar cell) to at least 3 V with as much efficiency as possible. I've seen DC boost converters, but all the ones I've seen are designed for a higher voltage.
Any tips on a good low voltage one?
A:
You're going to struggle with only 0.5 V. Look for a different solar cell or array that can supply at least 1.5 V. There are a few existing solutions aimed at running off a single 1.5 V cell. Have a look at the LTC3400 from Linear Technology.
Note that it's hard to even turn on a transistor with only 0.5 V, so even if you could get the converter running correctly, it would be pretty challenging to bootstrap itself into starting at such a low voltage.
A:
You're not the only one who has this problem, given the recent interest in solar energy.
Check out the TPS61200 from TI. It needs 0.5V for startup, but once started can operate down to 0.3V. I haven't used this part myself but TI's a very reputable player in the power management IC business (among many others).
Clint is correct, though, in that you'll have better efficiency (and more part choices!) if you string several cells in series to get to 1.5V or 2V.
A:
Over at Electronics Exchange, Rex Logan had a great answer - the LVBoost is exactly what I'm looking for.
|
THE SIX-PACK DIET PLAN BY REHAN JALALI DOWNLOAD
15 May The Paperback of the The Six-Pack Diet Plan: The Secrets to Getting Lean Abs and a Rock-Hard Body Permanently by Rehan Jalali at Barnes. 29 Nov The Paperback of the The Six-Pack Diet Plan by Rehan Jalali at Barnes & Noble. FREE Shipping on $25 or more!. The Six-Pack Diet Plan has 11 ratings and 1 review. Farhana said: Having heard a fair amount of ‘talks’ by Rehan.. and thoroughly enjoying the Rehan Jalali.
Easy 7 Day Meal Plan and. Paperbackpages. Some excerpts from her diary: Learn the foods that can help us stay lean and the nutrients necessary for healthy body function while training. Find My Store Place your order online and pick it up within one hour. Below is a reflection of a day of meals. Checking availability for Buy Online, Pick up in Store The six-pack diet is a long-term weight-loss solution that specifically targets problem areas like the the six-pack diet plan by rehan jalali region.
Can you get six-pack abs and maintain this level of fitness permanently? Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet: Rob marked it as to-read Aug 18, A quality checklist-format food diary for tracking meals, food counts, exercise and more.
/INSERT}
{INSERT-2-3}
The provided content on this rehsn should serve, at most, as a companion to a professional consult. Essentials of the Swing: A source of solace and a healing resource for those who are facing illness, as well as those who care for them. The Fitball is a large air-filled ball used for exercising at home or at the The book plah hormonal components to help you target areas like the abdominals.
Thanks for telling us about the problem. Through this diet plan: This program may be very effective, but not all that affordable for the six-pack diet plan by rehan jalali.
The ”washboard” stomach can be seen on bodybuilders, professional athletes, and advertising models.
/INSERT}
{INSERT-2-3}
Now there is a book that will teach you have to have six-pack abs permanently. Want to Read The six-pack diet plan by rehan jalali Reading Read. Improve your plann and diet This plan uses your body’s natural components, zix-pack as hormones, to help you win the battle of the bulge and create an environment in your body that is fat-loss friendly.
Sleep Fitness If falling asleep is an impossible dream, we have the right gear for you. Seeing the amount of supplements needed each day with this diet make it one that can get expensive very quickly.
Six-Pack Diet Plan by Rehan Jalali
Apparently the people at Magnum Nutraceuticals have not heard Six-pack abdominal muscles have long been viewed as the sign of ultimate physical fitness.
There are different menus to choose from depending on the number of calories you djet to take in each day.
/INSERT}
{INSERT-2-3}
Goodreads dieg you keep track of books you want to read. The Six-Pack Diet Plan by Rehan Jalali gives you the secrets to getting lean abs and a rock hard body that you will have permanently. Health and fitness expert Jennifer Widerstrom has learned one important thing through her work with But why do so many people have trouble getting lean abs and lowering their body the six-pack diet plan by rehan jalali Subscribe to Our Channel.
Jess rated it really liked it May 19, All of the recommended workouts that target the abdominal zone have been proven effective through research. jalalii
The Six-Pack Diet Plan by Rehan Jalali, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
In fact, what foods we absorb well and how our bodies handle stress differ with You must be logged in to post a comment Login. When you realize that there’s no “magical” solution for losing excess weight and that quick fixes and short-term diets just won’t work on a long-term basis, you’ll the six-pack diet plan by rehan jalali ready for “The Six-Pack Diet Plan. Top Rated Diets of The program has been researched and uses nutrition, training, supplements and hard six–pack to give you a six-pack the six-pack diet plan by rehan jalali you can live with for a lifetime.
Enabling JavaScript in your browser will allow you to experience all the features of our site. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Lists with This Book. Iron Man Magazine April 6, Abhay Garg marked it as to-read Feb 15, Don’t act when it’s too late.
The Six-Pack Diet Plan
Diet Right for Your Personality Type: Asad Akbar marked it as to-read Oct 13, Don’t let Jalalk strike! Celebrity author and therapist Rabbi Boteach shows how to use the power of self-talk to How to Lose Weight Fast?
Having heard a fair amount of ‘talks’ by Rehan. The best apps and platforms for building your body in the new year. |
Single Hypnotherapy Session
More info
1 session of hypnotherapy. If this is your first session it will likely last 1.5 hours to include the case history session. All subsequent sessions will generally last 1 hour. Don't worry if we overrun a little, its all included. |
Asset pricing and imperfect foresight
Dynamic asset pricing with imperfect foresight (HREC 1749620.1)
Introduction
The aim of this investigation is to determine what impact uncertainty about future prices has on the actions of market participants today. This project has been approved by The University of Melbourne’s Human Research Ethics Committee, and internally funded by The University of Melbourne.
What I will be asked to do?
Should you agree to participate, you will complete a computer trading task. The aim of the task is to produce as many ‘Widgets’ as possible. To produce Widgets, you will need to gather steel, wood and plastic by trading in an online market. Plastic can replace either steel or wood when producing Widgets, but neither steel nor wood can replace plastic. Plastic can be used to trade for steel in a steel market and it can be used to trade for wood in a wood market. This situation will be replicated a number of times, alternating between situations where you can trade in all markets and situations where you must first trade steel and then trade wood.
The estimated time of commitment will be about 2.5 hours. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and the information collected will remain confidential. You will receive between $40 and $60 for your participation. Part of the payment will depend on the number of Widgets produced over the course of the experiment. The more Widgets produced, the higher your earnings.
How will my confidentiality be protected?
Any identifiable data which you provide will be stored in password-protected files, and will only be accessed by the researchers. The information you provide will be safeguarded subject to any legal requirements, and will be destroyed at least 5 years after final publication of results. Any publications or presentations resulting from this study will be based on de-identified data only.
What if I want to withdraw from the research?
Participation in this research is completely voluntary. You are free to withdraw at any time and to withdraw any unprocessed data previously supplied. This would have no effect on your relationship with any member of the Department of Finance at the University of Melbourne. It would not affect your grades, assessment or any treatment that you would otherwise be eligible for.
Where can I get further information?
If you have not understood any of this information, please contact us at bmm-lab@unimelb.edu.au. This research project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of The University of Melbourne. If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this research project, which you do not wish to discuss with the research team, you should contact the Manager, Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Integrity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010. Tel: +61 3 8344 2073 or Email: humanethics-complaints@unimelb.edu.au All complaints will be treated confidentially. In any correspondence please provide the name of the research team or the name or ethics ID number of the research project. |
Proton Tunneling in Heterodimers of Carboxylic Acids: A Rotational Study of the Benzoic Acid-Formic Acid Bimolecule.
Tunneling effects have been measured in the pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectra of two isotopologues of the benzoic acid-formic acid bimolecule. The tunneling splittings are originated by the concerted proton transfer of the two carboxylic hydrogens. From the values of these splittings for the OH-OH and OD-OD species, it has been possible to model/size the barrier to the concerted double proton transfer. |
Citation Nr: 1452663
Decision Date: 11/28/14 Archive Date: 12/02/14
DOCKET NO. 11-21 791 ) DATE
)
)
On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
THE ISSUES
1. Entitlement to service connection for a lung/respiratory disorder, to include pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (IP).
2. Entitlement to a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).
REPRESENTATION
Appellant represented by: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL
Appellant
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD
T. S. Kelly, Counsel
INTRODUCTION
The Veteran, who is the appellant, had active service from September 1966 to October 1968.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from December 2009 and July 2013 rating determinations of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Veteran, in September 2013, appeared at a videoconference hearing. A transcript of the hearing is of record.
In April 2014, the Board remanded this matter for further development.
The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will notify the Veteran if further action is required on his part.
FINDING OF FACT
The most probative evidence of record shows that the Veteran's IP and PF are not related to service, including his claimed herbicide exposure,
CONCLUSION OF LAW
A lung disorder, to include IP and PF, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1110, 1116 (West 2002 & Supp. 2013); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303, 3.307, 3.309 (2014).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
Duties to Notify and Assist
The VCAA describes VA's duty to notify and assist claimants in substantiating a claim for VA benefits. See 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5100, 5102, 5103, 5103A, 5107, 5126 (West 2002 & Supp. 2013); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.156(a), 3.159, 3.326(a) (2014).
Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5102, VA first has a duty to provide an appropriate claim form, instructions for completing it, and notice of information necessary to complete the claim if it is incomplete. Second, under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a), VA has a duty to notify the claimant of the information and evidence needed to substantiate and complete a claim, i.e., existence of a current disability, the degree of disability, and the effective date of any disability benefits. The Veteran must also be notified of what specific evidence he is to provide and what evidence VA will attempt to obtain. Third, VA has a duty to assist claimants in obtaining evidence needed to substantiate a claim. This includes obtaining all relevant evidence adequately identified in the record and, in some cases, affording VA examinations. 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103A.
In Dingess v. Nicholson, 19 Vet. App. 473, 490 (2006), the Court observed that a claim of entitlement to service connection consists of five elements, of which notice must be provided prior to the initial adjudication: (1) Veteran status; (2) existence of a disability; (3) a connection between the Veteran's service and the disability; (4) degree of disability; and (5) effective date. See 38 U.S.C. § 5103(a).
The Board finds that a December 2011 letter provided the Veteran with notice that fulfills the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a) including notice of the laws and regulations governing disability ratings and effective dates as required by the Court in Dingess.
VA has also secured all available pertinent evidence and conducted all appropriate development. Specifically, the record shows that VA obtained and associated with the claims file all identified and available in-service and post-service records.
The RO also undertook all the requested development set forth in the April 2014 remand.
Given the above actions, the Board finds that VA undertook all needed development in this appeal. Therefore, the Board finds that VA has no further duty to develop this part of the Veteran's claim. See Gobber v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 470, 472 (1992) (the "'duty to assist' is not a license for a 'fishing expedition' to determine if there might be some unspecified information which could possibly support a claim . . . [and] this duty is limited to specifically identified documents that by their description would be facially relevant and material to the claim").
The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in June 2014 as part of the development requested in the April 2014 Board remand. When VA undertakes to provide a VA examination or obtain a VA opinion, it must ensure that the examination or opinion is adequate. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007). The Board finds that the VA examination of record is adequate for rating purposes, because it was performed by a medical professional, was based on a thorough examination of the Veteran, and reported findings pertinent to the rating criteria. Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet. App 295 (2008); see Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303 (2007) (holding that VA must provide an examination that is adequate for rating purposes). Thus, the Board finds that a further examination is not necessary.
The Veteran has been afforded a meaningful opportunity to participate effectively in the processing of the claim, including by submission of statements and arguments presented by his representative, and through testimony at his September 2013 hearing. For these reasons, it is not prejudicial to the appellant for the Board to proceed to finally decide the appeal. Based upon the foregoing, the duties to notify and assist the Veteran have been met, and no further action is necessary to assist the Veteran in substantiating this claim.
Service Connection
Service connection may be granted for a disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service. 38 U.S.C.A. § 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a). Service connection may be granted for any disease diagnosed after discharge, when all the evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d). As a general matter, service connection for a disability requires evidence of: (1) the existence of a current disability; (2) the existence of the disease or injury in service, and; (3) a relationship or nexus between the current disability and any injury or disease during service. Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163 (Fed. Cir. 2004); see also Hickson v. West, 12 Vet. App. 247, 253 (1999), citing Caluza v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 498, 506 (1995), aff'd, 78 F.3d 604 (Fed. Cir. 1996).
Where the evidence shows a "chronic disease" in service or "continuity of symptoms" after service, the disease shall be presumed to have been incurred in service. For the showing of "chronic" disease in service, there is required a combination of manifestations sufficient to identify the disease entity, and sufficient observation to establish chronicity at the time. With chronic disease as such in service, subsequent manifestations of the same chronic disease at any later date, however remote, are service-connected, unless clearly attributable to intercurrent causes. If a condition noted during service is not shown to be chronic, then generally, a showing of "continuity of symptoms" after service is required for service connection. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b). The claimed lung disorders are not "chronic diseases" listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a); therefore, 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b) does not apply. Walker v. Shinseki, 708 F.3d 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
If a veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent during active military, naval, or air service, certain diseases shall be service-connected if the requirements of section 3.307(a)(6) are met even though there is no record of such disease during service, provided further that the rebuttable presumption provisions of section 3.307(d) are also satisfied. 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e). Section 3.307(d)(6) provides that the term "herbicide agent" means a chemical in an herbicide used in support of the United States and allied military operations in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975. 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(d)(6)(i). Section 3.307(d)(6) also provides that a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, shall be presumed to have been exposed during such service to an herbicide agent, unless there is affirmative evidence to establish that the veteran was not exposed to any such agent during that service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(d)(6)(iii). Service in the Republic of Vietnam includes service in the waters offshore and service in other locations if the conditions of service involved duty or visitation in the Republic of Vietnam. Id.
The diseases presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure include: chloracne or other acneform diseases consistent with chloracne, type 2 diabetes (also known as type II diabetes or adult-onset diabetes), Hodgkin's disease, ischemic heart disease (including, but not limited to, acute, subacute, and old myocardial infarction; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease (including coronary spasm) and coronary bypass surgery; and stable, unstable and Prinzmetal's angina), all chronic B-cell leukemias (including, but not limited to, hairy-cell leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia), multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Parkinson's disease, early-onset peripheral neuropathy, porphyria cutanea tarda, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers (cancer of the lung, bronchus, larynx, or trachea), and soft-tissue sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma). 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e). For the purposes of § 3.307, the term herbicide agent means a chemical in an herbicide used in support of the United States and allied military operations in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era. 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(i). Agent Orange (AO) is generally considered an herbicide agent and will be so considered in this decision.
The diseases listed at 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) shall have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more any time after service, except that chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, and acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy shall have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last date on which the veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent during active military, naval, or air service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(ii).
The Secretary, under the authority of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 and based on the studies by the NAS, has determined that there is no positive association between exposure to herbicides and any condition for which the Secretary has not specifically determined that a presumption of service connection is warranted. See Notice, 59 Fed. Reg. 341-346 (1994); see also Notice, 61 Fed. Reg. 41,442-449, and 61 Fed. Reg. 57,586-589 (1996); Notice, 64 Fed. Reg. 59,232-243 (Nov. 2, 1999); Notice, 67 Fed. Reg. 42,600-08 (June 24, 2002); Notice, 72 Fed. Reg. 32,395-407 (June 12, 2007); Final Rule, 74 Fed. Reg. 21,258-260 (May 7, 2009); Final Rule, 75 Fed. Reg. 53,202-16 (Aug. 31, 2010).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a veteran may still establish service connection with proof of actual direct causation. See Combee v. Brown, 34 F.3d 1039, 1043-44 (Fed. Cir. 1994); see also McCartt v. West, 12 Vet. App. 164, 167 (1999). "Of particular relevance to an analysis of medical evidence supporting such a nexus are factors such as whether a medical professional finds studies persuasive, whether there are other risk factors that might be the cause of the condition for which benefits are sought, and whether the condition has manifested itself in an unusual manner." Polovick v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 48, 53 (2009). A statistical correlation between AO and a disease not on the presumptive list may not be the only basis for a positive nexus opinion, it may be part of the analysis, but the entirety of the analysis provided by the medical professional must be weighed and considered. Polovick, 23 Vet. App. at 53-54.
It is the defined and consistently applied policy of VA to administer the law under a broad interpretation, consistent, however, with the facts shown in every case. When, after careful consideration of all procurable and assembled data, a reasonable doubt arises regarding service origin, the degree of disability, or any other point, such doubt will be resolved in favor of the claimant. 38 C.F.R. § 3.102.
It is the Board's responsibility to evaluate the entire record on appeal. See 38 U.S.C.A. § 7104(a) (West 2002). In this case, the Board has thoroughly reviewed all the evidence in the Veteran's claims folder. Although the Board has an obligation to provide reasons and bases supporting this decision, there is no need to discuss, in detail, all of the evidence submitted by the Veteran or on his behalf. See Gonzales v. West, 218 F.3d 1378, 1380-81 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (the Board must review the entire record, but does not have to discuss each piece of evidence).
In evaluating the evidence in any given appeal, the Board has been charged with the duty to assess the credibility and weight given to evidence. Davidson v. Shinseki, 581 F. 3d 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2009); Jandreau v. Nicholson, 492 F. 3d 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2007); Buchanan v. Nicholson, 451 F. 3d 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2006); Klekar v. West, 12 Vet. App. 503, 507 (1999); Wood v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 190, 193 (1991). Indeed, the Court has declared that in adjudicating a claim, the Board has the responsibility to do so. Bryan v. West, 13 Vet. App. 482, 488-89 (2000); Wilson v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 614, 618 (1992).
The Veteran maintains that his lung disorders either had their onset in service or from his exposure to AO while in Vietnam.
To the extent that the Veteran is claiming that his current lung disorders arose out of exposure to herbicides, none of the current lung disorders are on the presumptive disease list. As noted above, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has determined that there is no positive association between AO exposure and any condition for which the Secretary has not specifically determined that a presumption of service connection is warranted. Hence, presumptive service connection for any current lung disorder cannot be provided based upon the regulations governing presumptive exposure or on the basis of studies performed by the NAS on behalf of the Secretary with regard to AO exposure.
The claimant may support with affirmative medical opinion evidence his claim for service connection for a lung disorder as due to AO exposure. In this regard, the Veteran has not submitted any medical opinion demonstrating that any lung disorder arose out of exposure to AO. In the absence of any competent evidence relating any current lung disorder to the herbicide exposure in service, service connection would not be warranted on this basis.
A review of the Veteran's service treatment records reveals that he was hospitalized in July 1967 for flu syndrome. The Veteran was treated and released. In December 1967, the Veteran was diagnosed as having an upper respiratory infection. There were no further complaints or findings of lung/breathing problems in service. At the time of the Veteran's June 1968 service separation examination, normal findings were reported for the lungs and chest. On his June 1968 service separation report of medical history, the Veteran checked the "no" boxes when asked if he had or had ever had chronic or frequent colds or shortness of breath.
On his initial claim for compensation, received in October 1968, the Veteran did not report having lung or breathing problems. The Veteran did not request service connection for lung problems until May 2009. Treatment records associated with the claims folder reveal that the Veteran was seen in December 2008 for a cough productive of whitish sputum. A chest CT scan performed at that time revealed what was most likely IP/PF.
At his September 2013 videoconference hearing, the Veteran testified that he was initially diagnosed with pulmonary problems in 1983. The Veteran indicated that these records were not available for review. The Veteran stated that it was his belief that his pulmonary problems were related to his AO exposure. The representative also indicated that there was medical literature linking AO use and other propellants to cardiopulmonary findings, but he did not provide any such medical literature.
In conjunction with his claim, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination in June 2014. The examiner indicated that the Veteran's claims folder was available and had been reviewed as well as records in VBMS and CAPRI. The examiner diagnosed the Veteran as having non-specific interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis. He indicated that the onset of these disorders was in 2008. The examiner noted that the Veteran had AO exposure and 35 pack-year cigarette use. Following examination, the examiner opined that the Veteran's lung conditions of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis were less likely as not related to his period of military service, to include AO. He observed that there was no evidence based literature that he was aware of that stated that nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis were caused by or a result of exposure to AO.
The weight of the evidence demonstrates that the earliest post-service treatment lung disorders did not occur until years after service. VA treatment and examination records have diagnosed the Veteran as currently having lung problems. As such, current disabilities of the lungs are acknowledged by VA as having been established in the record by competent evidence.
The Veteran has himself asserted, within his written contentions, that he has experienced post-service lung problems since service. Such recent assertions, however, are inconsistent with, and outweighed by, other lay and medical evidence of record, including the June 1968 service separation examination report and service separation report of medical history, an absence of complaints, findings, or treatment for lung problems for many years after service, and the Veteran's own testimony that his pulmonary problems were initially diagnosed in 1983. Thus, to the extent that the Veteran is asserting that he had lung problems since service, the Board does not find the Veteran's more recent assertions of continuous lung problems since service to be credible.
As the Board does not find the Veteran's lay statements made within the record regarding lung symptoms since service to be credible, they are afforded no probative weight. These statements are vague in detail, and are inconsistent with more contemporaneous medical records and the Veteran's own, more contemporaneous histories, including histories made for treatment purposes. See Kahana v. Shinseki, 24 Vet. App. 428, 440 (2011) (Lance, J., concurring) (silence in a medical record can be weighed against lay testimony if the alleged injury, disease, or related symptoms would ordinarily have been recorded in the medical record being evaluated by the fact finder).
The Board next finds that the weight of the evidence demonstrates that the Veteran's current lung disorders are not related to active service. The Veteran was afforded a VA medical examination, which included an opinion as to etiology, in June 2014. The claims file was reviewed in conjunction with this examination. Such review included the service treatment records. Upon reviewing the claims file, the examiner indicated that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's current lung disorders had their onset in service. As this opinion was rendered by a competent medical expert after physical evaluation of the Veteran and review of his claims file, including his service treatment records, it is considered highly probative by the Board. The Board notes that the Veteran's representative, at the time of the September 2013 hearing, indicated that there was available research to support the opinion that AO caused cardiopulmonary problems. However, neither the Veteran nor his representative has submitted such evidence in support of the claim. Moreover, treatise evidence must discuss generic relationships with a degree of certainty such that under the facts of this particular case there is at least a plausible causality based on objective facts rather than on unsubstantiated lay opinion. See, e.g., Wallin v. West, 11 Vet. App. 509, 514 (1998); Timberlake v. Gober, 14 Vet. App. 122, 130 (2000) (citing Hensley v. West, 212 F.3d 1255, 1265 (Fed. Cir. 2000)). In addition to not submitting any articles, the representative's arguments talked in general about a relationship between cardiopulmonary problems and exposure to AO and other propellants. His argument is of little probative value.
The Board finds the Veteran is not competent to report regarding the etiological basis of his current lung disorders. Lay statements may be competent to support a claim for service connection by supporting the occurrence of lay-observable events or the presence of disability or symptoms of disability subject to lay observation. See Jandreau v. Nicholson, 492 F.3d 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2007); see also Buchanan v. Nicholson, 451 F.3d 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (addressing lay evidence as potentially competent to support presence of disability even where not corroborated by contemporaneous medical evidence).
Some medical issues, however, require specialized training for a determination as to diagnosis and causation, and such issues are, therefore, not susceptible of lay opinions on etiology, and a veteran's statements therein cannot be accepted as competent medical evidence. See Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1, 6 (2009) ("It is generally the province of medical professionals to diagnose or label a mental condition, not the claimant"); Woehlaert v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 456, 462 (2007) (unlike varicose veins or a dislocated shoulder, rheumatic fever is not a condition capable of lay diagnosis); Jandreau, 492 F.3d at 1377 , n. 4 ("sometimes the layperson will be competent to identify the condition where the condition is simple, for example a broken leg, and sometimes not, for example, a form of cancer"). Lay testimony is not competent in the present case, because the Veteran is not competent to state that any current lung disorders were incurred in service or are related to AO exposure. The diagnosis and etiology of the claimed lung disorders are complex medical questions and the Veteran is not shown to have the expertise to render such opinions in this case. See Davidson v. Shinseki, 581 F.3d 1313, 1316 (Fed. Cir. 2009); Kahana, 24 Vet. App. at 433 , n. 4 (lay witnesses are competent to opine as to some matters of diagnosis and etiology, and the Board must determine on a case by case basis whether a veteran's particular disability is the type of disability for which lay evidence is competent).
For the foregoing reasons, the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection for any current lung disorder, to include nonspecific interstitial pneumonia or pulmonary fibrosis. Because the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim, the benefit of the doubt doctrine is not for application. See 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102.
ORDER
Service connection for a lung/respiratory disorder, to include PF and IP, is denied.
REMAND
As it relates to the claim of a TDIU, the Board notes that the RO denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU in July 2013. The Veteran filed a notice of disagreement with this denial in September 2013 and statement of the case was issued in July 2014. Thereafter, the Veteran filed a substantive appeal in August 2014. On the VA Form 9, the Veteran checked the box indicating that he desired a Travel Board hearing at the RO.
To date, the Veteran has not been scheduled for the requested hearing.
Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for a Travel Board hearing at the Philadelphia RO before a Veterans Law Judge. A copy of the notice sent to the Veteran with regard to the hearing should be placed in the claims file.
The appellant has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on the matter or matters the Board has remanded. Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet. App. 369 (1999).
This claim must be afforded expeditious treatment. The law requires that all claims that are remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals or by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for additional development or other appropriate action must be handled in an expeditious manner. See 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5109B, 7112 (West Supp. 2012).
______________________________________________
K. J. Alibrando
Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans' Appeals
Department of Veterans Affairs
|
Y’all know that I love yogurt bowls. I love them especially when you add a swirl of peanut butter or almond butter or you could even do Erin’s new Macadamia butter. They are just my favorite food in the world especially when I don’t have much time to make something that takes more than 5 minutes of work. Yogurt bowls can be a way of putting love and art and care into one tiny bowl with very little work. 😀 That’s what happened today when I was really hungry, but I really didn’t feel like doing much more than yogurt and toppings. That is how this ‘Maple Crunch Chocolate Strawberry Yogurt Bowl’ came about; by necessity.
Disclaimer: I received the product from Crazy Richards, Try About Time, and Blissful Eats in exchange for developing the recipes in this post! All opinion on the products are 100% my own, and I only share products I personally love to eat. Creamy. That’s my favorite adjective to use for smoothies. That would have to describe each one of these smoothies that are part of this 2nd edition in the ‘Peanut Butter Smoothie Series’ with Crazy Richards, Blissful Eats, and Try About Time. I think I may have found my very favorite protein powder with Try About Time. They did send me it for free, but it has the absolute best texture in smoothies, and it also doesn’t taste overly sweet or artificial. . .
The first smoothie in this series …. would be one of my favorite desserts to have in the summer time. Have you ever bitten into delicious strawberries topped with cream with a slice of angel food cake? Well I didn’t put cake in this smoothie, but I’m humbled by how God’s glory and wonder can be seen in a little strawberry, the vast canyons of Utah, and the stars above. And when we see those things, that doesn’t even give us a millionth of a taste of the infinite glory of God!
Strawberries… It is a beautiful fruit. this year we probably ate the most strawberries we’ve ever eaten in the S. household. I’m not complaining about that at all; it’s been an amazing year for summer fruit.
Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week. I love every day of the week, but Sunday has grown to have a deeper place in my heart, by God’s powerful work in me, over the past 4-5 years. I think, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized what a GIFT it is to be able to go to God’s house and worship in a special way with His people. I used to take it for granted, I’m sad to admit, but I’m thankful that God is constantly changing and convicting our hearts. It’s so wonderful to not be alone as a Christian and share in the joys of salvation and glorifying God every Sunday, and the last thing you want to have to think about on Sunday morning is rustling up a ‘hurried, stressed’ breakfast. The more I can bless my family by being ready the night before so that the morning of Sunday is restful, peaceful, and preparing our hearts for worship, the better. 🙂
Psalm 118:24, ‘This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.’
Psalm 122:1-2, ‘I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.’
I have undertaken in the last couple weeks, with the HUGE blessing of finding a great many bloggers who are always using their God given, creative juices to create recipes, to make a breakfast that will keep everybody well fed and focused on Sunday morning. I’m thankful that man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. I’m also thankful that God gave me the ability to prepare physical food for my family, so that they can be well nourished for the deep nourishment of the soul and the praise of our glorious God on Sundays. …
Tis the day to ‘Think out Loud’ and share random thoughts, recipes, and everyday happenings with my readers!
Before I get into sharing my recipe for today, I wanted to tell all of you about a new opportunity to sign up for a monthly newsletter via Mail Chimp (Hint: It’s in the sidebar)! If you subscribe to Mail Chimp, you will get access to articles and excerpts on true beauty, body image, and freedom from eating disorders that you won’t find on the blog!
The flavor of a chocolate chip cookie in your morning bowl of granola? Yes please. I made this the other week, and after it was done baking, I proceeded to eat… um… several handfuls. 🙂
I thought I’d go a bit lighter today, and I decided to share the recipe with you all, and I hope it might satisfy your craving for chocolate chip cookies the next time you eat breakfast . . .
Thanks Amanda for the link-up today and for letting me think out loud by sharing a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola this morning! 🙂 I even get to use my nifty new Recipe Card plug-in. *Cue excitement.*
Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola
2015-08-19 23:06:44
Serves 16
A crunchy chocolatey cereal that goes well with milk, yogurt, or even in handfuls for a snack!
Mix all the ingredients well until it forms clumps and the cocoa powder coats all the oats.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes.
Let it cool for about 10 minutes or until you can't resist snagging a clump.
Just don't burn your fingers.
By Emily Swanson
Beauty In Christ - The Book http://beautyinchristthebook.com/
What is your favorite type of granola? Do you like making your own?
Random thoughts for the day? We’re out on the river rafting today for the first time in my life. I’ve lived in Colorado my WHOLE life, and I have never rafted the river here, so there’s no day like today to do it!
The Life of the Writer
I live in the beautiful state of Colorado where 14ers are to give you all the sore legs you need, amazing skiing, plenty of other runners, glorious sunsets, majestic elk herds, and peaceful country roads with clear air.
Go Back in Time!
Go Back in Time!
I am a very ordinary girl. I’m 21, but if you met me, you wouldn’t believe me. I am passionate about girls finding true beauty in Christ. I love peanut butter, icecream, and salad. My hobbies are cooking, baking, sharing laughs and tears with others, and sharing the fullness of joy that Christ has put in me. I love reading other blogs, and I hope that this will be a place where you can find encouragement, recipes, smiles, and joy. Click here to read more about me... |
The family of light-harvesting-related proteins (LHCs, ELIPs, HLIPs): was the harvesting of light their primary function?
Light-harvesting complex proteins (LHCs) and early light-induced proteins (ELIPs) are essential pigment-binding components of the thylakoid membrane and are encoded by one of the largest and most complex higher plant gene families. The functional diversification of these proteins corresponded to the transition from extrinsic (phycobilisome-based) to intrinsic (LHC-based) light-harvesting antenna systems during the evolution of chloroplasts from cyanobacteria, yet the functional basis of this diversification has been elusive. Here, we propose that the original function of LHCs and ELIPs was not to collect light and to transfer its energy content to the reaction centers but to disperse the absorbed energy of light in the form of heat or fluorescence. These energy-dispersing proteins are believed to have originated in cyanobacteria as one-helix, highly light-inducible proteins (HLIPs) that later acquired four helices through two successive gene duplication steps. We suggest that the ELIPs arose first in this succession, with a primary function in energy dispersion for protection of photosynthetic pigments from photo-oxidation. We consider the LHC I and II families as more recent and very successful evolutionary additions to this family that ultimately attained a new function, thereby replacing the ancestral extrinsic light-harvesting system. Our model accounts for the non-photochemical quenching role recently shown for higher plant psbS proteins. |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system batteries, and more particularly to a system and method for charging plural information handling system batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Portable information handling systems have grown increasingly popular with end users as such systems have become more powerful. Portable information handling systems integrate a display and an internal power source within in a portable housing so that the system operates independent of hard wire connections, such as for interfacing with external peripherals or power. Typically, portable information handling systems are equipped with an integrated lithium ion battery that holds a charge to power system components when the system is not coupled to an external power source. When the system is couple to an external power source, power in excess of that needed to run the system is used to charge the battery. A typical information handling system battery will hold enough charge to support system operation for three to four hours and will continue to hold a reasonable charge for more than a year of usage before needing replacement. In some portable information handling systems, the amount of available charge is effectively increased by using plural batteries. A switch in the information handling system power system selects a battery for use, whether charging or discharging, and changes between batteries based on the available charge.
One disadvantage to portable information handling systems is that, after a battery discharges, the system must typically interface with an external power source for an extended period of time to recharge the battery. In order to reduce charge time, information handling systems sometimes use charging techniques that vary based upon the amount of charge present in the battery. For example, one technique reduces charge time by applying a constant current for about an hour until approximately an 80% RSOC (Relative Status of Charge) and then using pulse charging to fully charge the battery, usually over a time period of about another hour. Thus, in dual battery systems, charging time for both batteries is often four hours. Although pulse charging provides reduced charging times, it also tends to have a negative impact on long term battery life due to the chemical reaction within the lithium ion battery cells. Information handling system batteries are often expensive to replace, so reduced battery life expectancy provides a negative end user experience, particularly since the charge life of a battery tends to shorten as the battery life expectancy is approached. |
Academic and Social Benefits of a Co-enrollment Model of Inclusive Education for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing (d/hh) students are traditionally educated within self-contained programs at residential or special day schools, within self-contained or resource classrooms in public schools, or within regular education classrooms with support provided by an itinerant teacher. The co-enrollment model offers a promising alternative in which these students are educated within a regular education classroom composed of both d/hh and hearing students and team-taught by a teacher of the deaf and a regular education teacher. This article examines the development of one such program and the social and academic performance of the d/hh students within the program. Data on social interaction between d/hh and hearing classmates suggest that specific instructional strategies that promoted students' sign language development, identified d/hh students as "sign language specialists" and grouped d/hh and hearing students during academic activities resulted in increased interaction between these two groups of students. Stanford Achievement Test scores in the areas of reading vocabulary, reading comprehension, mathematical problem solving and procedures indicate that although d/hh students scored below the national normative hearing group, reading comprehension levels exceeded the national normative sample of d/hh students during both years two and three of the program. We discuss the challenges of implementing a co-enrollment program. |
Conditions of Use
General Advice Warning
The information provided on The SMSF Academy Pty Ltd website is general in nature, and as such it should not be relied upon for making decisions without seeking expert opinion or personal advice. The SMSF Academy Pty Ltd disclaims all and any guarantees, undertakings and warranties, expressed or implied, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including human or computer error, negligent or otherwise, by one or more of the authorities, or incidental or consequential loss or damage) arising out of or in connection with any use or reliance on the information or advice of this website. The user must accept sole responsibility associated with the use of the material on this site, irrespective of the purpose for which such use or results are applied. The information on this site applies the law as stated at the time of writing, recording or any other form of information on the website, and is no substitute for financial advice.
Becoming a member
When successfully subscribed to one of The SMSF Academy memberships, you will be provided with immediate access to website, providing access to the content nominated as part of your subscription level. You have the ability to upgrade or downgrade your membership, along with the ability to cancel your membership at any stage.
Purchasing a webinar to attend (live or recording)
The SMSF Academy provides webinar training through membership and as a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) option. Access to this webinar on a PAYG option will be subject to the successful payment for this event. The SMSF Academy will deliver the product (event) on the nominated day of the webinar, unless otherwise indicated. This date will always remain subject to change at the discretion of The SMSF Academy.
If you purchase the live webinar, access will be provided access to join this event (via GoToWebinar) at the nominated date and time. If you do not attend the live webinar, a temporary membership will be created from the event date providing you with 2 weeks to watch the webinar recording. No further extensions will be provided beyond this time.
For those who purchase the webinar recording, a temporary membership will be created within 24 business hours following the live webinar. This temporary membership will provide you with 2 weeks to watch the webinar recording. No further extensions will be provided beyond this time.
Members will be provided login details to access the live webinar, along with being provided access to watch the webinar recording at any time via The SMSF Academy website.
Refund policy
Membership
The SMSF Academy does not provide any refunds of membership, unless cancelled within 14 days of your first month of subscription. Members have the ability to cancel their subscription at any time.
Webinars
You have the ability to cancel a PAYG purchase to attend a live webinar training session up to 48 hours prior to the event, in which a full refund will be provided.
Where a person has paid but does not attend the session, no refund is provided. Access to the recording will be provided as part of a 2 week temporary membership.
The SMSF Academy takes no responsibility where a technical problem occurs during the webinar. If it is believed to be an issue identified by any service provider utilised by The SMSF Academy, we will provide attendees with access to the webinar recording, or the ability to re-register for an alternate date and time.
Copyright
This copyright notice applies to all text, images, software programs, databases and all other literary, artistic, cinematographic, audio or other “works” as defined under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) published by SMSF on this Site, but excludes any third-party content licensed by SMSF for use on this Site, which remains the property of the respective owners.
No part of this Site may be reproduced in any form or by any means, stored in any computer or other retrieval system or transmitted in any form, except for the internal business purposes of the recipient, without the prior permission of SMSF or of the owner, as the case may be.
Unless otherwise noted, all product names and logos used within this Site are the trade marks and/or service marks of SMSF. All other unregistered and registered trade marks are the property of their respective owners. All other intellectual property rights of SMSF in respect of any material contained on this Site are expressly reserved. |
If Facebook's new facial recognition software isn't scary enough, imagine Mark Zuckerberg's face replacing George Washington's on the dollar bill. Or rubbing out all the dead presidents on every bit of American currency.
July 4th may be Independence Day for America, but on July 1st Facebook is making a declaration about its new virtual currency, "Facebook Credits," that could well put the Internet powerhouse on the road to dominance of all online commercial transactions, well beyond just the $2 billion market of virtual goods it already monopolizes.
Until Friday any credit card or PayPal would do to buy games and virtual goods on Facebook, like tractors for the popular game Farmville. Starting Friday you must go through "Facebook Credits," which comes with some one-sided terms and conditions. This isn't just about fun and social games, but films, music and other real goods soon to be purchased on Facebook.
As Facebook stock gets ready to go public in 2012, the social network is now becoming a closed commercial network in order to gain an upper hand over consumers and businesses -- gauging by its "Facebook Credits" declaration anyway. Gamers using the Facebook platform now must exclusively utilize Facebook Credits in the operation of their games; such developers must agree not to charge lower prices to consumers outside of Facebook; and game developers must pay a 30% service fee for all Facebook Credits purchases.
Given Facebook's power, Consumer Watchdog filed an anti-trust complaint with the Federal Trade Commission Tuesday to stop the power grab. The Washington Post covered the story today. With over 500 million users, Facebook is now the online Titan. Facebook is the most visited website in the world. One of every two Americans uses Facebook. Imagine the power Facebook would have over a new type of online currency if Zuckerberg is allowed to dictate the terms.
While Facebook has not disclosed revenue data, analysts estimate Facebook controls well over 50% of the market for virtual goods offered in social gaming. Facebook exercises monopoly power in that market. Now imagine the extension of Facebook Credits to everything else we buy online? Here's Consumer Watchdog's argument to the FTC about Facebook's games:
"By prohibiting game developers from offering lower prices to users outside the Facebook platform, Facebook has fixed prices and therefore stifled competition outside the Facebook platform because developers cannot provide the incentive of a discounted price on another social network or website that would draw players away from Facebook. Further, the 30% service fee exacted by Facebook from game developers, along with other Facebook Credits terms described in detail in this complaint, will make it far more difficult, if not cost prohibitive, for smaller game developers to compete inside the Facebook platform against larger developers. The effect of these terms is to create a barrier to competition between social game developers, and between potential competitors to Facebook--social networks or websites operating as a platform for games."
And, like many monopolists, Facebook gives preferential treatment to the biggest game developer, its only potential rival, but shafts the little guy. As the complaint, states:
"Facebook's apparent joint venture agreement with developer Zynga to provide it with a special exemption from some of the Facebook Credits terms that Facebook imposes on all other game developers would, if accurate, be an improper joint venture agreement between competitors and an unreasonable restraint on trade. Though Zynga is a game developer, Zynga has developed a large enough customer base that it is the single company in the market that could conceivably compete with Facebook if Zynga chose to leave the Facebook platform and/or establish a new social gaming site. The agreement between Facebook and Zynga, if published reports are correct, would therefore constitute a conspiracy between competitors and further extend Facebook's already overwhelming monopoly power. The antitrust laws protect users against unfair methods of competition and unfair practices that reduce competition, discourage innovation, limit consumer choices and increase prices. That is precisely what will result if Facebook is permitted to enforce its new Facebook Credits terms."
When a company with a half billion customers moves from being the social network into gaining a financial grip over consumers and web developers, Pandora's box is open. Let's hope the Federal Trade Commission shuts the lid very soon.
Jamie Court is President of Consumer Watchdog and author of The Progressive's Guide To Raising Hell. |
The Long Jing leaves are either single or double. It has no petiole. The leaves are delicate and have a distinct smell.
The Long Jing tea is one of my favorite teas. It has very defined aroma and taste.
A transparent glass cup or glass jar is used to display the nice color and characteristics of the brew. A teaspoon of Long Jing tea is added to the cup, and hot water is added just enough to cover the leaves. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes to soak the leaves.
Here the leaves are being soaked with water at 160F for 5 minutes.
Only a small amount of water is used on the cup to soak the leaves. Full addition of water in the beginning will make the tea bitter and make the leaves to float.
After soaking the leaves add water at 160 to 180 F to fill the cup.
The first hot water addition to the cup. The leaves go to the top and then bottom
After the full addition of water the leaves will start to move, going first to the top, then to the bottom. If the leaves stay mostly on the top is because the soaking was not enough or the tea leaves are too dry, requiring longer soaking time. Most of the time few leaves are on the top when we start to drink the tea. Just blow the leaves gently to the other side of the cup and start sipping the tea.
Now tea leaves are on the bottom. Tea is ready to be savoured. Enjoy!
Drink the tea slowly leaving one third of the tea on the cup. Do not drink to the bottom!
Now it’s time for the first refill. Add hot water to the cup, wait a bit until the leaves settle again to the bottom and enjoy the first tea refill.
Here is the first refill. The tea is still very enjoyable and can be refilled again.
Now drink the tea leaving one third of the volume and refilling with hot water. Usually the tea can be refilled up to 8 times during the day, from morning to the afternoon. The tea becomes lighter, but still enjoyable during the refills.
OPTIONAL CUP
Instead of using a glass cup, a transparent jar can also be used. Several jars can be used: from fruit preserves, instant coffee, jelly, etc. The larger volume makes more convenient to drink thorough the day. Most of the time a lid is put on the jar to avoid spill and contamination. It also looks nice. On the Tea Gallery China there are pictures of different cups and glass jars used in China on the daily life.
A medium size preserves jar with 2 cups capacity (0.5 liters) is a good size
This is just the beginning of the Long Jing experience. It has a defined leaf aroma, slightly sweet and very smooth taste which makes this tea simple unforgettable.
Share this:
Like this:
Typical Tulip Tea. The color is orange red with medium intensity. Sugar is served in cubes. The tulip shape is intended to warm the hands during the cold weather. This is the way the traditional Turkish Tea is served. |
Q:
In replacing a skylight, can I reuse the existing curb and flashing?
After finding water coming down my front door from inside the ceiling I had a roofer come out and take a look. He stated that the skylight was at the end of its life. This does appear to be the case as there is definite condensation between the panes and getting up on the roof I can see that all the seals do not look good.
He said it looks like the roofing is fine, and that the flashing around the skylight is fine. He recommended that I simply order a new one, pop off the old one, and screw on the new one. But I'm having second thoughts about reusing the old flashing. It appears to him to be installed correctly, and to me it looks a lot newer than the skylight (the roof was replaced 3 years ago). But will unscrewing the old one, and screwing in the new one be properly sealed?
I did go ahead and order a new one (A 4'x4' laminated VELUX), but don't want to mess things up.
EDIT: I did the work. Here's the followup.
This is before:
After:
From the inside:
I unscrewed the old one - noting that there were 2-3 screw holes that didn't have screws, and that there were 3 different types of screws that were used.
I Inspected the curb and flashing, making sure it looked sound. It did. I couldn't see any flaws.
I placed a little roofer's caulk in the old screw holes (not sure it was needed, but figured it couldn't hurt).
I placed the new skylight over the existing curb and flashing.
I screwed in the new skylight using the screws that came with it - pressing down on the frame while doing so.
Time will tell but I think it works.
A:
Installing or replacing this type of skylight is very straight forward. The flashing should work as it is. The only concern would be where the old mounting holes are and will the new skylight curb cover the old ones. If not a counter flashing can be added without redoing the flashing.
|
Q:
Show/Hide/Disable A 'Remove' Button On A NG-Grid
I have an angularjs application which has a data-ng-grid. This table automatically displays 1 row by default and the last column displays a 'Remove' button but as this table has to have 1 or more entries in it I want to remove/disable this button when only one row is present in it.
I have tried adding ng-if="propertyIncomeGrid.count > 1" but when I click my add button it doesn't display on any row.
Please note that the user can delete any row so the button needs to be displayed as soon as the table row are > 1 and removed/disabled when <= 1.
Code
$scope.propertyIncomeGrid = {
data: 'propertyIncomeData',
enableColumnReordering: false,
rowHeight: 40,
multiSelect: false,
showColumnMenu: false,
showFooter: false,
enableColumnResize: true,
filterOptions: $scope.filterOptions,
selectedItems: $scope.mySelections,
enablePaging: false,
plugins: [gridLayoutPlugin],
columnDefs:
[
{ field: 'PropertyTransactionType', displayName: 'Income type', width: '18%', enableCellEdit: false, cellTemplate: incomeDropdownTemplate },
{ field: 'leaseId', displayName: 'Property ID and lease name', width: '30%', enableCellEdit: false, cellTemplate: leaseDropdownTemplate },
{ field: 'propertyId', displayName: 'propertyId', width: '0', editableCellTemplate: '' },
{ field: 'netAmount', displayName: 'Net (£)', width: '14%', cellTemplate: AmountCellTemplate },
{ field: 'vatAmount', displayName: 'VAT (£)', width: '14%', cellTemplate: AmountCellTemplate },
{ field: 'GROSSAmount', displayName: 'Gross (£)', width: '14%', cellTemplate: AmountCellTemplate },
{
field: 'removeBtn', displayName: 'Actions',
enableCellEdit: false,
cellTemplate: '<button class="btn btn-warning ng-if="propertyIncomeGrid.count > 1" ng-click="propertyIncomeRemoveRow(row.entity)" style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">Remove</button>',
width: '10%'
},
]
};
I have tried debugging and it only hits when my modal loads and comes back as undefined.
A:
Added the below to my button and works like magic:
ng-disabled="propertyIncomeData != undefined && propertyIncomeData.length < 2"
Full button code
cellTemplate: '<button class="btn btn-warning" ng-disabled="propertyIncomeData != undefined && propertyIncomeData.length < 2" ng-click="propertyIncomeRemoveRow(row.entity)" style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">Remove</button>',
|
Regardless of whether you have a large family bathroom, a moderately sized setting or a cloakroom which you want to renovate, you'll need to include adequate storage facilities in order to keep your essential items neat and organised.
Keeping certain items on display can be an effective way to add a level of coordination to a bathroom but too much and things can begin to look crowded, which is where vanity units come in.
What exactly is a vanity unit?
A vanity unit combines either an inset or semi recessed basin and storage facility together, creating a more practical, space-saving item for your bathroom. They allow you to hide spare shampoos, soaps and accessories from view which increases the tidiness of the room and allows you to keep things organised so you can easily find what you're looking for when you need it.
What types are available to me?
Freestanding Units:
These vanity units are floor mounted, which means they sit on your bathroom floor, and are available in a wide array of styles and sizes depending on your preference. Most freestanding units will have some kind of shelving arrangement situated inside them to help with the organisation of your various bits and pieces.
Wall Mounted Units:
A highly stylish option, these units have slightly less storage space due to their compact design, but their smaller scale makes them absolutely Ideal for cloakrooms and en-suites as they store items away neatly when space is restricted.
Contemporary Units:
If smooth, sleek lines are needed in your bathroom then a modern vanity unit will be a perfect choice; their crisp styling is designed to complement trendy environments as well as compact options for smaller settings. There are many different colours and finishes available and many units feature recessed handles for a flush appearance.
Traditional Units:
For a timeless look, period influenced vanity units are a great way to add an extra touch of authenticity to your bathroom. As with their modern counterparts, there is a wide range of options out there to choose from, including gorgeously-refined wooden finishes and ornate, classically inspired examples.
Smart Bathroom Storage
Vanity units are an effective way to store your bathroom essentials while keeping any visible clutter to an absolute minimum. They are usually supplied rigid so there should be no need for any tricky assembly either.
They are a great choice if you are planning to feature other storage components in the room such as tall units or cupboards as many of these items are designed to complement each other, giving the room a more tailored finish as a result. |
Q:
Converting JSON string to Perl/Moose objects
I have a JSON string, for example the
use JSON::XS qw(decode_json);
say Dumper( decode_json($json) );
will produce:
$VAR1 = {
'Fname' => 'SomeFname',
'Lname' => 'SomeLname',
'Addr' => {
'Street => 'Somestreet',
'Zip' => '00000',
},
};
I'm looking for an easy way how to "convert" JSON string (or perl structure) into Perl/Moose objects, like:
package My;
use Moose;
has 'Fname' => (is => 'rw', isa => 'Str');
has 'Lname' => (is => 'rw', isa => 'Str');
has 'Addr' => (is => 'rw', isa => 'My::Addr');
and
package My::Addr;
use Moose;
has 'Street' => (is => 'rw', isa => 'Str');
has 'Zip' => (is => 'rw', isa => 'Str');
The problem has two parts:
defining the Moose classes hierarchy based on JSON string (one time)
initializing the objects instances with real values from the JSON (for every JSON)
I'm not very skilled in Moose, so need some links what to study for this particular problem.
(Moose is BIG - so reading everything in CPAN is sure helpful but it is too much for a start. Therefore I'm looking for learning step-by-step in real world problem - like above).
The main questions are:
is possible generate Moose class definitoins (perl source) from data structure? Exists such of CPAN module?
when i got the class hierarchy (e.g. I can write them manually if here isn't any helper), what is the easiest way creating (initializating) their instances from JSON?
A:
is possible generate Moose class definitoins (perl source) from data structure? Exists such of CPAN module?
Yes. However, how you do that will depend heavily upon what you hope to accomplish. The simplest would be to just build attributes in memory based the JSON. For example, you can instantiate metaclass objects at runtime from a JSON file something like this:
sub infer_class_from_hash {
my ($input) = @_;
# Makes for ugly class names, but does the job
my $meta = Moose::Meta::Class->create_anon_class;
for my $key (keys %$input) {
my $value = $input->{$key};
my $type;
my $coerce = 0;
# Handle nested objects in the JSON as Moose objects
if (ref $value eq 'HASH') {
my $inner_meta = infer_class_from_hash($value);
$type = $meta->name;
# We provide an automatic HASH -> Class coercion
$coerce = 1;
}
# Assume arrays are always of scalars, could be extended to handle objects
elsif (ref $value eq 'ARRAY') {
$type = 'ArrayRef',
}
# Assume anything else is string-ish
else {
$type = 'Str',
}
$meta->add_attribute($key =>
is => 'rw',
isa => $type,
coerce => $coerce,
);
}
# Create a coercion that makes instantiating from the JSON tree dead simple
use Moose::Util::TypeConstraints;
coerce $meta->name => from 'HashRef' => via { $meta->name->new($_) };
no Moose::Util::TypeConstraints;
return $meta;
}
All that does not even begin to get into what you could do. You could apply roles, custom base classes, add methods, etc. However, that's the basics of building a Moose class on the fly.
If you want to have a code generator that outputs actual Moose classes as files that can be built once and then loaded later, do whatever you want. I'd just write a program that worked similar to above, but outputs a set of .pm files with the automatically generated Moose class definitions in them.
when i got the class hierarchy (e.g. I can write them manually if here isn't any helper), what is the easiest way creating (initializating) their instances from JSON?
use JSON qw( from_json );
my $hash = from_json("...");
my $meta = infer_class_from_hash($hash);
my $obj = $meta->name->new($hash);
The key here is how we use Moose type coercion to automatically convert the JSON objects read in into Moose class instances. If you have more than one serialization scheme or want to use type constraints in some other way, you could setup a base class for all of these (in the call to create_anon_class) that provided to_json/from_json methods to handle the case of nested objects in the JSON input.
|
Good morning to you all, and thank you very much for joining us on our second day of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Power & Gas Leaders Conference. To kick things off this morning, we’ve got the first panel here that talks about the future direction of U.S. power supply. And I have with me two distinguished guests, Tony Alexander and Jim Robo.
Tony Alexander is the President and Chief Executive Officer of FirstEnergy Corp. He is the leading proponent of electric competition and has participated in many national and regional forums on key issues facing the electric utilities industry. Tony received his Bachelor of Science & Accounting and Law degrees from the University of Akron and has had a long career at FirstEnergy in a variety of financial and legal positions.
Jim Robo is President and Chief Executive Officer of NextEra Energy. Prior to his position at NextEra Energy, Jim was President and Chief Executive Officer of a major division at GE Capital. Jim received his Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude from Harvard College and his MBA from Harvard Business School. Gentlemen, thank you very much, I appreciate you being here with us on the panel today.
Just a quick setup of logistics here. Most of the panels we’ve had so far in the conference, we’ve suggested to the companies that they do not necessarily need slides. In this instance, because both companies have a number of issues that they would like to discuss, we are going to have slide presentations for this panel. I’ve asked each of the speakers to speak for about 5 to 10 minutes. After that, we will go into Q&A and take questions from the audience as well.
Tony?
Tony Alexander
Thanks, Brian, and besides that we don’t take instructions very well. So, we will do the best we can, try to stay on your schedule, and good morning everyone, I am glad to be here today. The weather is absolutely beautiful here in New York, and I hope you all get a chance to enjoy it some. First off, there is probably something here that flips these. Let’s have little fun this morning, anyways. Read this at your leisure, obviously the Safe Harbor statement. I am not going to try to go through it, again because of the time restriction that Brian put on us, but I think most of you are pretty familiar with it.
Okay, let’s talk about some of my thought on power supply. Well, I think I will just give you an example of what’s going on in PJM, so that you can kind of get a sense for some of the issues that we are dealing with. And quite frankly, I think this chart tends to sum up much of what’s happening in the capacity markets otherwise. Now remember the capacity markets themselves, about in the last auction, about 74% bid zero. So we will have to think about the character of that market to begin with when so much generation is either a price taker or is bidding for getting something rather than nothing, and that’s a pretty significant phenomenon that is going on in that market at this point.
But as you can see when you think about it, the installed reserve requirement in PJM now over 81% is satisfied through demand response, energy imports, and energy efficiency. That’s a significant increase over the past years, about 50% of the reserve required is made up of demand response alone. And while we think in terms of this as an auction for (inaudible) that just took place, better remember based on history, about 30% of that demand response capacity is covered in incremental auctions that PJM requires to undertake during the period, so much of that may not actually be available in the amount that was at least bid into the auction.
And obviously, we hope energy efficiency and imports from wherever they are coming from now, can find their way into the Ohio Valley when the weather is warm or hot all across that region typically. But as you can see that percentage is increasing and it is replacing physical assets that are currently operating. Right now, if you put those in number terms, it is 21.9 gigawatts in 2016-2017 versus about 4.2 gigawatts in 2010-2011, and as all of you are aware as a result of the economic stagnation generally, we are not seeing that type of load growth in PJM or perhaps anywhere in America.
So what do you do? What do you do when the market is shifting away from physical assets to softer forms of providing reliable service to customers over the long-term? Well, you obviously have to make some pretty tough business decisions. You have to think about your business in a different way. You have to particularly be concerned about businesses that are facing significant increases in environmental spend in a market that’s saying that effectively that asset may not be needed. And obviously, FirstEnergy has taken a number of aggressive steps in that vein to reposition its fleet and deactivate assets that are no longer needed.
So, when you think about what we have done, we have essentially changed the character of our competitive business, and we have done that through a series of actions that I am going to try to highlight for you today. We have obviously reduced the size of our fleet and the mix of our assets. Once we complete the deactivation scheduled for next month, the West Virginia asset transfer, and the sale of the hydro assets, which by the way we are disclosing today at price of $400 million for the hydro assets. The fleet will be less than 50% coal, over 30% nuclear, and more than 20% gas, hydro, wind, and solar.
And while the competitive generating fleet is about the same size as before the Allegheny merger, it is on a much stronger platform of units, more environmentally controlled with overall improved heat rates and much more efficient. All of the going forward coal fleet is essentially river supported now, and is concentrated in three primary sites. We’ve also reduced our capital spend by about $875 million in this business alone and our MATS expenditures for the competitive fleet will be less than 300 million, and in total for both the competitive and the regulated fleet, we now expect MATS spend to be around $525 million, which is a further reduction in our MATS total spend from what you told you at the second quarter earnings call.
The remaining capital over the next several years will largely support our nuclear program, with about 65% of that tied to new steam generator at Davis-Besse which will go in service in 2014, and new vessel head and steam generators at Beaver Valley Unit 2 which will go in service in 2017, most of those investments support the long-term life extension of those facilities. Overall, these recent moves put our competitive operations in a much stronger position and capable of not only supporting successful operations during this continued stagnant economic period, but well positioned to take advantage of improving markets as the economy recovers.
We expect cash flow to be cash flow positive next year, including the repurchase of a portion of the sale leaseback interest, and we expect to have solid credit metrics of less than 40% debt-to-cap and more than 20% FFO-to-debt, all of those as a result of the repositioning of our fleet that will take place following -- throughout the remainder of this year.
As we reposition the competitive fleet, our focus is now pivoting to growing our regulated operations, particularly on the transmission side of our business. As I mentioned at our second quarter call, we have significant opportunity to invest in transmission and you can see that the size and breadth of our transmission operations in Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, they are substantial. A major part of them are owned by an independent transmission company ATSI and we intend to invest in this size and scale because it gives us a platform to think differently about our business going forward.
Not only will we improve overall system reliability as a result of these investments, probably more importantly from your prospective, they are going to provide a more stable and consistent near-term path for growing our earnings. Our team is nearing completion of our multi-year transmission strategy. We don’t expect this to be a one-time show, we expect this to continue for several years and our plan is to provide very detailed description of both, projects, timing and the financial impacts of these investments at the November EEI conference.
Our regulated businesses have always been and will continue to be an important part of our strategy, but they will become even more significant percentage of our earnings as we go forward. With the repositioning of our competitive operations, and importantly the reallocation of capital through our regulated businesses, our earnings will be more transparent and with less exposure to power prices. As always we will be focused on delivering value to our shareholders, thank you for your continuous interest in FirstEnergy, I look forward to seeing most of you or all of you at the EEI conference in November. Thank you.
Jim Robo
Good morning everyone. Hopefully we will get -- here we go. I am going to share a few thoughts this morning on our company. First, please take note of our cautionary statement and risk factors. We laid out in March at our Investor Conference, our investment proposition, it’s pretty simple, above average and very visible growth through 2016, terrific and increasing cash flow from operations growing significantly this year, significantly up over last year and we are growing as well from ’13 to ’16 by roughly about 10% compound annual growth rate from a cash flow standpoint. It is a very moderate risk portfolio, a very strong balance sheet and great dividend growth prospects, so a very simple value proposition.
We are off to a terrific start so far in the first half of this year and we remain well positioned to earn in the upper half of our guidance range that we gave at the beginning this year of $4.70 to $5 a share.
Let me spend a moment on this chart, when we laid out in March; we laid out two cases in March at our Investor Conference what I call a backlog case and I think we maybe call it the baseline case in March. Had about 15 billion of capital in that over the next four years between the two businesses, that underpinned, we said that would underpin 5% compound annual growth of EPS through 2016 and that was all things that had already been signed from a contract standpoint or already been approved by the commission.
I also said that we were going to work very hard to originate $9 billion of incremental growth projects, to be able to deploy a total of roughly $24 billion of capital between 2013 and 2016 and pleased to say that we have made terrific progress on roughly $5 billion of that CapEx spend and I want to spend just a minute talking about some of the elements of that. On storm hardening we follow the plan to spend an incremental $400 million to make our resilient network even more resilient to storms that we should get a commission ruling on that here in October. We are moving forward with $700 million of reliability investment that is going to improve our customer service which is already one of the -- we have one of the best services in the country as measured by minutes of outage and we are targeting to improve that even more through these investments over the next four years and we are working through the approval process on a ticker upgrade at FTO as well of $800 million.
I think most of you know that we announced our plans for a third natural gas pipeline into the state of Florida at the end of July. That is opportunity for a FERC regulated entity affiliate of FTO to invest $1.6 billion in a project that overall was about $3.6 billion project that will bring terrific liability benefits and access to low cost natural gas to the state for years to come.
On the energy resources side, we have made great progress in our wind business. We have signed close to 1000 megawatts of power purchase agreements. The wind business is making terrific progress. I think for those of you who don’t know, on Friday the IRS came up with additional guidance around the start of construction language associating with the PTC extension that happened earlier this year. And I think most of you know when PTC was extended in January this year it was extended for a year, but instead of having to be in service by the end of this year we needed to have the wind project have started construction. Now start of construction is a turn of art in the tax world and the IRS has spent the better part of this year trying to explain exactly what start of construction means. And they came out with some additional guidance on Friday where fundamentally they laid out a Safe Harbor where if you had a project identified by the end of the year, 5% of the money spent on that project by the end of the year and you have brought in service by the end of 2015 you require approval of PTC.
So effectively, if you have a big pipeline and you have equipment and you have projects, you will be able to continue investment in the wind business through the end of 2015. We have been thinking about when we laid out our capital plans that we have been thinking about this PTC extension really as a 2013 and 2014 phenomena, but the guidance out of the IRS on Friday means that effectively for big projects like us, we’ve gotten an incremental year extension of the production tax credit. So that’s terrific news for energy resources.
Also making great progress in solar, we’re continuing to see cost come down and we’ll continue to see an opportunity on both the utility scale as well as on the distributed side to continue to make investments in solar as well.
So, overall we made I think good progress, it’s not all complete yet on this first 5 billion of the 9 billion, but I remain very optimistic that we’re going to able to originate $9 billion of very strong growth projects that we will be able to as a result of that earn at the top-end of the range that we laid out for 2016. I have the team very focused on three things; execution, cost management and growth. And I feel very confident that we’ll able to originate those growth projects that I just talked about, if we do we should be able to earn $6 a share in 2016, I have the team very focused on earning $6 a share in 2016.
Just a quick word on our dividends, we in February 2012 announced that the board had started to raise or target payout ratio to 55%. We’re in the process of getting there. We were quite there in 2013. We’ll get there in 2014. And what that means is, off a 2011 base that we will have grown our dividend per share at a 10% annual growth rate. Going forward, I would expect that our dividend would grow at least as fast as our earnings do going forward.
So, I appreciate your time this morning and look forward to all your questions. Thank you.
Question-and-Answer Session
Brian Chin
Great, thank you both for your initial comments. I guess to kick things off from a Q&A standpoint, Tony when I listened to your comments, it seems as though FirstEnergy has been involved in the shrinking and repositioning of the competitive merchant fleet and pivoting on a focus towards regulated asset growth?
At the same time, Jim when I heared your comments, I see a substantial growth in regulated assets, long-term contracted assets. And so it seems as though the shift in emphasis is towards long-term contracting, towards regulated asset growth, very much away from deregulated, competitive, open merchant type assets. Is the trend here -- are we witnessing actually the slow devolution of the integrated utility business model, are we inevitably moving back towards a regulated asset base?
Jim Robo
I will start, I guess, Brian, when you look around the country at the competitive markets, yes I think most of you know we sold several of our gas plants last year, and our thinking around that was frankly many of them were, by and large most of them were either merchant or soon to be merchant, and I am pretty bearish, merchant markets around the country, and it's because I think natural gas prices are going to be low for a very, very long time. Anything we see in our gas infrastructure business, every bit of information that we have gotten out of that suggests that when gas even starts to lift up a little bit, the economics of shale gas and shale oil production have continued to get better and better, people are continuing to pour capital into that space. It's terrific for the country, and it's going to, it may very well be the most important thing that's happened to the U.S. economy since the Internet.
But fundamentally, it's terrible for the merchant business and the merchant electric business. And so, I am very bearish when you look across most of the markets because of gas prices, and Tony talked about in his first slide because people gaming effectively the capacity markets, political meddling with capacity markets in places like New England and PJM. Probably the only market that I think has some constructive elements to it and it's just because of good demand growth and the lack of reserve margin is Texas.
And even there, we did -- we have a big position in Texas and we did a very large project financing earlier this year and effectively took our money off the table if you will from our original investment and left ourselves at the upside on those assets. And so, I think the combination of low gas prices, no reserve margin pressure, and no demand growth combined with gaming of capacity markets is very bearish overall for the competitive market.
I think about it just the opposite, I think there is no question that there are things going on in PJM right now and in other capacity markets that the operators are beginning to recognize and will ultimately solve. The capacity has to be available. Grid will not run without generating plants. And the question will be what the makeup of those plants will be over time. When I think of natural gas and its low prices, there is perhaps a two-edged kind of sword. Yes there will be some impact on overall energy prices over time as a result of low input prices, but that's not necessarily bad as long as you can keep your own commodity price mix in the same range as whatever that energy price is.
But the fact of the matter is, if you think about it and if we can actually get out of our own way, the economic impact of a manufacturing renaissance within the Ohio Valley and in the area that can take critical advantage of the Marcellus, the Utica shale plays, to carry along the Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia area. That area is just poised to significantly grow, if in fact they can convert that ability to produce into a direct manufacturing line, I think there is a lot of people working very hard on trying to make that happen. We’re only a couple of steps away from the kind of the first couple of critical things that I think need to get put in place for that to occur.
And then you're going to have a significant amount of load growth inside of a market that in this timeframe is going to become as a result generation plant shutdown. I mean some of the numbers you look right now at don't even include plant. I mean PJM is still running a plant that we know they are going to shutdown in 2015. We know they are going to shutdown in 2015, they have already been announced to be shutdown in 2015.
This summer every single one of those plants was called on the 100% at the top, the balance that's happening in PJM is going to happen and it's going happen and it’s going to happen relatively quickly. And the question will be ultimately whether or not you can actually run an electric system without real generating assets to satisfy the reserve requirements and the other requirements of the system.
I think they recognize them and I think they are trying to work on it and I think they will. So in the end whether it's competitive or regulated when it comes to the new generation, prices are going to stabilize around impart with the commodity input prices, they always have. And regulated companies or regulated states aren’t going to allow generating assets to be built, necessarily that a way outside of trying to find the right mix of generation going forward.
And I don’t believe the country can operate without substantial generation. And the fact of the matter is, if we look at other countries the more renewable energy we add to the system the greater the reserve requirement is. In fact the more hardware you have to have on the ground. And the question is how you’re going to pay for it? If you’ll pay for it effectively then it won’t be on the ground and you will have a system that whether it’s on the regulated side or the competitor’s side is doing not to be able to satisfy the needs of customers. In fact that’s why we’re in business trying to accomplish anyway.
So I’m a tad bit more bullish on it, I think there is a lot of things going on now that PJM and others are recognizing and trying to deal with. I think you have complicated with a very stagnant economy overall. And I am still bullish that this country has to grow, has to grow at a much greater rate than it’s doing today. And that growth in demand is going to come as a result of using more electricity, it always has and there is no way you’re going to build a manufacturing base or any other side of the business is going to grow without using more electricity.
So those factors ultimately will come together and probably my sense is while we’re going through this period it’s interesting, it certainly is, but the fact of the matter is I’m much more bullish on the market.
Brian Chin
I guess just to ask each of you one more question before I turn things over to the audience. Tony does this mean then that we should be looking at a further consolidation in the merchant generation space? And then Jim from your perspective, Tony is making the argument that we add too many intermittent resources to the grid and the reliability becomes the question, are you seeing or are you running in that saturation point? And Tony did I not phrase your point properly?
Tony Alexander
No, I think you didn’t phrase it property.
Brian Chin
Okay.
Tony Alexander
I think as you add more intermittent sources I think everybody would recognize as you have to have resources behind those. As you rely more and more on them the resources if you just look at Germany as an example, the resources that are required to back that up don’t go away, so the effective reserves and the effective amount of capacity that needs to be available increases, that’s a decrease as a result of that. I don’t have a problem with renewables, renewables I mean I think they are important part of the overall equation, but you’ve got to recognize inside the system at least in many parts of the country some parts it might be a little different but in many parts of the country they’re not running.
Customers use it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They float it all over the place. We don’t have a system that tells you that you can use it only when the power plant is on, we are suppose to have the equipment, the assets in place to serve them 24 hours a day and if you could add an asset you want to do with an asset that produces 30% of the time is that all it can produce. And you better have something on the ground that can do it the other 70% of the time. We were 100% of the time when the wind didn’t blow as an example, or the sun doesn’t shine whatever that is.
So I mean those are kind of natural, even if we will rely on natural gas we’re forgetting that much of the natural gas plants that are being added are effectively interruptible plants. They have no inventory, more like a coal power plant. They don’t have take or pay rights on the -- and no interruption rights on the pipeline. Pipeline has to catch up with the ability to meet that requirement all the time. And this is summer time this year. Natural gas is in normally big demand. One of my peaking facilities had to switch the oil because they were cut off the pipeline.
Good thing we had oil capability to do that in order to meet that requirement, but if you do not that entire generating plant dances on the end of the pipeline requirement that’s not like a coal plant that’s sitting here with 30 or 60 days via coal or a nuclear plant that has whatever, 365 days of supply sitting in the core.
So all of those things have to be factored out and worked through as we make this evolution to new gas plants, are they in fact going to be intermittent and take care of the renewable side, we need it all. The question is how do you put it together and how do you make sure it’s fairly priced and fairly -- and have fair competition within those types of markets.
Brian Chin
Got it, in the interest of time why don’t we go ahead and turn it over to the audience and see if there is any questions.
Unidentified Analyst
[Indiscernible]
Tony Alexander
So we have looked at CNG vehicles, we also are looking very hard at electric vehicles in many of those same applications, it’s unclear to me which we are going to win, it is obviously not something that we spent an enormous amount of time working at. I mean we certainly follow the technology, follow the trends there but it’s not something that we’re spending a ton of time working at.
Brian Chin
Any other questions from the audience?
Unidentified Analyst
[Indiscernible]
Tony Alexander
I think one of the -- there is a lot of pieces both parts to that puzzle, but my own sense is that one of the kind of touchstone event and one of the things that I think is perhaps needed is for cracking facilities to be built in and round the Ohio Valley. There is several now being looked at, several now being proposed, several now being considered, but not unlike much of industry there is not enough certainty yet with respect to everything that we faced as an economy to actually begin to pull the trigger and say okay we’re going to make the investment. My own sense is that once that happens then the liquid plays become much more viable. The all shots of the liquids into manufacturing in that local region, so you don’t have to pipe up so much further and eliminate all that transportation.
When you look at that side of the equation and the manufacturing capability of that region historically and in the future -- if you’re going to locate a manufacturing plant in the United States that’s where it ought to be. We are going to be with them 8 hours drive or 10 hours drive or about 70 % or 60% of the U.S. population and the Canadian population. It is where the action is at and we just need to get things going in a way that allows that resurgence to occur. And I think like I said I think a big part of that would be having the ability to take local advantage of the liquid natural gas in a way in that area.
Brian Chin
Any additional questions from the audience? I want to go back to an earlier point that was made that with greater intermittent resources, we need to have a greater degree of thermal generation that acts as backup. Jim, I think I inadvertently had cut you off from your response, what’s your thoughts on that topic?
Jim Robo
So, I agree with some of the things that Anthony said, not all of them. I think the first piece is we’re a long way away in almost all parts of the country from a level of renewable penetration where it becomes an issue, that’s first. Second is, the renewables are for sure an energy resource, but they’re also a not a zero value capacity resource. And I think any study that you’ve ever worked at wind shows with the diverse portfolio in a place like Texas for example that for -- if you have the megawatt of capacity that it’s somewhere in the 0.2 to 0.3 range of actual capacity value, it’s a 20% to 30% of input.
Solar, I think, has the higher capacity value in that and this is also -- and I get frustrated with our own transmission team in Florida when we talk about renewable. And this is the business, it’s been run the same way for 100 years. This is a very conservative bunch of folks who run ISOs and that works because their job is to keep the lights on and that’s probably the fastest way they can lose their job if the lights go off.
So they should be concerned but they have dealt with intermittent demands for 100 years and the industry needs to get its head around a paradigm where you’re going to have both, some intermittent supplies as well as interment demands and be able to manage the grid accordingly. And I think there are places for example Colorado, Texas where they’ve made tremendous progress in terms of how to manage the work that way.
And with some natural gas is important, gas fired units are going to be important part of that mix, you’re going to be base loaded units as well. But I think the industry needs to be a little bit more forward thinking about how they integrate renewables into the grid and it will take time.
Brian Chin
Great, in the interest of time unfortunately we’ve run out of time on this panel. One last attempt here, questions from the audience if there any? No, gentlemen thank you very much for your time on the panel. Thank you.
Copyright policy: All transcripts on this site are the copyright of Seeking Alpha. However, we view them as an important resource for bloggers and journalists, and are excited to contribute to the democratization of financial information on the Internet. (Until now investors have had to pay thousands of dollars in subscription fees for transcripts.) So our reproduction policy is as follows: You may quote up to 400 words of any transcript on the condition that you attribute the transcript to Seeking Alpha and either link to the original transcript or to www.SeekingAlpha.com. All other use is prohibited.
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE IS A TEXTUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE APPLICABLE COMPANY'S CONFERENCE CALL, CONFERENCE PRESENTATION OR OTHER AUDIO PRESENTATION, AND WHILE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE TRANSCRIPTION, THERE MAY BE MATERIAL ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INACCURACIES IN THE REPORTING OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE AUDIO PRESENTATIONS. IN NO WAY DOES SEEKING ALPHA ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISIONS MADE BASED UPON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEB SITE OR IN ANY TRANSCRIPT. USERS ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW THE APPLICABLE COMPANY'S AUDIO PRESENTATION ITSELF AND THE APPLICABLE COMPANY'S SEC FILINGS BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISIONS. |
running back
Though plenty has been written on the decline of the running back at 30, I figured why not add to that with a focus on the contract and likelihood of players performing. It’s a good topic if you are interested in working in the NFL, simply like Fantasy Football, or are going to take a more holistic look at Fantex valuations in the future. Plus with all the discussion on giving Seahawks’ RB Marshawn Lynch a raise and a new contract to reflect what he has accomplished combined with fact that a number of solid NFL running backs are about to make that turn into the late 20’s, it’s a good time to look at those late 20 years.
As a quick study I wanted to go back and look at all running backs between the year 2000 and 2013 that had at least one 100 carry season between the ages of 25 and 27. There is no magic to the 100 carries as it was just an arbitrary cutoff point that I figured would at least let us focus on players who do get reasonable use in the NFL. I also just wanted to look at players whose age 25-27 seasons all occurred in the 2000’s (so no Curtis Martin types).
All told 70 players qualified for the study. Since originally I did this with Lynch in mind I wanted to look at a three year weighted average with a team placing 50% on the 27 year old season, 35% on the 26 year old season, and 15% on the 25 year old season to set a baseline performance. I also included the regular three year average. Here is the group of players and the resulting stats:
The top of the list is a who’s-who in fantasy magazine covers and I forgot just how great LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson were for a period of time. Adrian Peterson’s numbers would have been even more ridiculous if he would (or could) have been pushed the same way those others were. The first thing I want to look at is what percentage of the group (with the top number adjusted for removal of active players) remained in the NFL at each age bracket.
A majority of NFL teams have decided that by 31 most of the players no longer belong in the league, though a few make it to 33 and beyond.
How do the players fare when compared to their 25-27 weighted averages? Not very good. Here is the percentage decline for the players that remain at each age:
If we just look at higher end players (average above 750 yards) the declines are more or less just as steep, with slightly better yardage drops but massive drops in touchdowns, which is a huge deal for the fantasy folks.
Very few players were more productive with age. Thomas Jones, Tiki Barber, Warrick Dunn, and Frank Gore were the guys who were more productive as they got older in terms of overall yardage production. Most of the other players saw major declines.
So if we expect average performance where does that leave Marshawn Lynch and some of the comparable players going forward? I have 13 current players here that should be 28 or 29 this year and here is what the team would expect from the player in terms of yards, assuming he doesn’t flame out:
So if we are acting as the cap manager of the team it’s this forward look that we need to make when we decide on signing a player to a new contract. That’s not to say that Peterson will degrade this badly, but the expectation moving forward would be closer to this rather than where he has been for most of his career.
Of course a team should take on all factors into account when arriving at a price and the above chart gives numbers based on average performance and not being released. The threat of release has to be taken into account as does the chance of both better and worse than average performances.
Though the sample size is not that large we can illustrate a way that a team should price point a player. We’ll use Lynch as an example because he’s somewhat relevant. What I want to do is determine likelihood of various events by breaking expectations up into 4 categories: catastrophic (cut necessary), bad (falls off cliff performance/injury), average (mid grade performance), and great (top performers). We can assign odds of the performance based on number of players who rate in that level, but to make things easier Ill just break the non-release categories into three groups and use the average of each. This is more or less what I would refer to as using financial scenario modeling to build a contract value.
Here are the expected increase or decrease in yards (based on the 3 year weighted average) per year:
Combining that with the life cycle numbers from above we would need to weigh Lynch’s yardage as follows:
When I come up with a value for a contract I need to base my thoughts on getting around 2,500 yards over a 4 year period from Lynch. More likely I would look at this chart and say he will likely be worthless to the team at the age of 30 and 31. Of course we can adjust various scenarios by varying the expectation levels beyond here, which is probably wise to do if in a bidding war with another team or you reach an impasse and need to determine how far you can go.
Using these numbers I would match a contract with each figure. Just as a rough estimate I would say a 1,000 yard runner is worth around $5.5 million, a 750 yard runner around $3 million and the last two years the minimum which is around $1 million. All told I would not offer a contract more than 4 years for $10.5 million in realistic dollars.
What I mean by realistic dollars is that the salary offered in 2016 and especially 2017 is worthless since he will likely be cut. If I believe strongly in Lynch I might offer close to $10.5 million over the first two years and fluff up the rest of the deal with money that I know will never be earned.
Now the other day I did say that perhaps a solution to the Lynch situation might include a signing bonus and we can use these charts to provide guidance on that. Knowing the odds of needing to release him the following year we can come up with an average amount of dead money we would anticipate based on signing bonus levels. The following table shows how much dead money we would allocate to Lynch in each year based on signing bonuses of $6, $4, and $2 million on a two year extension. Please note the age 29 row includes dead money from his current signing bonus as well.
Based on these numbers I would say that the team should consider no more than a $4 million signing bonus, half of which will likely result in dead money. Using a format like this can actually help identify how much dead money a team can anticipate each year on the books if we analyze every player on a roster and assume teams did not let the cap dictate roster status.
Lynch is already scheduled to earn $5.5 million this year so there would be basically no reason to touch Lynch’s contract at all right now as he is valued right in 2014 and there would be no benefit to a signing bonus to pacify him unless he reduced his salary in 2015 to the $4 million level. Considering he is looking for a raise I cant see him being agreeable to any deal. About the only way to get a deal both sides would be happy with is to include escalators or incentives that paid Lynch larger sums of money if he was in that rare group that continued to play well into their 30’s. Otherwise it’s contract reduction not increase for him and likely for many others who will soon be in similar situations.
The running back market in general has come crashing down since the heyday of the Shaun Alexander and Ricky Williams. Between teams having their salary caps damaged by unproductive runners being paid millions of dollars and the explosion of the passing offense and influx of younger talented QB’s the running back became devalued tremendously.
The only two runners to “break the market” were Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson, and those are both unrealistic data points for any player in the NFL. The true top of the market is between $7 and $9 million a year so I have to guess that is what McFadden is aiming for. The question is can he actually get there?
McFadden has a lot to overcome to even be considered in that grouping. The first issue is the injury history. No season, no matter how great, is going to convince a team that he can stay healthy and productive for 16 games. No team is going to spend big dollars on a player that is only healthy for 12 games and productive for 8 or 9. It ruins the flow of the offense.
Secondly he has to convince teams that the poor seasons were a fluke. McFadden has had more mediocre seasons than good seasons. He only ran for 500 yards as a rookie and 360 yards in his second season. He played very well in 2010 and started out well in 2011 before falling off a cliff in 2012, which he blamed on the blocking scheme. The fact that he is saying he can’t run behind a certain scheme could be troubling to a team.
The Upper Market Statistics
I first wanted to look at the top end of the market and use the two year averages leading up to an extension to come up with some basic goals for McFadden. (Please note that I am not including Jonathan Stewart of the Panthers simply because no team is going to use him as any point of comparison).
Name
G
Run Yds
YPA
Rec Yds
TD
Touch
YPT
Big Play
McCoy
15
1195
4.98
453.5
14.5
303
5.44
14.5
Foster
14.5
1420
4.69
610.5
15
362
5.61
17
Rice
16
1292
4.32
630
10.5
368.5
5.22
12
Lynch
15.5
971
3.99
175
9.5
268
4.27
7.5
Forte
14
1033
4.70
518.5
6.5
271.5
5.71
16.5
Average
15
1182
4.53
477.5
11.2
314.6
5.25
13.5
Making a Case For the High End
Because McFadden has basically no useful stats the last two seasons we have to assume teams will use that 2010 season as a point of reference along with 2013. In 2010 he rushed for 1157 yards on 223 carries and added 507 receiving yards on 47 receptions. While I don’t see teams agreeing to just blindly use that year as likely that is the best case he can make for himself. To get to the group averages McFadden is going to need the following stat line in 2013:
These numbers would all represent major career highs in touches as well as games played. Are those attainable? Probably not and he may need to exceed the numbers simply because we are using 2010 as a data point, which is an eternity ago in football years. While some people might point to the fact that 300 carries for 1200 yards is not as productive as he has been at his peak and that he can get 1200 yards with just 250 carries it’s not really the yards that are important. It’s the touches. It is the ability to carry the ball multiple times that brings financial value to a team.
The problem with an ultra productive player that only carries the ball 200 times is that the team then needs to sign someone to handle the missing 100 carries. That costs money and cap space. It’s like being injured and needing a decent replacement. A team doesn’t want to design an offense where Player A can do X, Y, and Z for 5.5 YPC and then supplant him for significant carries with Player B that can only do it for 2.5.
Essentially if McFadden can only carry for 220 times a year and you sign him for $8 million a year it means you need to sign or draft another productive player that can carry the ball 170 to 200 times. That brings your cost allocation from $7 or $8 million a year into the $10-$11 million a year range, a very high amount to spend on a running back.
The best case McFadden can make is to use Marshawn Lynch as a comparison point. When you look at the chart above Lynch is the one player who does not belong. His overall productivity was weak compared to others. He didn’t have the touches, didn’t factor into the passing game, and produced less than 4 yards a carry. Lynch had a few bad seasons leading into his extension. He was suspended for three games in 2009 and fell out of favor in Buffalo, only gaining 450 yards on the ground. He was traded the next year and produced an underwhelming 3.5 YPA for the Seahawks in 12 games. He also battled an ankle problem that year which he played through.
Those two seasons are not terribly different than what McFadden has done the prior two years. Lynch bounced back in 2011 to have a Pro Bowl season for the Seahawks and gaining 1200 rushing yards. Seattle took into account the distant past play when Lynch was a workhorse back with the Bills rather than considering 2011 the outlier and using his prior two years as reference points. Lynch would go on to have a monster season in 2012 justifying the overspending on the player.
The Secondary Market Statistics
While McFadden envisions himself in that group that earns $7 to $9 million a year, the more likely place for him is in the non-workhorse section of the market which varies from $3 million to $6.4 million a year. These are the players who teams do not have faith in being able to carry a full load or being able to remain healthy for 16 games. They understand the risks associated with the talent and are only going to spend a limited amount of cap dollars. Using the same two year averages here is that group of players:
Name
G
Run Yds
YPA
Rec Yds
TD
Touch
YPT
Big Play
R. Bush
15.5
1036
4.68
294.0
7.5
260.5
5.1
8.5
Charles
15.5
1293.5
6.16
382.5
8.0
252.5
6.6
14.5
BGE
16
837.5
4.09
122.0
12.0
215.5
4.5
3.5
M.Bush
15
816
3.94
306.0
8.0
234.5
4.8
8.0
Gore
12.5
986.5
4.57
429.0
9.0
265.0
5.3
13.0
Average
15
995.8
4.72
276.1
8.9
240.8
5.3
9.5
Making a Case For the Secondary Tier
Using this subset McFadden doesn’t need to push for a team to use 2010 as a baseline. All he needs to do is come close to recreating 2010 and he will easily surpass the averages of this group with the exception of games played. If he put up his 2010 numbers over a 16 game stretch he’d be more proficient than everyone except Charles. Being that McFadden has top draft talent, is far superior as a big play threat, and could convince teams to throw out that 2012 season he can easily push to the top of this list.
There are a number of easy comparisons here. The most logical would be Bush. Bush was a former number 2 overall pick who did very little in New Orleans over the first five seasons of his career. He received more opportunity with the Dolphins and turned himself into a viable mid tier back capable of carrying 200 times a year. Bush is 28 in his season of signing with Detroit. McFadden will be 27 if he plays the season out. Bush received $4 million a season from Detroit with $5 million in full guarantees.
Another point of reference would be Frank Gore. Gore had a more productive career than McFadden but looked as if all the wear and tear of his early years had worn him down. He was 28 when he signed a 3 year extension that did not begin until he was 29 years old. Gore received a close to high end value with significant money tied up in per game roster bonuses because of fear of injury.
Setting a Price
The following chart illustrates the contract values and full guarantees of the various players we discussed above plotted simply against average combined yards over the two years before the new contract.
I would consider Lynch’s contract, worth $7.5 million a year, to be the highest possibility for McFadden and that is probably a stretch price. Seattle has not been the most cautious team in the league in regards to contract decisions leaning much more towards payment based on upper level potential rather than proven results. Given the Raiders cap history and knowing that their General Manager, Reggie McKenzie, comes from a system that takes the pessimistic approach to payment on potential it would be highly unlikely that the Raiders would ever consider matching a 4 year $30 million dollar contract with $17 million fully guaranteed for a player with McFadden’s history. That doesn’t mean somebody won’t do it but I can’t imagine that team being the Raiders barring a historic season by McFadden.
A more realistic number is between that $4 million and $6.4 million range of the second tier of players with minimal guarantees and for shorter terms in length. Though Charles was much younger when he signed his contract I could see the $5.4 million being a fair figure for McFadden if he has a good season. If he is willing to hedge his bets on his skill guarantees I think they could push the value closer to Gore’s.
Gore received more money potential for giving up true guarantees. This is not completely uncommon in the NFL. Darrelle Revis, CB for the Buccaneers, did the same in order to receive a contract far exceeding his “on paper” value, especially in light of an ACL injury that sidelined him for almost all of 2012. Gore’s lack of skill guarantees combined with heavy incentives based on staying healthy would seem like an ideal model for McFadden.
This style of contract fits in with McKenzie’s background with the Green Bay Packers and what he has started to use in Green Bay. McKenzie has also shown a willingness to use incentives in his contracts to push the value beyond the stated values in the contract which could also be used to max McFadden out if he was to produce the way Lynch ended up producing this past season. Again the incentives are not terribly uncommon as Rice’s contract contains performance incentives that would push his value closer to his “on paper” production level if he continued to hit certain statistical thresholds. Gore’s contract also contains added performance incentives.
The Risks of Playing the Season Out
Contrary to popular opinion I don’t think McFadden has any leverage right now despite his team high $9.68 million dollar cap number. None of McFadden’s salary is guaranteed and the Raiders are no longer hurting for cap dollars. Next season the Raiders will be flush with cap space as they try to build their roster essentially from scratch and a few extra carryover dollars from McFadden reworking his contract means nothing.
I am not sure what the Raiders would consider fair value for him now, but I wouldn’t imagine it would be much more than what the Dolphins paid Bush in 2010. Bush received a contract worth $4.875 million per year over two years with just $2.5 million in guarantees. The contract was completely based on potential and the belief that he would be a better fit in the Dolphins offense than the Saints offense. That money would be in addition to his $5.85 million dollar salary he is earning now.
If McFadden is unsuccessful this year in improving on 2012 he probably will not even receive that much money in free agency. I think because of the failures of McCoy, Foster, Forte, Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, etc… teams are more hesitant than ever to invest. In terms of annual value Bush, despite being more productive, is earning less than he did off his nothing seasons with New Orleans. Our own valuation of McFadden based on last season said he was worth only $1.9 million a season.
If McFadden were to hit free agency he could find his options limited. His statements about the offensive scheme could eliminate teams from considering him and he will likely only be picked up by a team needing a complementary piece. Most likely he would need to take an Ahmad Bradshaw style 1 year $2 million dollar contract with next to nothing guaranteed as a way to prove himself and Bradshaw was far more productive than McFadden.
So if the Raiders were offering him such a deal he could lock himself into a good chance to earn close to $10 million in 2014 and 2014 with the Raiders. With so many holes to fill as long as McFadden has a pulse they may be willing to stick with him especially since he will not damage their salary cap at those figures. So you could be looking at an $8 million dollar loss by hoping for a higher value contract. McFadden also has to consider the franchise tag as a realistic option even he plays well because the Raiders will be cap rich in 2014 and can easily take on a one year $8.5 million cap hit for a question mark player.
As a point of reference Bush’ s new contract will only pay him $8.5 million over the next two years and Gore’s paid $11.1 million in his first two extension years. If the Raiders were willing to go to $9 million or so in a two year extension (and we have no idea if they would be willing to do so) he would really be giving up very little value over his likely market price even if he had a pretty productive year as his base values of his contract may very likely end up right at the same figure. Really what he would be giving up would be some added backend contract value that is always non guaranteed and the incentives that could be part of an extension.
For this to truly be worth the risk, McFadden is going to have to put up absolutely incredible numbers, not have the franchise tag applied, and find a team willing to spend for an outside player based on a one year data point. None of the big contracts were free agent acquisitions as all players re-signed with their own teams, so free agency for runners is generally soft. That is a lot of things that need to occur for a player who typically plays 12 or 13 games a season to get the kind of money he hopes to get by playing the season out. |
Milly is ok; however, I would like a quick read of the document once you send
a hard copy up...
Regards
Delainey
---------------------- Forwarded by David W Delainey/HOU/ECT on 11/21/2000
08:46 AM ---------------------------
Rob Milnthorp
11/21/2000 08:46 AM
To: David W Delainey/HOU/ECT@ECT
cc:
Subject: Re: HQ files to continue market based rates
no, go for it.
David W Delainey
11/20/2000 06:35 PM
To: Rob Milnthorp/CAL/ECT@ECT, Christi L Nicolay/HOU/ECT@ECT, Kevin M
Presto/HOU/ECT@ECT, James D Steffes/NA/Enron@Enron
cc:
Subject: HQ files to continue market based rates
Rob, we are planning to file the following protest of HQ's behaviour in the
NE power markets through their market based rates case with the FERC, do you
have any issues with this approach?
Regards
Delainey
---------------------- Forwarded by David W Delainey/HOU/ECT on 11/20/2000
07:33 PM ---------------------------
From: Christi L Nicolay 11/20/2000 01:45 PM
To: David W Delainey/HOU/ECT@ECT
cc: James D Steffes/NA/Enron@Enron
Subject: HQ files to continue market based rates
Dave -- Kevin has asked that we do a full-blown protest of HQ's continuation
of market based rates due to market manipulating behavior that Tom May has
seen. Due 11/30. Let us know if we should not proceed with the OASIS
review, etc. and drafting of protest. Thanks.
---------------------- Forwarded by Christi L Nicolay/HOU/ECT on 11/20/2000
12:24 PM ---------------------------
"Nancy Pickover" <npickover@bracepatt.com> on 11/20/2000 12:30:27 PM
To: <Christi.L.Nicolay@enron.com>, <donna.fulton@enron.com>,
<marcie.milner@enron.com>, <mary.hain@enron.com>, <snovose@enron.com>
cc:
Subject: Orders/Notices
Please see attached. H.Q. Energy has filed its market power study.
Interventions/protests are due on Nov. 30.
- ER97-851.1 |
The Unnamed Interview Show: The House of Torment
Chris got a chance to get a full behind the scenes tour of the haunted house named the #1 scare attraction in America according to Hauntworld Magazine, The House of Torment. The tour that he got to film included scares, booze, food, schwag, and a full interview with the two guys who made all this happen, Jon Love and Dan McCullough.
Not only have these guys built this huge and scary place every year for a decade or so, but they own Thirteenth Floor Productions which has built award winning scare attractions all over the country. Chris got in-depth with them about how to get started in the Haunted House industry, what’s involved, and what’s the most fun about it. That’s not all, as there’s plenty of spooky behind-the-scenes video and also a bonus audio review of their full House of Torment experience going through as customers by Chris, Herman, Frank and Kyle. Check it out.
Born in the wilds of northern Virginia, in 1992 Chris managed to put all of his survival skills to use and barely escaped with his life to Austin Texas, where ever since he’s dabbled in everything from plumber’s assistant to sandwich maker, from band to bar management. An opportunity to see theatrical release films for free, by becoming a critic on a local public access show called “The Reel Deal”, turned into a full time job when Chris and his friends decided to take it to the internet. They built the site Spill.com, adding multiple podcasts and animated features, to no small amount of success. During this time, a fortuitous friendship sprung up between Chris and young Brian Salisbury, who was also a local film critic, and they merged their forces of will, and their laundry list of ideas for shows, to eventually build this paradise you see before you. |
Xanthine oxidase inhibitors beyond allopurinol and febuxostat; an overview and selection of potential leads based on in silico calculated physico-chemical properties, predicted pharmacokinetics and toxicity.
Xanthine oxidase (XO), a versatile metalloflavoprotein enzyme, catalyzes the oxidative hydroxylation of hypoxanthine and xanthine to uric acid in purine catabolism while simultaneously producing reactive oxygen species. Both lead to the gout-causing hyperuricemia and oxidative damage of the tissues where overactivity of XO is present. Over the past years, significant progress and efforts towards the discovery and development of new XO inhibitors have been made and we believe that not only experts in the field, but also general readership would benefit from a review that addresses this topic. Accordingly, the aim of this article was to overview and select the most potent recently reported XO inhibitors and to compare their structures, mechanisms of action, potency and effectiveness of their inhibitory activity, in silico calculated physico-chemical properties as well as predicted pharmacokinetics and toxicity. Derivatives of imidazole, 1,3-thiazole and pyrimidine proved to be more potent than febuxostat while also displaying/possessing favorable predicted physico-chemical, pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties. Although being structurally similar to febuxostat, these optimized inhibitors bear some structural freshness and could be adopted as hits for hit-to-lead development and further evaluation by in vivo studies towards novel drug candidates, and represent valuable model structures for design of novel XO inhibitors. |
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber you can already stream music, so why would you want to pay US$7.99 for the just launched Amazon Music Unlimited? It’s the extras you get with Amazon Music Unlimited that set the two apart—but they may not be worth the price. |
Award-winning Historic Greenbrier Golf Resort & Spa
Luxury Resorts: Located on 6,500-acres of lush landscape in West Virginia's Allegheny
Mountains, The Greenbrier award-winning resort has been offering a welcoming home to its guests since 1778.
A National Historic Landmark, The Greenbrier offers guests a stunning array of services and amenities, including elegant meeting and event space, a variety of fine restaurants and bars as well as access to more than 50 recreational activities. The property includes three championship golf courses, a luxurious 40,000 square-foot Spa as well as shopping.
West Virginia businessman Jim Justice recently purchased The Greenbrier resort along with The Greenbrier Sporting Club; he has big plans for the luxury retreat.
"Our near-term goal is to give The Greenbrier a fresh start," said Justice. "Even though the current economy is taking its toll on the resort, we are going to take a long-term view by focusing on reclaiming our five-star status and making the right investments for future growth."
New plans for the resort include transforming the former Hemisphere restaurant into a steakhouse called Prime 44 West, under the guidance of Jerry West. The restaurant will be open to both registered and non-registered guests of the resort and will feature a chef's table and private dining room.
Another new addition to the favorite resort will be the addition of an underground, Monte Carlo-style, casino. Although not slated to open until April 2010, Greenbrier guests and members can get a sneak peak at the new amenity in a temporary casino, including slot and table games, located in the resort's Virginia Wing, beginning October 1.
The elegant permanent casino will feature 320 slot machines and 38 full-variety table games including craps, roulette, blackjack, mini-baccarat, poker varieties and poker tables as well as a champagne passing nightly at 8pm to toast to guests' luck. Just one level above the gaming floor, a green space of approximately 80,000 square feet will boast new retail and dining areas as well as additional guest amenities.
All of the new plans for The Greenbrier serve to enhance the resort's lengthy history as a luxury destination. |
Double Disc
Ruland double disc couplings are comprised of two anodized aluminum hubs, two sets of stainless steel disc springs, and a center spacer. This design allows the sets of disc springs to bend independent of each other to accommodate all forms of misalignment, including parallel. Center spacers are available in anodized aluminum or acetal for electrical isolation. Ruland disc couplings are zero-backlash and have a balanced design for reduced vibration at speeds up to 10,000 RPM. They are a simple assembly with few moving parts, reducing the risk of backlash and premature failure. Clamp and set screw hubs are available in bore sizes from 1/8” to 1-1/4” and 3mm to 32mm. |
Just a day after Dwyane Wade appeared on The Undefeated's town hall to speak out against gun violence in America, his cousin, Nykea Aldridge, was killed in a shooting in Chicago. (1:46)
A woman who was fatally shot while pushing a baby in a stroller on Chicago's South Side has been identified as a cousin of NBA star Dwyane Wade.
Authorities say Nykea Aldridge, 32, was killed when two men walked up and fired shots at a third man at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. Police say the woman was not the intended target.
Wade addressed his cousin's death via Twitter.
My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. #EnoughIsEnough — DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 27, 2016
Chicago police have charged brothers Darwin and Derren Sorells with first-degree murder in Aldridge's death.
Derren Sorells, 22, is a documented member of the Gangster Disciples and currently is on parole, according to Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Darwin Sorells, 26, also is on parole for a gun charge, according to Guglielmi.
Wade's mother, Jolinda Wade, spoke on behalf of the family Friday night while holding her sobbing sister close outside the emergency room where Aldridge was pronounced dead.
"Just sat up on a panel yesterday, The Undefeated, talking about the violence that's going on within our city of Chicago, never knowing that the next day we would be the ones that would be actually living and experiencing it," Jolinda Wade said. "We're still going to try and help these people to transform their minds and give them a different direction, so this thing won't keep happening. We're still going to help empower people like the one who senselessly shot my niece in the head."
The family did not take questions from reporters.
Dozens of people gathered at a Chicago church for a prayer service on Sunday. Aldridge's parents, sister, nieces and nephews wept as they spoke about the woman they said was a gifted writer and "fighter of the family.''
Dwyane Wade, who returned to his hometown by signing last month with the Bulls, and his mother both were part of a series of panel discussions on gun violence hosted Thursday by The Undefeated on ESPN.
The conversations were held at the South Side YMCA in Chicago and focused on athletes, their experiences with violence and police, and the responsibility to act. Wade, who was not in Chicago, appeared via satellite.
Police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office say Aldridge suffered gunshot wounds to her head and an arm. Police say the baby wasn't hurt and that a relative has taken custody of the child.
Family spokesman Pastor Edward Jones said Aldridge was a mother of four and was walking to register her children for school. He said the family had recently moved to the neighborhood.
Dwyane Wade previously called for an end to gun violence when he appeared at the ESPYS, saying, "It has to stop." Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Chicago has been hit hard by violence this year. More than 2,600 people have been shot in the city, mainly on the South and West sides. With 463 murders as of Wednesday, Chicago is on pace to record its largest number of homicides since 1997, when 761 people were killed in the city. Its murder rate is higher than that of New York and Los Angeles.
Wade tweeted about the situation in Chicago on Saturday.
The city of Chicago is hurting. We need more help& more hands on deck. Not for me and my family but for the future of our world. The YOUTH! — DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 27, 2016
These young kids are screaming for help!!! #EnoughIsEnough — DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 27, 2016
Wade did not speak directly about gun violence during his appearance for The Undefeated but addressed "deep-rooted" divides in the community.
"We kinda adopted that mentality that, you know, it's about me surviving," Wade said, discussing Chicago's history. "It's important for all of us to help each other."
Wade grew up in a South Side Chicago house headed by his mother, who was then a drug dealer. Jolinda Wade gave up drugs and turned her life around after being released from prison in 2003. Now a pastor, she sees the problems that contribute to the violence in the communities.
"Some parents have to work one, two and three jobs and can't be there for their kids," she said Thursday night. "Reality TV is raising our children today. And they're going out on the street and being disconnected. ... They grow up and look around, and nothing's there."
Dwyane Wade previously urged an end to gun violence when he appeared with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul to open the ESPYS with a call for social change.
"The endless gun violence in places like Chicago, Dallas, not to mention Orlando, it has to stop. Enough. Enough is enough," he said.
This is not the first time Wade's family has been touched by gun violence. His nephew, Darin Johnson, was shot twice in the leg in 2012 but recovered.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Truth of Diet Lies
My eyes have been opened in more ways than one in the past few days, and like John Belushi in The Blues Brothers, I'm screaming out "I see the light!! I see the light!!!!"
All this crap about dieting and healthy eating that has been shoved down our throats in the last decade or so... it's all lies. Or, maybe not technically lies, but more like half-truths.
Apparently there has been a decade-long study into the actual effects of diet changes in women (specifically women, although I'd be willing to bet that the majority of it would apply to men as well) in relation to the risks of certain types of cancer and diabetes. What did the whole thing boil down to?
"Healthy eating" (as defined in the study) didn't do crap. If anything, the women that made the biggest changes in their eating habits increased their risks of certain types of cancers.
There were no statistically significant differences for any of the cancers. Eating “healthy” versus eating whatever they chose made no tenable difference in any of the cancers.
What does this tell me?
It reinforces the belief that the diet companies are in bed with the government bodies that back up and fund these studies. It supports the view that a vast majority of the population have suddenly morphed into Chicken Little and can't stop screaming that the Sky is Falling!!!
But... does this mean that I have carte blanche to eat whatever I want whenever I want in whatever amounts I want?
No.
Do I still feel like I need to make some changes? Yes. But do I automatically assume that making these changes is going to make me lose weight and/or become healthier? Nope.
I realize that I have a more unhealthy diet than some people, because of all the processed food I eat. In my ideal world, I'd be cooking fresh food every single day. But the reality of my life is that I can't afford to make fresh food every day - it's simply too expensive for our tiny budget. But I do accept that I can make some changes without extremely affecting our budget in an adverse way. Even cooking one meal a week from fresh ingredients will be better than NEVER using fresh ingredients.
It's amazing the amount of information there is out there about this stuff. Every single day, it seems, there's a new study or a new statement by some other "expert" saying that "OMG we're all gonna die because we're all too fat!!!"
That's simply not true. There have been studies done (but I've looked at so many different websites lately that I simply can't remember which one I found where) that actually showed that having some extra weight can help you to live LONGER. They didn't specify why, but I'm willing to bet that it has something to do with the strength of overweight people. Think about it - they say gaining weight is like wearing a backpack with "x" amount of weight in it. Well, if you're like me and you've always worn that extra weight, doesn't that mean that you're just stronger to begin with? I can see it being a problem for someone who has always been naturally thin and suddenly starts to gain weight, but for people like me - and I'm not exactly alone in this - we've always carried extra weight, and therefore don't notice the difference.
Still don't believe me? Take a look at Kate Harding's BMI Project. Pay close attention to the people supposedly in the "overweight" category. I wonder - if you didn't see that word "overweight" under their photo, would YOU classify them as being so? I highly - HIGHLY - doubt it.
1 Comments:
I read where people who are thin are more at risk of either getting cancer or dieing from cancer (both?). It confirmed a suspicion based on knowing several young people who either got cancer or died from it -- most were thin. I don't know one overweight individual (personally) who died or was diagnosed with cancer. Now I do believe the research that obesity is linked to diseases, including cancer. But I think the other side of the coin should be brought to light, instead of constantly harping on obesity as a risk factor.
About Me
I'm an American "ex-pat," having moved to my husband's hometown in 2003. I'm now enjoying life as a "domestic goddess" ... or as close to one as I can GET! *lol* I've been married to the love of my life since 1999, and I have 4 gorgeous girls, of whom I'm very proud. I can be a little neurotic and krazy at times... and very opinionated. However, as opinionated as I am, I'm also very open-minded and have a "live and let live" attitude. I'm a walking, breathing contradiction... and that's why people love me. :) |
Q:
I have GBs of Event-Based Data. How do I figure out causation?
I have a lot of event-based data about users of our website. For example, data in the format (verb, timestamp). There's about 10 or so different verbs (call them A, B, C, etc).
I'm interested in figuring out different events' contribution to a users' decision to purchase a membership.
i.e.
P(chance to buy in a given month) = A * contribution-of-a + B * contribution-of-b + ...
This is a tricky problem because some things might happen many times (user makes a friend) and some things might happen rarely (user uploads a level). I'm also trying to establish causation instead of just correlation.
It seems like this problem has a lot of degrees of freedom. Is it even possible in theory to solve? How do other companies optimize this? What is the statistics technique that I should Google for?
Is this what a Singular Value Decomposition is for?
A:
That's not what SVD is for. However it does look like a reasonable application for a logistic regression model though, perhaps with a rate events correction if people don't often buy things.
Before launching into that you might want to think about how the verbs could relate to purchase decisions. Three basic questions might be: a) do A, B, C, etc. have independent effects on purchasing probability or might they operate together? If they do, this suggests an additive specification. b) Is it the case that more (or less) of each verb matters, or is it more of one verb than another? If the latter, this affects how you code your users' behaviour, e.g. in ratios, counts, proportions etc. c) Do they purchase different things and does this matter? This may affect whether it is more helpful to model buying something, or buying Y rather than Z, and consequently what the dependent variable(s) might be.
Any statistical package will fit such a model for you. The key is knowing what it's telling you when it's finished, and here more importantly whether it fits well enough to be trusted for prediction: On this latter question, consider what you might do with a positive prediction, and thus how much it might cost to do that thing. ROC curves are useful here.
To the causal question. Some of the commenters claim that you won't necessarily get causal information from this model fitting exercise. That's correct. However you can run experiments within your website to see if randomly selected users will change their purchasing behaviour. You might even stratify by verb combination if you get the idea that some people are more susceptible than others to the manipulation. That's really the final test of whether some regularity thrown up in the fitted model actually corresponds to a cause of purchasing behaviour rather than simply a correlate.
|
CTV News: Woman in custody after 25 guns found in gas tank by border officers: source
2018-11-02 (112 Days Old)Total Views: 73 | Last 7 Days: 1
A 50-year-old woman from Toronto has been taken into custody after border officers found 25 guns hidden in the gas tank of a vehicle being driven from the U.S. into Canada, CTV News Toronto has learned.
18 Related Articles, between 2018-10-30 and 2018-10-25
'Never give up': Mother reunited with son allegedly abducted in 1987. A Toronto-area woman says she’s overjoyed to have been reunited with the son allegedly abducted from her in 1987. The father of the now 33-year-old man is facing criminal charges in Canada and the U.S. >>
Arrest of alleged child kidnapper after 31 years gives hope to parents of abducted children: investigator. A Toronto police detective says the recent arrest, in Connecticut, of a Canadian man accused of abducting his toddler son Jermaine Mann 31 years ago, is a flicker of hope for parents of abducted children. >>
Baby abducted in Toronto found alive three decades later. A baby boy abducted from his mother in Toronto more than three decades ago has been found alive and well in the United States. >>
Energy sector weighs on Toronto stocks, loonie trades lower against U.S. dollar. Canada's main stock index moved lower in late-morning trading as oil prices lost ground and the energy sector moved down. >>
Man allegedly abducted as baby in 1987 reunited with mother. A Toronto-area woman says she’s overjoyed to have been reunited with the son allegedly abducted from her in 1987. The father of the now 33-year-old man is facing criminal charges in Canada and the U.S. >>
Man allegedly abducted as baby in Toronto in 1987 found alive. A man allegedly abducted from his mother in Toronto as a baby more than three decades ago has been found alive and well in the United States. >>
Man found decades after alleged abduction as baby. A man allegedly abducted from his mother in Toronto as a baby more than three decades ago has been found alive and well in the United States. >>
Materials and financials weigh on Toronto stocks, loonie up against U.S. dollar. Canada's main stock index posted a triple-digit decline, led lower by the materials and financial sectors, while the loonie traded higher in the wake of an interest rate hike by the Bank of Canada. >>
Perfect Bucks use balance to hand Raptors first loss. The host Milwaukee Bucks held the Toronto Raptors without a field goal for the first 4:11 of the second quarter Monday night, establishing an early lead ... >>
Pot firm Curaleaf shares fall on debut after record equity raise. U.S. cannabis retailer Curaleaf Holdings Inc opened lower in its trading debut in Toronto on Monday after amassing $400 million in the biggest equity raising in Canada's marijuana industry. >>
Toronto and U.S. stock markets traded higher at late-morning, loonie edges lower. The industrials sector helped Canada's main stock index edge up in late-morning trading, while U.S. markets also traded higher following solid earnings from several big U.S. companies. >>
Toronto and U.S. stocks head higher; loonie trades down against U.S. dollar. The financial, materials and industrial sectors helped boost Canada's main stock index higher in late morning trading, regaining some of its losses from last week. >>
U.S. cannabis firm Curaleaf falls in Canada trading debut. U.S. cannabis retailer Curaleaf Holdings Inc opened lower in its trading debut in Toronto on Monday after amassing $400 million in the biggest equity raising in Canada's marijuana industry. >>
U.S. cannabis stock Curaleaf debuts in Toronto. U.S. cannabis retailer Curaleaf Holdings Inc opened lower in its trading debut in Toronto on Monday after amassing $400 million in the biggest equity raising in Canada's marijuana industry. >>
UPDATE 1-U.S. cannabis retailer Curaleaf set to raise about $400 mln-sources. U.S. cannabis retailer Curaleaf
Holdings Inc is raising about $400 million, almost three times
its original target, in Toronto, in a deal that would value the
company at close to $4 billion, people familiar with the
situation told Reuters. >>
UPDATE 2-U.S. pot firm Curaleaf to triple planned equity offering -sources. U.S. cannabis retailer Curaleaf
Holdings Inc is raising about $400 million, almost three times
its original target, in Toronto, in a deal that would value the
company at close to $4 billion, people familiar with the
situation told Reuters. >>
We should be glad a white supremacist stood for mayor in Toronto. In Canada, and in the U.S. midterms, we should welcome the chance to expose and challenge neo-Nazis when they come out of the woodwork. It's far harder to challenge the white supremacy built into our political culture >> |
<component name="libraryTable">
<library name="Maven: org.apache.shiro:shiro-config-ogdl:1.4.0">
<CLASSES>
<root url="jar://$MAVEN_REPOSITORY$/org/apache/shiro/shiro-config-ogdl/1.4.0/shiro-config-ogdl-1.4.0.jar!/" />
</CLASSES>
<JAVADOC>
<root url="jar://$MAVEN_REPOSITORY$/org/apache/shiro/shiro-config-ogdl/1.4.0/shiro-config-ogdl-1.4.0-javadoc.jar!/" />
</JAVADOC>
<SOURCES>
<root url="jar://$MAVEN_REPOSITORY$/org/apache/shiro/shiro-config-ogdl/1.4.0/shiro-config-ogdl-1.4.0-sources.jar!/" />
</SOURCES>
</library>
</component> |
---
abstract: 'In this paper we analyze the stability of different coupling strategies for multidomain PDEs that arise in general circulation models used in climate simulations. We focus on fully coupled ocean-atmosphere models that are needed to represent and understand the complicated interactions of these two systems, becoming increasingly important in climate change assessment in recent years. Numerical stability issues typically arise because of different time-stepping strategies applied to the coupled PDE system. In particular, the contributing factors include using large time steps, lack of accurate interface flux, and singe-iteration coupling. We investigate the stability of the coupled ocean-atmosphere models for various interface conditions such as the Dirichlet-Neumann condition and the bulk interface condition, which is unique to climate modeling. By analyzing a simplified model, we demonstrate how the parameterization of the bulk condition and other numerical and physical parameters affect the coupling stability.'
author:
- Hong Zhang
- Zhengyu Liu
- Emil Constantinescu
- Robert Jacob
bibliography:
- 'hong.bib'
date: 'Received: date / Accepted: date'
title: 'Stability Analysis of Interface Conditions for Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling [^1]'
---
[example.eps]{} gsave newpath 20 20 moveto 20 220 lineto 220 220 lineto 220 20 lineto closepath 2 setlinewidth gsave .4 setgray fill grestore stroke grestore
Introduction
============
We analyze the stability of different coupling strategies for multidomain partial differential equations (PDEs) motivated by general circulation models used in climate simulations. Solving these problems with large time steps on each of the domains is known to cause numerical stability issues of the coupled PDE system. Without loss of generality we consider two coupled PDEs that correspond to coupled ocean-atmosphere:
\[eq:abstract:problem\] $$\begin{aligned}
\label{eq:abstract:problem:1}
\frac{\partial u_1(t,x)}{\partial t} &= F_1(t,u_1(t,x),u_2(t,x)) &&\textnormal{[domain 1]}\\
\label{eq:abstract:problem:2}
\frac{\partial u_2(t,x)}{\partial t} &= F_2(t,u_1(t,x),u_2(t,x)) &&\textnormal{[domain 2]}\\
\label{eq:abstract:problem:12}
0&=G_{12}(u_1(t,x),u_2(t,x))\,, &&\textnormal{[interface 1-2]}\\
\nonumber
t \ge t_0\,,~ u_k \in \mathbb{R} \times \mathcal{D}_k\,,&~ F_k :
\mathbb{R} \times \mathcal{D} \rightarrow \mathcal{D}_k\,,~k=1,2\,\\
\nonumber
G_{12}: \mathcal{D} \rightarrow \mathcal{D}\,,&~
\mathcal{D}=\bigcup_{k=1,2} \mathcal{D}_k
$$
where, for instance, represents the atmosphere, the ocean, and the interaction between the two problems. Stability is defined as $||u^n(x)||
\le C ||u(t_0,x)||$, $\forall n>0$, where $C$ is a finite constant independent of $t$ and $u=[u_1,u_2]^\top$.
This problem has been analyzed by normal mode analysis and matrix stability. The normal mode method was originally developed by Godunov and Ryabenkij [@Godunov1963], Kriess [@Kreiss1968] and Osher [@Osher1969], and later led to the theory of Gustafsson, Kriess, and Sundstrom (GKS) [@Gustafsson1972], which establishes necessary and sufficient conditions that the discretization schemes must satisfy in order to ensure stability. We are interested in utilizing this tool to analyze stability of various interface conditions for coupled climate models.
Scientific application
----------------------
Coupling methods have been a limiting factor in researchers’ ability to address science questions where the relevant processes are strongly coupled. Each model inside the coupled system is often associated with different time scales, posing a great challenge on time integration. The integration is becoming more challenging as the coupled simulation codes are evolving to support high resolution in time and space and concurrent execution of components. While the time integration for each model is often well founded in theory, little work has been done on characterizing the influence of different coupling strategies on the stability of the fully coupled system. In the U.S. climate community models, including CESM [@Hurrell2013] and DOE E3SM [@Golaz2019] (previously known as ACME), the Earth system components (global atmosphere, global ocean, sea ice and land surface) are numerically treated independently. The interaction among these components is done through a component called a “coupler” which accommodates the information exchange. In the E3SM coupler, the components of the Earth system model are marched forward in time nearly independently from each other, with appropriate field information exchanged using the lagged states at the previous time interval, also known as “explicit flux coupling.” While this popular coupling method, really more of a decoupled method, enables concurrent execution of multiple components for computational efficiency, in certain parameter regimes it has been shown to induce numerical instability at the air-sea interface [@Lemarie2015], air-land interface [@Beljaars2017], and sea-ice interface [@Hallberg2014; @Roberts2015]. In the tropics where the atmosphere is very sensitive to the sea surface forcing, the standard coupling strategy that propagates the atmospheric model with multiple small explicit time steps followed by a large ocean time step is physically reasonable [@Bryan1996; @Perlin2007; @Bao2000]. In other regions such as the extratropics [@Kushnir2002], however, the atmospheric forcing is dominated by its own internal variability, providing rapid feedback to the ocean via the turbulent heat flux. Thus, using large time steps for the ocean can be problematic. On long timescales (e.g., more than one year), the standard coupling method fails to produce the correct ocean-atmosphere heat flux both in magnitude and in sign, contributing to poor understanding of climate variability in these regions [@Kushnir2002; @BrethBattisti2000; @Liu2007; @Liu2004]. In [@Kushnir2002], Kushnir et al. concluded that the thermal coupling coefficient should be a function of latitude and season in order to enhance the predictability of extratropical systems.
The occasional failure of decoupled methods can be attributed to the fact that these methods perform a single step of an iterative process [@Lemarie2015], which is insufficient to secure stable and accurate solutions. A theoretically ideal solution for stability is to build a monolithic fully coupled system and solve it implicitly. Doing so is difficult, however, because it is intrusive in nature, requiring significant development effort to refactor existing codes; and solving the full implicit system efficiently is also a computational challenge. A more practical approach is for each component to compute interface fluxes using lagged information from the other components and implicitly the states owned by itself. In this way, partial implicitness has been added, thus improving stability without the need for many iterations when compared with explicit flux coupling; but the resulting system is not as stable as the one using full implicitness [@Lemarie2015]. Rigorous analysis of decoupled methods remains limited and does not provide sufficient understanding of optimal choices for stability.
The Earth system components such as global atmosphere, global ocean, sea ice and land surface are numerically treated independently by the U.S. climate community models [@Hurrell2013; @Golaz2019] with the information exchange done by a component called “coupler.” The global time marching can be affected by instabilities induced by the coupling procedure [@Lemarie2015; @Beljaars2017; @Hallberg2014; @Roberts2015]. In particular, long time integration was shown to produce spurious ocean-atmosphere heat flux [@Kushnir2002; @BrethBattisti2000; @Liu2007; @Liu2004]. The occasional failure of decoupled methods can be attributed to the fact that these methods perform a single step of an iterative process [@Lemarie2015], which is insufficient to secure stable and accurate solutions. An ideal but impractical solution for stability is to build a monolithic fully coupled system. A more practical approach is to lag information from the other components and thus improve stability without the need for many iterations when compared with explicit flux coupling; but the resulting system is not as stable as the one using full implicitness [@Lemarie2015]. Rigorous analysis of decoupled methods remains limited and does not provide sufficient understanding of optimal choices for stability.
To improve the stability of surface models (e.g., snow, ice, or soil) that are coupled to atmospheric models, Beljaars et al. [@Beljaars2017] proposed a fully implicit formulation that uses an estimate of the surface temperature at the new time level instead of solving for it. The estimate is obtained with an empirical relation between surface heat flux and surface temperature that is derived from idealized simulations of a fully coupled implicit system. A matrix stability analysis was preformed on the forced surface models; however, only an empirical stability condition was given.
The stability limits in fluid-solid interaction (FSI) coupled models have been widely studied, but little is known for climate models that are intrinsically large scale and involve complex dynamics. Recently Connors and his colleagues conducted a series of studies [@Connors2009; @Connors2012; @Connors2011; @Aggul2018] that provide rigorous analysis of various partitioned algorithms for fluid-fluid interaction with a focus on convergence and accuracy aspects. Peterson [@Peterson2019] et. al. proposed a new synchronous partitioned method that eliminates the need to solve a coupled implicit system, while not subject to additional stability constraints as in traditional partitioned schemes. Although the approach is developed for general transmission problem, it can be potentially extended to coupled climate models.
This work studies the stability of different partitioned coupling methods for ocean-atmosphere coupling, which involves the most computationally expensive components in climate models. We examine the stability behaviors of common interface conditions with a focus on the bulk interface condition that is pervasive in coupled climate models. We show by analysis that partially implicit and fully implicit flux coupling can lead to an unconditionally stable coupling algorithm, whereas explicit flux coupling requires certain Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL)-like conditions to be satisfied for stability. We also derive the closed-form necessary and sufficient stability condition for a one-way coupled system, and connect one-way and two-way coupled models in terms of stability regions. The theoretical analyses are accompanied by numerical experiments. The new results lead to better understanding of the stability properties of the existing algorithms as well as provide guidance for developing new stable coupling algorithms.
Model problem
-------------
Since the vertical diffusion provides the strongest coupling between the atmospheric boundary layer and the ocean, we consider a 1D diffusion equation for temperature defined on two neighboring domains
$$\begin{aligned}
\frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_+ = \frac{\partial}{\partial z} (K_+ \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_+
), \quad z > 0 \label{eq:1dadvdiff1} \\
\frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_- = \frac{\partial}{\partial z} (K_- \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_-
), \quad z < 0
\label{eq:1dadvdiff2}\end{aligned}$$
with the eddy diffusivity coefficient determined by $$K_\pm = \frac{\nu_\pm}{\rho_\pm c_\pm} ,
$$ where $\nu$ and $\rho$ and $c$ are the heat diffusion coefficient, the density, and the heat capacity, respectively. The subscripts $+$ and $-$ correspond to atmosphere and ocean. respectively. In this case $u_1=T_+$, $u_2=T_-$, $\mathcal{D}_1$ is the positive domain, and $\mathcal{D}_2$ is the negative domain in the .
In addition to the governing equations for each subsystem, the continuity of fluxes at the interface is typically used as the coupling condition $$\rho_+ c_+ K_+ \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_+ = \rho_- c_- K_- \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_-\,,$$ which corresponds to .
Note that the diffusion problem can also be represented in an equivalent form
$$\begin{aligned}
\rho_+ c_+ \frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_+ = \frac{\partial}{\partial z} (\nu_+ \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_+), \quad z > 0 \\
\rho_- c_- \frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_- = \frac{\partial}{\partial z} (\nu_- \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_-), \quad z < 0
$$
and the flux continuity becomes $$\nu_+ \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_+ = \nu_- \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_- .$$ This alternative form makes the coupling condition simpler, but involves more parameters in the implementation of the subsystems.
Interface conditions
--------------------
The physical processes in the interior of each domain are independent of the others; each domain-specific process interacts with processes in other domains only at their common interface. Therefore, conditions need to be imposed at the interface in order to guarantee that the numerical solution exists for the coupled system.
In classical domain decomposition methods, both the state and the normal-direction flux often are required to be continuous across the interface. When a partitioned approach is used, each domain is solved independently by using boundary information coming from the other domains. The information is often lagged in time if the domains are solved concurrently. A natural choice for implementing the interface conditions is to treat them as boundary conditions and apply Dirichlet or Neumann conditions to each subproblem.
In a climate model, the surface fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, and latent heat are calculated by using bulk formulas, following the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory [@Yaglom_1994]. The physical processes near the surface are parameterized as bulk transfer coefficients as studied in classical works [@Liu1979; @Smith1988; @Fairall1996]. Through bulk transfer coefficients, a bulk formula relates the flux to easily measured surface quantities such as averaged wind speed, temperature, and humidity. The most popular bulk flux algorithm, the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) algorithm [@Fairall1996], has been used in coupled air-sea [@Bao2000] and sea-ice [@Andreas2010] simulations and has been continuously improved over wider wind-speed range and more complicated physics such as weave feedback [@Edson2013; @Kudryavtsev2014].
From a mathematical point of view, the bulk flux algorithm can be abstracted as a special type of interface condition: the flux is continuous in the normal direction at the interface, but the state can jump across the interface. Without loss of generality, the bulk interface condition can be described as $$\nu_+ \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_+ = \nu_- \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_- = b (T_+ - T_-)$$ with the bulk coefficient defined as $$b = \rho_+ c_+ C_H \|U\| ,$$ where $C_H$ is the exchange coefficient at reference height $r$ (e.g., a typical value is 10 meters) that depends on surface roughness and local stability and $\|U\|$ is the absolute (wind) velocity. This parameter is defined in a bulk way in the region between the lowest vertical level in the atmospheric model and the shallowest vertical level in the oceanic model. Some authors in literature have described the same interface condition based on a variable $\alpha$, which can be related to $b$ by $$\alpha = b/(\rho_+ c_+).$$ For the convenience of denoting flux, we prefer the notation $b$. But using the other notation should not affect the conclusions reached in this paper.
Consequently, the heat flow at the the interface can be computed as $$K_+ \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_+ = \rho_+ c_+ \alpha (T_+ - T_-),\quad K_- \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_- = \frac{\rho_- c_-}{\rho_+ c_+} \alpha (T_+ - T_-).$$
Partitioned coupling algorithms
-------------------------------
The classical partitioned approach is the convectional serial staggered (CSS) algorithm that solves the two subsystems alternatively. We assume at time $t_n$ that the temperature fields $T_j^n$ are given and are consistent at the interface. With a grid setup shown in Figure \[fig:dn\_grid\], the algorithm can be described compactly as
$$\begin{aligned}
& T_{0_+}^n = T_{0_-}^n \label{eq:css1}\\
& \rho_+ c_+ \frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_j = \frac{\nu_+}{(\Delta z_+)^2} \left( T_{j+1} -2 T_j + T_{j-1}\right), \quad j>0 \label{eq:css2} \\
& q_{\frac12} = \nu_+ \frac{T_1 - T_{0_+}}{\Delta z_+}, \quad q_{-\frac12} = \nu_- \frac{T_{0_-}- T_{-1}}{\Delta z_-} \label{eq:css3} \\
& \frac12 \left( \rho_- c_- \Delta z_- + \rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+ \right) \frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_{0_-} = q_{\frac12} - q_{-\frac12}, \quad j=0 \label{eq:css4} \\
& \rho_- c_- \frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_j = \frac{\nu_-}{(\Delta z_-)^2} \left( T_{j+1} -2 T_j + T_{j-1}\right) \quad j<0 . \label{eq:css5}
\end{aligned}$$
\[eq:css\]
The procedure to advance the solution from $t_n$ to $t_{n+1}$ is as follows:
1. At time $t_n$, transfer the temperature $T_{0_-}^n$ to the positive domain, and update its interface boundary with a Dirichlet condition .
2. Advance the solution on the right domain from $t_n$ to $t_{n+1}$ , and compute the flux at the interface .
3. Transfer the flux quantifies to the left domain, and update its interface boundary with a Neumann condition .
4. Advance the solution on the left domain
This algorithm can also be applied to Neumann-Neumann or bulk interface conditions with a slightly different grid setting, as shown in Figure \[fig:bulk\_grid\]. For the convenience of flux calculation, the interface is positioned at the cell edge for both domains; in this way, each subdomain can have uniform cells, but ghost cells need to be used to apply the boundary conditions at the interface. We denote the ghost cell values for the left and the right domains by $T_{0_+}$ and $T_{0_-}$, respectively.
After spatial discretization, the following system of ordinary differential equations is obtained:
$$\begin{aligned}
& q_{0_+} = b (T_{\frac12} - T_{-\frac12} ) \label{eq:fv_mon1} \\
& \frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_{j+\frac12} = \frac{1}{\rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+} \left( q_{j+1} - q_{j} \right), \quad j \geq 0 \label{eq:fv_mon2} \\
& q_{0_-} = q_{0_+} \label{eq:fv_mon3} \\
& \frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_{j+\frac12} = \frac{1}{\rho_- c_- \Delta z_-} \left( q_{j+1} - q_{j} \right), \quad j<0 . \label{eq:fv_mon4}
\end{aligned}$$
\[eq:css\_bulk\]
For simplicity, we will focus on backward Euler when referring to the implicit time stepping method, unless otherwise noted. Extending to high-order time integration schemes is possible but complicates the algebraic analysis considerably.
Manuscript organization
-----------------------
The rest of this paper is organized as follows. Normal mode stability analysis for two-way coupled models using Dirichlet-Neumann and bulk interface conditions is given in Sections \[sec:dn\] and \[sec:bulk\]. Section \[sec:forced\_model\] applies the analysis to a one-way coupled model that can be considered as a limiting case for two-way coupled models. Section \[sec:validation\] describes how to validate the analysis using matrix stability and provides the numerical results. In Section 6, we summarize the results and their implications to practical applications.
Normal mode stability analysis for Dirichlet-Neumann condition {#sec:dn}
==============================================================
In the normal mode method, the PDE solution is represented as a certain mode, which is typically exponential in time and space. For example, the numerical solution of one-dimensional PDE can be assumed in the form $$T_j^b = \A^n \phi_j,$$ where $\A$ is an eigenvalue with eigenfunction $\phi_j$ (bounded as $j$ goes to infinity). Then one needs to solve a system of algebraic equations, resulting directly from numerical discretization and boundary (or interface) conditions, for the amplitude of the mode.
Based on this technique, the GKS theory [@Gustafsson1972] establishes a necessary and sufficient condition for stability, as summarized below.
The approximation scheme is stable in the GKS sense if and only if no nontrival eigensolution exists for $|\A|\geq 1$. \[prop:GKS\]
The stability definition is given in Definition 3.3 in [@Gustafsson1972], and Proposition \[prop:GKS\] refers to Theorem 5.1 in Section 5 in [@Gustafsson1972]. Although the original theory was described for quarter-plane problems, it can be naturally applied to problems with multiple boundaries and interface problems such as FSI.
Giles has shown in [@Giles1997] that for FSI problems that the key point to achieving numerical stability is to transfer the interface temperature from the solid to the fluid (Dirichlet condition) and to pass the heat flux (Neumann condition) from the fluid to the solid. Roux and Garaud confirmed in [@Roux2009] that Dirichlet conditions must be imposed in the domain with lower conductivity.
Lemarie et al. also followed Giles’ partitioned approach in [@Lemarie2015]. The main difference between Giles’ approach and the one considered in this paper is the former is derived based on an engineering consideration—a half-sized cell is used at the interface so that each domain can be treated independently. Consequently, the partitioned approach solves a slightly different model from the one targeted by a monolithic approach. In this section, we present a normal mode analysis for a partitioned approach without using half-sized cell. Both explicit and implicit time-stepping schemes will be considered in order to provide a direct comparison with results in [@Giles1997].
Explicit flux coupling with explict time stepping
-------------------------------------------------
Following the explicit methods (as opposed to implicit) of Giles [@Giles1997], we calculate the interfacial flux for the time step from $t_n$ with $$q_{\frac12}^{n} = \nu_+ \frac{T_1^n - T_{0_+}^n}{\Delta z_+}, \quad q_{-\frac12}^n = \nu_- \frac{T_{0_-}^n - T_{-1}^n}{\Delta z_-}
\label{eq:ex_interfacial_flux}$$ and assume a solution of the form $$\begin{aligned}
\label{eq:sol_form_Giles}
T^n_j = \begin{cases}
\A^n \kappa_-^j, & j = 0, -1, -2, \ldots \\
\A^n \kappa_+^j, & j = 1,2, \ldots,
\end{cases}\end{aligned}$$ where $j$ denotes exponent, $\kappa^j$ are bounded functions of space, and $\A$ is a complex scalar. We define the following constants: $$r = \frac{\rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+}{\rho_- c_- \Delta z_-}, \quad \quad d_\pm = \frac{\nu_\pm \Delta t}{\rho_\pm c_\pm (\Delta z_\pm)^2}.
\label{eq:def}$$
Discretizing explicitly with the coupling flux being computed according to the formula , substituting the solution into the discretized equations, and using to simplify expression, we have
$$\begin{aligned}
\A &= 1+d_+(\kappa_+-2+\kappa_+^{-1}) \label{eq:A1} \\
(\A-1) (1+r) &= 2d_+r(\kappa_+-1) - 2d_-(1-\kappa_-^{-1})\label{eq:A2}\\
\A & = 1+d_-(\kappa_--2+\kappa_-^{-1})\label{eq:A3}.
\end{aligned}$$
Then leads to $$\kappa_+ ^2 - \left( 2 + \frac{\A-1}{d_+} \right) \kappa_+ + 1 = 0 .$$
In the region $|\A| > 1$, there are two roots, and their product is $1$; thus, one of the two roots must meet $|\kappa_+| > 1$ and the other must meet $|\kappa_+| <1$. We are interested only in the latter, so that the far-field boundary condition is satisfied. Thus, we pick the solution $$\kappa_+ = 1+ \frac{\A-1}{2d_+}\left(1-\sqrt{1+\frac{4d_+}{\A-1}} \right).$$
Similarly for we choose the solution $$\kappa_-^{-1} = 1+ \frac{\A-1}{2d_-}\left(1-\sqrt{1+\frac{4d_-}{\A-1}} \right).$$ Plugging these into and simplifying the expression, we obtain $$1 +r = \left( 1-\sqrt{1+ \frac{4d_-}{\A-1}} \right) + r \left( 1- \sqrt{1+ \frac{4d_+}{\A-1}} \right) .$$
When $\A$ is real, the radicals must be zero. And the requirement that $\A \leq
1$ leads to $0 < d_+,d_- \leq \frac12$, which agrees with the classical CFL condition that can be obtained by applying von Neumann stability analysis to an uncoupled system. If $\A$ is complex, the imaginary parts of the two terms on the right-hand side must cancel out, and their real parts must be zero. Thus the radicals must be real, which contradicts with the assumption. Hence, there is no stability loss in the coupling, and stability is guaranteed when classical CFL conditions are satisfied on each domain regardless of the value of $r$.
Explicit flux coupling with implicit time stepping
--------------------------------------------------
Solving the interior equations implicitly and updating the interface data explicitly, we have the following algorithm:
$$\begin{aligned}
& T_{0_+}^{n+1} = T_{0_-}^n \label{eq:implicit_css1}\\
& T_j^{n+1}-T_j^{n} = \frac{\Delta t \, \nu_+}{\rho_+ c_+ (\Delta z_+)^2} \left( T_{j+1}^{n+1} -2 T_j^{n+1} + T_{j-1}^{n+1}\right), \quad j>0 \label{eq:implicit_css2} \\
& T_{0_-}^{n+1}-T_{0_-}^{n} = \frac{2 \Delta t}{\rho_- c_- \Delta z_- + \rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+} \left(\nu_+ \frac{T_1^n - T_{0_+}^n}{\Delta z_+} - \nu_- \frac{T_{0_-}^{n+1} - T_{-1}^{n+1} }{\Delta z_-} \right) \label{eq:implicit_css4} \\
& T_j^{n+1}-T_j^{n} = \frac{ \Delta t \nu_-}{\rho_- c_- (\Delta z_-)^2} \left( T_{j+1}^{n+1} -2 T_j^{n+1} + T_{j-1}^{n+1} \right), \quad j<0. \label{eq:implicit_css5}
\end{aligned}$$
\[eq:implicit\_css\]
Assume a solution is of the form $$T_j^n = \begin{cases} \A^n \kappa_-^j, & j = 0_-, -1, -2, \ldots \\
\A^{n-1} \kappa_+^j, & j = 0_+, 1,2, \ldots \end{cases}$$ so that is automatically satisfied by this choice of normal mode. The other three equations require that $\A, \kappa_-,$ and $\kappa_+$ satisfy $$\begin{aligned}
\begin{split}
1 & = \A^{-1} + d_+(\kappa_+ - 2 + \kappa_+^{-1}) \\
(1 - \A^{-1})(1+r) & = 2 d_+r \A^{-2}(\kappa_+-1) - 2d_- (1-\kappa_-^{-1}) \\
1 & = \A^{-1} + d_-(\kappa_- - 2 + \kappa_-^{-1}). \\
\end{split}
\label{eq:sim_implicit_css}\end{aligned}$$
The first equation leads to $$\kappa_+ ^2 - \left( 2 + \frac{1-\A^{-1}}{d_+} \right) \kappa_+ + 1 = 0 .$$ In the region $|\A|>1$, there are two real roots with one of them being $|\kappa_+|>1$ and the other being $|\kappa_+|<1$. Again we choose the latter, which can be written as $$\kappa_+ = 1+ \frac{1-\A^{-1}}{2d_+}\left( 1 - \sqrt{1+ \frac{4d_+}{1-\A^{-1}}}\right).$$
The third equation gives $$\kappa_-^{-1} = 1+ \frac{1-\A^{-1}}{2d_-}\left( 1 - \sqrt{1+ \frac{4d_-}{1-\A^{-1}}}\right).$$ Plugging these expressions into the second equation in gives $$(1-\A^{-1})(1+r) = 2d_+r \A^{-2} \left(\frac{1-\A^{-1}}{2d_+}\left( 1 - \sqrt{1+ \frac{4d_+}{1-\A^{-1}}}\right) \right) - 2d_- \left(- \frac{1-\A^{-1}}{2d_-}\left( 1 - \sqrt{1+ \frac{4d_-}{1-\A^{-1}}}\right) \right),$$ which simplifies to and simplifying lead to $$1 + r = r \A^{-2} \left(1-\sqrt{1+\frac{4d_+}{1-\A^{-1}}} \right) + \left(1-\sqrt{1+\frac{4d_-}{1-\A^{-1}}} \right) .
\label{eq:beuler_stab}$$
Again, we consider asymptotic solutions.
- If $\Delta z_+ \ll \Delta z_-$, then $r \rightarrow 0$. In this case, we are left with $\sqrt{1+ \frac{4d_-}{1-\A^{-1}}} \approx 0$. Solving for $\A$ yields $|\A| \approx \frac1{4d_-+1}< 1$. It follows that the scheme is unconditionally stable.
- If $\Delta z_- \ll \Delta z_+$, then $r \rightarrow \infty$. In this case, we have $$1 \approx \A^{-2} - \A^{-2}\sqrt{1 + \frac{4d_+}{1-\A^{-1}}}.$$
After some algebra, it follows that $\A(-\A^4 + \A^3 + 2\A^2 - 2\A + 4d_+)
\approx 0$. Consider a special case $d_+ = 1$. We can easily find that all four nonzero roots have a magnitude larger than one. Thus, the scheme is not unconditionally stable. This is an interesting conclusion in an extreme scenario and will be further examined in the next section.
Discussion and comparison with Giles’ results
---------------------------------------------
Giles considered a slightly different partitioned approach in [@Giles1997]. In his approach, is replaced with $$\frac12 \rho_- c_- \Delta z_- \frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_{0_-} = q_0 - q_{-\frac12}, \quad j=0, \label{eq:giles}$$ where $q_0$ is computed in the same way as $q_\frac12$ in but deemed a one-sided approximation of the flux at the interface. The formula is derived by using finite volume scheme over the half-sized cell $[z_{-\frac12},0]$. By comparing with , we can see that the only difference is the omission of $\rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+$. The impact on stability seems to depend on how $\Delta z_+$ compares with $\Delta
z_-$. Thus, Giles related the coupling stability to the parameter $r$ in and investigated three algorithms: an explicit algorithm, an implicit algorithm, and a hybrid algorithm (treating one domain explicitly and the other domain implicitly). For all the algorithms, the following conclusions were drawn:
- When $r \ll 1$, the coupling is stable.
- When $r \gg 1$, the coupling is unstable.
- The stability condition is $$r < \frac{1-2d_-}{1-\sqrt{1-2}},$$ where $d$ is the Courant number $v\Delta t /\Delta z^2$. Note that this is established under the assumption that Dirichlet boundary condition is used on the positive domain (usually represents fluid) and the Neumann boundary condition is used on the other (usually representing a solid). In practice, the fluid computation has higher resolution than the solid computation has, leading to a stable coupling. But if one uses the Dirichlet boundary condition for the solid and the Neumann boundary condition for the fluid, $r$ is the inverse of the original quantity and have a very large value. Then the coupling is not stable unless extremely small stepsize is used.
- The stability can be improved by using backward Euler for $j\le0$. The stability condition would be $$r < \frac{1+2d_-}{1-\sqrt{1-2d_+}}.$$
- If both domains are treated implicitly but the interface data is explicitly updated (e.g., using time lagged information to promote parallelism), the asymptotic stability condition for $d_-,d_+ \gg 1$ becomes $$r < \sqrt{\frac{d_-}{d_+}}.$$
- The stability conditions can be expressed as an upper bound of $r$ in terms of $d_-$ and $d_+$.
In contrast, we consider contributions from both domains for the interface node. The analysis of the explicit algorithm with explicit flux coupling shows that the coupling stability is not affected by $r$ in our setup for the interface node. For the implicit algorithm , our analysis leads to the same conclusions as Giles predicted; however, the causes of instability in the two algorithms are different. In Giles’ algorithm, the contribution from the dominant domain (positive domain if $r \gg 1$) is not fully accounted for at the interface since the term $\rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+$ is missing. With the influence of this missing term excluded, it is easier to see in our framework that the explicit coupling flux passed to the negative domain as Neumann boundary condition dominates the right-hand side of , changing the discretization of this equation from a hybrid scheme to an explicit scheme. To summarize the new findings, the choice of Dirichlet condition or Neumann condition on each domain is important in order to determine the coupling stability when explicit updating of the interfacial flux is used in implicit methods, but it plays no role for purely explicit algorithms.
Normal mode stability analysis for bulk interface condition {#sec:bulk}
===========================================================
We have shown that even using an implicit time-stepping Dirichlet-Neumann condition and explicit flux coupling can lead to instability, regardless of how the interface condition is imposed at the interface. In this section, we show how the stability properties of the coupling methods are affected in several ways where the interfacial flux is computed when the bulk interface condition is imposed. In order to relax the stability constraint due to explicit flux coupling, a natural choice is to add implicitness. Thus, we consider the following algorithms based on the degree of implicitness used in the flux computation:
1. Explicit flux coupling $$q_{0_+}^{n+1} = b (T_{\frac12}^n - T_{-\frac12}^n ).$$
2. Partially implicit flux coupling $$q_{0_+}^{n+1} = b (T_{\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{-\frac12}^n ).$$
3. Implicit flux coupling $$q_{0_+}^{n+1} = b (T_{\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{-\frac12}^{n+1} ).$$
Explicit flux coupling and partial flux coupling are convenient for parallel computing and easy to implement, requiring minimal modifications to existing codes that support the Neumann boundary condition. Data transfer between the coupling components is needed only at the beginning of a time step; the frequency is determined by the larger of the stepsizes for each model. The fully implicit treatment of the interfacial flux requires the solution of a monolithic system, which normally indicates more data exchange and synchronization and, more important, tremendous difficulties in developing partitioned algorithms that can solve the equations in both domains simultaneously. However, a sequentially implicit formulation (e.g., [@Farhat2006]) allows the monolithic system to be solved in a partitioned manner (as described by the CSS algorithm ), while maintaining the same stability as a fully implicit method [@Farhat2006]. This strategy has been widely used for loosely coupled problems and has a rich literature (e.g., [@Causin2005; @Bazilevs2008; @Degroote2009]). Since the stability for the fully implicit case is obvious, the analysis will not be repeated in this paper.
Explicit flux coupling with implicit time stepping {#sec:exfluximts}
--------------------------------------------------
Applying backward Euler to the equation gives
$$\begin{aligned}
& q_{0_+}^{n+1} = b (T_{\frac12}^n - T_{-\frac12}^n ) \label{eq:implicit_bulk1} \\
& T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j+\frac12}^n = \frac{\Delta t}{\rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+} \left( q_{j+1}^{n+1} - q_{j}^{n+1} \right), \quad j \geq 0 \label{eq:implicit_bulk2} \\
& q_{0_-}^{n+1} = q_{0_+}^n \label{eq:implicit_bulk3} \\
& T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j+\frac12}^n = \frac{\Delta t}{\rho_- c_- \Delta z_-} \left( q_{j+1}^{n+1} - q_{j}^{n+1} \right), \quad j<0 .\label{eq:implicit_bulk4}
\end{aligned}$$
\[eq:implicit\_bulk\]
The two equations at the interface are
$$\begin{aligned}
& T_{\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{\frac12}^n = \frac{\Delta t}{\rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+} \left( \nu_+ \frac{T_\frac32^{n+1} - T_\frac12^{n+1}}{\Delta z_+} - b (T_\frac12^n -T_{-\frac12}^n) \right) \\
& T_{-\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{-\frac12}^n = \frac{\Delta t}{\rho_- c_- \Delta z_-} \left( b (T_\frac12^n -T_{-\frac12}^n) - \nu_-\frac{T_{-\frac12}^{n+1}-T_{-\frac32}^{n+1}}{\Delta z_-} \right)
\end{aligned}$$
We consider the normal mode solution $$T_{j+\frac12}^n = \begin{cases} \A^n \kappa_-^j, & j = -1, -2, \ldots \\
\A^n \kappa_+^{j+1}, & j = 0,1,2, \ldots . \end{cases}
\label{eq:bulk_normal_mode_solution}$$ Substituting it into Equation , we have $$\begin{aligned}
\begin{split}
1 - \A^{-1} & = d_+(\kappa_+ - 2 + \kappa_+^{-1}) \\
1 - \A^{-1} & = d_+(\kappa_+ - 1) - d_+ \Delta z_+ b/\nu_+ \A^{-1} \left( 1- \kappa_-^{-1} \kappa_+^{-1}\right) \\
1 - \A^{-1} & = d_- \Delta z_- b/\nu_- \A^{-1} \left( \kappa_+ \kappa_- - 1\right) - d_-(1- \kappa_-^{-1}) \\
1 - \A^{-1} & = d_-(\kappa_- - 2 + \kappa_-^{-1}), \\
\end{split}
\label{eq:sim_implicit_bulk}\end{aligned}$$ where the second and the fourth equations correspond to the cases $j=0$ and $j=-1$ in , respectively. Solving the first and the last equations for $\kappa_+$ and $\kappa_-$, respectively, and choosing the proper roots as before, we get $$\begin{aligned}
\kappa_+ = 1 + s_+ - \sqrt{s_+^2 + 2 s_+} \\
\kappa_-^{-1} = 1 + s_- - \sqrt{s_-^2 + 2 s_-},
\end{aligned}
\label{eq:sim_implicit_bulk_k}$$ where $$s_\pm = \frac{1 - \A^{-1}}{2 d_\pm}.$$ The second and third equations of lead to $$\A
= \frac{1+ \beta_+ \left( 1 - \kappa_-^{-1} \kappa_+^{-1} \right)}{1- d_+ \left( \kappa_+ -1 \right)}
\label{eq:A_exflux_bulk2}$$ and $$\A
= \frac{1+ \beta_- \left( 1 - \kappa_- \kappa_+ \right)}{1- d_- \left( \kappa_-^{-1} -1 \right)} ,
\label{eq:A_exflux_bulk3}$$ respectively, where for notational convenience we define $$\beta_\pm = \frac{b \Delta t} {\rho_\pm c_\pm \Delta z_\pm}
\label{def:bulk_courant}$$ and refer to it as [*bulk Courant number*]{}, considering its similarity to classical Courant numbers.
Plugging into and would result in equations that take $\A$ as functions of $\beta_\pm$ and $d_\pm$, but there are no closed-form solutions. Thus we consider the asymptotic behavior when $\beta_+$ approaches zero. Equation becomes $$\A
= \frac{1}{1- d_+ \left( \kappa_+ -1 \right)}.
\label{eq:A_exflux_bulk2_asym}$$ Plugging into it and simplifying lead to $$\A d_+ (\A - 1) = 0.$$ Therefore $\A = 1$, which implies that the system is stable. Similarly with , we can see the system is stable when $\beta_-$ approaches zero.
Deriving general stability constraints is difficult since $\A$ is a complicated function of $d_+$, $d_-$, and $\beta_+$ in or a function of $d_-$, $d_+$, and $\beta_-$ in . Nevertheless, if we omit the feedback from the coupling domain, that is, $\kappa_-$ in or $\kappa_+$ in , a nice closed-form expression for stability constraint can be found in this best case. Therefore, in the general case the coupling is not absolutely stable. Details are given in Section \[sec:forced\_model\].
Partially implicit flux coupling with implicit time stepping {#sec:imfluximts}
------------------------------------------------------------
Like the explicit case, the partially implicit flux computation allows the two components to be handled simultaneously. But the equation corresponding to the interface node needs an implicit solve. The full algorithm is
$$\begin{aligned}
& q_{0_+}^{n+1} = b (T_{\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{-\frac12}^n ) \\
& T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j+\frac12}^n = \frac{\Delta t}{\rho_+ c_+ \Delta z_+} \left( q_{j+1}^{n+1} - q_{j}^{n+1} \right), \quad j \geq 0 \\
& q_{0_-}^{n+1} = b (T_{\frac12}^{n} - T_{-\frac12}^{n+1} ) \\
& T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j+\frac12}^n = \frac{\Delta t}{\rho_- c_- \Delta z_-} \left( q_{j+1}^{n+1} - q_{j}^{n+1} \right), \quad j<0 .
\end{aligned}$$
\[eq:pimflux\_bulk\]
Inserting the normal mode solution into Equation , we have $$\begin{aligned}
\begin{split}
1 - \A^{-1} & = d_+(\kappa_+ - 2 + \kappa_+^{-1}) \\
1 - \A^{-1} & = d_+(\kappa_+ - 1) - \beta_+ \left( 1- \A^{-1} \kappa_-^{-1} \kappa_+^{-1}\right) \\
1 - \A^{-1} & = \beta_- \left( \A^{-1} \kappa_- \kappa_+ - 1\right) - d_-(1- \kappa_-^{-1}) \\
1 - \A^{-1} & = d_-(\kappa_- - 2 + \kappa_-^{-1}) .\\
\end{split}
\label{eq:sim_pimflux_bulk2}\end{aligned}$$ The second and third equations give $$\A = \frac{1 + \beta_+ \kappa_-^{-1} \kappa_+^{-1}}{\beta_+ + 1 - d_+ \left( \kappa_+ - 1\right)}
\label{eq:A_pimflux_bulk2}$$ and $$\A = \frac{1 + \beta_- \kappa_- \kappa_+}{\beta_- + 1 - d_- \left( \kappa_-^{-1} - 1 \right)},
\label{eq:A_pimflux_bulk3}$$ respectively. We distinguish between two situations: $| \kappa_-^{-1}
\kappa_+^{-1}| \leq 1$ or $|\kappa_- \kappa_+| \leq 1$. For the former case, we can observe that $$| 1 + \beta_+ \kappa_-^{-1} \kappa_+^{-1} | \leq 1 + \beta_+$$ and $$| \beta_+ + 1 - d_+ \left( \kappa_+ - 1\right) | > 1 + \beta_+.$$ Thus we have $|\A| < 1$. This is also true for the latter case. Therefore, the system is unconditionally stable.
Analysis for one-way coupled model {#sec:forced_model}
==================================
In this section, we present a stability analysis of a one-way coupled diffusion model, which is forced by the other component in the coupled system but does not provide feedback to the forcing component [@Beljaars2017]. In other words, one of the domains treats the variables from the other domain as a boundary condition. The advantage of using this simpler system is to enable explicit derivation of the stability criterion, and therefore give insight into the coupled stability. Again, we analyze the changes to stability induced by different treatments of the interfacial flux.
Stability analysis for the diffusion equation
---------------------------------------------
Let us consider the forced diffusion equation solely on the negative domain, as is expressed by
$$\begin{aligned}
\frac{\partial}{\partial t} T_- = \frac{\partial}{\partial z} (K_- \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_-), \quad z < 0 \\
K_- \frac{\partial}{\partial z} T_- = b (T_+ - T_-), \quad z =0 .
\label{eq:1ddiff_sn}\end{aligned}$$
. Explicit coupling boundary yields
$$\begin{aligned}
\label{eq:1ddiff_sn_exflux_a}
T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j+\frac12}^n = \frac{\Delta t}{\rho_- c _- \Delta z_-} \left( q_{j+1}^{n+1} - q_{j}^{n+1} \right), \quad j< 0 \\
\label{eq:1ddiff_sn_exflux_b}
q_{j}^{n+1} = \nu_- \frac{T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j-\frac12}^{n+1} }{\Delta z_-}, \quad q_{0}^{n+1} = b (T_{\frac12}^{n} - T_{-\frac12}^{n}) .\end{aligned}$$
\[eq:1ddiff\_sn\_exflux\]
. In the simplest case of ocean alone, for stability analysis, we can have a fixed boundary that is set to $T_{\frac12}^{n}=0$ so that $$q_{0}^{n+1} = - b T_{-\frac12}^{n}.$$ Then the method for solving the diffusion equation can be written as
$$\begin{aligned}
T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j+\frac12}^n = d_- \left( T_{j+\frac32}^{n+1} - 2 T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} + T_{j-\frac12}^{n+1} \right), \quad j< -1 \\
T_{-\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{-\frac12}^n = -\beta_- T_{-\frac12}^{n} - d_- \left(T_{-\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j-\frac32}^{n+1} \right), \quad j=-1 .\end{aligned}$$
\[eq:1ddiff\_sn\_dis\]
If there is no boundary, we can consider the solution $$T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} = \A^{n+1} e^{i(j m \Delta z_-)}\,,
\label{eq:sol_nobound}$$ so that $$\begin{aligned}
& \A^{n+1}e^{i m j \Delta z_-} (1-\A^{-1} )= d_- \A^{n+1} e^{i m j \Delta z_-} (e^{i m \Delta z_-} -2 + e^{-i m\Delta z_-}), \quad j< -1 \\
\Rightarrow & \quad 1 - \A^{-1}= d_- (e^{i m \Delta z_-} -2 +e^{-i m \Delta z_-} ) = 2 d_- ( cos(m\Delta z_-) - 1) \\
\Rightarrow & \quad A^{-1}=1+2 d_- (1-cos(m \Delta z_-)) > 1 \,,\end{aligned}$$ which results in an unconditionally stable scheme that is in agreement with the classical theory.
With the boundary condition, we establish the following theorem for the stability condition.
Method applied to the diffusion model yields a stable solution if and only if $\beta_- \leq 1 +
\sqrt{1+2d_-}$.
We can no longer assume a solution of form . Instead, we assume the eigen-solution of the form $$T_{j+\frac12}^{n+1} = \A^{n+1} \kappa_-^j .
\label{eq:sol_bound}$$ A stable solution that satisfies the far-field boundary condition (at $j\rightarrow -\infty$, $\kappa_-^j \rightarrow 0$) is $|\kappa_-|>1$ and $|\A|
\leq 1$. From we have
$$\begin{aligned}
1 - \A^{-1} & = d_-(\kappa_- - 2 + \kappa_-^{-1}) \label{eq:1ddiff_sn_sim1}\\
1 - \A^{-1} & = -\beta_- \A^{-1} - d_-(1- \kappa_-^{-1})\,, \label{eq:1ddiff_sn_sim2}\end{aligned}$$
which gives $$\kappa_-^{-1} = \frac{d_- + 1 + (\beta_- -1)\A^{-1}} {d_-} .
\label{eq:1ddiff_sn_kappa}$$
Substituting into , we have an equation for $\A$, $$d_- \A^2-(\beta_- + d_-)\A- \beta_-(\beta_- -1)=0 ,$$ with roots $$\A = \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) \pm \sqrt{(\beta_- + d_-)^2 + 4 \beta_-(\beta_- -1) d_-}}{2 d_-}\,,
\label{eq:1ddiff_sn_aroots}$$ which are both real because under the radical is a positive real number.
Now we show that choosing the positive sign does not lead to a stable solution. First, we can observe from that $\kappa_-$ is also real. When choosing the positive sign, we have $0< \A \leq 1$, and thus $1-\A^{-1} \leq 0$. According to , the right-hand side must be no larger than zero, which means $k_- \leq 0$. Equation indicates that $k_-$ can be negative or zero only when $\beta_- \leq 1$.
With $\beta_- \leq 1$ and , we obtain $$\begin{aligned}
\nonumber
\A& = \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) + \sqrt{(\beta_- + d_-)^2 + 4
\beta_-(\beta_- -1) d_-}}{2 d_-}\\
\nonumber
&\geq \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) + \sqrt{(\beta_- + d_-)^2}}{2 d_-} > 1+ \frac{\beta_-}{d_-} > 1,\end{aligned}$$ which contradicts the assumption $|\A| \leq 1$.
Selecting the root with negative sign in , we consider the following two cases:
1. If $\beta \geq 1$, the condition $|\A|\leq 1 $ implies $$\beta_-^2 - 2\beta_- -2 d_- \leq 0.$$ Solving the quadratic inequality gives $$\beta_- \leq 1 + \sqrt{1+2d_-}\,.$$
2. If $\beta < 1$, we have a stable solution because $$\begin{aligned}
\A &= \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) - \sqrt{(\beta_- + d_-)^2 + 4 \beta_-(\beta_- -1) d_-}}{2 d_-} \\
&< \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) - \sqrt{(\beta_- - d_-)^2}}{2 d_-}
\leq \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) - |\beta_- - d_-|}{2 d_-} \\
&\leq \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) - \beta_- + d_-}{2 d_-} = 1\,.
\end{aligned}$$ $$\begin{aligned}
\A &= \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) - \sqrt{(\beta_- + d_-)^2 + 4 \beta_-(\beta_- -1) d_-}}{2 d_-} \\
&< \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) - \sqrt{(\beta_- - d_-)^2}}{2 d_-}
\leq \frac{(\beta_-+d_-) - \beta_- + d_-}{2 d_-} = 1\,.
\end{aligned}$$
Combining these two cases, we can see that $\beta_- \leq 1 + \sqrt{1+2d_-}$ is the final condition for stability.
In Figure \[fig:exflux\_stab\] we illustrate the stability regions resulting from our analysis. The norm of $A$ and $\kappa^{-1}$ are calculated for a range of values of $\beta_-$ and $d_-$ according to the expressions and . The boundary of the stability regions agrees exactly with the relationship established by the analysis.
Based on the same model problem, Beljaars et al. derived an empirical stability boundary of $\beta_- \leq 2+ \sqrt{d_-}^{1.1}$ in [@Beljaars2017], which is close to our analytical result. So, if there is no mixing, the explicit scheme is stable for weak coupling but unstable for strong coupling.
Even a decrease of stepsize $\Delta t$ for the negative domain is not effective in suppressing coupling, because it reduces both $d_-$ and $\beta_-$. Instead, the most effective way to suppress coupling instability is to reduce $\Delta
z_-$, which increases $d_-$ much more rapidly than $\beta_-$.
![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling (based on analytical formula).[]{data-label="fig:exflux_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0){width="0.8\linewidth"}
Implicit interfacial flux
-------------------------
Next we consider the implicit treatment of the interfacial flux. The equation for the boundary node $j=-1$ changes to $$T_{-\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{-\frac12}^n = -\beta_- T_{-\frac12}^{n+1} - d_- \left(T_{-\frac12}^{n+1} - T_{j-\frac32}^{n+1} \right), \quad j=-1.
\label{eq:1ddiff_sn_dis2}$$ Plugging into , we have $$1 - \A^{-1} = -\beta_- - d_-(1- \kappa_-^{-1}).
\label{eq:1ddiff_sn_sim3}$$ Then we can solve and for $\kappa_-^{-1}$.
After some manipulation, we obtain $$\A = \frac{\beta_--d_-}{\beta_- - d_-+\beta^2}\,,\quad \kappa_-^{-1} = \frac{d_-}{d_--\beta_-} .
\label{eq:1ddiff_sn_imflux_A_kappa}$$
The method with the equation for the interface node replaced by gives a stable solution of the one-way coupled diffusion model .
1. If $\beta_- \geq d_-$, $|\A|\leq 1$ always holds.
2. If $\beta_- < d_-$, $|\A|\leq 1$ leads to $$\beta_-^2+2 \beta_- - 2 d_- \geq 0$$ which reduces to $$\beta_- \geq \sqrt{1+2d_-} -1$$
Combining these two cases, we have $$\beta_- \geq \sqrt{1+2d_-} -1$$ Solving $|\A| \leq 1$ under two complementary scenarios $\beta_- < d_-$ and $\beta_- \geq d_-$ and combining the results, we have $$\beta_- \geq \sqrt{1+2d_-} -1.$$ For $|\kappa^{-1}|\leq 1$, we have $$\beta_- \geq 2d_-.$$ Since $2d_- > \sqrt{1+2d_-} -1$, $|\A| \leq 1$ always holds for all the eigen modes with $|\kappa^{-1}|\leq 1$, thus stability follows.
Figure \[fig:imflux\_stab\_u0\] graphically depicts the stability conditions for the implicit case that are calculated directly using . It clearly shows that the region where $|\kappa^{-1}|\leq 1$ is a subset of region where $|\A| \leq 1$.
![Stability regions for implicit flux coupling (based on analytical formula).[]{data-label="fig:imflux_stab_u0"}](figures/imfluxu0){width="0.8\linewidth"}
Numerical validation via matrix stability analysis {#sec:validation}
==================================================
While the normal mode analysis provides insights into the stability of the coupled algorithms, we use a matrix stability analysis as a numerical tool to validate the results. To incorporate the influence of flux coupling in a simple way, we cast the partitioned algorithms in a monolithic framework that consists of each component and provides a unified view for different coupling approaches.
Depending on the flux coupling strategies, the interfacial fluxes $q_{\frac12}$ and $q_{-\frac12}$ can be computed in different ways. However, we can rewrite the fully discretized equation for in a general matrix form $$\mathbf{A} \mathbf{T}^{n+1} = \mathbf{B} \mathbf{T}^{n}.
\label{eq:matrix_form}$$ Here $\mathbf{T}$ is represented as $$\quad \mathbf{T} = [ T_{N_-},\dots,T_{-2},T_{-1},T_0,T_{1},T_{2},\dots,T_{N_+}]^T$$ for the Dirichlet-Neumann condition and $$\quad \mathbf{T} = [ T_{N_-},\dots,T_{-2},T_{-1},T_{1},T_{2},\dots,T_{N_+}]^T$$ for bulk condition due to the differences in the grid settings. In the following, we present the results for the bulk interface condition and then the Dirichlet-Neumann condition. Both the two-way coupled and the one-way coupled models are included
Bulk condition
--------------
For the backward Euler scheme, the corresponding $\mathbf{A}$ and $\mathbf{B}$ are
$$\begin{aligned}
&\mathbf{A} = \\
&\nonumber\left[
\resizebox{0.87\textwidth}{!}{$\displaystyle
\begin{array}{c c c c c : c c c c c}
2 d_-+1 & -d_- & & & & & & & & \\
-d_- & 2 d_-+1 & -d_- & & & & & & & \\
& \ddots & \ddots & \ddots & & & & & & \\
& & -d_- & 2 d_-+1 & -d_- & & & & & \\
& & & -d_- & d_-+\theta \beta_- +1& -\gamma \beta_- & & & & \\
\hdashline
& & & & -\gamma \beta_+ & d_+ + \theta \beta_+ + 1& -d_+ & & & \\
& & & & & -d_+ & 2 d_++1 & -d_+ & & \\
& & & & & & \ddots & \ddots & \ddots & \\
& & & & & & & -d_+ & 2 d_++1 & -d_+ \\
& & & & & & & & -d_+ & 2 d_++1
\end{array}
$}
\right] \\
&\mathbf{B} =
\left[
\resizebox{0.6\textwidth}{!}{$\displaystyle
\begin{array}{c c c c c : c c c c c}
1 & & & & & & & & & \\
& 1 & & & & & & & & \\
& & \ddots & & & & & & & \\
& & & 1 & & & & & & \\
& & & & 1-(1-\theta)\beta_- & (1-\gamma)\beta_- & & & & \\
\hdashline
& & & & (1-\gamma)\beta_+ & 1-(1-\theta)\beta_+ & & & & \\
& & & & & & 1 & & & \\
& & & & & & & \ddots & & \\
& & & & & & & & 1 & \\
& & & & & & & & & 1
\end{array}
$}
\right] ,
\end{aligned}$$ \[eq:matrix\_form\_bulk\]
where $\theta \in \{0,1\}$ and $\gamma \in \{0,1\}$ defines different coupling methods:
1. Explicit flux coupling $(\theta,\gamma) = (0,0) $.
2. Partially implicit flux coupling $(\theta,\gamma) = (1,0) $.
3. Implicit flux coupling $(\theta,\gamma) = (1,1) $.
Since we focus on practical partitioned algorithms, we consider the sequentially implicit formulation rather than the fully implicit formulation. In this formulation, the upper right part of $\mathbf{A} $ will be zero, the upper right part of $\mathbf{B} $ will be $\gamma_-$, and the rest will be unchanged.
The one-way coupled model in Section \[sec:forced\_model\] can also be represented in this form with $\mathbf{A}$ and $\mathbf{B}$ being only the upper left blocks of the original matrices. $\theta=0$ and $\theta=1$ correspond to the explicit case and partially implicit case, respectively.
The numerical scheme is considered stable if all the eigenvalues of the matrix $\mathbf{M} = \mathbf{A^{-1}}\mathbf{B}$ are within the unit circle.
In the numerical simulations, we choose the parameter values that are commonly used in climate models such as E3SM. A list of parameter values is given in Table \[tab:params\] for reference. Varying the variable $\beta$ and $d$ is achieved by adjusting spatial and temporal resolutions and changing the depth in $z$ direction. The same number of grid points is used for the ease of computation.
### Two-way coupled model
Since the stability of the coupled model is determined by the combination of the dynamics on both domains, first we look at the stability regions by taking $\lambda_{max} = \max(|\mathrm{eig}(\mathbf{M})|)$ as a function over the Courant numbers $\beta_-$ and $d_-$ for the negative domain while fixing $\beta_+$ and $d_+$. Figure \[fig:cpl\_stab\] shows that using explicit flux coupling does not lead to absolute stability, a result that agrees with the finding in Section \[sec:exfluximts\] for the coupled system. And as expected, both partially implicit flux coupling and implicit flux coupling can make the coupling unconditionally stable.
To investigate contributions of the positive domain to stability, we vary $\beta_+$ and $d_+$ by changing the grid size. As shown in Figure \[fig:exflux\_cpl\_stab\], the stability regions for the explicit flux coupling shrink as $\beta_+$ and $d_+$ increase.
![Stability regions for various flux coupling strategies with fixed parameters $\beta_+=1.125$ and $d_+=2.025$ for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:cpl_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0cpl "fig:"){width="0.3\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for various flux coupling strategies with fixed parameters $\beta_+=1.125$ and $d_+=2.025$ for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:cpl_stab"}](figures/pimfluxu0cpl "fig:"){width="0.33\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for various flux coupling strategies with fixed parameters $\beta_+=1.125$ and $d_+=2.025$ for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:cpl_stab"}](figures/imfluxu0cpl "fig:"){width="0.308\linewidth"}
![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling with fixed parameters $(\beta_+, d_+)$ set to $(2.375,9.025)$, $(4.875,38.025)$, $(9.875,156.025)$ from left to right for the coupling componenent.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0cpl_2 "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling with fixed parameters $(\beta_+, d_+)$ set to $(2.375,9.025)$, $(4.875,38.025)$, $(9.875,156.025)$ from left to right for the coupling componenent.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0cpl_3 "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling with fixed parameters $(\beta_+, d_+)$ set to $(2.375,9.025)$, $(4.875,38.025)$, $(9.875,156.025)$ from left to right for the coupling componenent.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0cpl_4 "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"}
Figure \[fig:cpl2\_stab\] shows the stability regions defined by $\beta_+$ and $d_+$ with fixed $\beta_-$ and $d_-$. The stability region for the explicit flux coupling is larger than that obtained from the negative domain in Figure \[fig:cpl\_stab\]. For some other values of $\beta_-$ and $d_-$, as shown in Figure \[fig:exflux\_cpl2\_stab\], the stability region appears almost unchanged. The reason is that the negative domain is in a stable regime $\beta_- \ll d_-$ and the effect of the upper right block of $\mathbf{B}$ to the eigenvalues of $\mathbf{M}$ is insignificant.
All the experiements for explicit flux coupling show that the classical absolte stability (independent of $d_\pm$) can be recovered in the limiting case $\beta_-$ or $\beta_+$ approaches zero, as predicted by the analysis in Section \[sec:exfluximts\].
![Stability regions for various flux coupling strategies with fixed parameters $\beta_-=0.005938$ and $d_-=9.025$ for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:cpl2_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0cpl2 "fig:"){width="0.3\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for various flux coupling strategies with fixed parameters $\beta_-=0.005938$ and $d_-=9.025$ for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:cpl2_stab"}](figures/pimfluxu0cpl2 "fig:"){width="0.33\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for various flux coupling strategies with fixed parameters $\beta_-=0.005938$ and $d_-=9.025$ for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:cpl2_stab"}](figures/imfluxu0cpl2 "fig:"){width="0.308\linewidth"}
![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling with fixed parameters $(\beta_-, d_-)$ set to $(0.012188,38.025)$, $(0.024688,156.025)$, $(0.049688,632.025)$ from left to right for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl2_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0cpl2_2 "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling with fixed parameters $(\beta_-, d_-)$ set to $(0.012188,38.025)$, $(0.024688,156.025)$, $(0.049688,632.025)$ from left to right for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl2_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0cpl2_3 "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling with fixed parameters $(\beta_-, d_-)$ set to $(0.012188,38.025)$, $(0.024688,156.025)$, $(0.049688,632.025)$ from left to right for the coupling component.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl2_stab"}](figures/exfluxu0cpl2_4 "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"}
### One-way coupled model
Figure \[fig:exflux\_stab\_eigen\] plots the stability regions for the one-way coupled model according to the matrix stability analysis. It agrees with the theoretical prediction depicted in Figure \[fig:exflux\_stab\]. Interestingly, it also matches one of the two scenarios shown for the two-way coupled system (see Figure \[fig:exflux\_cpl2\_stab\]) but differs significantly from the other scenario (see Figure \[fig:exflux\_cpl\_stab\]). These results indicate that the analysis for the one-way coupled model with an assumption of fixed boundary $T_{\frac12}^n=0$ gives a good approximation to the coupled scenario when the coupling component is in a stable regime where the bulk Courant number $\beta$ is much less than the diffusion Courant number $d$.
![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling (left) and partially implicit flux coupling (right).[]{data-label="fig:exflux_stab_eigen"}](figures/exfluxu0sn "fig:"){width="0.4\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for explicit flux coupling (left) and partially implicit flux coupling (right).[]{data-label="fig:exflux_stab_eigen"}](figures/pimfluxu0sn "fig:"){width="0.4\linewidth"}
Therefore, the analysis based on the one-way coupled model in Section \[sec:forced\_model\] makes sense for atmosphere models forced by ocean models but may not be ideal for the ocean model because the heat capacity of atmosphere is much smaller and atmospheric dynamics evolves more rapidly, leading to a small bulk Courant number $\beta$. This observation can also be explained from the matrix analysis perspective. In the case $(\theta,\gamma) = (0,0)$ and $\beta_-$ negligible, the stability matrix can be denoted compactly as $$\mathbf{M} = \left[ \begin{array}{c c} A_{11} & 0 \\ 0 & A_{22}\end{array} \right]^{-1}
\left[ \begin{array}{c c} B_{11} & 0 \\ B_{21} & B_{22}\end{array} \right]
= \left[ \begin{array}{c c} A_{11}^{-1} B_{11} & 0 \\ A_{22}^{-1} B_{21} & A_{22}^{-1} B_{22}\end{array} \right] ,$$ where $\mathbf{M} \in \R^{n\times n}, A_{11},B_{11} \in \R^{k\times k},
A_{22},B_{22} \in \R^{(n-k)\times (n-k)}, B_{21} \in \R^{(n-k) \times n}$. Then the eigenvalues $\lambda$ of $\mathbf{M}$ must be roots of $\textrm{det}(\mathbf{M}-\lambda \mathbf{I}_n) = 0$. We can see that $\textrm{det}(\mathbf{M}-\lambda \mathbf{I}_n) = \textrm{det} (A_{11}^{-1}
B_{11} -\lambda \mathbf{I}_k) \; \textrm{det}(A_{22}^{-1}B_{22} -\lambda
\mathbf{I}_{n-k})$. Therefore, the spectrum of $\mathbf{M}$ is the union of the spectrum of $A_{11}^{-1} B_{11}$ and that of $A_{22}^{-1} B_{22}$. If the coupling domain (corresponding to $A_{22}^{-1} B_{22}$) is in the stable regime, then the boundary of the stability region of the coupled system is determined by the spectrum of $A_{11}^{-1} B_{11}$.
For general cases where $\beta_-$ is not negligible in the coupled system, one can use the Schur complement to obtain $\textrm{det}(\mathbf{M}-\lambda
\mathbf{I}_n) = \textrm{det} (A_{11}^{-1} B_{11} -\lambda \mathbf{I}_k) \;
\textrm{det}(A_{22}^{-1}B_{22} -\lambda \mathbf{I}_{n-k} -
A_{22}^{-1}B_{21}(A_{11}^{-1} B_{11} -\lambda \mathbf{I}_k)^{-1} A_{11}^{-1}
B_{12})$ , if $B_{11}$ is invertible. Clearly, the spectral radius of $\mathbf{M}$ depends on the spectral radiuses of $A_{11}^{-1} B_{11}$ and its Schur complement matrix in $\mathbf{M}$. Further, given that $A_{11}^{-1}
B_{11}$ and $A_{22}^{-1}B_{22}$ are stable, $\mathbf{M}$ is not necessarily stable. This result implies that the stability region for the one-way coupled model is the best limiting case of stability regions for the two-way coupled model.
Dirichlet-Neumann condition
---------------------------
The matrix form of the CSS algorithm (\[eq:css\]) with explicit coupling flux and the Dirichlet-Neumann condition exhibits a similar structure. For the purely explicit method, it can be written as
$$\begin{aligned}
\mathbf{A} = \nonumber\left[
\resizebox{0.26\textwidth}{!}{$\displaystyle
\begin{array}{c c c c c : c c c c c}
1 & & & & & & & & & \\
& 1 & & & & & & & & \\
& & \ddots & & & & & & & \\
& & & 1 & & & & & & \\
& & & & (1 + r)/2 & & & & & \\
\hdashline
& & & & & 1& & & & \\
& & & & & & 1 & & & \\
& & & & & & & \ddots & & \\
& & & & & & & & & 1
\end{array}
$}
\right]
\mathbf{B} =
\left[
\resizebox{0.52\textwidth}{!}{$\displaystyle
\begin{array}{c c c c c : c c c c c}
1 - 2 d_- & d_- & & & & & & & & \\
d_- & 1 - 2 d_- & d_- & & & & & & & \\
&\ddots & \ddots & \ddots & & & & & & \\
& & d_- & 1 - 2 d_- & d_- & & & & & \\
& & & d_- & (1+r)/2 - d_- - d_+ r & d_+ r & & & & \\
\hdashline
& & & & d_+ & 1-2 d_+ & d_+ & & & \\
& & & & & d_+ & 1-2 d_+ & d_+ & & \\
& & & & & & & \ddots & & \\
& & & & & & & & d_+ & 1 - 2 d_+
\end{array}
$}
\right],
\end{aligned}$$
and the implicit algorithm corresponds to
$$\begin{aligned}
&\mathbf{A} =
&\nonumber\left[
\resizebox{0.5\textwidth}{!}{$\displaystyle
\begin{array}{c c c c c : c c c c c}
2 d_-+1 & -d_- & & & & & & & & \\
-d_- & 2 d_-+1 & -d_- & & & & & & & \\
& \ddots & \ddots & \ddots & & & & & & \\
& & -d_- & 2 d_-+1 & -d_- & & & & & \\
& & & -d_- & (1 + r)/2 + d_- & & & & & \\
\hdashline
& & & & & d_+ + 1& -d_+ & & & \\
& & & & & -d_+ & 2 d_++1 & -d_+ & & \\
& & & & & & \ddots & \ddots & \ddots & \\
& & & & & & & -d_+ & 2 d_++1 & -d_+ \\
& & & & & & & & -d_+ & 2 d_++1
\end{array}
$}
\right]
&\mathbf{B} =
\left[
\resizebox{0.3\textwidth}{!}{$\displaystyle
\begin{array}{c c c c c : c c c c c}
1 & & & & & & & & & \\
& 1 & & & & & & & & \\
& & \ddots & & & & & & & \\
& & & 1 & & & & & & \\
& & & & (1 + r)/2 - d_+ r & d_+ r & & & & \\
\hdashline
& & & & d_+ & 1 - d_+ & & & & \\
& & & & & & 1 & & & \\
& & & & & & & \ddots & & \\
& & & & & & & & 1 & \\
& & & & & & & & & 1
\end{array}
$}
\right].
\end{aligned}$$
Futhermore, these also fit into the general formulation for bulk interface condition if we set $(\theta,\gamma)=(0,0)$ and set the parameter $b=\nu_+/\Delta z_+$ so that $\beta_- = d_+ r$.
We plot the stability regions for different values of $r$ in Figure \[fig:exflux\_cpl\_stab\_dn\_euler\] and Figure \[fig:exflux\_cpl\_stab\_dn\] and verify our stability predictions in Section \[sec:dn\]. We can see from Figure \[fig:exflux\_cpl\_stab\_dn\_euler\] that the stability region for the purely explicit method is determined by the CFL condition and does not change as $r$ varies. Nonetheless, Figure \[fig:exflux\_cpl\_stab\_dn\] shows that the stability region for the implicit method shrinks as $r$ increases and expands as $r$ approaches to zero. Moreover, the stability region is infinite in the $d_+$ direction, and the boundary moves along the $d_-$ direction as $r$ varies, indicating that instability can arise from the negative domain, at the interface of which the Neumann condition is imposed, but not from the positive domain. In practical ocean-atmosphere systems, $r$ is typically at the order of $10^{-4}$ or $10^{-5}$; thus it is reasonable to use the Neumann condition for ocean and the Dirichlet condition for atmosphere theoretically.
![Stability regions for explicit integration methods with explicit flux coupling and Dirchlet-Neumann condition. From left to right, $r=2000,1,5e-4$ respectively.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab_dn_euler"}](figures/ex_r2000_fluxu0cpl_dn_euler "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for explicit integration methods with explicit flux coupling and Dirchlet-Neumann condition. From left to right, $r=2000,1,5e-4$ respectively.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab_dn_euler"}](figures/ex_r1_fluxu0cpl_dn_euler "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for explicit integration methods with explicit flux coupling and Dirchlet-Neumann condition. From left to right, $r=2000,1,5e-4$ respectively.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab_dn_euler"}](figures/ex_r0_0005_fluxu0cpl_dn_euler "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"}
![Stability regions for implicit integration methods with explicit flux coupling and Dirchlet-Neumann condition. From left to right, $r=2000,1,5e-4$ respectively.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab_dn"}](figures/ex_r2000_fluxu0cpl_dn "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for implicit integration methods with explicit flux coupling and Dirchlet-Neumann condition. From left to right, $r=2000,1,5e-4$ respectively.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab_dn"}](figures/ex_r1_fluxu0cpl_dn "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"} ![Stability regions for implicit integration methods with explicit flux coupling and Dirchlet-Neumann condition. From left to right, $r=2000,1,5e-4$ respectively.[]{data-label="fig:exflux_cpl_stab_dn"}](figures/ex_r0_0005_fluxu0cpl_dn "fig:"){width="0.32\linewidth"}
Conclusion
==========
The stability characteristics of common partitioned coupling algorithms for ocean-atmosphere interactions have been studied with normal mode analysis and matrix eigenvalue analysis. Three different flux coupling schemes with both explicit and implicit time-stepping methods have been analyzed. Because of the special modeling strategy of the interfacial physics in climate models, the bulk interface condition is the focus of this work, although the classic Dirichlet-Neumann condition that is widely used for FSI problems is also included for completeness.
We show that the Dirichlet-Neumann condition imposed on the two coupled components does not affect stability for a purely explicit scheme but becomes a critical factor for an implicit method with explicit updating of the interfacial flux. The influence of the bulk interface condition is characterized with a variable that is formally similar to the Courant number. We show that the coupled system is unconditionally stable when partially implicit time-stepping methods are used for individual components and implicit flux coupling is used for interface nodes. In addition, we derive CFL-like stability conditions for the one-way coupled system and discuss the links between one-way and two-way coupled systems. The theory is supported by numerical experiments based on matrix eigenvalue analysis. Our results suggest that stability analysis of the one-way coupled model should be used with caution: it is most effective when used to reflect the stability behavior of the two-way coupled model when the bulk Courant number of the coupling component is small (e.g., atmospheric models forced by ocean models). The results of the analysis performed for the 1D diffusion model is also applicable to real 3D models, because the heat and turbulence in the ocean-atmosphere circulation transfer mainly in the vertical direction. A general circulation model can be considered to be a collection of many single-column models, each of which may be associated with different bulk Courant numbers due to variability in surface dynamics. Therefore, numerical instability issues may arise in a subset of the models. Our analysis potentially provides a framework to identify where instability may occur, and the results can be used as guidelines for choosing proper flux coupling strategies and developing new time-stepping methods with better stability properties.
[^1]: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research and Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing (SciDAC) program under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357 through the Coupling Approaches for Next-Generation Architectures (CANGA) project.
|
Good deeds create shine on face and light to the heart, vigour to the body, self sufficiency in provision and general popularity to the people’s heart. On the other hand, bad deeds create blackness on the face, darkness to the heart, weakness to the body, decrease in provision and hatred to the people’s heart. |
Q:
Why the nested loop is not working well in Flask?
I want to create the table in html. But, I have a problem with the numbering.
The output that I got is:
What I want for my output is:
My code:event.html
<thead>
<tr>
<th>No</th>
<th>Event</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
{% for i in event %}
<tr>
{% for j in range(1, len) %}
<td>{{j}}</td>
<td>{{i.name}}</td>
</tr>
{% endfor %}
{% endfor %}
</tbody>
A:
That is because you are doing a loop within a loop. You can add zip to you app.
#...
app = Flask(__name__)
# ...
app.jinja_env.filters['zip'] = zip
<thead>
<tr>
<th>No</th>
<th>Event</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
{% for e, j in event | zip(range(1, len(event))) %}
<tr>
<td>{{j}}</td>
<td>{{e.name}}</td>
</tr>
{% endfor %}
</tbody>
|
#pragma once
#include "sync/arc.h"
#include "sync/condvar.h"
#include "sync/mutex.h"
|
100 N.H. 192 (1956)
RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION
v.
WINTHROP FAULKNER, Ex'r.
No. 4471.
Supreme Court of New Hampshire.
Argued April 3, 1956.
Decided April 27, 1956.
*193 Howard B. Lane (by brief and orally), for the plaintiff.
Faulkner, Plaut & Hanna (Mr. Hanna orally), for the defendant.
LAMPRON, J.
Under RSA 556:1, 3, no action shall be sustained against an executor unless the demand has been exhibited to him within one year after the original grant of administration. Laws of this nature are commonly called nonclaim statutes. See anno. 34 A. L. R. (2d) 1004. Their purpose is to secure the orderly and expeditious settlement of estates. Sullivan v. Marshall, 93 N. H. 456, 458.
There is also a deep rooted principle of law that time does not run against the federal or a state government. State v. Stafford Company, 99 N. H. 92, 97; Davis v. Corona Coal Co., 265 U. S. 219; Guaranty Trust Co. v. United States, 304 U. S. 126; Keifer & Keifer v. Reconstruction Finance Corp., 306 U. S. 381. As far at least as the federal government is concerned this same immunity has been held to apply to nonclaim statutes. United States v. Summerlin, 310 U. S. 414; Donnally v. Welfare Board, 200 Md. 534; see anno. 34 A. L. R. (2d) 1003, 1005.
The RFC being an agency of the federal government (Reconstruction Finance Corp. v. Marcum, 100 F. Supp. 953) enjoys this same privilege unless Congress in creating it has manifested a contrary intention. Lewis v. Moore, 199 F. (2d) 745. Although its charter contains certain waivers of federal immunity, such as that of freedom from suit, we find no expressed or implied intention to waive immunity from the application of nonclaim statutes to it. Reconstruction Finance Corp. v. McCarthy Bros., 117 F. Supp. 345.
It has been argued by the defendant that some of the language of Mr. Chief Justice Hughes in United States v. Summerlin, supra, indicates that this immunity should not apply to a claim against the real estate of Margaret J. Faulkner. Even if it were assumed for the sake of argument that the privilege should not apply when the real estate has been sold by the devisees or by the heirs to a third party (Hatch v. Kelly, 63 N. H. 29) or when the period for bringing suit against an estate has expired (RSA 556:5) or the estate has been closed (3 American Law of Property 650) that is not the situation here. The executor was appointed June 19, 1953, and *194 the RFC made a demand on the executor September 13, 1954, and filed this petition on October 11, 1954, and as far as the record shows there has been no conveyance to others nor has the estate been closed. See Hall v. Woodman, 49 N. H. 295, 305.
We conclude therefore that the RFC as an agency of the federal government enjoys in this case immunity from the operation of RSA 556:1, 3.
Exception sustained.
All concurred.
|
Opinion filed February 2, 2017
In The
Eleventh Court of Appeals
________________
Nos. 11-16-00259-CR, 11-16-00260-CR, & 11-16-00261-CR
________________
BRIAN RAMSEY, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 358th District Court
Ector County, Texas
Trial Court Cause Nos. D-45,766, D-45,767, & D-45,768
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Brian Ramsey, Appellant, originally pleaded guilty to one charge of deadly
conduct and two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Pursuant to
the terms of the plea agreements, the trial court deferred a finding of guilt and placed
Appellant on community supervision for five years in each cause. Soon thereafter,
the State filed a motion to proceed with an adjudication of guilt in each cause.
Appellant pleaded true to the State’s sole allegation in each cause: that Appellant
had violated the terms and conditions of his community supervision by using
methamphetamine. The trial court found the State’s allegation to be true, revoked
Appellant’s community supervision, adjudicated him guilty of the charged offenses,
and assessed his punishment at confinement for five years for the deadly conduct
conviction and ten years for each of the two convictions of aggravated assault with
a deadly weapon. The trial court also imposed a fine of $2,000 in each cause. We
dismiss the appeals.
Appellant’s court-appointed counsel has filed a motion to withdraw in each
appeal. Each motion is supported by a brief in which counsel professionally and
conscientiously examines the record and applicable law and states that he has
concluded that the appeals are frivolous and without merit. With respect to each
cause, counsel has provided Appellant with a copy of the brief, a copy of the motion
to withdraw, an explanatory letter, and a copy of both the reporter’s record and the
clerk’s record. Counsel also advised Appellant of his right to review the record and
file a response to counsel’s brief. Appellant filed a response in which he states, “I
Brian Ramsey wish for my appeal to be dismissed.”
Court-appointed counsel has complied with the requirements of Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967); Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313 (Tex. Crim. App.
2014); In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); Stafford v. State,
813 S.W.2d 503 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim.
App. [Panel Op.] 1978); Currie v. State, 516 S.W.2d 684 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974);
Gainous v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969); and Eaden v. State, 161
S.W.3d 173 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2005, no pet.).
Following the procedures outlined in Anders and Schulman, we have
independently reviewed the record in each cause, and we agree that the appeals are
without merit and should be dismissed. See Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409. We note
that proof of one violation of the terms and conditions of community supervision is
2
sufficient to support revocation. Smith v. State, 286 S.W.3d 333, 342 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2009). In this regard, a plea of true standing alone is sufficient to support a
trial court’s decision to revoke community supervision and proceed with an
adjudication of guilt. See Moses v. State, 590 S.W.2d 469, 470 (Tex. Crim. App.
[Panel Op.] 1979). Furthermore, issues relating to an original plea proceeding may
not be raised in a subsequent appeal from the revocation of community supervision
and adjudication of guilt. Manuel v. State, 994 S.W.2d 658, 661–62 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1999). Based upon our review of the record in each cause, we agree with
counsel that no arguable grounds for appeal exist.
We note that counsel has the responsibility in each case to advise Appellant
that he may file a petition for discretionary review with the clerk of the Texas Court
of Criminal Appeals seeking review by that court. TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4 (“In criminal
cases, the attorney representing the defendant on appeal shall, within five days after
the opinion is handed down, send his client a copy of the opinion and judgment,
along with notification of the defendant’s right to file a pro se petition for
discretionary review under Rule 68.”). Likewise, this court advises Appellant that
he may file a petition for discretionary review pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 68.
The motions to withdraw are granted, and the appeals are dismissed.
PER CURIAM
February 2, 2017
Do not publish. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,
Willson, J., and Bailey, J.
3
|
Caslano
Caslano is a municipality in the district of Lugano in the Swiss canton of Ticino, near to the Italian border.
History
The center of the village is built within a Roman era fortification. While no trace of the actual fortification still exists, local tradition, the use of Castellano in place names and the compact structure of the once walled enclosure all indicate that the fortress existed. The hamlet of Torrazza was the source of bitter fighting between the Swiss Confederation and the Duchy of Milan. In 1604, the Treaty of Varese decided against the Italian municipality of Lavena Ponte Tresa and finally awarded it to Caslano.
The parish church was built in 1653, incorporating an older building.
The pre-industrial economy was based on fisheries, mines and kilns for lime and clay, transport by sea, agriculture and by remittances from emigrants. The local wealth is shown in the quality of the buildings in the village and in the neighboring towns of Pura and Collina d'Oro. After World War II, the traditional occupations lost their importance. Agriculture became less common, fisheries disappeared and the mines and furnaces were shut down. Other hand, tourism (hotels, restaurants, vacation homes, second homes), industry, trade and commerce all grew and led to a huge influx of commuters. Construction began throughout the village, and it grew into a tourist destination with a number of suburbs.
Geography
Caslano has an area, , of . Of this area, or 37.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 38.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 47.9% is settled (buildings or roads), or 2.5% is either rivers or lakes and or 1.1% is unproductive land.
Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 3.2% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 29.2% and transportation infrastructure made up 4.9%. while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 10.2%. Out of the forested land, 37.7% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.1% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 6.3% is used for growing crops, while 1.4% is used for orchards or vine crops and 29.2% is used for alpine pastures. Of the water in the municipality, 1.8% is in lakes and 0.7% is in rivers and streams.
The municipality is located in the Lugano district, along the right bank of the mouth of the Magliasina river in Lake Lugano. It consists of the village of Caslano and the hamlets of Magliasina and Torrazza.
Coat of arms
The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules a castle argent doors and windows sable and fir tree vert both issuant from a mount of the last in turn issuing from a base wavy azure fimbriated of the second.
Demographics
Caslano has a population () of . , 26.5% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1997–2007) the population has changed at a rate of 13.4%.
Most of the population () speaks Italian (75.7%), with German being second most common (15.6%) and French being third (2.2%). Of the Swiss national languages (), 545 speak German, 78 people speak French, 2,646 people speak Italian, and 5 people speak Romansh. The remainder (221 people) speak another language.
, the gender distribution of the population was 46.6% male and 53.4% female. The population was made up of 1,299 Swiss men (32.5% of the population), and 562 (14.1%) non-Swiss men. There were 1,627 Swiss women (40.7%), and 508 (12.7%) non-Swiss women.
In there were 20 live births to Swiss citizens and 11 births to non-Swiss citizens, and in same time span there were 22 deaths of Swiss citizens and 6 non-Swiss citizen deaths. Ignoring immigration and emigration, the population of Swiss citizens decreased by 2 while the foreign population increased by 5. There were 3 Swiss men who emigrated from Switzerland and 5 Swiss women who immigrated back to Switzerland. At the same time, there were 15 non-Swiss men and 15 non-Swiss women who immigrated from another country to Switzerland. The total Swiss population change in 2008 (from all sources, including moves across municipal borders) was an increase of 44 and the non-Swiss population change was an increase of 39 people. This represents a population growth rate of 2.2%.
The age distribution, , in Caslano is; 389 children or 9.7% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 486 teenagers or 12.2% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 362 people or 9.1% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 506 people or 12.7% are between 30 and 39, 657 people or 16.4% are between 40 and 49, and 521 people or 13.0% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 497 people or 12.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 381 people or 9.5% are between 70 and 79, there are 197 people or 4.9% who are over 80.
, there were 1,497 private households in the municipality, and an average of 2.3 persons per household. there were 492 single family homes (or 61.9% of the total) out of a total of 795 inhabited buildings. There were 94 two family buildings (11.8%) and 156 multi-family buildings (19.6%). There were also 53 buildings in the municipality that were multipurpose buildings (used for both housing and commercial or another purpose).
The vacancy rate for the municipality, , was 0.56%. there were 2,170 apartments in the municipality. The most common apartment size was the 4 room apartment of which there were 631. There were 154 single room apartments and 367 apartments with five or more rooms. Of these apartments, a total of 1,491 apartments (68.7% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 581 apartments (26.8%) were seasonally occupied and 98 apartments (4.5%) were empty. , the construction rate of new housing units was 2.1 new units per 1000 residents.
The historical population is given in the following chart:
Sights
The entire villaggio of Caslano is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
Politics
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the CVP which received 24.33% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (23.16%), the SP (21.9%) and the Ticino League (14.41%). In the federal election, a total of 1,002 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 43.9%.
In the Gran Consiglio election, there were a total of 2,286 registered voters in Caslano, of which 1,187 or 51.9% voted. 13 blank ballots and 3 null ballots were cast, leaving 1,171 valid ballots in the election. The most popular party was the PLRT which received 265 or 22.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were; the PS (with 230 or 19.6%), the SSI (with 203 or 17.3%) and the PPD+GenGiova (with 193 or 16.5%).
In the Consiglio di Stato election, 15 blank ballots and 3 null ballots were cast, leaving 1,169 valid ballots in the election. The most popular party was the PLRT which received 246 or 21.0% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were; the PS (with 235 or 20.1%), the LEGA (with 231 or 19.8%) and the PPD (with 188 or 16.1%).
Economy
, Caslano had an unemployment rate of 5.39%. , there were 15 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 7 businesses involved in this sector. 729 people were employed in the secondary sector and there were 32 businesses in this sector. 479 people were employed in the tertiary sector, with 103 businesses in this sector. There were 1,560 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 43.7% of the workforce.
, there were 1,497 workers who commuted into the municipality and 1,155 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net importer of workers, with about 1.3 workers entering the municipality for every one leaving. About 34.3% of the workforce coming into Caslano are coming from outside Switzerland, while 0.5% of the locals commute out of Switzerland for work. Of the working population, 14.6% used public transportation to get to work, and 61.3% used a private car.
, there were 3 hotels in Caslano with a total of 40 rooms and 85 beds.
Religion
From the , 2,564 or 73.4% were Roman Catholic, while 404 or 11.6% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. There are 431 individuals (or about 12.33% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), and 96 individuals (or about 2.75% of the population) did not answer the question.
Education
In Caslano about 68.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).
In Caslano there were a total of 764 students (). The Ticino education system provides up to three years of non-mandatory kindergarten and in Caslano there were 110 children in kindergarten. The primary school program lasts for five years and includes both a standard school and a special school. In the municipality, 223 students attended the standard primary schools and 12 students attended the special school. In the lower secondary school system, students either attend a two-year middle school followed by a two-year pre-apprenticeship or they attend a four-year program to prepare for higher education. There were 202 students in the two-year middle school and 5 in their pre-apprenticeship, while 83 students were in the four-year advanced program.
The upper secondary school includes several options, but at the end of the upper secondary program, a student will be prepared to enter a trade or to continue on to a university or college. In Ticino, vocational students may either attend school while working on their internship or apprenticeship (which takes three or four years) or may attend school followed by an internship or apprenticeship (which takes one year as a full-time student or one and a half to two years as a part-time student). There were 49 vocational students who were attending school full-time and 70 who attend part-time.
The professional program lasts three years and prepares a student for a job in engineering, nursing, computer science, business, tourism and similar fields. There were 10 students in the professional program.
, there were 6 students in Caslano who came from another municipality, while 345 residents attended schools outside the municipality.
Transport
Caslano is served by Caslano station on the metre gauge Lugano–Ponte Tresa railway that connects to Lugano. The station is located some from the village, and is served by regular trains, operating every 15 minutes during weekday daytime, and every half-hour at other times.
In summer the Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano operates a boat service between Lugano and Ponte Tresa that calls at a landing stage in the village.
References
External links
Caslano
Category:Municipalities of Ticino
Category:Populated places on Lake Lugano |
Graham also added that he did not know what Giuliani has found or "what he was up to when he was in the Ukraine," but that he was willing to use the Judiciary Committee to look into Hunter Biden and Ukraine.
"We can look at what Rudy's got and Joe Biden, Hunter Biden and anything else you want to look at after impeachment. But if Rudy wants to come to the Judiciary Committee and testify about what he found, he's welcome to do so," Graham added. |
Robyhead L
The biggest of the family, ROBYHEAD L is designed to work with studio cameras. The carbon-fiber body of the head makes it extremely lightweight for its size, which allows to mount it on lighter cranes.
The head offers 3-axis digital stabilization, autohorizon function and supports digital interfaces of Canon and Fujinon motorized lenses, as well as custom external lens motors.
The head can be easily integrated with external camera tracking systems, such as ncam and others. |
This square evolution on the classic Albion tote is a compact style, designed to carry every day. The minimal silhouette is reimagined in this season's Toffee saddle leather. The piece retains the signature details of the original design - polished, gold-plated hardware and the geometric shape. A detachable thicker strap converts it into a crossbody style.
Product code: BG151LN |
Primecoin - bbzealot
http://primecoin.io/
======
robobro
When people mine any of these coins, they are essentially investing their
electricity and bandwidth in the currency. From an investor's standpoint, why
is Primecoin better to invest in that dogecoin, bitcoin, or any of the others?
It's an interesting idea, anyway.
------
gmuslera
Could a massive effort to generate large prime numbers weaken cryptography?
|
Gendering Democracy seminars 2016-2017
Citizenship as the expression of agency contributes to the recasting of women as actors on the political stage (Ruth Lister 2003, 199)
It took some time before I realized that democracy in Poland has a masculine gender” (Janion 2009, speech on the I Kongres Kobiet)
Gendering Democracy 2016-2017
This is a preliminary phase of a new project which aims at creating series of seminars devoted to Polish cultural politics in its controversial gendered dimensions, centred on Polish values and the notion of belonging.
The seminars investigates the dynamics of cultural politics (in art, literature and film) and the workings of democratic mechanisms within gender perspective.
The project is based on previous research and expertise and seeks to enable the development and publication of new knowledge and frameworks, as well as dissemination through academic networks and media presence (on-line platforms and podcast collection). |
/**
* Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
* SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0.
*/
#pragma once
#include <aws/glue/Glue_EXPORTS.h>
namespace Aws
{
template<typename RESULT_TYPE>
class AmazonWebServiceResult;
namespace Utils
{
namespace Json
{
class JsonValue;
} // namespace Json
} // namespace Utils
namespace Glue
{
namespace Model
{
class AWS_GLUE_API DeleteUserDefinedFunctionResult
{
public:
DeleteUserDefinedFunctionResult();
DeleteUserDefinedFunctionResult(const Aws::AmazonWebServiceResult<Aws::Utils::Json::JsonValue>& result);
DeleteUserDefinedFunctionResult& operator=(const Aws::AmazonWebServiceResult<Aws::Utils::Json::JsonValue>& result);
};
} // namespace Model
} // namespace Glue
} // namespace Aws
|
Image copyright Ministry of Defence Image caption Sgt Matt Tonroe was described as a 'loving and dutiful son'
A UK soldier who died in Syria fighting the Islamic State group was killed by friendly fire, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
It was previously reported by US officials that Sgt Matt Tonroe was killed by a roadside bomb in 2018.
However, the MoD said the 33-year-old died as a result of "explosives" carried by allied American forces.
Sgt Tonroe was the only British soldier killed in active duty during operations against IS.
He died alongside US commando Master Sgt Jonathan J Dunbar while on a joint operation with American special forces.
Previously, US officials blamed their deaths on an improvised explosive device (IED).
But an investigation into the blast in Manbij, northern Syria, has concluded Sgt Tonroe was killed by an explosive carried by a colleague.
'Accidental detonation'
Sgt Tonroe, born in Manchester, enlisted in the Army in 2004.
He joined the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in Colchester on completion of his training, where he served as part of the Sniper Platoon.
During his career he was deployed on operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
A MoD spokeswoman added: "Sgt Matt Tonroe died from blast injuries caused by an explosion during a military operation.
"It was initially believed that Sgt Tonroe was killed by enemy action, however subsequent investigation concluded that Sgt Tonroe was killed by the accidental detonation of explosives carried by coalition forces.
"Our thoughts continue to be with Sgt Tonroe's family and friends." |
Q:
Creating a Template Like System in cPanel
I am creating a medium sized website using cPanel and their File Manager system and the majority of my pages are going to be the same with a different title and content section and I wanted to see if there is a system for making one general template file and then having all the other pages inherit from that file so all I have to do is have a content and title section and the rest of the links, headers, and whatnot can be changed throughout the site by just changing one file.
Is there anything like this? I have used Jinaj2 in python and a few other systems for other server scripting languages but I am not sure how to implement it with cPanel.
A:
cPanel isn't a hosting environment or server-side scripting language. It's a control panel for general website management (email, ftp, etc). It can't do things like templates or include files. You'll need to use Server Side Includes, PHP includes, etc. like you've used in the past to accomplish this. If you're going to use cPanel for file management then you'll just need to code it correctly and upload the file with the right extension for this work (just like you would if you used FTP, SFTP, etc).
|
This invention relates to a method of marking or fingerprinting diamond material, in particular single crystal synthetic diamond material produced by chemical vapour deposition (hereinafter referred to as CVD), thereby providing a mark of origin or fingerprint in the diamond material, or a means by which its synthetic nature can more easily be determined.
Methods of depositing material such as diamond on a substrate by CVD are now well established and have been described extensively in patent and other literature. Where diamond is being deposited on a substrate, the method generally involves providing a gas mixture which, on dissociation, can provide hydrogen or a halogen (e.g. F, Cl) in atomic form and C or carbon-containing radicals and other reactive species, e.g. CHx, CFx wherein x can be 1 to 4. In addition, oxygen containing sources may be present, as may sources for nitrogen, and for boron. Nitrogen can be introduced in the synthesis plasma in many forms; typically these are N2, NH3, air and N2H4. In many processes inert gases such as helium, neon or argon are also present. Thus, a typical source gas mixture will contain hydrocarbons CxHy wherein x and y can each be 1 to 10 or halocarbons CxHyHalz wherein x and z can each be 1 to 10 and y can be 0 to 10 and optionally one or more of the following: COx, wherein x can be 0,5 to 2, O2, H2, N2, NH3, B2H6 and an inert gas. Each gas may be present in its natural isotopic ratio, or the relative isotopic ratios may be artificially controlled; for example hydrogen may be present as deuterium or tritium, and carbon may be present as 12C or 13C. Dissociation of the source gas mixture is brought about by an energy source such as microwaves, RF (radio frequency) energy, a flame, a hot filament or jet based technique and the reactive gas species so produced are allowed to deposit onto a substrate and form diamond.
CVD diamond may be produced on a variety of substrates. Depending on the nature of the substrate and details of the process chemistry, polycrystalline or single crystal CVD diamond may be produced.
The development in the level of sophistication of methods of producing CVD single crystal diamond has meant that this material is becoming increasingly more suitable for use in industrial applications or in ornamental applications such as synthetic gemstones for jewellery. However, in many applications there is a need to provide a method of determining the source of synthetic diamond used in these applications in order to verify its origins or synthetic nature. |
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">
<style name="NoAnimation.Theme.BlackScreen" parent="Theme.AppCompat.NoActionBar">
<item name="android:windowAnimationStyle">@null</item>
<item name="android:windowBackground">@android:color/black</item>
</style>
<style name="NoAnimation.Theme.AppCompat.Light.DarkActionBar" parent="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light.DarkActionBar">
<item name="android:windowAnimationStyle">@null</item>
</style>
<style name="Silence.DialogActivity" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light">
<item name="android:windowIsTranslucent">true</item>
<item name="android:windowBackground">@android:color/transparent</item>
<item name="android:windowContentOverlay">@null</item>
<item name="android:windowNoTitle">true</item>
<item name="android:windowIsFloating">true</item>
<item name="android:backgroundDimEnabled">false</item>
</style>
<style name="AppCompatAlertDialogStyleLight" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.Dialog.Alert">
<item name="colorAccent">@color/silence_primary_dark</item>
</style>
<style name="AppCompatAlertDialogStyleDark" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Dialog.Alert">
<item name="colorAccent">@color/silence_primary</item>
<item name="android:textColor">@null</item>
</style>
<style name="AppCompatDialogStyleLight" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.Dialog">
<item name="colorAccent">@color/silence_primary_dark</item>
<item name="android:windowBackground">@drawable/dialog_background</item>
</style>
<style name="AppCompatDialogStyleDark" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Dialog">
<item name="colorAccent">@color/silence_primary</item>
<item name="android:windowBackground">@drawable/dialog_background</item>
<item name="android:textColor">@null</item>
</style>
<!-- ActionBar styles -->
<style name="Silence.DarkActionBar"
parent="@style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar">
<item name="android:icon">@drawable/actionbar_icon</item>
<item name="icon">@drawable/actionbar_icon</item>
<item name="background">@color/gray95</item>
<item name="logo">@drawable/actionbar_icon</item>
<item name="android:popupTheme">@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark</item>
<item name="popupTheme">@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark</item>
<item name="titleTextStyle">@style/Silence.TitleTextStyle</item>
<item name="subtitleTextStyle">@style/Silence.SubtitleTextStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="Silence.LightActionBar"
parent="@style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar">
<item name="background">@color/silence_primary</item>
<item name="elevation">2dp</item>
<item name="logo">@drawable/actionbar_icon</item>
<item name="icon">@drawable/actionbar_icon</item>
<item name="popupTheme">@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Light</item>
<item name="titleTextStyle">@style/Silence.TitleTextStyle</item>
<item name="subtitleTextStyle">@style/Silence.SubtitleTextStyle</item>
<item name="android:textColorPrimary">@color/white</item>
<item name="android:textColorSecondary">#BFffffff</item>
</style>
<style name="Silence.DarkActionBar.TabBar"
parent="@style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar.TabBar">
<item name="background">@color/gray95</item>
<item name="android:background">@color/gray95</item>
</style>
<style name="Silence.LightActionBar.TabBar"
parent="@style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar.TabBar">
<item name="android:background">@color/silence_primary</item>
<item name="background">@color/silence_primary</item>
</style>
<style name="Silence.TitleTextStyle" parent="TextAppearance.AppCompat.Widget.ActionBar.Title">
<item name="android:textColor">@color/white</item>
<item name="android:textColorHint">#BFffffff</item>
</style>
<style name="Silence.SubtitleTextStyle" parent="TextAppearance.AppCompat.Widget.ActionBar.Subtitle">
<item name="android:textColor">#BFffffff</item>
</style>
<style name="Silence.IntroActionBar" parent="Widget.AppCompat.Light.ActionBar.Solid.Inverse">
<item name="background">@null</item>
<item name="icon">@android:color/transparent</item>
<item name="colorButtonNormal">@color/silence_primary</item>
</style>
<style name="transparent_progress">
<item name="android:windowFrame">@null</item>
<item name="android:windowBackground">@android:color/transparent</item>
<item name="android:windowIsFloating">true</item>
<item name="android:windowContentOverlay">@null</item>
<item name="android:windowTitleStyle">@null</item>
<item name="android:windowAnimationStyle">@android:style/Animation.Dialog</item>
<item name="android:windowSoftInputMode">stateUnspecified|adjustPan</item>
<item name="android:backgroundDimEnabled">false</item>
<item name="android:background">@android:color/transparent</item>
</style>
<style name="NotificationText">
<item name="android:textColor">?android:attr/textColorPrimary</item>
</style>
<style name="NotificationTitle">
<item name="android:textColor">?android:attr/textColorPrimary</item>
<item name="android:textStyle">bold</item>
</style>
<style name="Registration.Description" parent="@android:style/TextAppearance">
<item name="android:textSize">16.0sp</item>
<item name="android:typeface">sans</item>
<item name="android:textStyle">normal</item>
<item name="android:gravity">left</item>
<item name="android:layout_height">wrap_content</item>
<item name="android:shadowColor">#ffffff</item>
<item name="android:shadowDx">1.0</item>
<item name="android:shadowDy">1.0</item>
<item name="android:shadowRadius">0.0</item>
<item name="android:lineSpacingMultiplier">1.25</item>
</style>
<style name="Registration.Label" parent="@android:style/TextAppearance">
<item name="android:textSize">12.0sp</item>
<item name="android:typeface">sans</item>
<item name="android:textStyle">normal</item>
<item name="android:textColor">#ff808080</item>
<item name="android:gravity">left</item>
<item name="android:layout_gravity">left</item>
<item name="android:layout_height">wrap_content</item>
<item name="android:shadowColor">#ffffff</item>
<item name="android:shadowDx">1.0</item>
<item name="android:shadowDy">1.0</item>
<item name="android:shadowRadius">0.0</item>
<item name="android:lineSpacingMultiplier">1.25</item>
</style>
<style name="Registration.BigLabel" parent="@style/Registration.Label">
<item name="android:textSize">20sp</item>
</style>
<style name="Registration.Constant" parent="@android:style/TextAppearance">
<item name="android:typeface">sans</item>
<item name="android:textStyle">normal</item>
<item name="android:textColor">#ff808080</item>
<item name="android:shadowColor">#ffffff</item>
<item name="android:shadowDx">1.0</item>
<item name="android:shadowDy">1.0</item>
<item name="android:shadowRadius">0.0</item>
<item name="android:lineSpacingMultiplier">1.25</item>
</style>
<!-- For Holo Light Dialog Activity Styling Emulation -->
<style name="SilenceDialogWindowTitle">
<item name="android:textSize">22sp</item>
<item name="android:textColor">@color/textsecure_holo_blue_light</item>
</style>
<style name="SilenceDialogButtonBar"
tools:ignore="NewApi">
<item name="android:background">@null</item>
<item name="android:dividerPadding">0dp</item>
</style>
<style name="SilenceBorderlessButtonSmall">
<item name="android:textSize">14sp</item>
</style>
<style name="Widget.ProgressBar.Horizontal" parent="@android:style/Widget.ProgressBar.Horizontal">
</style>
<style name="SilenceDialogPrimaryText">
<item name="android:textColor">@color/white</item>
</style>
<style name="SilenceDialogSecondaryText">
<item name="android:textColor">#ff999999</item>
</style>
<style name="MaterialButton">
<item name="android:elevation">1dp</item>
<item name="android:translationZ">1dp</item>
<item name="android:textColor">@color/white</item>
<item name="android:textSize">12sp</item>
</style>
<style name="InfoButton" parent="@style/MaterialButton">
<item name="android:background">@drawable/info_round</item>
</style>
<style name="ErrorButton" parent="@style/MaterialButton">
<item name="android:background">@drawable/error_round</item>
</style>
<style name="ComposeEditText" parent="@style/Widget.AppCompat.EditText">
<item name="android:padding">2dp</item>
<item name="android:background">@null</item>
<item name="android:maxLines">4</item>
<item name="android:maxLength">2000</item>
<item name="android:textColor">?conversation_item_sent_text_primary_color</item>
<item name="android:capitalize">sentences</item>
<item name="android:autoText">true</item>
<item name="android:gravity">center_vertical</item>
<item name="android:imeOptions">flagNoEnterAction</item>
<item name="android:inputType">textAutoCorrect|textCapSentences|textMultiLine</item>
<item name="android:contentDescription">@string/conversation_activity__compose_description</item>
</style>
<style name="WidgetContainer">
<item name="android:paddingTop">0dp</item>
<item name="android:paddingLeft">0dp</item>
<item name="android:paddingRight">0dp</item>
<item name="android:paddingBottom">0dp</item>
<item name="android:background">@null</item>
<item name="android:gravity">center</item>
</style>
<style name="WidgetTextView">
<item name="android:textSize">13sp</item>
<item name="android:textColor">#ffffff</item>
<item name="android:shadowColor">#000000</item>
<item name="android:shadowDy">1.0</item>
<item name="android:shadowDx">0</item>
<item name="android:shadowRadius">4.0</item>
<item name="android:fontFamily">sans-serif-condensed</item>
</style>
<style name="PreferenceThemeOverlay.Fix" parent="PreferenceThemeOverlay.v14.Material">
</style>
</resources>
|
High diagnostic yield and accuracy of history, physical examination, and ECG in patients with transient loss of consciousness in FAST: the Fainting Assessment study.
Transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) is a common clinical problem. The aim of this study was to assess the yield and accuracy of the initial evaluation, consisting of standardized history, physical examination, and ECG performed by attending physicians in patients with TLOC. Five hundred and three adult patients (mean age 53 +/- 19; 56% male) presenting with TLOC to the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam between February 2000 and May 2002 were included in this study. After initial evaluation, the physician made a certain, a highly likely (>80% certain), or no initial diagnosis. Initially undiagnosed patients received additional cardiological testing, additional history taking, and autonomic function tests. After 2 years of follow-up, an expert committee determined the final diagnoses. Two-year follow-up was obtained in 99% of the patients. The yield of certain diagnoses after the initial evaluation was 24%, increasing to 63% after including the highly likely diagnoses. The diagnostic accuracy of the initial certain diagnoses was 93% (95% CI 87-97%), decreasing to 88% (95% CI 84-91%) after inclusion of the initial highly likely diagnoses. Attending physicians can make a diagnosis based on initial evaluation in 63% of patients with TLOC, with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 88%. The use of additional testing, beyond history, physical examination, and ECG can be avoided in many patients with TLOC. |
Auskunft zu diesem Dagstuhl Seminar erteilt
Dokumente
Summary
Repairing faults, or performing upgrades on different kinds of software systems have been tasks traditionally performed as a maintenance activity conducted off-line. However, as software systems become central to support everyday activities and face increasing dependability requirements, even as they have increased levels of complexity and uncertainty in their operational environments, there is a critical need to improve their resilience, optimize their performance, and at the same time, reduce their development and operational costs. This situation has led to the development of systems able to reconfigure their structure and modify their behaviour at run-time in order to improve their operation, recover from failures, and adapt to changes with little or no human intervention. These kinds of systems typically operate using an explicit representation of their own structure, behaviour and goals, and appear in the literature under different designations (e.g., self-adaptive, self-healing, self-managed, self-*, autonomic, etc.).
In spite of recent and important advances in the area, one key aspect of self-adaptive systems that poses important challenges yet to be tackled in depth is assurances: that is, providing evidence that systems satisfy their functional and non-functional requirements during operation. Specifically, assurances involve not only system dependability, but also resilience with respect to changes that may occur in the system, its environment, or its goals.
The provision of assurances for self-adaptive systems, which should be done tandem with their development, operation and evolution, is difficult since run-time changes (e.g., resource variability) introduce a high degree of uncertainty that is atypical in more conventional systems.
This Dagstuhl Seminar has focused on the topic of obtaining assurances for self-adaptive software systems. Self-adaptive systems has been studied independently within different research areas of software engineering, including requirements engineering, modelling, architecture and middleware, event-based, component-based and knowledge-based systems, testing, verification and validation, as well as software maintenance and evolution [1,2]. On the other hand, the topic of assurances for software-based systems has been widely investigated by the dependability community, in particular when considered in the context of safety-critical systems. For these types of systems there is the need to build coherent arguments showing that the system is able to comply with strict functional and non-functional requirements, which are often dictated by safety standards and general safety guidelines. The major challenge when combining self-adaptability and dependability is how to obtain assurances regarding the uncertainty of changes that may affect the system, its environment or its goals. |
Revised. Amendments from Version 1
==================================
A number of changes have been made as suggested by the reviewers: The abstract conclusion has been changed as suggested. The introduction has been expanded along the lines suggested. Two new online files have been added: S1 IAT Test. Concurrency implicit association test. S2 Figures and words used in concurrency implicit association test. Differences in C-IAT by gender are reported. The discussion has been rewritten to make a number of points clearer.
Introduction
============
A higher prevalence of sexual partner concurrency, were an individual has a series of overlapping sexual partners at once, is one of the factors implicated in the genesis of generalized HIV epidemics in Southern and Eastern Africa ^[@ref-1]--\ [@ref-3]^. Qualitative research from the region has argued that a tolerance of concurrency plays an important role in generating high concurrency rates ^[@ref-4]--\ [@ref-9]^. A quantitative analysis of South African survey data, however, found that most men and women disapproved of concurrency ^[@ref-9]^. This discrepancy may be partly explained by the way that the social desirability bias may affect the accuracy of self-reported data pertaining to socially sensitive topics such as sexual norms ^[@ref-10]--\ [@ref-14]^. Respondents to surveys asking about attitudes to sexual partner concurrency may consider that the interviewer holds negative attitudes towards concurrency. They may therefore bias their reported attitudes towards concurrency towards that of the interviewer. Measures of implicit cognition assess cognitive processes less available to introspection and are thus less affected by these problems. Several studies have found implicit measures to be better predictors of behavior than explicit measures in these sensitive domains ^[@ref-10],\ [@ref-13]--\ [@ref-15]^. In a previous study, we developed a concurrency implicit association test (C-IAT) and tested it on a sample of 869 Belgian students ^[@ref-16]^. The students revealed a strong implicit preference for monogamy as opposed to concurrency. No differences in C-IAT were found between men and women, but men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women were found to have a somewhat weaker implicit preference for monogamy than heterosexual men and women ^[@ref-16]^.
In this study, we compare the results from this Belgian study with those obtained from a similar sample of South African students. We assess: (i) if implicit and explicit norms towards concurrency differ between Belgian and South African university students, (ii) if the variation between these two populations involves a difference in behavior of 'core-groups' or general population shifts (iii) the correlation between implicit and explicit attitudes to concurrency and reporting that one has engaged in concurrency at both individual and population levels. Our rationale for exploring if the variation between these two populations involves a difference in behavior of 'core-groups' or general population shifts is based on the work of Rose and others ^[@ref-17]--\ [@ref-19]^. They argued that if one finds a bimodal distribution in behavior \'A\' in population \'B\' compared to a normal distribution in a comparison population \'C\' then this finding would be compatible with the existence of a core-group with higher risk behaviour in population \'B\' being responsible for some of the differences in behavior \'A\' between the two groups. The concept of a \'core-group\' is well established in the HIV field and typically refers to a subpopulation with a high level of sexual network connectivity (conferred by features such as partner concurrency and rate of partner change) that contributes disproportionately to the spread of HIV in that population ^[@ref-17]^.
Methods
=======
Concurrency-IAT description
---------------------------
Implicit Association Tests (IATs) are reaction-time measures that tap implicit associations without requiring conscious introspection ^[@ref-20]^. We developed a Concurrency-IAT (C-IAT) that measures the implicit associations that individuals hold towards concurrency in relation to monogamy. Our C-IAT was constructed using the attribute categories "positive/negative" and the target categories "monogamy/multiple partners." Participants had to categorize words as either positive or negative and pictures as either depicting two people in a monogamous relationship or two people of which one had another partner.
Our C-IAT consisted of five different blocks. The C-IAT was programmed in [OpenSesame](http://osdoc.cogsci.nl/), an open source program for reaction time experiments, for the offline version that was used in English in South Africa ^[@ref-21]^. The online Dutch-language IAT used in in Belgium was hosted on the [Project Implicit® Web site](https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/). The full C-IATs as well as all the words and images used in their construction can be obtained from Kenyon *et al*. ^[@ref-16]^
Explicit questionnaire
----------------------
After completing the IAT the students were asked to complete a questionnaire pertaining to their sexual behavior and explicit attitudes to concurrency. These questions (variables they are intended to define) included: *How many sex partners do you have?* (Point prevalence concurrency); *Where there any other times in your life when you had more than one sex partner at a time?* (Life time concurrency). Three questions investigating explicit attitudes towards concurrency were assessed using a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree): *It's okay to have sex with others as long as your main partner does not find out?* (Concealed concurrency); *If you are in a sexual relationship with someone, it's okay to have sex with others as long as you are honest with your main partner about this?* (Liberalist concurrency); *If my main partner has other sex partners, it is okay for me to have other partners as well?* (Reactive concurrency) ^[@ref-22]^. The questions used in this questionnaire are available from Kenyon *et al*. ^[@ref-16]^
Procedure/protocol
------------------
All procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp) and the Ethics Committees of the University of Antwerp and Rhodes University.
In both countries all students at the two participating Universities were eligible for study inclusion. In Belgium they were recruited via an email sent to the entire student body. This was not possible in South Africa and thus students were recruited via posters and word of mouth.
South Africa
------------
All participants were tested independently either in the Department of Psychology or in a secure and quiet room at the Rhodes University library. After they had signed the informed consent form, students were first asked to perform the C-IAT behind a computer in the above mentioned locations. After students completed the C-IAT, they proceeded to answer the explicit, paper-and-pencil questionnaire measures.
Belgium
-------
The entire protocol was conducted online. Students received a link to the study website via the recruitment e-mail. The first step on the study website was signing the informed consent form. They then completed the C-IAT, and after this the explicit questionnaire.
For both student populations, the IAT and explicit measures took between 15 and 20 minutes to complete.
Statistical analysis
--------------------
D600-scores of the IAT were calculated according to the standard protocol suggested by Greenwald *et al*. ^[@ref-23],\ [@ref-24]^ Scores usually vary between -2 and +2, indicating strong implicit preferences for concurrency and monogamy, respectively, with zero indicating absence of preference. The minimum response time was 400 ms, the maximum response time was 2500 ms. Any responses below this interval were omitted while any responses above this interval were recoded to 2500 ms. Incorrect answers got a penalty of 600 ms.
We compare the distributions of C-IAT (D600-scores) scores between Belgium and South Africa visually using histograms and statistically using t-tests for independent samples. In keeping with standard practice in this field, we used Cohen's d as a measure of effect size. Cohen's d was calculated by dividing the South African minus the Belgian mean difference D600 by the pooled standard deviation. Pearson's correlation was used to test the correlations between implicit and explicit attitudes as well as between these two and self-reported point-prevalence of concurrency. Chi-squared and t-tests were used to test differences between categorical and continuous variables. All analyses were repeated stratified by gender. There were differences by gender in self-reported concurrency and explicit (but not implicit) attitudes towards concurrency. These differences were, however, congruent between Belgium and South Africa and did not affect the results. As a result, only unstratified results are reported.
*Population level analyses*: Sexual norms and behaviors such as concurrency have been shown to vary between different sexual orientations ^[@ref-17],\ [@ref-25]--\ [@ref-27]^. This provided the rationale for using Spearman's correlation to assess the population level correlations between the point-prevalence of concurrency and intrinsic (mean D600) and extrinsic (mean values for each of the 3 variables considered separately) attitudes. The populations were defined according to self-reported sexuality by country and gender. Only populations with n \> 10 were utilized for the analyses.
All analyses were performed in [Stata](https://www.stata.com/) 13 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA).
Results
=======
A total of 869 students in Belgium and 70 in South Africa participated. The demographic characteristics of the populations are detailed in [Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}. The South African students reported more sexual partners in the past year than the Belgians (mean 3.5 and 1.4, respectively, *P* \< 0.001), a higher point-prevalence of concurrency (38.7% and 3.0%, *P* \< 0.001), ever having engaged in concurrency (61.5% and 22.2%, *P* \< 0.001) and partner concurrency (50.8% and 16.9%, *P* \< 0.001; [Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}).
###### Characteristics of study participants No. (%)/Mean \[Standard Deviation\].
Belgium South Africa
----------------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------------------------------------------
***N*** 869 70
**Sex**
**Men** 310 (37.1) 30 (34.5)
**Women** 526 (62.9) 39 (65.5)
**Age - mean \[SD\]** 22.94 \[5.22\] 22.09 \[2.54\]
**Race/Ethnicity** [\*\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
**African/Black** 6 (0.7) 49 (70)
**European/White** 819 (97.6) 10 (14.3)
**Asian** 8 (1.0) 3 (2.9)
**Other** 6 (0.7) 9 (12.9)
**Sexual Orientation** [\*\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
**Heterosexual** 733 (87.4) 52 (74.3)
**WSW** ^[\#](#FN2){ref-type="other"}^ 20 (2.4) 4 (5.7)
**MSM** ^[\#](#FN1){ref-type="other"}^ 32 (3.8) 12 (17.1)
**Other** 54 (6.4) 4 (2.9)
**Sexual behaviour**
** *N* partners last year -- mean \[SD\]** 1.40 \[2.57\] 3.5 \[3.13\] [\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
**Current concurrency** 25 (3.0) 24 (38.7) [\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
**Ever concurrency** 184 (22.2) 40 (61.5) [\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
**Partner concurrency** 139 (16.9) 33 (50.8) [\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
**Explicit norms**
**Concealed concurrency \[SD\]** 1.39 \[0.68\] 2.04 \[1.22\] [\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
**Liberalist concurrency \[SD\]** 2.56 \[1.27\] 1.91 \[1.09\] [\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
**Reactive concurrency \[SD\]** 2.41 \[1.23\] 2.36 \[1.26\]
**Implicit norms**
**D600 \[SD\]** 0.783 \[0.406\] -0.009 \[0.425\] [\*\*\*](#FN1){ref-type="other"}
\* P \< 0.05, \*\* P \< 0.001, \*\*\* P \< 0.0001 (P-values are for comparisons between South Africa and Belgium).
\# WSW -- Woman who has sex with women, MSM -- Man who has sex with men
IAT results
-----------
The IAT results for the South African and Belgian populations both approximated normal distributions with similar standard deviations (SD) = 0.40 and 0.42 respectively; [Figure 1](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). There was a large and statistically significant difference in the C-IAT between the South Africans (D600-score = -0.009, indicating absence of preference for concurrency or monogamy) and Belgians (D600-score = 0.783, indicating a strong preference for monogamy; t-test = 13.3; *P* \< 0.0001). The effect size measure, Cohen's d, was found to be 0.88 which is considered a large effect size in this field ^[@ref-10]^.
There was no difference in mean C-IAT score between men and women in Belgium (-0.81, SD = 0.39 and -0.78, SD = 0.40, respectively) or South Africa (0.05, SD = 0.46 and -0.01, SD = 0.40, respectively)
{#f1}
Explicit attitudes
------------------
The differences in implicit associations between countries were larger than those for explicit associations: South Africans were more pro-concealed-concurrency (d = 0.47), Belgians more pro-liberalist-concurrency (d = 0.27) and there was no difference in pro-reactive-concurrency (d = 0.03; [Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}).
Association between self-reported point-prevalence concurrency and implicit and explicit attitudes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Individual level*: Self-reported concurrency behavior was slightly more strongly associated with explicit (r = 0.08 to 0.58) than implicit (r = 0.05 to 0.11) attitudes to concurrency by country ( [Table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}).
###### Pearson\'s correlations between implicit and explicit attitudes towards concurrency.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium South\
Africa
------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
***N*** 869 70
**Correlation point-concurrency vs IAT ^[\#](#FN4){ref-type="other"}^** 0.11 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"} 0.05
**Correlation point-concurrency vs explicit norms**
**Concealed concurrency** 0.18 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"} 0.58 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"}
**Liberalist concurrency** 0.13 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"} 0.55 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"}
**Reactive concurrency** 0.08 [\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"} 0.49 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"}
**Correlation IAT ^[\#](#FN4){ref-type="other"}^ vs explicit norms**
**Concealed concurrency** 0.17 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"} 0.18
**Liberalist concurrency** 0.20 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"} 0.22
**Reactive concurrency** 0.19 [\*\*](#FN3){ref-type="other"} 0.11
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\* P \< 0.05, \*\* P \< 0.001, \*\*\* P \< 0.0001
\# IAT - Implicit Association Tests
*Population level:* The prevalence of concurrency by sexual orientation was associated with the mean implicit attitude to concurrency (rho = 0.95, *P* = 0.0004, n = 8). The same relationship was present when the analysis was restricted to the Belgian students (rho = 0.87, *P* = 0.024, n = 6). The association between extrinsic attitudes and concurrency was not statistically significant (concealed concurrency: rho = 0.65, *P* = 0.06; liberal concurrency: rho = -0.50, *P* = 0.171; reactive concurrency: rho = -0.03, *P* = 0.932).
######
Click here for additional data file.
Copyright: © 2018 Kenyon CR et al.
2018
Data associated with the article are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Zero \"No rights reserved\" data waiver (CC0 1.0 Public domain dedication).
Discussion
==========
The IAT results for the study populations in South Africa and Belgium were both normally distributed with a similar variance. Belgium's population curve was however relatively right-shifted. There was no evidence of a 'core high risk group' with a distribution outside of the Gaussian distribution in either country. This variation of distributions between different populations via right or left shifting the mean value (but retaining the same variance) mimics the findings of Rose and others for a wide variety of physical and mental health attributes and behaviors, including number of sex partners ^[@ref-17]--\ [@ref-19]^. Rose's interpretation of this relationship was that populations do not tolerate 'excessive' variations in norms and behaviors and thus distributions of these characteristics move up and down as a whole ^[@ref-19]^.
Similarly, large differences in implicit cognition via shifting the mean value whilst retaining the same variance have been found between different groups in other studies ^[@ref-12],\ [@ref-23],\ [@ref-28]^. One 34 country study, for example, found large differences in mean implicit gender-science stereotype scores between countries ^[@ref-28]^. Of interest these mean IAT scores were found to be better predictors of national sex differences in math and science achievement than corresponding explicit attitudes. Culturally determined differences in implicit attitudes are thought to emerge during childhood or early adolescence as individuals participate in the custom complexes of their cultures ^[@ref-11],\ [@ref-28],\ [@ref-29]^. Historical and anthropological analyses suggest that the shift from polygamy to monogamy in Southern Africa over the last 150 years did not reduce the number of partners men had. Non-marital and non-main partnerships were however driven underground ^[@ref-4],\ [@ref-6],\ [@ref-8],\ [@ref-30]^. This created the norm which - although heavily contested - maintains that it is acceptable for men to have 'kwapeni's' (secret lovers) as long as their main partner does not find out ^[@ref-5]--\ [@ref-7]^. In our study, we found that 20.0% of South Africans versus 1.4% of Belgians agreed with this statement ( *P* \< 0.001). Because this is a sensitive topic it is possible that the IAT is providing an alternative measure of the acceptance of concurrency.
If our IAT results from South Africa are indeed reflective of a broader acceptance of concurrency than a population such as Belgium and this acceptance is causally linked to higher concurrency rates then the distribution of implicit responses to concurrency amongst South African students suggests that population level interventions would be required to address this issue. Current efforts targeting concurrency are largely focused on higher risk individuals which are unlikely to result in a shift in the population distribution in implicit attitudes to concurrency ^[@ref-5],\ [@ref-27],\ [@ref-31]^. One approach may be to follow the Know Your Network concurrency reduction intervention which was shown to be feasible and acceptable in a rural Kenyan population ^[@ref-32]^.
A limitation with the line of reasoning outlined above is the low correlation found between self-reported concurrency and implicit attitudes to concurrency. This may be because the implicit attitudes play little or no role in driving high concurrency rates. Alternatively, the C-IAT may constitute an important marker of a population-wide greater tolerance of concurrency which broadly enables higher concurrency rates but that other specific risk factors then determine which individuals will engage in concurrency ^[@ref-33]^. We found some support for this latter interpretation in the form of a population level correlation between implicit attitudes towards concurrency and the practice thereof. What this suggests is that there is a broader acceptance of concurrency in South Africa at an implicit level. This might play a role in determining the higher prevalence of concurrency in South Africa. Other factors such as previous experience of partner concurrency may then determine which specific individuals engage in concurrency ^[@ref-34],\ [@ref-35]^. Further study limitations include: a small sample size in South Africa; only samples from two countries were included in the study; and there were slight differences in how participants were recruited and tested. In South Africa, explicit questionnaires were completed on paper and pencil and the IAT was run offline. In Belgium, both the explicit questionnaire and IAT were offered online and could be completed from home. Respondents were self-selected and thus the samples cannot be regarded as representative of the entire university student or national populations. Finally, in the Belgian sample the nature of the web-based IAT meant that we could not exclude the possibility of multiple participations by respondents.
Data availability
=================
The data referenced by this article are under copyright with the following copyright statement: Copyright: © 2018 Kenyon CR et al.
Data associated with the article are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Zero \"No rights reserved\" data waiver (CC0 1.0 Public domain dedication). <http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/>
Dataset 1: STable 1: Concurrency implicit association tests [10.5256/f1000research.14951.d203426](http://dx.doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.14951.d203426) ^[@ref-36]^
Supplementary material {#SM1}
======================
**Supplementary File 1- IAT Test**
Concurrency implicit association test.
Click here for additional data file.
**Supplementary File 2- Figures and words used in concurrency implicit association test.**
Click here for additional data file.
10.5256/f1000research.18230.r39627
Referee response for version 2
Marini
Maddalena
1
Referee
Center for Translational Neurophysiology, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ferrara, Italy
**Competing interests:**No competing interests were disclosed.
6
11
2018
Version 2
Abstract
I see no changes in the conclusions of the abstract.
Introduction
Can authors discuss in the manuscript also the rationale and relevance of investigating the correlation between implicit and explicit attitudes at the individual and population levels as requested in my first report?
Methods
In the new online files I see no description of the IAT procedure but only stimuli used in the task. Can authors describe the IAT procedure in the text of the manuscript?
Statistical analysis and results
I suggest authors to provide the additional information about the computation of the D and explicit scores also in the text of the manuscript. In particular, since the sample size of the two groups was very different (869 vs. 70), how they calculated the Cohen's d (and the associated pooled standard deviation).
I have read this submission. I believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.
10.5256/f1000research.18230.r39626
Referee response for version 2
Hsu
Hsun-Ta
1
Referee
School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
**Competing interests:**No competing interests were disclosed.
6
11
2018
Version 2
I appreciate the authors addressing the comments I had; I do not have further comments.
I have read this submission. I believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.
10.5256/f1000research.16276.r37802
Referee response for version 1
Marini
Maddalena
1
Referee
Center for Translational Neurophysiology, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ferrara, Italy
**Competing interests:**No competing interests were disclosed.
5
10
2018
Version 1
The present study investigates the explicit and implicit attitudes to sexual concurrency in a sample of Belgium and South African students. Explicit attitudes were measured using self-reported items, while implicit attitudes were assessed by means of an Implicit Association Test (IAT). At the explicit level, both groups reported negative attitudes towards sexual concurrency, while at the implicit level, strong implicit preferences for monogamy were found only among Belgian students. No implicit preference between monogamy and multiple partners were indeed observed among South African students.
General Comments:
The aim of this study is very interesting because it highlights an implicit attitude to sexual concurrency that may underlie the origin of generalized HIV epidemic in South Africa. However, I have some reservations about the methodology, the statistical analysis, and the conclusions that prevent me from supporting the publication of this manuscript in its present form.
Abstract Authors state that their results "are compatible with the thesis that differences in implicit attitudes to concurrency play a role in the genesis of generalized HIV epidemics". Since the present study did not investigate directly the relationship between implicit attitudes and HIV epidemic, I would suggest to be more careful in drawing these conclusions. Introduction On page 3, the authors state: "(ii) if the variation between these two populations involves a difference in behavior of 'core-groups' or general population shifts (iii) the correlation between implicit and explicit attitudes to concurrency and reporting that one has engaged in concurrency at both individual and population levels". What did the authors exactly mean with 'core-group'? Why is it important to evaluate the correlation between implicit and explicit attitudes at the individual and population levels? I suggest the authors to discuss more in details these points, their rationale and relevance. Methods For the IAT structure and its stimuli, authors refer to one of their previous publications ^[@rep-ref-37802-1]^. However, I would recommend the authors to provide a description of the IAT procedure as well as examples of stimuli used in their study, so that readers can better understand this instrument. Statistical analysis Could the authors please provide additional information on how they computed the D-scores?In addition, it would great if the authors could also provide more details on the procedure used for individual and population level analyses. Results The authors state that "there was no difference between C-IAT results by gender in either country (data shown)". I suggest the authors to report also the relative statistics.Could the authors please provide additional information on how they computed the Cohen's d scores reported in the results of implicit and explicit attitudes?The r range of explicit measures reported in the text and in Table 2 is different. In the text, it is from 0.13 to 0.58, while in Table 2 it is from 0.08 to 0.58. Please clarify. Discussions Could the authors please clarify the following statement reported on page 6 "If this is the case and this acceptance is causally linked to higher concurrency rates then the distribution of implicit responses to concurrency amongst South African students suggests that population level interventions would be required to address this issue"?The authors state "the C-IAT may constitute an important marker of a population-wide greater tolerance of concurrency which broadly enables higher concurrency rates but that other specific risk factors then determine which individuals will engage in concurrency". Could they please elaborate on that? Minor comment:
I would suggest the authors to read carefully the text as it presents several typos and problems in the grammatical structure.
I have read this submission. I believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.
Kenyon
Chris
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
**Competing interests:**We have no conflicts of interest
12
10
2018
General Comments:
The aim of this study is very interesting because it highlights an implicit attitude to sexual concurrency that may underlie the origin of generalized HIV epidemic in South Africa. However, I have some reservations about the methodology, the statistical analysis, and the conclusions that prevent me from supporting the publication of this manuscript in its present form.
Abstract Authors state that their results "are compatible with the thesis that differences in implicit attitudes to concurrency play a role in the genesis of generalized HIV epidemics". Since the present study did not investigate directly the relationship between implicit attitudes and HIV epidemic, I would suggest to be more careful in drawing these conclusions. **Reply:**
**The abstract conclusion has been changed to the following:**
**South African students were found to have less of a preference for monogamy than Belgian students.**
Introduction On page 3, the authors state: "(ii) if the variation between these two populations involves a difference in behavior of 'core-groups' or general population shifts (iii) the correlation between implicit and explicit attitudes to concurrency and reporting that one has engaged in concurrency at both individual and population levels". What did the authors exactly mean with 'core-group'? Why is it important to evaluate the correlation between implicit and explicit attitudes at the individual and population levels? I suggest the authors to discuss more in details these points, their rationale and relevance.
**Reply:**
**The following text has been added to the end of the introduction to make this clearer:**
**Our rationale for exploring if the variation between these two populations involves a difference in behavior of 'core-groups' or general population shifts is based on the work of Rose and others [^25^]{.ul}^--^[^27^]{.ul}. They argued that if one finds a bimodal distribution in behavior \'A\' in population \'B\' compared to a normal distribution in a comparison population \'C\' then this finding would be compatible with the existence of a core-group with higher risk behaviour in population \'B\' being responsible for some of the differences in behavior \'A\' between the two groups. The concept of a \'core-group\' is well established in the HIV field and typically refers to a subpopulation with a high level of sexual network connectivity (conferred by features such as partner concurrency and rate of partner change) that contributes disproportionately to the spread of HIV in that population . Kenyon CR, Tsoumanis A, Schwartz IS: A population\'s higher-risk sexual behaviour is associated with its average sexual behaviour-An ecological analysis of subpopulations in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and the United States. *Epidemics.* 2016;15:56--65. 27266849 10.1016/j.epidem.2016.02.002**
Methods For the IAT structure and its stimuli, authors refer to one of their previous publications [^1^](https://f1000research.com/articles/7-608/v1#rep-ref-37802-1). However, I would recommend the authors to provide a description of the IAT procedure as well as examples of stimuli used in their study, so that readers can better understand this instrument. **Reply:**
**This information has been provided as a two new online files:**
**S1 IAT Test. Concurrency implicit association test.**
**S2 Figures and words used in concurrency implicit association test.**
Statistical analysis Could the authors please provide additional information on how they computed the D-scores? **Reply:**
**The D600 scores were calculated as follows:**
**D600-scores of the IAT were calculated according to the standard protocol suggested by Greenwald et al. Reaction times of the second target-attribute combination were subtracted from the first combination, correcting for combination sequence, and divided by the pooled standard deviation of all practice and test phases. Scores usually vary between -2 and +2, with high scores indicating strong implicit**
**preferences for monogamy and concurrency, respectively, with zero indicating absence of preference, positive scores indicating a positive implicit association with concurrency (and a negative association with monogamy), and negative scores indicating a negative implicit association with concurrency (and a positive association with monogamy). Before calculating the D600 score, the minimum response time was set at 400 ms, the maximum response time at 2500ms. Any responses below this interval were omitted while any responses above this interval were recoded to 2500 ms. Reaction times of incorrect answers were raised using a penalty of**
**600 ms.** In addition, it would great if the authors could also provide more details on the procedure used for individual and population level analyses. **Reply:**
**For the population level analyses, Spearman's correlation was used to assess the population level correlations between the point-prevalence of concurrency and intrinsic (mean D600) and extrinsic (mean values for each of the 3 variables considered separately) attitudes. The populations were defined according to self-reported sexuality by country and gender. Only populations with n \> 10 were utilized for the analyses.**
**For the individual level analyses, the statistical analytical strategy used is described in the methods:**
**We compare the distributions of C-IAT (D600-scores) scores between Belgium and South Africa visually using histograms and statistically using t-tests for independent samples. In keeping with standard practice in this field, we used Cohen's d as a measure of effect size. Cohen's d was calculated by dividing the South African minus the Belgian mean difference D600 by the pooled standard deviation. Pearson's correlation was used to test the correlations between implicit and explicit attitudes as well as between these two and self-reported point-prevalence of concurrency. Chi-squared and t-tests were used to test differences between categorical and continuous variables. All analyses were repeated stratified by gender. There were differences by gender in self-reported concurrency and explicit (but not implicit) attitudes towards concurrency. These differences were, however, congruent between Belgium and South Africa and did not affect the results. As a result, only unstratified results are reported.**
Results The authors state that "there was no difference between C-IAT results by gender in either country (data shown)". I suggest the authors to report also the relative statistics. **Reply:**
**This information has been added to the second paragraph of the results as follows:**
**There was no difference in mean C-IAT score between men and women in Belgium (-0.81, SD = 0.39 and -0.78, SD = 0.40, respectively) or South Africa (0.05, SD = 0.46 and -0.01, SD = 0.40, respectively)** Could the authors please provide additional information on how they computed the Cohen's d scores reported in the results of implicit and explicit attitudes? **Reply:**
**Cohen's d was calculated by dividing the South African minus the Belgian mean difference D600 by the pooled standard deviation.** The r range of explicit measures reported in the text and in Table 2 is different. In the text, it is from 0.13 to 0.58, while in Table 2 it is from 0.08 to 0.58. Please clarify. **Reply:**
**Thank you for pointing this out. It has been corrected to 0.08 to 0.58 in the text.**
Discussions Could the authors please clarify the following statement reported on page 6 "If this is the case and this acceptance is causally linked to higher concurrency rates then the distribution of implicit responses to concurrency amongst South African students suggests that population level interventions would be required to address this issue"? **Reply:**
**We have rewritten this section to make it clearer. It now reads:**
**If our IAT results from South Africa are indeed reflective of a broader acceptance of concurrency than a population such as Belgium and this acceptance is causally linked to higher concurrency rates then the distribution of implicit responses to concurrency amongst South African students suggests that population level interventions would be required to address this issue.**
The authors state "the C-IAT may constitute an important marker of a population-wide greater tolerance of concurrency which broadly enables higher concurrency rates but that other specific risk factors then determine which individuals will engage in concurrency". Could they please elaborate on that? **Reply:**
**The following text has been added to this section to make it clearer:**
What this suggests is that there is a broader acceptance of concurrency in South Africa at an implicit level. This might play a role in determining the higher prevalence of concurrency in South Africa. Other factors such as previous experience of partner concurrency may then determine which specific individuals engage in concurrency .
Minor comment:
I would suggest the authors to read carefully the text as it presents several typos and problems in the grammatical structure.
**Reply:**
The paper has been re read and a number of typos corrected.
10.5256/f1000research.16276.r34132
Referee response for version 1
Hsu
Hsun-Ta
1
Referee
School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
**Competing interests:**No competing interests were disclosed.
6
6
2018
Version 1
**Introduction**
1\. I would recommend the authors do a final review of the paper to ensure it is free of grammatical errors and typos (e.g., in the first sentence in the introduction, \"were\" should be \"where\").
2\. The authors stated: \"This discrepancy may be partly explained by the way that the social desirability bias may affect the accuracy of self-reported data pertaining to socially sensitive topics such as sexual norms.\" I would like to see more elaboration as it pertains to concurrency.
3\. The statement regarding the findings of applying C-IAT on Belgium students is great. Since one of the study purposes is to identify the discrepancies between implicit and explicit norms between Belgium and South African participants, I would like to see the authors add their findings on whether there were discrepancies regarding explicit and implicit concurrency norms in their previous Belgium research. Currently, the authors only provide information regarding implicit norms of concurrency among Belgium students.
4\. It would be great if the authors would discuss their rationale for comparing South African and Belgium students.
5\. Also, it would be beneficial if the authors could provide more justification for the study aims (e.g., why look at shifts and correlations of the norms).
6\. Finally, the rationale of looking at college students should also be provided. Is it because they more likely to be sexually active? More likely to engage in concurrency? Or, more likely to at risks of HIV/STIs?
**Method**
1\. Information regarding validity and reliability of the measurements used may be needed.
2\. The authors mentioned that they recruited participants who were \"similar\" to participants in the Belgium study for the comparison of implicit and explicit norms. How did the authors determine similarity when recruiting participants in South Africa? Since they are all college students, I am assuming their age might be similar? How about the concentrations/majors?
3\. More info regarding sampling may be needed. For example, how many students were approached? What was the refusal rate?
4\. The measurements were used to measure implicit and explicit norms. Why would there be incorrect answers? Could the authors provide some examples?
**Results**
1\. Some of the numbers stated in the text do not match the tables. For example, the author stated: \"Self-reported concurrency behavior was slightly more strongly associated with explicit (r = 0.13 to 0.58) than implicit (r = 0.05 to 0.11) attitudes to concurrency by country.\" But, in Table 2, it seems that the correlation of explicit and concurrency behavior is 0.08-0.58. The authors might want to review the numbers.
**Discussion**
1\. The authors provide great information in that based on the finding, current efforts of targetting high-risk individuals may not be enough. Could the authors provide more information on, specifically, what may be the potential approach to address concurrency, especially targetting implicit attitudes on a population level?
2\. In the discussion section, the authors seemed to imply that the findings may apply to population level. However, given the sampling strategy, I am not sure if such argument may be the case. Could the authors provide more evidence or explanation?
I have read this submission. I believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.
Kenyon
Chris
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
**Competing interests:**No competing interests
20
6
2018
Dear Dr Hsu
Thank you for your useful suggestions and comments, which we respond to below:
Introduction
1\. I would recommend the authors do a final review of the paper to ensure it is free of grammatical errors and typos (e.g., in the first sentence in the introduction, \"were\" should be \"where").
Reply:
This will be done in the next version.
2\. The authors stated: \"This discrepancy may be partly explained by the way that the social desirability bias may affect the accuracy of self-reported data pertaining to socially sensitive topics such as sexual norms.\" I would like to see more elaboration as it pertains to concurrency.
Reply:
This will be done in the next version of the paper.
3\. The statement regarding the findings of applying C-IAT on Belgium students is great. Since one of the study purposes is to identify the discrepancies between implicit and explicit norms between Belgium and South African participants, I would like to see the authors add their findings on whether there were discrepancies regarding explicit and implicit concurrency norms in their previous Belgium research. Currently, the authors only provide information regarding implicit norms of concurrency among Belgium students.
Reply:
These results are provided in detail at:
Kenyon CR, Wolfs K, Osbak K, et al.: Implicit attitudes to sexual partner
concurrency vary by sexual orientation but not by gender - a cross sectional
study of Belgian students. PLoS One. (In Press). 2018; 13(5): e0196821.
4\. It would be great if the authors would discuss their rationale for comparing South African and Belgium students.
Reply:
This was based on opportunity sampling related to the institutions/countries where the authors work.
5\. Also, it would be beneficial if the authors could provide more justification for the study aims (e.g., why look at shifts and correlations of the norms).
Reply:
This will be done in the next version of the paper.
6\. Finally, the rationale of looking at college students should also be provided. Is it because they more likely to be sexually active? More likely to engage in concurrency? Or, more likely to at risks of HIV/STIs?
Reply:
Concurrency and STI rates are particularly high in this age group.
Method
1\. Information regarding validity and reliability of the measurements used may be needed.
Reply:
As we note in this paper this was assessed in the previous paper we refer to:
Kenyon CR, Wolfs K, Osbak K, et al.: Implicit attitudes to sexual partner
concurrency vary by sexual orientation but not by gender - a cross sectional
study of Belgian students. PLoS One. (In Press). 2018; 13(5): e0196821.
2\. The authors mentioned that they recruited participants who were \"similar\" to participants in the Belgium study for the comparison of implicit and explicit norms. How did the authors determine similarity when recruiting participants in South Africa? Since they are all college students, I am assuming their age might be similar? How about the concentrations/majors?
Repy:
We did not collect information as to the subjects they were studying.
3\. More info regarding sampling may be needed. For example, how many students were approached? What was the refusal rate?
Reply:
We do not have this data. The recruitment method used is detailed in the section:
In both countries all students at the two participating Universities
were eligible for study inclusion. In Belgium they were recruited
via an email sent to the entire student body. This was not possible
in South Africa and thus students were recruited via posters and
word of mouth.
4\. The measurements were used to measure implicit and explicit norms. Why would there be incorrect answers? Could the authors provide some examples?
Reply:
The reference to "incorrect answers\" on the IAT test refers to misclassifying an image or word during the IAT test e.g. placing an image of monogamy in the concurrency section.
Results
1\. Some of the numbers stated in the text do not match the tables. For example, the author stated: \"Self-reported concurrency behavior was slightly more strongly associated with explicit (r = 0.13 to 0.58) than implicit (r = 0.05 to 0.11) attitudes to concurrency by country.\" But, in Table 2, it seems that the correlation of explicit and concurrency behavior is 0.08-0.58. The authors might want to review the numbers.
Reply:
Thank you for pointing out this error which will be corrected in the next version of the paper.
Discussion
1\. The authors provide great information in that based on the finding, current efforts of targetting high-risk individuals may not be enough. Could the authors provide more information on, specifically, what may be the potential approach to address concurrency, especially targetting implicit attitudes on a population level?
Reply:
This paragraph has now been expanded with the following text to address this question:
Current efforts targeting concurrency are largely focused on higher risk individuals which are unlikely to result in a shift in the population distribution in implicit attitudes to concurrency ^5, 27, 31 ^. One approach may be follow the Know Your Network concurrency reduction intervention which was shown to be feasible and acceptable in a rural Kenyan population ( **Knopf A, et al.** \"This is the medicine:\" A Kenyan community responds to a sexual concurrency reduction intervention. *Social Science & Medicine* 2014; ** 108**: 175-184).
2\. In the discussion section, the authors seemed to imply that the findings may apply to population level. However, given the sampling strategy, I am not sure if such argument may be the case. Could the authors provide more evidence or explanation?
Reply:
This is true. In the new version we have changed this claim to the following weaker claim:
We found weak support for this latter interpretation in the form of a population level correlation between implicit attitudes towards concurrency and the practice thereof. This is however based on a small number of samples and this finding should be regarded as tentative.
Kenyon
Chris
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
**Competing interests:**We have no conflicts of interest
12
10
2018
**Thank you for your useful suggestions and comments, which we respond to below:**
Introduction
1\. I would recommend the authors do a final review of the paper to ensure it is free of grammatical errors and typos (e.g., in the first sentence in the introduction, \"were\" should be \"where").
**Reply:**
**This has been done in the new version.**
2\. The authors stated: \"This discrepancy may be partly explained by the way that the social desirability bias may affect the accuracy of self-reported data pertaining to socially sensitive topics such as sexual norms.\" I would like to see more elaboration as it pertains to concurrency.
**Reply:**
**The following text has been added to make this clearer:**
**Respondents to surveys asking about attitudes to sexual partner concurrency may consider that the interviewer holds negative attitudes towards concurrency. They may therefore bias their reported attitudes towards concurrency towards that of the interviewer.**
3\. The statement regarding the findings of applying C-IAT on Belgium students is great. Since one of the study purposes is to identify the discrepancies between implicit and explicit norms between Belgium and South African participants, I would like to see the authors add their findings on whether there were discrepancies regarding explicit and implicit concurrency norms in their previous Belgium research. Currently, the authors only provide information regarding implicit norms of concurrency among Belgium students.
**Reply: **
**These results are provided in detail at:**
**Kenyon CR, Wolfs K, Osbak K, et al.: Implicit attitudes to sexual partner**
**concurrency vary by sexual orientation but not by gender - a cross sectional**
**study of Belgian students. PLoS One. 2018; 13(5): e0196821.**
4\. It would be great if the authors would discuss their rationale for comparing South African and Belgium students.
**Reply:**
**This was based on opportunity sampling related to the institutions/countries where the authors work. Various studies have noted concurrency prevalences to be relatively low in Western Europe and relatively high in South Africa** **^1-3^** **.**
5\. Also, it would be beneficial if the authors could provide more justification for the study aims (e.g., why look at shifts and correlations of the norms).
**Reply:**
**The following text has been added to the end of the introduction to make this clearer:**
**Our rationale for exploring if the variation between these two populations involves a difference in behavior of 'core-groups' or general population shifts is based on the work of Rose and others** **[^25^]{.ul}** **^--^** **[^27^]{.ul}** **. They argued that if one finds a bimodal distribution in behavior \'A\' in population \'B\' compared to a normal distribution in a comparison population \'C\' then this finding would be compatible with the existence of a core-group with higher risk behaviour in population \'B\' being responsible for some of the differences in behavior \'A\' between the two groups. The concept of a \'core-group\' is well established in the HIV field and typically refers to a subpopulation with a high level of sexual network connectivity (conferred by features such as partner concurrency and rate of partner change) that contributes disproportionately to the spread of HIV in that population .** **Kenyon CR, Tsoumanis A, Schwartz IS: A population\'s higher-risk sexual behaviour is associated with its average sexual behaviour-An ecological analysis of subpopulations in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and the United States. *Epidemics.* 2016;15:56--65. 27266849 10.1016/j.epidem.2016.02.002**
**In addition, we have explained the rationale for looking at shifts in C-IAT between Belgium and South Africa in the following text in the discussion:**
**The IAT results for the study populations in South Africa and Belgium were both normally distributed with a similar variance. Belgium's population curve was however relatively right-shifted. There was no evidence of a 'core high risk group' with a distribution outside of the Gaussian distribution in either country. This variation of distributions between different populations via right or left shifting the mean value (but retaining the same variance) mimics the findings of Rose and others for a wide variety of physical and mental health attributes and behaviors, including number of sex partners ^25--27^ . Rose's interpretation of this relationship was that populations do not tolerate 'excessive' variations in norms and behaviors and thus distributions of these characteristics move up and down as a whole ^27^ .**
**As far as assessing the correlation between C-IAT and explicit norms is concerned, this is a standard assessment in this type of IAT research. We have provided this rationale in the following text in the discussion:**
**A limitation with the line of reasoning outlined above is the low correlation found between self-reported concurrency and implicit attitudes to concurrency. This may be because the implicit attitudes play little or no role in driving high concurrency rates. Alternatively, the C-IAT may constitute an important marker of a population-wide greater tolerance of concurrency which broadly enables higher concurrency rates but that other specific risk factors then determine which individuals will engage in concurrency ^32^ . We found some support for this latter interpretation in the form of a population level correlation between implicit attitudes towards concurrency and the practice thereof.**
6\. Finally, the rationale of looking at college students should also be provided. Is it because they more likely to be sexually active? More likely to engage in concurrency? Or, more likely to at risks of HIV/STIs?
**Reply: **
**Concurrency and STI rates are particularly high in this age group** **^3,\ 4^** **.**
Method
1\. Information regarding validity and reliability of the measurements used may be needed.
**Reply:**
**As we note in the current paper the assessment of validity and reliability were perfomed in the previous paper reporting the development of the C-IAT:**
**Kenyon CR, Wolfs K, Osbak K, et al.: Implicit attitudes to sexual partner**
**concurrency vary by sexual orientation but not by gender - a cross sectional**
**study of Belgian students. PLoS One. 2018; 13(5): e0196821.**
2\. The authors mentioned that they recruited participants who were \"similar\" to participants in the Belgium study for the comparison of implicit and explicit norms. How did the authors determine similarity when recruiting participants in South Africa? Since they are all college students, I am assuming their age might be similar? How about the concentrations/majors?
**Repy:**
**We did not collect information as to the subjects they were studying.**
3\. More info regarding sampling may be needed. For example, how many students were approached? What was the refusal rate?
**Reply: **
**We do not have this data. The recruitment method used is detailed in the following section:**
**In both countries all students at the two participating Universities**
**were eligible for study inclusion. In Belgium they were recruited**
**via an email sent to the entire student body. This was not possible**
**in South Africa and thus students were recruited via posters and**
**word of mouth.**
4\. The measurements were used to measure implicit and explicit norms. Why would there be incorrect answers? Could the authors provide some examples?
**Reply:**
**The reference to "incorrect answers\" on the IAT test refers to misclassifying an image or word during the IAT test e.g. placing an image of monogamy in the concurrency section. This is standard terminology in the IAT field.**
Results
1\. Some of the numbers stated in the text do not match the tables. For example, the author stated: \"Self-reported concurrency behavior was slightly more strongly associated with explicit (r = 0.13 to 0.58) than implicit (r = 0.05 to 0.11) attitudes to concurrency by country.\" But, in Table 2, it seems that the correlation of explicit and concurrency behavior is 0.08-0.58. The authors might want to review the numbers.
**Reply:**
**Thank you for pointing out this error which has been corrected in the new version of the paper.**
Discussion
1\. The authors provide great information in that based on the finding, current efforts of targetting high-risk individuals may not be enough. Could the authors provide more information on, specifically, what may be the potential approach to address concurrency, especially targetting implicit attitudes on a population level?
**Reply:**
**This paragraph has now been expanded with the following text to address this question:**
**Current efforts targeting concurrency are largely focused on higher risk individuals which are unlikely to result in a shift in the population distribution in implicit attitudes to concurrency ^5, 27, 31 ^. One approach may be follow the Know Your Network concurrency reduction intervention which was shown to be feasible and acceptable in a rural Kenyan population ( Knopf A, et al. \"This is the medicine:\" A Kenyan community responds to a sexual concurrency reduction intervention. *Social Science & Medicine* 2014; 108: 175-184).**
2\. In the discussion section, the authors seemed to imply that the findings may apply to population level. However, given the sampling strategy, I am not sure if such argument may be the case. Could the authors provide more evidence or explanation?
**Reply:**
**This is true. In the new version we have changed this claim to the following weaker claim:**
**We found weak support for this latter interpretation in the form of a population level correlation between implicit attitudes towards concurrency and the practice thereof. This is however based on a small number of samples and this finding should be regarded as tentative.**
**References**
1. Leridon H, van Zessen G, Hubert M. The Europeans and their sexual partners. *Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe: Comparisons of national surveys*1998: 165-96.
2. Kenyon C, Buyze J, Colebunders R. HIV prevalence by race co-varies closely with concurrency and number of sex partners in South Africa. *PLoS One*2013; **8**: e64080.
3. Mah T. Prevalence and correlates of concurrent sexual partnerships among young people in South Africa. *Sex Transm Dis*2010; **37**: 105-8.
4. Maughan-Brown B, Kenyon C, Lurie MN. Partner Age Differences and Concurrency in South Africa: Implications for HIV-Infection Risk Among Young Women. *AIDS and Behavior*2014: 1-8.
[^1]: No competing interests were disclosed.
|
Background
==========
Infants exposed to alcohol in the womb are at increased risk of experiencing health problems, including neuro-developmental conditions and fetal alcohol syndrome \[[@B1]-[@B3]\]. Children born with developmental disabilities have long-term health and social care requirements, which may place a considerable resource burden on families and the health services. Therefore, interventions that aim to prevent alcohol use in pregnancy have the potential to improve children's developmental outcomes. Screening and alcohol brief interventions (ABIs) can reduce alcohol consumption or encourage abstinence in individuals drinking at hazardous and harmful levels \[[@B4],[@B5]\]. Alcohol brief interventions are time-limited interventions that can range from a single 10--15 minutes session to several sessions of assessment, personalised feedback about drinking behaviour, goal setting, behaviour modification strategy and minimal follow-up reinforcement visits or on-going support \[[@B6],[@B7]\]. Current evidence supports the use of screening and ABIs to reduce hazardous and harmful drinking in a range of healthcare settings, including primary care and general hospital settings \[[@B8],[@B9]\]. However, only a limited number of studies have been conducted with antenatal populations therefore, evidence of their effectiveness is still evolving in this setting \[[@B10],[@B11]\].
Typically, the delivery of ABIs is preceded by the use of alcohol screening tools to detect hazardous or harmful drinking. These tools are usually setting and population-specific. Validated alcohol screening tools such as T-ACE (Tolerance, Annoyed, Cut- down, Eye-opener) and TWEAK (Tolerance, Worried, Eye-opener, Amnesia, (K) Cut-down) are usually recommended for screening pregnant women because they have high sensitivity and specificity for this population group \[[@B12]-[@B14]\]. In Scotland, national guidelines suggest that if a woman is drinking alcohol in pregnancy, an ABI should be delivered without further screening unless there is reason to suspect possible dependence, in which case a referral should be made to a more specialist service or practitioner \[[@B15]\]. The guidelines are in line with the current National Health Services (NHS) Health Scotland advice to pregnant women, which states that it is best to avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy, as any alcohol taken while pregnant will reach the baby and may cause harm \[[@B16]\]. Midwives are encouraged to inquire about alcohol consumption at the first antenatal appointment. When women respond positively, the number, nature and size of drinks consumed are explored in order to estimate alcohol units \[[@B15]\].
Scotland's alcohol-related health burden is among the highest in Europe \[[@B17]\]. In order to reduce this, the Scottish Government established a health improvement target for NHS Health Boards, requiring them to screen and deliver a total of 149,449 ABIs from April 2008 to March 2011 in the priority settings of primary care, accident and emergency departments and antenatal care, with the aim of incorporating them into routine clinical practice \[[@B18],[@B19]\]. In order to support workforce development, practitioners involved in screening and delivering the ABIs were trained \[[@B20]\]. An ABI delivery support team was also established to provide expert advice to stakeholders on the actions required to achieve the target. They also provided guidance and strategic leadership to NHS Health Boards in terms of the development of the delivery infrastructure and implementation of ABIs \[[@B21]\].
In antenatal care settings, midwives have been given the role of screening and delivering ABIs to pregnant women because within the UK they provide the majority of antenatal care to women. However, current knowledge regarding midwives' involvement in alcohol intervention activities is limited \[[@B22]\]. There are also uncertainties regarding the effects of prenatal alcohol consumption on the fetus, particularly at low-moderate levels of drinking \[[@B23]\]. This may have led midwives to have a range of opinions about the issue of alcohol use in pregnancy. In order to understand and improve the quality of screening and ABIs in antenatal care settings, we explored how midwives' skills, knowledge and attitudes to alcohol consumption in pregnancy influence their practice.
Methods
=======
Sample and procedure
--------------------
NHS care in Scotland is provided through 14 regional Health Boards, which plan and deliver health services within their geographical areas, with overall policy directed by the Scottish Government Health Directorates \[[@B24]\]. Participants for this study were recruited from one Scottish Health Board, NHS Lothian, which has two consultant units and about 130 community midwives overall. Our sample of community midwives was drawn from the 34 midwives based at one of the consultant units. Within NHS Scotland, community based midwives provide the majority of care to women during the antenatal and post-natal periods, involving the women's General Practitioner or Obstetrician as appropriate based on the woman's needs and local care pathways \[[@B25]\]. As such, they are well placed to screen and deliver ABIs to pregnant women. At the time of data collection in mid to late 2010, the midwives who participated in this study informed us that nearly all midwives in NHS Lothian, particularly community midwives, were trained to screen and deliver ABIs. The training involved half a day face-to-face screening and ABI skill training. All community midwives involved in alcohol screening and delivery of ABIs were considered for inclusion. This study purposively sampled midwives with a range of roles - community midwives (middle grade clinical midwives) and their team leaders, as well as consultant midwives (senior clinical midwives with a remit for professional leadership, evaluation and education). Details of the study in the form of information packs were delivered to three midwifery team leaders to be given to all midwives within their areas. The information packs contained an invitation letter, information sheet (including details of incentives), an expression of interest form and self-addressed stamped envelope. All midwives were given the option of individual interviews or focus group to encourage participation. Informed consent was obtained prior to interview or focus group. Participants were compensated for their time and effort with either lunch or £20 in high street store vouchers.
Semi-structured interviews were used and the topic guide (available on request) covered a range of areas including, attitudes to alcohol use in pregnancy and opinions about the appropriate timing for screening and delivering ABIs. Midwives were encouraged to describe their practice in relation to screening and delivering of ABIs and to identify barriers and facilitators. Their views about training, support and the implementation process were also sought. All interviews and the focus group were conducted and digitally recorded by the first author, who also transcribed the data. The second and third authors reviewed the transcripts. Anonymous unique codes were used to represent midwives who participated in the study.
Data analysis
-------------
The interview transcripts were analysed using a thematic analysis which employed a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development \[[@B26]\]. This combined the data-driven inductive approach \[[@B27]\] and deductive a priori code template \[[@B28]\]. Data analysis proceeded in six main stages as follows: development of a code manual; test reliability of codes; identification of initial themes emerging from the data; utilization of the code manual to apply codes to entire transcripts whilst noting emerging codes; connection of codes into themes and corroboration of themes through interpretation of analysis \[[@B26]\].
For a code to be credible, it must capture the qualitative richness of the phenomenon \[[@B27]\]. Using NVivo \[[@B29]\] coding was undertaken by selecting the appropriate segments of text and coding them appropriately. Several codes were generated. New codes were devised as new ideas emerged from the data. When new codes were identified, previous transcripts were re-read to determine if the new codes were applicable to the texts. Thus, the code manual was continually revised. A final code manual was then produced. The reliability of coding is enhanced if two or more researchers independently code a qualitative transcript \[[@B30]\]. For that reason, the first author coded all transcripts and the second and third authors coded half of the transcripts. Generally, inter-coder agreements were high, with over 80% agreement on coded extracts. Minor disagreements were resolved through discussion between the authors. Through the connection of similar codes, themes emerged. Agreements and disagreements in opinions between segments of the data were informative at this stage. It was also important to ensure that themes were representative of the original data \[[@B26]\]. Consequently, transcripts were re-read ensuring that themes had appropriately captured their phenomena. With the emergence of patterns of meaning, similarities and differences within units of the data were explored before the analysis progressed to the interpretative phase.
Ethics approval
---------------
The West of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2 approved this study.
Results
=======
Twenty-five midwives initially expressed an interest to participate in the study however, four subsequently declined, citing time constraints as the main reason. In all, twenty-one midwives participated in the study. Fifteen midwives agreed to participate in face-to-face interviews and six midwifery team leaders participated in a focus group. The semi-structured face-to-face interviews lasted between 35 and 71 minutes while the focus group lasted an hour. As no new themes were emerging with this number of participants, we felt data saturation had been reached.
Participants' characteristics
-----------------------------
Midwives ages ranged between 24 and 56 years. All were clinical midwives, eight were midwifery team leaders and two were consultant midwives. Their years of midwifery practice ranged between 3 and 33.
Themes
------
Seven major themes were identified. Individual interview and focus group data are presented together.
Attitudes to alcohol consumption
--------------------------------
Prompted by previous research findings that there were uncertainties regarding the effects of low-moderate levels of drinking on the fetus, we explored how this message had influenced midwives' attitudes to prenatal alcohol consumption. We anticipated that midwives' attitudes may either directly or inadvertently influence their decisions about the advice they offered to women, or the manner in which they delivered ABIs. It was apparent that uncertainties regarding the threshold at which alcohol could harm the baby prompted many of the midwives to take a cautious stance in relation to advising abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy (see Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). During the interview, midwives sometimes spoke about their own alcohol use to emphasize a point or convey an opinion and this was used to understand their attitudes towards the issue. Most of the midwives who indicated that they did not drink alcohol had strong views against drinking in pregnancy while a few of the midwives who indicated that they did drink alcohol appeared sceptical regarding the current push for abstinence in pregnancy.
######
Midwives' attitude to drinking
**Sub-theme** **Illustrative quote**
---------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Influence of uncertainties I think I have always taken the view that it will be better not to drink at all than be unsure about what amount is safe (M11).
Scepticism Certainly, as a midwife I will probably join in and say, how come women in other countries drink and they don't suffer from alcohol and here in Britain they are giving mixed messages to women saying don't drink alcohol at all because it might have an effect on the baby (M9).
Midwives' perception of risk
----------------------------
We hypothesized that midwives' knowledge and understanding of risk could have an influence on the level of priority they accorded to the issue of drinking in pregnancy in the midst of other competing work pressures. Generally, midwives showed a good understanding of the effects of alcohol on the fetus. All the participants knew that heavy sustained drinking is associated with fetal alcohol syndrome. However, there were divided opinions regarding the effects of low-moderate level of drinking on the fetus. Drinking at all stages in pregnancy poses varying risks for the mother and the unborn child \[[@B31],[@B32]\]. We further explored midwives views on the impact of timing of alcohol consumption during pregnancy on subsequent developmental outcomes. It was clear that most considered drinking in the first trimester to be more risky, which is congruent with the evidence \[[@B33],[@B34]\]. However, a few thought that drinking in the first trimesters possibly posed the least risk to the fetus (see Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). They reasoned that quite a lot of women had consumed alcohol during the early stages of pregnancy while they were unaware that they were pregnant, yet it appeared that their children were rarely harmed.
######
Risk perception
**Sub-theme** **Illustrative quote**
---------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effects of low-moderate drinking Excessive alcohol is always going to be damaging to the woman and the baby. But whether or not if you have a glass of wine with your dinner two or three nights a week if that is going to affect the baby or not, I will probably debate. Probably, say that it wouldn't have any effect on that baby (M2).
Drinking in first trimester I don't know if we really know what the effects of alcohol are on the developing fetus. I am not too sure about that. I think it is more to do with continuing drinking through pregnancy. I mean if you drank alcohol without knowing that you have conceived or in early times of conception, it doesn't seem to affect (the baby). I would have said that it doesn't affect (the baby) because so many people have done it, you know (M14).
Timing of the alcohol brief interventions
-----------------------------------------
The midwives mentioned that most of the pregnant women who drank alcohol did so during the period when pregnancy was unconfirmed. Once pregnancy was confirmed, they discontinued taking alcohol. They all agreed that pre-conception alcohol prevention strategies would be more beneficial to the fetus than alcohol interventions delivered in antenatal care. However, midwives recognised that without a specific target audience such interventions might struggle to have an impact. Some participants expressed the opinion that pregnant women who planned their pregnancies were more likely to benefit from pre-pregnancy interventions (see Table [3](#T3){ref-type="table"}). Planning of pregnancy could mean that women would have been more likely to have explored ways to maximise their chances of having a healthy pregnancy. For example, this could involve contacts with family planning clinics regarding advice on discontinuing contraceptive use or contacts with fertility clinics. Midwives believed that some of these pre-pregnancy opportunities would have been more appropriate 'teachable moments' because of their emphasis on health issues, particularly those of the unborn child.
######
Pre-pregnancy alcohol intervention opportunities
**Sub-theme** **Illustrative quote**
------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Few women drink in pregnancy I think by the time most of them have come to us most of them say I don't drink now. So they already know that drinking in pregnancy is not recommended (M9).
Pre-pregnancy opportunities A lot of my clients have gone through the fertility treatment. So you have got a high level of people who are looking for a healthy baby and will have researched it all and would have been given all the information as they go through the IVF program. They have been told there that alcohol use is out of the window (M1).
Identification and delivery of ABIs
-----------------------------------
Almost all the midwives indicated that tackling alcohol use in pregnancy was part of their role. Nevertheless, some mentioned that the screening and ABI program had been added to their already considerable workload. One of the rationales for the program was to train midwives to intervene with women who drank at risky levels, but for whom drinking had not reached the dependence level that might require alcohol specialist's attention. However, a few midwives misconstrued this rationale (see Table [4](#T4){ref-type="table"}). There was also a sense that midwives felt that their role was to advise women to be abstinent. This is not entirely in line with the motivational interviewing approach of delivering ABIs, which does not imply a pre-determined decision about what is best for the patient.
######
Screening and ABI delivery
**Sub-theme** **Illustrative quote**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Role legitimacy The role is constantly growing whereas the midwife's capacity probably isn't growing in time with that. But I think midwives see health promotion and public health as part of their role (M15).
Misconception of screening and ABI initiative To me it (ABI) means their alcohol consumption is unsafe and this is the recommendations, that is to me what a brief intervention is and if it is unsafe then we are going to refer on that's part of it (M18, FG).
I think it is good to raise awareness about alcohol and that all we are doing, we are not doing any particular ABI in trying to cure them or anything that is not my job. I am here to educate them to be responsible parents and realise that it is not a good thing to do in pregnancy and just to raise awareness of alcohol consumption (M1).
Few ABIs delivered Fortunately, I have never had anybody since we started it that needed the help (M1).
Missed opportunity I haven't come across any problems so far but as I say there is only one girl who has just booked with me and I don't know but she has admitted to having about eight units every two weeks (M3).
Importance of alcohol screening People don't think they've got a problem but once you start adding the units up there's a fair bit there but then they don't hide it because they didn't think it was a problem, you get more out of them than you would before when you just wrote down social drinking, no problem (M21, FG).
Additional resources Because of the confusion with units (of alcohol) we have cup measures and we have slide rules that we got from the alcohol brief interventions team so that we can show women that vodka, "wicked" or whatever is one and half units and not just one unit. Sometimes that is just enough for them to think, oh my goodness I didn't think it is so many units! (M7).
At the time of data collection most of the midwives had completed their screening and ABIs training at least six months previously, but it was clear that most of them had not had enough opportunities to practice their skills because they perceived that few women admitted to alcohol consumption in pregnancy. However, it appeared that in some instances the opportunity to deliver ABIs at the antenatal appointment was missed.
The midwives felt that the assessment to tease out the nature and quantity of alcohol consumed by women was beneficial. Previously, no such detailed assessment was conducted and some midwives believed that the program had improved the quality of identification. Further, midwives felt that the additional support and resources provided by the implementing organisation (NHS Health Scotland) had had positive impact. In addition to the ABI skill training, midwives were also provided with an ABI antenatal professional pack. The pack included information about the evidence base of ABIs, screening tools, prompt cards and a drink calculator (for estimating alcohol units).
Midwife-pregnant woman relationship
-----------------------------------
Midwives believed that they were well positioned strategically to deliver health information or ABIs, and that the type of services they provide meant women were more likely to respond to them in terms of accepting health behaviour interventions. However, they believed that they had to be careful in order not to alienate women when discussing sensitive alcohol issues.
Most midwives felt that screening and delivery of ABIs at the first antenatal appointment may not be appropriate because of the potential impact it could have on midwife-pregnant woman relationships. They expressed the feeling that there could be issues with trust at the first appointment and that it would be difficult for women to divulge sensitive issues at that point. One midwife likened the issue of trying to identify pregnant woman who have been drinking at risky levels at the first antenatal visit, to that of identifying a domestic violence victim (see Table [5](#T5){ref-type="table"}). In spite of this, midwives felt that in the context of antenatal care, the first appointment was the best opportunity to deliver ABIs.
######
Midwife-pregnant woman relationship
**Sub-theme** **Illustrative quote**
------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midwives' good profile Midwives have good profile, we look after women we are supposed to have lots of knowledge, we are going to help them through the birth of their baby and give them advice in their first few weeks afterwards. We have got a profile that women hopefully take note of (M9).
Careful when discussing sensitive issues I mean discussing alcohol with somebody sitting in front of you and you don't want them to feel that they can't come and see you again (M14).
Lack of rapport at booking appointment The other thing that makes it difficult is that at booking you have only just met the person. So, you are already asking a lot of personal questions. You probably haven't ever met her before and then you are required to take action whether it will be for alcohol or gender based violence. It is very difficult but I don't know when the good time will be, you know. Because by the time you have met her for three or four times, she is already well on in her pregnancy. And that is the longest appointment that you have so that is the most time you have with somebody (M15).
Women unlikely to divulge sensitive information I am just going back to the issue of domestic violence, if I was to ask a woman, are you violated against? Are you free to go home? Have you ever suffered violence at home? Do you think she is going to tell me when she does not even know me at booking? (M9).
Benefits of screening and ABIs
------------------------------
Midwives reported that the program had several positive aspects, for not only women and their unborn child but also for the value it had added to their practice. Midwives' overall view was that screening and ABIs had generated increased awareness about alcohol use in pregnancy. Some viewed their place in antenatal care as appropriate because pregnancy is a time when women are more motivated to change negative health behaviours. However, others indicated that offering ABIs in antenatal care was a bit late. A few midwives suggested that ABIs may not necessarily be of benefit to the current pregnancy but might benefit subsequent pregnancies and future drinking behaviour. One participant suggested that providing ABIs, particularly to women who consumed excessive amounts of alcohol before pregnancy might be helpful in terms of equipping them with knowledge that could facilitate healthy drinking behaviour after they had had their baby (see Table [6](#T6){ref-type="table"}).
######
Perceived benefits of screening and ABIs
**Sub-theme** **Illustrative quote**
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pregnancy may facilitate drinking behaviour change There are not many other opportunities that women are told you shouldn't be drinking. I think pregnancy is one of the times that women are more than happy to stop drinking, most women are more than happy to stop so it's probably a good time to do brief intervention (M5).
Positive drinking behaviour change beyond pregnancy At the moment, we are trying to discourage them from drinking in pregnancy. You are asking about their drinking habits beforehand which hopefully when they've not had alcohol for nine months, it's easier to go back to a safe limit of alcohol than going back to your old habits because you've abstained from alcohol for nine months (M13).
Benefits for mother and baby If she can stop alcohol and smoking and drugs and have a good diet and do all the positive stuff. And when the baby is born, hopefully he will be born into a smoke free home with parents who don't drink excessively. It is going to give that child a much better chance. Financially, the woman can't afford because quite often we are talking about a single mother, they don't have a partner (M2).
Improved confidence to discuss alcohol issues I think having done the course though, it makes you more confident to be able to ask them that. It is not just a case of oh well have you had a drink, why? You know (M3).
They also highlighted the potential benefits of screening and ABIs to the child, as well as financial benefits to the family. All midwives recognised the added benefits of the program to their practice in relation to their confidence in discussing alcohol-related issues.
Barriers to implementation of screening and ABIs
------------------------------------------------
Midwives were asked to identify the main challenges that the implementation of the program had had on their practice or some of the difficulties they had experienced since its inception. It was clear that workload pressure and time constraints were the most significant barriers. Midwives indicated that in the midst of competing workload priorities, alcohol interventions remained a low priority. The difficulty of converting different types of alcoholic drinks into standard units was also seen as a problem and in the focus group all participants agreed with that view (see Table [7](#T7){ref-type="table"}).
######
Challenges of screening and ABI delivery
**Sub-theme** **Illustrative quote**
------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time constraints Time is almost always a big issue because if ABI is required, it is not just a simple case of she no longer drinks alcohol and we are happy with the plan so no intervention is required. If intervention is required that could eat into your time or the rest of the care for that booking appointment (M7).
Low priority We've got to do domestic violence, alcohol use, smoking, you know and all the stuff. If somebody says I smoke then we have to give them all the literature, the DVD, arrange for referrals. So you can imagine, alcohol is only one of the aspects and sadly it is not the most important one because there is not a lot of evidence there that we have a lot of children who have fetal alcohol syndrome (M9).
Difficulty in unit conversion Asking people in terms of units per week is quite difficult because first of all you've got to work out what the units are and whether it's a big glass of wine, small glass of wine, strong wine, weak wine, it's a real nightmare and then just work it out per week rather (M19, FG).
Overload of information at booking appointments I guess the other thing is the amount of information that women can take on board. You know if you are thinking that you have got another twenty areas of information to give women you know, you wonder well can they take all that in (M2).
Social expectations People know that it is not good to drink in pregnancy and therefore they don't always tell you the truth because they know that maybe you disapprove or it will make them feel guilty if they knew that they are honest and told you (M3).
Some midwives were worried that the amount of information provided at the first antenatal appointment may adversely influence pregnant women's capacity to assimilate all relevant information, in particular when a behaviour change intervention is involved. The social intricacies surrounding the issue of drinking in pregnancy were also stated as a barrier. A few midwives suggested that because drinking in pregnancy is generally considered undesirable in the Scottish culture, this probably discourages women from disclosing their true consumption levels.
Discussion
==========
This qualitative study focused on midwives' attitudes towards alcohol consumption during pregnancy and their practices regarding screening and alcohol brief interventions. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is an emotive topic and discussing it in the antenatal context may present a challenge for midwives. This could be particularly difficult once midwives become aware that a pregnant woman had used alcohol excessively. In a recent primary care based study in Norway, General Practitioners revealed that they were uncomfortable discussing alcohol use with patients because of its emotive nature \[[@B35]\]. The capacity to deal with patients' reaction to the subject of alcohol consumption has also been noted as discouraging health professionals from initiating alcohol intervention activities \[[@B36]\]. In this study, a few midwives missed opportunities to deliver ABIs and it was possible that they felt that if a pregnant woman had already used excessive alcohol, the harm could not be undone and that discussing it might cause anxiety and distress to her. The findings also suggested that midwives were keen to avoid putting any strain on the pregnant woman-midwife relationship in discussing these issues.
Midwifery care has traditionally had a public health role, recent Scottish Government policy has increased the public health focus of maternity care with the aim of encouraging midwives to assume a greater role in order to improve health and social wellbeing for all women and reduce health inequalities \[[@B37],[@B38]\]. This means that the community midwives' role has now become ever more demanding as they negotiate complex care priorities. For example, they now have to deal with an increase in birth rate, clinical assessment, increased involvement with assessment of child protection issues, women who have complex health and social care needs, and women who are misusing alcohol and drugs, as well as the increase in numbers of migrant women who require the use of interpreter for antenatal appointments \[[@B37]\]. Delivering these services often requires increased focus on supporting the women and their families \[[@B37]\]. However, some studies have suggested that in spite of midwives being encouraged to provide supportive relationships to clients, they may not always feel adequately prepared for the supportive nature of their role \[[@B39],[@B40]\]. With alcohol intervention activities, lack of training and support for health professionals have largely been identified as significant barriers \[[@B36],[@B41],[@B42]\]. In the current study, midwives were appreciative of the training and support strategies put in place for them. They generally felt confident about their skills to screen and deliver ABIs, although some were quite hesitant about the program's usefulness in terms of changing women's drinking behaviour in pregnancy. Training of practitioners appears to be an important means to improve their skills and enhance their confidence to screen and deliver ABIs, yet there have been reports that even after training some General Practitioners did not adequately deliver ABIs \[[@B43]\]. Despite midwives perceived confidence, our study found some evidence that they sometimes misunderstood the purpose and nature of ABIs.
During pregnancy, women are screened for different behavioural risk factors that may impact on healthy pregnancy outcomes. The findings of this study showed that some midwives felt that alcohol consumption was not particularly problematic for the majority of their clients. This is in contrast with current survey data which showed that about 25% of pregnant women in Scotland consumed alcohol whiles pregnant \[[@B44]\]. It is recognised that such self-reporting survey data may underestimate drinking during pregnancy because of poor recollection and the social stigma issues associated with the behaviour \[[@B12],[@B13],[@B45]\]. Although it is difficult to estimate the true prevalence of some of the conditions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure such as fetal alcohol syndrome in most populations, the ramifications for children damaged before birth by alcohol make the screening and ABI program an important one.
Midwives attitudes to alcohol use in pregnancy could play an important role in the extent of their involvement in alcohol intervention activities. This study found that midwives personal use of alcohol influenced their attitudes to drinking in pregnancy and to some extent determined the kind of advice they reportedly gave to pregnant women. Whilst midwives who did not drink alcohol completely condemned the behaviour of drinking in pregnancy, there were conflicting opinions from those who did drink alcohol themselves. Among those who did drink alcohol, some felt it was necessary for pregnant women to abstain while others felt there was nothing wrong with pregnant women drinking alcohol occasionally, albeit at sensible drinking levels. A study exploring nurses attitudes towards ABIs in primary care in the North-east of England, found that nurses who were hesitant about the alcohol intervention activities were those who used alcohol themselves \[[@B36]\]. It appears that health professionals' personal drinking behaviour subtly influences their alcohol intervention activities. However, considering the underlying differences between service user groups that present to antenatal care and primary care services, the primary healthcare nurses' attitudes to alcohol consumption might be more understandable. For example, among primary care populations it has been shown that drinking at low levels reduces the risk of coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke in men over 40 years old and women during the menopause \[[@B46]\]. However, in the antenatal care setting, a large body of evidence highlights that drinking during pregnancy poses risks for mother and the unborn child. It seems that positive changes in attitudes among midwives towards prenatal alcohol consumption might further enhance alcohol intervention activities in this setting.
Implications for midwifery policy, practice and future research
---------------------------------------------------------------
Public health interventions are generally complex and context-dependent and their transferability between countries, localities or settings requires careful consideration. What has worked for one group may not necessarily work for another because people's values, behaviours and priorities differ \[[@B47],[@B48]\]. Although, screening and ABIs have been evaluated extensively in primary care, their utility is limited in antenatal care and emerging evidence of their usefulness in this setting is often from countries outside the UK. Ongoing evaluation would be required to improve the program in the Scottish antenatal setting in terms of raising the priority of ABIs in the first antenatal appointment. Also, this study has showed that when examining outcomes, for instance, uptake of ABIs by midwives, it is important to consider issues in the process of implementing the intervention.
Pregnancy is a period where women are generally motivated to change risky behaviours. Therefore, pregnant women who still continue to drink at risky levels possibly require more extensive interventions, for example extended brief interventions to build their confidence to change their drinking behaviour \[[@B4],[@B10]\].
Alcohol brief interventions do not only mean giving advice about drinking. They have structure and may require a 'motivational style' drawn from motivational interviewing. The practice of motivational interviewing requires a high level of skills and extensive training \[[@B49]\]. Effective practical assessment tools that can measure the integrity of practitioners' motivational interviewing skill, for example, the motivational interview treatment integrity code could be a useful tool to assess and improve midwives' motivational interviewing practice \[[@B50]\]. Good motivational interviewing or person-centred communication skills might also help to overcome barriers such as lack of midwife-pregnant woman rapport and facilitate screening and ABIs delivery at the first antenatal appointment.
Knowledge of risks (for example, fetal alcohol syndrome) is known to induce drinking behaviour change in pregnancy \[[@B51]\]. When training midwives to screen and deliver ABIs emphasis should be placed on the severity of some of these adverse fetal conditions. This may enhance the urgency of alcohol intervention activities in antenatal care. Currently, there is consistent evidence of effects of heavy drinking on the fetus. However, the evidence relating to low-moderate drinking is still inconclusive and our study has highlighted that there may be still scepticism among some midwives. There is therefore a need for more robust studies to establish the threshold and specific fetal risks that could results from these levels of drinking and to enhance communication of research findings to health practitioners.
Limitations
-----------
This study was conducted in only one Health Board in Scotland and represented the views of a relatively small number of midwives. The findings of the study although not generalisable to all midwives delivering ABIs, may still be of interest to those involved in implementing similar interventions in antenatal care settings in any country. Considering the approach for recruiting participants, it was possible that midwives who felt knowledgeable about screening and ABIs were more likely to participate in the study. Therefore, midwives who did not participate may have had different views.
Both individual interviews and focus groups were conducted. Individual interviews offered participants the privacy of sharing opinions that could not be easily discussed in a group setting, especially as the program was a policy initiative. However, the group setting facilitated the development of ideas and debate and moved the discussion into dimensions which individual interviews were unable to achieve. We were keen to carry out more focus groups but unfortunately, by the nature of their work, community midwives are geographically dispersed and it was logistically challenging to conduct more focus groups. Concerning the analysis, because only one focus group was carried out, we felt it was inappropriate to analyse the data separately from the individual interview data. As a result, the two sets of data were analysed together, retaining the individual quotes from the focus group.
Conclusion
==========
The findings highlight what midwives perceived to be important in alcohol intervention program in antenatal care. Midwives recognised the important and strategic role they could play in alcohol intervention activities in antenatal care. They felt they had been adequately supported to screen and deliver ABIs, yet they were uncertain whether pregnant women were optimally benefiting from the screening and ABI program. Particularly, as they indicated that very limited numbers of pregnant women have received the ABIs. Undoubtedly, pre-pregnancy preventative measures might offer more benefits in terms of reducing alcohol-related fetal harm. However, with a 'captive' audience in antenatal, routine screening and ABIs present an opportunity for midwives to create awareness about the effects of drinking in pregnancy and possibly elicit positive drinking behaviour change that may well have ripple effects beyond the current pregnancy.
Competing interest
==================
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contribution
=====================
All authors made substantial contribution to design, acquisition and analysis and interpretation of data. LD collected and transcribed the data, and contributed to the analysis of data. He also drafted the manuscript. HC and RJ were involved in the data analysis and revising the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Pre-publication history
=======================
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:
<http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2393/14/170/prepub>
Acknowledgments
===============
Thank you to all midwives who participated in the study.
|
Q:
How can i auto filter on javascript laravel?
I don't want to redirect page when I want to filter the table so how can I make it in javascript?
this is my javascript
javascript
document.getElementById('inputdismissal').value = programId
$('#modalAddDismissal').modal("show",function(){
$('#inputdismissal').val(programId).trigger('change');
$('#inputdismissal').change(function(){
//fire your ajax call
var value = $(this).val().toLowerCase();
$("#myTable tr").filter(function() {
$(this).toggle($(this).text().toLowerCase().indexOf(value) > -1)
});
})
})
and i have this modal,
modal.php
<div class="modal-header">
<input class="form-control" id="inputdismissal" type="text" readonly/>
</div>
<div class="modal-body">
<table id="tblDisNikName" class="table table-sm table-responsive table-hover table-bordered">
<thead class="thead-dark">
<tr>
<th scope="col">Select</th>
<th scope="col">NIK</th>
<th scope="col">Nama</th>
<th scope="col">Position</th>
<th scope="col">Program</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody id="myTable" class="cursor-pointer">
@foreach($dismissalcrew as $datadis)
<tr>
<td><input class="dismissalTest" type="checkbox"></td>
<td>{{$datadis->employee_nik}}</td>
<td>{{$datadis->employee_nama}}</td>
<td>{{$datadis->crewprogramposition_name}}</td>
<td>{{$datadis->show_name}}</td>
</tr>
@endforeach
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
I already get my value into inputDismissal and show up on my modal. but the table didn't get filtered at all, how can I just show filtered table when I call the modal using inputDismisal, I mean getting filtered automatically as I call the modal
A:
SO its basically very simple, i just use jquery and put the value
function filterInput(programId){
$(document).ready(function(){
var value = programId.toLowerCase();
$("#myTable tr").filter(function() {
$(this).toggle($(this).text().toLowerCase().indexOf(value) > -1)
});
});
$('#modalAddDismissal').modal("show")
}
just put the modal after the filter and it's work
|
Q:
Is there a way to tell your hostname within a stored procedure?
Is there a way to determine the hostname of the server you're running in w/ in a stored procedure?
You can run system hostname from a client but you can't make system calls from SP. I don't see it any of the global variables or statuses.
A:
I can see my hostname on my PC
mysql> show variables like 'hostname';
+---------------+--------------+
| Variable_name | Value |
+---------------+--------------+
| hostname | LW-REDWARDS2 |
+---------------+--------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
mysql>
This works in MySQL 5.x
SELECT variable_value INTO @local_hostname
FROM information_schema.global_variables
WHERE variable_name = 'hostname';
The query works directly in the mysql client:
mysql> SELECT variable_value INTO @local_hostname
-> FROM information_schema.global_variables
-> WHERE variable_name = 'hostname';
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)
mysql> select @local_hostname;
+-----------------+
| @local_hostname |
+-----------------+
| LW-REDWARDS2 |
+-----------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
mysql>
Here is quick SP I wrote in MySQL 5.5.12 on my PC
DELIMITER $$
DROP PROCEDURE IF EXISTS `junk`.`ShowHostName` $$
CREATE PROCEDURE `junk`.`ShowHostName` ()
BEGIN
SELECT variable_value INTO @local_hostname
FROM information_schema.global_variables
WHERE variable_name = 'hostname';
SELECT @local_hostname;
END $$
DELIMITER ;
Then run CALL junk.ShowHostName();
mysql> CALL junk.ShowHostName();
+-----------------+
| @local_hostname |
+-----------------+
| LW-REDWARDS2 |
+-----------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec)
mysql>
Here it is as a function
DELIMITER $$
DROP FUNCTION IF EXISTS `junk`.`GetHostName` $$
CREATE FUNCTION `junk`.`GetHostName` () RETURNS VARCHAR(64)
DETERMINISTIC
BEGIN
DECLARE local_hostname VARCHAR(64);
SELECT variable_value INTO local_hostname
FROM information_schema.global_variables
WHERE variable_name = 'hostname';
RETURN local_hostname;
END $$
DELIMITER ;
Now, just SELECT it:
mysql> SELECT junk.GetHostName();
+--------------------+
| junk.GetHostName() |
+--------------------+
| LW-REDWARDS2 |
+--------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
mysql>
Give it a Try !!!
|
Q:
Mocking a while statment Python
Im pretty new at mocking in Python. I searched pretty deeply for any post that answered this question, but i failed to do so. I want to mock a function that is called within a while statement. Is there anyway to do this?
def some_function(self, some_param):
some_counter = 0
while self.func_i_want_to_mock(mock_param, mock_param2) is False:
some_counter += 1
return some_counter
A:
I want to mock a function that is called within a while statement
Define a side effect function if you want to play with the parameters
def func_tbm_side_effect(first, second):
return 'whatever'
Now with the testing
import unittest
import mock
import ClassWithSomeFunc
class TestClassWithSomeFunc(unittest.TestCase):
def test_some_function(self):
with mock.patch.object(ClassWithSomeFunc, 'some_function') as mocked_sf:
mocked_sf.side_effect = func_tbm_side_effect
item = ClassWithSomeFunc()
value = item.some_function('parameter')
self.assertEqual(value, 'endless loop')
|
Child Care Providers To Be Unionized
CHRISTOPHER KEATING
After a six-year struggle, childcare providers will be unionized following a vote announced Tuesday.
In a secret ballot held through the U.S. mail, the providers voted 1,603 to 88 to join the union, according to Matt O'Connor, a spokesman for CSEA/SEIU Local 2001. The American Arbitration Association - a neutral group - counted the votes Tuesday.
O'Connor noted that the union had been seeking unionization for six years for the providers who care for children in their private homes. Overall, about 96 percent of the providers are women, he said. Nationally, 15 states have similar unions. He noted that there are about 4,000 providers, covering all 169 cities and towns with the highest numbers in the cities. The providers all participate in the Care4Kids program, the state's primary childcare subsidy that is managed by the state Department of Social Services.
“We started six years ago, helping to organize them,’’ O'Connor told Capitol Watch. “Six years we’ve been at this. A long, long process.’’
He added, “This particular group needed a voice. They care for children of families who qualify for assistance to enable working parents to re-enter the job market or for folks to finish their education. … They’re an important part of early education.’’
“There have been long waiting lists’’ for children trying to get into Care4Kids, he said.
The issue began to move forward in September when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a Democrat who won the governorship by one half of 1 percentage point with the help of state unions, signed an executive order that paved the way toward collective bargaining. The issue had been bottled up in the legislature for years, and opponents said that Malloy was making an end-run around the legislative process.
“My position all along has been that family child care workers should have the right to organize, which is exactly what they have chosen to do,'' Malloy said in a statement. "I hope that they will use their new collective voice to effect positive changes to the Care 4 Kids program.”
Senator Joseph Markley, one of the most outspoken opponents, said, "Through this power grab, state employee unions have reached right into the homes of Connecticut residents. The process has been suspect from the start, beginning with Governor Malloy's executive order, which ignored the will and the authority of the legislature. Now the vote of a small number of day care providers, who run a business out of the home and care for the children of a family that receives Care 4 Kids, will force the rest to pay dues to a union, and accept the deal negotiated on their behalf. If there is a movement for unionization, I believe it should come from the people in the industry, not be imposed by the governor in league with SEIU.''
A Southington Republican, Markley said, "This is part of a nationwide effort to create more dues-paying members of SEIU. At last count, this forced unionization has been attempted in fifteen states. Some have resisted it successfully; we will continue to fight it here in Connecticut."
Responding to Markley, O'Connor told Capitol Watch: "The lack of opposition during the drive, other than from a handful of politicians, is pretty remarkable. ... We had a secret ballot election here, where those who voted are independent voters. There was no employer harassment or intimidation. Markley is just touting the same anti-worker, anti-union rhetoric that is being pushed by these corporate front groups. We are talking about mostly women who are at or even below the poverty level. They're making minimum wage or less. Markley is just all wrong with this claim about this all being about union dues. There will be no union dues until these workers are covered by a contract, and they won't be covered by a contract until they have the right to bargain collectively.''
O'Connor added, "I'm sure the guy believes what he's being told. But what he's being told is being fed to him by corporate front groups that have a political agenda. ... Here's what happens when workers aren't harassed or intimidated and can decide whether they want to join a union or not.''
In an interview, Senate Republican leader John McKinney told Capitol Watch : "It's not a surprise. This was set up from the beginning. That does not change the fact that the executive orders issued by the governor are well beyond the reach of the governor's powers. In my opinion, as a policy matter, they cause harm to certain people, especially people in the disability community. If you talk to them and listen to them, at the public forum held by Senator Markley and Representative Sampson, many people testified that this will not help them.'' |
[Open water systems for species-appropriate housing of Peking ducks--effects on behaviour, feather quality and plugged up nostrils].
At present in Germany Peking ducks in commercial housing are on ground with litter and nipple drinkers only and there is no access to open water. With this study we investigated if open water drinkers can affect behaviour and health of ducks positively. In this investigation ten fattening trials with 11 424 ducks, kept with straw, were analyzed. 25% of the compartment (32 m2) were covered with perforated grid, with one of the tested water systems (Nipple drinker, Sparkcup, Shower, Hollow and Round drinker and modified Round drinker) installed. Besides parts of the behaviour of ducks, animal health and hygiene and also economic factors were taken into account. In contrast to pens with nipple-drinkers only, the ducks in pens with open water troughs/showers had the opportunity to exhibit their natural drinking behaviour and water associated activities, such as straining and preening the plumage with water in accordance with the animal welfare requirements. In the free-choice pens, the open water systems were significantly preferred, and over a 24-hour period, the ducks in watering areas with open water troughs showed higher activity. Limiting the access to the open water systems (4, 6 and 8 hours) led to more intense use per time unit. Ducks with access to nipple drinkers only showed a significantly higher percentage of plugged up nostrils than animals from pens with open water drinkers (p < or = 0.05). Open water drinkers also had a positive impact on the plumage condition.The open water drinking systems were very well accepted by the animals and are, concerning behaviour and animal health, an improvement in housing systems of Peking ducks. |
Antimycotic imidazoles. 2. Synthesis and antifungal properties of esters of 1-[2-hydroxy(mercapto)-2-phenylethyl]-1H-imidazoles.
The synthesis of carboxylic and (thio)carbonate esters of 1-[2-hydroxy(mercapto)-2-phenylethyl]-1-H-imidazoles, some of which are formally related to miconazole and its analogues by replacement of an ether with an ester linkage, is described. In antifungal bioassays a number of compounds display in vitro and, in a few cases, in vivo activities comparable to that of miconazole. In this series lipophilicity within a relatively narrow range is shown to be a necessary, although not sufficient, criterion for in vitro and, in particular, in vivo antifungal activity. |
Q:
ResourceDictionary Template reference to Self
I've got a CustomButton (let's call it MetroButton) which derives from Button and adds 3 properties: Size, ImageSource and Text. Size describes the Width and Height of the Control at the same time.
MetroButtons consists of a Template - now I want to carve-out the Template into a Stand-Alone ResourceDictionary.xaml - but how could I reference the Width and Height of the Button to the custom property "Size" ?
<ControlTemplate TargetType="Button">
<Border x:Name="_border"
Width="{Binding Size,
ElementName=_metroButton,
UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged,
Mode=TwoWay}"
Height="{Binding Size,
ElementName=_metroButton,
UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged,
Mode=TwoWay}"
Background="{StaticResource DefaultButtonBackgroundColor}"
BorderBrush="{StaticResource DefaultButtonBorderColor}"
BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}">
At the moment I'm able to use ElementName because the Template is defined directly inside the MetroButton class - if the Template is defined outside the class there is no chance to reference the ElementName (afaik) - and using
RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}
won't lead to the expected result either - then the Styles won't apply at all.
Any solutions?
A:
RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type yourButton}
|
This is for my baby girl who is lesbian and who I love dearly!!!
We are one country with such a diversity of people. Love is love no matter who or what their sexuality , creed, religion , colour or race . Gay couples are recognized for the purposes of centrelink payments and taxes. Why should only heterosexual couples be allowed to commit to another by marriage. We no longer live in the dark ages , this debate had been going on for so long now . Being allowed to have a registered relationship is like a kick in the &$@ . I believe everyone in Australia is affected by this , by either having or knowing someone's son, daughter,cousin,uncle,aunty, mother,father or friend who are gay. Why are we treating these wonderful human beings as second class. I'm personally affected by this my daughter is a lesbian and her mother I would love to see my get married just like every other parent out there. My daughter doesn't want any special treatment like a lot of gay people out their they just want to have the same rights to get married as heterosexual couples do. You know when you hire an employee you can not discriminate against race, religion, colour, creed, tradition or sexuality , so why the heck are gay people being discriminated against having the same rights as everyone else, you get a job based on qualification and merit. Not because of your sexuality. Were any of the politicians in parliament asked to answer that question on their job applications. Gillard is quoted as saying " Australia is far more advanced then any other country" I think not!!!!!! I think it's time we get to have a public referendum on this topic- let Australia have their say, let us taxpayers make the decision . By signing this petition we are telling the polititions leading this country that we want equal rights for all Australians.... And to stop using the Christianity excuse to hide behind because there is nothing holy or Christian like about many members of parliament through there behaviours. I would also love to get all gay groups and organizations in every state of Australia to stage a day of peaceful protest/rally all on the same day and the same time and spread the word that it is open to everyone and anyone gay, hetero, bi, trans,leso etc etc. Let the masses speak, standing together makes us strong. So I urge you sign so that we can be heard loud and clear"LEGALISE GAY MARRIAGE, give everyone the same rights!!!! |
{#f02}
Professor Tanne, you have been in Brazil on three different occasions during when you had the chance to attend conferences and exchange experiences with renowned Brazilian universities such as the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), State University of São Paulo (UNESP) in Araraquara, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Piracicaba and the University of Brasília (UnB). Additionally, you have advised six Brazilian orthodontists in the postgraduate program of the University of Hiroshima. In this context, what are your impressions of Brazilian Orthodontics? (Emanuel Braga Rêgo)
===================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
I have been to Brazil three times to attend scientific events. Among these events, the 49^th^International Dental Meeting, in Araraquara, was the most impressive, given that it was my first time in Brazil. Moreover, I had the opportunity to teach a one-week course for some dental students at UNESP, which was highly advantageous to them. In this opportunity, I have to admit I found the knowledge of Brazilian students to be a little inferior in comparison to the Japanese, especially in regard to scientific research. After that, I attended to other events: One was held in Campinas, in April, 2006, during which I had the opportunity to teach a course to the students of Orthodontics at UNICAMP, whereas the other one was held in Fortaleza, in September, 2009 (CLEFT). After these two experiences, I noticed that students\' level of knowledge had increased substantially in clinical and scientific terms. Nevertheless, I would like to suggest that all orthodontists, especially those involved with education, promote basic researches that can turn into useful evidence for the development of new therapeutic systems and techniques available for day-to-day Orthodontics. I also would like to highlight the importance of scientific exchange with other countries as a practical and quick way to produce the best performance in research. Incorporating young orthodontists/scientists who have received a doctorate title or have attended training programs abroad into Brazilian universities is undoubtedly a very positive measure.
Professor Tanne, could you briefly explain the educational process students go through in Japan in order to become an orthodontist? (Emanuel Braga Rêgo)
========================================================================================================================================================
Before explaining the educational process, I would like to present the current status of Orthodontics in Japan. The Japanese Orthodontic Society (JOS) is the official association in Japan. Up to February, 2012, it had 6,375 members. We can make an estimate based on the general population in Japan, which is of approximately 120 million people. The number of colleges authorized to offer postgraduate courses in Orthodontics is 29. The number of orthodontists certified by the JOS is 2,739 or 43% of all members (JOS members do not necessarily hold a certificate of Orthodontics). The number of orthodontists who hold a specialist certificate (a title that is similar to the Board certification) is 298, which corresponds to 5% of all members or 11% of all certified members. In other words: In Japan, the orthodontic certificate issued by JOS requires a 5-year postgraduate course and finishing of 30 cases, out of which two are selected for an oral test. Subsequently, there is a more specific certification that is called specialization: The applicant must present ten cases that have been treated with at least two years in retention and, then, undergo another evaluation. Only those who hold an orthodontic certificate issued by JOS are allowed to apply for the title of specialist.
Professor, Hiroshima is well known in Brazil for the atomic attack it underwent during the Second World War. After this interview, at least for the orthodontic community, Hiroshima will also be known for its excellence in orthodontic education and scientific production. Could you highlight the most relevant topics that are being studied at the University of Hiroshima nowadays? (Emanuel Braga Rêgo)
================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
Since I have been promoted to head of the Department of Orthodontics in Hiroshima, I have always tried to educate young students with clinical training and clinical thinking towards research. Hence, I have always required that we develop relevant scientific topics, even though they wished to act as clinicians, only. As a result, three students have become professors and head of their respective departments in other universities, 81 students have received a PhD title whereas 102 have received the orthodontic certificate. The topics we are currently studying are as follows: 1) biomechanical, biological and molecular mechanisms, as well as therapeutic principles, of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis; 2) cryopreservation of cells and tissues used in the teeth bank as well as for tissue regeneration in the treatment of bone defects in cleft palate patients; 3) root resorption prevention and repair with therapeutic low intensity ultrasound; 4) association between malocclusion, breathing and sleep disorders, evidencing that orthodontic treatment can improve one\'s quality of life; 5) application of amelogenin, a protein of tooth enamel, to repair tooth-surface defects.
Initially, I would like to compliment you for the excellent job you have done in education and for the important researches you have developed at the University of Hiroshima, which greatly contributes to the development of Orthodontics. I would also like to compliment the Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics for the excellent choice for this interview. In Brazil, we have reference centers for the treatment of cleft patients. These centers have a multidisciplinary approach, i.e., they work with dental, orthodontic, surgical and psychological treatments. Specifically with regard to orthodontic treatment of clef patients, I would like to ask: 1) Can these patients receive orthodontic treatment in private clinics, i.e., not in reference centers? 2) Briefly, what is the logistics for these patients in Japan? (Fábio Lourenço Romano)
======================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
In Japan, the treatment for cleft lip/palate patients is covered by health insurance; therefore, they only have to pay for 30% of the costs of surgery and orthodontic treatment. Additionally, only certified orthodontists are allowed to treat cleft lip/palate patients, whether in hospital or specialized private clinics. On JOS website, there is a list of certified orthodontists and patients have free access to this information. With regard to treatment, the general protocol requires that patients be pre-surgically treated with the Hotz appliance. Afterwards, cleft lip and palate cosmetic surgeries are carried out at the age of 3 or 4 months old as well as at 18 months old. Orthodontic treatment is performed immediately after treatment for maxillomandibular discrepancy and anterior/posterior crossbite repair. At around 9 years old, during initial orthodontic treatment usually performed before eruption of permanent canines, secondary bone graft is carried out to repair the bone defect in the cleft area. Finally, once permanent dentition is complete, patients undergo orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances in order to have their dental arches lined up, in addition to attaining the most satisfactory occlusion. In this phase, orthognathic surgery may be proved necessary for asymmetry and severe bone discrepancies repair. Dental agenesis is corrected by means of fixed prostheses or implants placed after body growth is complete.
Rapid maxillary expansion associated with protraction of the maxilla is one of the treatment methods employed for anteroposterior maxillary deficiency in growing patients,especially in cleft patients. Based on your experience, do you consider this treatment protocol efficient and stable? (Fábio Lourenço Romano)
========================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
Rapid maxillary expansion is very useful for posterior crossbite correction. However, before expansion, it is necessary to diagnose the anteroposterior maxillomandibular relationship. Should significant discrepancy be found between the bone bases, crossbite will necessarily be present, even if the transverse dimensions of the maxillary dentition are normal and the apical base is within normal standards and in harmony with the mandible. In this context, overexpansion of the maxilla is unstable or inconvenient for future treatment with fixed appliances. Based on the aforementioned considerations, we initially treat the anteroposterior relationship of children with orthopedic appliances, whereas adult patients undergo distraction osteogenesis surgery (assessed from 12 years old on).
Do you believe that autograft of mesenchymal stem cells associated with hydroxyapatite carbonate will be successfully used for bone regeneration of cleft palate in the future? (Fábio Lourenço Romano)
=======================================================================================================================================================================================================
I appreciate your interest in bone regeneration with mesenchymal stem cells, since it is a relevant topic about which we have been studying in our department at the University of Hiroshima. Firstly, we conducted an *in vitro*study to understand the proliferation and differentiation of these cells and also to assess whether these abilities can be controlled by addition of some chemical mediators such as cytokines and growth factors. Afterwards, we conducted *in vivo* studies. Artificial defects were made to the parietal bone of growing rats and mesenchymal stem cell cultures were transplanted to these defects. After 8 and 16 weeks, bone regeneration and sutural structures were noticed. Additionally, we conducted a similar experiment with Beagle dogs in which bone defects were made to the maxilla so as to simulate cleft palate. The latter was posteriorly filled with mesenchymal stem cells and hydroxyapatite carbonate. The results demonstrated prominent bone regeneration in the bone defects. Finally, we were able to prove that mesenchymal stem cells cryopreserved with the new freezing system (freezer with magnetic field) can also be successfully used for bone regeneration.
Based on these studies, we are confident that mesenchymal stem cells transplantation will become a great tool for the treatment of bone defects in cleft palate patients. Moreover, it is evident that the psychological stress to which patients are subjected due to the several surgeries they have to go through will certainly be minimized with this bone regeneration therapy. In our university, clinical trials have been made with regard to the use of this therapeutic method in cleft palate patients.
It is a great pleasure and an important opportunity for me to ask a few questions to you, Professor Tanne, a renowned scientist who studies the pathophysiology of the temporomandibular joint. The identification of clinical signs is very important to diagnose temporomandibular disorders (TMD), however, such information is not always well understood by the clinician. In addition to TMD clinical signs, which methods have proved to be the most efficient in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of orthodontic patients with temporomandibular disorders at the University of Hiroshima? (Rogério Lacerda dos Santos)
=====================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
TMDs are known as multifactorial diseases, therefore, a differential diagnosis with appropriate methods is required. Furthermore, we have to pay special attention to the fact that orthodontic patients have a considerably high prevalence of TMD, and do not usually identify the problem before orthodontic treatment onset. A differential diagnosis of TMD is generally done by means of clinical, functional and imagiological examinations. Additionally, modern biochemical tests are available, especially for patients with suspected temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.
As for the diagnosis of TMDs, the clinical examination firstly aims at tracking the following four main symptoms: joint pain, noise, muscular sensibility and difficulty in mouth opening. With regard to noise, crackling must be differentiated from clicking for an appropriate diagnosis. A click generally suggests anterior disc displacement with reduction. Crackling, on the other hand, suggests a pathologic condition that is more severe than clicking, and it is associated with anterior disc displacement without reduction. Difficulty in mouth opening is established when the degree of opening is less than 35 mm for adolescents and less than 40 mm for adult patients.
Should any sign or symptom be detected, the patient is subjected to the functional examination. For this examination, occlusal patterns such as occlusal force, tooth contact area, muscle activity and fatigue as well as condylar movement, are analyzed. Among these patterns, the analysis of condylar movement is the most valuable for TMD diagnosis in terms of intra-articular pathology identified by the pattern and course of the condylar movement. At our clinic, the axiograph and a 6-degree jaw tracking device are used to analyze condylar movement. The use of these devices allows us to identify four different movements. If the condylar course is smooth and the linear length is greater than 10 mm, it will be considered normal. The 8-shaped pattern represents the crossing between the courses of opening and closing, which reflect the beginning of clicking noises between the disc and the condyle. Therefore, 8-shaped pattern sagittal condylar movement suggests anterior disc displacement which is divided into early, intermediate and late, according to the crossing point of the course that is affected by the degree of disc displacement. Late disc displacement is considered more difficult to treat due to being more severe. The other types of disc displacement are more restrict or mixed, and are generally related to severe pathologies and internal joint disorder.
Imagiological exams such as tomographies and magnetic resonance are recommended for patients with suspected joint internal disorder. Tomography imaging is useful to measure not only the joint spaces, but also the condylar position in the glenoid fossa. Additionally, it is used to detect condylar bone disarrangements. As for magnetic resonance, it is able to assess the level of displacement and the arrangement of the disc. At our clinic, the criterion proposed by Wilkes has been used for a differential diagnosis of internal disorders. The status of intra-articular pathology is classified into six stages. Stage zero: normal; stages I and II: mild disc displacement with reduction. It is important to highlight that no other significant mechanical symptoms can be recognized, except for the reciprocal click which is observed in stage I of the pathological status. From stage III to V, both disc displacement without reduction and condylar deformity can be observed.
It has been proved that the majority of TMDs can be diagnosed by means of several exams; therefore, I recommend that all aforementioned steps be taken in order to achieve a differential diagnosis and, thus, prevent unexpected TMD conditions, such as temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis, which leads to unsuccessful orthodontic treatment with reasonably unstable results.
Temporomandibular disorders are functional disorders of the masticatory system with complex and multifactorial etiology. Different therapies are referred to in the literature for the treatment of these disorders, for instance, occlusal, pharmacological, physiotherapeutic and psychological therapies. What is your opinion about the applicability of occlusal therapy performed by means of relaxation splints in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction and in need of orthodontic treatment? (Rogério Lacerda dos Santos)
========================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
The best therapeutic strategies are chosen according to the signs and symptoms of TMD. The Japanese Society of TMD provides a treatment protocol for each type of TMD according to the following symptoms and intra-articular pathologies:
1. »Type I: Disorders of the masticatory muscles.
2. »Type II: Disorders of ligaments and soft tissues.
3. »Type III: Disorders of articular disc or condyle.
- Subtype III a: Anterior disc displacement with reduction.
- Subtype III b: Anterior disc displacement without reduction.
4. » Type IV: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis with progressive condylar resorption.
{#f01}
For types I or II, the relaxation splint is recommended to eliminate the pain in the tissues, given that it promotes decompression. Pharmacological intervention may be effective for symptomatic relief in some patients. After regression of symptoms, occlusal orthodontic treatment or occlusal treatment with prosthetic rehabilitation must be performed in cases in which the malocclusion is the cause of TMD.
As for subtype III a, the anterior repositioning splint is recommended to correct the position of the disc as well as the condyle. After repositioning the disc and the condyle, orthodontic/prosthetic treatment must be performed in order to keep the new condylar position, given that the result obtained with the therapy performed with splints is unstable and often relapses. As for types III b and IV, repositioning the disc in the condyle is considered a difficult task, therefore, it is wise not to contribute to the progression of intra-articular pathology. In this case, occlusal reconstruction may be recommended. In fact, our cases have demonstrated that progressive condylar resorption may be cured or repaired after a stable occlusion is achieved in association with normal condylar positioning.
Based on your clinical experience, especially with regard to patients with open bite, deep bite and posterior crossbite with temporomandibular disorder, how often do relapses occur and/or temporomandibular disorders persist in these patients? Would these relapses be more related to the complex etiology of the relationship between malocclusion and TMD or to inappropriate orthodontic treatment? (Rogério Lacerda dos Santos)
========================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
This is a difficult question to answer because the relapse of malocclusion is different from the relapse of TMD. Based on my experience, the relapse of malocclusions orthodontically treated are due to deficient retention, little patient\'s cooperation with regard to the use of retainers, persistence of deleterious habits related to the etiology of the malocclusion (mouth breathing, tongue protrusion) and unsatisfactory treatment. Relapse of TMD occasionally occurs, however, it may be difficult to identify the reason why it occurs. It has been demonstrated that the relapse of TMD or progression of mild TMD into temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis, during and after orthodontic treatment, clearly suggests posteroinferior mandibular displacement followed by condylar resorption, in addition to Class II relationship with open bite as well as open mandibular angle, which is more severe than the original malocclusion. Based on the aforementioned considerations, it is expected that orthodontists correctly assess the patient, ensuring that the joint is healthy before orthodontic treatment onset.
It is a great honor to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Tanne about a very interesting and relevant subject matter: teeth bank. Researches on tooth cryopreservation and reimplantation have been brilliantly conducted at the University of Hiroshima and will certainly contribute not only to dental rehabilitation, but also to improve patients\' quality of life. Professor Tanne, could you briefly explain how it all started and describe the current status of the University of Hiroshima teeth bank? (Matheus Melo Pithon)
===========================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
I greatly appreciate your interest in tooth cryopreservation. Tooth transplantation is covered by health insurance in Japan and it is considered a conventional treatment method employed to replace lost teeth. However, tooth transplantation must be carried out immediately after tooth extraction. Tooth extraction is well accepted and is part of many orthodontic treatment plans, for instance, in cases of great tooth/bone discrepancy. Transplantation is not necessary in the majority of these cases, yet the extracted teeth are discarded as hospital waste. In this context, we have developed an advanced system of cryopreservation under magnetic field called CAS (Cells Alive System). To validate the CAS system, we initially conducted an *in vitro*study with a culture of fibroblasts originating from the periodontal ligament in order to exam the survival and proliferation rates of the cryopreserved cells after thawing. The results demonstrated survival and proliferation rates that were satisfactory for transplantation. Afterwards, an *in vitro*study was conducted to assess the feasibility of transplanting cryopreserved teeth in rats. Upper central incisors that had been immediately reimplanted served as control. The results did not reveal the development of ankylosis and the root resorption rate did not present any difference among the teeth that served as control. Subsequently, with permission of the Japanese Ministry of Health, we transplanted a cryopreserved tooth in a 28-year-old female patient, the first experiment of this nature in the world. The results were excellent, with significant regeneration of periodontal tissues. So far, there are more than 1,800 cryopreserved teeth in our teeth bank. Among these, approximately 130 teeth have returned to their original patients with a success rate of 95%. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that our teeth storage system is extremely useful to preserve teeth that have been extracted due to orthodontic indication. Additionally, the application of this technology in tissue engineering, particularly with regard to the preservation of other types of tissues and cells, such as stem cells, seems to be highly promising. In fact, we have demonstrated that cryopreserved mesenchymal stem cells induce bone repair in bone defects created in growing rats.
{#f03}
Professor, could you briefly explain the cellular mechanism involved in the preservation of a tooth? Are there any studies regarding orthodontic movement in sites that have received cryopreserved cells? (Matheus Melo Pithon)
================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
In the magnetic field obtained with the CAS freezer, the molecules of water inside the cells vibrate and are uniformly aligned. Therefore, at thawing, they do not destroy the cell wall, whereas in the conventional freezer the molecules of water freeze, forming clusters that, when undone at thawing, destroy the cell wall. This fact results in low survival rate and low cell proliferation, which leads to unsuccessful transplantation due to poor tissue regeneration.
To assess the metabolic activity of mesenchymal stem cell regenerated bones of Beagle dogs, we conducted a study in which teeth were subjected to movement within the new regenerated bone tissue. Tooth movement rate was similar to the control groups, thus suggesting an equivalent metabolic function.
{#f04}
Do you believe that, in the future, human teeth will become organs eligible for donation, especially in countries that do not have access to modern technologies? Do you believe that it will be possible to \"recreate teeth\"? Is it possible to implement the technology of teeth bank in Brazil? (Matheus Melo Pithon)
==========================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
Our storage system is strictly maintained to preserve and reimplant the teeth from and to the same patient. Several infectious diseases can exist in the oral cavity where they can be passed on in case transplantation is carried out in a distinct receptor. This is a basic principle behind our teeth bank. With regard to your second question, we have already implemented our system of teeth bank at the Medical School of Taipei University, in Taiwan. For this reason, it is perfectly possible to implement the same system in Brazil, provided that some basic principles are met. I would like to request that everybody seek new innovations in favor of Dentistry and Orthodontics. Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics, all the interviewers as well as readers.
» Patients displayed in this interview previously approved the use of their facial and intraoral photographs.
**How to cite this interview:** Tanne K. Interview. Dental Press J Orthod. 2014 Jan-Feb;19(1):10-8. doi: <http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2176-9451.19.1.010-018.int>
|
The importance of the strictly conserved, C-terminal glycine residue in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase for overall catalysis: mutagenesis and truncation of GLY-961 in the sorghum C4 leaf isoform.
Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is a "multifaceted," allosteric enzyme involved in C4 acid metabolism in green plants/microalgae and prokaryotes. Before the elucidation of the three-dimensional structures of maize C4 leaf and Escherichia coli PEPC, our truncation analysis of the sorghum C4 homologue revealed important roles for the enzyme's C-terminal alpha-helix and its appended QNTG961 tetrapeptide in polypeptide stability and overall catalysis, respectively. Collectively, these functional and structural observations implicate the importance of the PEPC C-terminal tetrapeptide for both catalysis and negative allosteric regulation. We have now more finely dissected this element of PEPC structure-function by modification of the absolutely conserved C-terminal glycine of the sorghum C4 isoform by site-specific mutagenesis (G961(A/V/D)) and truncation (DeltaC1/C4). Although the C4 polypeptide failed to accumulate in a PEPC- strain (XH11) of E. coli transformed with the Asp mutant, the other variants were produced at wild-type levels. Although neither of these four mutants displayed an apparent destabilization of the purified PEPC homotetramer, all were compromised catalytically in vivo and in vitro. Functional complementation of XH11 cells under selective growth conditions was restricted progressively by the Ala, DeltaC1 and Val, and DeltaC4 modifications. Likewise, steady-state kinetic analysis of the purified mutant enzymes revealed corresponding negative trends in kcat and kcat/K0.5 (phosphoenolpyruvate) but not in K0.5 or the Hill coefficient. Homology modeling of these sorghum C-terminal variants against the structure of the closely related maize C4 isoform predicted perturbations in active-site molecular cavities and/or ion-pairing with essential, invariant Arg-638. These collective observations reveal that even a modest, neutral alteration of the PEPC C-terminal hydrogen atom side chain is detrimental to enzyme function. |
Identifying women at risk for inherited breast cancer using a mammography registry.
Women at risk for inherited breast cancer have been identified for intervention studies through newly diagnosed relatives or from volunteers with a family history. This pilot study tested the use of a mammography registry to identify women at risk. Fifty women with first-degree relatives diagnosed as having breast cancer before age 45 were randomly selected from the Vermont Breast Cancer Surveillance System. Thirty-three women (66%) completed a phone interview that included a three-generation family pedigree of breast and ovarian cancers. Fifty-one percent of the women were at higher risk for inherited breast cancer based on the family history. Eighteen percent of the first-degree relatives' breast cancers were pathologically confirmed. Mammography registries that collect similar family history data may be used to identify women at risk for inherited breast cancer. Many intervention studies would require improved methods to obtain pathologic confirmation. |
Field of the Invention: The present invention relates generally to systems for monitoring environmental conditions and, more particularly, to detection of environmental conditions in buildings that are conducive to fungal growth.
State of the Art: There is a growing concern about fungal contamination in both residential and commercial buildings. To address this concern, there is a need for a system that detects environmental conditions conducive to growth of some of the most common fungal types found in contaminated buildings.
Fungal contamination in buildings and the subsequent exposure risk to inhabitants is an increasing concern to builders, property managers and owners, and the property insurance companies that issue coverage. Although the low cost of laboratory analysis has made accurately assessing fungal contamination in residences and buildings possible, the associated costs of remediating fungal-contaminated buildings remains high, due to specialized practices and procedures not found in conventional demolition and construction. In light of this, we sought a method by which the conditions for permissible fungal growth could be detected and corrected before fungal contamination occurs.
Generally, fungi require nutritious media, moisture, and mild temperatures to grow. Although nutritious media and mild temperatures are often found in living and working spaces, relative humidity and surface moisture are often too low for fungal growth to occur. In walls, roof/ceilings, and other plenum spaces however, these contained areas create an environment favorable for mold growth and thus these spaces represent the highest risk for mold development. Indeed, plumbing, appliance, and roof leaks in plenum areas are often causes of loss leading to fungal contamination in a building. The moisture requirement for fungal growth is fulfilled by accidental water incursions, and can be artificially divided into fast, catastrophic leaks and slower leaks. Although catastrophic leaks typically result in the greatest water-related damage, their very nature results in relatively rapid detection and subsequent prevention or remediation of fungal contamination, if handled expeditiously. Slow water incursions such as those related to HVAC system issues, leaking appliances, groundwater incursions, plumbing leaks, and roof leaks are of particular concern, since inhabitants do not always readily detect them.
A small unobtrusive and inexpensive device is needed for detecting these relative humidity levels conducive to fungal growth. In addition, a method and device are needed for analyzing the relative humidity values. Results of the analysis may be reported to a user through a visual and auditory interface or to a host device through a network interface.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a device and method collect and log relative humidity, and evaluate that data using an algorithm to determine if local environmental conditions are conducive for fungal growth of potentially toxicogenic species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys, molds commonly found in the United States. The device and method detect conditions conducive to the growth of several species of fungus (mold) and not necessarily mold itself.
In one embodiment, the device, a fungus growth condition meter, is placed in a wall, floor, or ceiling to detect relative humidity levels within the wall or attic cavities. It is particularly useful for placing in xe2x80x9cwetxe2x80x9d walls where plumbing exists and the danger of pipe leakage makes a fungal growth condition more probable. The device may be configured in a cylindrical shape, similar to a hockey puck, or as a rectangular cube suitable for placing in a standard electrical box such as those used to house AC electrical current outlets. A panel on the front of the device indicates growth conditions within the cavity to a user. The interface may comprise a visual alarm, such as a blinking light emitting diode LED, an audio alarm, and a display indicating up to five different levels of relative humidity conditions.
The growth condition meter may include a simple controller with attached memory, a timer, a relative humidity sensor, and the user interface. The timer keeps track of the time of day and creates a fixed time interval at which relative humidity values are sampled using the relative humidity sensor. In addition, the growth condition meter may contain a network interface for connection to a host computer allowing the creation of a network of growth condition meters positioned throughout a building. The host computer may be a standard personal computer, a computer specifically designed for the task of monitoring growth condition meters, or possibly even a personal digital assistant (PDA) or similar device.
In one preferred embodiment, the device executes an algorithm for determining growth conditions within the cavity based on a history of relative humidity samples. To begin the process, the growth condition meter gathers enough samples at a predetermined sampling interval to complete a 24-hour period of aggregate samples. The algorithm then compares the relative humidity samples to predetermined relative humidity thresholds to determine a severity level for fungal growth. The algorithm uses a two-part analysis rubric.
First, the algorithm uses a temporal analysis rubric. This analysis examines all consecutive samples over the previous 24-hour period to determine how long the relative humidity was below a predetermined threshold. Relative humidity levels will typically by cyclical, following a roughly sinusoidal profile over a 24-hour period. By examining consecutive relative humidity values below a fixed threshold, the algorithm can verify that relative humidity is varying in relation to environmental conditions. Additionally, the algorithm verifies that enough time is spent below the threshold creating a thermal burn-off of the humidity to an extent that mold growth is not probable. The threshold level is set to a predetermined programmable value based on environmental conditions where the growth condition meter is installed. Example historical data collected in Houston, Texas indicate that, for the Houston area, a relative humidity threshold of about 80% would be appropriate.
The second rubric is a baseline analysis comparing all samples over the previous 24-hour period to determine if all samples are over a predetermined relative humidity threshold. The baseline rubric allows for a scenario where there is enough time spent below the temporal threshold but the overall relative humidity remains high enough to permit fungal growth. Comparing the relative humidity values to three different threshold levels creates a gradient severity level based on this baseline analysis. The threshold levels are set to predetermined programmable values based on environmental conditions where the growth condition meter is installed. Example historical data collected in the Houston, Texas area indicate that, for the Houston area, appropriate threshold levels are 75%, 70%, and 65%.
The algorithm combines the results of both analysis rubrics to arrive at a composite severity level, which it then reports to the user through the user interface or to a host computer through the network. |
Q:
neovim Gruvbox appears all white and grey, I can't spot the mistake
I can’t get Gruvbox to work. I’m using neovim. And I would really appreciate if someone can locate the mistake.
I’ve installed gruvbox in ~/.config/nvim/bundle/ and this is my entire ~/.config/nvim/init.vim file. I tried to add True Color in two different ways.
execute pathogen#infect()
filetype plugin indent on
set tabstop=4
set expandtab
map <C-n> :NERDTreeToggle<CR>
set termguicolors
let $NVIM_TUI_ENABLE_TRUE_COLOR=1
colorscheme gruvbox
And when I run :colorscheme from inside vim I see gruvbox listed there. But it looks awful, no highlighting, all grey text on white.
I don’t know where the mistake is.
Thank you.
A:
To correct the appearance, remove the lines below that set termguicolors
set termguicolors
|
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese is a range of handmade cow's milk cheese made in Arklow, County Wicklow ranging from Brie cheeses to Cheddar cheese. A range of cheese are produced varying from fresh soft cheese to a Gouda style hard cheese.
History
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese was set up in 2005 by John Hempenstall as a way of supplementing farm income. The cheese is made exclusively from the milk of the Hempenstall's Friesian cows and each cheese is handmade on the farm.
Products
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese produce a number of cow's milk cheeses:
Wicklow Blue is a blue veined brie cheese using pasteurised cows milk and vegetarian rennet.
Wicklow Bán is a brie cheese
Wicklow Gold is a cheddar cheese made using pasteurised cows milk. Several flavoured varieties are also produced such as "Nettle and Chive" and "Basil and Garlic".
St. Kevins Brie is produced for the catering industry
Awards
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese has won numerous awards.
2013 Global Cheese Awards awarded medals in different categories including a Gold medal for Wicklow Bán, a Silver medal for Wicklow Blue and a Bronze medal for Wicklow Blue.
2014 Nantwich Cheese Show awarded the trophy for best vegetarian cheese to Wicklow Blue
References
Category:Irish cheeses
Category:Food and drink in Ireland |
Valinomycin, a degranulating agent in rat mast cells which inhibits calcium-uptake.
The effect of valinomycin on both, mast cell histamine release and on calcium (45Ca)-uptake processes was examined. Pleural and peritoneal mast cells were purified in isotonic Percoll (pH = 7) and mixed populations were used in the experiments. Valinomycin (10(-9)-10(-5) M) stimulated histamine release in isolated rat mast cells when the incubation medium contained high K+ concentrations (Tris-K+ with 150 mM K+), but not in other media such as Tris-Na+ (120 mM Na+) or Tris-sucrose (300 mM sucrose). In contrast, in the absence of valinomycin, elevated K+ levels in the external environment did not activate mast cell secretion. Optimum response in valinomycin-treated mast cells was obtained when the cells were incubated for 60 min. Also valinomycin (10(-5) M) induced substantial inhibition of 45Ca-uptake while lower doses (10(-9)-10(-7) M) did not affect or only slightly increased uptake. In this paper valinomycin is shown to be a degranulating agent eliciting mediator release in mast cells incubated in the presence of high K+ levels, which does not require extracellular calcium and inhibits 45Ca uptake. The possibility that valinomycin acts as a K+ ionophore, as in other secretory systems, is discussed. |
Q:
Meaning of 'cast' here
I'm learning something from programming and I came to this:
While evaluating expressions, the result is automatically updated to larger data type of the operand. But if we store that result in any smaller data type it generates compile time error, due to which we need to type cast the result.
How to explain cast in the end of the paragraph?
In this context, I would go as throw something away, but yet I don't get it
A:
'type cast' is a single idea.
It's a coding/programming term meaning to specify a data type by forcing it, type-casting it - into the desired form.
For instance "3" is a 'string', which is a text data type. The quotes in programming make that quite specific; it's not a number any more, it's a string, even though the string contains what to a human looks exactly like a number. Computers don't see things the way humans do.
So - if we need to take that string & force it to become a number, we type-cast it to an integer [which is a whole number with no decimals]
Our string "3" then becomes the integer 3
in pseudo-code...
string myText = "3";
integer myNumber = (integer)myText;
That (integer) in brackets is the 'forcing', the type-cast.
Whether to hyphenate or not is probably a UK/US thing. I'm British, we hyphenate a lot more than the Americans.
I guess it could come from 'to throw' it into a particular type, but I'm not certain. To cast a spell would be a similar use - whether that's 'thrown' might be debatable.
Looking down the 10 meanings in the Oxford Dictionary for 'cast' I honestly wouldn't really know which it would fall under.
It might even be more akin to casting an object from molten metal.
A:
Tetsujin explains the meaning in computer usage. I'd like to try to explain the etymology you're looking for.
In manufacturing, if a liquid is poured into a mold and allowed to harden into a solid that is determined by the mold, it is said to be "cast in that mold". Type casting is a method of taking a variable and changing its form to a new type or taking an object of unknown type and treating it as a specific type. Just like the liquid in the manufacturing process, it is "cast into the mold" of the type and takes on that form.
|
Electrochemical determination of methimazole based on the acetylene black/chitosan film electrode and its application to rat serum samples.
A novel method has been developed for the determination of methimazole, which was based on the enhanced electrochemical response of methimazole at the acetylene black/chitosan composite film modified glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical behavior of methimazole was studied at this film electrode by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The experimental results showed that methimazole exhibited a remarkable oxidation peak at 0.63V at the film electrode. Compared with the bare glassy carbon electrode, the oxidation peak current increased greatly, and the peak potential shifted negatively, which indicated that the acetylene black/chitosan film electrode had good catalysis to the electrochemical oxidation of methimazole. The enhanced oxidation current of methimazole was indebted to the nano-porus structure of the composite film and the enlarged effective electrode area. The influences of some experimental conditions on the oxidation of methimazole were tested and the calibration plot was examined. The results indicated that the differential pulse response of methimazole was linear with its concentration in the range of 1.0×10(-7) to 2.0×10(-5)mol/L with a linear coefficient of 0.998, and in the range of 4.0×10(-5) to 3.0×10(-4)mol/L with a linear coefficient of 0.993. The detection limit was 2.0×10(-8)mol/L (S/N=3). The film electrode was used to detect the content of methimazole in rat serum samples by the standard addition method with satisfactory results. |
/* Copyright 2020 The TensorFlow Authors. All Rights Reserved.
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.
==============================================================================*/
/**
* Unit tests for the the Alerts component and container.
*/
import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
import {TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
import {Store} from '@ngrx/store';
import {provideMockStore, MockStore} from '@ngrx/store/testing';
import {alertTypeFocusToggled} from '../../actions';
import {DebuggerComponent} from '../../debugger_component';
import {DebuggerContainer} from '../../debugger_container';
import {State, AlertType} from '../../store/debugger_types';
import {
createAlertsState,
createDebuggerState,
createState,
} from '../../testing';
import {AlertsContainer} from './alerts_container';
import {AlertsModule} from './alerts_module';
import {ExecutionDataModule} from '../execution_data/execution_data_module';
import {GraphExecutionsModule} from '../graph_executions/graph_executions_module';
import {InactiveModule} from '../inactive/inactive_module';
import {SourceFilesModule} from '../source_files/source_files_module';
import {StackTraceModule} from '../stack_trace/stack_trace_module';
import {TimelineModule} from '../timeline/timeline_module';
/** @typehack */ import * as _typeHackStore from '@ngrx/store';
describe('Alerts Container', () => {
let store: MockStore<State>;
let dispatchSpy: jasmine.Spy;
beforeEach(async () => {
await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
declarations: [DebuggerComponent, DebuggerContainer],
imports: [
AlertsModule,
CommonModule,
ExecutionDataModule,
GraphExecutionsModule,
InactiveModule,
SourceFilesModule,
StackTraceModule,
TimelineModule,
],
providers: [
provideMockStore({
initialState: createState(createDebuggerState()),
}),
DebuggerContainer,
],
}).compileComponents();
store = TestBed.inject<Store<State>>(Store) as MockStore<State>;
dispatchSpy = spyOn(store, 'dispatch');
});
it('renders number of alerts and breakdown: no alerts', () => {
const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AlertsContainer);
store.setState(
createState(
createDebuggerState({
activeRunId: '__default_debugger_runs__',
alerts: createAlertsState(),
})
)
);
fixture.detectChanges();
const numAlertsValueElement = fixture.debugElement.query(
By.css('.num-alerts-value')
);
expect(numAlertsValueElement.nativeElement.innerText).toBe('0');
const alertTypeNameElements = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(
By.css('.alert-type-name')
);
expect(alertTypeNameElements.length).toBe(0);
});
it('renders number of alerts and breakdown: one alert type', () => {
const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AlertsContainer);
store.setState(
createState(
createDebuggerState({
activeRunId: '__default_debugger_runs__',
alerts: createAlertsState({
numAlerts: 10,
alertsBreakdown: {
InfNanAlert: 10,
},
}),
})
)
);
fixture.detectChanges();
const numAlertsValueElement = fixture.debugElement.query(
By.css('.num-alerts-value')
);
expect(numAlertsValueElement.nativeElement.innerText).toBe('10');
const alertTypeNameElements = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(
By.css('.alert-type-name')
);
const alertTypeCountElements = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(
By.css('.alert-type-count')
);
expect(alertTypeNameElements.length).toBe(1);
expect(alertTypeNameElements[0].nativeElement.innerText).toBe('NaN/∞');
expect(alertTypeCountElements.length).toBe(1);
expect(alertTypeCountElements[0].nativeElement.innerText).toBe('∞: 10');
});
it('renders number of alerts and breakdown: three alert types', () => {
const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AlertsContainer);
store.setState(
createState(
createDebuggerState({
activeRunId: '__default_debugger_runs__',
alerts: createAlertsState({
numAlerts: 11,
alertsBreakdown: {
FunctionRecompilesAlert: 5,
InfNanAlert: 4,
TensorShapeAlert: 2,
},
}),
})
)
);
fixture.detectChanges();
const numAlertsValueElement = fixture.debugElement.query(
By.css('.num-alerts-value')
);
expect(numAlertsValueElement.nativeElement.innerText).toBe('11');
const alertTypeNameElements = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(
By.css('.alert-type-name')
);
const alertTypeCountElements = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(
By.css('.alert-type-count')
);
expect(alertTypeNameElements.length).toBe(3);
expect(alertTypeNameElements[0].nativeElement.innerText).toBe(
'Function recompiles'
);
expect(alertTypeNameElements[1].nativeElement.innerText).toBe('NaN/∞');
expect(alertTypeNameElements[2].nativeElement.innerText).toBe(
'Tensor shape'
);
expect(alertTypeCountElements.length).toBe(3);
expect(alertTypeCountElements[0].nativeElement.innerText).toBe('C: 5');
expect(alertTypeCountElements[1].nativeElement.innerText).toBe('∞: 4');
expect(alertTypeCountElements[2].nativeElement.innerText).toBe('■: 2');
});
it('renders alert type focus correctly: one focus type', () => {
const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AlertsContainer);
store.setState(
createState(
createDebuggerState({
activeRunId: '__default_debugger_runs__',
alerts: createAlertsState({
numAlerts: 5,
alertsBreakdown: {
[AlertType.INF_NAN_ALERT]: 3,
[AlertType.TENSOR_SHAPE_ALERT]: 2,
},
focusType: AlertType.INF_NAN_ALERT,
}),
})
)
);
fixture.detectChanges();
const alertBreakdownsInFocus = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(
By.css('.alerts-breakdown-type.focus')
);
expect(alertBreakdownsInFocus.length).toBe(1);
const typeNameElement = alertBreakdownsInFocus[0].query(
By.css('.alert-type-name')
);
expect(typeNameElement.nativeElement.innerText).toBe('NaN/∞');
});
it('renders alert type focus correctly: no focus', () => {
const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AlertsContainer);
store.setState(
createState(
createDebuggerState({
activeRunId: '__default_debugger_runs__',
alerts: createAlertsState({
numAlerts: 5,
alertsBreakdown: {
[AlertType.INF_NAN_ALERT]: 3,
[AlertType.TENSOR_SHAPE_ALERT]: 2,
},
focusType: null,
}),
})
)
);
fixture.detectChanges();
const alertBreakdownsInFocus = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(
By.css('.alerts-breakdown-type.focus')
);
expect(alertBreakdownsInFocus.length).toBe(0);
});
it('dispatches alertTypeFocusToggled when breakdown is clicked', () => {
const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AlertsContainer);
store.setState(
createState(
createDebuggerState({
activeRunId: '__default_debugger_runs__',
alerts: createAlertsState({
numAlerts: 5,
alertsBreakdown: {
[AlertType.INF_NAN_ALERT]: 3,
[AlertType.TENSOR_SHAPE_ALERT]: 2,
},
focusType: null,
}),
})
)
);
fixture.detectChanges();
const alertBreakdownTypes = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(
By.css('.alerts-breakdown-type')
);
expect(alertBreakdownTypes.length).toBe(2);
alertBreakdownTypes[0].nativeElement.click();
expect(dispatchSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
expect(dispatchSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
alertTypeFocusToggled({alertType: AlertType.INF_NAN_ALERT})
);
alertBreakdownTypes[1].nativeElement.click();
expect(dispatchSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
expect(dispatchSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
alertTypeFocusToggled({alertType: AlertType.TENSOR_SHAPE_ALERT})
);
});
});
|
By: Zack Duvall Republican Pennsylvania Congressman, Tim Murphy, has announced this week that he will indeed resign after a swirling controversy that has many calling the House member a hypocrite on a key policy issue. Murphy, who was first elected to office in 2003, has been under intense pressure to resign after texts from his alleged mistress surfaced in which he was pressuring her to … Continue reading GOP Congressman Resigns Amid Abortion Scandal
By: Zack Duvall A bombshell development in the fight to discover who the hidden sources of funds are for the anti-Trump “resistance” movement, which has led to the rise of leftist hate-group ‘Antifa’, has ended in the release of 2015 tax documents that the group’s leaders had tried to conceal from the public. The Washington Free Beacon, however, has obtained those documents and posted them … Continue reading Breaking: “Resistance” Organization’s Donors Revealed
By: Zack Duvall The Trump administration has announced that it has given 15 Cuban diplomats at Cuba’s embassy in Washington seven days to leave the country or face action by federal authorities. The move comes as the investigation into “mysterious” sonic attack on U.S. officials working out of America’s embassy in Cuba. The attacks have left 21 American diplomats and intelligence officers with brain injuries, … Continue reading Trump Administration Kicks Cuban Diplomats Out of U.S.
By: Zack Duvall 10/04/2017 UPDATE: New Developments in the investigation into the Sunday night massacre carried out by Stephan Paddock, a 64-year old multi-millionaire, have emerged and are providing new insight to the events leading up to the deadly shooting. Officials have confirmed that in the week leading up to Sunday night, Paddock had wired $100,000 to the Philippines, where his live-in girlfriend, Marilou Danley, … Continue reading Las Vegas Massacre: What We Know So Far *UPDATED 10/4/2017* |
Q:
SQl Autobackup is not generating backup after sometime
When i schedule the autobackup for a database it starts for that particular time, but after 1 day it's not generating any backup for the same database.
We don't have a DBA. I have also generated auto-backup on 2 APR, but after that no auto-backup was generated. I have deleted the plan & re-planned the Auto-backup process.
Any suggestions?
A:
Are you talking about the software SQL Autobackup? Because I think I'd go talk with their support first before coming onto StackOverflow.
Or are you talking about backups that can be taken via SQL Server maintenance plans?
|
Jaikishan Jalan and his wife Sonam Agarwal live in a nice apartment downtown, just a block from his office at Microsoft. Evening sunlight comes through the balcony sliding-glass door; savory aromas of Indian cooking come from the kitchen.
Representing two of Bellevue's most notable population trends -- surges in minorities and downtown residents -- Jalan and Agarwal are featured in this month's issue of the resident newsletter It's Your City. Other topics include South Bellevue annexation and redevelopment of the Kelsey Creek Center.
When Jalan is not working, the couple, both 26, go on hikes or see movies.
"Bellevue is a beautiful place and the people are very friendly," Agarwal says of the city she and her husband have called home for a little over a year. The lakes and mountains around the city are a glorious contrast from the hot, sometimes dusty parts of India where Agarwal and Jalan were born and raised.
Like many in Bellevue, Jalan and Agarwal appreciate the city's urban flavor and low crime. Like a rising number of people here, they were not born in the United States. Moving from Iowa to Bellevue for a tech job, Jalan and his wife neatly represent the city's most notable population trends -- surges in minorities and downtown residents.
According to the 2010 census, minorities now comprise 41 percent of Bellevue's population, up from 28 percent in 2000. Now Asians alone account for nearly 28 percent of the city's population, the highest share of any city in the state.
The construction boom downtown, which included several high-rise condominiums and apartment buildings, transformed the neighborhood from a primarily commercial district to a home for more than 7,000 people, nearly triple the downtown population in 2000.
"Bellevue's population continues to become more diverse and cosmopolitan." said Dan Stroh, planning director for the past 10 years. "People from many backgrounds moving to Bellevue expand our horizons socially and culturally. Plus, this situates us really well in today'sglobal economy."
The statistics may be eye-popping, but the people behind them reflect more about the intersection of Bellevue's burst of high-tech jobs with a technically trained workforce from India and China than a yearning among Asians to move to the Northwest.
After earning a master's degree in computer science from Iowa State University, Jalan says he took a job offer from Microsoft simply because it offered the best possibility for career advancement. He was unfamiliar with Bellevue then.
Although they are sold on the city now, and are open to possibilities, ultimately they expect to move back to India
Not so for Chijen and Shuangyu Lin, who live in a retirement center in Crossroads. They have no intention of leaving Bellevue.
"I am an American," Chijen says proudly in broken English, just weeks after gaining U.S. citizenship. "This is my honor."
The Lins, both 87, moved to Bellevue from Taiwan in 2006 to be with their son Ho-Na. Ho-Na, a civil engineer, moved to Redmond seven years ago, after attending college in Maryland. He is married with two children, one a recent college graduate, the second, a freshman in college.
Chijen had his doubts about Bellevue, but found the city to be surprisingly diverse, with convenient facilities and transportation. He likes to take the bus to libraries around the area and his wife participates in events at the Asian Senior Concerns Foundation, an activity center in Crossroads for Asian retirees.
Generalizations about Asians in Bellevue are tricky. Just among those in high-tech jobs, some are here on work visas and may eventually return to their homelands while others have established their careers in the U.S. and have become American citizens or are working toward that.
While some Asians live downtown, many are concentrated in the Crossroads or South Bellevue areas.
The 2010 census and the 2005-2009 American Community Survey, another Census Bureau document, offer a wealth of data that provide a good picture of Bellevue. Details, including population trends by neighborhood, are available at Demographics.
Among the notable trends identified in the census and ACS:
In 2010 Bellevue's population was 122,363, up 11.7 percent from 109,569 in 2000, in line with projections. Bellevue remains the fifth most populous city in the state.
Bellevue's 2010 Asian population was 33,659, up from 19,011 in 2000.
Echoing a trend throughout the country, the city's Latino population rose significantly, from 5,827 in 2000 to 8,545 last year.
The percentage of Bellevue's adults with at least a bachelor's degree continues to grow, from 46 percent in 1990 to 54 percent in 2000 to about 60 percent in 2009.
Bellevue is expected to continue becoming more diverse. The trend, combined with an educated workforce, will attract a wide variety of businesses and economic growth to the city.
"It's got a big city touch, but little visible crime and traffic," Jalan said, summarizing the qualities that draw people of all kinds to Bellevue. |
Alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in brown adipose tissue of infant rats--II. Studies on function and regulation.
1. Clonidine inhibited the forskolin- and MIX-induced rate of lipolysis in brown fat adipocytes isolated from interscapular brown fat of 7-day-old rats. Its effect could be prevented by the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine. 2. Pertussis toxin prevented the above effect of clonidine, thus indicating that alpha 2-adrenoceptors are linked with adenylate cyclase via the Ni regulatory subunit. 3. Chemical sympathectomy of 5-day-old rats by 6-hydroxydopamine increased the number of low-affinity alpha 2 sites in brown fat. 4. Chronic administration of yohimbine to 2-3-week-old rats also increased the density of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in brown fat. 5. It is suggested that brown fat of infant rats possesses functional alpha 2-adrenoceptors. |
The present invention concerns a process enabling the direct fabrication of at least one part on a structure, in particular an aircraft fuselage, and a device for implementing this process.
A fuselage includes a primary structure, formed, in particular, of transverse frames and of longitudinal stringers, of an external skin supported by the primary structure, and also of a floor fixed to the primary structure. At the time of fabrication of the fuselage at a production site, numerous parts of various types are fixed to the primary structure in order to reinforce it, such as, for example, a linking plate and a backing plate, fixed to one another at the juncture between two coplanar frames and clasping said two frames in order to couple them to one another.
At present, the parts to be fixed are fabricated by various entities outside the production site and are then conveyed to the latter where they are put away in the warehouse of the production site. Prior to the fixing of the part to the fuselage by screwing or riveting, the operators have to go and look for the parts in the warehouse in order to transport them into the fuselage to a position where they have to be fixed, they have to set these parts by means of liquid or pasty setting, necessitating a significant drying-time, in order to take into account the defects of contact between the primary structure and the part, said defects being due to the clearances (less than one millimeter) inherent in the jointing of elements of large dimensions. These measures slow down the rate of production of the fuselages.
One solution to this problem would be to fabricate the parts directly on the fuselage at the place where they have to be fixed. From document EP 2 537 642 a device is known for printing of parts in 3D, but this device is arranged in a closed enclosure specifically dedicated to the printing, and only enables a part to be fabricated in accordance with a predetermined template, the part fabricated in this way (necessitating a machining phase in order to extract it from its support plate) still having to be conveyed to the production site and then set. |
Gq signaling is required for allergen-induced pulmonary eosinophilia.
The complexity and magnitude of interactions leading to the selective infiltration of eosinophils in response to inhaled allergens are formidable obstacles to a larger understanding of the pulmonary pathology associated with allergic asthma. This study uses knockout mice to demonstrate a novel function for the heterotrimeric G protein, G(q), in the regulation of pulmonary eosinophil recruitment. In the absence of G(q) signaling, eosinophils failed to accumulate in the lungs following allergen challenge. These studies demonstrate that the inhibition of eosinophil accumulation in the airways is attributed to the failure of hemopoietically derived cells to elaborate GM-CSF in the airways. The data suggest that activation of a G(q)-coupled receptor(s) on resident leukocytes in the lung elicits expression of GM-CSF, which, in turn, is required for allergen-induced pulmonary eosinophilia, identifying a novel pathway of eosinophil-associated effector functions leading to pulmonary pathology in diseases such as asthma. |
[Neurological disorders in sickle-cell disease (author's transl)].
Neurological disorders may be, specially in children, the first and dramatic troubles giving notice of the hematological disease. These disorders, listed according to their frequency are: cerebral vascular thrombosis, epilepsy, bacterial meningitis, meningism, cerebral thrombo-phlebitis, disorders of cranial nerves, hydrocephalus related to a pachy meningitis. One must be cautious with transfusions. Paraclinical neurological tests have no specificity. |
// Copyright Joyent, Inc. and other Node contributors.
//
// Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
// copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
// "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including
// without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish,
// distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit
// persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the
// following conditions:
//
// The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
// in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
//
// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
// OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
// MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN
// NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM,
// DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR
// OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE
// USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
var assert = require('assert');
var events = require('../');
var e = new events.EventEmitter;
assert.deepEqual(e._events, {});
e.setMaxListeners(5);
assert.deepEqual(e._events, {});
|
El Potasio a altas presiones y temperaturas produce un nuevo estado de la materia, sólido y líquido al mismo tiempo | imagen Wikipedia creative commons
Sólido, líquido y gaseoso. Esos fueron los estados de la materia que tradicionalmente me enseñaron en el colegio. Más tarde tendría que añadir plasma a esa lista y parece que la cuestión no va a terminar ahí. Esta misma semana, investigadores de la Universidad de Edimburgo, en colaboración con la Universidad Xi’an Jiantong en China, acaban de confirmar la existencia de un nuevo estado en el que la materia puede coexistir como sólido y líquido a la vez.
Por supuesto este nuevo estado de la materia es muy exótico y tan solo se produce bajo determinadas circunstancias de temperatura y presión. Los científicos escoceses, han aplicado altas presiones y temperaturas al Potasio, un metal simple, creando un estado en el que la mayoría de los átomos del elemento forman una estructura de red sólida. Sin embargo, la estructura también contiene un segundo conjunto de átomos de potasio que están en una disposición fluida.
Para conseguir estos resultados los investigadores realizaron simulaciones informáticas de cómo se comportan hasta 20,000 átomos de potasio en condiciones extremas, revelando que las estructuras formadas representan el nuevo estado estable de la materia. Según el comunicado de la Universidad de Edimburgo: “las interacciones químicas entre los átomos son fuertes, permanecen en forma sólida cuando la estructura se calienta, mientras que los otros átomos se funden en un estado líquido”.
Debido a estas particulares características, el nuevo estado ha sido bautizado como estado de cadena fundida y los investigadores creen que, además del Potasio, podría encontrarse en otros elementos, incluidos el Sodio o el Bismuto.
Andreas Hermann, de la Facultad de Física y Astronomía de la Universidad de Edimburgo, y principal responsable del estudio, explica en Eureka Alert: “El potasio es uno de los metales más simples que conocemos, pero si lo aprietas, se forman estructuras muy complicadas. Hemos demostrado que esto El estado inusual pero estable es en parte sólido y en parte líquido. Recrear este estado inusual en otros materiales podría tener todo tipo de aplicaciones“.
Referencias científicas y más información:
University of Edimburg «Elements Can Be Solid and Liquid at the Same Time, Study Reveals». EurekAlert!
Comunicado de prensa de la Universidad de Edimburgo: Elements can be solid and liquid at same time
Adam Man «Confirmed: New phase of matter is solid and liquid at the same time». Science & Innovation, National Geographic.
Próximamente se publicará el artículo científico en Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). DOI:10.1073/pnas.1900985116 |
A number of men with migrant backgrounds have been convicted of a trio of murders in a Stockholm suburb, where a man was shot dead then a witness and his wife were brutally murdered.
Fouad Saleh, 22, described as a leading figure in the local crime scene, was handed a life sentence for the murders, which took place in Hallonbergen last year.
The first murder investigation began in January 2017, when a seriously injured man turned up to Karolinska University Hospital and told staff he had been shot at a garage but managed to escape.
The victim said he was shot at again after his car was rammed off the road as he tried to make his way to hospital. With gunshot wounds to his head, body and arms, the man died in hospital.
Police were soon contacted by a 39-year-old who described seeing from his balcony the sight of several young men, some of whom he could name, running out of the garage and chasing after the victim on the night of the attack.
Crimes against the person in Sweden have risen to “the highest level since measurements began” https://t.co/ktOZDVFyzS — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) November 20, 2017
Six weeks later, on March 7, Saleh, along with 23-year-old Mikael Chamoun and an unnamed 17-year-old, broke into the apartment of the witness, who was out walking his dog, and stabbed his wife to death with a knife.
Upon returning home, the 39-year old called 112, telling emergency services staff his wife had been killed in the apartment and that Saleh and Chamoun were inside.
Local media reported the victim said, “Please, I don’t want to die,” before he was dragged away, beaten, and stabbed to death by the youths.
Charmoun was sentenced to 14 years in prison while the third assailant, who was 16 at the time, was ordered to spend three years in institutional youth care.
Munir Nooraldin and Amir Jabbari Taklar were convicted for the garage murder along with Saleh for the garage murder, and sentenced to 10 and 12 years prison respectively.
Solna District Court heard: “One was the driving force of starting a car chase, another had telephone contact with the victim in order to find him, and a third drove the car used to chase the man.”
An investigation by newspaper Expressen into gang-related violence in Stockholm — the site of 552 shootings linked to criminal gangs between January 2011 and last year — found that 95 per cent of 192 individuals confirmed by police as involved in the capital’s organised crime scene had a migration background. |
Brick tile is also called thin brick or brick veneer. It can be installed any place a that stone veneer or siding is used, such as home exteriors, floors, patios, fireplaces, or walls. Brick tile is made either from salvaged brick shaved into thin slices, or from new clay that is molded into tiles. Brick tile is becoming increasingly popular in the US because it is sturdy, fireproof, and easy to maintain, as well as having the classic appearance of real brick at a fraction of the cost.
Most brick homes built in the last 40 years are actually sided with brick tile rather than built with solid brick, because solid bricks are expensive and work-intensive to build with. A house with brick laid in a uniformly horizontal pattern is not built with real brick, because solid brick walls have rows where the bricks are laid with the ends facing outwards in order to maintain structural integrity. However, brick tile has some of solid brick’s advantages. It does not need to be painted or stained, and it helps insulate the home and protect it from fire, weather, and water damage.
Ad
All brick is made from clay and fired in a kiln. Brick is naturally yellowish in color, and iron oxide is added into the clay to give it a red color. A lot of brick tile is made from salvaged brick that is usually cut into 1/2” (1.3 cm) or 15/16” (2.4 cm) slices. Salvaged brick has the appearance and quality of old-fashioned brick, it is less expensive than whole bricks, and it keeps old building materials out of landfills. Other brick tiles are newly manufactured from clay that is molded into a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and patterns.
Both salvaged and new brick tile is laid by masons, with mortar spread underneath and between the tiles. When used for home siding and walls, 1/2” (1.3 cm) brick is generally used. An air gap is left between the wall and the brick, with a moisture-resistant layer in between and weep holes to allow moisture to escape. Chemical sealants may be applied for extra moisture and stain resistance. Thinner 15/16” (2.4 cm) brick slices are used for floors and in place of ceramic tile in bathrooms and kitchens. These brick tiles can be sealed with a low or high-gloss polyurethane to protect them and keep them clean, and they should be waxed yearly to maintain their finish.
Discuss this Article
Post your comments
Please enter the code:
Login
Register
Make changes/additions/deletions to the article below, and one of our editors will publish your suggestions if warranted.
Optional: Explanation of your recommended changes
Thank You!
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted.
Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive,
this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK! |
# encoding: utf-8
module FIR
VERSION = '2.0.9'
end
|
Lipid levels in high density lipoprotein subfractions in smokers with peripheral vascular disease.
No significant difference in HDL cholesterol was found between smokers with PVD and corresponding controls. The ratio of HDL cholesterol to the sum of (VLDL + LDL) cholesterol was reduced in patients with PVD. Patients with PVD had significantly highly serum triglyceride levels. A slightly significant difference could be demonstrated for serum cholesterol and serum phospholipids concentrations in smoking patients with PVD. |
Have something to say?
Ready to be published? LXer is read by around 350,000 individuals each month, and is an excellent place for you to publish your ideas, thoughts, reviews, complaints, etc. Do you have something to say to the Linux community?
NixOS 16.03 Screencast and Screenshots
NixOS community is proud to announce the third NixOS stable release 'Emu' 16.03. This is a low profile release, but it contains many small improvements. We had 10,567 commits from 448 contributors in this release spanning over six months. The release brings many improvements including Nix 1.12.2, systemd 229, kernel 4.4 and many packages updates. |
Silver Star Overview
Location: Park CityWhere Else Can You be Skiing or Golfing that Afternoon…?
Park City is a laid back ski town that knows how to cater to the locals, as well as visitors and everyone in between. Rich with heritage of the mining days, Park City is now rich in recreational fun and a healthy mountain lifestyle. Winter brings Park City the “World’s Greatest Snow” and with the three world-class ski areas – Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and Canyons Resort – makes Park City a world-class destination.
Silver Star is situated at the base of the northern slopes of Park City Mountain Resort, and is serviced in the winter by the Silver Star chairlift, located in the Silver Star Village area. Silver Star is approximately 40 minutes from the Salt Lake City International Airport. This makes getting to some of the best skiing, golfing, fly-fishing, and everything else Park City has to offer easier, than getting to any other mountain resort town of its kind.
You can fly-in, grab your bags, and be on the ‘hill’ (skiing or hiking) that afternoon!
Directions From the Salt Lake City International Airport
1. Upon leaving the SLC Airport exit head East on I-80 for 4.4 miles
2. Merge onto I-15 South/I-80 heading southbound for 2.5 miles
3. Continue on I-80 Eastbound for 21 miles
4. Exit I-80 at the Kimball Junction/Park City Exit #145
5. Bear right heading southbound on UT-224 for 5.5 miles
6. Turn right onto Thaynes Canyon Road and follow road up to the four-way intersection
7. Turn left and travel 0.25 miles and enter Silver Star on your right
Featured Property
Great Promontory Club Homesite at a great value. Enjoy all of the year round amenities Promontory Club has to offer, while calling this beautifully set property home. Nice quiet location with easy access to the clubhouse, golf course and main gate. Gently slopping lot makes it easy to build. ... More Info »
Offered at $139,000
The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. All properties are subject to prior sale or withdrawal. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate, and should be independently verified. |
Q:
Re-arranging pointers in a struct doesn't give me the correct result
I have this struct
typedef struct InfoSession {
TabNodePtr FirstTab;
TabNodePtr LastTab;
TabNodePtr CurrTab;
TabNodePtr AuxTab;
char *OpeningAddress;
} InfoSession;
which has to be a browser session that controls all its tabs. The OpeningAddress is the default address when opening a new tab.
My main looks like this:
int main() {
InfoSessionPtr MySession1 = NULL, MySession2 = NULL, CurrSession = NULL;
int option, flag, n;
char *OpeningAddress == NULL;
...
}
When I want to change the OpeningAddress using this function:
void SessionNewOpeningAddress(InfoSessionPtr Session, char *OpeningAddress1) {
Session->OpeningAddress = OpeningAddress1;
}
everything works fine and the new opening address I add is displayed correctly. But, when I have two sessions at the same time, changing the OpeningAddress of the second session also changes the OpeningAddress of the first session (When adding a second session, after I've inserted a new OpeningAddress to the first session, the OpeningAddress of the second session isn't the same as the first session).
For example, if I change the opening address of the first session to "AA", adding a new session after that makes the OpeningAddress of the second session to be NULL, and not "AA" (Which is what I want).
Adding the new session(s):
if (MySession1 == NULL && MySession2 == NULL) {
MySession1 = SessionNew(OpeningAddress);
CurrSession = MySession1;
printf("\nNew Session (first) created!\n");
printf("First Session assigned as 'Current' Session\n");
} else {
MySession2 = SessionNew(OpeningAddress);
CurrSession = MySession2;
printf("\nA Session already exists, created a second one.\n");
printf("Second Session assigned as 'Current' Session\n");
}
Changing the opening address:
printf("\nInsert the new Opening Address:\n");
scanf("%s", OpeningAddress);
SessionNewOpeningAddress(CurrSession, OpeningAddress);
Also, the code changing which session to manage:
printf("\nPress 1 to manage first Session or 2 to manage second Session:\n");
scanf("%d", &n);
getchar();
if (n == 1){
CurrSession = MySession1;
printf("\nManaging first Session\n");
} else if (n == 2){
CurrSession = MySession2;
printf("\nManaging second Session\n");
}
Thanks for your help.
A:
The problem is simple:
the call SessionNewOpeningAddress(CurrSession, OpeningAddress); sets the OpeningAddress member of the CurrSession to point to an array in the caller's scope that gets overwritten after this call. Indeed all OpeningAddress fields may point to the same array in the calling function.
posting code fragments as you did is not helpful, much of the context is missing and some other code might cause the problem.
hiding pointers behind typedefs as in TabNodePtr is highly discouraged. It leads to confusing code for beginners and advanced programmers alike.
To fix your problem, you could make a copy of the string:
#include <string.h>
void SessionNewOpeningAddress(InfoSessionPtr Session, char *OpeningAddress1) {
Session->OpeningAddress = OpeningAddress1 ? strdup(OpeningAddress1) : NULL;
}
You would need to free the previous value as long as the structure has been initialized properly, and also free the current Session->OpeningAddress when the structure is discarded.
|
Canada Finalizes Plan to Study Wind Turbines' Health Impacts
Health Canada and Statistics Canada are collaborating on the study and expect to complete it in 2014. Initially they'll survey adult inhabitants in 2,000 residences near up to a dozen turbines.
Feb 13, 2013
Canadian authorities have completed the design of a study to determine whether wind turbines' noise causes negative health impacts for people living near them. Health Canada and Statistics Canada are collaborating on the study and expect to finish it in 2014, Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq announced.
Wind turbine noise -– generated either mechanically (from the turbine's motor or gearbox) or aerodynamically (movement of the blades) -– is mainly low-frequency noise, which tends to be associated with more noise complaints, according to the design document. The study aims to determine whether areas with higher calculated noise levels are associated with:
Impairments in sleep, as measured with actimetry
Over-activated stress system, as measured by both cortisol concentrations in hair samples and elevated average diastolic and systolic blood pressure and heart rate
The study also aims to assess wind turbine sound characteristics for the presence of low frequencies, tones, and amplitude modulations and the impact they may have.
The initial sample will be adult inhabitants of 2,000 residences near as many as a dozen turbines, with online and face-to-face interviews and physical measurements of participants, including blood pressure readings, and noise measurements inside and outside their homes. The study partners intend to include occupants of every residence that is located within 600 meters of any of the selected turbines.
An expert panel revised the initial study design based on more than 950 public comments.
"Our government is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadian families, and this study is in response to questions from residents living near wind farms about possible health effects of low-frequency noise generated by wind turbines," Aglukkaq said. "The expert committee has carefully reviewed and evaluated the feedback received during the public consultation and has taken it into consideration when developing the revised research design." |
David Ortiz’s wife, Tiffany Ortiz, thanked a friend Thursday who helped save her husband’s life after he was shot and wounded at a Dominican Republic bar over the weekend.
The Boston Red Sox released a statement on behalf of Tiffany Ortiz, who thanked the owner of Presidente Sports for his quick thinking in driving David Ortiz to the hospital following the shooting.
ACCUSED DAVID ORTIZ GUNMAN CLAIMS SLUGGER WASN’T INTENDED TARGET
“I want to take this opportunity to offer our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Eliezer Salvador, owner of Presidente Sports, for your quick thinking and swift action on Sunday night,” Tiffany Ortiz said in the statement. “Your heroism and selflessness were the first steps to ensuring David could get the urgent care he required. For that, we are eternally grateful.”
Tiffany Ortiz also thanked the doctors at Abel Gonzalez Clinic where her husband was before he was taken back to Boston and placed in Massachusetts General Hospital’s intensive care unit.
DAVID ORTIZ SHOOTING HIGHLIGHTS CRIME PLAGUING DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, SLUGGER HAD CALLED ON POLICE CHIEF TO 'TAKE CARE OF' IT
“David remains in guarded condition in the surgical intensive care unit following his second surgery,” the statement said. “He continues to heal and make progress. David will continue to recover in the ICU and future updates on his condition will be provided when necessary.”
Ortiz was shot in the torso and needed his gallbladder and part of his intestine removed.
DAVID ORTIZ SHOT FOR $8G BOUNTY, POLICE REVEAL, AS INVESTIGATORS TRY TO PIECE TOGETHER MOTIVE FOR HIT
Police announced Wednesday six people were arrested in the shooting and that four more people were sought. |
-0.57(-0.92%)
-6.00(-0.45%)
-0.18(-1.10%)
-0.00(-0.01%)
Trump sets internet ablaze with his new nickname for George H.W. Bush
President Donald Trump covered a wide range of issues during his press conference on Monday -- including sparking backlash for his comments about President Obama -- but that wasn't the only reference to his predecessors that generated a big reaction. |
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<!--
This section defines project-level properties.
AssemblyName
Name of the output assembly.
Configuration
Specifies a default value for debug.
OutputType
Must be "Library" for VSTO.
Platform
Specifies what CPU the output of this project can run on.
NoStandardLibraries
Set to "false" for VSTO.
RootNamespace
In C#, this specifies the namespace given to new files. In VB, all objects are
wrapped in this namespace at runtime.
-->
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props" Condition="Exists('$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props')" />
<PropertyGroup>
<ProjectTypeGuids>{BAA0C2D2-18E2-41B9-852F-F413020CAA33};{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}</ProjectTypeGuids>
<Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
<Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
<ProjectGuid>{B7B1C66F-A6FB-4DD4-98C8-0FC6BD277A7A}</ProjectGuid>
<OutputType>Library</OutputType>
<NoStandardLibraries>false</NoStandardLibraries>
<RootNamespace>Trin_Outlook_RL_AttachFiles</RootNamespace>
<AssemblyName>Trin_Outlook_RL_AttachFiles</AssemblyName>
<TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.0</TargetFrameworkVersion>
<TargetFrameworkProfile>Client</TargetFrameworkProfile>
<DefineConstants>VSTO40</DefineConstants>
<FileUpgradeFlags>
</FileUpgradeFlags>
<UpgradeBackupLocation>
</UpgradeBackupLocation>
<OldToolsVersion>4.0</OldToolsVersion>
<VSTO_TrustAssembliesLocation>true</VSTO_TrustAssembliesLocation>
<BootstrapperEnabled>true</BootstrapperEnabled>
<PublishUrl>publish\</PublishUrl>
<InstallUrl />
<TargetCulture>en</TargetCulture>
<ApplicationVersion>1.0.0.0</ApplicationVersion>
<AutoIncrementApplicationRevision>true</AutoIncrementApplicationRevision>
<UpdateEnabled>true</UpdateEnabled>
<UpdateInterval>7</UpdateInterval>
<UpdateIntervalUnits>days</UpdateIntervalUnits>
<IsWebBootstrapper>False</IsWebBootstrapper>
<ProductName>Trin_Outlook_RL_AttachFiles</ProductName>
<PublisherName />
<SupportUrl />
<FriendlyName>Trin_Outlook_RL_AttachFiles</FriendlyName>
<OfficeApplicationDescription />
<LoadBehavior>3</LoadBehavior>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<BootstrapperPackage Include=".NETFramework,Version=v4.0,Profile=Client">
<Visible>False</Visible>
<ProductName>Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile %28x86 and x64%29</ProductName>
<Install>true</Install>
</BootstrapperPackage>
<BootstrapperPackage Include="Microsoft.Net.Client.3.5">
<Visible>False</Visible>
<ProductName>.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Client Profile</ProductName>
<Install>false</Install>
</BootstrapperPackage>
<BootstrapperPackage Include="Microsoft.Net.Framework.3.5.SP1">
<Visible>False</Visible>
<ProductName>.NET Framework 3.5 SP1</ProductName>
<Install>true</Install>
</BootstrapperPackage>
<BootstrapperPackage Include="Microsoft.Office.PIARedist.2007">
<Visible>False</Visible>
<ProductName>Microsoft Office 2007 Primary Interop Assemblies</ProductName>
<Install>true</Install>
</BootstrapperPackage>
<BootstrapperPackage Include="Microsoft.Windows.Installer.3.1">
<Visible>False</Visible>
<ProductName>Windows Installer 3.1</ProductName>
<Install>true</Install>
</BootstrapperPackage>
</ItemGroup>
<PropertyGroup>
<!--
OfficeApplication
Add-in host application
-->
<OfficeApplication>Outlook</OfficeApplication>
</PropertyGroup>
<!--
This section defines properties that are set when the "Debug" configuration is selected.
DebugSymbols
If "true", create symbols (.pdb). If "false", do not create symbols.
DefineConstants
Constants defined for the preprocessor.
EnableUnmanagedDebugging
If "true", starting the debugger will attach both managed and unmanaged debuggers.
Optimize
If "true", optimize the build output. If "false", do not optimize.
OutputPath
Output path of project relative to the project file.
WarningLevel
Warning level for the compiler.
-->
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<Optimize>false</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
<EnableUnmanagedDebugging>false</EnableUnmanagedDebugging>
<DefineConstants>$(DefineConstants);DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
<CodeAnalysisRuleSet>AllRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
</PropertyGroup>
<!--
This section defines properties that are set when the "Release" configuration is selected.
DebugSymbols
If "true", create symbols (.pdb). If "false", do not create symbols.
DefineConstants
Constants defined for the preprocessor.
EnableUnmanagedDebugging
If "true", starting the debugger will attach both managed and unmanaged debuggers.
Optimize
If "true", optimize the build output. If "false", do not optimize.
OutputPath
Output path of project relative to the project file.
WarningLevel
Warning level for the compiler.
-->
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
<DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
<EnableUnmanagedDebugging>false</EnableUnmanagedDebugging>
<DefineConstants>$(DefineConstants);TRACE</DefineConstants>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
<CodeAnalysisRuleSet>AllRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
</PropertyGroup>
<!--
This section enables pre- and post-build steps. However, in VSTO use
MSBuild tasks instead of these properties.
-->
<PropertyGroup>
<PreBuildEvent>
</PreBuildEvent>
<PostBuildEvent>
</PostBuildEvent>
<SignManifests>true</SignManifests>
<ManifestKeyFile>Trin_Outlook_RL_AttachFiles_TemporaryKey.pfx</ManifestKeyFile>
<ManifestCertificateThumbprint>B97E5B836E7B5C61F6DB2779400E1691D59BCAFB</ManifestCertificateThumbprint>
</PropertyGroup>
<!--
This section specifies references for the project.
-->
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Accessibility" />
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook, Version=14.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c">
<EmbedInteropTypes>True</EmbedInteropTypes>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<EmbedInteropTypes>True</EmbedInteropTypes>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.Common, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<EmbedInteropTypes>True</EmbedInteropTypes>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.VisualStudio.Tools.Applications.Runtime, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL" />
<Reference Include="Office, Version=14.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c">
<EmbedInteropTypes>True</EmbedInteropTypes>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="stdole, Version=7.0.3300.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a">
<EmbedInteropTypes>True</EmbedInteropTypes>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="System" />
<Reference Include="System.Data" />
<Reference Include="System.Drawing" />
<Reference Include="System.Windows.Forms" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml" />
<Reference Include="System.Core" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml.Linq" />
<Reference Include="System.Data.DataSetExtensions" />
<Reference Include="Microsoft.CSharp" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.v4.0.Framework, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL" />
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.Outlook, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.Common.v4.0.Utilities, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<Private>True</Private>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.Outlook.v4.0.Utilities, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<Private>True</Private>
</Reference>
</ItemGroup>
<!--
This section defines the user source files that are part of the project.
A "Compile" element specifies a source file to compile.
An "EmbeddedResource" element specifies an .resx file for embedded resources.
A "None" element specifies a file that is not to be passed to the compiler (for instance,
a text file or XML file).
The "AppDesigner" element specifies the directory where the application properties files
can be found.
-->
<ItemGroup>
<Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs">
<SubType>Code</SubType>
</Compile>
<EmbeddedResource Include="Properties\Resources.resx">
<Generator>ResXFileCodeGenerator</Generator>
<LastGenOutput>Resources.Designer.cs</LastGenOutput>
<SubType>Designer</SubType>
</EmbeddedResource>
<Compile Include="Properties\Resources.Designer.cs">
<AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
<DependentUpon>Resources.resx</DependentUpon>
<DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
</Compile>
<None Include="Properties\Settings.settings">
<Generator>SettingsSingleFileGenerator</Generator>
<LastGenOutput>Settings.Designer.cs</LastGenOutput>
</None>
<Compile Include="Properties\Settings.Designer.cs">
<AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
<DependentUpon>Settings.settings</DependentUpon>
<DesignTimeSharedInput>True</DesignTimeSharedInput>
</Compile>
<Compile Include="ThisAddIn.cs">
<SubType>Code</SubType>
</Compile>
<None Include="ThisAddIn.Designer.xml">
<DependentUpon>ThisAddIn.cs</DependentUpon>
</None>
<Compile Include="ThisAddIn.Designer.cs">
<DependentUpon>ThisAddIn.Designer.xml</DependentUpon>
</Compile>
<AppDesigner Include="Properties\" />
<None Include="Trin_Outlook_RL_AttachFiles_TemporaryKey.pfx" />
</ItemGroup>
<!-- Include the build rules for a C# project. -->
<PropertyGroup>
<VisualStudioVersion Condition="'$(VisualStudioVersion)' == ''">10.0</VisualStudioVersion>
<VSToolsPath Condition="'$(VSToolsPath)' == ''">$(MSBuildExtensionsPath32)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v$(VisualStudioVersion)</VSToolsPath>
</PropertyGroup>
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
<!-- Include additional build rules for an Office application add-in. -->
<Import Project="$(VSToolsPath)\OfficeTools\Microsoft.VisualStudio.Tools.Office.targets" Condition="'$(VSToolsPath)' != ''" />
<!-- This section defines VSTO properties that describe the host-changeable project properties. -->
<ProjectExtensions>
<VisualStudio>
<FlavorProperties GUID="{BAA0C2D2-18E2-41B9-852F-F413020CAA33}">
<ProjectProperties HostName="Outlook" HostPackage="{20A848B8-E01F-4801-962E-25DB0FF57389}" OfficeVersion="14.0" VstxVersion="4.0" ApplicationType="Outlook" Language="cs" TemplatesPath="VSTOTemplates" DebugInfoExeName="#Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\InstallRoot\Path#outlook.exe" AddItemTemplatesGuid="{66FE057A-6BD5-4A46-8060-3C3E596574A0}" />
<Host Name="Outlook" GeneratedCodeNamespace="Trin_Outlook_RL_AttachFiles" IconIndex="0">
<HostItem Name="ThisAddIn" Code="ThisAddIn.cs" CanonicalName="AddIn" CanActivate="false" IconIndex="1" Blueprint="ThisAddIn.Designer.xml" GeneratedCode="ThisAddIn.Designer.cs" />
</Host>
</FlavorProperties>
</VisualStudio>
</ProjectExtensions>
</Project> |
"Back then, this is years ago," "I couldn't afford secrets." "I just had chores." "As a child, growing up, we had been rich." "And then..." "well... we weren't." "And like most people during the Depression," "I now lived each day as it came, no longer expecting anything." "Waiting -- for nothing." "And then..." "Hello?" "Yes." "What?" "Sh-sh!" "Be quiet." "Sinus?" "Somebody die?" "No." "No one Mom..." "Good Morning Miss Dayse." "I wasn't the first relative his Mother called that day." "Maybe not even the tenth." "But I was around." "His Mother said he needed someone to take his mind off his work." "Why she thought I could do that," "I had no idea." "I suppose he's related to half of everybody up here." "We're fifth -- or sixth cousins." "Depends on how you count..." "Cigarette?" "No." "No, I don't." "I figured I'd spend the afternoon there, and after having thoroughly bored him to death, go back to my quiet life." "taking care of my act" "But was not what happened" "He's not been feeling well." "Sinuses." "Seems to happen every time, the second he comes home." "Mr. President?" "Daisy." "What a rare treat." "I hope my mother didn't force this on you." "She said everyone else was away." "Did she?" "She shouldn't have said that." "How nice to see you." "How long has it been?" "Oh, years." "The Dows' wedding, sir." "In Rhinebeck?" "Oh, were you there?" "Where would you like me to sit?" "There's tea..." "I think there's still tea." "Will you..?" "I can do this because my mother's not here." "She doesn't believe in sinus medicine..." "Do you collect stamps," "Daisy?" "I - don't." "Come and look at these..." "I suppose you've met pretty much everyone of these..." "Not every one." "Not yet." "Excuse me, I should have knocked." "I actually wrote this?" "My cross, Daisy, is that I am too nice." "But -- we need the Senator's vote." "Don't we?" "Why can't politicians just be honest?" "My cousin." "Those are from Africa." "They say that's the highest waterfall in the world." "Would you like me to go?" "No." "Please." "I wouldn't." "This one's pretty." "I'd like to go there." "Where is that?" "Well." "To be honest," "I'd like to go almost anywhere." "In Europe there would certainly be another war, one we would be dragged into, whether we liked it or not." "Here at home, the country is still in a depression people out of work" "Hungry needing help" "the President spent an awful lot of time that spring in Hyde Park On Hudson." "Fellows, one of you please tell Mother -- that this is radio?" "He said " "I helped him forget --." " 'the weight of world'." "thirty seconds look at me..." "I think that means you, Mother." "His Mother said he'd run the whole country from here if he could." "But he couldn't." "Not with how things were " "Everyone knew someone who couldn't find a job the first duty of government" "Everyone scared." "is to protect the economic welfare of all the people and in all groups..." "I said... if private enterprises does not provide jobs this spring government will take up the flag we have all learned the lesson that government cannot afford to wait until it is lost the power to act." "therefore I've sent a message of reaching a prop to the congress" "And everyone looking to him." "They all wanted something from him." "The local labor union, the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, the German-American Friendship Band." "And all he wanted -- was to relax." "Each time he came home, he'd telephone and ask:" "Daisy where would you like to go today?" "And I would always answer -- 'anywhere.'" "His wife, he said, didn't like to take drives." "I learned the names of birds and trees" "I'd seen my whole life." "We drove along country roads, up hills, through woods, through fields." "we drove down roads I never knew the existence." "Roads later..." "I couldn't find by my own." "He'd had the car built so it could be driven with just the hands." "In some ways it's smoother than the regular car" "Do you like to drive?" "I believe I helped him to forget the world" "As we just run away" "And then, one day..." "Where's the police car going?" "Oh, they don't follow all the time." "Sometimes they have to go and catch a crook or something," "I suppose." "We've not been here before?" "No." "I've been saving this." "I like this song." "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "I'm" "I'm the one who should apologize..." "I knew, that we were now -- not just fifth cousins " "but very good friends." "As soon as I can get away." "time passed." "Time measured now in Franklin's visits to hyde park." "Who was that?" "The President wishes to see me." "And he's the President." "He wishes to show me a new stamp." "Where are we going?" "I don't know." "I had it built." "It's where I'll retire." "I'll write those detective books" "I'm always talking about." "go, take a look... go on..." "There's no better place to smell it" "It's heaven!" "I have been thinking, Daisy..." "What?" "What have you been thinking?" "I'd like to--." "To share with you " "this." "When I go away..." "You know I have to go ..." "away." "Should you ever miss me...?" "Do you ever miss me?" "I always do." "Always." "A place to come." "And be alone." "And miss me..." "Oh!" "I am sorry!" "Sorry." "That's all right!" "By now everyone was used to me." "I was the cousin who's always visiting." "No one ever even asked me why that was." "Has he read this?" "I believe he has." ""If one could choose, from all possible British personalities, the two who might make the best impression upon Americans " "King George and Queen Elizabeth would not even make the short list."" "How dare they talk about Royalty like this!" "No King of England had ever visited America before." "But now he was coming -- to Hyde Park on Hudson." "and the only quiet place left to work was outside" "What are those for?" "He has a headache." "You do?" "His sinuses again." "Happens this time every year." "I know that." "You didn't say anything about a headache." "He's not going to trouble you with everything, Missy." "You have enough on your plate." "What does that mean?" "It means -- you take very good care of me." "It means that you do too." "Mrs Roosevelt, we appear not to have enough plates." "What?" "We don't have enough plates." "Someone miscounted." "You tell me this now?" "Mrs Astor has called again." "Franklin warned us," "Mrs Astor will have plates." "We'll borrow hers." "today, stayoutof Mother'sway ." "On second thought -- we shall call for cook." "Mrs Astor is so rich, she doesn't know what she has." "Franklin's wife, Eleanor." "I'm just doing what I'm told." "So much for your little secret..." " Good morning, Mother." " Good Morning." "Eleanor." "We are not going to serve the King of England - a cocktail!" "Your Mother has now told me for the tenth time -- not to call her Royal Highness -- Elizabeth." "She's told me that too." "I mean, please -- what century is this?" "Daisy?" "Daisy?" "Oh yes." "She told me the same thing." "I told her who did she think I was?" "I think she knows." "Daisy?" "Hello!" "You're just staring." "I'm not." "I wasn't." "What do you want?" "Eleanor's just brought out fresh coffee." "She was asking if you'd like any." "She's staring again." "I'm not." "Missy, Leave her alone." "My husband lives for the adoring eyes of young women." "We know this." "Let's change the subject, shall we?" "Don't tell me you're embarrassed." "That day," "I would like to see." "I didn't say I was embarrassed." "Why do we care what a 'king' or 'queen' thinks about us?" "Real rosewood." "Still got the smell." "Is that why it cost so much?" "Hick called." "For this morning's Royal visit she'd been ordered to produce five thousand children overnight." "What?" "Why?" "As buffers for holding back the crowds." "No." "The Girl Scouts refused outright--." "Good for them." "They said their girls had taken an awful beating in DC!" "So she finally got some Boy Scouts!" "But when they were pushed, they pushed back!" "Started something like ten fist fights!" "When she finally got back to her office, she kicked off her shoes, opened her window and shouted out:" "'God damn the King and Queen!"" "we'll maybe saying the same thing tomorrow!" "'Hick' was short for Lorena Hickock." "One of those friends of Eleanor's Franklin called " ""she men."" "People said their marriage was troubled and unhappy." "That they lived mostly separate lives." "But I never saw that." "That's now how they seemed when they were together." "We ended it up" "And stated our last hope for refuge." "are no better than us." "They're just people." "I read that in your column," "Eleanor." "Are you all right?" "You look in pain." " He has a sinus infection." " He gets them -- this time of year." "Oh does he?" "I didn't know that." "I took an aspirin." "They just left Beacon." "Good!" "won't be too long." "Hick says I should get a month of columns out of this weekend." "Hick says this King hates his brother." "There's a column right there." "His brother's met with Hitler." "That's good." "There's another column..." "And this is the family we're having to our home for the weekend." "you don't even live here." "I am staying the night." "Besides, I told your mother." "I thought the brother gave up being king so he could marry the woman he loved." "Daisy, have you ever met a man who would do that?" "Hick says she thinks the brother might be positioning himself to be the savior of the monarchy, once England has been defeated and the fascists have taken over." "Of course." "He's young, Eleanor" "So is she." "They're both young." "Now let's just give them a break." "Can we?" "Andallthewild,thekingandqueen were getting close." "Should we stop and meet some people." "Wouldn't that be a good idea?" "But..." "We've just left..." "We're almost there." "I don't think there are any more towns until..." "It's just a country road now." "Still..." "He wants a cigarette." "We don't want to be e-e-e-arly." "No." "No we don't." "And I'd like to meet some Americans." "Doesn't he want to meet you?" "He's busy." "I know how important this is." "You're not going to let the side down." "Don't worry." "That is what I've been telling myself too." "You started to talk about the weekend's itinerary." "You will be staying in the Roosevelt house." "In fact, it is the President's mother's house, and she will officially be your hostess." "Where is the President's house?" "This is where he lives." "When he's not in Washington." "With his m-m-mother?" "He doesn't have a house?" "He has a room." "And his wife?" "She lives in another house." "Hers." "And he doesn't--?" "Which she shares with other -- women." "Who make furniture." "I'm sorry?" "Furniture." "They make it." "Build it." "They're couples." "They're the sort who like each other." "The Ambassador's wife, after having visited Hyde Park..." "Why do they call it that?" " What?" " Hyde Park, is in London." "It's confusing to me." "I don't know." "Our Ambassador's wife wrote - and I think you need to hear this." "She wrote" ""It is a dismal house, extremely badly run, and most uncomfortable."" "## I don't want to set the world on fire" "## I just want to start a flame in your heart" "## In my heart..." "Half of his cabinet had been against the visit." "The country, they said, was in no position to take sides in another European War." "So Franklin invited them here where, out of the spotlight, we could all relax and just be ourselves." "## I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim" "## I just want to be the one you love" "## And with your admission that you feel the same" "## I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of" "## Believe me" "## I don't want to set the world on fire" "## I just want to start a flame in your heart" "Looking back," "I now see how important this day was, to them, to us, to the world." "And of course -- as it turned out," "to me." "Oh, what lovely ships." "My son built them when he was a boy." "How very clever." "Wasn't that clever?" "T-t-terribly clever." "He also did the birds... as a boy." "Until the taxidermy smells made him ill." "He'll tell you about it." "I shall look forward to that." "## I don't want to set the world on fire" "## I just want to start a flame in your heart" "Come in." "Please," "I can't tell you, how I am awfully of this." "My Mother, hasn't spoken of nothing else for months.." "Hei, Daisy!" "Mr. Cameron's with the embassy -- this is Daisy." "Hello!" "How do you do?" "How do you do?" "That day, the President, sent me upstairs on a mission... to spy... behind enemies lines." "Charming." "Look at that view." "You must tell me about everything." "That's -- the field." "We have fields just like that." "Those hills -- lead down to the river." "So that's where they go." "What are you doing?" "I came to see if I could be any help." "Do you mind if I call you Elizabeth?" "No." "No." "So these are the beds -- your friend made?" "." "Those are them." "Not bad." "Not bad." "Is my wife behaving herself?" "Yes!" "Has my mother calmed down?" "She's fine!" "It's like a madhouse." "Don't worry." "All quiet on the upstairs front." "He's definitely younger than I'd imagined." "For a King, you know...." "Is he..." "And they both seem nervous." "That surprised me." "Without some help from us, Daisy -- there soon might not be an England -- to be King of." "So I'd be nervous too." "Anyway, that's why they're here." "Damn it." "Let me do it." "Let me do it." "They seem very nice people." "Smell like Martini." "Later tonight, after the dinner and all that is over, what do you say, you and I get out of here?" "Go someplace quiet." "I think I'll need that." "Well -- I think I'm free." "It's going to be a big, big success." "Oh -- it's you." "We share a bath." "So I was t-t-told." "So we don't have to go through the..." "Yes." "What were you looking at?" "These prints." "I just told the President's mother how humorous I found them." "What are they of--?" "British soldiers." "The 1812 War." "Cartoons actually." "Mocking them." "Us." "They put you in a room with--?" "The mother tried to apologize." "I told her I found them funny." "She said she tried to remove them, but her son insisted." "Why would he do that?" "What was he trying to say?" "I don't know." "I don't know." "He knows this is important." "He knows why we're here." "May I have a drink too?" "How many have you had?" "The mother just left." "Cheers." "She apologized for everything." "For Eleanor m-m-mostly." "And for the hot dogs." "Hot dogs?" "What are you talking about, Bertie?" "It appears that at the picnic tomorrow--." "There's a picnic tomorrow?" "In our honour." "You hate picnics." "At the picnic, the President's wife has organized that hot dogs be served as our main dish." "I gather she's even publicized this in the column she writes." "Are they trying to make fun of us?" "I d-d-don't kn-kn-know." "What do you think?" "You're not going to tell Mother, are you, Mary?" "Not a soul, sir." "Mary, we all knew, was one of Mother's spies." "Mother had spies them too." "These are revolting." "They make our seamen look like monkeys." "I can't believe he thought these would make you laugh, Bertie." "I 'laughed'." "They're trying to make us seem -- common." "Your brother would never have stood for this." "I'm sorry, but he wouldn't." "I th-th-think if we j-j-just ignore the-the-these--." "Please, stop stuttering!" "I'm sorry." "I'm very sorry." "I didn't mean it, Bertie." "I think I have a headache." "My face feels hot." "Feel sorry." "I am not my brother." "Thank God for that." "And you are not the D-d-duchess of Windsor." "You are better than that." "I just hate to see you..." "See me...?" "Laughed at." "Mother, who had a sixth sense for sniffing out alcohol, was on the warpath." "Mother's father had been a nasty drunk." "Is he coming down?" "What is that doing in here?" "Leave it, Mother." "I thought we had agreed." "That's not true." "I'm not going to serve the King and Queen of England " "Dammit, I said -- leave it!" "close the door." "Daisy." "Why are you shouting?" "I am not shouting!" "Close the door, Daisy!" "Should I stay?" "Just close it." "He's brought out the drinks tray," "Eleanor." "Franklin, you promised." "As I said to Mother, that's not true." "Maybe after dinner!" "Don't shout, Mother." "We have guests." "I know we have guests!" "And I know who they are!" "And my son is not going to serve them cocktails!" "They're my guests!" "It's my house!" "You're the one who wants us to live here." "Eleanor, please, don't-- remember that." "Give me the tray." "Isn't it true?" "No." "Yes." "I'm the President!" "Oh!" "Just stop this!" "Stop this." "You behave like a child!" "I have the programme for tomorrow's 'event.'" "This is for the hot dog picnic?" "There will be entertainment as well." "Perhaps I should be surprised." "Indians." "No." ""Ish-Ti-Opi."" "What?" "He's called here "The Indian Baritone."" "So he's going to sing." "There's "Princess Te Ata."" "She is going to show us "The Indian Corn Ceremony."" "Oh god." ""Accompanied by Kurkus Pahitu on the Tom-Tom."" "There's our incentive not to be hungover." "The 'tom-tom.'" "'Hot dogs.'" "'Cartoons of British naval officers as monkeys.'" "Come in." "The President is waiting for you in his study, your Majesty." "He said it was time for -- 'children's hour.'" "Drinks." "And the Queen?" "She's been allowed more time to relax." "Here we go..." "Good luck!" "Sir, my Mother does not approve of cocktails." "And thinks you might rather have a cup of tea." "M-m-my m-m-mother would have said the s-s-s-same thing." "Actually I-I-I-I-I prefer a-a-a-a cocktail." "A man after my own heart..." "So she said:" "'I'm so pleased to meet you, Mr. President," "I've only met three Americans." "Joe Kennedy," "J.P. Morgan, and Fred Astaire.'" "'Thank God,' I said, 'you met Mr. Astaire, or what would you think of the rest of us?" "'" "Good evening." "Good evening." "Mrs. R-r-r Roosevelt" "Mrs. R-r-r-r-r-ro-ro..." "I'd love to, your majesty." "We could have sold tickets to this dinner, and made ourselves a pile of money." "The moon was coming up there was a warm..." "summer breeze" "It was... just... her" "A perfect summer night!" "To His Majesty, the King." "Inside..." "Everyone was very impressed behavior!" "To His Majesty, the King." "And to Her Majesty, the Queen!" "Actually, normally, we wouldn't toast the Queen." "The tray... was of Mrs.Astor" "24 plates collapsed fornoreason." "just before the soup." "What happened?" "I don't know." "No one touched it." "I su-su-suppose an angel just passed - a ve-ve-ry clumsy one." "but some people had other explanation..." "It's the full moon." "Daisy?" "Oh hello, Dick." "You think it's full tonight?" "What?" "Oh -- yes." "That moon certainly is full." "She says I'm right!" "Oh, I don't know for sure--." "I could be wrong." "I just...." "Such an important night." "Is it?" "I don't know." "What's one king more or less?" "He still has to put his pants on one leg at a time." "Did you curtsey for the Queen, Daisy?" "I certainly did!" "And I think I did it right." "I didn't fall down!" "How come you're not inside there, Daisy?" "I'm glad to see you working." "It's just for the one night..." "Well it's something..." "Can I take some home for my dog?" "He doesn't have a dog." "Touch me there again, you'll be wearing it and not eating it..." "Nu-nu-number 2!" "Shoot!" "Those damn horses." "It's not the horses' fault--." "I know." "I know." "You like them." "I've been looking for you." "Do you need a handkerchief?" "Come here." "We saw you out here--." "We?" "Franklin's asked me to tell you that you could go home." "He thinks he's going to be occupied with the King all evening now." "Of course he will..." "Noonelosttogoto bedthatnight." "Hewishedto spendtime with the king, on his own." "Let's go to my study." "Will be quiet out there." "Unless you need to--." "No." "No." "Would you mind pushing?" "Her Majesty has gone to bed?" "She has." "And -- your wife?" "Who knows?" "I'm sure." "Would you my closing the door." "Cheers." "Cheers." "Do you collect stamps?" "I did." "I have." "I understand you are a serious stamp collector." "Perhaps, you would show me some of your stamps." "You can't be interested." "But I am --." "Do not -- protest." "When I was a young man -- before my marriage of course " "I found that showing one's stamps was a very helpful way to get a young woman's attention." "Was it." "But I suppose if your father's the king..." "Who needs stamps?" "The Queen is certainly a lovely woman." "As is the first lady." "She's a -- strong -- person" "Some days you don't feel like getting out of bed " "but then these women, they won't let you do that, will they?" "No." "What do you do -- to be alone?" "You need to give them a reason not to bother you." "You can figure things out in the quiet of your own mind." "I open up my stamp books and everyone knows not to bother me." "You were wonderful tonight, young man." "What do you mean?" "Just what I said." "You were graceful." "You were confident." "You're going to be a very fine king." "I don't know what to say." "Your father would be very proud." "I'm not so certain about that." "If I were your father," "I'd be proud." "The Queen -- she's..." "She worries so much." "It's been hard for her." "Women worry." "I just stop listening to her sometimes." "Forget I said that." "Forgotten." "I've been asked to say things..." "Such a war as we now co-cocontemplate --." "The carnage," "Think at S-S-S-Spain." "Ch-children -- b-bbombed." "Tha-tha-that's what we can expect." "It will b-b-be horrific." "And yet we know some of your countrymen wi-wi-wi-sh my country ii- i-i-ill..." "And w-w-want us to fail." "And want me to fail wi-th-thth you..." "This god damn st-st-stutter..." "What stutter?" "This god damn polio." "Sometimes I think -- they deserve better than me." "My -- 'subjects.'" "I'm sorry." "I don't know why-why" "I'm saying this to you." "I'm s-s-supposed to be trying to convince you to help us." "Let me confess something to you, now." "As you have been so honest-- with me." "No one -- ever mentions the fact that I can't use my legs." "It's never referred to." "Not by anyone." "I used to think it was because they were embarrassed about it." "But now I think it's because is not what they want to see." "Of course you and I" "We think they see everything that we are." "All our flaws." "Or transgressions." "Or failures." "But that is not what they're looking to find when they look to us." "And God help us if that ever changes." "Do you imagine the disappointment... when they find out what we really are." "Thank you." "They didn't want me as their King." "I didn't know they voted for that in England." "I'm thinking -- another drink?" "Right!" "Suddenly only one can sleep that night" "Was it the moon?" "How a longed fan" "I beg your pardon..." "Sir." "I mean, Your Highness." "Your Majesty..." "Good night." "You're still awake?" "Mmmmmmm." "I think I'll go to sleep." "It's late." "Why are you smiling?" "Are you drunk?" "No." "He's a very funny man." "Has some wonderful jokes." "Like what?" "I couldn't tell you." "They're not meant for women." "They sound very 'funny.'" "He liked my stories too." "What stories?" "I-I-I told him about the coronation." "About how they p-p-put the crown wrong way around." "And the stepping on my robe so I couldn't move." "You shouldn't have told him that." "We don't make fun of ourselves." "That's not true." "Not here." "Of course he liked those stories, they make us look like fools." "They make us look like people!" "Don't be naive, Bertie." "He made fun of himself too." "He said at the picnic tomorrow" "Oh god that picnic." "He said that the Indians -- they were Eleanor's ideas." ""One of my-my-my wife's crazy ideas."" "His Mother is furious about it." "Franklin's just trying to keep it short." "He talks about his wife like that to you?" "I hope you didn't talk about me to him." "I didn't." "I wouldn't do that." "We didn't talk about you." "I asked him -- without mentioning you " "about these hot dogs?" "What's that about?" "You want to know what he said?" "He said he doesn't get the fuss." "They're just a good thing to eat at a picnic." "There's no 'meaning.'" "Nothing more." "You didn't say I was concerned?" "No." "I'm not sure I believe you--." "That's not fair." "Three different women tonight asked me if I thought there could ever be an American queen." "If we'd ever 'allow' that." "That was rude." "Give me a cigarette?" "I have smoked all of mine." "That won't help you sleep." "I know." "Thank you." "Give me lighter?" "Light, of course!" "I never wanted this life." "I know." "It's hard." "I'll be fine." "If there's a war -- and we know there will be " "he believes America could be persuaded to help." "Did you see some of the people here tonight?" "Hear their names?" "They're from Italy." "Germany." "They're Irish." " Their ancestors-- - they're Jews." "They hate us, Bertie!" "They want to see us fall on our face!" "They want to laugh at us!" "I think you're wrong." "I th-th- think we just need to be a little more confident." "I'm not sure I can even sleep." "Finally, he patted me on the knee and said," "'young ma-ma-man, it's time for you to go to bed."" "Like a father, I suppose." "He's very happy that I am king." "Good Night." "## If I didn't care more than words can say" "## If I didn't care would I feel this way?" "## If this isn't love then why do I thrill?" "## And what makes my head go 'round and 'round" "## While my heart stands still?" "## If I didn't care would it be the same?" "## Would my ev'ry prayer begin and end with just your name?" "## And would I be sure t hat this is love beyond compare?" "## Would all this be true if I didn't care for you?" "If ever I missed him, there was a place he'd built for me to come," "and be alone, and miss him." "What the hell are you doing up here?" "Tommy?" "What the hell are you doing here?" "You shouldn't be up here now." "Why?" "Why not?" "Can you get that out of my face, please?" "President can't be disturbed right now, Daisy." "Daisy!" "How nice to see you up here." "Do you want to see the President?" "Come back." "Come back!" "Daisy!" "Daisy!" "Daisy!" "Here." "No." "Get out of here." "Listen to me, Daisy." "He wants to talk to you." "He's going home." "He's headed home." "I want you to listen to me." "very very carefully." "Understand?" "Understand?" "Look at me." "Look at me, Daisy." "Understand?" "I know you are -- intimate." "I've known since the day it happened." "What?" "Those things he said?" "He meant them." "I know that." "That hurt." "Cigarette?" "I need one." "But I accepted." "Like you will." "I am a part of his life, and I accept that you are too." "I don't accept you." "What about Dorothy Schiff?" "Do you accept her?" "Why do you think she has built that place next to Top Cottage?" "He asked her to build a cottage, so they could live close together when he retired, while he wrote those goddamn detective books he's always talking about writing." "I read the letter." "When was that?" "This year." "It wasn't Eleanor who 'abandoned' him." "She caught him too." "With you?" "No." "This was -- long ago." "Years and years ago." "Maybe you've met her." "Mrs. Rutherford." "I..." "I misunderstood." "I wonder..." "I wanna us... realistic." "I don't think I can ... 'share'" "Oh I think you can." "You can." "You decide." "You won't go to bed." "He's waiting for you." "Missy and my Mother both severely criticized me for not having invited you to the dinner tonight." "I want to apologize." "I think I showed you these when you first came to visit me, Daisy." "But you probably don't remember." "I remember." "Aren't they beautiful?" "Can you see from over there?" "The highest waterfall in the world." "That's on this stamp." "I really don't think you can see from way over there, Daisy." "I really don't." "And that -- would be terrible." "Not to." "How do you see me?" "What?" "Am I -- to you -- just stupid?" "No, Daisy." "But I can understand how you can feel that way." "Am I " "Like... a whore?" "No, you are not 'like a whore.'" "Now would you come over and sit by me." "No, you're not getting off that easy, you son of a bitch!" "But that's not what I said." "Instead:" "No." "I need to go." "I'd say I'm sorry -- but that wouldn't do any good right now, would it?" "Someone's coming out." "Which one is she?" "The one you think looks like a governess." "I tought she was the governess." "I understand that's a very common thing -- men and their children's governesses." "She's not the governess." "But she's obviously his mistress." "She dresses like a--." "She's not the governess, Bertie." "Men find -- some men find" "I think because they're around children, there's something quite attractive about" "Why do you keep talking about governesses?" "Is there something you want to tell me?" "No." "Nothing." "Why?" "Look over there." "The secretary?" "I hadn't seen her before." "And she's his mistress too." "According to Cameron." " We don't need Cameron to--." " Cameron says there's another one." "Another--?" "Who's married." "But she's built a cottage by his?" "Or something." "Another mistress?" "Good thing we changed our minds about bringing Lilibet with us." "You changed your mind." "I never wanted to bring Lilibet to America." "Only be-be-because you don't like Americans." "I like Americans." "That's not fair." "I don't like a lot of Americans." "I like some." "Bertie, are you going to eat a hot dog?" "What?" "At the picnic." "Tomorrow." "Today." "I mean, isn't it like having say the PM over and serving him bangers and mash?" "He probably would like--." "To a guest!" "If we did that he'd know we were trying to tell him something." "He'd understand." "What would he understand?" "How we felt about him." "The PM knows how we feel about him." "We like him." "As if that matters." "You know what I mean." "I wish I did." "Bertie, I don't think your brother would eat a hot dog." "How would you know that?" "Because he'd know what was meant!" "It doesn't mean anything!" "The walls, sir." "They are quite thin." " We know." " One can hear--." "Everyone in this house is already awake." "But to answer your question, Elizabeth," "I am going to eat a hot dog, no five hot dogs, ten!" "I'm going to shove them into my mouth, stick two up my nostrils, two more in my ears, then walk around so people can take pictures of the King of England with hot dogs hanging out of his orifices!" "Don't ever compare me to my brother again." "Sir." "It's the President." "Has she gone?" "What do you think she's going to do?" "I don't think she'll cause you any trouble." "If that's what you're asking." "Is that what you're asking?" "They'll see us." "Hello!" "And good morning!" " Wave." " I am." "Hello!" "Hello!" "Lovely morning, isn't it?" "Sleep well?" "!" "Oh yes." "Yes, we did." "Didn't we?" "We did!" "Good!" "Me too!" "I thought I might have a swim..." "Come along?" "gosh... a swim." "Daisy is that you?" "Let me help." "You're up early." "I just woke up." "And so, the day of the picnic began." "And everyone pretended, as usual... not to notice anything." "They feeding you all right out here?" "Boys." "Throwing you the odd bone?" "We're eatin' like kings." "Mr. President." "You have king to thank for that." "I made them all agree -- no pictures in our bathing suits." "Though you don't look so bad." "Maybe you should get your picture taken like that..." "And get the women's vote." "But that's right -- you don't vote for king." "you two counfy like that?" "Yes, thank you." "Here we are." "I'm not driving with him again." "Wave..." "Wave, wave..." "She's here." "Good for her." "What are you doing?" "I'm ... so pleased you came." "I promised my Aunt." "How do you do?" "How do you do." "Mrs. Langdorf" "So nice to meet you." "Tommy, looks who's here." "Daisy, would you come with me?" "Tommy, she has every right to be here." "He wants her sitting with him." "I'm not doing that." "Who wants you sitting with him?" "The President, ma'am." "Daisy..." "Daisy, please." "Where are your manners?" "Let's sit up with the President." "Just Daisy, thank you ma'am." "Please." "Daisy," "What were you doing way over there," "The special guests are here on the porch." "You should be here." "Please sit down, Daisy." "Please, Daisy." "How much more of this is there?" "Thank you, Indian Baritone!" "Thank you so much." "He wasn't finished." "Oh." "I thought he was." "Thank you, thank you." "Let's all say thank you, to Ish-Ti-Opi in Cherokee which is tokapi" "Tokapi" "Come all say it again, boys and girls come on..." "Let's enjoy it, say Tokapi" "Tokapi." "Thank you, thank you so much." "at last... after Eleanor's Indians... the event we're all secretly waiting for..." "Your Majesty..." "Would you like -- a hot dog?" "Do you take mustard?" "I take ... whatever you think I should take with my hot dog." "Allow us then to put a bit of mustard on for you." "Daisy, would you show how we put the mustard." "You are too kind." "Why are they applauding?" "It's all right!" "It's fine!" "What's this about?" "And like that -- we felt America and England were back on the road to being very good friends." "At least," "I'm told that's how some people took it." "It made me wonder -- maybe the hot dogs hadn't been Eleanor's idea after all." "When he left for England later that day, the King sent back a telegram, in which he wrote that our two nations had now 'forged' -- and these are his words:" "a special relationship." "It's good!" "It's all fine!" "I'll have another!" "The next day, he sent a car." "But I said I was too ill to take a drive." "I was ill the next day." "And the next." "And the next day after that." "A week after the Royals' visit to Hyde Park, thePresidentcameinperson to my house." "Good morning." "I had been waiting." "He drove us by the plumbing shop where his mother had returned the toilet seat she had ordered for the Royal Visit, without paying for it." "He tried to make me laugh." "And he was good at that." "He was after all a politician." "Mother wants to pay him now." "But he says it's really been good for business." "He hoped I would forgive him." "But I was damned if I was going to tell him that I already had." "Occasionally now," "Missy would come and fetch me when she felt --." "I think he could use -- your company tonight." "Let him wait." "When we play cards..." "MissyandIare partners... wenowshareeverything!" "I learned, as we got to know each other better, of Missy's bouts with her 'blackness.'" "And of her 'dark days.'" "When she fell terribly ill." "He paid for everything." "He even changed his will -- giving her half -- should she outlive him." "But to the surprise of nearly everyone -- he did not visit her once in the hospital." "I asked him why." "It's a terrible fault of mine, he said." "I find it too painful to be around illness." "I grew close not only to Missy but to all of Franklin's boys." "They seemed to accept me, no questions asked." "And no more promised were made so none could be broken." "Ayearpass..." "Andthen,another... andanother..." "Iwatchhimgrowtired, and fail and ill" "Hetriedthehighbest of everyone..." "Heknewhowtodothat." "foreveryone,butme..." "Mr. President." "Ok boys, Take it away!" "Everyone still looking to him." "Still seeing it ever was." "Theywantto see." "Inthetime..." "Notsoverylongago..." "When the world still allowed themselves secrets..." "FranklinRoosevelt wasmine." |
Patients with pumps
As insulin pumps become more common, hospitalists need plans to manage them. Learn
about the issues that can arise, including potentially difficult negotiations with
patients, in the April ACP Hospitalist.
As insulin pumps become more common, hospitalists need plans to manage them. Learn
about the issues that can arise, including potentially difficult negotiations with
patients, in the April ACP Hospitalist.
Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. ACP Diabetes Monthly provides a monthly summary for internists about relevant news in diabetes. All published material, which is covered by copyright, represents the views of the contributor and does not reflect the opinion of the American College of Physicians or any other institution unless clearly stated. |
of d.
5, 19
Suppose 3*k + 229636 = 5*t, -1187*t - 229620 = -1192*t + 5*k. List the prime factors of t.
2, 11483
Let y be ((-1707)/(-9))/(2/(-18)). Let d = y - -2607. List the prime factors of 2*d/8 + 3 + -4.
2, 7
Suppose -81 + 75 = -3*x. What are the prime factors of ((1635 - -9)/6)/(1*x)?
137
Let n = 71 + -76. Let k(c) = -11*c - 19. Let d be k(n). List the prime factors of -24*(27/d)/(3/(-2)).
2, 3
Suppose 0 = -12*s + 22*s - 990. Let o = s + -91. List the prime factors of o.
2
Let v(o) be the first derivative of o**4/6 - o**3/6 - o**2/2 + 11*o + 12. Let d(j) be the first derivative of v(j). List the prime factors of d(-5).
2, 3
Suppose 5*h + 2*c + 6 = 0, 3*c - 9 = h - 1. Let r(f) = 18*f**3 + 3*f**2 + 3*f + 5. Let w be r(h). Let z = 232 + w. What are the prime factors of z?
3, 11
Let u = 13062 + -9165. List the prime factors of u.
3, 433
Let m(k) = k**3 + 2*k**2 - 9*k + 4. Let g = 16 + -22. Let u be m(g). Let r = -15 - u. List the prime factors of r.
71
Suppose 0 = 1395*o - 1411*o + 213376. List the prime factors of o.
2, 1667
Suppose -7*n + 4*v = -3*n - 384, -3*n + 287 = -2*v. List the prime factors of ((-38)/n)/((-1)/10) - -214.
2, 109
Suppose 29*u - 28*u = -2*c + 12548, u + c = 12552. List the prime factors of u.
2, 43, 73
Suppose 3*v - 2*n = 2*v + 29, -35 = -v + 4*n. Let i = 37 - v. What are the prime factors of 18/(i/12 + 0 - 1)?
2, 3
Let n(s) = 89*s**2 - 865*s + 31. What are the prime factors of n(-19)?
5, 9719
Let l(g) = -2*g**2 - 48*g + 25. Suppose 8 - 27 = j. List the prime factors of l(j).
5, 43
Let c be 6/(-16) - 681/(-24). Suppose -c*y = -25*y - 2043. What are the prime factors of y?
3, 227
Let r(h) = 491*h - 2140. List the prime factors of r(36).
2, 971
Let f(o) = -6*o - 7*o + 23 + 11*o. Let n be f(9). Suppose 3*u + 24 = -4*i + 314, -2*u + n*i + 155 = 0. What are the prime factors of u?
2, 3, 5
Suppose 3*d - 30034 = -2*g, 5*d - 139*g - 50078 = -137*g. What are the prime factors of d?
2, 3, 1669
Let v(s) = 12*s + 118. Let t be v(23). Suppose 5*k = 15, 4*y - t = -5*k + 7*k. What are the prime factors of y?
2, 5
Suppose -5*l - 337 = s, -4*l - 836 = 5*s + 870. Let t = s + 522. What are the prime factors of t?
2, 3, 5
Let t(i) = -7*i**3 - 17*i**2 + 5*i - 85. Let m(z) = -z**3 - z**2 + z - 1. Let g(j) = 6*m(j) - t(j). What are the prime factors of g(-7)?
2, 67
Suppose 0 = 5*o - 10, 4*l + 19770 = -5*o + 69352. What are the prime factors of l?
3, 17
Suppose -3*u + 231 = 3*b, 4*b = 4*u - 0*u - 276. Let x = 156 + u. What are the prime factors of x?
229
Let c = 91730 - 65159. What are the prime factors of c?
3, 17, 521
Let c(b) = b**2 - 4*b + 5. Let g be c(2). Let v be (36/2)/(((-2)/(-29))/g). Suppose 139 = 4*z - v. What are the prime factors of z?
2, 5
Let k(z) = 45*z + 12. Suppose 14 = h + 5. Let f(b) = -11*b - 3. Let d(j) = h*f(j) + 2*k(j). What are the prime factors of d(-5)?
2, 3, 7
Suppose 0 = 2*k - 17 - 139. Suppose 3894 = -72*y + k*y. What are the prime factors of y?
11, 59
Let r(v) = -36*v**2 - 2. Let n be r(2). Suppose -2*w - d - 165 = -0*d, 2*d = 5*w + 426. Let i = w - n. What are the prime factors of i?
2, 31
Let m = 18 + -16. Suppose -3*d - 5*r = -181, -2*d = -7*d + m*r + 250. List the prime factors of d.
2, 13
Let g be 564/84 - (-1)/(-7)*-2. What are the prime factors of 124 - -1 - (1 + -11 + g)?
2
Suppose -4*d = 5*i - 107913, 7*i + 4*d + 107977 = 12*i. List the prime factors of i.
21589
Let k = 2 + 29. Suppose i - 208 = k. List the prime factors of i.
239
Suppose -224*p + 245*p + 252 = 0. Let f(q) = -108*q - 132. What are the prime factors of f(p)?
2, 3, 97
Suppose -5*a = 3*l - 32, a - 3*l = 9 - 17. Suppose -a*f + 1650 = -7*k + 9*k, -4*f + 5*k = -1629. What are the prime factors of f?
3, 137
Suppose 3*k + 3 = 0, 0 = 5*r + 2*k - 6*k - 29. Suppose -4*h = -2*i - 2*h + 54, -r*i + 159 = h. What are the prime factors of (i - 12) + 1*4*1?
23
Let x be ((-32)/(-12))/(-2)*(-27)/6. What are the prime factors of (-11672)/(-12) + x + 119/(-21)?
7, 139
Suppose 45*z - 541 = -2*r + 44*z, r - 278 = -3*z. Let n(h) = -h**2 - 15*h + 6. Let f be n(-12). Let g = r - f. List the prime factors of g.
227
Let g = -20616 - -22213. List the prime factors of g.
1597
Let i(l) = -47*l + 22. Let w be i(-16). Suppose -3*q - 4*p + w = 0, p - 1025 = -4*q - 2*p. List the prime factors of q.
2, 127
Suppose 993 = 4*l + 3*x, 0 = 2*l - l + 3*x - 246. Suppose -2*q + 1 = -l. List the prime factors of q.
5
Let h = 40849 - 33121. List the prime factors of h.
2, 3, 7, 23
Suppose -5*p = -2*b - 15865 + 64014, -5*b + 120460 = 5*p. List the prime factors of b.
3, 7, 31, 37
Let h = 101997 - 35411. List the prime factors of h.
2, 13, 197
Let g(i) = 45*i - 25. Suppose -8*x - 21 = -11*x. List the prime factors of g(x).
2, 5, 29
Suppose 7*i = i + 102. Suppose -12*a = -i*a - 60. Let c(y) = -y**3 - 12*y**2 - 5*y + 1. List the prime factors of c(a).
61
Let o = 1709 + -923. Suppose -2*m + 5*m = -o. Let i = -181 - m. What are the prime factors of i?
3
Suppose 24 = -0*f + 2*f + 4*q, -3*q = -f - 13. Suppose 2*o - 4*d = 1028, 2*o - 2016 = -f*o - 2*d. Let z = o + -324. List the prime factors of z.
2, 7, 13
Let c(j) be the first derivative of -j**4/2 - 4*j**3/3 + 9*j**2/2 + 8*j + 2. Let y = -123 + 119. What are the prime factors of c(y)?
2, 3
Let i(g) = -g**3 + 122*g**2 - 434*g + 100. What are the prime factors of i(117)?
109, 163
Suppose 86*i - 85*i - 2 = 0, -5391 = -v - 4*i. What are the prime factors of v?
7, 769
Let g(q) = 1070*q**2 - 2*q - 12. Let n be g(-2). Suppose -n - 3064 = -14*o. What are the prime factors of o?
2, 131
Suppose 2 + 4 = 3*p. Suppose 5*t - 15 = -d, -d = t - p - 5. Suppose 3*f + 6*z - 335 = t*z, 4*z + 230 = 2*f. List the prime factors of f.
113
List the prime factors of 6826*((-24)/16*2)/(-3).
2, 3413
Suppose -2*w - 4*d = -436, 18 + 208 = w - 2*d. List the prime factors of (w/(-12))/(28/(-24) - -1).
3, 37
Suppose 2*i - 23 = -3. Suppose -5*k = -i - 5. Let g(l) = 47*l - 19. List the prime factors of g(k).
2, 61
Suppose -4*b - 212782 = -5*l, 29885 = l - 2*b - 12675. List the prime factors of l.
2, 21277
Suppose -t - 2*h + 52820 = -26363, 4*h = -5*t + 395945. List the prime factors of t.
79193
Let k = -696 + 502. Let u = 507 + k. List the prime factors of u.
313
Suppose 0 = 2*r + 5*b - 2414, 35*r - 5*b - 4918 = 31*r. List the prime factors of r.
2, 13, 47
Let o = 2309 - 1327. Suppose -3*u + 3126 = d, -2*u = -5*d - o - 1102. What are the prime factors of u?
2, 521
Suppose 104*t - 108*t = -49192. List the prime factors of t.
2, 11, 13, 43
Let j(b) = -b**3 + 2*b**2 + 4*b. Let f be j(3). Let q = -39 - -56. Suppose -q*s + f = -16*s. What are the prime factors of s?
3
Let k(y) = -11538*y + 2127. What are the prime factors of k(-7)?
3, 27631
Suppose q - 4*q = 288. Suppose -23*b + 3498 = -36*b - 20*b. Let x = q - b. List the prime factors of x.
2, 5
Let w = -941 + 475. What are the prime factors of -1*w/6*(-1 - -7)?
2, 233
Let o(f) = 28*f**2 - 39*f**2 - 4*f**3 - 6 - 2 + 25*f. Let h(v) = 5*v**3 + 10*v**2 - 26*v + 9. Let r(x) = -5*h(x) - 6*o(x). List the prime factors of r(13).
2, 5
Let d(f) = 182*f**2 + 2*f + 2. Let n be d(-1). Suppose -10*s - u = -14*s + 803, n = s - 4*u. List the prime factors of s.
2, 101
Let k(l) = -111*l + 1554. What are the prime factors of k(-9)?
3, 23, 37
Suppose 5*r = -4676 + 8037 + 4904. What are the prime factors of r?
3, 19, 29
Suppose -4*o = b - 3*b + 36, -b + 5*o = -24. Let v = -10 + b. Suppose -275 = -v*p - 5*i, -4*p + 4*i + 313 = p. What are the prime factors of p?
5, 13
Let n be (-23 - -13)*2/(-1). Let j = n - 20. Suppose 46 = v + 2*q, 2*v + 5*q - 3*q - 94 = j. List the prime factors of v.
2, 3
Let d(b) be the second derivative of 166*b**3/3 + 61*b. What are the prime factors of d(1)?
2, 83
Suppose 3*u = q + 41, 8*q + 18 = 2*u + 12*q. Suppose u*r - 4092 = 1823. What are the prime factors of r?
5, 7, 13
Suppose 4*p = 3*o - 221841, 3*o - 5*p = 110592 + 111243. What are the prime factors of o?
5, 7, 2113
What are the prime factors of 12/(-1) - 2596026/(-146)?
3, 5923
Suppose 3*j + 55 = -a - 21, 2*a = 4*j + 108. Let q = j - -29. Suppose -4*d + q*r = -112 - 360, 3*d = -4*r + 354. List the prime factors of d.
2, 59
Suppose -5*j + 10 = 0, 540*j - 537*j = -4*p + 17806. List the prime factors of p.
2, 5, 89
Suppose 0 = -12*f + 337 + 47. Suppose -22* |
26 Md. App. 367 (1975)
338 A.2d 355
HARRY WALLER ET AL.
v.
GILBERT KEENE ET AL.
No. 588, September Term, 1974.
Court of Special Appeals of Maryland.
Decided May 28, 1975.
The cause was argued before MOYLAN, MENCHINE and LOWE, JJ.
Alfred M. Porth and Theodore B. Cornblatt, with whom were Smith, Somerville & Case on the brief, for appellant Harry Waller. Norman F. Summers, with whom was Julian S. Brewer on the brief, for other appellant.
Louis G. Close, Jr with whom were Whiteford, Taylor, Preston, Trimble & Johnston on the brief, for Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company, one of appellees.
MENCHINE, J., delivered the opinion of the Court.
This is an appeal from a reversal by the Circuit Court for Baltimore County of a decision of the Workmen's Compensation Commission (Commission). The Commission had ruled that Gilbert Keene (claimant) had sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his *369 employment by A & L Contractors,[1] and that Leonard W. Pauza (Pauza) was protected as an employer by the terms and provisions of a policy of workmen's compensation insurance issued to him as an individual by Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Company (Penn National). The Commission also found Harry Waller (Waller) to be a statutory employer, thereby causing him and his insurer, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (Nationwide) also to be responsible for compensation benefits due to the claimant by reason of the provisions of Article 101, § 62.[2] Penn National appealed.
In the Circuit Court for Baltimore County the cause was submitted to Judge Kenneth C. Proctor, sitting without a *370 jury. Judge Proctor held that the claimant was employed by a partnership consisting of Leonard W. Pauza and Arthur Grimes, t/a A & L Contractors (partnership), and that the insurance policy issued by Penn National to Pauza as an individual did not provide insurance to the partnership. The trial court affirmed that part of the Commission's order finding that Waller as statutory employer and Nationwide, his insurer, were liable for the payment of compensation benefits to the claimant. Waller, Nationwide and Pauza have appealed.[3]
Pauza, on appeal, asks:
Is John W. Walter, trading as Col-Mar Insurance Company, the agent of Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company under the Doctrine of Estoppel?
Waller and Nationwide, on appeal, suggest that:
"The lower court erred in ruling that the policy of workmen's compensation insurance issued by Penn National to Leonard Pauza did not cover the injury sustained by the claimant, who was employed by a partnership of which Pauza was a member."
The Facts[4]
Pauza, through his broker, John W. Walter, t/a Col-Mar Insurance Agency (Col-Mar), in 1970 had obtained a policy of workmen's compensation insurance written by Penn National through J.B. Schaftel Company (Schaftel), its general agent. The policy involved in the subject proceeding, the second renewal of that earlier policy, had been issued for *371 the period August 5, 1972 to August 5, 1973. The first page of the policy thus described the insured:
Leonard William Pauza INDIVIDUAL x
25 Prospect Avenue PARTNERSHIP ____
Catonsville, Baltimore Co., CORPORATION ____
Maryland 21228 OTHER ____
Under the heading of "Classification of Operations" the insured was described as engaged in "Carpentry installation of cabinet work or interior trim." The estimated payroll was $10,000.00 annually. At all times prior to September, 1972 Pauza had conducted his carpentry business as an individual.
Sometime in September, 1972 Leonard William Pauza and Arthur Grimes formed a partnership under which they traded as A & L Contractors. They had no prior association as employers. Contemporaneously with the formation of that partnership, Pauza and Grimes as partners, entered into a contract with Waller for "all carpentry work (rough and trim) in Section 1, consisting of 9 Buildings, 7 "A" Buildings (43 units) & 2 "D" Buildings (12 units), project known as QUEEN ANNE VILLAGE." New State and Federal tax numbers were issued to the partnership upon application. Pauza continued as an individual employer on other projects. On September 29, 1972 claimant was employed by the partnership to work on the Waller job. He was paid by A & L Contractors, by partnership check. He had never been employed by Pauza individually.
Pauza, believing that the new partnership and the broadened character[5] of carpentry work undertaken by the partnership would affect his workmen's compensation insurance, contacted his broker, Col-Mar on or about *372 September 27, 1972, told him about the formation of the partnership and requested that requisite changes in workmen's compensation insurance be effected. Col-Mar submitted a bill to A & L Contractors, care of Pauza, for $133.00 for the estimated additional premium under the existing policy. Pauza, believing that the additional premium cost would exceed the billed figure, sent Col-Mar a partnership check for $200.00 that was deposited by Col-Mar. Col-Mar did not notify Schaftel or Penn National of Pauza's change in status or the broadened nature of the partnership operation until November 29, 1972, eleven days after the accidental injury to claimant. Neither Schaftel nor Penn National ever received any part of the $200.00 paid by the partnership to Col-Mar.
The partnership was obligated, under the terms of its contract with Waller, to "furnish all required Insurance Certificates for Workmen's Compensation * * * before actual work commences." Schaftel was requested to issue and on September 27, 1972 did in fact issue to Waller a Certificate of Insurance, certifying that the Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company had issued to Leonard William Pauza, 25 Prospect Avenue, Catonsville, Maryland 21228 a Workmen's Compensation insurance policy providing coverage within the statutory limits provided by the Workmen's Compensation Law of the State of Maryland and Employer's liability to a limit of $100,000.00 by policy number WC000094642 for a policy term from 8/5/72-73. Waller's general superintendent pointed out to Pauza that the certificate had been issued under a policy insuring Pauza only as an individual. Pauza, however, made no effort to obtain a revised certificate nor did Waller demand one.
Estoppel
There can be little doubt that an estoppel would arise against Penn National if Col-Mar was its agent. The trial court found that Col-Mar at no time held himself out as agent of Penn National. The record fully supports the finding. There is not a scintilla of evidence that Schaftel or Penn National had knowledge of the formation of Pauza's *373 partnership with Grimes nor of the broadened scope of Pauza's operations until after injury to the claimant. Under such circumstances it is quite clear that Col-Mar was the agent of Pauza and not the agent of Penn National. Article 48 A, § 166; American Casualty Co. v. Ricas, 179 Md. 627, 631, 22 A.2d 484, 487.
The case of Reserve Insurance Company v. Duckett, 240 Md. 591, 214 A.2d 754, cited by Pauza, recognized the validity of the doctrine that an insurer may be bound by one not specifically authorized, if the insurer's actions were such as reasonably would lead a third party to believe that the agent had authority to bind the insurer. The subsequent appeal of that case after remand, however, Reserve Insurance v. Duckett, 249 Md. 108, 238 A.2d 536, demonstrates that the decision is inapposite here. At page 115 [540] of the second appeal, the Court stated:
"Reserve was aware that Davis appeared on the face of its policies as agent and from this was charged with knowledge that Davis was issuing its policies as agent. Although in a two-year period, 1960-1962, Reserve received 1011 copies of its policies with Davis appearing as agent, it never repudiated Davis or denied the validity of the issued policies."
In the subject case it is uncontradicted that Penn National had a firm rule against brokered business and had no knowledge whatever that Pauza's policies had been obtained through Col-Mar. All Pauza policies had been issued for Penn National by Schaftel.
We find no estoppel.
Coverage Under Penn National Policy
The question whether a workmen's compensation insurance policy, issued to an individual, affords him protection against claims of an employee of a subsequently formed partnership of which he is a member, is a matter of first impression in Maryland. The authorities in other jurisdictions are divided upon the question.
*374 The leading case espousing the doctrine that such an insurance policy provides coverage is Reed v. Industrial Accident Commission, 73 P.2d 1212 (S.Ct. Cal. 1937), 114 A.L.R. 720. In Reed, a building contractor obtained a policy of workmen's compensation insurance for an insurer. He thereafter became associated with another in the conduct of a building business. On those facts the Court said at 1213 [721]:
"The position of said respondent is, in brief, that the policy insured W.B. Mellott, an individual, and not the partnership of Gordon & Mellott; that Reed was employed by the firm of Gordon & Mellott, and not by W.B. Mellott; and that consequently, the policy did not cover the injury, because Reed's employer, the partnership, was not insured. This position is unsound on principle and contrary to prior decisions in this state.
"The underlying fallacy in respondent's argument is the assumption that the partnership is a distinct unit, separate from the members thereof. Occasional suggestions of this `entity' theory of partnership are found in statutes or decisions, but, apart from exceptional situations, a partnership is not considered an entity, but an association of individuals. See First Nat. Trust & Savings Bank v. Industrial Accident Commission, 213 Cal. 322, 331, 2 P.2d 347, 78 A.L.R. 1324; 9 Cal. L. Rev. 119. In consonance with this view, an employee of a partnership is an employee of each of the partners, and no individual partner may escape liability to such employee on the ground that only the partnership and not the individuals composing it can be held. It is immaterial whether the liability of the partners in this situation is joint and several, or joint, for even in the case of joint liability, a several judgment may be had against an individual partner by proper joinder and pleading. See Palle v. Industrial Commission, 79 Utah 47, 7 P.2d 284, 81 *375 A.L.R. 1222; Merchants' Nat. Bank v. Clark-Parker Co., 215 Cal. 296, 9 P.2d 826, 81 A.L.R. 778. The result is that W.B. Mellott, a partner in the firm of Gordon & Mellott, was an employer of petitioner Reed, and was undoubtedly liable to Reed for workmen's compensation. Since W.B. Mellott procured insurance with respondent company to cover such liability, and paid the required premium therefor, the company must perform its obligation by paying the award."
A dissenting Justice in Reed, after pointing out that the California workmen's compensation statute required the word "employer" to include every firm and voluntary association, grounded his dissent upon the fact: (p. 1215 [724]) "The only contract which the insurer made in this case was with W.B. Mellott, an individual. It did not agree to insure either a partnership of which Mr. Mellott might thereafter become a member, or the individual liability of Mr. Mellott as a member of such a partnership."
In Weir v. New Amsterdam Cas. Co., 20 A.2d 12, the Court of Common Pleas of New Jersey, Passaic County, although declaring that it was unnecessary to decide the question, cited the Reed decision. On appeal, Weir v. New Amsterdam Cas. Co., 24 A.2d 562, the Supreme Court of New Jersey, although not citing Reed, supra, adopted the view expressed therein, declaring at 564:
"The prosecutor's third point goes to the proposition that the policy did not cover the award inasmuch as the policy was written to indemnify Harry Pilchman and was not written in coverage of the co-partnership of Harry Pilchman and Louis Lipschultz. We are of the opinion, however, that the policy did cover the award. Assuming the fact to be that at the time of the employment of Weir, as well as at the time of the accident, the employer was a partnership, it remains that the insured was, as a member of that partnership, an employer of Weir and that a judgment or award obtained by Weir *376 against the partnership was collectible from Pilchman. The situation is quite different from that which exists when the partnership is the insured employer and the hiring is by one of the members individually in an employment outside the partnership. The accident sued upon arose out of and in the course of an employment in the business conducted under the trade name of `Clinton Hill Painters and Decorators'. Pilchman, as an employer therein, was liable. We perceive no sound reason why his insurer, which undertook to indemnify him as an employer in that business, should not be held responsible. It is made liable by its contract."
(Decision affirmed per curiam 28 A.2d 126). See also, Parker v. Zanghi, 131 A.2d 802, 807 (Superior Ct. of N.J. App. Div. 1957).[6]
Greenstein v. Kastonowitz, 24 N.Y.S.2d 792 (S.Ct. App. Div., 3rd Dept. 1941), appeal denied 26 N.Y.S.2d 608, applied the rule under circumstances where the intent to cover the business was not questioned.
In U.S.F. & G. v. Collins, 95 So.2d 456 (S.Ct. of Miss. 1957), under similar facts, the Court said at 460:
"The general rule is that a compensation policy insuring an individual member of a partnership covers an injury to an employee of the partners. 45 *377 C.J.S. Insurance § 826, p. 877; 58 Am.Jur., Workmen's Compensation, Section 565; Reed v. Industrial Accident Commission, 1937, 10 Cal.2d 191, 73 P.2d 1212, 114 A.L.R. 720; Brollier v. Van Alstine, 1942, 236 Mo. App. 1233, 163 S.W.2d 109."[7]
In Clawson v. General Insurance Co., 412 P.2d 597 (S.Ct. Idaho 1966), although Reed, supra, was cited in a case involving joint venturers and its rule was there applied, the Court left open [p. 600] the question whether the decision would have been otherwise had a partnership been involved.
Other cases in the State of Missouri, formerly adhering to the Reed doctrine were expressly rejected in a later decision.[8]
The leading case espousing the doctrine that such insurance policy does not provide coverage is Kalson v. Industrial Commission, 21 N.W.2d 644 (S.Ct. Wisc. 1946). In Kalson, the Wisconsin statute defined "employer" as *378 follows: "Every person, firm and private corporation * * * who employs * * *." Under factual circumstances similar to the subject case, the Court said at 645-46:
"It is conceded that the word `firm' as used in the phrase `Every person, firm and private corporation (including any public service corporation) who usually employs 3 or more employees', which is in sec. 102.04 (2), Stats., is synonymous with the word `partnership'. But we cannot sustain the plaintiffs' contention that by use of the word `firm' in that phrase it was not intended to treat, under the compensation act, a firm as a separate entity, as distinguished from an aggregation of the individuals who compose the partnership. If it had been the legislative intention that every person who is a partner in a firm should as such partner be considered an employer of the firm's employees, then, in view of the term `every person', which precedes the word `firm' in the statute, there would have been no occasion to, and no purpose would be served by the use therein of also the word `firm'. In other words, if it was the legislative intention that, in determining who is an employer liable for compensation under Ch. 102, Stats., a partnership was not to be treated as a separate entity, but that it was to be considered an aggregation of the individuals who are the partners thereof, and therefore every person who is such a partner is by virtue of that relationship to be considered also an employer of the firm's employees, then the term `every person' in sec. 102.04 (2), Stats., would have been sufficient to include all of the partners, and consequently the use of also the word `firm' in the statute would be superfluous. But that is not the consequence, and there is a purpose duly served in the statute by the word `firm', when it is considered to evidence the legislative intention that if a firm is an employer it shall be treated as a legal entity, *379 separate and distinct from the persons who are the members thereof."
The doctrine declared in Kalson has been adopted in other jurisdictions.
In Toenberg v. Harvey, 49 N.W.2d 578 (S.Ct. Minn. 1951), the workmen's compensation statute read: "The term `employer' means every person who employs another to perform a service for hire and to whom `the employer' directly pays wages, and includes any person, corporation, copartnership, or association * * *." The Court reversed an award as to a partnership employee against the compensation insurer of one of the individuals comprising the partnership, the Court saying at 581:
"Under the facts and circumstances here and the statute and cases above cited, this partnership must be treated as a separate employing entity for the purpose here involved. It does not follow from that that for all purposes a partnership is to be regarded as a legal entity. The partnership was Toenberg's employer. John Harvey was not. There was no contractual relationship between Toenberg and Harvey as an individual, and liability under the compensation act arises by virtue of contract. A contract of hire a relationship of employer-employee is a condition precedent to benefits and duties under the statute."
In Mendonca Dairy v. Mauldin, 420 P.2d 552 (S.Ct. Okla. 1966) an employee of a partnership sought compensation benefits from an individual member of the partnership and the insurer covering that individual. Rejecting the claim, the Court said at 555:
"A partnership is a separate entity and constitutes a separate employer distinct from any of the members constituting such partnership. Anderson v. Duke, 193 Okl. 395, 143 P.2d 800. Consequently, there was no relationship of employer and employee between Mrs. Van Hook, as *380 an individual, and claimant, and any insurance policy issued to her individually which covered her employees does not apply to claimant."
The non-coverage position is best articulated in Crall v. Hockman, 460 S.W.2d 668 (S.Ct. Mo. 1970), wherein the Court, after citing with approval the quotation from Kalson, supra, said at 671-72:
"We agree with the analysis and reasoning of the Wisconsin court [Kalson, supra] and the dissenting opinion of Judge Eager in Blew v. Conner, supra.[9] They give meaning and purpose to each of the words enumerated by the general assembly in defining what should constitute an employer under the Compensation Act. The specific mention of `partnership' in the definition then means something. It is true that generally Missouri has adopted the aggregate rather than the entity theory of partnership. Ward v. State Farmers Mutual Tornado Insurance Company of Missouri, Mo., 441 S.W.2d 1. However, so has Wisconsin, but the Wisconsin Supreme Court pointed out in Kalson that this did not mean that the general assembly could not and did not intend otherwise in defining an employing entity under the Act. They took the *381 position that when the legislature designated such firm as an employing entity, that was what the general assembly intended. Judge Eager's dissenting opinion takes a similar position with respect to the Missouri statute, and we conclude that this represents a correct interpretation of the language of the Act. It is consistent with the definition in § 287.020, subd. 1 of an employee as a person `in the service of any employer, as defined in this chapter.' (Emphasis supplied.)"
Maryland Code Article 101, § 67 (2) (1974 Cumulative Supplement) defines Employer as follows:
"(2) `Employer' means those persons who fall within the requirements of § 21 (a)[[10]] of this article including a person, partnership, association, corporation and the legal representatives of a deceased employer, or the receiver or trustee of a person, partnership, association or corporation employing workmen."
The decisions adopting the Reed doctrine seem to us to be specious, in that their stress is placed upon the personal responsibility of partners for partnership obligations. Yet, the true issue presented in Reed and its progeny did not involve a partner's ultimate responsibility as an individual to respond personally for partnership obligations. Rather, their rule of law imposed upon the insurer of an individual a duty and obligation it had not contracted to perform. When an individual becomes associated with others in a partnership he continues to be bound by law to full or partial individual liability for partnership obligations. He knows this when he voluntarily changes his status. It is a non sequitur, however, to suggest that the insurer of such an individual, without its agreement indeed without its knowledge should be compelled to carry the heavier *382 burden of obligations thereby assumed by such individual. Under the facts of this case, liability under the policy written by Penn National can attach only if it is compelled to perform a new and different obligation than that which it had undertaken to perform. Chaney v. Home Indemnity Co., 14 Md. App. 660, 288 A.2d 190. We decline to require it to do so.
Judgment affirmed.
Costs to be paid by appellants.
NOTES
[1] A & L Contractors was the trade name used by Leonard W. Pauza and Arthur Grimes, copartners.
[2] Waller was the principal contractor and A & L Contractors were subcontractors on a project known as Queen Anne Village. Article 101, § 62 reads as follows:
"§ 62. Employees of subcontractor may claim against contractor.
When any person as a principal contractor, undertakes to execute any work which is a part of his trade, business or occupation which he has contracted to perform and contracts with any other person as subcontractor, for the execution by or under the subcontractor, of the whole or any part of the work undertaken by the principal contractor, the principal contractor shall be liable to pay to any workman employed in the execution of the work any compensation under this article which he would have been liable to pay if that workman had been immediately employed by him; and where compensation is claimed from or proceedings are taken against the principal contractor, then, in the application of this article, reference to the principal contractor shall be substituted for reference to the employer, except that the amount of compensation shall be calculated with reference to the earnings of the workman under the employer by whom he is immediately employed.
Where the principal contractor is liable to pay compensation under this section, he shall be entitled to indemnity from any employer, who would have been liable to pay compensation to the employee independently of this section, and shall have a cause of action therefor against such employer.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a workman from recovering compensation under this article from the subcontractor instead of from the contractor.
Whenever an employee of a subcontractor files a claim under this article against the principal contractor, the principal contractor shall have the right to join the subcontractor or any intermediate contractors as defendant or codefendant in the case."
[3] The liability of Waller and Nationwide to the claimant is not disputed. There appeal is not rendered moot by this circumstance, however, because a principal contractor and his insurer are entitled to indemnity from the subcontractor and may participate in his appeal. Core Contracting Co. v. Schaeffer, 151 Md. 494, 135 A. 318.
[4] The factual recitation combines express findings of fact by the trial judge supported of record by competent evidence and uncontroverted facts established in the record.
[5] Pauza as an individual had limited his operation to interior carpentry, a category calling for a premium cost of $2.65 per $100.00 of payroll. His estimated payroll was $10,000.00 annually. The partnership's broadened operation added a category calling for a premium cost of $3.07 per $100.00 of payroll. The partnership's estimated payroll was $60,000.00 annually.
[6] Penn. National one of the appellees, has cited Felice v. Felice, 112 A.2d 581 (Superior Ct. N.J. App. Div. 1955) as reflecting a contrary view. It is true that the Court in Felice declared at 583:
"For purposes of workmen's compensation an employee of a partnership cannot be said to be an employee of an individual member thereof. Each partner has the authority to engage employees in the ordinary course of business and to bind the firm in so doing. State Compensation Insurance Fund v. Industrial Accident Commission, 28 Cal. App.2d 474, 82 P.2d 732 (D.Ct.App. 1938); 40 Am.Jur., Partnership, § 161, p. 243. Such persons are employees of the entity and not of the individuals who form it."
The Supreme Court of New Jersey, however, in Mazzuchelli v. Silberberg, 148 A.2d 8, declaring the quoted language to be unnecessary to the decision in Felice, cited Weir with approval.
[7] The opinion's characterization of the "general rule" appears overstated. It is true that the C.J.S. citation declares, "A policy of workmen's compensation insurance insuring an individual member of a partnership covers an injury to an employee of the partnership." The cases cited to support the text were as follows: Cal. Reed v. Industrial Accident Commission, 73 P.2d 1212, 10 Cal.2d 191, 114 A.L.R. 720 Zimmerman v. Industrial Accident Commission, 6 P.2d 291, 119 Cal. App. 253, N.Y. Greenstein v. Kastonowitz, 24 N.Y.S.2d 792, 261 App. Div. 858, appeal denied 26 N.Y.S.2d 608, 261 App. Div. 1011. The pertinency of two of those cases has been discussed supra. Zimmerman is authority for nothing more than that a policy issued to one individual although according no protection to a person subsequently becoming his partner, does accord protection to the named assured "who continued in the operation of the business under the same trade name."
It is also true that the Am.Jur. citation declares:
"A workmen's compensation insurer has been held liable on a policy issued to an individual employer who afterward formed a partnership with another, for the amount of an award of workmen's compensation to an injured employee of the partnership, upon the theory that, a partnership not being an entity, an employee of a partnership is an employee of each individual partner."
That text is supported only by Reed, supra.
The case of Brollier v. Van Alstine, cited by the Mississippi Court, was rejected by the Supreme Court of Missouri in Crall v. Hockman, 460 S.W.2d 668 (1970) as discussed infra.
[8] The decision in Crall v. Hochman, supra, N. 7, also rejected the prior decision in Blew v. Conner, 328 S.W.2d 626 (1959).
[9] 328 S.W.2d 626. The dissenting opinion had declared, inter alia, (p. 632):
"Section 287.030 of our Workmen's Compensation Law provides that the word `employer' is construed to mean: `Every person, partnership, association, corporation, trustee, receiver, * * * using the service of another for pay; * * *.' It seems obvious that our act appears thus to recognize a partnership, as distinguished from its constituent members, as an employing entity. And it thus seems inappropriate to consider our present question as one depending upon the individual liability of a partner for partnership obligations; the mere existence of a severable liability for partnership debts is not determinative here. All liability under the Compensation Act arises by virtue of specific contract relationship between an employer and an employee; it is difficult to see how each individual partner may properly be considered as an employer in his sole capacity when the real employment contract is with the partnership; and this is true regardless of any ultimate individual liability." (Italics supplied.)
[10] § 21 (a) (1) provides, inter alia: "(a) Coverage of Employers. The following shall constitute employers subject to the provisions of this act: (1) Every person that has in this State one or more employees subject to the act." None of the exemptions contained in the section are applicable here.
|
Segmental volvulus in the neonate: A particular clinical entity.
Complete intestinal volvulus is mainly related to congenital anomalies of the so-called intestinal malrotation, whereas segmental volvulus appears as a distinct entity, mostly observed during the perinatal period. Because these two situations are still lumped together, the aim of this study was to describe the particular condition of neonatal segmental volvulus. We analyzed the circumstances of diagnosis and management of 17 consecutives neonates operated for segmental volvulus more than a 10-year period in a single institution. During the same period, 19 cases of neonatal complete midgut volvulus were operated. Prenatal US exam anomalies were observed in 16/17 (94%) of segmental volvulus, significantly more frequently than in complete volvulus (p=0.003). Intestinal malposition was described peroperatively in all cases of complete volvulus, but also in 4/17 segmental volvulus (23%). Intestinal resection was performed in 88% of segmental volvulus when only one extensive intestinal necrosis was observed in complete volvulus. Parenteral nutrition was required in all patients with segmental volvulus with a median duration of 50days (range 5-251). Segmental volvulus occurs mainly prenatally and leads to fetal ultrasound anomalies. This situation, despite a limited length of intestinal loss, is associated to significant postnatal morbidity. Treatment study. Level IV. |
Garden City Boys and Girls Club
Administrator
Oct 21|16:17
Published on 29 November 1999
Area Commander Major Chris Flanagan and The Salvation Army Greater Houston Advisory Board members were among those who attended the official groundbreaking ceremony today for the new Garden City Boys & Girls Club.
“This is such a joyous occasion for so many reasons. Even though we’ve never left Acres Home, despite our old building being completely destroyed, the message we are sending today to the residents of Acres Homes, and so many other communities as well, is that The Salvation Army never gives up. Not on buildings, not on communities, not on people,” said Major Flanagan. “We’re coming back stronger than ever, and when we do, we will continue being a beacon of hope for all those who need us.”
In September of 2008, the Garden City Apartment complex was damaged so extensively by Hurricane Ike – including the building where The Salvation Army was operating its Garden City Boys & Girls Club from – that it forced the Army to permanently cease its Club operations at that location.
Instead, the 121-year-old, non-profit organization, in collaboration with the Aldine Independent School District, has been utilizing Caraway Intermediate School to provide after-school programs for local youth. These include tutoring, drug and alcohol prevention, computer training and other recreational activities, on a smaller scale, due to the lack of a permanent building. The new facility, however, will significantly increase the volume of services The Salvation Army can provide in Acres Home. Daily capacity for Boys & Girls Club members alone will increase from 80 young people a day to 300.
Scheduled for a summer of 2011 completion, this new facility will continue the Army’s tradition of over 40 years of service in the Acres Home community.
The $3.7 million Garden City investment is one of six major capital improvement projects scheduled to take place in the local region over the course of the next several years as part of The Salvation Army’s overall $21.6 million Giving for Living Capital Campaign initiative. The Capital Campaign concentrates on building initiatives in areas with the most need and also includes the construction of a new International Corps Community Center in southwest Houston, the new construction of a larger Salvation Army Emergency Shelter in Conroe, the renovation and expansion of Sally’s House, the concentration of social services, disaster relief operations, Christmas assistance in one central location and improvements to Houston’s Adult Rehabilitation Center. |
package com.thaiopensource.relaxng.pattern;
class ChoicePattern extends BinaryPattern {
ChoicePattern(Pattern p1, Pattern p2) {
super(p1.isNullable() || p2.isNullable(),
combineHashCode(CHOICE_HASH_CODE, p1.hashCode(), p2.hashCode()),
p1,
p2);
}
Pattern expand(SchemaPatternBuilder b) {
Pattern ep1 = p1.expand(b);
Pattern ep2 = p2.expand(b);
if (ep1 != p1 || ep2 != p2)
return b.makeChoice(ep1, ep2);
else
return this;
}
boolean containsChoice(Pattern p) {
return p1.containsChoice(p) || p2.containsChoice(p);
}
<T> T apply(PatternFunction<T> f) {
return f.caseChoice(this);
}
void checkRestrictions(int context, DuplicateAttributeDetector dad, Alphabet alpha)
throws RestrictionViolationException {
if (dad != null)
dad.startChoice();
p1.checkRestrictions(context, dad, alpha);
if (dad != null)
dad.alternative();
p2.checkRestrictions(context, dad, alpha);
if (dad != null)
dad.endChoice();
}
}
|
Featured brands
Shopping for Baby Gear Essentials
Keeping baby safe, comfortable and entertained takes the right gear. cribs, changing tables and rocking chairs are essential pieces of furniture for the nursery, but baby also needs other gear to use during playtime, feeding time and those times when you head out of the house together. Shop Walmart for Every Day Low Prices on your baby gear essentials to simplify your life and to keep your baby secure, cozy and happy.
Essential Baby Gear for the Home
Of course you want to enjoy picking out your baby's sleeping space and baby-friendly furnishings. There are also a few other important pieces needed to care for and entertain a baby. From feeding time to play time, add these essential pieces to your home.
Bouncers and Swings
Newborn babies are used to the soothing motion and comfort of the womb. Bouncers and swings help simulate this environment to encourage baby to relax. Some models have music, toys, mirrors and other entertainment so that baby can play and learn while awake.
Playmats
Tummy time is important for babies that are not yet mobile. It helps them get exercise and strengthen muscles. Playmats and baby gyms have cushioned surfaces that spread out on the floor for baby to lay on. Toys hang over the mat so that baby can kick, reach and grab in order to get some exercise and practice hand-eye coordination. Some playmats also play music when baby kicks or rolls onto certain areas of the mat. Bright colored mats keep baby engaged throughout the entire play session.
Playards
If your baby is already on the move, then a playard allows for playing freely without wandering off. Baby stays entertained with toys, and parents can keep an eye their curious tot. Playards are also a comfortable place for baby to take a nap. Because they fold down easily, they are also a go-to option to use when traveling with baby. Some models include a bassinet and portable changing station to increase functionality.
High Chairs
Feeding time can get a bit messy, especially with curious and playful babies. High chairs help baby sit upright while eating, and they have smart safety features to keep little ones in place. High chairs with washable or waterproof padding are easy to clean after baby is finished with a meal. Booster seats help baby sit up high enough at the table and take up a lot less space than a freestanding high chair. Some also come with detachable trays for easy cleaning.
Essential Gear for Taking Baby Out and About
Getting out of the house with a baby takes some strategic pre-planning, but the right pieces of gear can help make it run like clockwork. Whether traveling by car or by foot, these pieces of essential gear ensure your baby stays safe and comfortable.
Car Seats
A properly sized car seat is necessary for bringing baby home from the hospital. infant car seats and carriers with a base make it easy to lock into the back seat and remove when you arrive at the destination. Once baby gets bigger, install a forward facing car seat to give the child more legroom. Convertible car seats grow with the baby. They install rear facing or forward facing and have higher weight limits. Boosters are suitable for children who use the car's seat belts but need to sit higher so that the belt positions correctly.
Strollers
Your choice of stroller can make it easier when taking baby on the go. Umbrella strollers are lightweight and compact to easily stow in the car. Larger strollers handle all types of terrain and can come with helpful features such as cup holders and storage baskets. Jogging strollers are ideal for those who are physically active and want their baby to join them on their outdoor workouts.
Baby Carriers
Babies love to be held and carried. Additionally, maneuvering bulky car seats and strollers through small spaces is not always an option. Baby carriers keep baby close while keeping your hands free. Wraps can be worn in a variety of ways to maximize comfort for the baby and the person wearing the baby. Other carriers have adjustable straps and clips to secure baby in place while being easy to take off.
Make shopping for and comparing baby gear easier by shopping on Walmart.com. Order online, pick up as soon as today. |
Bay Minette, Alabama
Bay Minette is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 8,044. The city is the county seat of Baldwin County.
History
In the first days of Baldwin County, the town of McIntosh Bluff (now in Mobile County, west of Baldwin County) on the Tombigbee River was the county seat. After being transferred to the town of Blakeley in 1810, the county seat was later moved to the city of Daphne in 1868. In 1900, by an act of the legislature of Alabama, the county seat was authorized for relocation to the city of Bay Minette; however, the city of Daphne resisted relocation. The citizens of Bay Minette moved the county records from Daphne in the middle of the night on October 11–12, 1901 and delivered them to the city of Bay Minette - where the Baldwin County seat remains to this day. A mural for the new post office built in 1937 was commissioned by the WPA and painted by Hilton Leech, to commemorate this event.
In September 2011, the town attempted to enact a program called "Operation Restore Our Community". It would have allowed those convicted of a misdemeanor to substitute imprisonment with mandatory church attendance for one year. However, this program was challenged due to violating separation of church and state, and the program's start was delayed for judicial review. It appears to have been scrapped.
Geography
Bay Minette is located near the center of Baldwin County in southern Alabama at (30.883446, -87.777183). It is sited on high ground east of the Mobile River/Tensaw River valley and west of the Florida border formed by the Perdido River. U.S. Route 31 passes through the center of the city, leading south to Spanish Fort and northeast to Atmore. Interstate 65 passes about north of the city, with access from exit 34 (State Route 59) and exit 37 (State Route 287).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.75%, is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bay Minette has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
Bay Minette is part of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area.
2010 Census data
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,040 people, 2,744 households, and 1,884 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,586 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 60.4% White, 35.3% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,744 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 21.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city, the population was 23.6% under the age of 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,389, and the median income for a family was $44,573. Males had a median income of $37,623 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,897. About 17.1% of families and 26.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Bay Minette uses a mayor council government. The mayor is elected at large. The city council consists of five members who are elected from one of five districts.
Education
Public schools
Bay Minette is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system.
High schools
Baldwin County High School (grades 9 through 12)
North Baldwin Center for Technology (grades 9 through 12)
Middle school
Bay Minette Middle School (grades 7 and 8)
Intermediate school
Bay Minette Intermediate School (grades 4 through 6)
Elementary school
Bay Minette Elementary School (grades K through 3)
Higher education
Faulkner State Community College
Culture
Portions of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind were filmed near the town's Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot, and Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood was filmed in rural portions of Baldwin County near Bay Minette.
Transportation
Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines.
Routes passing through the city include US 31 and Alabama State Route 59.
Notable people
Wallace Gilberry, defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals
Todd Grisham, sports announcer for ESPN
Ellis Hooks, soul blues singer and songwriter was born here
John McMillan, State Treasurer of Alabama
Anthony Mix, former wide receiver for Auburn University and NFL player
Joe M. Rodgers, United States Ambassador to France
Scotty Joe Weaver, hate crime victim featured in the documentary Small Town Gay Bar
References
External links
City of Bay Minette
Bay Minette Airport
Category:Populated coastal places in Alabama
Category:Cities in Alabama
Category:Cities in Baldwin County, Alabama
Category:County seats in Alabama |
We’ve seen some weird stuff in the mainstream media lately … well, weird for normal people, normal for journalists in the mainstream media. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, according to the Washington Post, was an “austere religious scholar” first and foremost. The members of Iran’s Quds Force who attacked the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad were “mourners.”
And terrorist Qasem Soleimani was described by the Washington Post as Iran’s “revered military leader,” despite people in Iran celebrating his death in the streets.
Was the assassination of #Soleimani an act of war? It will certainly be read that way in Iran and across the Middle East. An epic turn of events in the world's most volatile region that may ensure Soleimanis influence even in death. My @newyorker analysis. https://t.co/ni9C3CCTIt — Robin Wright (@wrightr) January 3, 2020
But nothing could prepare us for the New Yorker’s “analysis” of the death of Soleimani, written by Robin Wright.
Good morning to everyone except The New Yorker! "Suleimani, a flamboyant former construction worker and bodybuilder with snowy white hair, a dapper beard, and arching salt-and-pepper eyebrows…" They forgot to mention he was also a poet and told jokes!https://t.co/6oDS6VGoVf pic.twitter.com/A4PdOhc56Y — Imam of Peace / Pray for Peace… (@Imamofpeace) January 4, 2020
"Suleimani, a flamboyant former construction worker and bodybuilder with snowy white hair, a dapper beard, and arching salt-and-pepper eyebrows" WTF? ? https://t.co/nTOEW9eKkX — Queen Paola ?? ?? ?? (@Paola_Dec1231) January 4, 2020
I heard he made a hell a good chocolate chip cookie too. — I AIN’T LYIN’ (@ELCAMINONEGRO) January 4, 2020
"austere" is so 3 months ago… Let's use flamboyant!! ? — Minimander (@Minimander1) January 4, 2020
He was so dreamy. — Ian Ross (@IanrossWins) January 4, 2020
The New Yorker just walked him out of a romantic fantasy. I thought he was more familiar with throwing missiles than looking sexy. — Sir Dickson (@Wizarab10) January 4, 2020
I thought you were joking, but thats what they wrote for real ?! — Miss S (@ItsMssS) January 4, 2020
New Yorker, 1932: “Compact and dynamic, with a tidy clipped mustache, this Austrian artist captivates audiences with his wistful, folksy tales…” — Tim Bagwell (@Bama_Tim) January 4, 2020
He was a real family man who never missed his kids soccer games — Quartz (@Quartz95290058) January 4, 2020
He loved children and played ukelele. Such a loss. — Wilcham (@witmich) January 4, 2020
He was a handsome killer ???with a "Dapper" beard who likes animals and walking on the beach holding hands. lol #TerroristDatingSite — Miss Know-it-all (@KittyBlowsGlass) January 4, 2020
Sounds like someone at New Yorker had a crush on him… — Piyush Banerjee (@PiyushBanerje15) January 4, 2020
What a sweet, poignant eulogy. Almost brings tears to my eyes. — Scáthach (@jo_enck) January 4, 2020
Thoughts and prayers for you during this difficult time — ?Paddy O’Dhonnabhain? (@ODhonnabhain) January 4, 2020
My condolences for your loss. — Perry Bullock (@PerryBullock) January 4, 2020
Hard losing a loved one. So sorry for your loss — Fire wife ? Paula. Text TRUMP TO 88022 (@Firewife_Paula) January 4, 2020
Pray for Robin. She's really struggling w/her loss. "Suleimani, a flamboyant former construction worker and bodybuilder with snowy white hair, a dapper beard, and arching salt-and-pepper eyebrows, gained notice during the eight-year war with Iraq, in the nineteen eighties." https://t.co/T671hEPDyG — Ella Vader ????? (@kilomikealpha76) January 4, 2020
A huge shout-out to The People’s Cube for the meme:
Soleimani eulogy in the @NewYorker reads like a romance novel, authored by a dreamy woman with darkly erotic fantasies about sadistic tyrants & their BDSM dungeons, which gets subliminally encoded in her body of work.https://t.co/1Qvy7PupoN#Soleimani @TheNewYorker_fa pic.twitter.com/zaSdhcdGES — The Most Revered People's Cube ?? (@ThePeoplesCube) January 4, 2020
What did you think of her follow-up article “General Suleimani gave me the Spanking I Deserve “? — Garrett Powell (@GarrettsBrain) January 4, 2020
She thought he was smoking hot before we even bombed him. — SP (@SP_Fury) January 4, 2020
That’s not even all of it. Remember how killing Soleimani was like taking out Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Captain America all in one? Wright had some choice words for Soleimani’s elite Quds Force as well:
The Quds – similar to the SEALS, Delta Force, and Rangers combined? GTFOH — Gary Ullrich (@garyullrich) January 4, 2020
The Quds: “Iranian commandoes equivalent to the SEALs, Delta Force, and the Rangers, combined.? ????????? Right. And I am the King of Old Siam. — David Alexander (@PrincesssDad1) January 4, 2020
did "NewYorker" REALLY say that the Quds is = "Seals" + "Delta force" + "Rangers" *combined* ? really ?? — Aditya Arunachalam #நாளைய_தமிழகம்_ரஜினி (@IamSukhoi) January 4, 2020
Exactly, combined! Lol — Daniel Gabatel (@danielgabatel) January 4, 2020
"Suleimani, a flamboyant former construction worker and bodybuilder with snowy white hair, a dapper beard, & arching salt-&-pepper eyebrows, gained notice during the eight-year war with Iraq, in the 1980s." He was a terrorist. You're acting like you had his poster on your wall. — Ella Vader ????? (@kilomikealpha76) January 4, 2020
Related: |
Title: The Flash: “Godspeed” Review Release Date: April 16th, 2019 Network: The CW Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action I have mixed opinions on this episode as a whole and some of those mixed opinions are focused on our newest speedster, Godspeed. For starters, his suit and everything in the episode looked absolutely fantastic. It’s probably in my top 3 […] Read more
The Flash season 5 returns tomorrow, April 16th, with an episode titled “Godspeed”. To some, this episode title doesn’t mean anything. For fans of The Flash comics, they immediately knew who was on the way. The villain who can separate the Speed Force from other speedsters, Godspeed. The CW has revealed a first look at […] Read more
Title: The Flash: “Time Bomb” Review Release Date: March 19th, 2019 Network: The CW Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action Okay, I’m really digging this new big bad change so far. Sarah Carter, who plays this older version of Grace, portrays the Cicada character a lot different than Chris Klein’s version. She’s a lot less cheesy and her powers are […] Read more
Title: The Flash: “King Shark vs. Gorilla Grodd” Review Release Date: March 5th, 2019 Network: The CW Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action Let’s get this out of the way. “King Shark vs. Gorilla Grodd” lived up to the hype. Actually, it didn’t just live up the hype. It exceeded my expectations. This was something I never thought I’d ever […] Read more
Title: The Flash: “Cause and XS” Review Release Date: February 12th, 2019 Network: The CW Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action This episode of The Flash had Nora West-Allen go through the same scenario over and over again for the span of 60 minutes. Sounds really familiar for some reason. Oh, yeah that’s right. This is what we’ve been doing […] Read more
Title: The Flash: “Goldfaced” Review Release Date: February 5th, 2019 Network: The CW Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action As it stands right now, The Flash has become stagnant. It’s not as bad as season 4. Nowhere close. Last season brought on a lighter-tone that didn’t always fit with the main plot. It also had dull villains and devoted way too […] Read more
Title: The Flash: “Memorabilia” Review Release Date: January 29th, 2019 Network: The CW Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action The Flash has been known to introduce the next season’s big bad through references. Does this mean that the Red Death is the main villain for season six? I’m about 99.9% sure that this was just a throwaway line to the […] Read more
Title: The Flash: “Seeing Red” Review Release Date: January 22nd, 2019 Network: The CW Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action Plot holes, hypocritical characters, and poor decision making made “Seeing Red” one of the worst episodes of The Flash season five. Honestly, it may be worse than “The Icicle Cometh”. At times, Barry is just so annoying. “Seeing Red” was one of those […] Read more
Title: The Flash: “The Flash and The Furious” Review Release Date: January 15th, 2019 Network: The CW Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action This week’s episode of The Flash has given me a revelation. I don’t care about Cicada. Look, I like the idea behind the character. His powers are unique enough to work as a big bad. And, his […] Read more |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.