text stringlengths 8 5.77M |
|---|
So, the folks at linux-mag have bench marked Gentoo(x86_64) compiled with march=core2 and -O2,-O3 or -Os and compared it with Ubuntu 9.04. While Ubuntu 9.10 is already out, the software used on Gentoo (seems that the used the stable branch of Gentoo) is closer to 9.04 than 9.10. And what do the results tell us? Exactly what we already knew. Gentoo kicks ass. We already knew that, didn’t we. However, what is interesting is that when most of the people have been harping that optimizing for a particular CPU (which I believe is the primary reason for the differences that we see) is not useful anymore, it seems that the this is really not the case. In my own experience, I concur. My Gentoo system has been far more responsive than my Ubuntu or even Arch systems ever were.
It is quite easy to not like Ubuntu. I do not like it, I can not use it anymore. A lot of you here would now expect me to provide a detailed overview as to why I do not like Ubuntu but this is not what this post is about. In a nutshell, allow me to say that the fact that Ubuntu is not a rolling release, it asks me to install *-dev packages if I want to compile software that links against those packages (think about compiling a plasmoid from kde-look.org that is not yet in the repos), the fact that I have to install a basic toolchain on a new install (if I want to compile my own kernel) ticks me off.
Now I take a step back and look again at the grievances that I have with Ubuntu, and the realization that three years ago the sentence above would have been Greek to me suddenly dawns on me. When I was introduced to Linux about three years ago, I had no idea what Linux was. I had never used it before, and had never seen anyone use it. Windows was the only thing that I had ever used (and I started with 3.1) and I was not aware of the alternatives that existed. So when my friend told me it was another operating system (being a computer science student I was interested in the fact that Linux is “just a kernel” and then we have separate distributions) I was interested. He got a Ubuntu Live CD and walked me through an installation. And within an hour I had a working Linux installation – no need of installing drivers – it seemed easier than windows. He told me to just go to the Ubuntu Forums if I have a problem.
Over the next week, I played around with it. Changing the wallpaper, changing the theme (Hey, there are a lot more options than Windows!)and changing the icons (hey, I can do this without installing any third-party apps! Cool!). In between, I learnt about 915resolution so that I could run my Intel 945GM at its native resolution (Intel drivers have come a long way since then). And it was not long before I was installing beryl and compiz, and showing off my transparent cubes, 3-D windows and all the other plugins that were built in with compiz.
Within a year, I came to realize how much I liked to use Linux. I learnt what a rolling release was, I learnt that I could configure my own kernel, and I learnt about building software from source (when a particular package was not available via apt-get). I moved over to Arch via a switched time (my first attempt at a Gentoo install was a failure :P) and soon I switched over to Gentoo where I have remained since then.
My point here is simple. I could not have started with Arch or Gentoo. I had no idea what Linux was, and I would have been lost with those distros. They assume a working knowledge of Linux. I was willing to learn, and Ubuntu was the perfect teacher. It eased my transition towards Linux and no other distro could have done a better job. Even now, no other distro out there can do a better job. And I recommend Ubuntu for any of my friend who is willing to try out Linux – because it is the easiest way to try Linux and yet not be lost.
In short, Ubuntu is like a primary school teacher. We learn the most from her, but then we all start talking about particle physics, nanotechnology, operating systems and haskell and what not; and forget her. But she remains our first teacher.
The past week has seen quite a few changes in the zen domain. Change, they say, is a necessary evil, so rather than dwell on what was we now look forward to what it would now be.
Zen-sources, as it was called, has a new name and a new home. It is now called zen-kernel and the new home can be found at http://zen-kernel.org/. Tutorials on how to install zen-kernel for the Linux distro of your choice are already up and this is where you should be headed. Because zen-kernel is still the way Linux Kernels should be. I would be posting benchmarks results of vanilla kernel vs. the Zen kernel pretty soon. Details will follow later, but right now I am not in favour of using phoronix test suite. I would rather benchmark more day-to-day tasks and see how the respective kernels perform.
Back to the changes in the zen land for now. The zen developers are also looking for a new logo. There is already a lively discussion in place at the Gentoo forums. Head over there, in case you want to take a sneak peek at the submissions that have been made so far.
And now the biggest change so far. This one is certainly for the positive. Zen kernel is now in portage (a big yay for all Gentoo users – it is now even easier to get zen). So, fellow Gentoo users, what are you waiting for? emerge zen-sources awaits you. |
Dr Seabrooke receives a prank call that’s more than it seems, discusses changing for your partners, and talks to a deaf minotaur thanks to the Relay Service.
Created by Lee Davis-Thalbourne
Produced by Passer Vulpes Productions
Doctor Olivia Seabrooke voiced by Mama Boho
Kevin voiced by Michael Grisso, with the call written by Andrea Klassen.
Melody voiced by Leslie Gideon, with the call written by Rae White.
Alex, Relay Officer speaking for Antony, was voiced by Kess Nelson, with the call written by Erin Kyan.
The Voice of the AusEtherial Network is Lee Davis-Thalbourne.
See our Cast Page and Writer Page for full Bios of the people in this episode!
Find out more about the National Relay Service at http://relayservice.gov.au
Up next on the AusEtherial Network: B.S. Cryptid! Find out more at https://syn.org.au/show/b-s-cryptid/ |
package com.advancedspark.streaming.rating.ml.incremental.utils
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// This code has been adapted from the following source:
// https://github.com/brkyvz/streaming-matrix-factorization
// Thanks, Burak!
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
object VectorUtils extends Serializable {
def dot(a: Array[Float], b: Array[Float]): Float = {
require(a.length == b.length, "Trying to dot product vectors with different lengths.")
var sum = 0f
val len = a.length
var i = 0
while (i < len) {
sum += a(i) * b(i)
i += 1
}
sum
}
def addInto(into: Array[Float], x: Array[Float], scale: Long = 1L): Unit = {
require(into.length == x.length, "Trying to add vectors with different lengths.")
val len = into.length
var i = 0
while (i < len) {
into(i) += x(i) / scale
i += 1
}
}
}
|
Q:
Alternative Menu content on mobile in Bootstrap 3
Here is the code I am using to show my menu. As you can probably see, the menu items are images as opposed to text. What I want to do is revert to showing text links rather than images for mobile and small screen devices when you hit the toggle button. I have no clue!?
<nav class="navbar navbar-default header-sketch">
<div class="container-fluid">
<!-- Brand and toggle get grouped for better mobile display -->
<div class="navbar-header">
<button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#bs-example-navbar-collapse-1" aria-expanded="false">
<span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span>
<span class="icon-bar"></span>
<span class="icon-bar"></span>
<span class="icon-bar"></span>
<span class="icon-bar"></span>
<span class="icon-bar"></span>
</button>
<a class="navbar-brand" href="index.html#top"><img class="logo" alt="CarShare Logo" src="img/car-logo.png"></a>
</div>
<!-- Collect the nav links, forms, and other content for toggling -->
<div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="bs-example-navbar-collapse-1">
<ul class="nav navbar-nav navbar-right desktop">
<li><a class="toscroll" href="#top" title="Home"><img alt="Home" src="img/home.png"></a></li>
<li><a class="toscroll" href="#about" title="About CarShare"><img alt="About CarShare" src="img/about.png"></a></li>
<li><a class="toscroll" href="#signup" title="Sign Up"><img alt="Sign Up" src="img/signup.png"></a></li>
</ul>
</div><!-- End Navbar Collapse -->
</div><!-- End Container Fluid -->
</nav><!-- End Nav -->
A:
Add class hidden-xs to images and 'visible-xs' to text.
More you can read here about responsive utilities of bootstrap
eg.
<a href="#">
<span class="visible-xs">Home</span>
<img class="hidden-xs" alt="Home" src="img/home.png">
</a>
|
Thouqi.com collaborates with Kuwaiti blogger Ascia Al Faraj and Haa Designs for exclusive Ramadan collection. The 20 piece collection is modest and traditional, yet contemporary, with a unique conservative but modern undercurrent, depicting the spirit of the Holy month.Dishdasha, the traditional dress of men in GCC was the inspiration behind the collection, resulting in utilitarian designs tailored in a feminine way. |
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<title>dojox.mobile Unit Test Runner</title>
<meta http-equiv="REFRESH" content="0;url=../../../../../util/doh/runner.html?testModule=dojox.mobile.tests.doh.expandingtextarea.module"></HEAD>
<BODY>
Redirecting to D.O.H runner.
</BODY>
</HTML>
|
Q:
What is this half-white tree
I walk past this tree every day, in the northern Midwest, and I am confounded by it. It starts off at the bottom like any normal oak or maple tree (I don’t know my trees). Then about 10 feet up it turns white, almost like it decided to try being a birch tree for awhile, and never went back. I’m pretty sure that’s not how trees work though. So what’s up with this?
I took this picture of it last year and found it again this one has leaves. imgur doesn’t do a good job of compression though.
A:
It's a birch tree judging by the raised lenticels and pattern on the older bark. Here is a typical young paper birch, probably Betula papyrifera, which is native to North America.
and here is a European birch which is older. You can see as the tree continues to grow the older bark that emerges is a dark colour.
A:
I originally thought that the tree was a Gray Birch (Betula populifolia), because it's not exfoliating and is in a multi-trunk form (most of the birch clumps sold - in the northern US Midwest, at least - are of this species or a hybrid of the species). I found no photos of trees old enough for the bark to furrow, though, probably because the tree is attacked and killed by bronze birch borer at a relatively young age.
So, I'm going with white poplar (Populus alba), although the clump form doesn't really match how it's sold. You'll know it by its leaves - they're large, with very white and fuzzy undersides. Here's the bark: https://www.planfor.co.uk/Donnees_Site/Produit/Images/1761/poplar-white_UK_500_0003216.jpg and here: https://forestry.usu.edu/images/treeid/poplar-aspen/white-poplar-trunk.jpg There's one a few houses away from me, and the bark is nearly identical.
|
Tag Archives: bird
Sorry to bring up a sore subject, but it’s still tick season. And will be all year round. What … during winter? Really? Yes. But for starters here’s your pop quiz:
A tick’s lifespan is
three months
ten months
twenty-four months (that is, about two years)
The best way to remove a tick is to
swab it with nail polish
hold a hot match to its behind
pull it straight up with fine-point tweezers
Even 15 million years ago, it was tick season. Trapped in amber, this tick carries Lyme-causing bacteria. (Photo credit Oregon State University.)
But back to our intro. Here’s the scoop: an adult female that hasn’t yet managed to grab hold of a large animal (think deer — or person) to get that all-important blood meal (can’t lay eggs without it) doesn’t want to wait around till a sunshiny summer day next year, because by then its number is up. Besides, the mice, chipmunks or birds it fed on earlier in its life cycle have only so much blood to go around. So that tick stays just below the soil where tall meadow flowers or low shrubs grow. Waiting. Waiting for a thaw barely long enough for it to scramble up one of those stems.
Waiting for the cues that tell it a warm-blooded animal is at close range. An animal that might be you.
And now for a look at our quiz. A tick’s lifespan? Your answer is (drumroll) C: upward of two years. Here’s how it works: Ticks spend a lot of time in dormancy, aka diapause. Eggs are laid in spring, tucked away out of sight. If some critter doesn’t find and eat them, they’ll hatch during summer as larval ticks (seed ticks, they’re sometimes called). Larval ticks are not infected with Lyme when they hatch — indeed, they’re pure as the fallen snow.
Meanwhile if likely hosts — those mice, chipmunks or birds — wander by, the ticks latch on. And if a host is already infected with Lyme disease or any of its nasty co-infections, those larval ticks, pure no more, are infected too.
Look close and you’ll see that spring, summer, fall, winter … every season is tick season. (Image credit Florida Dept. Health)
Larvae that make it this far morph into nymphs, and it’s diapause season again as the nymphs wait it out till the following spring. Assuming these ticks are now carriers —and about 25% will be — spring is the worst time of year for us. Because these ticks are tiny enough (the infamous poppy-seed stage) that they’re easy to overlook. If you get bit, ipso facto — you get Lyme (and quite possibly a co-infection too).
Things slack off in late summer as surviving nymphs enter a diapause that lasts till the following spring. But you can’t let down your guard, since by mid-fall through winter you’ve got those adult ticks to consider. The good thing (if “good thing” there is)? While half of these sesame seed-sized ticks are infected, they’re also easier to spot and remove.
Our second quiz item? If any of these strike you as valuable folk wisdom, strike the valuable part and know it ain’t so. Nail polish? Matches? Don’t even think of it. Those first two items are just likely to tick that tick off — and it’ll vomit its gut contents into you in its hurry to get out. That is, if it can get out quickly; if it’s really drilled in, it has downloaded a cement-like substance to anchor itself. It takes some doing to disengage, however persuasive the nail polish, burnt match, or myriad other folklore remedies. (Twisting it is another no-no that comes to mind, mainly because someone asked me about it mid-way through this post.)
Pointy tweezers, held right against your skin and gripping the mouthparts, are the way to go. (Image credit tickencounter.org)
If you value your health, get yourself some pointy tweezers, sold for needlepoint and other crafts, and carry them with you always in your bag, backpack, or whatever you haul around. Grasp that tick as close as you can get to your skin and pull steadily. Did its mouthparts remain glued within? Not to worry — the tick will feed no more. And before too many days go by, your exfoliating skin (that’s when the top layer of skin cells drift away) will exfoliate them in turn.
With ticks, prevention can include everything from doing routine tick checks to wearing repellent clothing when you’re outdoors — regardless the season. And you can’t do much better than this for advice about dressing right. |
function _typeof(obj) { "@babel/helpers - typeof"; if (typeof Symbol === "function" && typeof Symbol.iterator === "symbol") { _typeof = function _typeof(obj) { return typeof obj; }; } else { _typeof = function _typeof(obj) { return obj && typeof Symbol === "function" && obj.constructor === Symbol && obj !== Symbol.prototype ? "symbol" : typeof obj; }; } return _typeof(obj); }
function _extends() { _extends = Object.assign || function (target) { for (var i = 1; i < arguments.length; i++) { var source = arguments[i]; for (var key in source) { if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(source, key)) { target[key] = source[key]; } } } return target; }; return _extends.apply(this, arguments); }
function _defineProperty(obj, key, value) { if (key in obj) { Object.defineProperty(obj, key, { value: value, enumerable: true, configurable: true, writable: true }); } else { obj[key] = value; } return obj; }
function _classCallCheck(instance, Constructor) { if (!(instance instanceof Constructor)) { throw new TypeError("Cannot call a class as a function"); } }
function _defineProperties(target, props) { for (var i = 0; i < props.length; i++) { var descriptor = props[i]; descriptor.enumerable = descriptor.enumerable || false; descriptor.configurable = true; if ("value" in descriptor) descriptor.writable = true; Object.defineProperty(target, descriptor.key, descriptor); } }
function _createClass(Constructor, protoProps, staticProps) { if (protoProps) _defineProperties(Constructor.prototype, protoProps); if (staticProps) _defineProperties(Constructor, staticProps); return Constructor; }
function _inherits(subClass, superClass) { if (typeof superClass !== "function" && superClass !== null) { throw new TypeError("Super expression must either be null or a function"); } subClass.prototype = Object.create(superClass && superClass.prototype, { constructor: { value: subClass, writable: true, configurable: true } }); if (superClass) _setPrototypeOf(subClass, superClass); }
function _setPrototypeOf(o, p) { _setPrototypeOf = Object.setPrototypeOf || function _setPrototypeOf(o, p) { o.__proto__ = p; return o; }; return _setPrototypeOf(o, p); }
function _createSuper(Derived) { return function () { var Super = _getPrototypeOf(Derived), result; if (_isNativeReflectConstruct()) { var NewTarget = _getPrototypeOf(this).constructor; result = Reflect.construct(Super, arguments, NewTarget); } else { result = Super.apply(this, arguments); } return _possibleConstructorReturn(this, result); }; }
function _possibleConstructorReturn(self, call) { if (call && (_typeof(call) === "object" || typeof call === "function")) { return call; } return _assertThisInitialized(self); }
function _assertThisInitialized(self) { if (self === void 0) { throw new ReferenceError("this hasn't been initialised - super() hasn't been called"); } return self; }
function _isNativeReflectConstruct() { if (typeof Reflect === "undefined" || !Reflect.construct) return false; if (Reflect.construct.sham) return false; if (typeof Proxy === "function") return true; try { Date.prototype.toString.call(Reflect.construct(Date, [], function () {})); return true; } catch (e) { return false; } }
function _getPrototypeOf(o) { _getPrototypeOf = Object.setPrototypeOf ? Object.getPrototypeOf : function _getPrototypeOf(o) { return o.__proto__ || Object.getPrototypeOf(o); }; return _getPrototypeOf(o); }
var __rest = this && this.__rest || function (s, e) {
var t = {};
for (var p in s) {
if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(s, p) && e.indexOf(p) < 0) t[p] = s[p];
}
if (s != null && typeof Object.getOwnPropertySymbols === "function") for (var i = 0, p = Object.getOwnPropertySymbols(s); i < p.length; i++) {
if (e.indexOf(p[i]) < 0 && Object.prototype.propertyIsEnumerable.call(s, p[i])) t[p[i]] = s[p[i]];
}
return t;
};
import * as React from 'react';
import RcRate from 'rc-rate';
import omit from 'omit.js';
import classNames from 'classnames';
import StarFilled from '@ant-design/icons/StarFilled';
import Tooltip from '../tooltip';
import { ConfigConsumer } from '../config-provider';
var Rate = /*#__PURE__*/function (_React$Component) {
_inherits(Rate, _React$Component);
var _super = _createSuper(Rate);
function Rate() {
var _this;
_classCallCheck(this, Rate);
_this = _super.apply(this, arguments);
_this.saveRate = function (node) {
_this.rcRate = node;
};
_this.characterRender = function (node, _ref) {
var index = _ref.index;
var tooltips = _this.props.tooltips;
if (!tooltips) return node;
return /*#__PURE__*/React.createElement(Tooltip, {
title: tooltips[index]
}, node);
};
_this.renderRate = function (_ref2) {
var getPrefixCls = _ref2.getPrefixCls,
direction = _ref2.direction;
var _a = _this.props,
prefixCls = _a.prefixCls,
className = _a.className,
restProps = __rest(_a, ["prefixCls", "className"]);
var rateProps = omit(restProps, ['tooltips']);
var ratePrefixCls = getPrefixCls('rate', prefixCls);
var rateClassNames = classNames(className, _defineProperty({}, "".concat(ratePrefixCls, "-rtl"), direction === 'rtl'));
return /*#__PURE__*/React.createElement(RcRate, _extends({
ref: _this.saveRate,
characterRender: _this.characterRender
}, rateProps, {
prefixCls: ratePrefixCls,
className: rateClassNames
}));
};
return _this;
}
_createClass(Rate, [{
key: "focus",
value: function focus() {
this.rcRate.focus();
}
}, {
key: "blur",
value: function blur() {
this.rcRate.blur();
}
}, {
key: "render",
value: function render() {
return /*#__PURE__*/React.createElement(ConfigConsumer, null, this.renderRate);
}
}]);
return Rate;
}(React.Component);
export { Rate as default };
Rate.defaultProps = {
character: /*#__PURE__*/React.createElement(StarFilled, null)
}; |
import React from 'react';
import {Provider} from '../../cloud-providers';
import {MapInfo, ExportImage} from '../../reducers';
import {
setCloudProvider,
setExportImageSetting,
cleanupExportImage,
setMapInfo
} from '../../actions';
type CharacterLimits = {
title: number;
description: number;
};
export type SaveMapModalProps = {
mapInfo: MapInfo;
exportImage: ExportImage;
cloudProviders: Provider[];
isProviderLoading: boolean;
currentProvider: string;
providerError?: any;
characterLimits?: CharacterLimits;
// callbacks
onSetCloudProvider: typeof setCloudProvider;
onUpdateImageSetting: typeof setExportImageSetting;
cleanupExportImage: typeof cleanupExportImage;
onSetMapInfo: typeof setMapInfo;
};
function LoadDataModalFactory(): React.FunctionComponent<SaveMapModalProps>;
export default LoadDataModalFactory;
|
In mobile communication systems, Relay Stations (RSs) have been introduced to remove shadow areas. Relay technology is evolving from the simple Amplify-and-Forward scheme into an intellectual scheme such as Decode-and-Forward, Reconfiguration/Reallocation-and-Forward, and so forth. Particularly, in the next-generation mobile communication system, the introduction of multiple intellectual relays is inevitable to reduce installation cost for an increased number of Base Stations (BSs) and maintenance cost for the backhaul communication network, and at the same time to expand the communication coverage and improve the data throughput.
In the MMR system, RSs can be classified according to mobility, data forwarding scheme, diversity, wireless access technology, and so forth.
Regarding the detailed classification of RSs according to the mobility, the RSs can be classified into a fixed type, a nomadic type and a mobile type. The Fixed RS (FRS), which is the most popular type, is fixedly installed in shadow areas so that users can be supported to seamlessly receive services even in the shadow areas. The Nomadic RS (NRS) is installed in the places of, for example, events or exhibitions, where many users are gathering temporarily, to provide the users with seamless services. The Mobile RS (MRS) may be installed in a transportation means such as trains and buses, to provide services to mobile stations (MSs) on board the transmission means or to MSs in a user group.
A moving network is formed by MSs that are located inside the transportation means together with the MRS and receive services provided from the MRS, such as the MSs belonging to service coverage of the MRS. Herein, a set of the MSs forming the moving network is referred to as a “moving network group.”
Accordingly, there is a need for a technology capable of determining whether a group of MSs is formed that uses an MRS forming a moving network, and efficiently providing services to MSs belonging to a corresponding group. |
/*! \file ProgramStructureGraph.h
\author Gregory Diamos <gregory.diamos@gatech.edu>
\date Monday August 1, 2011
\brief The header file for the ProgramStructureGraph class.
*/
#pragma once
// Ocelot Includes
#include <ocelot/ir/interface/ControlFlowGraph.h>
namespace analysis
{
/*! \brief ProgramStructureGraphs are overlays over the ControlFlowGraph that
capture some structure other than basic blocks.
Examples of program structures from literature may include Superblocks,
Hyperblocks, Treegions, or Subkernels.
*/
class ProgramStructureGraph
{
public:
class Block
{
public:
typedef ir::ControlFlowGraph CFG;
typedef ir::BasicBlock BB;
typedef BB::instruction_iterator instruction_iterator;
typedef CFG::pointer_iterator basic_block_iterator;
typedef BB::const_instruction_iterator const_instruction_iterator;
typedef CFG::const_pointer_iterator const_basic_block_iterator;
// Forward Declarations
class const_iterator;
/*! \brief An iterator over basic blocks */
class block_iterator
{
public:
typedef block_iterator self;
typedef ir::BasicBlock value_type;
typedef value_type& reference;
typedef value_type* pointer;
public:
block_iterator();
block_iterator(const block_iterator&);
explicit block_iterator(const basic_block_iterator& i,
const basic_block_iterator& begin,
const basic_block_iterator& end);
public:
reference operator*() const;
pointer operator->() const;
self& operator++();
self operator++(int);
self& operator--();
self operator--(int);
bool operator==(const self&) const;
bool operator!=(const self&) const;
bool begin() const;
bool end() const;
private:
basic_block_iterator _iterator;
basic_block_iterator _begin;
basic_block_iterator _end;
friend class const_block_iterator;
friend class Block;
};
/*! \brief A const iterator over basic blocks */
class const_block_iterator
{
public:
typedef const_block_iterator self;
typedef ir::BasicBlock value_type;
typedef const value_type& reference;
typedef const value_type* pointer;
public:
const_block_iterator();
const_block_iterator(const const_block_iterator&);
const_block_iterator(const block_iterator&);
explicit const_block_iterator(const const_basic_block_iterator& i,
const const_basic_block_iterator& begin,
const const_basic_block_iterator& end);
public:
reference operator*() const;
pointer operator->() const;
self& operator++();
self operator++(int);
self& operator--();
self operator--(int);
bool operator==(const self&) const;
bool operator!=(const self&) const;
bool begin() const;
bool end() const;
private:
const_basic_block_iterator _iterator;
const_basic_block_iterator _begin;
const_basic_block_iterator _end;
};
/*! \brief An iterator over the instructions in the
contained basic blocks */
class iterator
{
public:
typedef iterator self;
typedef instruction_iterator::value_type value_type;
typedef value_type& reference;
typedef value_type* pointer;
public:
iterator();
explicit iterator(const block_iterator&,
const instruction_iterator&);
public:
reference operator*() const;
pointer operator->() const;
self& operator++();
self operator++(int);
self& operator--();
self operator--(int);
bool operator==(const self&) const;
bool operator!=(const self&) const;
private:
instruction_iterator _instruction;
block_iterator _basicBlock;
friend class const_iterator;
friend class Block;
};
/*! \brief A const iterator */
class const_iterator
{
public:
typedef const_iterator self;
typedef instruction_iterator::value_type value_type;
typedef value_type& reference;
typedef value_type* pointer;
public:
const_iterator();
const_iterator(const iterator&);
const_iterator(const const_iterator&);
explicit const_iterator(const const_block_iterator&,
const const_instruction_iterator&);
public:
reference operator*() const;
pointer operator->() const;
self& operator++();
self operator++(int);
self& operator--();
self operator--(int);
bool operator==(const self&) const;
bool operator!=(const self&) const;
private:
const_instruction_iterator _instruction;
const_block_iterator _basicBlock;
};
class const_successor_iterator;
/*! \brief An iterator over block successors */
class successor_iterator
{
public:
typedef successor_iterator self;
typedef ir::BasicBlock value_type;
typedef value_type& reference;
typedef value_type* pointer;
public:
successor_iterator();
successor_iterator(const successor_iterator&);
explicit successor_iterator(const block_iterator&,
const basic_block_iterator&);
public:
reference operator*() const;
pointer operator->() const;
self& operator++();
self operator++(int);
self& operator--();
self operator--(int);
bool operator==(const self&) const;
bool operator!=(const self&) const;
private:
block_iterator _block;
basic_block_iterator _successor;
friend class const_successor_iterator;
};
/*! \brief An iterator over block successors */
class const_successor_iterator
{
public:
typedef const_successor_iterator self;
typedef ir::BasicBlock value_type;
typedef const value_type& reference;
typedef const value_type* pointer;
public:
const_successor_iterator();
const_successor_iterator(const const_successor_iterator&);
const_successor_iterator(const successor_iterator&);
explicit const_successor_iterator(const const_block_iterator&,
const const_basic_block_iterator&);
public:
reference operator*() const;
pointer operator->() const;
self& operator++();
self operator++(int);
self& operator--();
self operator--(int);
bool operator==(const self&) const;
bool operator!=(const self&) const;
private:
const_block_iterator _block;
const_basic_block_iterator _successor;
};
class const_predecessor_iterator;
/*! \brief An iterator over block predecessors */
class predecessor_iterator
{
public:
typedef predecessor_iterator self;
typedef ir::BasicBlock value_type;
typedef value_type& reference;
typedef value_type* pointer;
public:
predecessor_iterator();
predecessor_iterator(const predecessor_iterator&);
explicit predecessor_iterator(const block_iterator&,
const basic_block_iterator&);
public:
reference operator*() const;
pointer operator->() const;
self& operator++();
self operator++(int);
self& operator--();
self operator--(int);
bool operator==(const self&) const;
bool operator!=(const self&) const;
private:
block_iterator _block;
basic_block_iterator _predecessor;
friend class const_predecessor_iterator;
};
/*! \brief A const iterator over block predecessors */
class const_predecessor_iterator
{
public:
typedef const_predecessor_iterator self;
typedef ir::BasicBlock value_type;
typedef const value_type& reference;
typedef const value_type* pointer;
public:
const_predecessor_iterator();
const_predecessor_iterator(const const_predecessor_iterator&);
const_predecessor_iterator(const predecessor_iterator&);
explicit const_predecessor_iterator(const const_block_iterator&,
const const_basic_block_iterator&);
public:
reference operator*() const;
pointer operator->() const;
self& operator++();
self operator++(int);
self& operator--();
self operator--(int);
bool operator==(const self&) const;
bool operator!=(const self&) const;
private:
const_block_iterator _block;
const_basic_block_iterator _predecessor;
};
public:
/*! \brief Get an iterator to the first instruction in the block */
iterator begin();
/*! \brief Get an iterator to the end of the instruction list */
iterator end();
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the first instruction in the block */
const_iterator begin() const;
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the end of the instruction list */
const_iterator end() const;
public:
/*! \brief Get a block iterator to the first block */
block_iterator block_begin();
/*! \brief Get an iterator to the end of the block list */
block_iterator block_end();
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the first block */
const_block_iterator block_begin() const;
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the end of the block list */
const_block_iterator block_end() const;
public:
/*! \brief Get a block iterator to the first successor */
successor_iterator successors_begin();
/*! \brief Get an iterator to the end of the successor list */
successor_iterator successors_end();
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the first successor */
const_successor_iterator successors_begin() const;
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the end of the successor list */
const_successor_iterator successors_end() const;
public:
/*! \brief Get a block iterator to the first predecessor */
predecessor_iterator predecessors_begin();
/*! \brief Get an iterator to the end of the predecessor list */
predecessor_iterator predecessors_end();
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the first predecessor */
const_predecessor_iterator predecessors_begin() const;
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the end of the predecessor list */
const_predecessor_iterator predecessors_end() const;
public:
/*! \brief insert a new block */
block_iterator insert(ir::ControlFlowGraph::iterator block,
block_iterator position);
/*! \brief insert a new block to the end */
block_iterator insert(ir::ControlFlowGraph::iterator block);
public:
/*! \brief insert a new instruction */
iterator insert(ir::Instruction* instruction, iterator position);
/*! \brief insert a new instruction to the end of the last block */
iterator insert(ir::Instruction* instruction);
public:
/*! \brief Are there any instructions in the block? */
bool empty() const;
/*! \brief Get the number of instructions in the block */
size_t instructions() const;
/*! \brief Get the number of basic blocks in the block */
size_t basicBlocks() const;
private:
typedef ir::ControlFlowGraph::BlockPointerVector BlockPointerVector;
private:
BlockPointerVector _blocks;
};
public:
typedef std::vector<Block> BlockVector;
typedef BlockVector::iterator iterator;
typedef BlockVector::const_iterator const_iterator;
public:
/*! \brief Get an iterator to the first block */
iterator begin();
/*! \brief Get an iterator to the end of the block list */
iterator end();
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the first block */
const_iterator begin() const;
/*! \brief Get a const iterator to the end of the block list */
const_iterator end() const;
public:
/*! \brief Get the number of basic blocks in the graph */
size_t size() const;
/*! \brief Is the graph empty? */
bool empty() const;
protected:
BlockVector _blocks;
};
}
|
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, a semiconductor device, a circuit substrate and electronic equipment.
2. Related Art
Currently, since electronic equipment having portability such as a portable phone, a notebook size personal computer, and a PDA (Personal data assistance), and equipment such as a sensor, a micro-machine, and a printer head are small sized and light weight, miniaturization of various electronic parts of a semiconductor chip or the like installed inside have been made. Moreover, these electronic parts are extremely limited in the mounting space.
Therefore, research and development for manufacturing a micro semiconductor chip using a technology called a chip scale package (CSP) or a wafer level chip scale package (W-CSP) has been actively carried out (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-50738). In the wafer aspect of the W-CSP technology, since the wafer is divided into individual semiconductor chips after a rearrangement wiring (re-wiring) and a sealing with a resin, a semiconductor device having an area approximately equal to the chip area can be manufactured.
For further high integration, by depositing the semiconductor chips having the same function or semiconductor chips having a different function and electrically coupling each semiconductor chip, a three-dimensional mounting technology for making high density mounting of the semiconductor chip is devised.
Attempts to realize a greater density have recently been carried out through three-dimensional mounting on an active surface of a W-CSP substrate. More specifically, after a coupling terminal as an external electrode is embedded and formed on the active surface side of a wafer formed with an electronic circuit, a semiconductor chip is deposited via this coupling terminal, and at last, the back surface of the wafer is polished to expose a part of the coupling terminal. Then, the wafer is cut in a state in which the chip mounted on the wafer is cut into an individual semiconductor device.
According to this method, in order to mount the semiconductor device on a circuit substrate having a different terminal arrangement, it is necessary to form the rearrangement wiring or the like on the back surface side of the wafer. However, it is technically difficult to form a wiring or the like on a polished surface, or the step becomes complicated by forming a new wiring layer.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and is intended to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device that more easily realizes a high density mounting, a semiconductor device thereof, and a circuit substrate and electronic equipment having the semiconductor device. |
Empire of the Iguanadons
Leave your political correctness at the door.
Super Tuesday 2012
Do you hear that sound? The sound of mad scribbling? That's the sound of many hands tonight writing on the collective walls of our political process. They all have one thing in common tonight: Mitt Romney wins. It looks like we've finally managed to get the Republican party pointed in the same direction for the firs time in the last several months. While I'm not personally happy with where this is inevitably leading, the fat lady is singing loud and clear. This race is over. Time to get down to business with the results, after the jump.
Georgia being Newt's home state, it saddens me greatly he couldn't even get 50% of the votes there. Newt, love ya man, but you're done. I'm sticking a fork in you.
It disturbs me equally as much that Virginia only mustered 60% of their fucked up system to vote for Mitt. That so many of you voted for Ron Paul scares me, and should scare the rest of the country too.
It was a bloodbath tonight, and we're basically down the choice between a Massachusetts RINO and a fanatical social conservative who is too easily baited into stupid arguments by the media. Ugh. Still, either one of them is indisputably better than re-electing Obama. So let's hope Newt and Paul drop out so this can get over with sooner. That is the sound of inevitability. Why fight it?.........................RIP United States of America
So, if as you suggest, Newt and Ron dropped out, what happens to their combined 143 delegates?
I'm not so sure they're really trailing as far as you're suggesting either. Ron's a whole 61 delegates behind Newt at this point, and Newt's a whole 67 delegates behind Rick. Now, the lead Mitt has on Rick is pretty noteworthy, but you weren't suggesting that Ron, Newt, & Rick should all just concede to Mitt yet either, so i have to assume you also realize that even 407 is still quite a far cry from 1,144 thus meaning that it's still potentially anyone's ball game out of the four of them.
I'm actually a bit surprised that neither Newt nor Rick qualified for the ballot in Virginia, though I suspect that should be telling us all something in itself. As for Ron's pulling in 40% of the Virginia vote, given that they only had two choices, Ron's not entirely off-base with the people as so many of these caucuses have recently shown, he has managed to pull down votes in every caucus so far, hasn't he?
I do agree that it's a pretty bad sign that Newt couldn't even get 50% in his own home state, but he still won the state, so, while you may be ready to stick a fork in him over that, I rather doubt he's ready to drop out just yet.
If it really is down to Mitt and Rick, I suppose a "Massachusetts RINO" [Mitt Romney] is preferable in my mind to "a fanatical social conservative who is too easily baited into stupid arguments by the media" [Rick Santorum].
Well whether Newt and Ron Paul will admit it, they're finished. The miracle (or disaster) needed for one of them to win the nomination now would be staggering in power. Neither of them has the base for it anymore. So yes, I'm sticking a fork in them both. Newt staked his entire campaign on Super Tuesday and it blew up in his face. The 143 delegates would likely be released to support one of the two who remain behind.
You're right though that Santorum still has an outside shot since he's amassed a decent enough pool of delegates. It depends on which states remain to run primaries etc. Santorum isn't going to be taking California, that I can guarantee you. Romney has that one in the bag before we even get there.
Yes, if it comes down to Romney or Santorum, my vote goes to Romney. RINO or not, the business experience is worth more than social policy any day.
1. Seriously, how bad do you have to be if you're running for president and you didn't even have the foresight to file properly to get on the ballot? This is not the first time this has happened, and should maybe be a clue.
2. While the part of me that thinks the Republicans really, really need to crash and burn wishes Santorum had scored big, the part of me that likes having two viable parties in this country is glad Romney seems to be winning, Doesn't change my wanting them to crash and burn, but it at least makes me feel better about the party's collective sanity.
Virginia's system is really bizarre. It wasn't that they didn't have the foresight to get on the ballot, it's that they have this weird process where you need X amount of people from each county before you can qualify. Romney and Paul were the only two who managed it. Which either means the entire rest of the field sucked that bad, or that the voters in Virginia simply didn't like any of the options and math doomed them all.
Herman Cain still got shafted by the media. He would have been the best choice.
That part of you that wants to see us crash and burn? It's what makes people like me want to see the Democrats as a whole crash, burn, and have their ashes blown into space. So is it any wonder that neither side can accomplish anything? Perhaps that's why we're the closest to a second civil war than we've ever been at any other time in our history? God seems to think that we all need to burn
There was a commentator on TV last night that noted that Romney struggles to fully unite the party because he seems a bit fake, while Santorum lacks the strength to beat him, and seems to be settling on mortally wounding him instead. Not good for the Republican party, anyway.
I share to a degree Dwip's wish for the Republicans to crash and die, although, I suspect the best way for that to happen would be to have the republicans win and watch the bombs start falling over Iran (and various crazy things be implemented back in America, but hey, they'll really be just a side show). But then, when I look at the long term implications of that I tend to think 'actually, maybe its best the Republican's just don't win'.
It's the bombs falling on Iran part that motivates me most to want the Republicans to win. Obama is too much of a chicken shit to do what must be done about them. It would be awfully hard to wage a war as you're slashing the budget of the very people who would have to prosecute it in your name.
Long term? We can't survive another 4 years of Obama's version of Jimmy Carter. It. Just. Can't. Happen.
Virginia's system is really bizarre. It wasn't that they didn't have the foresight to get on the ballot, it's that they have this weird process where you need X amount of people from each county before you can qualify. Romney and Paul were the only two who managed it. Which either means the entire rest of the field sucked that bad, or that the voters in Virginia simply didn't like any of the options and math doomed them all.
Having grown up in Virginia, I don't think of their system as bizarre, rather I tend to think of most of the other states as being too lax in who gets on the ballot. There's a reason the ballot has a write-in box.
It was probably the latter option of those those, I suspect enough people felt like the choices sucked enough that the two of them got blown off by simple math.
Samson said:
Perhaps that's why we're the closest to a second civil war than we've ever been at any other time in our history?
Oh, I think there are more than a few other factors involved too, but yes, it's definitely one of the factors, at least in my opinion.
Sounds pretty, though it'll suck for those of us on satellite internet and satellite TV, but at least it's only a 24 hour phenomena this time.
Samson said:
It's the bombs falling on Iran part that motivates me most to want the Republicans to win. Obama is too much of a chicken shit to do what must be done about them. It would be awfully hard to wage a war as you're slashing the budget of the very people who would have to prosecute it in your name.
I kind of have to second this one. As long as we don't have to endure Obama for another four years, I'm really not that concerned with most of the Republican/Democratic platforms currently. (Though having ObamaCare repealed and redone in far better fashion would really be nice, but...) But to see us deal with the problems in the "Middle East", ahem , properly for a change would be well worth getting a Republican back in office all by itself. (Actually, as far as other issues, I would like to see the economy make some actual headway and there are a few other points I'd like to see, but, frankly, I don't believe anything politicians tell us while still on the campaign trail anyway.)
Samson said:
Long term? We can't survive another 4 years of Obama's version of Jimmy Carter. It. Just. Can't. Happen.
Yeah, this. I prefer "Bottom line" to "Long term", but very much the same sentiment.
Maybe now that Perry's no longer running for President he can work on having Texas cede the union already so we can have start working on a country that would actually stand up to the ideals that our founding fathers had in mind.
It's the bombs falling on Iran part that motivates me most to want the Republicans to win. Obama is too much of a chicken shit to do what must be done about them. It would be awfully hard to wage a war as you're slashing the budget of the very people who would have to prosecute it in your name.
I certainly won't stop you from being Israel's pawn and dragging yourself down into an unwinnable war. Although don't expect my country to have anything to do with it. My sympathies go to the civilian population of the Middle East should things turn out like this.
The Arab government's want you to eliminate them, for sure. The Arab people, on the other hand, feel far more threatened by Israel and the USA.
I'm not saying I support the regime in Iran in any way, shape or form. They are scum and need to die. I do not believe that military intervention is the way to do it. The only real reason the Iranian people have to rally around their government is that there government will defy people (i.e. the west) who try to push them around. Start dropping bombs and you will give them the enormous motivation to do so.
Actually I think you are mistaken on exactly who the Iranian people hate. They seemed to make quite a bit of noise a couple of years back about wanting to boot out Ahmadinejad for being a dick, only to find out Obama was an even bigger dick and wasn't going to support them. THAT is what eventually turns them against us.
The Iraqis were all too happy to have us bombing the shit out of the place as long as Saddam was dead in the end.
Well, the Iraqi's certainly became more pre-occupied with killing each other than American's. Not that they didn't do plenty of that too when the whole civil war thing got going, but shit, those people had some sizable maniac portions of their community crying out for each others blood (in reality, the radical groups blowing each other up probably didn't represent more than 10% of the population, but 10% is more than enough).
But as for the 2009 protests in Iran...um...were they asking for intervention or something. I don't recall that.
You don't need to be a political genius to know the protestors in Iran were asking for help, even if they didn't overtly say so. The opportunity was ripe at the time, and it was completely blown.
Much like the window is open on Syria right now but won't last for long because Obama won't act on it.
As far as the sectarian violence in Iraq, that came along much later in the cycle of things once the radical clerics began stoking their hate. Partly our fault for not having a proper plan on what to do once we'd taken over. It was more or less "oh, well, that was easy, now what?"
I haven't been hearing the Republican candidates talking about helping out the guys in Syria, although I'd offer my support to that policy if are.
Ah...and those ill fated words, 'Mission Accomplished'. Only if, but oh well, that's behind us all now. Well, sort of, because Iraq's back on the verge of civil war. But this time its all their fault, considering the opportunity they ultimately got left with.
Yes, that's right, by March of 2008 the whole thing had been decided in a commanding victory for John McCain. Here we are in March of 2012 with no clear winner.
According to the tallies available at the Wall Street Journal's delegate tracker, there are a total of 1445 more delegates up for grabs in coming contests. Romney still needs 737 more at minimum in order to lock the nomination. He's been averaging 40% in the polls, and very few contests this year are winner-take-all. Getting 737 out of 737 delegates obviously requires that he score 50% of the results between now and June. Which is the big point the Beast was making. The math isn't there if he only claims another 40% of the pool.
Bottom line, he needs Santorum *AND* Gingrich to drop out, and given the climate, neither one of them is likely to do so on their own. So after having read through this, it's beginning to look like that brokered convention is becoming more likely. Which I'm sure will tickle Obama pink as he skates all of the formality elections on the Democrat side.
1. Re: VA elections, maybe I got them confused with somewhere else where random people just didn't bother to get on the ballot. Whichever. Either way, it kind of says something about the candidates when that's a thing that happens.
Which is kind of to say that the more this goes on, the more I keep having 2004 flashbacks, where your Democratic base really wanted Dean but went with the blander, floppier Kerry for electability, such as it was (Kerry: not the best candidate in the whole Democratic party, let us say) and got summarily owned for it. Pretty sure we're going to see a similar thing happen with Santorum v. Romney v. Obama in the general. The difference seems to be that the Dems were hiding Obama and Clinton for 2008, and it's not really clear to me who the realistic GOP choice would be in 2016 - Jindal? Ryan? Maybe I'm missing somebody, but the bench doesn't seem similarly deep or nationally renowned.
Put shorter, this:
prettyfly said:
There was a commentator on TV last night that noted that Romney struggles to fully unite the party because he seems a bit fake, while Santorum lacks the strength to beat him, and seems to be settling on mortally wounding him instead. Not good for the Republican party, anyway.
2. As to the whole crash and burn thing, yeah, I dunno. I really do honestly believe that the Republicans need to crash and burn now if only to pull them back towards the center a little bit. An eventuality where the GOP becomes the permanent minority party and we keep up with all this filibuster and shutdown nonsense doesn't serve anyone well. We need to return to the era of consensus, and I think the only way we're going to get there is if the current GOP leadership understands that being the party of no isn't going to make them win.
(Yes, yes, socialists Obama communism Hitler weak liberal fascist Jimmy Carter rabbit I don't even give a fuck. I'm sick of the rise of the filibuster, I'm sick of sabotaging positions that would have been noncontroversial when it was Bush, I'm sick of a lot of things.)
3. As to "the closest we've ever been to a second civil war", I believe the 1960s would like a word. When major cities start burning, then we'll be approaching that. Not until. Which doesn't mean that I don't have a problem with the current lack of consensus or even lack of willingness to understand the opposition, I just don't think we're close to having the second Confederacy show up.
And you know? Thank God for that. Because not only do I find the idea of secession to be antithetical to the idea of loving this country (you know, treason and all that), the idea that secession would somehow NOT result in economic and political suicide for the United States is completely beyond belief, and if you somehow think that it wouldn't wind up with crazy struggles between state and federal authority, check out how it worked the first (Articles of Confederation) and second (Confederate States of America) times.
Which is to say that Sherman had it right. You people of the South, &c, &c.
4. Re: Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran... Well, a few things.
- I'm not sure, but do we need to have the "there's a difference between Arabs and Persians and it matters" discussion? Because it does, and it's hard to tell from the comments.
- Yeah, actually, as far as I recall, and I can't seem to find where I discussed this here before, but I know I did, there just wasn't a big constituancy for massive US support in Iran in 2009, which is why you got what you did. On the contrary, the word at the time was that Obama coming out in support of the Green movement in a big way would have allowed the regime to pass it all off as a plot by the Great Satan, thus sabotaging their chances.
- We've kind of dodged around this before, but way I figure it, if a president, let's call him Obama for the sake of argument, cruises around bombing the shit of Libya, dropping drone strikes and everyone in the damn world, and raiding the living shit out of Pakistan, it kind of strikes me as maybe if he's not bombing more dudes there's reasons for it beyond ritual obescience to a shrine of Neville Chamberlain that he's got set up in the White House basement.
This is kind of how, remember how, after the invasion of Iraq when North Korea was shipping missiles and shit to everyone and their dog, and firing them all over the place and trying to start some shit, and how George W Bush, because he was a badass Republican war starter, totally started a huge war with them, axis of evil and all that, and...
...Oh wait, that didn't happen because it wasn't the best idea? Yeah. This is kind of the same thing.
Which is all kind of to say that this whole "Obama is weak" thing just doesn't make any sense to me.
- As far as the actual "Let's bomb Iran" thing, we kind of already had this discussion about Syria, so I don't really want to reiterate myself here except to say that if you thought a war with Syria was going to be tough, a war with Iran would be even worse, and you want to talk about deficit reduction? This ain't gonna help.
- I'm not sure, but do we need to have the "there's a difference between Arabs and Persians and it matters" discussion? Because it does, and it's hard to tell from the comments.
Apparently Iran is only 55% Persian or something like that, with a big Turkish minority (and a tiny Arab one). Otherwise though, I do get that, and I didn't really get the feeling that Samson doesn't either.
being Israel's pawn and dragging yourself down into an unwinnable war. Although don't expect my country to have anything to do with it.
Suit yourself, it's your choice (that's one of those freedoms that we all get to enjoy because we're not under control of some nutjob like Ahmadinejad, btw.) Personally, being jewish myself, I consider anyone who would be "Israel's pawn" quite praiseworthy, thank you very much.
Samson said:
Bottom line, he needs Santorum *AND* Gingrich to drop out, and given the climate, neither one of them is likely to do so on their own. So after having read through this, it's beginning to look like that brokered convention is becoming more likely. Which I'm sure will tickle Obama pink as he skates all of the formality elections on the Democrat side.
While I'm sure Obama's loving being able to watch this scenario play out, it will make for a much more interesting Republican summer than usual.
Dwip said:
In an event never before witnessed on this blog, I got comments.
*GASP!* No, the Dwip has comments?!?
Dwip said:
3. As to "the closest we've ever been to a second civil war", I believe the 1960s would like a word. When major cities start burning, then we'll be approaching that. Not until. Which doesn't mean that I don't have a problem with the current lack of consensus or even lack of willingness to understand the opposition, I just don't think we're close to having the second Confederacy show up.
And you know? Thank God for that. Because not only do I find the idea of secession to be antithetical to the idea of loving this country (you know, treason and all that), the idea that secession would somehow NOT result in economic and political suicide for the United States is completely beyond belief, and if you somehow think that it wouldn't wind up with crazy struggles between state and federal authority, check out how it worked the first (Articles of Confederation) and second (Confederate States of America) times.
Agreed, we haven't had major cities being burned yet. On the other had, we have had a major rise in protestation, even if somewhat misguided, in the so-called Tea Parties and Occupy Wall Street movements and we have had several states seriously talking about secession since Obama took the helm.
I disagree about it being antithetical to patriotism because the idea is to wipe the current slate and return to what this country was meant to be. Not just to treacherously abandon it all and do things our way. As for economic and political suicide for the United States, well the political side of that equation is exactly the idea. The Economic side is an unfortunate side effect that is simply unavoidable, fortunately, the world's economic status is pretty bad anyway, so there's always the chance that a secession wouldn't actually do as much additional harm than just letting things remain in Obama's care would anyway, and eventually we'd recover economically whether as These United States or as a new United States in all likelihood either way.
prettyfly said:
Dwip said:
- I'm not sure, but do we need to have the "there's a difference between Arabs and Persians and it matters" discussion? Because it does, and it's hard to tell from the comments.
Apparently Iran is only 55% Persian or something like that, with a big Turkish minority (and a tiny Arab one). Otherwise though, I do get that, and I didn't really get the feeling that Samson doesn't either.
This, exactly. I don't think we're confusing Arabs and Persians here, though we might be questioning the great value in the modern world of either...
Dwip said:
- We've kind of dodged around this before, but way I figure it, if a president, let's call him Obama for the sake of argument, cruises around bombing the shit of Libya, dropping drone strikes and everyone in the damn world, and raiding the living shit out of Pakistan, it kind of strikes me as maybe if he's not bombing more dudes there's reasons for it beyond ritual obescience to a shrine of Neville Chamberlain that he's got set up in the White House basement.
This is kind of how, remember how, after the invasion of Iraq when North Korea was shipping missiles and shit to everyone and their dog, and firing them all over the place and trying to start some shit, and how George W Bush, because he was a badass Republican war starter, totally started a huge war with them, axis of evil and all that, and...
...Oh wait, that didn't happen because it wasn't the best idea? Yeah. This is kind of the same thing.
Which is all kind of to say that this whole "Obama is weak" thing just doesn't make any sense to me.
- As far as the actual "Let's bomb Iran" thing, we kind of already had this discussion about Syria, so I don't really want to reiterate myself here except to say that if you thought a war with Syria was going to be tough, a war with Iran would be even worse, and you want to talk about deficit reduction? This ain't gonna help.
Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I don't think this situation is the same as North Korea. Similar in several ways, yes, but not the same. For one thing, unlike South Korea, Israel does have the very real means to retaliate, or even counter strike in a bigger fashion. Unlike North Korea where we're going this is a bad situation and we need to make sure it's controlled, here we have Obama telling Israel we'll back them but don't do anything because we're convinced we can talk Syria and Iran out of getting out of hand, despite the fact that they've tried every way they could in the past to get out of hand and now we're talking about them seriously gaining the ability to damage the planet... exactly in the ways they've always wanted to. I do agree that a war in either Syria or Iran would be a seriously bad idea, but I really don't think a few nukes would terribly mind the opposition they'd find there.
Dwip said:
Also, I am tired.
Yeah, I read something about this over on your own blog today.. I would propose that the guys at GameStop might be idiots and giving up sleep entirely for anygame might be a bad idea. In short: Get some rest.
Agreed, we haven't had major cities being burned yet. On the other had, we have had a major rise in protestation, even if somewhat misguided, in the so-called Tea Parties and Occupy Wall Street movements and we have had several states seriously talking about secession since Obama took the helm.
Yeah, but you get movements from time to time. Granted these are big ones, and additionally granted that I was born a good decade after the fact, but what we're seeing now isn't anything on the scale of the Days of Rage, the '68 DNC, White House protests, and what have you. Not even so much as a Haymarket Affair or Matewan. No Bleeding Kansas or Harpers Ferry to our names. Maybe I'm just colored overmuch by how past sectarian strife played out, but I can't help but think that, new to us as it may be, our current troubles are not the worst troubles.
Which is not to imply that there aren't troubles, but our modern day secessionists do not of yet have a John C. Calhoun or Jefferson Davis to their name, and, lacking such, I am inclined to view them more as crackpots and Republicans throwing temper tantrums than a viable movement.
Conner said:
I disagree about it being antithetical to patriotism because the idea is to wipe the current slate and return to what this country was meant to be. Not just to treacherously abandon it all and do things our way. As for economic and political suicide for the United States, well the political side of that equation is exactly the idea. The Economic side is an unfortunate side effect that is simply unavoidable, fortunately, the world's economic status is pretty bad anyway, so there's always the chance that a secession wouldn't actually do as much additional harm than just letting things remain in Obama's care would anyway, and eventually we'd recover economically whether as These United States or as a new United States in all likelihood either way.
So, here's the thing, or rather several things:
- We obviously disagree about the whole "return to what this country was meant to be" thing, which I think is neither here nor there, but I point it out nonetheless.
- To me, if one were to love one's country and wish to improve it, one would attempt to work within and reform the system. We have a democratic process in this country for a reason, and Republicans are perfectly within their rights to attempt to make a case for their version of things. For that matter, Republicans have been out of the presidency for all of 3 and change years, and more or less hold the Congress. Are Republicans really so anti-democracy that they can't possibly stomach the idea of a Democratic president for four or even eight years? Somehow, they made it through FDR, who was far more of a socialist than Obama will ever be.
- What I would say to the idea of secession as patriotism is that no, it is not. If the democratic process is part and parcel of what this country stands for, our single greatest achievement to be held up before all of mankind as a shining beacon of hope, and if you cannot handle the idea of losing a single or even two fairly won elections, instead resorting to armed violence and seccession, then I'd say you don't love this country, you love a set of ideas. And that just ain't the same thing.
Which is to say that huffily announcing your intentions to take your ball and go home may make you feel all righteous, but doesn't seem to fit into any definition of patriotism that I ever heard. You cannot, I say in refutation of your first two sentences, break away from a thing in order to reform the whole thing. You can only break away from a thing in order to form a new thing. Secession will not magically erase the Democratic party or even the Obama presidency, just as the Confederate States of America failed to destroy the Republican party or even the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, and indeed had the wholly opposite effect.
- And obviously we settled the whole "is secession treason?" question a century and a half ago in the affirmative.
- As to the costs, I take it as a given that any secession will result in a war. I'm having a hard time recalling any secession that didn't result in a long and protracted military struggle. The last one, you may recall, killed fully 2% of the whole population and ruined the economy of the South to such a degree they're still feeling some aftereffects from it. We remember World War II as driving the economy of this nation out of the ditch, but need I remind you that in Europe where the real fighting took place you had rationing and German POWs doing cleanup well into the 1950s?
Nothing Obama will ever do will ever result in the deaths of 2% of the population or obliterate whole cities. War would ruin all of us.
Frankly, I can't even believe I'm having this particular discussion. Your "unfortunate side effect?" This.
(we need size limits on images, we really do)
Conner said:
Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I don't think this situation is the same as North Korea. Similar in several ways, yes, but not the same. For one thing, unlike South Korea, Israel does have the very real means to retaliate, or even counter strike in a bigger fashion. Unlike North Korea where we're going this is a bad situation and we need to make sure it's controlled, here we have Obama telling Israel we'll back them but don't do anything because we're convinced we can talk Syria and Iran out of getting out of hand, despite the fact that they've tried every way they could in the past to get out of hand and now we're talking about them seriously gaining the ability to damage the planet... exactly in the ways they've always wanted to. I do agree that a war in either Syria or Iran would be a seriously bad idea, but I really don't think a few nukes would terribly mind the opposition they'd find there.
Well, leaving Bush aside, I could bring it back to Washington or Lincoln if you want. Truman or Eisenhower? Any of those you want. FDR? TR? We've got plenty of examples of presidents who had big ol' wars declining to not have some more random wars.
- Re: Israel vs. South Korea, leaving aside Israel's nuclear capacity, it's not like South Korea would exactly be flailing around helpless in the face of North Korean nukes. The main thing nukes give Israel is a greater ability to go off half-cocked. Either North Korea or Iran is going to pretty well require the US if you're going to actually disarm anybody, so no, I think they're pretty similar, or at least close enough for government work.
- I feel moderately certain that I don't need to discuss the problems with us randomly dropping nukes on people.
- All of what I've been saying, sort of like I've said with Syria, should not be taken to mean I think Iran having the bomb is a great idea, or that I wouldn't support a war if that's what ends up needing to happen. I am, however, excessively tired of the automatic assumption that war is totally the way to go out of the gate, and our capacity to completely underestimate precisely what having that war would mean.
Iraq kind of got that kind of belligerance out of my system.
Conner said:
Yeah, I read something about this over on your own blog today.. I would propose that the guys at GameStop might be idiots and giving up sleep entirely for any game might be a bad idea. In short: Get some rest.
Well, in their defense, they're in college, and it's not like you have anything better to do in college except get laid, and at that age class, video games, girls, and four hours of sleep plus a part time job are eminently jugglable.
For myself, it has a lot more to do with moving heavy crap being tiring. I have a lot of books and bought a lot of furniture, and carting it is heavy. Having to then get up and do more of it, well.
But I think we're mostly done with that. More to be posted later thereon.
I've been avoiding this because I don't really feel like commenting on it further since you will never see that we have legitimate reasons to be pissed off, nor will you ever see that things really are worse than you think they are, but:
To me, if one were to love one's country and wish to improve it, one would attempt to work within and reform the system. We have a democratic process in this country for a reason, and Republicans are perfectly within their rights to attempt to make a case for their version of things. For that matter, Republicans have been out of the presidency for all of 3 and change years, and more or less hold the Congress. Are Republicans really so anti-democracy that they can't possibly stomach the idea of a Democratic president for four or even eight years? Somehow, they made it through FDR, who was far more of a socialist than Obama will ever be.
This isn't just about the last 3 years. Progressives in this country have been at this since Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson tried to push the progressive agenda down everyone's throats. They learned back in the 1920s that doing so quickly and violently didn't work. So they've spent the better part of their time since WWII slowly but surely eroding the foundational values of this country. Starting with a slew of SCOTUS rulings in the 1950s and 1960s that were the first salvo in a long and protracted war on religious freedoms.
The assault on our constitutional rights has been well documented. It's just that Obama and the Dems have dropped the quiet approach and are pushing hard to turn things past the breaking point ever since the election in 2006. We managed to stop them and put another temporary halt on things, but between the DNC, Whitehouse, and the liberal elite media, all we've ever managed to do is stall things temporarily until they can turn the whole country against us and inflict more damage. FDR, Johnson, Carter, Clinton, and now Obama. Clinton wasn't quite so gung-ho about it since he was more interested in molesting his interns, which is why he's out of favor now with the progressive leadership.
This is why I at least have come to the conclusion that the left isn't interested in allowing us to have our say. They're more interested in labeling us. "Teabaggers" comes to mind. They know their arguments have no merit, so they just turn to name calling instead. The media laps it up, and since most people in the USA just want to go about whatever is making them happy at the moment, they eat this shit up.
When someone takes a principled stand against this, the media attacks dogs go into full overdrive. Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and now Rush Limbaugh are all victims of this. Yeah, sure, they all say stupid stuff sometimes, but the leftist media gets away with some pretty heinous things that make anything we might have said seem civil and tame by comparison. They still have their jobs, but God forbid someone on he right should even be allowed to have a voice. You don't see us running around trying to take MSNBC and CNN off the air, yet every day I see hate filled slag posts clamoring for Fox News to be not only taken off the air, but for its executives to be arrested! Free speech, so long as you're a socialist and love it? That's not what the founders had in mind.
So yeah. You can go on and on about how we should just shut up and come back to the table. No thanks. The Democrats have clearly demonstrated they're not interested in allowing us that chance. So fuck em. There's no country left to reform, so why should those of us who value the original principles it was founded on be interested in helping you guys maintain the farce?
As for the "unfortunate side effects", yes, admittedly a full blown civil war would be a bad thing, without any doubts, but if that's what it takes to get rid of the crap that's made it through to date, well, it might be worth it. I am a patriot and I love my country, I'm just not so certain that the U.S. of today is the democratic republic that I was taught in school that it was anymore. Frankly, as Samson pointed out in the post preceding this one, the fact is that it really hasn't been the country we were all taught that it was since well before any of us were taught about it. It's well past due for dramatic changes that simply can't be made from within the system anymore as the system currently stands.
As for the sleep thing, (one really has to wonder what the hell I'm doing up at 5 A.M. my time responding to this on the topic of sleep being important...) glad to hear that the moving heavy boxes thing is almost done for you. Even if you're of an age that you have nothing better in your life than trying to get laid, crash. a part-time job, classes, and video games, sleep deprivation really does have some nasty side effects that are definitely not worth it.
Oh come on Samson, Nazi this, Socialist that, communist this, Stalinist that. Do i really have to point out how your side of politics has labled just about everything as some evil attampt to take over the world.
My favorate conservative quote of late is Class Warfare. When i saw Tony Abbott on the TV saying that the first thing that came to my mind was fuck you, followed by a overwhealming urge to want to punch him in the face. Australia currently has one of the worst governments in our history, much like the US does right now also, but guess what, the concervatives will not get office next time around either here or in the US, why? because the conservatives are actually worse that what we got and what you got also.
This is what got the Dems and Labour government, Optomism, and it is that which will give them government again, even thought they totally incompetant. While the conservative side of politics only has negetives, it has no chance at all. And for Aussie, the libs need to fuck off Abbott and bring back Turnbull, i might actually concider voting for them if Turnbull was leader, atm i am voting greeens with a labour preference.
The opinions expressed here are mine, and those of the people who respond.
If you disagree with what we've said, speak up! Participate in the debate!
The Imperial Guard has expelled 10284 filthy spammers from the Empire. Bastards. |
#include <cassert>
#include <csignal>
#include <thread>
#include <utility>
#include "adapters/mpd.hpp"
#include "components/logger.hpp"
#include "utils/math.hpp"
#include "utils/string.hpp"
POLYBAR_NS
#define TRACE_BOOL(mode) m_log.trace("mpdconnection.%s: %s", __func__, mode ? "true" : "false");
namespace mpd {
sig_atomic_t g_connection_closed = 0;
void g_mpd_signal_handler(int signum) {
if (signum == SIGPIPE) {
g_connection_closed = 1;
}
}
void check_connection(mpd_connection* conn) {
if (g_connection_closed) {
g_connection_closed = 0;
throw server_error("Connection closed (broken pipe)");
} else if (conn == nullptr) {
throw client_error("Not connected to server", MPD_ERROR_STATE);
}
}
void check_errors(mpd_connection* conn) {
check_connection(conn);
string err_msg;
switch (mpd_connection_get_error(conn)) {
case MPD_ERROR_SUCCESS:
return;
case MPD_ERROR_SERVER:
{
err_msg = mpd_connection_get_error_message(conn);
enum mpd_server_error server_err = mpd_connection_get_server_error(conn);
mpd_connection_clear_error(conn);
throw server_error(err_msg, server_err);
}
default:
{
err_msg = mpd_connection_get_error_message(conn);
enum mpd_error err = mpd_connection_get_error(conn);
mpd_connection_clear_error(conn);
throw client_error(err_msg, err);
}
}
}
// deleters {{{
namespace details {
void mpd_connection_deleter::operator()(mpd_connection* conn) {
if (conn != nullptr) {
mpd_connection_free(conn);
}
}
void mpd_status_deleter::operator()(mpd_status* status) {
mpd_status_free(status);
}
void mpd_song_deleter::operator()(mpd_song* song) {
mpd_song_free(song);
}
}
// }}}
// class: mpdsong {{{
mpdsong::operator bool() {
return m_song != nullptr;
}
string mpdsong::get_artist() {
assert(m_song);
auto tag = mpd_song_get_tag(m_song.get(), MPD_TAG_ARTIST, 0);
return string{tag != nullptr ? tag : ""};
}
string mpdsong::get_album_artist() {
assert(m_song);
auto tag = mpd_song_get_tag(m_song.get(), MPD_TAG_ALBUM_ARTIST, 0);
return string{tag != nullptr ? tag : ""};
}
string mpdsong::get_album() {
assert(m_song);
auto tag = mpd_song_get_tag(m_song.get(), MPD_TAG_ALBUM, 0);
return string{tag != nullptr ? tag : ""};
}
string mpdsong::get_date() {
assert(m_song);
auto tag = mpd_song_get_tag(m_song.get(), MPD_TAG_DATE, 0);
return string{tag != nullptr ? tag : ""};
}
string mpdsong::get_title() {
assert(m_song);
auto tag = mpd_song_get_tag(m_song.get(), MPD_TAG_TITLE, 0);
if (tag == nullptr) {
tag = mpd_song_get_tag(m_song.get(), MPD_TAG_NAME, 0);
if (tag == nullptr) {
auto uri = mpd_song_get_uri(m_song.get());
auto name = strrchr(uri, '/');
tag = name ? name + 1 : uri;
}
}
return string{tag};
}
unsigned mpdsong::get_duration() {
assert(m_song);
return mpd_song_get_duration(m_song.get());
}
// }}}
// class: mpdconnection {{{
mpdconnection::mpdconnection(
const logger& logger, string host, unsigned int port, string password, unsigned int timeout)
: m_log(logger), m_host(move(host)), m_port(port), m_password(move(password)), m_timeout(timeout) {
memset(&m_signal_action, 0, sizeof(m_signal_action));
m_signal_action.sa_handler = &g_mpd_signal_handler;
if (sigaction(SIGPIPE, &m_signal_action, nullptr) == -1) {
throw mpd_exception("Could not setup signal handler: "s + std::strerror(errno));
}
}
mpdconnection::~mpdconnection() {
m_signal_action.sa_handler = SIG_DFL;
sigaction(SIGPIPE, &m_signal_action, nullptr);
}
void mpdconnection::connect() {
try {
m_log.trace("mpdconnection.connect: %s, %i, \"%s\", timeout: %i", m_host, m_port, m_password, m_timeout);
m_connection.reset(mpd_connection_new(m_host.c_str(), m_port, m_timeout * 1000));
check_errors(m_connection.get());
if (!m_password.empty()) {
noidle();
assert(!m_listactive);
mpd_run_password(m_connection.get(), m_password.c_str());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
}
m_fd = mpd_connection_get_fd(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const client_error& e) {
disconnect();
throw e;
}
}
void mpdconnection::disconnect() {
m_connection.reset();
m_idle = false;
m_listactive = false;
}
bool mpdconnection::connected() {
return m_connection && m_connection != nullptr;
}
bool mpdconnection::retry_connection(int interval) {
if (connected()) {
return true;
}
while (true) {
try {
connect();
return true;
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
std::this_thread::sleep_for(chrono::duration<double>(interval));
}
}
return false;
}
int mpdconnection::get_fd() {
return m_fd;
}
void mpdconnection::idle() {
check_connection(m_connection.get());
if (!m_idle) {
mpd_send_idle(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
m_idle = true;
}
}
int mpdconnection::noidle() {
check_connection(m_connection.get());
int flags = 0;
if (m_idle && mpd_send_noidle(m_connection.get())) {
m_idle = false;
flags = mpd_recv_idle(m_connection.get(), true);
mpd_response_finish(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
}
return flags;
}
unique_ptr<mpdstatus> mpdconnection::get_status() {
check_prerequisites();
auto status = make_unique<mpdstatus>(this);
check_errors(m_connection.get());
return status;
}
unique_ptr<mpdstatus> mpdconnection::get_status_safe() {
try {
return get_status();
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
return {};
}
}
unique_ptr<mpdsong> mpdconnection::get_song() {
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_send_current_song(m_connection.get());
mpd_song_t song{mpd_recv_song(m_connection.get()), mpd_song_t::deleter_type{}};
mpd_response_finish(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
if (song != nullptr) {
return make_unique<mpdsong>(move(song));
}
return unique_ptr<mpdsong>{};
}
void mpdconnection::play() {
try {
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_play(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.play: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::pause(bool state) {
try {
TRACE_BOOL(state);
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_pause(m_connection.get(), state);
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.pause: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::toggle() {
try {
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_toggle_pause(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.toggle: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::stop() {
try {
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_stop(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.stop: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::prev() {
try {
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_previous(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.prev: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::next() {
try {
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_next(m_connection.get());
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.next: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::seek(int songid, int pos) {
try {
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_seek_id(m_connection.get(), songid, pos);
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.seek: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::set_repeat(bool mode) {
try {
TRACE_BOOL(mode);
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_repeat(m_connection.get(), mode);
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.set_repeat: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::set_random(bool mode) {
try {
TRACE_BOOL(mode);
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_random(m_connection.get(), mode);
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.set_random: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::set_single(bool mode) {
try {
TRACE_BOOL(mode);
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_single(m_connection.get(), mode);
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.set_single: %s", e.what());
}
}
void mpdconnection::set_consume(bool mode) {
try {
TRACE_BOOL(mode);
check_prerequisites_commands_list();
mpd_run_consume(m_connection.get(), mode);
check_errors(m_connection.get());
} catch (const mpd_exception& e) {
m_log.err("mpdconnection.set_consume: %s", e.what());
}
}
mpdconnection::operator mpd_connection_t::element_type*() {
return m_connection.get();
}
void mpdconnection::check_prerequisites() {
check_connection(m_connection.get());
noidle();
}
void mpdconnection::check_prerequisites_commands_list() {
noidle();
assert(!m_listactive);
check_prerequisites();
}
// }}}
// class: mpdstatus {{{
mpdstatus::mpdstatus(mpdconnection* conn, bool autoupdate) {
fetch_data(conn);
if (autoupdate) {
update(-1, conn);
}
}
void mpdstatus::fetch_data(mpdconnection* conn) {
m_status.reset(mpd_run_status(*conn));
m_updated_at = chrono::system_clock::now();
m_songid = mpd_status_get_song_id(m_status.get());
m_queuelen = mpd_status_get_queue_length(m_status.get());
m_random = mpd_status_get_random(m_status.get());
m_repeat = mpd_status_get_repeat(m_status.get());
m_single = mpd_status_get_single(m_status.get());
m_consume = mpd_status_get_consume(m_status.get());
m_elapsed_time = mpd_status_get_elapsed_time(m_status.get());
m_total_time = mpd_status_get_total_time(m_status.get());
}
void mpdstatus::update(int event, mpdconnection* connection) {
/*
* Only update if either the player state (play, stop, pause, seek, ...), the options (random, repeat, ...),
* or the playlist has been changed
*/
if (connection == nullptr || !static_cast<bool>(event & (MPD_IDLE_PLAYER | MPD_IDLE_OPTIONS | MPD_IDLE_QUEUE))) {
return;
}
fetch_data(connection);
m_elapsed_time_ms = m_elapsed_time * 1000;
auto state = mpd_status_get_state(m_status.get());
switch (state) {
case MPD_STATE_PAUSE:
m_state = mpdstate::PAUSED;
break;
case MPD_STATE_PLAY:
m_state = mpdstate::PLAYING;
break;
case MPD_STATE_STOP:
m_state = mpdstate::STOPPED;
break;
default:
m_state = mpdstate::UNKNOWN;
}
}
bool mpdstatus::random() const {
return m_random;
}
bool mpdstatus::repeat() const {
return m_repeat;
}
bool mpdstatus::single() const {
return m_single;
}
bool mpdstatus::consume() const {
return m_consume;
}
bool mpdstatus::match_state(mpdstate state) const {
return state == m_state;
}
int mpdstatus::get_songid() const {
return m_songid;
}
int mpdstatus::get_queuelen() const {
return m_queuelen;
}
unsigned mpdstatus::get_total_time() const {
return m_total_time;
}
unsigned mpdstatus::get_elapsed_time() const {
return m_elapsed_time;
}
unsigned mpdstatus::get_elapsed_percentage() {
if (m_total_time == 0) {
return 0;
}
return static_cast<int>(float(m_elapsed_time) / float(m_total_time) * 100.0 + 0.5f);
}
string mpdstatus::get_formatted_elapsed() {
char buffer[32];
snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "%lu:%02lu", m_elapsed_time / 60, m_elapsed_time % 60);
return {buffer};
}
string mpdstatus::get_formatted_total() {
char buffer[32];
snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "%lu:%02lu", m_total_time / 60, m_total_time % 60);
return {buffer};
}
int mpdstatus::get_seek_position(int percentage) {
if (m_total_time == 0) {
return 0;
}
math_util::cap<int>(0, 100, percentage);
return math_util::percentage_to_value<double>(percentage, m_total_time);
}
// }}}
}
#undef TRACE_BOOL
POLYBAR_NS_END
|
📢 11:45
Property Wrappers or How Swift decided to become Java
Vincent Pradeilles
Swift 5.1 brought a new construct to the language: Property Wrappers. SwiftUI, for instance, relies heavily on it to provide its system of data-binding through annotations like @State , @EnvironmentObjects , etc.
Unlike other language improvements, Codable for instance, Apple hasn’t restricted the use of this new feature to its own frameworks: any codebase is free to leverage it to implement custom property attributes that will suit its own specific needs.
While this is a great opportunity to factorise common behaviours throughout a project, one can still wonder: won’t it hurt code readability and predictability on the long run? Keeping code short is good, but if it’s achieved through a collection of arcane annotations, it might end up defying the original intent.
In this talk, I want to introduce what Property Wrappers are, give some example of how they can be leveraged, and try to provide some guidelines on when we they should or shouldn’t be use. |
Q:
I am stuck on my programming project
A large company pays its salespeople on a commission basis. The salespeople receive $200 per week plus 9% of their gross sales for that week. For example, a salesperson who sells $5000 worth of merchandise in a week receives $200 plus 9% of $5000, or a total of $650. Your program will allow the user to enter item numbers for each item sold by the salesperson for that week, print out the total of each item sold by the salesperson, and the total weekly earnings for that salesperson. The items and values are: Item 1 equals to 5.00, Item 2 equals to 10.00, Item 3 equals to 1.00, Item 4 equals to 25.00. Program should use JOptionPane for all input.
I have some programmed but I only get one input.
--- Update ---
//This is what I have so far
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
public class KingRocker {
public static void main( String[]args )
{
double gross = 0.0, earnings;
int product = 0, number;
String input;
while( product < 4 ){
product++;
input = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter the number of products sold #" + product + " ");
number = Integer.parseInt( input );
if (product == 1)
gross = gross + number * 5.00;
else if (product == 2)
gross = gross + number * 10.00;
else if (product == 3)
gross = gross + number * 1.00;
else if (product == 4)
gross = gross + number * 25.00;
earnings = 0.09 * gross + 200;
String result = "Week earnings: " + earnings;
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, result, "Sales", JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE );
System.exit( -1);
}
}
}
A:
From what I can tell, you are calling System.exit( -1); before you run though the rest of your while loop. Try moving System.exit( -1); outside of the loop.
Try closing the loops here
if (product == 1)
gross = gross + number * 5.00;
else if (product == 2)
gross = gross + number * 10.00;
else if (product == 3)
gross = gross + number * 1.00;
else if (product == 4)
gross = gross + number * 25.00;
}
Doing so will allow the loop to run four times. Giving you what you ask for in the comments.
|
This morning on MSNBC, things got awkward when Mika Brzezinski attempted to report the story of IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest and sexual assault charges. Joe Scarborough seemed intent on making light of the situation, and Brzezinski had to scold: "I'm trying to keep you from making jokes about a serious rape charge." Also, apparently none of these people are mature enough to respond appropriately when the word "sodomized" is used. They should be ashamed and embarrassed. Lean forward, indeed. |
Settlers hail United States ambassador for saying settlements part of Israel
During a Thursday interview broadcast on the Walla news website, Friedman was asked about his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to speculate on the Trump administration's plans moving forward on the issue.
The US ambassador in Tel Aviv has angered Palestinians with a comment downplaying Israel's 50-year occupation of the West Bank, the second such spat in a month. But as Friedman must know, Israel's control of the West Bank - geographically, topographically, politically, economically, and in any other way imaginable - can not be dwarfed into his two-percent figure.
Global law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as occupied territories and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity there as illegal.
"It is not the first time that Mr. David Friedman has exploited his position as USA ambassador to advocate and validate the Israeli government's policies of occupation and annexation", said senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who is now in the United States awaiting a lung transplant.
Friedman referred to the "important nationalistic, historical, and religious significance" of these communities, commenting, "I think the settlers view themselves as Israelis, and Israel views the settlers as Israelis".
"His comments - and I want to be crystal clear about this - should not be read as a way to prejudge the outcome of any negotiations that the U.S. would have with the Israelis and the Palestinians,"said spokeswoman Heather Nauert. I want to be crystal clear", she added".
"I don't know where that came from", Nauert said about Friedman's "2 percent" assessment.
According to estimates by the European Union and NGOs across the spectrum, Israel occupies around 60 percent of the West Bank including both settlements and closed military areas. There has been a 40% increase in illegal settlements in 2016 at the same time the United States government is handing Israel $10.1 million military aid each single calendar day.
"I think that was always the expectation when resolution 242 was adopted in 1967", Friedman said. |
---
abstract: 'Let $\mu$ be a $K$-invariant compactly supported distribution on a noncompact Riemannian symmetric space $X=G/K$. If the spherical Fourier transform $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing, it is known that the right convolution operator $c_\mu\colon f\mapsto f*\mu$ maps $\mathcal E(X)$ onto $\mathcal E(X)$. In this paper, we prove the converse of this result. We also prove that $c_\mu$ has a fundamental solution if and only if $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing.'
address:
- 'Department of Mathematics, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155'
- 'Department of Mathematics, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155'
- 'Institute of Mathematics, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8571, Japan'
author:
- Fulton Gonzalez
- Jue Wang
- Tomoyuki Kakehi
bibliography:
- 'Gonzalez.bib'
title: Surjectivity of Convolution Operators on Noncompact Symmetric Spaces
---
ŭ 7[67]{}
Slowly Decreasing Functions
===========================
The notion of a slowly decreasing function was introduced by L. Ehrenpreis in 1960 in connection with the following problem.
Let $\mu$ be a fixed distribution in $\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$. Under what conditions on $\mu$ is the convolution operator $$c_\mu\colon f\mapsto f*\mu$$ surjective as a map from $\mathcal E(\rr^n)$ to $\mathcal E(\rr^n)$, or from $\mathcal D'(\rr^n)$ to $\mathcal D'(\rr^n)$?
This problem was also studied by B. Malgrange [@Malgrange1955] for these and other function and distribution spaces. The aim was to generalize related results obtained by the two authors when $\mu=D\,\delta_0$, or more generally when $\mu=\sum_j D_j\,\delta_{x_j}$, where $D$ and the $D_j$ are constant coefficient differential operators, and $\{x_j\}$ is a finite set of points in $\rr^n$. (Here $\delta_x$ is the delta distribution at $x$.)
By definition, a function $F$ on $\cc^n$ is *slowly decreasing* provided that there exists a constant $A>0$ such that for any $\xi\in\rr^n$, the open ball in $\cc^n$ centered at $\xi$, with radius $A\,\log (2+\|\xi\|)$ contains a point $\zeta$ for which $$\label{E:slow-decrease-cond}
|F(\zeta)|> (A+\|\xi\|)^{-A}.$$
Let us recall that the Paley-Wiener Theorem for distributions in $\rr^n$ states that the Fourier transform $\mu\mapsto \mu^*$ is a linear bijection from the vector space of distributions supported in the closed ball $\overline B_R$ of radius $R$ centered at $0\in\rr^n$ onto the vector space of entire functions on $\cc^n$ of exponential type $R$ and which are slowly (i.e., polynomially) increasing on $\rr^n$. These are precisely the entire functions $F$ on $\cc^n$ for which there is an integer $N\in\zz^+$ and a constant $C$ such that $$\label{E:PW-estimate}
|F(\zeta)|\leq C\,(1+\|\zeta\|)^N\,e^{R\,\|\text{Im}\,\zeta\|},\qquad \zeta\in\cc^n.$$ Suppose that $F$ is entire in $\cc^n$ and satisfies the Paley-Wiener estimate . If $F$ happens to be slowly decreasing, then in fact the point $\zeta$ satisfying can be found in $\rr^n$. (The constant $A$ may need to be increased, but this does not change the condition of slow decrease.) This is a consequence of Theorem 5 in [@Ehrenpreis1955], which Ehrenpreis calls a “minimum modulus theorem.”
In the fourth paper in his series on “Solutions of Some Problems of Division," published in 1960, Ehrenpreis proved the following result.
\[T:Ehrenpreis60\] ([@Ehrenpreis1960], Section 2.) Let $\mu\in\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$. Then the following are equivalent:
(a) The Fourier transform $\mu^*(\zeta)$ is slowly decreasing.
(b) The convolution operator $c_\mu$ maps $\mathcal E(\rr^n)$ onto $\mathcal E(\rr^n)$.
(c) The convolution operator $c_\mu$ maps $\mathcal D'(\rr^n)$ onto $\mathcal D'(\rr^n)$.
(d) There is a distribution $S\in\mathcal D'(\rr^n)$ such that $S*\mu=\delta_0$.
(e) \[I:invertible-cond\] The linear map $f*\mu\mapsto f$ is continuous from $c_\mu(\mathcal D(\rr^n))$ to $\mathcal D(\rr^n)$.
Following Ehrenpreis, we will call a distribution $\mu$ *invertible* if it satisfies any of the equivalent conditions in Theorem \[T:Ehrenpreis60\]. (The term is appropriate because of the last condition above.)
We call the distribution $S$ in (d) a *fundamental solution* to $c_\mu$. Theorem \[T:Ehrenpreis60\] clearly implies the existence of fundamental solutions to constant coefficient differential operators on $\rr^n$, the well-known Malgrange-Ehrenpreis Theorem.
As to condition (c), the key to the proof of the surjectivity of $c_\mu$ for $\mathcal E(\rr^n)$ is the fact that the slow decrease condition is equivalent to the condition that if $T$ is a distribution in $\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$ such that $T^*/\mu^*$ is entire, then it is slowly increasing on $\rr^n$. Since $T^*/\mu^*$ is necessarily of exponential type ([@Malgrange1955], Theorem 1 or [@EhrenpreisMP], Theorem 4), it must be the Fourier transform of a distribution $S\in\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$.
There is yet another equivalent condition for $\mu$ to be invertible, due to Hörmander: the “propagation” of singular supports. This is given in Lemma \[T:slowdecrease1\], and is crucial to the proof of one of main theorems, Theorem \[T:W-surjectivity\].
It is natural to try to consider the analogue of Theorem \[T:Ehrenpreis60\] to Riemannian symmetric spaces of the noncompact type, at least in the $K$-invariant case. This is the aim of the present paper. As a corollary to one of our main results, we will obtain the existence of fundamental solutions to invariant differential operators on such spaces, a fact which was first proved by Helgason in 1964 ([@Helgason1964]).
Notation and Preliminaries
==========================
Euclidean Fourier Transforms
----------------------------
The Fourier transform for appropriate functions $F$ on $\rr^n$ will be denoted by $F^*$: $$F^*(\xi)=\int_{\rr^n} f(x)\,e^{-i\langle x,\xi\rangle}\,dx, \qquad \xi\in\rr^n.$$ The Fourier transform of a compactly supported distribution $S$ in $\rr^n$ will likewise be denoted by $S^*$: $$S^*(\zeta)=\int_{\rr^n} e^{-i\langle x,\zeta\rangle}\,dS(x),\qquad\zeta\in\cc^n.$$ We say that an entire function $\Psi$ on $\cc^n$ is *of exponential type* $A\geq 0$ if there is a constant $C$ such that $|\Psi(\zeta)|\leq C\,e^{A\,\|\zeta\|}$ for all $\zeta\in\cc^n$. The *Paley-Wiener Theorem for functions* states that the Fourier transform is a linear bijection from $\mathcal D(\rr^n)$ onto the vector space of entire functions $F$ on $\cc^n$ of exponential type which are rapidly decreasing on $\rr^n$. These are precisely the entire functions $F$ for which there exists an $A\geq 0$ such that $$\sup_{\zeta\in\cc^n} |F(\zeta)|\,(1+\|\zeta\|)^N\,e^{-A\,\|\text{Im}\,\zeta\|}<\infty,\qquad N\in\mathbb Z^+.$$ (See [@Ho2], Theorem 16.3.10 for a further exposition on “exponential type.”) We can topologize the range $\mathcal D(\rr^n)^*$ so that the Fourier transform is a homeomorphism. There are more “intrinsic” characterizations of this topology on $\mathcal D(\rr^n)^*$, which are in fact used to prove Theorem \[T:Ehrenpreis60\]. See, for example, [@Ehrenpreis1956], Theorem 1, or [@Helgason2011], Theorem 4.9.
Test Function and Distribution Spaces on Manifolds.
---------------------------------------------------
The topology of $\mathcal E(M)$ and of $D(M)$, for $M$ any manifold, is discussed in detail in [@GGA], Chapter II. To summarize, $\mathcal E(M)$ is the vector space $C^\infty(M)$, endowed with the topology of uniform convergence on compact sets in $M$ of all derivatives $Df$, for $f\in\mathcal C^\infty(M)$, where $D$ is any $C^\infty$ linear differential operator on $M$. Since $M$ is $\sigma$-compact, $\mathcal E(M)$ is easily seen to be a Fréchet space.
An alternative description of the topology of $\mathcal E(M)$ is as follows. If $U$ is any coordinate neighborhood in $M$, we can think of $U$ as an open subset of $\mathbb R^n$, and endow $\mathcal E(U)$ with its usual Fréchet space topology. The space $\mathcal E(M)$ is then given the weakest topology that makes the restriction maps $f\mapsto f|_U$ continuous, for all coordinate neighborhoods $U$ in $M$.
For any compact subset $B$ of $M$, the space $\mathcal D(B)$ of $C^\infty$ functions supported in $B$ is given the topology inherited from $\mathcal E(M)$. $\mathcal D(B)$ is then a Fréchet space. The space $\mathcal D(M)$ is the vector space $C_c^\infty(M)$, endowed with the inductive limit topology generated by the $\mathcal D(B)$. In particular, a convex set $W$ in $\mathcal D(M)$ is a neighborhood of $0$ if and only if $W\cap \mathcal D(B)$ is a $0$-neighborhood in $\mathcal D(B)$ for all $B$.
Since $M$ is second countable, it is the union of a nested increasing sequence $\{U_j\}$ of relatively compact open sets, and we may take the Fréchet spaces $\mathcal D(\overline U_j)$ to be a sequence of definition of $\mathcal D(M)$. The topology of $D(M)$ is independent of the choice of the sequence $\{U_j\}$. If $M$ is a complete Riemannian manifold, we may take the $U_j$ to be open balls of radius $j$.
In case $M$ is a Riemannian manifold for which the exponential map at a given point $p$ is a diffeomorphism (such as when $M$ is a Riemannian symmetric space of the noncompact type), then the spaces $\mathcal D(M)$ and $\mathcal E(M)$ can be naturally identified with the corresponding Euclidean test function spaces on the tangent space to $M$ at $p$.
The dual spaces $\mathcal D'(M)$ and $\mathcal E'(M)$ are the spaces of distributions and compactly supported distributions on the manifold $M$. We will endow these distribution spaces with their strong dual topologies (of uniform convergence on bounded subsets of $\mathcal D(M)$ and $\mathcal E(M)$, respectively). In the analysis that we will carry out in this paper, we could just as easily use the weak\*-topologies on these dual spaces, since for both the strong and the weak\*-topologies on $\mathcal D'(M)$ and $\mathcal E'(M)$, the convergent sequences are the same ([@TrevesTVS], 34.4, Corollary 2), the closed convex sets are the same ([@TrevesTVS], Proposition 36.2), and, since $\mathcal D(M)$ and $\mathcal E(M)$ are reflexive, the bounded sets are the same ([@TrevesTVS], Theorem 36.2).
Convolutions on Lie Groups and Homogeneous Spaces.
--------------------------------------------------
Let $G$ be a unimodular Lie group with Haar measure $du$, normalized so $G$ has unit measure in case $G$ is compact. If $\phi$ and $\psi$ are appropriate functions on $G$ (e.g., both $C^\infty$ and one with compact support), the convolution $\phi*\psi$ is given by $$\phi*\psi(g)=\int_G \phi(u)\,\psi(u^{-1}g)\,du=\int_G \phi(gu^{-1})\,\psi(u)\,du,\qquad g\in G.$$ If $\phi$ is a $C^\infty$ function and $T$ a distribution on $G$, one of them with compact support, then convolutions $\phi*T$ and $T*\phi$ are the $C^\infty$ functions on $G$ given by $$\begin{aligned}
\phi*T(g)&=\int_G \phi(gu^{-1})\,dT(u),\\
T*\phi(g)&=\int_G \phi(u^{-1}g)\,dT(u),\qquad g\in G.\end{aligned}$$ In the above we have used the integral convention for distributions. If $S$ and $T$ are distributions on $G$, one with compact support, then the convolution $S*T$ is the distribution on $G$ given by $$S*T(\phi)=\int_{G\times G} \phi(uv)\,dS(u)\,dT(v),\qquad \phi\in\mathcal D(G).$$ We interpret the above as an iterated integral; the order does not matter.
If $\phi$ is any function on $G$, we let $\widecheck\phi(g)=\phi(g^{-1})$. Likewise, if $S$ is any distribution on $G$, we define the distribution $\widecheck S$ by $\widecheck S(\phi)=S(\widecheck\phi)$ for all $\phi\in\mathcal D(G)$.
For a fixed distribution $S$, the map $T\mapsto S*T$ is the adjoint to the map $\phi\mapsto \widecheck S*\phi$, and for fixed $T$, the map $S\mapsto S*T$ is the adjoint to $\phi\mapsto \phi*\widecheck T$. Here the appropriate test function space that $\phi$ belongs to depends on whether the distribution it is being convolved with has compact support. In any event, the bilinear map $(S,T)\mapsto S*T$ is therefore separately continuous (say, from $\mathcal D'(G)\times\mathcal E'(G)$ to $\mathcal D'(G)$). Unfortunately, this map is *not* jointly continuous. (See [@TrevesTVS], Ch.41.) By the Banach-Steinhaus Theorem, it is, however, hypocontinuous; that is to say, equicontinuous in each factor over fixed bounded subspaces of the other factor.
Convolutions in $G$ are commutative if and only if $G$ is abelian.
Now suppose that $K$ is a compact subgroup of $G$. Convolution of functions or distributions on $G/K$ is carried out by lifting them to $G$. The convolution calculus on $G/K$ is discussed at length in [@GGA], Ch. II, §5.
To summarize, let $\pi\colon G\to G/K$ be the quotient map. If $\phi$ is any $C^\infty$ function on $G$, we define $\phi_\pi$ on $G/K$ by $$\label{E:fcn-projection}
\phi_\pi(gK)=\int_K \phi(gk)\,dk,\qquad g\in G.$$ Then the map $\phi\mapsto \phi_\pi$ is a continuous surjection from $\mathcal D(G)$ onto $\mathcal D(G/K)$ (or from $\mathcal E(G)$ onto $\mathcal E(G/K)$). If $\Lambda$ is a distribution on $G/K$, then its pullback is the distribution $\widetilde \Lambda$ on $G$ given by $\widetilde \Lambda(\phi)=\Lambda(\phi_\pi)$. Thus $\Lambda\mapsto \widetilde \Lambda$ is the adjoint of $\phi\mapsto \phi_\pi$. The map $\Lambda\mapsto\widetilde \Lambda$ is continuous and injective, and its range is the closed subspace $\mathcal D'(G)_{R_K}$ of right $K$-invariant distributions on $G$. If $F\in\mathcal D(G/K)$, then $\Lambda(F)=\widetilde\Lambda(\widetilde F)$.
If $\Lambda$ and $\mu$ are distributions on $G/K$, one with compact support, then their convolution $\Lambda*\mu$ is the distribution on $G/K$ defined by $(\Lambda*\mu)^\sim=\widetilde \Lambda*\widetilde \mu$, where we note that $\widetilde \Lambda*\widetilde \mu$ belongs to $\mathcal D'(G)_{R_K}$. Explicitly, for $F\in\mathcal D(G/K)$, we have $$\begin{aligned}
\label{E:conv-int}
(\Lambda*\mu)(F)&=(\widetilde\Lambda*\widetilde\mu)(\widetilde F)\nonumber\\
&=\int_{G/K}\int_{G/K} \int_K F(gkhK)\,dk\,d\Lambda(gK)\,d\mu(hK).\end{aligned}$$
If $F$ is a $C^\infty$ function $G/K$ and $\mu$ a distribution on $G/K$, one with compact support, then $F*\mu$ is similarly defined by lifting to $G$, and we have $$\label{E:conv-int2}
F*\mu(gK)=\int_G \int_K F(gkh^{-1}K)\,dk\,d\mu(hK).$$
For a fixed $\mu\in\mathcal E'(G/K)$, let $c_\mu$ denote the right convolution operator $\Lambda\mapsto \Lambda*\mu$ on $\mathcal D'(G/K)$. We will also use $c_\mu$ to denote the right convolution operator $F\mapsto F*\mu$ on the Fréchet space $\mathcal E(G/K)$.
\[E:conv-continuous\] $c_\mu$ is a continuous linear operator on $\mathcal D'(G/K)$, as well as on $\mathcal E(G/K)$.
Let $\mathcal D(G)_K$ and $\mathcal E(G)_K$ denote the closed subspaces of right $K$-invariant functions in $\mathcal D(G)$ and $\mathcal E(G)$, respectively. Then $\mathcal E(G)_K$ is a Fréchet space and $\mathcal D(G)_K$ is an $LF$-space (See Lemma \[T:lfspace\] below).
The pullback $F\mapsto\widetilde F$, being a continuous bijection from $\mathcal D(G/K)$ onto $\mathcal D(G)_{R_K}$, is therefore a homeomorphism by the Open Mapping Theorem. (This can also be seen directly because the inverse of the pullback is the continuous map $\phi\mapsto \phi_\pi$.) The dual space of $\mathcal D(G)_{R_K}$, which can be identified with $\mathcal D'(G)_{R_K}$, is thus homeomorphic to $\mathcal D'(G/K)$. This means that the pullback $\Lambda\mapsto\widetilde \Lambda$ is a linear homeomorphism from $\mathcal D'(G/K)$ onto $\mathcal D'(G)_{R_K}$.
Hence $\Lambda\mapsto \Lambda*\mu$ can be viewed as the composition of continuous maps $$\Lambda\mapsto \widetilde \Lambda\mapsto\widetilde \Lambda*\widetilde \mu=(\Lambda*\mu)^\sim\mapsto \Lambda*\mu.$$
The proof that $c_\mu$ is continuous on $\mathcal E(G/K)$ is similar.
If $f$ is a continuous function on $X$, we let $f^\natural$ denote the average $\int_K f^{\ell_k}\,dk$. Likewise, if $\mu\in\mathcal E'(G/K)$ , we let $\mu^\natural$ denote the average of $\mu$ with respect to left translations by $K$: $\mu^\natural=\int_K \mu^{\ell_k}\,dk$. Then $\mu^\natural$ is a left $K$-invariant distribution on $G/K$, and the relation shows that $c_\mu=c_{\mu^\natural}$. Thus, in studying mapping properties of $c_\mu$, we do not lose generality by assuming that $\mu$ is left $K$-invariant.
Finally, if $(G,K)$ is a Gelfand pair (as when $(G,K)$ is a Riemannian symmetric pair), we recall that convolution on $G/K$ is commutative on left $K$-invariant functions and distributions.
Convolution Operators on Noncompact Symmetric Spaces
====================================================
Many questions about analysis in Euclidean spaces can also be asked about homogeneous spaces, and more specifically symmetric spaces, because of the latter’s rich structure. Since the resulting harmonic analysis is necessarily noncommutative and (in the noncompact case) depends to some extent on the Iwasawa and polar decomposition $G=NAK$ and $G=K\overline{A}^+K$, respectively, proofs are often rather different from the ones for $\rr^n$ and involve additional nontrivial considerations such as Weyl chamber walls.
In the present case, it is natural to try to consider the analogue of Theorem \[T:Ehrenpreis60\] for Riemannian symmetric spaces of the noncompact type. To settle notation, we will follow that of Helgason’s books [@DS; @GGA; @GASS].
Let $X=G/K$ be a noncompact Riemannian symmetric space, where $G$ is a connected noncompact real semisimple Lie group with finite center, and $K$ is a maximal compact subgroup of $G$. Let $\g$ and $\k$ be the Lie algebras of $G$ and $K$, respectively. Then $\g$ has Cartan decomposition $\g=\k+\p$, where $\p$ is the orthogonal complement of $\k$ with respect to the Killing form of $\g$. We let $o$ denote the coset $\{K\}$ of $G/K$, and identify $\p$ with the tangent space $T_oX$. We endow $X$ with the Riemannian metric induced from the restriction of the Killing form to $\p$. The map $Y\mapsto \exp Y\cdot o$ is a diffeomorphism of $\p$ onto $X$.
Fix a maximal abelian subspace $\a$ of $\p$ and let $A=\exp \a$. The map $\exp\colon \a\to A$ is a diffeomorphism; let $\log\colon A\to \a$ be its inverse. Let $\Sigma$ be the set of restricted roots of $\g$ with respect to $\a$, and for each $\alpha\in\Sigma$, let $\g_\alpha$ be the corresponding restricted root space, and let $m_\alpha=\dim \g_\alpha$. Let $W$ be the Weyl group associated with the root system $\Sigma$.
Fix a Weyl chamber, denoted $\a^+$, in $\a$, and let $\Sigma^+$ be the corresponding system of positive restricted roots. Let $\n=\sum_{\alpha\in\Sigma^+} \g_\alpha$ and $N=\exp \n$.
The Lie group $G$ has the Iwasawa decompositions $G=KAN=NAK$. For each $g\in G$, in accordance with the decomposition $G=KAN$, we write $g=k(g)\,\exp H(g)\,n(g)$, where $H(g)\in\a$. Likewise, in accordance with the decomposition $G=NAK$, we write $g=n_1(g)\,\exp A(g)\, k_1(g)$, where $A(g)\in\a$. Clearly, $A(g)=-H(g^{-1})$.
A *horocycle* in $X$ is an orbit in $X$ of a conjugate of $N$. The group $G$ acts transitively on the set $\Xi$ of horocycles, so the latter is a homogeneous space of $G$; the isotropy subgroup of $G$ fixing the horocycle $\xi_0=N\cdot o$ is $MN$, where $M$ is the centralizer of $A$ in $K$. Thus $\Xi=G/MN$.
The map $(kM,a)\mapsto ka\cdot\xi_0$ is a diffeomorphism of the product manifold $K/M\times A$ onto $\Xi$. If $\xi=ka\cdot\xi_0$, we say that the coset $kM$ is the *normal* to $\xi$. For convenience, we put $B=K/M$.
For each $x=g\cdot o\in X$ and each $b=kM$, there is a unique horocycle in $X$ containing $x$ with normal $b$. In other words, there is a unique $a\in A$ such that $x\in ka\cdot\xi_0$; let $A(x,b)=\log a$. Then $A(x,b)=-H(g^{-1}k)$. $A(x,b)$ is the multidimensional “directed distance” in $X$ from $o$ to the horocycle through $x$ with normal $kM$. ($A(x,b)$ is the analogue, in $G/K$, of the dot product $x\cdot\omega$ in $\rr^n$, for $x\in\rr^n$ and $\omega\in S^{n-1}$, which gives the directed distance from $0\in\rr^n$ to the hyperplane with normal $\omega$ containing $x$.)
The Killing form on $\a$ extends naturally to the complexification $\a_\cc$, and by duality to the dual space $\a^*$ and ita complexification $\a^*_\cc$. Let $\rho=(1/2)\,\sum_{\alpha\in\Sigma^+} m_\alpha\,\alpha$.
The *Fourier transform* of a function $f\in\mathcal D(X)$ is the function $\widetilde f$ on $\a^*_\cc\times B$ given by $$\label{E:Helg-FT1}
\widetilde f(\lambda,b)=\int_X f(x)\,e^{(-i\lambda+\rho)A(x,b)}\,dx$$
Likewise, if $\mu\in\mathcal E'(X)$, its Fourier transform is the function $$\label{E:Helg-FT2}
\widetilde\mu(\lambda,b)=\int_X e^{(-i\lambda+\rho)\,A(x,b)}\,d\mu(x),\qquad (\lambda,b)\in\a^*_\cc\times B.$$
In case $\mu$, or $f$, is left $K$-invariant, the Fourier transform is independent of $b$ and reduces to the *spherical Fourier transform*, which in the case of $\mu$ is given by $$\label{E:sphertransform1}
\widetilde\mu(\lambda)=\int_X \varphi_{-\lambda}(x)\,d\mu(x),\qquad\lambda\in\a^*_\cc.$$ Here $\varphi_\lambda$ is the *spherical function* $$\varphi_\lambda(x)=\int_{B} e^{(i\lambda+\rho)\,A(x,b)}\,db,\qquad x\in X.$$
The inversion formula for the spherical Fourier transform was essentially obtained by Harish-Chandra in 1958 ([@HC1958]) and the Paley-Wiener theorem for the Fourier and spherical Fourier transforms on $X$ was obtained by Helgason in 1973 ([@He1]); reasonably accessible proofs of these results, now classical, can be found in [@GGA], Ch. IV, and [@GASS], Ch. III.
In particular, let $\mathcal E_K(X)$ denote the subspace of $\mathcal E(X)$ consisting of the left $K$-invariant functions. Its dual space is $\mathcal E'_K(X)$, the subspace of left $K$-invariant distributions in $\mathcal E'(X)$. Then the spherical Fourier transform $\mu\mapsto\widetilde\mu$ is a linear bijection from $\mathcal E_K'(X)$ onto the space $\mathcal K_W(\a^*_\cc)$ of holomorphic functions on $\a^*_\cc$ of exponential type and of slow increase in $\a^*$.
For a fixed $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$, let $c_\mu\colon \mathcal E(X)\to\mathcal E(X)$ be the convolution operator $c_\mu(f)=f*\mu$. In a previous paper ([@CGK2017], Theorem 5.1), it was proved that if $\widetilde\mu$ is slowly decreasing, then $c_\mu\colon\mathcal E(X)\to\mathcal E(X)$ is surjective.
In this paper, one of our main results is the converse assertion, which we state below.
\[T:mainthm\] Suppose that $\mu\in\mathcal E'_K(X)$. If $c_\mu\colon\mathcal E(X)\to\mathcal E(X)$ is surjective, then $\widetilde\mu$ is a slowly decreasing function on $\a^*_\cc$.
The main proof of Theorem \[T:mainthm\] will occur in Section 4. The idea is to transfer the analysis to $\a$ by means of the Abel transform. In order to start the process, we first recall a few facts about the horocycle Radon transform and the Abel transform on compactly supported distributions on $X$.
Let $F\in\mathcal E(\a)$. For each $b=kM\in B$, let $F^b$ be the *horocycle plane wave* $F^b(x)=F(A(x,b))$. (It is called a horocycle plane wave since it is constant on horocycles with normal $b$.) The function $\Phi_F$ on $X\times B$ given by $\Phi_F(x,b)=F^b(x)$ is clearly $C^\infty$, and the linear map $F\mapsto \Phi_F$ from $\mathcal E(\a)$ to $\mathcal E(X\times B)$ is therefore a continuous map of Fréchet spaces, being the pullback of the smooth map $(x,b)\mapsto A(x,b)$ from $X\times B$ to $\a$.
In particular, for each $b\in B$, the map $F\mapsto F^b$ is continuous from $\mathcal E(\a)$ to $\mathcal E(X)$. The adjoint of this map is the *horocycle Radon transform* $R_b$ from $\mathcal E'(X)$ to $\mathcal E'(\a)$. Explicitly, for fixed $b\in B$ and $\mu\in\mathcal E'(X)$, the Radon transform $R_b\,\mu$ is the (compactly supported) distribution on $\a$ given by $$\label{E:radontransform1}
R_b\,\mu(F)=\mu(F^b),\qquad \qquad\text{for all }F\in\mathcal E(\a).$$ Thus $$R_b\mu(F)=\int_X F(A(x,b))\,d\mu(x),\qquad F\in\mathcal E(\a).$$ Since $\|A(x,b)\|\leq d(o,x)$ for all $x\in X$ and all $b\in B$, it is clear that if $\mu$ has support in the closed ball $\overline B_R(o)\subset X$, then $R_b\,\mu$ has support in the closed ball $\{H\in\a\,\colon\,\|H\|\leq R\}$.
If $\widetilde \mu$ denotes the Fourier transform of $S$, then we have the *projection-slice theorem*: $$\begin{aligned}
\widetilde \mu(\lambda,b)&=\int_X e^{(-i\lambda+\rho)A(x,b)}\,d\mu(x)\nonumber\\
&=\left(e^\rho\,R_b\,\mu\right)^*(\lambda).\label{E:projslice}\end{aligned}$$ where $S\mapsto S^*$ denotes the Euclidean Fourier transform on $\a$.
Note that $R_b\,\mu^{\tau(k)}=R_{k^{-1}\cdot b}\,\mu$ for all $k\in K$. Thus if $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$, we see that $R_b\,\mu=R_{b_0}\,\mu$ for all $b\in B$, where $b_0=eM$.
If $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$, we define its *Abel transform* $\mathcal A\mu\in\mathcal E'(\a)$ by $$\label{E:abeltr}
\mathcal A\mu=e^\rho\,R_{b_0}\mu.$$ Since $\mu$ is left $K$-invariant, $b_0$ can be replaced by any $b\in B$. For $\mu\in\mathcal E'_K(X)$, the projection-slice theorem becomes $$\label{E:abelslice}
\widetilde\mu(\lambda)=(\mathcal A\mu)^*(\lambda),\qquad \lambda\in\a^*_\cc.$$
Let $\mathcal E_W(\a)$ denote the subspace consisting of all $W$-invariant elements of $\mathcal E(\a)$. Its dual space can be identified with the space $\mathcal E'_W(\a)$ consisting of all $W$-invariant elements of $\mathcal E'(\a)$.
The Paley-Wiener Theorem for $K$-invariant distributions implies that the Abel transform is a linear bijection from $\mathcal E'_K(X)$ onto $\mathcal E'_W(\a)$ and in fact we have a commutative diagram of linear bijections $$\label{E:abelcommutative}
\begin{tikzcd}
\mathcal E'_K(X)\arrow[rr,"\mathcal A"] \arrow[dr,"\sim"] && \mathcal E'_W(\a) \arrow[dl,swap,"*"] \\
& \mathcal H_W(\a^*_\cc)
\end{tikzcd}$$ Here $\mathcal H_W(\a^*_\cc)$ is the vector space of slowly increasing $W$-invariant holomorphic functions on $\a^*_\cc$ of exponential type.
For each $F\in\mathcal E(\a)$, let $TF$ denote the $K$-invariant function on $X$ given by $TF=((e^\rho\, F)^b)^\natural$, where $b$ is any element of $B$. It is easy to see that $$TF(x)=\int_B e^{\rho(A(x,b))}\,F(A(x,b))\,db,\qquad x\in X.$$
\[T:bijection1\] The map $T$ is a linear bijection from $\mathcal E_W(\a)$ onto $\mathcal E_K(X)$.
This bijection is of course different from the well-known bijection given by the restriction map from $\mathcal E_K(X)\approx \mathcal E_K(\p)$ onto $\mathcal{E}_W(\a)$.
The map $T$ is clearly a continuous linear map of Fréchet spaces, and for any $F\in \mathcal E_W(\a)$ (in fact for any $F\in\mathcal E(\a)$) it is clear that $TF\in \mathcal E_K(X)$. Let us now prove that the adjoint $T^*$ coincides with the Abel transform $\mathcal A\colon \mathcal E'_K(X)\to\mathcal E'_W(\a)$. Suppose that $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$. Then for any $F\in \mathcal E_W(\a)$ we have $$\begin{aligned}
T^*\mu(F)&=\mu(TF)\\
&=\int_X\int_B e^{\rho(A(x,b))}\,F(A(x,b))\,db\,d\mu(x)\\
&=\int_B\int_X e^{\rho(A(x,b))}\,F(A(x,b))\,d\mu(x)\,db\\
&=\int_B\mu((e^\rho\,F)^b)\,db\\
&=\int_B R_b\mu\,(e^\rho\,F)\,db\\
&=(\mathcal A\mu)\,(F),\end{aligned}$$ the last inequality resulting from the identity $e^\rho\,R_b\mu=\mathcal A\mu$, for all $b\in B$.
Since the Abel transform $\mathcal A\colon \mathcal E_K'(X)\to\mathcal E_W'(\a)$ is a bijection, it is injective and has closed range (namely all of $\mathcal E_W'(\a)$). It follows from Proposition \[T:frechet\] below that $T$ is a bijection.
In the last part of the proof above we have used the following fact about linear mappings of Fréchet spaces.
\[T:frechet\] Let $E$ and $F$ be Fréchet spaces. A continuous linear map $\Phi\colon E\to F$ is surjective if and only if the adjoint map $T^*\colon F'\to E'$ is injective and has weak\* closed range in $E'$.
For a proof, see Theorem 7.7, Ch. IV in [@Sch]. See also Theorem 3.7, Ch. I in [@GASS] for a generalization. Since $\mathcal E_W(\a)$ and $\mathcal E_K(X)$ are Fréchet spaces, the Open Mapping Theorem implies that $T$ is a homeomorphism, and it follows that its adjoint, the Abel transform $\mathcal A\colon\mathcal E'_K(X)\to\mathcal E'_W(\a)$, is also a homeomorphism (for the strong or weak\* topologies). Using either of these dual topologies, we can therefore topologize $\mathcal{H}_W(\a^*_\cc)$ so that all maps in the diagram are homeomorphisms.
If $\Lambda\in\mathcal E'(\a)$, let $c_\Lambda$ denote the Euclidean convolution operator on $\mathcal E(\a)$ (respectively $\mathcal E'(\a)$) given by $F\mapsto F*\Lambda$ (respectively $\Psi\mapsto\Psi*\Lambda$). Yet again abusing notation slightly, we will denote by $c_\Lambda$ the convolution operator on $\mathcal E(\Xi)$ given by $$c_\Lambda(\varphi)(g\cdot\xi_0)=\int_A \varphi(g\,\exp (-H)\cdot\xi_0)\,d\Lambda(H),\qquad \varphi\in\mathcal E(\Xi).$$ Since the lift to $G$ of the right hand side is smooth, one sees that $c_\Lambda\varphi\in\mathcal E(\Xi)$.
\[T:commutative1\] Suppose that $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$. Then the following diagram commutes: $$\label{E:commdiag1}
\begin{tikzcd}
\mathcal E_W(\a) \arrow{r}{c_{\mathcal A\mu}} \arrow[swap]{d}{T} & \mathcal E_W(\a) \arrow{d}{T} \\
\mathcal E_K(X) \arrow{r}{c_\mu}& \mathcal E_K(X)
\end{tikzcd}$$
The commutativity of the diagram can be proven by direct computation, but since all the maps in it are continuous, it is easier to prove it by showing that the diagram consisting of the adjoint maps is commutative: $$\label{E:adjcomm}
\begin{tikzcd}
\mathcal E'_W(\a)& \arrow[l,"c^*_{\mathcal A\mu}", swap]\mathcal E'_W(\a)\\
\arrow[u,"T^*"]\mathcal E'_K(X)&\arrow[l,"c_\mu^*",swap]\mathcal E'_K(X)\arrow[u,"T^*", swap]
\end{tikzcd}$$ But as shown in the proof of Proposition \[T:bijection1\], the adjoint $T^*$ coincides with the Abel transform $\mathcal A$. In addition we have $c_\mu^*=c_{\widecheck\mu}$, where $\widecheck\mu$ is the $K$-invariant distribution on $X$ whose pullback to $G$ is the reflection of the pullback of $\mu$ with respect to the inversion $g\mapsto g^{-1}$.
Finally we have $c^*_{\mathcal A\mu}=c_{(\mathcal A \mu)^\vee}$, where $(\mathcal A\mu)^\vee$ is the reflection of the distribution $\mathcal A\mu$ with respect to the map $H\mapsto -H$ of $\a$. Thus we wish to prove the commutativity of the diagram $$\label{E:commdiagE'}
\begin{tikzcd}
\mathcal E'_W(\a)& \arrow[l,"c_{(\mathcal A\mu)^\vee}", swap]\mathcal E'_W(\a)\\
\arrow[u,"\mathcal A"]\mathcal E'_K(X)&\arrow[l,"c_{\widecheck\mu}",swap]\mathcal E'_K(X)\arrow[u,"\mathcal A", swap]
\end{tikzcd}$$ which amounts to showing that $$\mathcal AS*(\mathcal A\mu)^\vee=\mathcal A(S*\widecheck \mu)$$ for all $S\in\mathcal E'_K(X)$. But the Euclidean Fourier transforms of both sides in $\a$ equal $\widetilde S(\lambda)\widetilde\mu(-\lambda)$, completing the proof.
Now if $\mu$ is $K$-invariant the relation $(f*\mu)^\sim(\lambda,b)=\widetilde f(\lambda,b)\,\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ and the projection-slice theorem shows that $$\label{E:conv2}
R(f*\mu)=Rf*\mathcal A\mu$$ for all $f\in\mathcal D(X)$, where the convolution on the right is taken over the $A$ factor in $\Xi=K/M\times A$; explicitly, $$Rf*\mathcal A\mu(b,\exp H)=\int_{\a} Rf(b,\exp(H-H'))\,d(\mathcal A\mu)(H').$$ The *dual transform* $R^*$ from functions on $\Xi$ to functions on $X$ is defined by $$\begin{aligned}
R^*\varphi(g\cdot o)&=\int_K \varphi(gk\cdot\xi_0)\,dk\nonumber\\
&=\int_B \varphi(b,\exp(A(x,b)))\,e^{2\rho(A(x,b))}\,db\qquad (\varphi\in\mathcal E(\Xi)).\label{E:dualtransform}\end{aligned}$$ It is known [@GASS] that the linear map $R^*\colon\mathcal E(\Xi)\to\mathcal E(X)$ is surjective.
Let $b_0=eM\in B$. If $\mu\in \mathcal E'_K(X)$, let $\widehat{\mu}=R_{b_0}\mu=e^{-\rho}\,\mathcal A\mu$. Then $\widehat\mu\in\mathcal E'(\a)$.
\[T:commutative2\] If $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$, then the following diagram commutes: $$\begin{tikzcd}
\mathcal E(\Xi) \arrow{r}{c_{\widehat\mu}} \arrow[swap]{d}{R^*} & \mathcal E(\Xi) \arrow{d}{R^*} \\
\mathcal E(X) \arrow{r}{c_\mu}& \mathcal E(X)
\end{tikzcd}$$
*Remark:* This proposition is in some respects a refinement of Proposition \[T:commutative1\]. It is also the symmetric space analogue of the following well-known formula for the $d$-plane Radon transform $R$ on $\rr^n$: $$R^*(Rf*\varphi)=f*R^*\varphi,$$ which holds for all $f\in\mathcal D(\rr^n),\,\varphi\in\mathcal E(G(d,n))$, where $G(d,n)$ is the manifold of unoriented $d$-planes in $\rr^n$. The convolution $Rf*\varphi$ is carried out along the fibers of the vector bundle $G(d,n)\to G_{d,n}$, where $G_{d,n}$ is the Grassmann manifold of $d$-dimensional subspaces of $\rr^n$.
Let $\varphi\in\mathcal E(\Xi)$, and let $\Phi$ be its lift to $G$, so that $\Phi(g)=\varphi(g\cdot\xi_0)$. Likewise, let $U$ be the lift of the distribution $\mu$ to $G$, given by $$U(F)=\mu(F_\pi)$$ for all $F\in\mathcal E(G))$, where $F_\pi$ is as in . It is clear that $U$ is a $K$-biinvariant element of $\mathcal E'(G)$.
For any $g_0\in G$, we have $$\begin{aligned}
R^*(c_{\widehat\mu}(\varphi))(g_0K)&=\int_K (c_{\widehat\mu}\varphi)(g_0k\cdot\xi_0)\,dk\\
&=\int_K\int_{\a} \varphi(g_0k\,\exp (-H)\cdot\xi_0)\,d\widehat\mu(H)\,dk\\
&=\int_K \int_X \varphi(g_0k\,\exp(-A(x,eM))\cdot\xi_0)\,d\mu(x)\,dk\\
&=\int_K \int_G \varphi(g_0k\,\exp H(g^{-1})\cdot\xi_0)\,dU(g)\,dk\\
&=\int_G\int_K \varphi(g_0\,k\,\exp H(g^{-1})\cdot\xi_0)\,dk\,dU(g)\\
\intertext{(by Fubini's Theorem for distributions)}
&=\int_G \int_K \varphi(g_0\, k\,k(g^{-1})\,\exp H(g^{-1})\cdot\xi_0)\,dk\,dU(g)\\
\intertext{(since $K$ is unimodular)}
&=\int_G \int_K \varphi(g_0\, k\, g^{-1}\cdot\xi_0)\,dk\,dU(g)\\
&=\int_K \int_G \varphi(g_0\, k\, g^{-1}\cdot\xi_0)\,dU(g)\,dk\\
&=\int_K \int_G \varphi(g_0\, (gk^{-1})^{-1}\cdot\xi_0)\,dU(g)\,dk\\
&=\int_K \int_G \varphi(g_0\, g^{-1}\cdot\xi_0)\,dU(g)\,dk\\
\intertext{(since $U$ is right $K$-invariant)}\\
&=\int_G \varphi(g_0\, g^{-1}\cdot\xi_0)\,dU(g)\\
&=\int_K \int_G \varphi(g_0\, (k^{-1}g)^{-1}\cdot\xi_0)\,dU(g)\,dk\\
\intertext{(since $U$ is left $K$-invariant)}
&=\int_K \int_G \varphi(g_0\, g^{-1}\,k\cdot\xi_0)\,dU(g)\,dk\\
&=\int_G \int_K \varphi(g_0\, g^{-1}\,k\cdot\xi_0)\,dk\,dU(g)\\
&=\int_G R^*\varphi(g_0g^{-1}K)\,dU(g)\\
&=(R^*\varphi * \mu)(g_0K)\\
&=c_\mu(R^*\varphi)(g_0K),
$$ proving the proposition.
The Slow Decrease Property on $\rr^n$.
======================================
In this section, we will prove Theorem \[T:mainthm\] in earnest.
Suppose that $c_\mu\colon\mathcal E(X)\to\mathcal E(X)$ is surjective. Then for any $\psi\in \mathcal E_K(X)$, there is a $\varphi\in\mathcal E(X)$ for which $\varphi*\mu=\psi$. Replacing $\varphi$ by $\varphi^\natural$, we may assume that $\varphi\in\mathcal E_K(X)$. Thus $c_\mu$ maps $\mathcal E_K(X)$ onto $\mathcal{E}_K(X)$.
Now according to Proposition \[T:bijection1\], the linear map $T\colon\mathcal E_W(\a)\to\mathcal E_K(X)$ is a linear bijection. Proposition \[T:commutative1\] therefore shows that the convolution operator $c_{\mathcal A \mu}\colon\mathcal E_W(\a)\to\mathcal E_W(\a)$ is surjective. We claim that this implies that the distribution $\mathcal A\mu$ on $\a$ is invertible, that is, the holomorphic function $(\mathcal A\mu)^*(\lambda)=\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing, which will of course prove Theorem \[T:mainthm\]. Our claim will be proved in Theorem \[T:W-surjectivity\] below. (This theorem will also imply that $c_{\mathcal A_\mu}\colon\mathcal E(\a)\to\mathcal E(\a)$ is surjective.)
The problem is now Euclidean and turns out not to depend on any specific properties of the Weyl group, so for convenience we’ll replace $\a$ by $\rr^n$ and assume that $W$ is just a finite subgroup of the orthogonal group $O(n)$.
There is at least one point $x\in\rr^n$ such that the isotropy subgroup $W_x$ of $W$ at $x$ is $\{e\}$. In fact, for any $w\in W$, let $(\rr^n)^{w}$ be the subspace of $\rr^n$ consisting of points fixed by $w$. If $w\neq I$, then $(\rr^n)^{w}$ is a proper subspace of $\rr^n$. Hence the finite union $$\bigcup_{w\neq I} (\rr^n)^{w}$$ is not all of $\rr^n$, and we may take $x$ to be any point in the complement of the set above. Note that the complement of the set above is an open cone, so we can scale $x$ so as to be close to the origin if necessary. The orbit $W\cdot x$ then consists of $|W|$ distinct points.
The spaces $\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)$ and $\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$ (consisting of $W$-invariant smooth functions and compactly supported distributions, respectively) are closed in $\mathcal E(\rr^n)$ and $\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$, respectively.
As mentioned earlier, our objective is to prove the following result.
\[T:W-surjectivity\] Let $\Lambda\in\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$ and suppose that the convolution operator $c_\Lambda\colon \mathcal E_W(\rr^n)\to\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)$ is surjective. Then $\Lambda$ is invertible.
The conclusion above is not immediate from Theorem \[T:Ehrenpreis60\] (b), since all we have is that convolution with $\Lambda$ is surjective on $W$-invariant functions. (The converse is obvious: if $\Lambda$ is invertible, then $c_\Lambda\colon\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)\to\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)$ is onto.)
To prove Theorem \[T:W-surjectivity\], we’ll take a “hard” analytical approach, although a representation-theoretic approach may also be possible. See Remark \[R:rep-theoretic\] at the end of this section.
Now in addition to the conditions in Theorem \[T:Ehrenpreis60\], there are several other equivalent formulations for a distribution $\Lambda\in\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$ to be invertible. These can be found in [@Ehrenpreis1960] as well as in Chapter 16 of Hörmander’s book [@Ho2]. Among these, we will use the following.
\[T:slowdecrease1\] ([@Ho2], Theorems 16.3.9 and 16.3.10.) For a distribution $\Lambda\in\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$, the following are equivalent:
1. $\Lambda$ is not invertible.
2. For every $x\in\rr^n$ one can find $S\in\mathcal E'(\rr^n)\cap (C(\rr^n)\setminus C^1(\rr^n))$ with $\text{sing supp }S=\{x\}$ and $\Lambda*S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$.
3. There exists an $S\in\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$ such that $\Lambda*S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$ but $S\notin C^\infty(\rr^n)$.
The lemma above can be made more or less $W$-invariant as follows.
\[T:W-invertible-cond\] Fix any point $x_0\in\rr^n$ such that $W_{x_0}=\{e\}$. A distribution $\Lambda\in\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$ is invertible if and only if for all $S\in\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$ with $\text{sing supp }S\subset W\cdot x_0$, $\Lambda*S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$ implies that $S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$.
Suppose that $\Lambda$ is invertible. If $\Lambda*S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$, then (3) in Lemma \[T:slowdecrease1\] implies that $S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$.
Conversely, suppose that $\Lambda$ is not invertible. Then (2) in Lemma \[T:slowdecrease1\] implies that there is an $S_1\in\mathcal E'(\rr^n)\cap (C(\rr^n)\setminus C^1(\rr^n))$, with $\text{sing supp }S_1=\{x_0\}$, such that $\Lambda*S_1\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$.
Let $S=\sum_{w\in W} w\cdot S_1$. Then $S$ is not $C^1$ at any orbit point $w\cdot x_0$, since $w\cdot S_1$ is not $C^1$ at $w\cdot x_0$, but $w'\cdot S_1$ is $C^\infty$ in a neighborhood of $w\cdot x_0$, for any $w'\neq w$. Thus $S\in\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$, $\text{sing supp }S=W\cdot x_0$, and $$\Lambda*S=\sum_{w\in W} w\cdot (\Lambda*S_1)\in C^\infty(\rr^n).$$
For any $s\in\rr$, let $H_{(s)}$ denote the Sobolev space with index $s$, equipped with norm $$\|u\|_{(s)}=\left((2\pi)^{-n}\,\int_{\rr^n} (1+\|\xi\|^2)^s\,|u^*(\xi)|^2\,d\xi\right)^{1/2}$$ Let $L$ be the Laplace operator on $\rr^n$.
\[T:sobolev1\] For any $N\in\zz^+$, there exists a constant $C$ such that $$\sup |L^k u(x)|\leq C\,\|u\|_{(2N+n)},$$ for all $u\in \mathcal S(\rr^n)$ and all $k\leq N$.
For any $s>n/2$ and $k\leq N$, the Fourier inversion formula and the Hölder Inequality imply that $$\begin{aligned}
\sup |L^k(x)|&\leq (2\pi)^{-n}\,\int_{\rr^n} (1+\|\xi\|^2)^k\,|u^*(\xi)|\,d\xi\\
&\leq (2\pi)^{-n}\,\int_{\rr^n} (1+\|\xi\|^2)^{-s/2}\,(1+\|\xi\|^2)^{N+s/2}\,|u^*(\xi)|\,d\xi\\
&\leq C\,\|u\|_{(2N+s)},\end{aligned}$$ where $C=(2\pi)^{-n/2}\,(\int (1+\|\xi\|^2)^{-s}\,d\xi)^{1/2}$. Letting $s=n$ gives us the result.
The following lemma, which is modeled on [@Ho2], Theorem 16.5.1, will imply Theorem \[T:W-surjectivity\].
\[T:W-inv-surj\] Let $\Lambda\in\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$. Suppose that for any $W$-invariant $f\in C_c^\infty(\rr^n)$, there is a $W$-invariant $S_f\in\mathcal D'(\rr^n)$ such that $\Lambda*S_f=f$. Then $\Lambda$ is invertible.
If $v\in C_c^\infty(\rr^n)$ is $W$-invariant, then for $f$ and $S_f$ as above, we have $$\label{E:convol1}
\int_{\rr^n} f(x)\,v(x)\,dx=S_f(\widecheck\Lambda*v),$$ where $\widecheck\Lambda$ is the reflection of $\Lambda$ through the origin. We claim that for any closed ball $\overline B_R$ of radius $R>0$ centered at the origin, there are constants $C$ and $N$ (depending on $R$) such that $$\label{E:estimate1}
\left|\int_{\rr^n} f\,v\,dx\right|\leq C\sum_{k\leq N} \sup |L^k f|\cdot\sum_{m\leq N} \sup|L^m(\widecheck\Lambda*v)|,$$ for all $W$-invariant $f$ and $v$ in $C_c^\infty(\overline B_R)$.
To prove , let $F$ be the vector space $C_c^\infty(\overline B_R)$ equipped with the topology defined by the seminorms $f\mapsto \sup |D^\alpha f|$, for all multiindices $\alpha$, and let $V$ be the vector space $C_c^\infty(\overline B_R)$ equipped with the topology defined by the seminorms $v\mapsto \sup |D^\beta(\widecheck\Lambda*v)|$, for all multiindices $\beta$. (Note that $\widecheck\Lambda*v$ is generally supported in a ball larger than $\overline B_R$, but this does not matter.) Then $F$ and $V$ are metrizable topological vector spaces and $F$ is complete.
The topologies on $F$ and $V$ are equally well defined by the seminorms $$\label{E:seminorm}
f\mapsto \sup|L^k f|\quad\text{and}\quad v\mapsto \sup |L^m(\widecheck\Lambda*v)|,\qquad k,m\in\zz^+.$$ This is because $\|\xi\|^{2k}\,|f^*(\xi)|\leq \text{vol}\,(B_R)\cdot \sup|L^k f|$ for any $\xi\in\rr^n$ and for any $k$. Hence for any multiindex $\beta$, we can choose $m\geq |\beta|/2$ to obtain $$\begin{aligned}
|D^\beta f(x)|&\leq (2\pi)^{-n}\,\int_{\rr^n} |\xi^\beta|\,|f^*(\xi)|\,d\xi\\
&\leq (2\pi)^{-n}\,\int_{\rr^n} (1+\|\xi\|^2)^m\, |f^*(\xi)|\,d\xi\\
&= (2\pi)^{-n}\,\int_{\rr^n} (1+\|\xi\|^2)^{-n}\,(1+\|\xi\|^2)^{m+n}\,|f^*(\xi)| \,d\xi\\
&\leq (2\pi)^{-n}\,\text{vol}\,(B_R)\cdot\int_{\rr^n} (1+\|\xi\|^2)^{-n}\,d\xi\cdot \sup |(1+L)^{m+n}\,f|\\
&=C\,\sup |(1+L)^{m+n}\,f|.\end{aligned}$$
We will use the seminorms for $F$ and $V$. Let $F_W$ and $V_W$ be the subspaces of $F$ and $V$ consisting of $W$-invariant elements. Then $F_W$ and $V_W$ are closed subspaces of $F$ and $V$ with topologies given by the seminorms . Now consider the bilinear form on $F_W\times V_W$ given by $$\label{E:bilinear}
\langle f,v\rangle=\int_{\rr^n} f\,v\,dx.$$ For each fixed $v$, the bilinear form is trivially continuous with respect to $f$, and for each fixed $f$, implies that the form is continuous with respect to $v$. Since $F_W$ is an $F$-space and $V_W$ is metrizable, the Banach-Steinhaus Theorem implies that the bilinear form is jointly continuous on $F_W\times V_W$, proving . (See [@RudinFA], Theorem 2.17.)
Now suppose that $x_0$ is a point such that $W_{x_0}=\{e\}$. Since $\Lambda$ is invertible if and only if $\widecheck\Lambda$ is invertible, Lemma \[T:W-invertible-cond\] shows that it suffices to prove that if $S\in\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$ with $\text{sing supp }S\subset W\cdot x_0$, then $\widecheck\Lambda*S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$ implies that $S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$.
So fix such an $S$. Then fix an open ball $B_R$ containing the support of $S$, and then consider the subspaces $F_W$ and $V_W$ of $C_c^\infty(\overline B_R)$ as above. Let $\chi$ be any nonnegative radial compactly supported $C^\infty$ function with $\int_{\rr^n}\chi\,dx=1$, and set $\chi_\delta(x)=\delta^{-n}\,\chi(x/\delta)$. For small $\delta$, the convolution $$S_\delta=S*\chi_\delta$$ is an element of $V_W$. Moreover, for any $m\in\zz^+$, we have $$\label{E:estimate2}
\sup |L^m(\widecheck\Lambda*S_\delta)|= \sup |L^m(\widecheck\Lambda*S)*\chi_\delta|\leq \sup |L^m(\widecheck\Lambda*S)|<\infty.$$ Let $\ell\in\zz^+$. Then for small $\delta$, applying the estimate to $L^\ell S_\delta$ and using above, we obtain $$\begin{aligned}
\left|\int_{\rr^n} f\,(L^\ell(S*\chi_\delta))\,dx\right|&\leq C\,\sum_{m\leq N} \sup |L^m(\widecheck\Lambda*L^\ell(S*\chi_\delta))|\cdot \sum_{k\leq N}\sup |L^k f|\nonumber\\
&\leq C\,\sum_{m\leq N} \sup |L^{\ell+m}(\widecheck\Lambda*S)|\cdot \sum_{k\leq N} \sup |L^k f|\label{E:estimate3}\\
&=C_\ell\,\sum_{k\leq N} \sup |L^k f|,\nonumber\end{aligned}$$ for all $f\in F_W$, where $C_\ell$ is the product of the first two factors in . Lemma \[T:sobolev1\] then shows that there is a constant $D_\ell$ such that $$\left|\int_{\rr^n} f\,(L^\ell S*\chi_\delta)\,dx\right|\leq D_\ell\,\|f\|_{(2N+n)},$$ for all $f\in F_W$ and all small $\delta>0$. Letting $\delta\to 0$, we obtain $$\label{E:sobolev2}
|L^\ell S\, (f)|\leq D_\ell \, \|f\|_{(2N+n)},$$
for all $f\in F_W$.
Now let $g\in F$. Since $L^\ell S$ is $W$-invariant, we can apply the estimate to the average $f=(\sum_{w\in W} g^w)/|W|\in F_W$ to obtain $$\begin{aligned}
|L^\ell S\,(g)|&=|L^\ell S\,(f)|\nonumber\\
&\leq D_\ell \|f\|_{(2N+n)}\nonumber\\
&\leq \frac{D_\ell}{|W|}\,\sum_{w\in W} \|g^w\|_{(2N+n)}\nonumber\\
&= D_\ell \,\|g\|_{(2N+n)}.\label{E:sobolev3}\end{aligned}$$
Now fix a function $\psi\in C_c^\infty(\overline B_R)$ that is identically $1$ in a neighborhood of $\text{supp }S$. Then for all $g\in\mathcal S(\rr^n)$, shows that $$\begin{aligned}
|L^\ell S(g)|&=|L^\ell S(\psi g)|\\
&\leq D_\ell \,\|\psi\,g\|_{(2N+n)}\\
&\leq C'\,\|g\|_{(2N+n)},\end{aligned}$$ for all $g\in\mathcal S(\rr^n)$, where $C'$ depends on $\ell,\,R$, and $\psi$. (Here we have used the fact that $g\mapsto \psi\,g$ is bounded on $H_{(s)}$, for all $s\in\rr$. See, e.g., [@Folland], Proposition 6.12.) Since $\mathcal S(\rr^n)$ is dense in $H_{(2N+n)}$, $L^\ell S$ extends uniquely to a bounded linear functional on $H_{(2N+n)}$. Hence $L^\ell S\in H_{(-2N-n)}$ for all $\ell$, and this shows that $S\in C^\infty(\rr^n)$.
This finishes the proof of Lemma \[T:W-inv-surj\], and completes the proof of Theorem \[T:W-surjectivity\], as well as our main result Theorem \[T:mainthm\].
\[R:rep-theoretic\] It may also be possible to prove that $\Lambda*\mathcal{E}(\rr^n)=\mathcal E(\rr^n)$ as follows. Both $\mathcal E(\rr^n)$ and $\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$ are (finite) direct sums of $W$-isotypic components: $$\label{E:isotypic}
\mathcal E(\rr^n)=\sum_{\pi\in \widehat W} \mathcal E_\pi(\rr^n),\qquad \mathcal E'(\rr^n)=\sum_{\pi\in \widehat W} \mathcal E'_\pi(\rr^n),$$ where $\widehat{W}$ is the unitary dual of $W$. Here of course, $\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)$ and $\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$ are the isotypic components corresponding to the trivial representation of $W$. If one can prove that $$\label{E:Ktype}
\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)*\mathcal E'_\pi(\rr^n)=\mathcal E_\pi(\rr^n),$$ then it will follow that $$\Lambda*\mathcal E_\pi(\rr^n)=\Lambda*\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)*\mathcal E'_\pi(\rr^n)=\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)*\mathcal E'_\pi(\rr^n)=\mathcal{E}_\pi(\rr^n),$$ and, by , this implies that $\Lambda*\mathcal E(\rr^n)=\mathcal E(\rr^n)$. It can be shown that $\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)*\mathcal E'_\pi(\rr^n)$ is dense in $\mathcal E_\pi(\rr^n)$. (In fact, one only needs to convolve $\mathcal E_W(\rr^n)$ with finitely many distributions in $\mathcal E'_\pi(\rr^n)$ to achieve density.) However, as of this writing the authors could not obtain a proof of the equality in .
Convolutions with General Distributions
=======================================
We now extend our results to general distributions $\mu\in \mathcal{E'}(X)$. Recall from Section 2 that we defined $\mu^\natural$ to be the average of the left $K$-translates of $\mu$. As observed in that section, we have $c_\mu=c_{\mu^\natural}$.
\[T:surjectivity2\] Let $\mu\in\mathcal E'(X)$. Then the right convolution operator $c_\mu\colon f\mapsto f*\mu$ from $\mathcal E(X)$ to $\mathcal E(X)$ is surjective if and only if the holomorphic function on $\a^*_\cc$ given by $$\lambda\mapsto\int_B \widetilde\mu(\lambda,b)\,db$$ is slowly decreasing.
Since $c_\mu=c_{\mu^\natural}$, $c_\mu$ is surjective if and only if $c_{\mu^\natural}$ is surjective. But by Theorem \[T:mainthm\] and Theorem 5.1 in [@CGK2017], $c_{\mu^\natural}$ is surjective if and only if the spherical Fourier transform $(\mu^\natural)^\sim$ is slowly decreasing. Now for any $\lambda\in\a^*_\cc$, the left $K$-invariance of $\varphi_{-\lambda}$ and the Fubini Theorem for distributions implies that $$\begin{aligned}
(\mu^\natural)^\sim(\lambda)&=\int_X \varphi_{-\lambda}(x)\,d\mu^\natural(x)\\
&=\int_X \varphi_{-\lambda}(x)\,d\mu(x)\\
&=\int_X\int_B e^{(-i\lambda+\rho)A(x,b)}\,db\,d\mu(x)\\
&=\int_B\int_X e^{(-i\lambda+\rho)A(x,b)}\,d\mu(x)\,db\\
&=\int_B \widetilde{\mu}(\lambda,b)\,db.
\end{aligned}$$ This finishes the proof.
Fundamental Solutions of Convolution Operators
==============================================
Since the exponential map from $\mathfrak p$ onto $X$ is a diffeomorphism, the topology of $\mathcal D(X)$ is the same as the topology of $\mathcal D(\mathfrak{p})$. Now let $\mathcal D_K(X)$ denote the space of left $K$-invariant functions in $\mathcal D(X)$. Likewise we let $\mathcal D_W(\a)$ be the subspace of $\mathcal D(\a)$ consisting of its $W$-invariant elements. We endow these subspaces with the induced topologies.
By definition, a projection on a topological vector space is just a continuous linear operator $P$ on that space such that $P^2=P$. The averaging operator $f\mapsto f^\natural$ is a projection from $\mathcal D(X)$ onto $\mathcal D_K(X)$. Likewise, averaging over $W$, we get a projection from $\mathcal D(\a)$ onto $\mathcal D_W(\a)$.
While a closed subspace of an LF space is not necessarily an LF space, the following lemma shows that the fixed point subspace of a projection of an LF space is one as well.
\[T:lfspace\] Let $\mathcal D$ be an LF space, and let the sequence of Fréchet spaces $\{\mathcal D_j\}$ be a sequence of definition of $\mathcal D$. Suppose that $P\colon\mathcal D\to\mathcal D$ is a continuous linear map such that $P^2=P$ and $P(\mathcal D_j)\subset\mathcal D_j$, for all $j$. Then the fixed point subspace $\mathcal D^P$ (with the induced topology) is an LF space, with sequence of definition $\{\mathcal D_j^P\}$.
Note that $\mathcal D_j^P=P(\mathcal D_j)$ for all $j$, and that $P(\mathcal D)=\mathcal D^P=\bigcup_j \mathcal D_j^P$.
The inclusion maps $\mathcal D_j^P\hookrightarrow \mathcal D$ are all continuous, so the inductive limit topology on $\mathcal D^P$ is finer than its subspace topology induced from $\mathcal D$.
On the other hand, suppose that $\mathcal U$ is a convex open neighborhood of $0$ in the inductive limit topology of $\mathcal D^P$. We claim that $\mathcal V=P^{-1}(\mathcal U)$ is a neighborhood of $0$ in $\mathcal D$. Since $\mathcal V\cap \mathcal D^P=\mathcal U$, this will prove that the subspace topology on $\mathcal D^P$ is finer than the inductive limit topology.
Now $\mathcal V$ is certainly convex, and since $P(\mathcal D_j)\subset \mathcal D_j$ for each $j$, we have $$\begin{aligned}
\mathcal V\cap \mathcal D_j&=P^{-1}(\mathcal U)\cap \mathcal D_j\\
&=(P|_{\mathcal D_j})^{-1}(\mathcal U\cap\mathcal D_j^P)\end{aligned}$$ But $\mathcal U\cap \mathcal D_j^P$ is open (by definition) in $\mathcal D_j^P$ and $P|_{\mathcal D_j}\colon \mathcal D_j\to\mathcal D_j^P$ is continuous. Hence $\mathcal V\cap\mathcal D_j$ is open in $\mathcal D_j$ for each $j$, so $\mathcal V$ is open in $\mathcal D$. This completes the proof.
\[T:distribution-surjectivity\] Suppose that $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$. Then the right convolution operator $c_\mu\colon\mathcal D'_K(X)\to\mathcal D'_K(X)$ is surjective if and only if the spherical Fourier transform $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing in $\a^*_\cc$.
The Paley-Wiener Theorem for the spherical Fourier transform (see [@GGA], Chapter IV) states that the image of $\mathcal D_K(X)$ under the spherical Fourier transform is the space of $W$-invariant holomorphic functions of exponential type in $\a_\cc^*$ which are rapidly decreasing in $\a$. Since this is also precisely the image of $\mathcal D_W(\a)$ under the (Euclidean) Fourier-Laplace transform on $\a$, the projection-slice theorem shows that the Abel transform $\mathcal A\colon\mathcal D_K(X)\to\mathcal D_W(\a)$ is a linear bijection.
By Lemma \[T:lfspace\], both $\mathcal D_K(X)$ and $\mathcal D_W(\a)$ are LF spaces. Now the Abel transform $\mathcal A\colon \mathcal D_K(X)\to\mathcal D_W(\a)$ is continuous by Lemma 3.5, Ch. I in [@GGA]. Hence the Open Mapping Theorem, which holds for LF spaces ([@DieudonneSchwartz1949], Théorème I) implies that $\mathcal A$ is a homeomorphism.
Now the adjoint of the commutative diagram $$\label{E:commdiag2}
\begin{tikzcd}
\mathcal D_K(X) \arrow{r}{c_\mu} \arrow[swap]{d}{\mathcal A} & \mathcal D_K(X) \arrow{d}{\mathcal A} \\
\mathcal D_W(\a) \arrow{r}{c_{\mathcal A\mu}}& \mathcal D_W(\a)
\end{tikzcd}$$ is the commutative diagram $$\label{E:commdiag3}
\begin{tikzcd}
\mathcal D'_K(X)& \arrow[l,"c_{\widecheck\mu}", swap]\mathcal D'_K(X)\\
\arrow[u,"\mathcal T"]\mathcal D'_W(\a)&\arrow[l,"c_{(\mathcal A\mu)^\vee}",swap]\mathcal D'_W(\a)\arrow[u,"\mathcal T", swap]
\end{tikzcd}$$ where $\mathcal T$ is the adjoint of $\mathcal A$. Since $\mathcal A$ is a homeomorphism, $\mathcal T$ is a bijection.
Suppose that $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing. Then $(\widecheck\mu)^\sim(\lambda)=\widetilde\mu(-\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing. Now this equals $((\mathcal A\mu)^\vee)^*(\lambda)$, so by [@Ehrenpreis1960], Theorem 2.2, the convolution operator $$c_{(\mathcal A\mu)^\vee}\colon\mathcal D'(\a)\to\mathcal D'(\a)$$ is surjective. Since $\mathcal A\mu$ is $W$-invariant, we can take averages over $W$ to conclude that $$c_{(\mathcal A\mu)^\vee}\colon\mathcal D'_W(\a)\to\mathcal D'_W(\a)$$ is surjective. The diagram then shows that $c_{\widecheck\mu}\colon\mathcal D'_K(X)\to\mathcal D'_K(X)$ is surjective. Interchanging $\mu$ and $\widecheck\mu$, we conclude that $c_\mu$ is also surjective.
Conversely, suppose that $c_\mu\colon\mathcal D'_K(X)\to\mathcal D'_K(X)$ is surjective. Then the diagram (with $\mu$ replaced by $\widecheck\mu$) shows that $c_{\mathcal A\mu}\colon\mathcal D'_W(\a)\to\mathcal D'_W(\a)$ is surjective. Lemma \[T:W-inv-surj\] then implies that $(\mathcal A\mu)^*(\lambda)=\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing.
In the proof above, we used the fact that the Abel transform $\mathcal A\colon\mathcal D_K(X)\to\mathcal D_W(\a)$ is a homeomorphism. Since $\mathcal D_K(X)\approx\mathcal D_K(\p)$, a simpler homeomorphism is given by the restriction map $f\mapsto f|_{\a}$ from $\mathcal D_K(\p)$ onto $\mathcal D_W(\a)$.
Let $\mathbb D(X)$ denote the algebra of left $G$-invariant differential operators on $X$, and let $\Gamma\colon\mathbb D(X)\to S_W(\a)$ be the Harish-Chandra isomorphism, where $S_W(\a)$ is the algebra of $W$-invariant elements of the symmetric algebra $S(\a)$ (or the algebra of $W$-invariant polynomial functions on $\a^*_\cc$). Each $D\in\mathbb D(X)$ can be thought of as a convolution operator $c_\mu$, where $\mu=D\,\delta_o$. Then for this distribution $\mu$, we have $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)=\Gamma(D)(i\lambda)$, for all $\lambda\in\a^*_\cc$.
\[T:fundamentalsoln2\] Let $D$ be a nonzero element of $\mathbb D(X)$. Then $D$ has a fundamental solution.
The function $\lambda\mapsto \Gamma(D)(i\lambda)$ is a polynomial function on $\a^*_\cc$, hence slowly decreasing.
The existence of fundamental solutions of invariant differential operators on symmetric spaces was proved by Helgason in 1964 ([@Helgason1963], [@Helgason1964]).
It would be interesting (and natural) to try to extend Theorem \[T:distribution-surjectivity\] to the surjectivity of $c_\mu$ on all of $\mathcal D'(X)$. There is no proof that we know of at present. In the case when $c_\mu$ is a left-invariant differential operator $D$, Eguchi ([@Eguchi1979], Theorem 10) claims that $D(\mathcal D'(X))=\mathcal D'(X)$, but as Professor Helgason pointed out to us, his proof rests on the unproven claim that the subspace $D^*(\mathcal D(X))$ of the $LF$ space $\mathcal D(X)$ is likewise an $LF$ space.
For a fixed $\mu\in\mathcal E'_K(X)$, let us say that a distribution $S$ on $X$ is a *fundamental solution of $c_\mu$* if $S*\mu=\delta_o$. Theorem \[T:distribution-surjectivity\] says that if $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing, then $c_\mu$ has a fundamental solution. The converse is actually also true. To prove it, we need a few preliminary results.
\[T:thmofsupports\] (The Theorem of Supports.) Let $S,\,T\in\mathcal E'(\rr^n)$. If $\text{supp}$ denotes support and $\text{ch}$ denotes the convex hull in $\rr^n$, then $$\text{ch}(\text{supp}\,(S*T))=\text{ch}(\text{supp}\,S)+\text{ch}(\text{supp}\,T).$$
This theorem, due to J-L. Lions, is a standard result in distribution theory. See, for example, [@Ho1], Theorem 4.3.3.
\[T:support-result\] Fix $\mu\in\mathcal E'_K(X)$ and let $E\subset \mathcal E'_K(X)$. If there is a ball $B_R(o)$ of $X$ containing the supports of all the distributions in $c_\mu(E)$, then there is a ball $B_{R'}(o)$ containing the supports of all the distributions in $E$.
If we replace $\mu$ by $\widecheck\mu$ in , we obtain the commutative diagram $$\label{E:commdiag4}
\begin{tikzcd}
\mathcal E'_K(X) \arrow{r}{c_\mu} \arrow[swap]{d}{\mathcal A} & \mathcal E'_K(X) \arrow{d}{\mathcal A} \\
\mathcal E'_W(\a) \arrow{r}{c_{\mathcal A\mu}}& \mathcal E'_W(\a),
\end{tikzcd}$$ where the Abel transform $\mathcal A$ is a linear bijection. The hypothesis thus implies that the distributions in the image $\mathcal A(c_\mu(E))=c_{\mathcal A\mu}(\mathcal A(E))$ are all supported in the ball $B_R(0)\subset \a$. By the Theorem of Supports, the distributions in $\mathcal A(E)$ are supported in some ball $B_{R'}(0)$. By the forward Paley-Wiener Theorem and the relation , we see that the spherical Fourier transforms $\widetilde S(\lambda)$, for $S\in E$, are all of exponential type $R'$. The Paley-Wiener Theorem for the spherical Fourier transform on $K$-invariant distributions then implies that the distributions in $E$ are all supported in $B_{R'}(o)$.
If we endow $\mathcal D'(X)$ with either the weak\* or strong topology, then the corresponding subspace topology of $\mathcal D'_K(X)=(\mathcal D'(X))_K$ coincides with its weak\* or strong topology as the dual space of $\mathcal D_K(X)$. The same goes for $\mathcal E_K'(X),\;\mathcal E'_W(\a)$, etc. Recall that the bounded sets are the same for the strong and weak\* topologies in the dual spaces.
\[T:PW-boundedness\] Let $\mathcal B\subset \mathcal E'(\rr^n)$. Then $\mathcal B$ is bounded in $\mathcal{E'}(\rr^n)$ if and only if there are positive constants $A$ and $C$ and a nonnegative integer $N$ such that
1. The Fourier transform $S^*(\zeta)$ is of exponential type $A$, for every $S\in\mathcal B$, and
2. for all $S\in\mathcal B$ and all $\xi\in\rr^n$, we have $$|S^*(\xi)|\leq C\,(1+\|\xi\|)^N.$$
See [@EhrenpreisAnnals1956], Theorem 7.
\[T:fundamentalsoln1\] Fix $\mu\in\mathcal E'_K(X)$. Then $c_\mu$ has a fundamental solution if and only if its spherical Fourier transform $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing.
If $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing, then Theorem \[T:distribution-surjectivity\] guarantees the existence of $S\in\mathcal D'_K(X)$ such that $S*\mu=\delta_o$.
The converse is the hard part. Suppose that there exists an $S\in\mathcal D'(X)$ such that $S*\mu=\delta_o$. Replacing $S$ by $S^\natural$, we may assume that $S\in\mathcal D'_K(X)$. We wish to prove that $\widetilde\mu$ is slowly decreasing. For this, we first make the following claim:
*The map $\Psi*\mu\mapsto \Psi$ from $c_\mu(\mathcal E_K'(X))$ to $\mathcal E_K'(X)$ takes bounded sets to bounded sets.*
We now prove the claim. Suppose that $B\subset \mathcal E_K'(X)$ such that $c_\mu(B)$ is bounded. Then there is a ball $B_R(o)$ containing the supports of all the elements of $c_\mu(B)$, so by Lemma \[T:support-result\], there is a ball $B_{R'}(o)$ containing the supports of all the elements of $B$.
Now since convolution on $\mathcal E_K'(X)$ is commutative, we have $$S*c_\mu(B)=S*\mu*B=\delta_o*B=B*\delta_o=B.$$ The convolution operator $c_S\colon\mathcal E_K'(X)\to\mathcal D_K'(X)$ is continuous, so $B$ is a bounded subset of $\mathcal D_K'(X)$. Since the elements of $B$ are all supported in the same compact set $\overline B_{R'}(o)$, we conclude that in fact $B$ is bounded in $\mathcal E_K'(X)$, proving the claim.
We will now show that any distribution $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$ satisfying the claim is slowly decreasing. Since $\mathcal A\colon\mathcal E_K'(X)\allowbreak \to\mathcal E_W'(\a)$ is a homeomorphism, the diagram shows that the map $T*\mathcal A\mu\to T$ from $\mathcal E'_W(\a)*\mathcal A\mu$ to $\mathcal E'_W(\a)$ takes bounded sets to bounded sets.
Now suppose that $\widetilde\mu$ is not slowly decreasing. All we need is to produce a sequence $\{E_j\}$ contradicting the claim, i.e.
1. $\{E_j\}$ is an unbounded set in $\mathcal E'_W(\a)$;
2. $\{E_j*\mathcal A\mu\}$ is a bounded set in $\mathcal E'_W(\a)$.
For this, we will follow Ehrenpreis’ proof in [@Ehrenpreis1960], Theorem 2.2 and adapt it to the $W$-invariant situation.
All of our analysis shifts at this point to $\a^*$ and $\a^*_\cc$, so for simplicity we will identify these spaces with $\rr^n$ and $\cc^n$, respectively. Moreover, we will not use any special properties of $W$, so we’ll just assume that it is a finite subgroup of $\text O(n)$.
Since $\widetilde\mu=(\mathcal A\mu)^*$ is not slowly decreasing, there is a sequence $\{\xi_j\}$ of points in $\a^*=\rr^n$, such that for each $j$ and for all $\xi\in\a^*=\rr^n$ satisfying $\|\xi-\xi_j\|<2j\,\log(2+\|\xi_j\|)$, $$\label{E:mu-estimate}
|\widetilde\mu(\xi)|\leq (2j+\|\xi_j\|)^{-2j}.$$ Notice that since $\widetilde\mu$ is $W$-invariant, the same condition holds if we replace $\xi_j$ by $\sigma\cdot\xi_j$, for any $\sigma\in W$. The sequence $\{\xi_j\}$ necessarily satisfies $\|\xi_j\|\to\infty$ as $j\to\infty$.
Now for each $j=1,2,\ldots$, define the function $h_j$ on $\cc$ by $$h_j(z)=\left(\frac{\sin(\pi z/j)}{(\pi z/j)}\right)^{2j}.$$ The functions $h_j$ satisfy the following properties:
1. All $h_j$ are entire functions in $\cc$ of exponential type $2\pi$. Actually, we have a uniform estimation for $\{h_j\}$: for all $j$ and all $z\in\cc$, $$\label{hj:unif-exp}
|h_j(z)|\leq e^{2\pi|z|}.$$
2. $h_j(0)=1$.
3. $0\leq h_j(x)\leq 1$ for all $x\in\rr$.
4. $h_j(x)\leq \pi^{-2j}$ for $x\in\rr$, $|x|\geq j$.
Properties (1)-(4) are quite straightforward, and we justify the uniform exponential estimate (1) as follows:
Denote $w=\pi z/j\in\cc$ temporarily. For all $j\geq 1$ and all $z\in\cc^\times$, $$|h_j(z)| = \left|\frac{\sin w}{w}\right|^{2j} = \left|\frac{\sin w}{w}\right|^{\frac{2\pi|z|}{|w|}} = \left(\left|\frac{\sin w}{w}\right|^\frac{1}{|w|}\right)^{2\pi|z|} := e^{2\pi|z| F(w)} ,$$ where $$\begin{aligned}
F(w) &= \log \left|\frac{\sin w}{w}\right|^{\frac{1}{|w|}} \\
&= |w|^{-1}\log \left| 1 - \frac{w^2}{3!} + \frac{w^4}{5!} - \cdots \right| \\
&\leq |w|^{-1}\log \left( 1 + \frac{|w|^2}{3!} + \frac{|w|^4}{5!} + \cdots \right) \\
&\leq \frac{|w|}{3!} + \frac{|w|^3}{5!} + \cdots \\
&= \sinh (|w|) - |w|.\end{aligned}$$ When $|w|\leq 1$, since $\sinh(t)-t$ is increasing, then $F(w)\leq \sinh (1)-1<1$ and hence $|h_j(z)|\leq e^{2\pi|z|}$.
On the other hand, when $|w|>1$, using the fact $|\sin w|\leq e^{|\text{Im}\, w|}$ we obtain $$\begin{aligned}
|h_j(z)| &= \left|\frac{\sin w}{w}\right|^{2j} \\
&\leq |w|^{-2j}\left(e^{|\text{Im}\, w|}\right)^{2j} \\
&\leq e^{2j\, |\text{Im}\,w |} \\
&= e^{2\pi\, |\text{Im}\,z|}.\end{aligned}$$ Combining the two cases above, we have shown .
Next, let us define the functions $H_j$ on $\cc^n$ by $$H_j(\zeta)=h_j(\zeta^{(1)})\,h_j(\zeta^{(2)})\cdots\,h_j(\zeta^{(n)}),\quad \text{for } \zeta = (\zeta^{(1)},\ldots,\zeta^{(n)})\in\cc^n.$$ Then $\{H_j\}$ has the following properties:
1. All $H_j$ are entire functions in $\cc^n$ of exponential type $2\pi\sqrt n$. To be more precise, for all $j$ and all $\zeta\in\cn$, $$\label{Hj:unif-exp}
|H_j(\zeta)|\leq e^{2\pi\sqrt{n}\,\|\zeta\|}.$$
2. $H_j(0)=1$.
3. $0\leq H_j(\xi)\leq 1$ for all $\xi\in\rr^n$.
4. $H_j(\xi)\leq \pi^{-2j}$ if $\xi\in\rr^n$ and at least one coordinate of $\xi$ is $\geq j$.
Properties $(1')$-$(4')$ follow directly from properties (1)-(4) of $\{h_j\}$, just noting that to show we use the elementary inequality $$|\zeta^{(1)}|+|\zeta^{(2)}|+\cdots+|\zeta^{(n)}|\leq \sqrt{n}\,\|\zeta\|.$$
For each $j$ and each $\sigma\in W$, we next define the function $F_j^\sigma$ on $\cc^n$ by $$F_j^\sigma(\zeta)=e^k\,H_k(\sqrt n(\zeta-\sigma\cdot\xi_j)),$$ where $k$ is the greatest integer no more than $2j\log (2+\|\xi_j\|)$. Then the $F_j^\sigma$ satisfy the following properties:
1. All $F_j^\sigma$ are entire functions of exponential type $2n\pi$. Precisely, for all $\zeta\in\cc^n$ we have $$\label{Fj:exp}
|F_j^\sigma(\zeta)| \leq C_j\, e^{2\pi n\|\zeta\|},$$ where $C_j = (2+\|\xi_j\|)^{2j} e^{2\pi n\|\xi_j\|}$.
2. $F_j^\sigma(\sigma\cdot\xi_j)\geq e^{-1} (2+\|\xi_j\|)^{2j}$.
3. $0\leq F_j^\sigma(\xi)\leq (2+\|\xi_j\|)^{2j}$ for all $\xi\in\rr^n$.
4. $F_j^\sigma(\xi)\leq 1$ for all $\xi\in\rr^n$ such that $\|\xi-\sigma\cdot \xi_j\|\geq 2j\log(2+\|\xi_j\|)$.
Again, ($1''$)-($4''$) follow from properties ($1'$)-($4'$) respectively. We only explain ($4''$) a bit. Suppose $\|\xi-\sigma\cdot\xi_j\|\geq 2j\,\log(2+\|\xi_j\|)$ as in ($4''$), then $$\|\sqrt n(\xi-\sigma\cdot \xi_j)\|\geq \sqrt n\, 2j\log (2+\|\xi_j\|)\geq \sqrt{n}\,k$$ which means at least one of the coordinates of $\sqrt n\,(\xi-\sigma\cdot\xi_j)$ has absolute value $\geq k$. Thus, we get ($4''$) from ($4'$) directly: $$\begin{aligned}
F_j^\sigma(\xi) &= e^k\,H_k(\sqrt n(\xi-\sigma\cdot\xi_j)) \\
&\leq e^k \pi^{-2k} \leq 1.\end{aligned}$$
For each $j$ we now set $$\label{E:Fj-def}
F_j(\zeta) = \frac{1}{|W|} \sum_{\sigma\in W} F_j^\sigma(\zeta),\qquad \zeta\in \cc^n.$$ Then for each fixed $j$, $F_j$ is a $W$-invariant entire function on $\cc^n$ of exponential type $2n\pi$, which (by ($3''$)) is bounded (with bound depending on $j$) and nonnegative on $\rr^n$. From ($2''$), we have $$\label{E:fj}
F_j(\xi_j)\geq e^{-1} (2+\|\xi_j\|)^{2j}.$$
For each $j$, consider the unique distribution $E_j\in\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$ such that $E_j^*=F_j$. Theorem \[T:PW-boundedness\] and the inequality show that the sequence $\{E_j\}$ is not bounded in $\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$.
We will prove, on the other hand, that the sequence $\{E_j*\mathcal A\mu\}$ is bounded in $\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$. For this, we fix $j$ and consider any $\xi\in\rr^n$ such that $\|\xi-\sigma\cdot\xi_j\|\geq 2j\,\log (2+\|\xi_j\|)$ for all $\sigma\in W$. Then Property ($4''$) shows that $$\label{E:PW2}
|\widetilde\mu(\xi)\,F_j(\xi)|\leq |\widetilde\mu(\xi)|.$$
Next consider any $\xi\in\rr^n$ such that $\|\xi-\sigma\cdot\xi_j\|<2j\,\log (2+\|\xi_j\|)$ for some $\sigma\in W$. Then Property ($3''$), together with the inequality , with $\xi_j$ replaced by $\sigma\cdot\xi_j$, show that $$\label{E:PW3}
|\widetilde\mu(\xi)\,F_j(\xi)|\leq 1.$$
The estimates and show that for all $\xi\in\rr^n$ and all $j$, we have $$\label{E:PW4}
|\widetilde\mu(\xi)\,F_j(\xi)|\leq |\widetilde\mu(\xi)|+1.$$
Now the entire function $\widetilde\mu$ is of some exponential type $A$, so the functions in the sequence $\{\widetilde\mu\,F_j\}$ are all of exponential type $2n\pi+A$. Moreover, since $\widetilde\mu$ is polynomially increasing in $\rr^n$, the inequality implies that there is a constant $C$ and an nonnegative integer $N$ such that $$|\widetilde\mu(\xi)\,F_j(\xi)|\leq C(1+\|\xi\|)^N$$ for all $\xi\in\rr^n$ and all $j$.
Recall that $E_j^*=F_j$, hence $(E_j*\mathcal A\mu)^* = \widetilde\mu F_j$. Theorem therefore implies that the sequence $\{E_j*\mathcal A\mu\}$ is bounded in $\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$.
However, we have already shown $\{E_j\}$ is unbounded in $\mathcal E'_W(\rr^n)$ by . This contradicts our earlier conclusion that the map $T*\mathcal A\mu\to T$ from $\mathcal E'_W(\a)*\mathcal A\mu$ to $\mathcal E'_W(\a)$ takes bounded sets to bounded sets, and completes the proof of Theorem \[T:fundamentalsoln1\].
We call $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$ *invertible* if its spherical Fourier transform $\widetilde\mu(\lambda)$ is slowly decreasing. Theorem \[T:fundamentalsoln1\] then says that $\mu$ is invertible if and only if $c_\mu$ has a fundamental solution. Actually, we can generalize the theorem slightly as follows.
A distribution $\mu\in\mathcal E_K'(X)$ is invertible if and only if there is an invertible distribution $S\in\mathcal E'_K(X)$ and a distribution $T\in \mathcal D'(X)$ such that $T*\mu=S$.
*Remark.* Theorem \[T:fundamentalsoln1\] corresponds of course to the case $S=\delta_o$. Note that we cannot just convolve both sides of $T*\mu=S$ with a fundamental solution to $c_S$, since the resulting left hand side would be a convolution of three distributions, two of which may not have compact support.
The “only if” part follows immediately from Theorem \[T:distribution-surjectivity\].
Conversely, suppose that $S$ and $T$ exist. Replacing $T$ by $T^\natural$, we can assume that $T\in\mathcal D_K'(X)$.
We claim that $\mu$ satisfies the claim in the proof of Theorem \[T:fundamentalsoln1\]; that is to say, we claim that the map $\Psi*\mu\to\Psi$ from $c_\mu(\mathcal E_K'(X))$ to $\mathcal E_K'(X)$ takes bounded sets to bounded sets. The proof of Theorem \[T:fundamentalsoln1\] will then show that $\mu$ is invertible.
So suppose that $E\subset \mathcal E_K'(X)$ and that $E*\mu$ is bounded in $\mathcal E'_K(X)$. Note that Lemma \[T:support-result\] implies that the elements of $E$ all have support inside the same compact subset of $X$. Since left convolution by $T$ is continuous from $\mathcal E_K'(X)$ to $\mathcal D'_K(X)$, we see that $T*(E*\mu)$ is a bounded subset of $\mathcal D_K'(X)$.
But the convolution of $K$-invariant distributions in $X$ is commutative, so we have $$T*E*\mu=E*T*\mu=E*S$$ Thus $E*S$ is a bounded subset of $\mathcal D'_K(X)$ consisting of distributions which all have support in the same compact set, so it follows that $E*S$ is bounded in $\mathcal E_K'(X)$.
Since $S$ is invertible, Theorem \[T:fundamentalsoln1\] shows that there is a $\Phi\in\mathcal D'_K(X)$ such that $\Phi*S=\delta_o$. If we apply the exact same argument as above with $\mu$ replaced by $S$ and $T$ replaced by $\Phi$, we conclude that $E*\delta_o=E$ is bounded in $\mathcal E_K'(X)$. Thus $\mu$ satisfies the claim, and it follows that $\mu$ is invertible.
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Introduction {#Sec1}
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Protein arginine methylation is a type of universal posttranslational modification (PTM) that plays significant biological roles in eukaryotic organisms.^[@CR1]^ Thus far, nine protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) have been found in mammalian cells,^[@CR2]^ which are classified into three types: type I, type II and type III PRMTs. Type I enzymes (PRMT1, −2, −3, −4, −6, and −8) convert arginine residues to monomethyl arginine (MMA) and further modify them to asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA); type II enzymes (PRMT5 and PRMT9) produce MMA and symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA); and PRMT7 is the only type III enzyme that generates MMA. The global arginine levels in mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) cells have been found to be 1500:3:2:1 for Arg:ADMA:MMA:SDMA, and PRMT1 is the major type I enzyme, accounting for 50% of ADMA formation.^[@CR3],[@CR4]^ During PRMT catalysis, one or two hydrogen atom(s) on the ω-N^G^ of arginine substrate is (are) replaced by the methyl group from *S*-adenosylmethionine (SAM or AdoMet), generating methylated arginine and leaving *S*-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH or AdoHcy) as the side product.^[@CR2]^ PRMTs methylate numerous protein substrates in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and membranes.^[@CR1]^ Studies have revealed diverse roles of PRMTs in signal transduction, transcriptional coactivation, RNA splicing and DNA repair, while its other functions remain unclear.^[@CR5]^ Moreover, dysregulation or aberrant expression of PRMTs is associated with various pathological conditions. For instance, PRMT1 is overexpressed or aberrantly expressed in breast, prostate, lung, colon, and bladder cancers, and leukemia.^[@CR5],[@CR6]^ It is also upregulated in pulmonary diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma.^[@CR7]^ Further, PRMT1 plays regulatory roles in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and renal diseases.^[@CR8]^ Therefore, the development of PRMT inhibitors has emerged as an imperative task to provide novel therapeutic agents to treat diseases and to find chemical probes to investigate the biological functions of PRMTs.^[@CR7],[@CR9],[@CR10]^
In the past decade, both academic and industrial laboratories have invested effort to discover and develop PRMT inhibitors possessing adequate potency and isoform selectivity.^[@CR7],[@CR10]--[@CR13]^ The discovery of PRMT inhibitors relies on efficient and effective biochemical assays for measuring the methyltransferase activity of PRMTs and for characterizing the mechanism of inhibitors.^[@CR14]--[@CR23]^ Radiometric assays represent the gold standard for biochemically measuring the methyltransferase activity of PRMTs due to their high sensitivity and reliability.^[@CR7]^ In this type of assay, the radioisotope-labeled methyl group of \[^3^H\]-SAM or \[^14^C\]-SAM is transferred to a peptide or protein substrate during the enzymatic reaction.^[@CR7]^ The products are then separated from unreacted SAM and quantified by autoradiography or liquid scintillation counting. Among these radiometric assays, scintillation proximity assay (SPA) is a mix-and-measure procedure not requiring product separation, in which the signal is induced by the micrometer proximity between biotinylated substrates containing ^3^H labeled methyl groups and streptavidin-coated scintillatants, while the excess SAM molecules in the solution are not within this distance and therefore do not produce signals.^[@CR24]^ This assay format can be applied for the high-throughput screening of library compounds to discover PRMT inhibitors.^[@CR24]^ However, one key drawback of this type of assay is the involvement of radioactive reagents, which requires strict environmental safety regulation. Another type of assay is antibody-based, exemplified by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in which a methylarginine-specific antibody is used to recognize reaction products and a secondary antibody is used as probe for signal detection.^[@CR7]^ A few enzymatically coupled assays have also been developed to detect the generation of the side product SAH for measuring PRMT activity; these assays often convert SAH into chemical derivatives bearing colorimetric, fluorescent, or luminescent properties for spectroscopic signal detection.^[@CR25]--[@CR30]^ These assays are nonradioactive and robust; however, introducing additional components in the assay can potentially complicate the assay results. Especially for inhibitor screening, the coupling chemical components might interact with inhibitors and lead to false positives. Furthermore, due to the variability and complexity of detection methods, all the above assays require the methyltransferase reaction to be quenched at specific time points, after which the products are processed or converted into other chemical species for signal generation. In these scenarios, it is not possible to monitor the arginine methylation reaction progression in situ. In this paper, we have developed a stopped flow fluorescent assay to detect and characterize PRMT1 inhibitors, which possesses the advantages of being nonradioactive and homogeneous. The assay can be implemented through a simple mix-and-measure procedure, and products can be detected continuously. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first continuous assay for PRMT reaction detection and inhibitor characterization.
Results and discussion {#Sec2}
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Fluorescent changes of fluorescein-labeled histone H4 peptide during PRMT1 catalysis {#Sec3}
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PRMT1 is the major type I enzyme responsible for asymmetric arginine dimethylation.^[@CR31]^ PRMT1 transfers the methyl group from SAM to a guanidine nitrogen of arginine to form MMA, which can be further methylated into ADMA (Fig. [1a](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}).^[@CR31]^ Stopped flow is a powerful technique to study the transient kinetics of enzymes.^[@CR32]^ Recently, by detecting the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence changes of PRMT1, along with global fitting analysis, we elucidated the major kinetic steps of PRMT1 catalysis with resolved rate constants (*k*~on~ and *k*~off~) for individual steps, which provided important mechanistic insights of how PRMTs interact with their substrates and catalyze the methyl transfer reaction.^[@CR31]^ In addition, we designed and synthesized fluorescein-labeled substrate peptides as fluorescent reporters to probe the arginine methylation reaction.^[@CR33],[@CR34]^ One of these probes is a fluorescein-labeled 20-residue histone H4 N-terminal tail peptide: acetyl-SG**R**GKGGKGK(FL)GKGGAKRHRK (abbreviated as H4FL), in which the methylation site resides on arginine-3 and the fluorescein group is attached to the side chain of residue lysine-10 (Fig. [1b](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}). The kinetic parameters of this fluorescent peptide in PRMT1 catalysis are comparable to the natural substrate,^[@CR35]^ the 20-residue histone H4 N-terminal tail peptide (H4-20, acetyl-SGRGKGGKGKGKGGAKRHRK): the *K*~m~ and *k*~cat~ values for H4-20 are 0.64 ± 0.04 µM and 0.81 ± 0.01 min^−1^, while the *K*~m~ and *k*~cat~ values for H4FL are 0.50 ± 0.05 µM and 0.43 ± 0.01 min^−1^. In the previous study, we observed a biphasic progression curve for the PRMT1-catalyzed methylation of H4FL under conditions in which the cofactor SAM saturates the enzyme (\[PRMT1\] = 2 µM, \[SAM\] = 100 µM, \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM).^[@CR35]^ To further corroborate these results, we measured the stopped flow fluorescence curve of PRMT1 catalysis under a different condition (\[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM, \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM) and the same pattern of progression curves was observed, in which there was a decay phase (Phase I) until a minimum (the lowest point) was reached, followed by an increasing phase (Phase II) until it approached a plateau, as illustrated in Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}.Fig. 1Arginine methylation by PRMT1. **a** PRMT1-mediated methylation reaction. **b** Use of the fluorescent peptide H4FL to study PRMT1-mediated arginine methylationFig. 2Time course of PRMT1 methylation (1--900 s). The raw data (total of 10,000 points) are shown as blue dots. The curve fitted by equation 2 is shown as a solid black line, which is the average of 4 or 5 replicates. A magnified view of 1--100 s is shown on the side. The concentrations of the enzyme, cofactor and substrate are as follows: \[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM, \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM
A critical question is regarding the mechanism underlying the biphasic nature of the H4FL methylation progression curve (i.e., the fluorescence first decreases and then goes up). During the progression of the arginine methylation reaction, the substrate peptide H4FL, mono-methylated peptide H4FLme~1~ (acetyl-SG**Rme**GKGGKGK(FL)GKGGAKRHRK), asymmetric dimethylated peptide H4FLme~2~ (acetyl -SG**Rme**~**2a**~GKGGKGK(FL)GKGGAKRHRK) and many intermediate binary or ternary complexes are involved. Based on our established PRMT1 kinetic model,^[@CR31]^ we used KinTek Explorer 5.2 to simulate the concentration changes of the relevant species during the methylation time course under the conditions of \[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM and \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM (Figure [S1A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). At the very beginning of the reaction, substrate H4FL quickly forms an enzyme-H4FL complex (E•H4) and an enzyme-cofactor-H4FL complex (E•SAM•H4), and undergoes a conformational change (F•SAM•H4), which is reflected as a sharp decrease in the total free H4FL concentration. Later, the F•SAM•H4 ternary complex produces the mono-methylated product (H4FLme~1~), and the concentration of free H4FLme~1~ increases while the concentration of free H4FL decreases. H4FLme~1~ can form binary or ternary complexes with the enzyme and the cofactor during this process. The mono-methylated peptide is further converted into the dimethylated product, H4FLme~2~. As the reaction moves forward, the concentrations of substrate H4FL and H4FLme~1~ continue to decrease while the H4FLme~2~ concentration increases. The concentrations of all the other binary or ternary intermediates also decrease, except for those of E•H4me~2~, E•SAM•H4me~2~ and F•SAM•H4me~2~. Indeed, the total concentration of the free peptides (\[H4FL\] + \[H4FLme\] + \[H4FLme~2~\]) follows a biphasic pattern in which they first decrease and then increase (Figure [S1C](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}), which results from the dynamics of complex formation and product release during the methylation process. Overall, the expected conversion of the substrate H4FL to the intermediate H4FLme~1~ and to the product H4FLme~2~ is observed.
Determining the relative fluorescence intensity values of the free peptides and the related complexes is the key to deconvolving the biphasic fluorescent signal changes in the progression course. During the binary complex formation of the fluorescein-labeled peptides (H4FL, H4FLme~1~, and H4FLme~2~) with PRMT1, we noticed that the fluorescent signal decreased over time.^[@CR35]^ The observed overall fluorescence intensity can be defined as f~p~ · \[H4FL\] + f~c~ · \[E•H4FL\], in which the fluorescence factor is *f*~p~ for the free peptide and *f*~c~ for the complex, both in units of µM^−1^. In the stopped flow assays, we mixed excess amounts of PRMT1 in three concentrations (2, 4, or 6 µM) with H4FL, H4FLme~1~ and H4FLme~2~ peptides at 0.4 µM. The raw data in Figure [S2](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}, Figure [S3](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}, and Figure [S4](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"} were analyzed by the global fitting function of the KinTek Explorer 5.2 software, based on the reported *k*~on~ and *k*~off~ values of each fluorescent peptide.^[@CR35]^ For H4FL, the values of *f*~p~ and *f*~c~ are 6.4 and 5.6 µM^−1^; for H4FLme~1~, the values of *f*~p~ and *f*~c~ are 5.4 and 3.8 µM^−1^; and for H4FLme~2~, the values of *f*~p~ and *f*~c~ are 5.9 and 3.9 µM^−1^. Not surprisingly, *f*~p~ is always larger than *f*~c~. The *f*~p~ values of the three fluorescent peptides are similar, possibly because the small size of the methyl group and the long distance between the methylation site, arginine-3, and the fluorescein on lysine-10, which likely minimizes the effect of methylation on the fluorescence. Upon binding with PRMT1, the fluorescein group on the peptide substrate is likely exposed to a different physicochemical environment, which results in reduced fluorescence of the complexes.
Based on these observations and analysis, we propose that the two phases of the H4FL methylation time course are the overall result of the concentration changes of the species involved in the methylation process and their differences in fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence intensity of the free peptides is relatively higher than that of their corresponding ligand-PRMT1 complexes. Consequently, upon mixing the reaction components, H4FL first forms binary or ternary complexes with E and SAM while the amount of free H4FLme~1~ or H4FLme~2~ is very small, which leads to a decreased total concentration of the free peptides (Figure [S1C](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}) reflected as a decreasing curve in Phase I (Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}). In the later stage, as more substrates have reacted, the methylated products are formed and released from the enzyme due to its intrinsic low affinity,^[@CR17]^ and the total concentration of the free peptides increases (Figure [S1C](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}), which is reflected as an increasing curve in Phase II (Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}). In the parallel stopped flow fluorescence experiments using H4FL, H4FL~me1~ and H4FL~me2~ peptides under the same conditions (\[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM, \[H4 peptides\] = 0.4 µM), we observed a very similar biphasic pattern for the H4FL and H4FL~me1~ methylation curves. However, the H4FL~me2~ curve showed a strong decreasing trend in Phase I upon mixing but a minimal increase in Phase II (Figure [S7](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). These results together suggested that the methylation process of the fluorescein-labeled substrate is represented by the overall fluorescence intensity change, in which Phase I is likely related to peptide substrate binding while Phase II is likely related to peptide product formation.
Use of the stopped flow fluorescence assay for PRMT1 inhibition measurement {#Sec4}
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Compared to non-continuous methods, stopped flow technology can rapidly mix two components within a few milliseconds and then measure the fluorescent signals at any stage of the reaction to continuously monitor the entire process. The total progression time curve can provide mechanistic and quantitative information of how an enzyme regulator, such as a small molecule inhibitor, affects the enzymatic reaction. In the stopped flow fluorescence assay, we chose the balanced condition (\[PRMT1\] = 0.2 μM, \[H4FL\] = 0.4 μM and \[SAM\] = 3.5 μM), in which the concentrations of substrate H4FL and cofactor SAM are close to their *K*~m~ values (the *K*~m~ of H4FL is 0.50 ± 0.05 μM, and the *K*~m~ of SAM on H4FL is 3.1 ± 0.46 μM),^[@CR35],[@CR36]^ to indiscriminately characterize competitive, uncompetitive and noncompetitive PRMT1 inhibitors. Again, the methylation time course of the H4FL peptide under this condition exhibited a biphasic pattern: the fluorescence first decreased until a minimum (at 40 seconds), then increased to a plateau (Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}). This biphasic time course was analyzed using a double-exponential equation (equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""}), which resulted in five parameters: *a = *0.06974 ± 1.90E−04, *k*~1~ = 0.06161 ± 3.34E−04 s^−1^, *b* = −0.1115 ± 9.25E−05, *k*~2~ = 0.004804 ± 1.15E−05 s^−1^ and *c* = 2.501 ± 1.03E−04 (Table [S1A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The first part of the equation, *F*1 = *a* · *exp*(−*k*~1~ · *t*), is dominant in Phase I (the decay phase), where the amplitude parameter *a* and the rate constant *k*~1~ (s^−1^) together describe the decreasing trend of the curve. The second part of the equation, *F*2 = *a* · *exp*(−*k*~2~ · *t*), is dominant in Phase II (the increasing phase), where the amplitude parameter *b* and rate constant *k*~2~ (s^−1^) together describe the increasing trend of the curve. The obtained value of parameter *c* is the fluorescence intensity at the plateau, which represents the reaction endpoint. The simulation results (Figure [S1](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}) showed that the concentration of the product was very close to the plateau at 900 s, which suggested that almost all the substrate had turned over after 900 s under the experimental conditions (\[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM, \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM). The value of *c* can be normalized to any number without affecting the fluorescence amplitude values (*a* and *b*) or the rate constant values (*k*~1~, *k*~2~).
To obtain the IC~50~ of a specific inhibitor, the relative activities of the enzyme in presence of different concentrations of the inhibitor are required (equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""}).^[@CR37]^ In a typical non-continuous assay (e.g., a radiometric filter binding assay), we need to determine a time course under the desired experimental conditions with an optimal reaction time. The chosen reaction time should stay within the initial conditions to ensure the relationship between the readouts, i.e., counts per minute (CPM) and time (*t*), is linear. Within this period, the concentration of the product has minimal influence on the rate of the reaction, and the reaction time course can be described as *y*=*K* · t, where *K* is the rate of the reaction (e.g., µM s^−1^) as well as the slope of the linear curve. By adding different concentrations of the inhibitor to the reaction mixture, the relative activity of the enzyme can be obtained by normalizing *K* to the reaction rate without the inhibitor, and then calculate the IC~50~ value using equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""}. In our stopped flow fluorescence assay, the reaction rate of Phase I and Phase II can be obtained by approximating and deriving the double-exponential equation (equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""}). In Phase I, during a very short period of time (where *t* is small), the curve is nearly linear, and the exponential equation can be approximately described as F1 = *a* · (−*k*~1~) · *t*. Therefore, the derivation of F1 equals --*k*~1~∙*a*, which is the slope of Phase I. Similarly, the curve of Phase II at early stage can be approximately described as F2 = *b* · (−*k*~2~) · *t*. This derivation of F2 equals --*k*~2~∙*b*, which is the slope of Phase II. The slopes at various inhibitor concentrations, normalized to the slope in the absence of inhibitor, can be used to obtain the corresponding relative enzyme activity from which the potency value (IC~50~) of the inhibitor can be calculated with equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""}.
Effect of enzyme concentration on the stopped flow time course {#Sec5}
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First, to test the effects of enzyme inhibition on the stopped flow fluorescence response, we measured the fluorescence time courses with concentrations of PRMT1 ranging from 0.05 to 0.4 µM. The obtained progression curves are shown in Fig. [3a, b](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"}, which were fitted by equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""}. The calculated *a*, *b*, *k*~1~, *k*~2~ values are summarized in Table [S1A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Since the concentration of the substrate H4FL was fixed for all the reactions, we can arbitrarily normalize the plateau fluorescence intensity value *c* to 1 (Fig. [3b](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"}). When the enzyme concentration was increased, the minima shifted from 65 to 24 s, and the shape of the curve near the minimum became sharper (Fig. [3b](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"}), which indicated that the rates of both Phase I and Phase II were increased when more PRMT1 was present in the reaction mixture. Indeed, the values of *a*, *k*~1~, −*b* and *k*~2~ increased with increasing concentration of PRMT1: *a* increased from 0.01079 to 0.09437, *k*~1~ increased from 0.04187 to 0.09452 s^−1^, −*b* increased from 0.01117 to 0.156 and *k*~2~ increased from 0.00287 to 0.006924 (Table [S1A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The calculated slope of Phase I increased from 4.52E−04 to 8.92E−03 s^−1^, and the slope of Phase II increased from 4.52E−04 to 8.92E−03 s^−1^ (Table [S1B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). When we plotted *a · k*~1~ or −*b · k*~2~ values with respect to the PRMT1 concentration, a linear relationship was observed (Fig. [3c,d](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"}**)**. This result indicated that the initial rates, reflected by the slope values of Phase I and Phase II, were linearly proportional to the concentration of PRMT1 under the assay conditions.Fig. 3Time course of PRMT1 methylation with varied enzyme concentrations. **a** The curves were fitted with equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""} to generate the values in Table [S1A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Each fitting curve used 10,000 data points, but only 50 data points are shown. Each curve is the average of 4 to 6 replicates. **b** shows the simulation results from the values in Table [S1A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"} at fixed c = 1. **c**, **d** represent the relationship of the slope values (*a*·*k*~1~ and *b*·*k*~2~) with varying concentrations of PRMT1 (values listed in Table [S1B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The linear fitting curves are shown as solid black lines. The concentrations of the cofactor and the substrate were fixed at \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM and \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM in these experiments
Effect of cofactor SAM concentration on the stopped flow time course {#Sec6}
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After we measured the effects of enzyme concentration on the stopped flow response, we measured stopped flow fluorescence at various SAM concentrations (1.5 µM, 3.5 µM, 7.5 µM and 15 µM). The obtained progression curves are shown in Fig. [4a, b](#Fig4){ref-type="fig"}, and the calculated *a*, *b*, *k*~1~, *k*~2~ values are summarized in Table [S2A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. For clarity, we again normalized the plateau fluorescence intensity value *c* to 1 (Fig. [4b](#Fig4){ref-type="fig"}). The time at which the minimum was reached decreased as the SAM concentration was increased (i.e., the minima shifted to the left). It was also clear that as the concentration of SAM was increased, the slopes of the curve near the minimum became sharper. The values of all the parameters, *a*, *k*~1~, −*b*, and *k*~2~, increased with increasing concentration of SAM: *a* increased from 0.0482 to 0.1992, *k*~1~ increased from 0.04402 to 0.2476 s^−1^, −*b* increased from 0.07363 to 0.2664 and *k*~2~ increased from 0.002713 to 0.01175 (Table [S2A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). We plotted the values of *a · k*~1~ or −*b · k*~2~ against the SAM concentration (Fig. [3c, d](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"}). The slope of Phase I increased from 2.12E−03 to 4.93E−02 s^−1^ and the slope of Phase II increased from 2.00E−04 to 3.13E−03 s^−1^ (Table [S2B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The above results indicated that the slopes of Phase I and Phase II are linearly related to the concentration of SAM.Fig. 4Time course of PRMT1 methylation with varied cofactor concentrations. **a** The curves were fitted with equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""} to generate the values in Table [S2A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Each fitting curve used 10,000 data points, but only 50 data points are shown. Each curve is the average of 4 to 6 replicates. **b** The simulation results from the values in Table [S2A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"} at fixed c = 1. **c**, **d** The relationship of slope values (*a*·*k*~1~ and *b*·*k*~2~) with varying concentrations of SAM (values listed in Table [S2B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The linear fitting curves are shown as solid black lines. The concentrations of the enzyme and the substrate were fixed at \[PRMT1\] = 0.4 µM and \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM in these experiments
Detection of PRMT1 inhibition by SAM-competitive inhibitors SAH and Sinefungin {#Sec7}
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With the assay conditions defined (\[PRMT1\] = 0.2 μM, \[H4FL\] = 0.4 μM and \[SAM\] = 3.5 μM), we examined the changes of the stopped flow fluorescence time course in response to different PRMT1 inhibitors. First, we tested the inhibition of PRMT1 by the SAM analog, SAH (Fig. [5a](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"}). With a series of concentrations of SAH added to the mixture, the obtained progression curves clearly showed that the reaction was inhibited by SAH in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. [5b](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"}). When the concentration of SAH was 0.1 µM, there was very little difference compared to the control experiment without SAH. When the concentration of SAH was increased to 10 µM, the increasing trend of Phase II was almost abolished. Higher concentrations of SAH resulted in steeper decreasing curves in Phase I and milder increasing curves in Phase II (Fig. [5b](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"}). The changes of the parameters, *a*, *k*~1~, −*b*, and *k*~2~ did not follow a simple rule based on SAH concentrations (Table [S3A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The relationship between the slopes *a*∙*k*~1~ and −*b*∙*k*~2~ with respect to the SAH concentration is shown in Fig. [5c, d](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"}, and the corresponding values are listed in Table [S3B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Interestingly, the *a*∙*k*~1~ values of Phase I were elevated when the inhibitor concentration was lower than that of SAM (from 0.1 to 2.5 μM); and when the inhibitor concentration was higher than that of SAM, the *a*∙*k*~1~ values started to decrease (Fig. [5c](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"} and Table [S3B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The initial slopes of Phase II, −*b*∙*k*~2~, decreased as more SAH was added to the reaction mixture (Fig. [5d](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"}), which indicated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect. We used the dose response of −*b*∙*k*~2~ to determine that the IC~50~ of SAH was 0.66 ± 0.07 µM, which falls into the range of the IC~50~ value reported in the literature.^[@CR9]^Fig. 5Stopped flow fluorescence assay of the cofactor-competitive inhibitor SAH. **a** Structure of SAH. In **b**, the curves were fitted with equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""} to generate the values in Table [S3A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Each curve used 10,000 data points, but only 50 data points are shown. Each curve is the average of 4 to 6 replicates. **c**, **d** represent the relationships of *a*·*k*~1~ and *b*·*k*~2~ with inhibitor concentrations (values listed in Table [S3B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). In D, the IC~50~ was calculated using equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""}. The reaction conditions used for all the experiments were \[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM, and \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM, with varying concentrations of SAH
We performed a similar stopped flow experiment for the PRMT1 inhibitor sinefungin (Figure [S5](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}), another SAM analog and a universal methyltransferase inhibitor.^[@CR38],[@CR39]^ The obtained reaction curves showed that sinefungin inhibited PRMT1 activity in a dose-dependent manner (Figure [S5](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}), very similar to SAH inhibition (Fig. [5](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"}). The relationships between *a∙k*~1~ and −*b∙k*~2~ with the sinefungin concentration are shown in Figure [S5C](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"} and [S5D](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. The values of all parameters are listed in Table [S4](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Like SAH inhibition, the *a∙k*~1~ values of Phase I increased with higher concentrations of sinefungin up to 3 µM, followed by a slight decrease (Figure [S5C](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The value −*b∙k*~2~ decreased when more inhibitor was present, and the IC~50~ of sinefungin was calculated to be 0.12 ± 0.08 µM, close to previously reported data.^[@CR7],[@CR9],[@CR10]^ These results indicate that the parameter −*b∙k*~2~ of Phase II is appropriate for quantitative characterization of the potency of SAM-competitive inhibitors.
Detection of PRMT1 inhibition by substrate-competitive inhibitor H4R3me2a {#Sec8}
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Next, we investigated the stopped flow response to the product inhibitor, i.e., the asymmetrically dimethylated H4 peptide H4R3me2a (acetyl-SGRme~2a~GKGGKGLGKGGAKRHRKVL) (Fig. [6a](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}). The obtained stopped flow fluorescence curves of the H4R3me2a inhibition assay are shown in Fig. [6b](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}. When the concentration of H4R3me2a was as low as 0.25 µM, no obvious difference was observed (Fig. [6b](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}). When the H4R3me2a concentration was above 0.5 μΜ, the shape of the curves changed significantly, with shallower minima and milder slopes in Phase II. Again, the changes of *a*, *k*~1~, −*b* and *k*~2~ did not follow a simple rule with respect to the inhibitor concentration (Table [S5A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). However, the slopes *a · k*~1~ and −*b∙k*~2~ clearly showed a dose-dependent inhibition pattern. Unlike in the SAH or sinefungin assays, Phase I was strongly inhibited by increasing concentrations of H4R3me2a (Fig. [6c](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}), and the *a · k*~1~ values decreased from 1.10E−02 ± 5.14E−05 s^−1^ to 1.79E−03 ± 1.72E−05 s^−1^ (Table [S5B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). Phase II showed a similar pattern as the SAM-competitive inhibition: −*b∙k*~2~ values were reduced when more inhibitors were present (Fig. [6d](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"} and Table [S5B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). The IC~50~ of H4R3me2a calculated from the *a∙k*~1~ curve (Fig. [6c](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}) was 0.99 ± 0.12 µM, and that from the −*b∙k*~2~ curve was 1.18 ± 0.17 µM (Fig. [6d](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}). The two IC~50~ values are very comparable, and both are close to the IC~50~ determined by a radiometric filter binding biochemical assay, which was 1.32 ± 0.20 µM (Figure [S6](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}).Fig. 6Stopped flow fluorescence assay of the substrate-competitive inhibitor H4R3Me2a. **a** Illustration of H4R3Me2a. In **b**, the curves were fitted with equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""} to generate the values in Table [S5A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Each curve used 10,000 data points, but only 50 data points are shown. Each curve is the average of 4 to 6 replicates. **c** and **d** represent the relationships of a·*k*~1~ and b·*k*~2~ with inhibitor concentrations (values listed in Table [S5B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). In **c** and **d**, the IC~50~ was calculated using equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""}. The reaction conditions used for all experiments were \[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM, and \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM, with varying concentrations of H4R3Me2a
Detection of PRMT1 inhibition by small molecule inhibitor DB75 {#Sec9}
--------------------------------------------------------------
Next, we performed stopped flow characterization on recently reported small molecule inhibitors of PRMT1. DB75 (furamidine) is a diamidine molecule with a rigid, crescent-shaped planar scaffold (Fig. [7a](#Fig7){ref-type="fig"}). According to our previous study,^[@CR40]^ its IC~50~ for PRMT1 is 9.4 ± 1.1 µM and it shows a favorable inhibition selectivity against PRMT1 compared to other PRMT members: 42-fold over CARM1, 30-fold over PRMT6 and more than 15-fold over PRMT5. We tested DB75 using the stopped flow fluorescence assay and obtained methylation curves for a series of DB75 concentrations (Fig. [7b](#Fig7){ref-type="fig"}). As the inhibitor concentration was increased, the minima of the curves leveled up and the Phase I and Phase II slopes became less steep. When the concentrations of DB75 were above 10 µM, Phase II was almost fully inhibited. The relationships between *a∙k*~1~ and −*b∙k*~2~ with the inhibitor concentration are plotted in Fig. [7c,d](#Fig7){ref-type="fig"}, with their corresponding values listed in Table [S6B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. From this measurement, we observed that both *a∙k*~1~ of the first phase and −*b∙k*~2~ of the second phase were strongly inhibited, in a pattern similar to that of H4R3me2a inhibition, suggesting that DB75 is a substrate-competitive inhibitor. This conclusion is in good agreement with our previous steady-state kinetic analysis that DB75 is primarily competitive with the substrate.^[@CR40]^ From the *a∙k*~1~ curve, the IC~50~ of DB75 was calculated to be 7.9 ± 0.2 µM; from the −*b∙k*~2~ curve, the IC~50~ was 9.1 ± 0.6 µM, highly consistent with the result from the radiometric filter binding assay, which gave a value of 9.4 ± 1.1 µM.^[@CR40]^Fig. 7Stopped flow fluorescence assay of DB75. **a** Structure of DB75. In **b**, the curves were fitted with equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""} to generate the values in Table [S6A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Each curve used 10,000 data points, but only 50 data points are shown. Each curve is the average of 4 to 6 replicates. In **c** and **d**, the IC~50~ was calculated using equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""}. The reaction conditions used for all experiments were \[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM, and \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM, with varying concentrations of DB75
Detection of PRMT1 inhibition by MS023 {#Sec10}
--------------------------------------
Lastly, we performed the stopped flow florescence assay with another small molecule inhibitor, MS023 (Fig. [8a](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"}), a type I PRMT inhibitor recently discovered by Kaniskan et al. with an IC~50~ of 30 nM against PRMT1.^[@CR41]^ In our stopped flow experiment, MS023 was titrated from 10 nM to 200 nM in the reaction mixture. As shown in Fig. [8b](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"}, we observed that the higher the concentration of MS023, the milder the slope of Phase II. With 200 nM of MS023, Phase II was almost fully inhibited. The relationships of *a∙k*~1~ and −*b∙k*~2~ with the inhibitor concentration are shown in Fig. [8c, d](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"}, and the values are listed in Table [S7B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. For Phase II, the −*b∙k*~2~ values decreased as more inhibitor was added, and the calculated IC~50~ of MS023 was 43 ± 8.9 nM (Fig. [8d](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"}), close to what was previously reported (IC~50~ = 30 nM).^[@CR41]^ Interestingly, the *a∙k*~1~ values of Phase I modestly decreased with increasing MS023 concentration, and the calculated IC~50~ from this curve was more than 200 nM (Fig. [8c](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"} and Table [S7B](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}). This result is different from those of substrate-competitive inhibitors (e.g., DB75 and H4R3me2a) or the cofactor-competitive inhibitors (e.g., SAH and sinefungin). The partial inhibition of Phase I by MS023 (Fig. [8c](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"}) suggests that MS023 might be a mixed-type noncompetitive inhibitor that is partially substrate-competitive. Indeed, the mechanism of action of MS023 was previously reported to be noncompetitive with both the cofactor SAM and the substrate peptide;^[@CR41]^ and according to the X-ray co-crystal structure of PRMT6 in complex with MS023, the inhibitor occupied the substrate arginine-binding site.^[@CR41]^Fig. 8Stopped flow fluorescence assay of MS023. **a** Structure of MS023. In **b**, the curves were fitted with equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""} to generate the values in Table [S7A](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}. Each curve used 10,000 data points, but only 50 data points are shown. Each curve is the average of 4 to 6 replicates. In **c** and **d**, the IC~50~ was calculated using equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""}. The reaction conditions used for all experiments were \[PRMT1\] = 0.2 µM, \[SAM\] = 3.5 µM, and \[H4FL\] = 0.4 µM, with varying concentrations of MS023
Conclusion {#Sec11}
==========
There is a strong need to identify PRMT inhibitors for use as novel therapeutic agents to treat diseases and to develop mechanistic tools to investigate the biological functions of PRMTs. The development of PRMT inhibitors relies on robust biochemical assays to evaluate candidate inhibitors. In this work, we have designed a stopped flow fluorescence platform to simultaneously quantitate the potency and characterize the mechanisms of PRMT1 inhibitors. All the observed stopped flow fluorescence progression curves from this transient kinetic assay exhibited a down-and-up biphasic behavior, which suggests the complexity of intermediate species formation throughout the PRMT1-catalyzed methylation process. All the PRMT1 inhibitors blocked Phase II in a dose-dependent manner, from which the initial rate values (*-b · k*~1~) could be used to accurately determine the IC~50~. In contrast, different types of PRMT1 inhibitors showed varying effects on Phase I of the stopped flow curve: SAM-competitive inhibitors affected Phase I in a complex multiphasic manner (Fig. [5c](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"}), but substrate-competitive inhibitors showed simple Langmuir isotherm inhibition (Fig. [6c](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}). Overall, the stopped flow fluorescence assay is effective for characterizing the potency of PRMT1 inhibitors and for providing mechanistic insights for MOA investigation. This approach bears the advantages of being homogeneous, nonradioactive, and mix-and-measure in nature, and it allows for continuous measurement of methylation inhibition. We envision that this assay format can be potentially expanded to detect and characterize inhibitors of other histone-modifying enzymes.
Materials and methods {#Sec12}
=====================
Protein expression {#Sec13}
------------------
Recombinant His-tagged rat PRMT1 was expressed in *E. coli* and purified with Ni-charged His6x-tag binding resin as reported previously.^[@CR35],[@CR31]^ In brief, the N-terminal His-tagged human recombinant PRMT1 (PRMT1 residues 11--353, UniProt entry Q99873) was cloned into the pET28b^(+)^ vector and transformed into BL21(DE3) cells (Stratagene, CA, USA) by heat shock. Transformed bacteria were incubated in LB media at 37 °C for growth and then at 16 °C for protein expression with 0.3 mM IPTG induction. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and lysed by a microfluidics cell disrupter. The supernatant containing the PRMT1 protein was loaded onto Ni-charged His6x-tag binding resin (Novagen, WI, USA) in equilibrium buffer (25 mM Na-HEPES, pH 7.0; 300 mM NaCl; 1 mM PMSF; and 30 mM imidazole). Beads were washed thoroughly with washing buffer (25 mM Na-HEPES, pH 7.0; 300 mM NaCl; 1 mM PMSF; and 70 mM imidazole), and protein was eluted with elution buffer (25 mM Na-HEPES, pH 7.0; 300 mM NaCl; 1 mM PMSF; 100 mM EDTA; and 200 mM imidazole). Protein purity was checked by 12% SDS-PAGE, and concentrations were determined by the Bradford assay.^[@CR42]^
Peptide synthesis {#Sec14}
-----------------
In all the stopped flow fluorescence assays, H4FL peptides (the N-terminal 20 amino acids of histone H4, with Leu-10 replaced by fluorescein-labeled Lys-10) were used as probes.^[@CR33]^ H4FL was synthesized using the Fmoc-based solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) protocol on a PS3 peptide synthesizer (Protein Technology, Arizona, USA) as described previously.^[@CR33]^ Each amino acid was coupled to the solid phase with HCTU \[*O*-(1H-6-chlorobenzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3- tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate\] (Novabiochem, Darmstadt, Germany), using 4 equivalents of amino acid. The Fmoc group was deprotected with 20% v/v piperidine/DMF, and the N-terminal amino acid was acetylated with acetic anhydride. The peptide was cleaved from the Wang resin by a cleavage solution consisting of 95% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), 2.5% H~2~O, and 2.5% triisopropylsilane. It was then precipitated in cold ether and pelleted by centrifugation. Crude peptides were collected and purified using a Varian Prostar instrument equipped with a C18 reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) column, where 0.05% TFA in water and 0.05% TFA in acetonitrile were the two mobile phases used for gradient purification. The identity of peptides was confirmed by MALDI-MS. The concentrations of the peptides were calibrated according to the absorption of fluorescein at 492 nm.
Stopped flow fluorescence assay {#Sec15}
-------------------------------
In a stopped flow fluorescence assay, the binding of H4FL to PRMT1 (or the PRMT1---cofactor complex) quenches the peptide fluorescence, while release of the peptide restores the fluorescence. The fluorescence signal change was detected at room temperature on an Applied Photophysics Ltd (UK) stopped flow system, using an excitation wavelength of 495 nm and a long pass emission filter centered at 510 nm. The widths of the entrance and exit slits of the monochromator were set to 0.5 mm. An equal volume of samples from two syringes was driven into the observation cell for mixing measurements. The H4FL concentration in all experiments was 0.4 μM. Typically, the enzyme PRMT1 was pre-mixed with H4FL and loaded into one syringe, while the mixture of SAM and H4FL, with or without the inhibitor, was loaded into the other syringe. For inhibition assays, the enzyme and H4FL solution were mixed with the SAM, H4FL and inhibitor solution at the following final concentrations: 0.2 μM PRMT1, 0.4 μM H4FL, 3.5 μM SAM, and a range of concentrations of the various inhibitors. The fluorescent signal was recorded for 900 seconds, with 10,000 data points in total. Data from four to six drives were collected and averaged for each curve.
After averaging the shot data, the association time courses were fitted to a double-exponential function (equation [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""}) using GraphPad Prism (CA, USA). The methylation time course exhibited two distinct kinetic phases. F is the fluorescence intensity at time *t*, *k*~1~, and *k*~2~ are the rate constants for Phase I and Phase II, *a* is the amplitude of the fluorescence change for *k*~1~, and *b* is the amplitude of the fluorescence change for *k*~2~. Simulation curves based on the values of *a*, *b*, *k*~1~, and *k*~2~ at fixed *c* = 1 were produced using Matlab. The IC~50~ value of inhibitors is determined by equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""} using GraphPad Prism (CA, USA). Equations [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""} and [2](#Equ2){ref-type=""} are shown below:$$\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$${\mathrm{Relative}}\,{\mathrm{activity = 1/(1 + ([Inhibitor]/IC}}_{{\mathrm{50}}}{\mathrm{))}}$$\end{document}$$$$\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$${\mathrm{F}} = a \cdot exp\left( { - k_1 \cdot {\mathrm{t}}} \right) + b \cdot \exp \left( { - k_2 \cdot {\mathrm{t}}} \right) + c$$\end{document}$$
Radiometric filter-binding assay for IC~50~ determination of the PRMT inhibitors {#Sec16}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peptide substrate, inhibitor and \[^3^H\]-SAM were preincubated in the reaction buffer for 2 min prior to the methyl transfer reaction, which was initiated by adding the enzyme (30 µL total volume) at room temperature. The final concentrations of PRMT1, ^3^H-SAM, and H4 peptide were 0.02, 0.5, and 1 μM, respectively. The reaction buffer contained 50 mM HEPES (pH 8.0), 50 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, and 0.5 mM DTT. The reaction was incubated for 10 min and then was quenched with 30 µL of isopropanol, followed by spotting the reaction mixture on separate squares of P81 Ion Exchange Cellulose Chromatography Paper (Reaction Biology Corp, item number: IEP-01). Then, the paper squares were air dried for 30 min before being washed three times with 50 mM NaHCO~3~ (pH 9). After the washed paper squares were dried in air overnight, they were transferred into 3.5 mL vials full of scintillation oil, and the amount of methylation was quantified by scanning the vials with a scintillation counter (Beckman Coulter, California, USA). The background control contained only \[^3^H\]-SAM and the substrate. The reaction sample readouts, after subtracting the background, were normalized by the reaction without inhibitor and fitted by equation [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""} to obtain IC~50~ values. The reported data were based on the average of two experiments.
Electronic supplementary material
=================================
{#Sec17}
Supporting information
**Electronic supplementary material**
The online version of this article (10.1038/s41392-018-0009-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
This work was funded by NIH grant R01M086717. We thank Prof. Jian Jin for providing the MS023 compound.
K.Q. and Y.G.Z. designed the experiments and wrote the manuscript. K.Q. and H.X. performed the experiments. H.H. provided technical assistance for the stopped flow experiments and revised the manuscript. All authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.
Competing interests {#FPar1}
===================
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
|
Q:
Key observer not stopping from updating the new value?
I am adding a HTML string to the webview, I am monitoring the webview height based on the observer value changes like below.
contentSizeObservationToken = observe(\.scrollView.contentSize, options: [.initial, .old, .new]) {[weak self] (_, change) in
But the new value is kept on going without stopping, This is happen only for particular HTML Strings
Here is one sample HTML that occurs this issue .
html
There was no error message is received
private func webView(_ webView: UIWebView, didFailLoadWithError error: Error) {
}
A:
Finally I have ended up with storing height of the web view to back end , So then while displaying I don't want to weight for did finish , I can increase the height immediately after the api call .
|
Q:
UIImage Inside Custom Shape and animation
I need to draw a shape like that one:
And animate the color path when you are scrolling. I have been for 2 hours trying several things but don't reach the final way to overcome that. I have tried creating a custom UIView, create a CShapeLayer and then a UIBezierPath to that layer, and finally adding the subview to a view in the viewdidload, but this does not work. What else can I do to approach that? I will start with the shapes that are the most complex things, as the label will be just aligned to the shape.
----FIRST PART SOLVED, DRAWRECT NOW APPEARS, BUT HOW DO I ANIMATE?----
That's my updated code in my drawRect method.
class CustomOval: UIView {
override init(frame: CGRect) {
super.init(frame: frame)
}
required init(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
super.init(coder: aDecoder)!
}
override func drawRect(rect: CGRect) {
//SHAPE 2
let rectanglePath2 = UIBezierPath(roundedRect: CGRectMake(135, 177, 20, 70), cornerRadius: 0)
let shapeLayer2 = CAShapeLayer()
shapeLayer2.path = rectanglePath2.CGPath
shapeLayer2.bounds = CGRect(x: 135, y: 177, width: 20, height: 70)
shapeLayer2.lineWidth = 5.0
let label2 = UILabel()
label2.frame = CGRectMake(150 + rectanglePath2.bounds.width, rectanglePath2.bounds.height + 120, 100, 50)
label2.text = "Label 2"
self.addSubview(label2)
//// Rectangle Drawing
UIColor.blueColor().setFill()
rectanglePath2.fill()
//SHAPE 3
let rectanglePath3 = UIBezierPath(roundedRect: CGRectMake(135, 237, 20, 70), cornerRadius: 0)
let shapeLayer3 = CAShapeLayer()
shapeLayer3.path = rectanglePath3.CGPath
shapeLayer3.bounds = CGRect(x: 135, y: rectanglePath2.bounds.maxY, width: 20, height: 70)
shapeLayer3.lineWidth = 5.0
//// Rectangle Drawing
UIColor.redColor().setFill()
rectanglePath3.fill()
let label3 = UILabel()
label3.frame = CGRectMake(rectanglePath3.bounds.width + 150, rectanglePath3.bounds.height + 190, 100, 50)
label3.text = "Label 3"
self.addSubview(label3)
//SHAPE 1
let rectanglePath = UIBezierPath(roundedRect: CGRectMake(104, 24, 80, 155), cornerRadius: 40)
let shapeLayer = CAShapeLayer()
shapeLayer.path = rectanglePath.CGPath
shapeLayer.bounds = CGRect(x: 104, y: 24, width: 80, height: 155)
shapeLayer.lineWidth = 5.0
//// Rectangle Drawing
UIColor.grayColor().setFill()
rectanglePath.fill()
}
}
-UPDATE ANIMATION-
var shapeLayer = CAShapeLayer()
override init(frame: CGRect) {
shapeLayer = CAShapeLayer()
super.init(frame: frame)
animateShape1()
}
required init(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
shapeLayer = CAShapeLayer()
super.init(coder: aDecoder)!
animateShape1()
}
func animateShape1(){
let animation = CABasicAnimation(keyPath: "fillColor")
animation.fromValue = UIColor.whiteColor().CGColor
animation.toValue = UIColor.redColor().CGColor
animation.duration = 5 //2 sec
shapeLayer.fillColor = UIColor.redColor().CGColor //color end value
layer.addAnimation(animation, forKey: "somekey")
}
My main questions now are:
How do I set an image inside the CAShapeLayer? I have tried with: FIXED
Calling it from the init
func addImage(){
let imageSubLayer = CALayer()
let image = UIImage(named: "paint.png")
imageSubLayer.contents = image?.CGImage
imageSubLayer.bounds = (frame: CGRect(x: shapeLayer.bounds.width/2, y: shapeLayer.bounds.height/2, width: 50, height: 50))
shapeLayer.addSublayer(imageSubLayer)
}
I have also tried, and the one that has worked is: But i dont want a tiled image. I have also tried without tiled and this does not work
CGContextSaveGState(context)
rectanglePath.addClip()
CGContextScaleCTM(context, 0, (image?.size.height)!)
CGContextDrawTiledImage(context, CGRectMake(20, 20, 50, 50), image!.CGImage)
CGContextRestoreGState(context)
I also need to animate the process, and I have tried with the reply
of @s0urce but unfortunately, it is not drawing. Do I need to do
something else?
A:
You should never add sublayers inside drawRect method. It would be much better to do this inside init or initWithFrame: method of a view or at least inside viewDidLoad method of view controller.
You need to set bounds of CAShapeLayer otherwise it would be CGRectZero. Don't forget that points of UIBezierPath should be in the coordinate system of CAShapeLayer.
Color animation sample code:
let animation = CABasicAnimation(keyPath: "fillColor")
animation.fromValue = UIColor.whiteColor().CGColor
animation.toValue = UIColor.redColor().CGColor
animation.duration = 2 //2 sec
layer.fillColor = UIColor.redColor().CGColor //color end value
layer.addAnimation(animation, forKey: "somekey")
|
For there was a stretch in which Kobasew could count on his Christmas gifts including a replica of whatever sweater Team Canada was to wear in that year's world junior championships.
No one, however, had to buy him one in December 2001.
Kobasew earned one of his own then.
"Very surreal," he said.
So is the attention that tournament, which begins every Dec. 26, receives in Canada.
Families there routinely arise in the middle of the night to watch games when they're being played in Europe, and even the selection of the national team's roster receives meticulous analysis.
"Every year, everyone knows that when Boxing Day comes around, everyone gets pretty excited for it," said Penguins center Brandon Sutter, who represented Canada at the world junior championships six years ago.
"It's very similar to, in the States, college football or bowl games.
"It's definitely a special tradition that it seems like only our country has. It's pretty cool, how much attention people pay to it and how much they watch it."
Sutter is one of 14 Penguins players who competed in the tournament. Kobasew, Sidney Crosby, Simon Despres, Marc-Andre Fleury, Kris Letang and James Neal also wore Canada's colors, while Brooks Orpik, Jeff Zatkoff, Matt Niskanen and Paul Martin played for the United States. Jussi Jokinen and Olli Maatta represented Finland and Evgeni Malkin competed for Russia.
This year, the event is being contested in Malmo, Sweden, and the host team is a popular choice to win it.
The defending champion U.S. team figures to be a force, and Russia looks to be a serious threat.
No team, however, is under more pressure to take home gold than Canada.
If the level in interest in the world juniors has any equal in that country, it's the expectations that accompany the team into the tournament every winter.
Canadian fans seem willing to accept wherever their team finishes, as long as all the other countries are behind it. And that puts severe pressure on the teenagers representing that country.
"You go to that tournament with one thing in mind, and that's to win gold," Kobasew said. "That's every single year.
"I wouldn't think that they've thought of it any other way."
Of course, it doesn't always work out that way, even though Canada has won more WJC titles than any nation. Koabasew's club, for example, lost to Russia in a gold-medal game.
Regardless of the success they have in a given year, teams perennially in the mix for a medal invariably have lineups studded with players who go on to have productive careers in the NHL.
Jokinen's teammates in his two appearances in the world juniors, for example, included Mikko Koivu, Joni Pitkanen, Tuomo Ruutu, Kari Lehtonen and Valtteri Filppula.
His clubs earned two bronze medals, and Jokinen burnished his reputation with a couple of strong performances.
"You play in your own league [in Finland]," he said, "but you want to be measured against the best players your own age."
NHL clubs are nearing the end of a three-day holiday break and, when teammates get together Friday, there will be plenty of lively debates between guys from competing countries.
"I think we all follow it," Zatkoff said. "[There's] not so much wagers, but a lot of talking, a lot of back and forth.
"It definitely makes the games more exciting, especially when the U.S. plays Canada. That seems to always be a big one."
Then again, every game is a big one for fans in Canada. Which seems to be most everybody in the country.
"For the Americans who go, they can compete really hard and they really want to win, but, for Canada, that's big," Niskanen said.
"That's up there with the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Olympics. Some people may think it's bigger than the Olympics. They take it seriously up there."
You can tell by the shirts on their backs. No matter how they get it.
Tournament schedule
Today: Play begins with four pool games, including Team USA vs. Czech Republic.
Jan. 2: Quarterfinals matching the top four teams from each of the two pools.
Jan. 4: Semifinals matching the winners of the four quarterfinal round games.
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Aim
===
To dissect the role of the endogenous, cytokine-like protein high mobility group1 protein (HMGB1) in arthritis, we set out to investigate the presence of HMGB1 in synovial biopsies from rats with adjuvant arthritis and in synovial biopsies and synovial fluid samples from patients with active RA.
Background
==========
HMGB1 is a DNA-binding, non-histone, nuclear protein present in all nucleated cells. Previous results have demonstrated that HMGB1 is released from the cytoplasm of activated monocytes and macrophages and that extracellular HMGB1 is a potent inducer of production of proinflammatory cytokines in monocytes and macrophages. Furthermore, anti-HMGB1 treatment inhibits LPS-induced lethality in sepsis in mice.
Methods
=======
Presence of released HMGB1 in synovial membranes from arthritic rats and synovial membrane biopsies from RA patients, were detected by immunohistochemistry. Analysis of HMGB1 in synovial fluid was performed by western blotting.
Results
=======
In rat ankle joint specimens obtained at the onset of arthritis, as well as in the chronic stage of the disease, we detected cytoplasmic HMGB1 in macrophage/monocyte-like cells in the synovial membrane as well as in synovial fluid. The levels of cytoplasmic expression was higher at later stages of disease. A similar picture was obtained when immunohistochemical stainings were performed on synovial biopsies from RA patients. Analysis of synovial fluid samples from RA patients revealed high levels of released HMGB1. Intra-articular rHMGB1 injections in rats caused erosive synovitis.
Conclusion
==========
HMGB1 is a newly identified proinflammatory molecule, now shown to be present in arthritic joints of both RA patients and rats with adjuvant arthritis. With reference to the previously demonstrated capacity of HMGB1 to stimulate the production of TNF and IL-1β, we speculate that HMGB1 could be of importance in the pathogenesis of arthritis.
|
Q:
Telephone number in spoken words
Goal
Write a program or function that translates a numerical telephone number into text that makes it easy to say. When digits are repeated, they should be read as "double n" or "triple n".
Requirements
Input
A string of digits.
Assume all characters are digits from 0 to 9.
Assume the string contains at least one character.
Output
Words, separated by spaces, of how these digits can be read out loud.
Translate digits to words:
0 "oh"
1 "one"
2 "two"
3 "three"
4 "four"
5 "five"
6 "six"
7 "seven"
8 "eight"
9 "nine"
When the same digit is repeated twice in a row, write "double number".
When the same digit is repeated thrice in a row, write "triple number".
When the same digit is repeated four or more times, write "double number" for the first two digits and evaluate the rest of the string.
There is exactly one space character between each word. A single leading or trailing space is acceptable.
Output is not case sensitive.
Scoring
Source code with the least bytes.
Test Cases
input output
-------------------
0123 oh one two three
4554554 four double five four double five four
000 triple oh
00000 double oh triple oh
66667888 double six double six seven triple eight
19999999179 one double nine double nine triple nine one seven nine
A:
8088 Assembly, IBM PC DOS, 164 159 156 155 bytes
Binary:
00000000: d1ee 8a0c 03f1 53fd ac3a d075 0343 e2f7 ......S..:.u.C..
00000010: 85db 741c 5f8a d043 f6c3 0174 0a57 bd64 ..t._..C...t.W.d
00000020: 0155 83eb 0374 0957 bd5d 0155 4b4b 75f7 .U...t.W.].UKKu.
00000030: 8ad0 2c2f 7213 518a f0b0 24b1 31bf 6a01 ..,/r.Q...$.1.j.
00000040: fcf2 aefe ce75 fa59 57e2 bc5a 85d2 740c .....u.YW..Z..t.
00000050: b409 cd21 b220 b402 cd21 ebef c364 6f75 ...!. ...!...dou
00000060: 626c 6524 7472 6970 6c65 246f 6824 6f6e ble$triple$oh$on
00000070: 6524 7477 6f24 7468 7265 6524 666f 7572 e$two$three$four
00000080: 2466 6976 6524 7369 7824 7365 7665 6e24 $five$six$seven$
00000090: 6569 6768 7424 6e69 6e65 24 eight$nine$
Build and test executable using xxd -r from above, or download PHONE.COM.
Unassembled listing:
D1 EE SHR SI, 1 ; point SI to DOS PSP (80H) for input string
8A 0C MOV CL, BYTE PTR[SI] ; load input string length into CX
03 F1 ADD SI, CX ; move SI to end of input
53 PUSH BX ; push a 0 to signal end of output stack
CHAR_LOOP:
FD STD ; set LODS direction to reverse
AC LODSB ; load next char from [SI] into AL, advance SI
3A D0 CMP DL, AL ; is it same as previous char?
75 03 JNZ NEW_CHAR ; if not, it's a different char
43 INC BX ; otherwise it's a run, so increment run length
E2 F7 LOOP CHAR_LOOP ; move on to next char
NEW_CHAR:
85 DB TEST BX, BX ; is there a run greater than 0?
74 1C JZ GET_WORD ; if not, look up digit name
5F POP DI ; get name for the current digit
8A D0 MOV DL, AL ; save current char in DL
43 INC BX ; adjust run count (BX=1 means run of 2, etc)
F6 C3 01 TEST BL, 1 ; is odd? if so, it's a triple
74 0A JZ IS_DBL ; is even, so is a double
57 PUSH DI ; push number string ("one", etc) to stack
BD 0164 MOV BP, OFFSET T ; load "triple" string
55 PUSH BP ; push to stack
83 EB 03 SUB BX, 3 ; decrement run count by 3
74 09 JZ GET_WORD ; if end of run, move to next input char
IS_DBL:
57 PUSH DI ; push number string to stack
BD 015D MOV BP, OFFSET D ; load "double" string
55 PUSH BP ; push to stack
4B DEC BX ; decrement by 2
4B DEC BX
75 F7 JNZ IS_DBL ; if not end of run, loop double again
GET_WORD:
8A D0 MOV DL, AL ; save current char into DL
2C 2F SUB AL, '0'-1 ; convert ASCII char to 1-based index
72 13 JB NOT_FOUND ; if not a valid char, move to next
51 PUSH CX ; save outer loop counter
8A F0 MOV DH, AL ; DH is the index to find, use as scan loop counter
B0 24 MOV AL, '$' ; word string is $ delimited
B1 31 MOV CL, 031H ; search through length of word data (49 bytes)
BF 016A MOV DI, OFFSET W ; reset word data pointer to beginning
FC CLD ; set DF to scan forward for SCAS
SCAN_LOOP:
F2/ AE REPNZ SCASB ; search until delimiter '$' is found in [DI]
FE CE DEC DH ; delimiter found, decrement counter
75 FA JNZ SCAN_LOOP ; if counter reached 0, index has been found
59 POP CX ; restore outer loop position
57 PUSH DI ; push string on stack
NOT_FOUND:
E2 BC LOOP CHAR_LOOP ; move to next char in input
OUTPUT_STACK:
5A POP DX ; get string from top of stack
85 D2 TEST DX, DX ; it is the last?
74 0C JZ EXIT ; if so, exit
B4 09 MOV AH, 09H ; DOS display string function
CD 21 INT 21H ; write string to console
B2 20 MOV DL, ' ' ; load space delimiter
B4 02 MOV AH, 02H ; DOS display char function
CD 21 INT 21H ; write char to console
EB EF JMP OUTPUT_STACK ; continue looping
EXIT:
C3 RET ; return to DOS
D DB "double$"
T DB "triple"
W DB "$oh$","one$","two$","three$","four$","five$","six$","seven$","eight$","nine$"
TL;DR:
The input string is read right to left to make it easier to find a triple. The output is pushed onto the x86 stack to simplify reversing out the display order and also facilitate rearranging the "double" and "triple" words to precede the digit's name.
If the next digit is different than the last, the name is looked up in the list of words and pushed on to the stack. Since there's no formal concept of an "indexed array of variable-length strings" in machine code, the list of words is scanned i (the word's index) number of times for the string delimiter ($) to find the corresponding word. Helpfully, x86 does have a pair of short instructions (REPNZ SCASB which is similar to memchr() in C), that simplifies this (thanks CISC!).
If the digit is the same as the previous one, the counter for the length of a "run" is incremented and continues looping leftward on the input. Once the run is over, the digit's name is taken from the stack since it will need to placed after the "double" or "triple" for each grouping. If the length of the run is odd (and run length is > 1), the digit's name followed by the string "triple" is pushed to the stack and the run length is reduced by 3. Since the run length will now be even, the step is repeated for "double" until the run length is 0.
When the input string has reached the end, the stack is dumped out with each saved string written to the screen in reverse order.
I/O:
A standalone PC DOS executable, input from command line output to console.
Download and test PHONE.COM.
A:
05AB1E, 53 52 51 50 49 bytes
γε€T2äθ¬MÊi¨₃1ǝR]˜“Šç€µ‚•„í†ìˆÈŒšï¿Ÿ¯¥Š‹¶½¿“#s踻
Try it online!
Explanation:
γ # split input in groups of consecutive equal digits
ε ] # for each group
€T # add a 10 before each digit (66 -> [10, 6, 10, 6])
2äθ # keep only the second half of that list
¬MÊi ] # if the first element is not the maximum
¨ # drop the last element
₃1ǝ # replace the second element with 95
R # reverse the list
˜ # flatten
“...“ # compressed string: "oh one two ... nine double triple"
# # split on spaces
sè # index (wraps around, so 95 yields "triple")
¸» # join with spaces
A:
05AB1E, 61 56 53 52 51 bytes
γvyDg;LàäRv… ‹¶½¿#yg蓊瀵‚•„í†ìˆÈŒšï¿Ÿ¯¥Š“#yè])áðý
-9 bytes thanks to @Grimy.
Try it online or verify all test cases.
Explanation:
γ # Split the (implicit) input into substrings of equal adjacent characters
# i.e. "199999991779" → ["1","9999999","1","77","9"]
v # Loop over each substring `y`:
Dg # Get the length of a copy of the substring
; # Halve it
L # Create a list in the range [1, length/2], where odd lengths are
# automatically truncated/floored
# i.e. "1" (length=1) → 0.5 → [1,0]
# i.e. "9999999" (length=7) → 3.5 → [1,2,3]
à # Pop and push the maximum of this list
y ä # Divide the string into that many parts
# → ["1"]
# → ["999","99","99"]
R # Reverse the list
# → ["99","99","999"]
v # Inner loop over each item `y`:
… ‹¶½¿ # Push dictionary word: " double triple"
# # Split it on spaces: ["","","double","triple"]
yg # Get the length of the current item `y`
è # And use it to (0-based) index into the list
“Šç€µ‚•„í†ìˆÈŒšï¿Ÿ¯¥Š“
# Push dictionary string "oh two three four five six seven eight nine"
# # Split it on spaces: ["oh","two","three",...,"nine"]
yè # Use `y` to index into the string-list (with automatic wrap-around,
# so since there are 10 words, it basically indexes with a single digit
# due to an implicit modulo-10)
# i.e. "77" → "seven"
] # Close both loops
) # Wrap all values on the stack into a list
á # Only keep letters, which removes the empty strings from the list
ðý # And join the list on spaces
# (after which the result is output implicitly)
See this 05AB1E tip of mine (section How to use the dictionary?) to understand why … ‹¶½¿ is " double triple" and “Šç€µ‚•„í†ìˆÈŒšï¿Ÿ¯¥Š“ is "oh two three four five six seven eight nine".
|
P100 Accessory Mount
P100 Accessory Mount is designed to adapt the P100 to accept the Fiilex Dome Diffuser and Gel Holder accessories. It fits tightly around the outside of the P100 Lens and is held in place by tension. There are two magnetic mounts on the front face of the P100 Accessory Mount to attach the accessories. The P100 Accessory Mount is not meant for use with the Fresnel Lens as it already has a focusing lens on the light unit. |
Pages
Friday, June 17, 2005
2046
On Wednesday, thanks to the quick-clicking mouse of my friend, we got to go to a screening of Wong Kar Wai's 2046 at Walter Reade. And Wong Kar Wai was there! *squeal*. He was wearing sunglasses. And my cinematically-inclined friend informed me that Wong says there are two types of people that wear sunglasses all the time. People who are blind. And people whose hearts have been broken.
Sounds ridiculous right? But beautiful. Like his films. Ridiculously beautiful.
2046 is a sort of sequel to In the Mood for Love and continues the thread of love and timing, memories, and secrets, among other riches and vague words. The visuals are gorgeous, multi-stylized, and the film is infused with both melancholy and humor.
This Time Asia article talks about the movie. Though I found its simplistic reductions of certain aspects of the movie (as well as its style of writing) rather irritating, it did remind me of something that irked me a little bit, though Wong's art is too good to make it a major thorn in my side for this particular film. Just filmdom as a whole.
After quoting John Berger - "The camera is a man looking at a woman." - it continues: Movie romance is certainly a snapshot of a beautiful woman suffering. The main function of Chow—played by Leung as a sensitive gigolo whose smirk can mature into a sigh—is to direct our glance to all the fabulous women in the cast. The camera, mainly manned by Christopher Doyle, prowls around the women like a lover in the first flush of passion. Oh shut up. Prowl prowl.Oh, beauty and all. Yes, these are fabulous, multi-dimensional women. Yes they suffer. You feel all these large romantic sweeping swooping emotions when these suffering women are beautiful, spilling tears on their beautiful faces and making ugly sad raw noises out of their beautiful mouths. This movie has a lot of beautiful women suffering and crying.I'm not sure I'm making a point. The quote does say it all. The camera is a man looking at a woman. When is the camera a woman? Would this story have worked had the protagonist been a woman and the others men? I don't think so. Is this a useful question to ask? Probably not. Prowl prowl.Anyways, I've already verged on incoherency, so watch the trailer. It's US release by Sony Pictures Classics is slated for August of 2005.Somebody summarized the Q&A session held afterwards. |
The stadium, which will be called the Mall of America Super Duper MegaField, will cost $18 billion. Investors will finance roughly $200 million, while citizens will cough up an estimated $17.8 billion - $500 million through a tax increase in the sale of fishing lures and snow shovels for the next 75 years, and the remaining $17.3 billion by channeling money that was previously used for welfare and education into the stadium fund.
Ummm yeah ... pretty funny stuff. I think both pro and anti-stadium people should be able to appreciate it. Watch out though, it has some pretty colorful language.
And in case you are wondering, as of 4:15 the House is still talking about the Omnibus Transportation Bill. The stadium conference committee should start a half hour after the session ends.
Comments
This is so frustrating to watch. I'm a Vikings fan just as much as the Twins but I've had it with them. They are not organized don't have a plan and must know that they're not getting a stadium this year.
The Vikings and Senator Kelley need to give it up already. They're acting like they've got unlimited time to make different proposals. Why can't the Twins bill be split out and voted on right now, and then the Vikings/Transit portion finished later? Anyone know why this is? Do they have to vote on both when they split them?
Posted by: David H. at May 16, 2006 9:08 PM
We need more updates! What happened tonight in conference committee?
Posted by: Anonymous at May 16, 2006 10:00 PM
i see late this tuesday night that the vikings
appear to have a deal with anoka county with
a roof..how does this effect the twins????
by the way could be throw lohse,silva et all under
the bus!!!!!
Posted by: sam morriss at May 16, 2006 11:28 PM
Senator Kelley moved to accept the Senate proposal which was rejected on a voice vote. Sen. Kelley asked that they recess and take more testimony from the Vikings on Wed. Rep. Finstad was clearly not happy with that and pointed out they've already spent two days listening to the Vikings and would like to vote on the Twins portion seperately. Rep. Sykora backed him on that and indicated that they were willing to consider a seperate Vikings bill.
They took testimony from Bagley and Anoka county to the effect that they 'promise' to have a final, FINAL proposal to present to the committee when it convenes tomorrow afternoon, after which, I hope they will finally start voting on this.
It seems to me that Sen. Kelley is not being very cooperative and Rep. Finstad and the House members need to put thier foot down a bit. Otherwise Kelley will just keep delaying until they run out of time.
Posted by: David H at May 17, 2006 3:51 AM
There was a bit of extremely good news that came out of the Conference Committee - they rejected Kelley's bill on a voice vote, meaning it had little or no chance of passing. If it wasn't for the Vikings, there probably would have had a bill last night!
It really appears that the Vikings ineptitude is really impacting the Twins chances. Send messages to Senator Kelley urging him to leave the Vikings behind.
This may be a more appropriate comment for Mr. Cheer or Die but what were the Vikings thinking dropping the roof at this late date without coordinating their message with Anoka County? These last two days have been disasterous for the Vikings stadium chances. Did they think Anoka County would just roll over? Although I personally think if the roof is soooo important to Anoka County they should pay for it. Also the testimony from MnDot that the infrastructure improvements are some $50 million more than the Vikings said has to hurt to. Unfortunately it appears like its amateur hour once again in Viking land.
I love the Caples version of the stadium, but there is just one problem with it. The proposed Lake Oliva in right field reminds me a little too much of the spot in deep right field at Met Stadium worn bare by Geoff Barnett and Tino Lettieri pacing in front of the Minnesota Kicks goal. It turned muddy after a rain, and Hosken Powell could never figure out whether it was better to position himself in front of, or behind, it.
Posted by: oldstuffer at May 17, 2006 10:08 AM
Thanks for the Jim Caple link! I've already designed a hypothetical ball field for my parent's farm which include a silo in center field and a corn field in right. (No "Spam Monster" in left, though, just a barn)
Part of me thinks some of these ideas, if implemented subtly in the Minneapolis design, could honestly improve it, at least make it more memorable. I haven't seen anything from the real design yet that has stood out or makes it uniquely Minnesotan (for better or worse, I suppose!).
Posted by: spycake at May 17, 2006 1:26 PM
Thanks for the link but i think that these ideas could help in improving the situation.Sounds to be funny but can be helpful if implemented as said. Lets see with what decision committee would come up.
I think the Twins should build just two decks of
seats in their new venue. This layout seems like a
neat opportunity to keep fans close to the game,
possibly closer than they would be with three or
four decks. The Twins want 42,000 seats. Many
double-decked stadiums have held that number or
more. The Twins can do it, too.
I also recommend a cantilevered roof with columns
and beams. Such a roof covers fans in the upper
deck. Poles neither sit in front of seats nor
block views of the field. Columns and beams from
the stadium's outside and the bottom of the roof
play a part in the covering. RFK Stadium, Kauffman
Stadium, Three Rivers Stadium, Riverfront Stadium,
and AFCS in Atlanta are venues that have or had
such a roof. Looking at those roofs, I think you
can appreciate their successful format and feel a
special mystique about gameday, as many fans will
be in the ballpark to cheer for their team. The
Twins' new stadium can display that mystique with
the exact same kind of roof. Other technology can
give unobstructed cover to fans in the lower deck,
too.
These ideas can establish an iconic venue for
baseball and for Minnesota. I believe it! Lastly,
the Twin Cities area includes a dynamic quality
of life and a beautiful skyline in Minneapolis, so
the Twins should make a statement by building
America's best new ballpark. Thanks for your time
and consideration. Go Twins!! |
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Q:
Getting json array value in datatable
I have json as shown below
{
"aaData": [
[
{
"displayValue": "Home Page",
"link": "http://somelink.com"
},
"London",
"1983"
],
[
{
"displayValue": "Backlog",
"link": "http://BacklogApp.com"
},
"Paris",
"1999"
]
]
}
Now in js, i am populating table using sAjaxSource. But I want first column to be a link. I am using fnRowCallback attribute to get data. Here I am checking if first element of the row is not a string (means is an array), then make first element as a link as I have done below
"fnRowCallback": function( nRow, aData, iDisplayIndex, iDisplayIndexFull ) {
if(typeof aData[0] != 'string'){
$('td:eq(0)', nRow).html( '<a href="' + aData[0][1] +'" >' +
aData[0][0] + '</a>');
}
}
But problem is I am not able to get aData[0][0] or aData[0][1] value as it shows undefined.
Does anyone know how can i get "displayValue" and "link" values here????
A:
This is if you are working with object that contains whole JSON. what you need depends on your aData content
var data = {
"aaData": [
[
{
"displayValue":"Home Page",
"link":"http://somelink.com"
},
"London",
"1983"
],
[
{
"displayValue":"Backlog",
"link":"http://BacklogApp.com"
},
"Paris",
"1999"
]
]
}
than to access display value of the first displayValue:
data.aaData[0][0].displayValue
data.aaData[0][0].link
|
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PoliticsNation
Is a Romney-Bush clash coming?
copied!
A new report says GOP early front-runner, Jeb Bush is a joke in Romneyland and that one Romney donor reportedly said, “A Bush can’t beat a Clinton.” Rev. Sharpton talks to Jonathan Capehart and Abby Huntsman about what Romney running would do to the GOP.Jan.14.2015 |
A police officer in Shreveport, La., died Wednesday night after being shot at least four times, including at least once in the head, according to reports.
The victim was Officer Chateri Payne, sources told the Shreveport Times, although police would not confirm the officer's identity.
No motive for the shooting was immediately reported.
The officer who was on her way to work at the time of the shooting, Shreveport’s FOX 33 reported, citing "multiple sources."
Early Thursday, the Shreveport Police Officer's Association posted a statement on Facebook about the tragedy.
The city’s mayor and police chief arrived at the scene of the shooting and were later at the hospital where she died, the report said.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
The officer was reportedly heading to work to begin her late-night shift, Cpl. Marcus Hines told the Shreveport Times.
At least one person had been detained for questioning, but it was unclear if that person was considered a suspect in the case.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. |
Pages
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Buenos Ayres is large, & I should think one of the most regular in the world. Every street is at right angles to the one it crosses
— Charles Darwin (@cdarwin) November 3, 2013
The almost-perfectly regular grid pattern, give or take a few forks and mergers, is still there. The streets and the pavements are wide. One consequence is that a corner is a more planned and deliberate thing than it is at home, and there is a particular style of unofficial embellishment which appears on many of them:
Corner embellishments
Similar symbols appeared above the corner shop near the house I stayed in, and above many other corner businesses. I don't know what they mean. The photo above also happens to include the only Ginger person I saw during my stay.
The country is very level from in places from Willows & Poplars being planted by the ditches much resembled Cambridgeshire.
— Charles Darwin (@cdarwin) November 5, 2013
My first impression, in the taxi from the airport, was that the city had been dropped in an enormous park.
Even the roads are burrowed by the Viscache,an animal allied to the Cavies. Its holes cause the death of many of the Gauchos
— Charles Darwin (@cdarwin) November 5, 2013
This doesn't seem to happen any more.
Every burrow is tenanted by a small owl, who, as you ride past, most gravely stares at you.
— Charles Darwin (@cdarwin) November 5, 2013
Reading, Listening and Watching
Followers
MsHedgehog
Nice Email
"I gave [him] the message. He told me (in Spanish): 'You have no idea how nice it was to dance with her, a real pleasure' (here he was rubbing his heart). 'She enjoys dancing so much and you can feel it when you dance with her, it is a wonderful feeling.'" |
Introduction {#s1}
============
The *ARID1A* gene encoding AT-Rich Interactive Domain-containing protein 1A is known as a member of the switching/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex involved in chromatin remodeling.[@R1] Mutations in and loss of the *ARID1A* gene mostly lead to its inactivation and ARID1A protein loss.[@R2] Certain types of cancer, including clear cell ovarian carcinoma (46%--50%), gastric adenocarcinoma (10%--35%), and cholangiocarcinoma (15%--27%), frequently harbor *ARID1A* alterations.[@R2] To date, clinical and preclinical data indicate that *ARID1A* alterations may sensitize tumors to drugs targeting the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein, the enhancer of zeste 2 (EZH2), or the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway,[@R5] but no therapies targeting *ARID1A* alterations have been approved. Importantly, Shen *et al* demonstrated that *ARID1A* alterations interact with the mismatch repair (MMR) protein MSH2 and, hence, compromise MMR.[@R3] Tumors formed by an *ARID1A*-deficient ovarian cancer cell line in syngeneic mice exhibited higher mutation load, as well as increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and elevated programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Furthermore, administration of anti-PD-L1 antibody decreased cancer burden and extended survival of mice bearing *ARID1A*-deficient but not *ARID1A* wild-type ovarian tumors.[@R3] Interestingly, alterations in the polybromo-1 (*PBRM1*) gene, which is another member of the SWI/SNF complex, have been reported to correlate with salutary effects in cancer patients receiving checkpoint blockade inhibitors, though the clinical evidence remains controversial.[@R11] In gastric cancers, *ARID1A* alterations are associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection, which is in turn associated with checkpoint blockade response.[@R13] Herein, for the first time to our knowledge, we investigated the clinical correlation between *ARID1A* alterations and treatment benefit after anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 immunotherapy in the human pan-cancer setting.
Materials and methods {#s2}
=====================
Study population and next-generation sequence {#s2-1}
---------------------------------------------
In a cohort of 3403 eligible patients at the Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy (University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center), whose tissue DNA was analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) by Foundation Medicine, Inc. (CLIA-licensed and CAP-accredited laboratory. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA <https://www.foundationmedicine.com>), we reviewed the clinicopathological and genomic information of patients whose tumors were pathologically diagnosed as one of nine types of cancer that frequently harbored *ARID1A* alterations (\>5% of prevalence in this cohort): non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, melanoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma/hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric/esophageal adenocarcinoma, uterine/ovary endometrial (endometrioid) carcinoma (including clear-cell carcinoma), and urothelial bladder carcinoma. Tissue DNA sequencing at the laboratory was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in November 2017 and designed to include all genes somatically altered in human solid malignancies that were validated as targets for therapy, either approved or in clinical trials, and/or that were unambiguous drivers of oncogenesis based on available knowledge.[@R14] Although the gene panel expanded with time (236--324 genes), the interrogation of the *ARID1A* gene was considered consistent. Only characterized *ARID1A* alterations were considered in this study (variants of unknown significant were excluded). In terms of microsatellite instability (MSI) status, 114 intron homo-polymer repeat loci with adequate coverage are analyzed for length variability and compiled into an overall score via principal components analysis.[@R16] Measuring genes interrogated on the tissue DNA NGS and extrapolating to the genome as a whole as previously validated determined tumor mutational burden (TMB).[@R18] TMB was classified to three categories: high (≥20 mutations/mb), intermediate (6--19 mutations/mb), and low (\<6 mutations/mb).
Statistics {#s2-2}
----------
Using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test, respectively, we compared categorical and continuous data. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) data were measured from date of the initiation of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and plotted by the Kaplan-Meier method. Data were censored if patient was progression free or alive (for PFS and OS, respectively) at last follow-up. The curves were compared by using the log-rank test. In multivariate analysis to investigate independent predictive factors for the PFS after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, we used Cox's proportional hazard model for estimating HR and its 95% CI (variables with p\<0.1 in the univariate analyses were entered into the multivariate analysis). RO performed and verified statistical analysis using SPSS V.24 software.
Results and discussion {#s3}
======================
Starting with 3403 eligible patients who underwent tissue DNA NGS, we found 1540 patients with nine types of cancer diagnoses that had \>5% prevalence of characterized *ARID1A* alterations in tissue DNA NGS ([figure 1A](#F1){ref-type="fig"} and [online supplementary figure 1](#SP1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Of 161 patients with ≥1 characterized *ARID1A* alteration in diverse types of cancer, 142 had *ARID1A* substitution or frameshift alterations, while the remaining 19 had insertions, deletions, allelic loss, rearrangement, or truncation. Endometrial and gastroesophageal cancers were the tumor types in which *ARID1A* alterations were most frequent---49% and 20% of cases, respectively ([figure 1A](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). The median number of genomic coalterations among tumors with *ARID1A* alterations was 6 (range, 1--72) (not including *ARID1A* alterations), which was significantly higher than the median of 4 alterations (range, 0--61) among those cancers with wild-type *ARID1A* (p\<0.001). The rate of MSI-high was significantly higher in tumors with *ARID1A* alterations than in those with wild-type *ARID1A* (20% vs 0.9%; p\<0.001) and in multiple individual tumor types as well (eg, MSI-high in *ARID1A*-altered vs wild-type endometrial cancer, 41% vs 0%, p=0.001) ([figure 1B](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). Similarly, TMB-high (≥20 mutations/mb) was more often observed in tumors with *ARID1A* alterations than in those with wild-type *ARID1A* (26% vs 8.4%; p\<0.001) and in individual tumor types (eg, endometrial cancer, 35% vs 0%, p=0.001) ([figure 1C](#F1){ref-type="fig"}).
10.1136/jitc-2019-000438.supp1
{#F1}
Overall, 375 patients (24%) among the 1540 patients with the nine types of cancer with \>5% *ARID1A* alterations received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy in the advanced/metastatic disease setting (see [online supplementary figure 1](#SP1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). MSI-high and TMB-high were seen in 4.3% (n=16) and 17% (n=65) of these 375 patients, respectively. As shown in [figure 2A](#F2){ref-type="fig"}, patients with *ARID1A*-altered tumors showed a significantly longer PFS than those with the wild-type tumors (10.9 months vs 3.9 months, p=0.006) from the start of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. When PFS was analyzed according to cancer diagnosis (only tumor types with ≥5 patients with *ARID1A* alterations), similar sensitivity was observed in individual tumor types (eg, colorectal cancer (5.2 months vs 2.1 months, p=0.005); endometrial cancer (4.6 months vs 3.0 months, p=0.02)) (see [online supplementary figure 2](#SP1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Importantly, even when only patients without MSI-high were included to the analysis, *ARID1A*-altered tumors showed a significantly longer PFS than those with wild-type tumors: HR (95% CI), 0.62 (0.40 to 0.97); p=0.03 ([figure 2B](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). In the same way, when only patients without TMB-high were included to the analysis, patients with *ARID1A*-altered tumors (vs *ARID1A* wild-type) showed a trend towards longer PFS: HR (95% CI), 0.69 (0.43 to 1.08) although not statistically significant (p=0.10) (see [online supplementary figure 3](#SP1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}) (small numbers of patients precluded analysis of patients with MSI-high or TMB-high who had *ARID1A* alterations vs not). When examining OS in *ARID1A*-altered versus the wild-type patients, median OS time was longer in the *ARID1A*-altered group (30.8 months vs 20 months), but this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.13) (see [online supplementary figure 4](#SP1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). In order to better determine if the correlation between *ARID1A* alterations and longer PFS was independent of specific confounding variables, we performed a multivariate analysis (patient characteristics of *ARID1A*-altered vs wild-type patients are shown in [table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Our Cox-regression model demonstrated that *ARID1A* alterations were selected as an independent predictor of better outcome (PFS) after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy (HR (95% CI), 0.61 (0.40 to 0.94); p=0.03) ([table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}).
{#F2}
######
Characteristics of patients who underwent anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy (n=375)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variables *ARID1A*-altered\ *ARID1A*-wild type\ P value
(n=46) (n=329)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- --------------------- --------------
**Basic characteristics and tissue DNA next-generation sequencing**
Age at tissue DNA analysis, years
Median (range) 65.1 (34.0--89.4) 63.0 (22.3--93.7) 0.49
Gender
Female 25 (54.3%) 142 (43.2%) 0.16
Male 21 (45.7%) 187 (56.8%) --
Diagnosis
Lung cancer, non-small cell 7 (15.2%) 104 (31.6%) **0.02**
Colorectal adenocarcinoma 12 (26.1%) 37 (11.2%) **0.009**
Breast cancer 1 (2.2%) 24 (7.3%) 0.34
Melanoma 6 (13.0%) 91 (27.7%) **0.046**
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 1 (2.2%) 7 (2.1%) \>0.99
Cholangiocarcinoma/hepatocellular carcinoma 2 (4.3%) 13 (4.0%) 0.71
Gastric/esophageal adenocarcinoma 5 (10.9%) 16 (4.9%) 0.16
Endometrial carcinoma 10 (21.7%) 13 (4.0%) \<**0.001**
Urothelial bladder carcinoma 2 (4.3%) 24 (7.3%) 0.76
Characterized alterations
Median (range) 8 (2--57)\* 5 (1--24) \<**0.001**
Microsatellite status
MSI-high 13 (28.3%) 3 (0.9%) \<**0.001**
Stable 31 (67.4%) 268 (81.5%) **0.03**
Unknown 2 (4.3%) 58 (17.6%) **0.02**
Tumor mutational burden, mutations/mb
Median (range)† 16.0 (1.0--321.0) 6.1 (0.0--222.0) \<**0.001**
≥20 (high) 18 (39.1%) 47 (14.3%) \<**0.001**
6--19 (intermediate) 16 (34.8%) 129 (39.2%) 0.63
\<6 (low) 8 (17.4%) 133 (40.4%) **0.002**
Unknown 4 (8.7%) 20 (6.1%) 0.52
**Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy**
Administered as
1st line 8 (17.4%) 113 (34.3%) **0.03**
≥2nd line 38 (82.6%) 216 (65.7%) --
Regimen of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy
Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy 25 (54.3%) 170 (51.7%) 0.76
With molecular targeting drug 7 (15.2%) 36 (10.9%) 0.46
With CTLA4 inhibitor 6 (13.0%) 56 (17.0%) 0.67
With cytotoxic chemotherapy 4 (8.7%) 33 (10.0%) \>0.99
With molecular targeting and cytotoxic drugs 2 (4.3%) 2 (0.6%) 0.08
Others‡ 2 (4.3%) 32 (9.7%) 0.41
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All p-values \<0.05 are listed in bold.
\*Excluded *ARID1A* alterations.
†Among 1411 patients whose TMB data were available.
‡With NKG2A inhibitor (n=9); with CD73 inhibitor (n=8); with IDO1 inhibitor (n=6); with CD122-preferential IL-2 pathway agonist (n=5); with CTLA4 inhibitor and molecular targeting drug (n=2); with OX40 agonist (n=2); with CEA/BiTE inhibitor (n=1); with 4-1BB inhibitor (n=1).
*ARID1A*, AT-Rich Interactive Domain-containing protein 1A gene; bladder, urothelial bladder carcinoma; breast, breast cancer; cholangio/HCC, cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma; colorectal, colorectal adenocarcinoma; CTLA4, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4; endometrial, uterine/ovary endometrial (endometrioid) carcinoma; gastroesophageal, gastric/esophageal adenocarcinoma; MSI, microsatellite instability; NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; pancreatic, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; PD-1/PD-L1, programmed cell death-1 and its ligand.
######
Univariate and multivariate analyses for progression-free survival after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy (n=375). Variables with p\<0.10 in the univariate analyses were entered into the multivariate analysis
Characteristics Progression-free survival
-------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- ------------- ---------------------- -------------
Age, years\*
≥63 (n=195) vs \<63 (n=180) 4.6 vs 4.0 0.57 -- --
Gender
Female (n=167) vs male (n=208) 3.8 vs 5.1 0.08 1.16 (0.91 to 1.47) 0.23
Diagnosis
NSCLC (n=111) vs not (n=264) 4.9 vs 4.1 0.99 -- --
Colorectal (n=49) vs not (n=326) 2.9 vs 4.6 **0.02** 1.38 (0.98 to 1.97) 0.07
Melanoma (n=97) vs not (n=278) 7.8 vs 3.7 \<**0.001** 0.69 (0.50 to 0.95) **0.02**
Endometrial (n=23) vs not (n=352) 3.7 vs 4.2 0.64 -- --
Number of characterized alteration in tissue DNA†
≥6 (n=195) vs \<6 (n=180) 4.2 vs 4.2 **0.03** 1.09 (0.84 to 1.41) 0.51
MSI-status
MSI-high (n=16) vs not‡ (n=359) 12.3 vs 4.0 **0.01** 0.74 (0.33 to 1.64) 0.46
TMB, mutations/mb
TMB-high (≥20) (n=65) vs not‡ (n=310) 13.6 vs 3.7 \<**0.001** 0.47 (0.31 to 0.71) \<**0.001**
ARID1A status
*ARID1A*-altered (n=46) vs wild type (n=329) 10.9 vs 3.9 **0.006** 0.61 (0.39 to 0.94)§ **0.02**
Regimen of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy
Administered as 1st line (n=121) vs ≥2nd line (n=254) 7.4 vs 3.7 **0.001** 0.80 (0.60 to 1.07) 0.13
All p-values \<0.05 are listed in bold.
\*Age at tissue DNA analysis. Dichotomized by the median.
†Dichotomized by the median.
‡Including patients whose data were not reported.
§The HR (95% CI) was similar (0.55 (0.34 to 0.88), p=0.01) even if patients with MS-unknown or TMB-unknown (n=70) were excluded.
*ARID1A*, AT-Rich Interactive Domain-containing protein 1A gene; CI, confidence interval; HR, hazard ratio; MSI, microsatellite instability; NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; PD-1/PD-L1, programmed cell death-1 and its ligand; TMB, tumor mutational burden.
In conclusion, 28% of *ARID1A*-altered tumors (n=32 of 114 patients whose microsatellite and TMB status were both available) had either MSI-high or TMB-high (or both), and the rate of MSI-high and TMB-high was significantly higher in *ARID1A*-altered versus wild-type tumors. These findings are consistent with previous reports that *ARID1A* deficiency is correlated with MMR deficiency.[@R3] *ARID1A* alterations were independently and significantly associated with longer PFS after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy (regardless of microsatellite and TMB status). This study has several limitations such as the small number of patients with each cancer type, which restricted our ability to analyze individual tumor histologies. Nevertheless, the results suggest generalizability across tumor types. Another limitation was that improvement in OS in *ARID1A*-altered patients (vs wild-type) did not reach statistical significance; larger numbers of patients are needed to validate this endpoint. Therefore, *ARID1A* alterations may be a genomic marker of checkpoint blockade sensitivity, in addition to other putative markers such as MSI-high and TMB-high.[@R20] Our observations indicate that *ARID1A* alterations warrant further studies with longer follow-up and larger numbers of patients in order to confirm if they can be added to the armamentarium of genomic markers that are exploitable for matching patients to immunotherapy in the pan-cancer setting.[@R23]
**Contributors:** Study conception and design: RO, SK, JKS, and RK; data acquisition: RO, SL, and REJ; statistical analysis: RO and SK; data interpretation: RO, SK, JKS, and RK; drafting the manuscript or revising it critically: all authors; final approval of the manuscript: all authors.
**Funding:** This work was funded in part by the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Fund and NIH P30 CA023100 (RK). We appreciate funding support from Hope for a Cure Foundation, Jon Strong, NIH R01 CA226803, and FDA R01 FD006334 (JKS).
**Competing interests:** SK serves as a consultant fee (Foundation Medicine) and speaker's fee (Roche). JKS has the following disclosure information: Research funding (Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Pharmaceuticals, and Foundation Medicine); Consultant fee (Grand Rounds (2015--2019), Loxo Oncology (2017--2018), Deciphera (2019), and Roche (2019)). RK has the following disclosure information: Stock and Other Equity Interests (IDbyDNA, CureMatch, and Soluventis); Consulting or Advisory role (Gaido, LOXO, X-Biotech, Actuate Therapeutics, Roche, NeoMed, Soluventis, and Pfizer); Speaker's fee (Roche); Research Funding (Incyte, Genentech, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Sequenom, Foundation Medicine, Guardant Health, Grifols, Konica Minolta, DeBiopharm, Boerhringer Ingelheim, and OmniSeq (All institutional)); Board Member (CureMatch).
**Patient consent for publication:** Not required.
**Ethics approval:** This study was approved by the Internal Review Board at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. All investigations followed the guidelines of the *Profile-Related Evidence Determining Individualized Cancer Therapy* study (UCSDPREDICT study: NCT02478931) for data collection and any investigational therapies for which the patient gave consent.
**Provenance and peer review:** Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
**Data availability statement:** Data are available upon reasonable request. The data that support the findings of our study are available upon request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
|
The objectives of the bioanalysis core are to measure the opioid receptor selectivity of the peptide analogues under development and evaluate their ability to reach CNS opioid receptors after peripheral administration. The procedures described are designed to allow the screening of a large number of analogues in a short period of time to prevent delays in the development cycle. The specific aims are: 1. To measure the binding affinity of each of the analogues at mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors. Binding isotherms will be evaluated for multiple site interactions suggestive of the presence of opioid receptor subtypes. 2. To determine the in vitro potency of the analogues in the well characterized mouse vas deferens and guinea pig ileum bioassays. 3. To measure the ability of the analogues to cross membrane barriers both in vivo after parenteral administration and in vitro using a model of the mammalian blood brain barrier. The endpoint measured in the in vivo studies will be the induction of analgesia to a thermal stimulus while that measured in vitro will be the amount of analogues under study penetrating the model membrane barrier. |
CASE REPORT
===========
A 3-year old male child presented with pain in the lower abdomen of one month duration which was localized and non-radiating along with one episode of gross hematuria. He had past history of extensive lymphatic malformation involving retroperitoneum, pelvis and upper thigh and was operated for the same 18 months back. The lesion was histologically confirmed as lymphangioma. There was no history of trauma, infection or coagulation abnormalities. Physical examination revealed pallor and scar of previous surgery on right upper thigh along with localized tenderness in hypogastric region. Blood work-up was within normal range, however, urinalysis showed 10--20 red blood cells and 2--5 white blood cells per high-power field. Cystoscopy was done from other hospital which revealed a large 6 cm × 5 cm, reddish mass arising from dome of bladder. Computed tomography scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast also revealed a large 7cm x 6cm x 2cm soft tissue mass arising from the dome of the bladder and hanging in bladder lumen showing homogenous enhancement (Fig.1). There was no evidence of perivesical mesenteric infiltrate.
{#F1}
Surgery was performed through a lower midline abdominal incision. Urinary bladder was defined by extraperitoneal approach. The tumor was palpated. Partial cystectomy was done and part of bladder containing tumoral vascular tissues with a safe margin was sent for histopathological examination. Macroscopically it was 5cm x 3cm x 2cm partial cystectomy specimen which on cut-section showed a large soft to firm hemorrhagic tumor mass measuring about 2.5cm x 1.6cm x 1cm (Fig.2). Histopathological examination revealed a tumor occupying the submucosa and muscle layer; it was composed of dilated vascular spaces lined by flattened endothelial cells containing red blood cells over-lined by partially ulcerated transitional epithelium. There was no evidence of atypia (Fig.3).Thus final impression of cavernous hemangioma was given on histopathology. Hematuria resolved after surgery and at 1 year follow-up, the patient was doing fine.
{#F2}
{#F3}
DISCUSSION
==========
Hemangioma is a common benign tumor occurring in various parts of the body, but it is a very rare primary tumor of the bladder representing only 0.6% of all bladder tumors.\[1\] It occurs in all age groups but is relatively rare in childhood. It has a slight male predominance.\[2\] In the review of literature most of hemangioma are solitary (66%), varying from few millimetres to 10cm in diameter with a predilection for the dome, posterior wall, and trigone of the bladder.\[2\] In most cases, the tumors measure 1 to 2 cm and is sessile. In our case it was large in size.
In most reported cases, it may coexist with a cutaneous hemangioma or be associated with the Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome where the hemangioma of the urinary bladder are frequent (3-6%).\[3\] Hemangioma is also associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome or encephalo-trigeminal-angiomatosis, the Rendu-Osler-Weber disease or hemorrhagic telangiectasia syndrome, and systemic angiomatosis.\[3\] For this reason systemic evaluation in these patients is highly recommended. In our case except for previous scar of lymphangioma excision surgery, systemic evaluation did not reveal any findings.
The predominant clinical symptom of urinary bladder hemangioma is recurrent, isolated hematuria. Other symptoms include suprapubic pain due to vesical irritation and urinary retention.\[4\] The index case also presented with pain in lower abdomen and gross hematuria.
Management of patients with urinary bladder hemangioma is controversial and should depend on their evolution, size and degree of penetration. Treatment vary from observation, transurethral resection, electrocoagulation, radiation, systemic steroids, injection of sclerosing agent, and partial or complete cystectomy.\[5\] Asymptomatic hemangiomas do not require treatment. Although bladder hemangioma have a benign course, follow up is important to detect recurrence or residual disease. Severe pain abdomen, hematuria resulting in anemia, and suspicion of some malignant lesion are indications of surgery.
In our case the patient\'s progressive anemia and large tender vesicle mass led to the decision of surgical tumor removal with a safe margin. Hematuria resolved after surgery and there was no recurrence of bleeding or mass during 1 year follow-up.
Footnotes
=========
**Source of Support:** Nil
**Conflict of Interest:** None declared
|
Is this the Sounders new 3rd kit? Could be.
As the club prepares to celebrate 40 years since the founding of the original NASL Seattle Sounders, some fans are hungry for a blend of nostalgia and class.
Is not doing something like the design Joel DuChesne crafted a few years back a missed opportunity? Click to enlarge.
This concept was tweeted and retweeted numerous times Monday night and is also gathering plenty of new likes on Facebook.
There is something about the 1970’s wavy word logo and turquoise blue that just won’t let go of people. Joel DuChesne, for example. He took the time to design a very workable third ‘kit’ option for Sounders FC that would honor the club’s NASL brothers of the past. “With the suggestion of many Seattle Sounders FC Fans, I created a white retro kit to serve as a “third” option,” Joel said back in 2010. “This design is intended to pay respects to the many Sounders players, coaches, owners, and others who started professional soccer in Seattle in 1974.”
goalWA.net Local Soccer News is sponsored by Pro Roofing Northwest, Kirkland, Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, Woodinville, Federal Way, Everett, Snohomish, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, Bothell, Edmonds Washington roofing company. |
Since billboards went up in Georgia some months ago claiming that black children are an endangered species because of abortion, reproductive justice advocates have spent time and resources addressing the black genocide conspiracy theory and setting the record straight. That makes sense – a false accusation left unaddressed can too easily be seen as the truth. So, it comes as no surprise that advocates have focused on refuting false allegations and explaining the truth behind the numbers game proponents of the black genocide myth play. I, however, have also been wondering who is behind this revival of the black genocide myth. It seems to me that organizations claiming to expose “the truth” that then proceed to manipulate data and lie about the mission of reproductive health care providers, have earned a review themselves.
In Georgia, two groups joined forces to purchase billboards claiming that black children are an endangered species – Georgia Right to Life (GRTL) and The Radiance Foundation. I was already familiar with GRTL, but The Radiance Foundation was new to me. A quick Google search took me to The Radiance Foundation website. The mission of The Radiance Foundation, founded by Bethany and Ryan Bomberger, is:
Through various forms of media, speaking engagements, multi-media presentations and community outreach efforts, we illuminate the intrinsic value each person possesses. We educate audiences about societal issues and how they impact the understanding of God-given purpose. We motivate people to positively affect the world around them. Our content is professionally designed and connects with people cross culturally and gross generationally.
Isn’t it amazing how so many words can say so little?
Sex. Abortion. Parenthood. Power. The latest news, delivered straight to your inbox. SUBSCRIBE
I decided to dig deeper. Google searches of Ryan and Bethany Bomberger turned up a lot of websites created by Ryan Bomberger and some articles covering the endangered species campaign in Georgia. The Radiance Foundation website hosts biographies for both Ryan and Bethany Bomberger and both appear to be anti-choice adoption advocates who also support the black genocide conspiracy theory. The Bombergers are not new to the media spotlight, having appeared on Showtime at the Apollo, Good Morning America, ABC Family’s My Life is a Sitcom, and Oprah.
While The Radiance Foundation website appears to market the Bombergers themselves, one of their other websites – TooManyAborted.com – is all about marketing the black genocide conspiracy theory. TooManyAborted.com boasts the tag line “no hype. just truth” and offers several videos perpetuating the black genocide conspiracy theory while also making allegations that reproductive health care providers are dishonest and use deceptive tactics to manipulate women of color into seeking abortions in order to continue a genocide of black people. As I moved through the website, I clicked on the site’s YouTube button and viewed a video titled “Lies: Part 1” by The Radiance Foundation. The video features cleverly edited clips of reproductive health care advocates with the word “lies” repeatedly flashing across the screen.
I tried to imagine that I was the target of this marketing campaign and began looking for information about reproductive health care services. If the site’s creators are making the case that reproductive health care providers are engaged in a conspiracy of deception to perpetuate a genocide of black people then I wanted to see what they considered “no hype” and “just truth.”\.
I clicked on the Get Help option under the Contact Us tab on the TooManyAborted.com homepage and then clicked on the tab titled Get Help Today. I was taken to a different website, Optionline.org, for an organization called Option Line. On their About Us page, Option Line says the following – “Option Line consultants refer each caller to a pregnancy resource center in her area for answers to questions about abortion, pregnancy tests, STDs, adoption, parenting, medical referrals, housing, and many other issues. The toll-free number is available to callers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Callers from across the country can reach a trained, caring person and then be connected to a pregnancy resource center near them for one-on-one help. Option Line is a call center located in Columbus, Ohio, formed as a joint venture between Care Net and Heartbeat International.”
The same web site that claims reproductive health care providers lie to and manipulate women is sending women who seek information and advice about their options to a referral service for crisis pregnancy centers which have been proven to provide inaccurate medical information about abortion and use shame and scare tactics when counseling women.
What happened to “just truth” – did it get lost somewhere between the web page full of inaccurate information about abortion services and the page alleging the danger of Post-Abortion Stress that provides a link to an online Abortion Recovery survey that starts off with “Any of these circumstances might lead you to regret an abortion later. How many of these apply to you?”
I must confess that, after this exercise, I better understand the seductive appeal of conspiracy theories. It would be easy to build a conspiracy theory that alleges that TooManyAborted.com is a hype-laden truth deficient referral site for crisis pregnancy centers. But conspiracy theories, regardless of how cleverly they are presented, do nothing to empower women of color. We deserve better – medically accurate information, access to the full range of reproductive health care services and respect for our ability to make medical decisions about of reproductive health. We deserve choice – we’ve had enough hype to last us a lifetime. |
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# OS X 와 iOS 앱 테스트
*[Xcode 프로젝트에 Test 설정하기](SettingUpYourXcodeProject.md)*
Objective-C 또는 Swift 함수와 클래스를 테스트하기 위해 알아야 할 모든 것을 다룹니다.
이 섹션에서는, `UIViewController` 하위 클래스와 같은 클래스를 테스트하기 위한 몇 가지 추가적인 힌트를 살펴 보겠습니다.
> 이 주제들을 다루는 라이트닝 토크를 [이곳](https://vimeo.com/115671189#t=37m50s)에서 볼 수 있습니다. (37분 50초쯤 시작합니다)
## `UIViewController` 라이프 사이클 이벤트 트리거
일반적으로, UIKit은 뷰 컨트롤러의 라이프사이클 이벤트를 앱 내에서 표시할 때 트리거합니다. 그러나, `UIViewController`가 테스트 될 때, 이러한 `UIViewController`를 직접 트리거해야 합니다. 다음 3가지 방법 중 하나로 할 수 있습니다:
1. `UIViewController.viewDidLoad()` 같은 것을 트리거하는 `UIViewController.view`에 액세스하기.
2. `UIViewController.beginAppearanceTransition()` 을 사용하여 대부분의 라이프사이클 이벤트를 트리거하기.
3. `UIViewController.viewDidLoad()` 또는 `UIViewController.viewWillAppear()` 와 같은 메서드를 직접 호출하기.
```swift
// Swift
import Quick
import Nimble
import BananaApp
class BananaViewControllerSpec: QuickSpec {
override func spec() {
var viewController: BananaViewController!
beforeEach {
viewController = BananaViewController()
}
describe(".viewDidLoad()") {
beforeEach {
// Method #1: Access the view to trigger BananaViewController.viewDidLoad().
let _ = viewController.view
}
it("sets the banana count label to zero") {
// Since the label is only initialized when the view is loaded, this
// would fail if we didn't access the view in the `beforeEach` above.
expect(viewController.bananaCountLabel.text).to(equal("0"))
}
}
describe("the view") {
beforeEach {
// Method #2: Triggers .viewDidLoad(), .viewWillAppear(), and .viewDidAppear() events.
viewController.beginAppearanceTransition(true, animated: false)
viewController.endAppearanceTransition()
}
// ...
}
describe(".viewWillDisappear()") {
beforeEach {
// Method #3: Directly call the lifecycle event.
viewController.viewWillDisappear(false)
}
// ...
}
}
}
```
```objc
// Objective-C
@import Quick;
@import Nimble;
#import "BananaViewController.h"
QuickSpecBegin(BananaViewControllerSpec)
__block BananaViewController *viewController = nil;
beforeEach(^{
viewController = [[BananaViewController alloc] init];
});
describe(@"-viewDidLoad", ^{
beforeEach(^{
// Method #1: Access the view to trigger -[BananaViewController viewDidLoad].
[viewController view];
});
it(@"sets the banana count label to zero", ^{
// Since the label is only initialized when the view is loaded, this
// would fail if we didn't access the view in the `beforeEach` above.
expect(viewController.bananaCountLabel.text).to(equal(@"0"))
});
});
describe(@"the view", ^{
beforeEach(^{
// Method #2: Triggers .viewDidLoad(), .viewWillAppear(), and .viewDidAppear() events.
[viewController beginAppearanceTransition:YES animated:NO];
[viewController endAppearanceTransition];
});
// ...
});
describe(@"-viewWillDisappear", ^{
beforeEach(^{
// Method #3: Directly call the lifecycle event.
[viewController viewWillDisappear:NO];
});
// ...
});
QuickSpecEnd
```
## 스토리보드에 정의된 뷰 컨트롤러를 초기화하기
스토리보드에 정의된 뷰 컨트롤러를 초기화하기 위해서는, **Storyboard ID**를 뷰 컨트롤러에 지정해야 합니다:
그렇게 하면, 테스트 내에서 뷰 컨트롤러를 인스턴스화 할 수 있습니다:
```swift
// Swift
var viewController: BananaViewController!
beforeEach {
// 1. Instantiate the storyboard. By default, it's name is "Main.storyboard".
// You'll need to use a different string here if the name of your storyboard is different.
let storyboard = UIStoryboard(name: "Main", bundle: nil)
// 2. Use the storyboard to instantiate the view controller.
viewController =
storyboard.instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier(
"BananaViewControllerID") as! BananaViewController
}
```
```objc
// Objective-C
__block BananaViewController *viewController = nil;
beforeEach(^{
// 1. Instantiate the storyboard. By default, it's name is "Main.storyboard".
// You'll need to use a different string here if the name of your storyboard is different.
UIStoryboard *storyboard = [UIStoryboard storyboardWithName:@"Main" bundle:nil];
// 2. Use the storyboard to instantiate the view controller.
viewController = [storyboard instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier:@"BananaViewControllerID"];
});
```
## Button 탭과 같은 UIControl 이벤트 트리거
버튼과 다른 UIKit 클래스는 버튼 탭과 같이 프로그래밍적인 방법으로 컨트롤 이벤트를 보낼 수 있는 메소드를 정의하는 `UIControl`을 상속합니다.
버튼을 누를 때 발생하는 동작을 테스트하려면 다음과 같이 작성할 수 있습니다:
```swift
// Swift
describe("the 'more bananas' button") {
it("increments the banana count label when tapped") {
viewController.moreButton.sendActionsForControlEvents(
UIControlEvents.TouchUpInside)
expect(viewController.bananaCountLabel.text).to(equal("1"))
}
}
```
```objc
// Objective-C
describe(@"the 'more bananas' button", ^{
it(@"increments the banana count label when tapped", ^{
[viewController.moreButton sendActionsForControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];
expect(viewController.bananaCountLabel.text).to(equal(@"1"));
});
});
```
|
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
Gene's Fine FoodUnion, SC
Krekel's CustardMount Zion, IL
Gene's Fine Food was once a drive-in but now focused on indoor dining. The restaurant started out as a Little Mint location. It has been Gene's since around 1962. The chicken head has been installed on this 1969 Dodge pick-up since the mid-1970s. It features a voicebox to make clucking sounds. There was a tail in back until at least 2007. However, the tail was missing when I took this photo in 2009. For more, see this website. [map]
This Krekel's Custard chicken car is a modified 1970 Cadillac. The local chain had four cars like this. There was supposed to be another Chicken Mobile at Krekel's Decatur, IL location but it was not there in 2009 when I went to check on it. These photos are from 2009. A Google Street View map from 2012 shows two of the cars there then. This Mount Zion location also features a cow on their roof. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]
Larz Chicken Shack Freeport, IL
The Larz Chicken Shack no longer exists but this rooster-topped Cadillac is still parked in town. I'm not sure if this car still runs. It might have originally been used by Krekel's Custard (see above). There used to be a giant rooster statue at Larz Chicken Shack as well. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]
Chicken CadillacFarmington, MO
This Chicken Cadillac is parked at Blackwell Motors which has several elephant statues and a couple of bull statues as well. The paint job on this car suggests it may have come from Krekel's (see above). [map]
Chicken CadillacBandera, TX
This Chicken Cadillac is parked in front of a Church's Chicken restaurant. It was previously located in Kerrville, TX. The car is a 1977 Cadillac Coupe De Ville. [map]
This Chicken El Camino has been parked at Cookin' From Scratch since at least 2006. [map]
CITGO stationIrvington, AL
These Roosters are installed at a CITGO gas station which features Ms. Billie's Chester Fried Chicken. These statues have been here since at least 2006. The car is an early 1970s El Camino. [map]
Indy ChickenIndianapolis, IN
2010:
2012:
The Indy Chicken was created by Orval "Ducky" Love in the 1970s. Love had a car rental business called "Love Rent a Bent Car". He bought the chicken from a fried chicken restaurant which was using the statue on top of its delivery vehicle. Love installed the chicken on the roof of a hearse and began renting it out as a party wagon. Soon, Love had a small fleet of vehicles with statues on their roofs. These statues included a pig, a duck, two other chickens, a clown, and a birthday cake. I believe the business closed sometime in the 1980s. The Indy Chicken car was sold and rarely driven. In 2007, the car was used during the "Bart Lies" campaign to defeat Mayor Bart Peterson. In 2010, the interior of the car was damaged in a fire. An Indianapolis police officer was arrested for setting this fire and several others in town. The chicken was not damaged and was moved inside the owner's store, Antiques on the Corner (photos above). In 2011, the owner reinstalled the chicken on a new vehicle which is used as a limousine service. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]
Chicken LimoIndianapolis, IN
The Chicken Limo was inspired by the Indy Chicken. John Barker, the chauffeur and business owner, had this car made in 2007. He is considering expanding to Tampa, Scottsdale and Los Angeles. For more, see these websites: 1. 2, and 3.
S.S. Juan PolloSan Bernardino, CA
2013:
2008:
2013:
The S.S. Juan Pollo is located at Juan Pollo's corporate headquarters which doubles as a McDonald's museum. Apparently, the rooster is sometimes replaced with these Bugs Bunny, Sylvester the Cat, and Tasmanian Devil statues. There is also a giant rooster inside the McDonald's museum here (second row above). For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [second row photo from 2008 thanks Glenda Campbell] [map] |
Vasorelaxing effects of flavonoids: investigation on the possible involvement of potassium channels.
A flavonoid-rich diet has been associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, probably because of the antioxidant and vasoactive properties of flavonoids. Indeed, many flavonoids show vasorelaxing properties, due to different and often not yet completely clarified mechanisms of action. Among them, the activation of vascular potassium channels has been indicated as a possible pathway, accounting, at least in part, for the vasodilatory action of some flavonoid derivatives, such as apigenin and dioclein. Therefore, this work aims at evaluating, on in vitro isolated rat aortic rings, the endothelium-independent vasorelaxing effects of a number of flavonoid derivatives, to identify a possible activation of calcium-activated and/or ATP-sensitive potassium channels and to indicate some possible structure-activity relationships. Among the several flavonoids submitted to the pharmacological assay, only baicalein and quercetagetin were almost completely ineffective, while quercetin, hesperidin, quercitrin and rhoifolin exhibited only a partial vasorelaxing effect. On the contrary, acacetin, apigenin, chrysin, hesperetin, luteolin, pinocembrin, 4'-hydroxyflavanone, 5-hydroxyflavone, 5-methoxyflavone, 6-hydroxyflavanone and 7-hydroxyflavone, belonging to the chemical classes of flavones and flavanones, showed full vasorelaxing effects. The vasodilatory activity of hesperetin, luteolin, 5-hydroxyflavone and 7-hydroxyflavone were antagonised by tetraethylammonium chloride, indicating the possible involvement of calcium-activated potassium channels. Moreover, iberiotoxin clearly antagonised the effects of 5-hydroxyflavone, indicating the probable importance of a structural requirement (the hydroxy group in position 5) for a possible interaction with large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels. Finally, glibenclamide inhibited the vasorelaxing action of luteolin and 5-hydroxyflavone, suggesting that ATP-sensitive potassium channels may also be involved in their mechanism of action. |
Mapping of Membrane Protein Topology by Substituted Cysteine Accessibility Method (SCAM™).
A described simple and advanced protocol for the substituted-cysteine accessibility method as applied to transmembrane (TM) orientation (SCAM™) permits a topology analysis of proteins in their native state and can be universally adapted to any membrane system to either systematically map an uniform topology or identify and quantify the degree of mixed topology. In this approach, noncritical individual amino acids that are thought to reside in the putative extracellular or intracellular loops of a membrane protein are replaced one at a time by cysteine residue, and the orientation with respect to the membrane is evaluated using a pair of membrane-impermeable nondetectable and detectable thiol-reactive labeling reagents. |
package org.autojs.autojs.network.entity.config;
import com.google.gson.annotations.SerializedName;
public class Cookies {
@SerializedName("link")
private String link;
@SerializedName("dismiss")
private String dismiss;
@SerializedName("message")
private String message;
@SerializedName("enabled")
private boolean enabled;
public void setLink(String link) {
this.link = link;
}
public String getLink() {
return link;
}
public void setDismiss(String dismiss) {
this.dismiss = dismiss;
}
public String getDismiss() {
return dismiss;
}
public void setMessage(String message) {
this.message = message;
}
public String getMessage() {
return message;
}
public void setEnabled(boolean enabled) {
this.enabled = enabled;
}
public boolean isEnabled() {
return enabled;
}
@Override
public String toString() {
return
"Cookies{" +
"link = '" + link + '\'' +
",dismiss = '" + dismiss + '\'' +
",message = '" + message + '\'' +
",enabled = '" + enabled + '\'' +
"}";
}
} |
proto: const char __user *oldname, const char __user *newname
parms: oldname, newname
errors:
- EACCES
- EDQUOT
- EFAULT
- EEXIST
- EIO
- ELOOP
- EMLINK
- ENAMETOOLONG
- ENOENT
- ENOMEM
- ENOSPC
- ENOTDIR
- EPERM
- EROFS
- EXDEV
profiles:
- fs
|
2-Aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase, a novel type of flavoenzyme. Identification of the reaction products.
In a previous report we have described some properties of a novel flavoenzyme from a denitrifying Pseudomonas species which catalyzes the oxygen- and NAD(P)H-dependent conversion of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA [Buder, R., Ziegler, K., Fuchs, G., Langkau, B. & Ghisla, S. (1989) Eur. J. Biochem. 185, 637-634]. In this paper, we report on the identification of the three products formed from 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA in this reaction. The spectroscopic data and the chemical properties of these compounds and those of their degradation products are compatible with the structures of 2-amino-5-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA, 2-amino-5-hydroxycyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA and of 2-amino-5-oxocyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA. The latter is the main product and was found to be rather unstable since it hydrolyzes and decarboxylates readily at pH less than 5. Ammonia is released from the decarboxylation product in the neutral pH range to yield 1,4-cyclohexanedione. Conditions were optimized such that the CoA thioester of 2-amino-5-hydroxybenzoate is the product obtained at greater than 98% yield. 2-amino-5-hydroxycyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA is the product which is formed when the mixture of the reaction products is treated with sodium borohydride before separation. |
Pairs Well With
Notes
This recipe came from my great grandma who gave it to my gradma and then to my mom and now I use it. People always ask for the recipe when I make it and I only give it out because it is that good! I remember baking with my grandma and my mom when I was younger and I am not fortunate enough to have any kids so when my nieces and nephews come over thats the first thing they ask.. "what are we baking today?"
This recipe is easy to make and a crowd pleaser. It is easy to double or triple the batch and it takes no time at all to make. Food helps connect families and this is a good holiday recipe to start with! |
Last summer I did this hike with some friends and my husband. It was late June, but the entire peak was totally socked in and visibility was so low you could hardly see 10 feet in front of you, which made the sheer cliffs at the top of this hike pretty freaky. Still, it was incredibly stunning and I knew I wanted to go back some day and do a photo shoot there. A couple weeks ago I got to go up with Kristina + Craig and do this killer session with them!
She had a super cute shorter dress for hiking in, which turned out perfectly because even though it was October, we were all sweating like crazy from the hike! It's not a very long hike, but it's all uphill. Luckily we stopped along the way and took photos in the gorgeous woods that you hike through to get to the top.
At the top, Kristina changed into an amazing sheer gown that really brought the drama. It moved beautifully in the breeze and the beading on the front was insane. I had no idea that Mount Rainier was right there because last time I hiked this we couldn't see anything! It was so bizarre to turn the corner and see this huge mountain right there! It was a very pleasant surprise indeed.
Thanks for believing in my crazy ideas, Kristina + Craig. I'm so thrilled with how this shoot turned out!
If the weather holds I'm doing another shoot at this location in a couple weeks, I can't wait! |
BASIC Training: A Pilot Study of Balance/Strengthening Exercises in Heart Failure.
The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent balance and resistance training intervention on physical function, balance, and falls in older (≥65 years) community-dwelling heart failure (HF) patients. Randomized, two-group repeated-measures experimental design. The intervention involved once weekly supervised group sessions with home sessions encouraged twice weekly. Focus groups held pre/post intervention. Outcome variables included measures of physical function, balance confidence, and falling risk. In a sample size of 33, the Dynamic Gait Index change from baseline to 12 weeks was significantly different in the groups (p = .029). The number of reported falls declined from 0.92 to 0.54 per participant. A supervised group session intervention can increase mobility and gait and reduce fall rate for HF patients. This study was designed to improve lower extremity strength, balance, and falls in elderly HF patients, thus reducing costs and improving quality of life for this population. |
The present invention relates generally to batteries, and more particularly relates to a ventilation system and air manager system for a metal-air battery.
Metal-air battery cells include an air permeable cathode and a metallic anode separated by an aqueous electrolyte. During discharge of a metal-air battery, such as a zinc-air battery, oxygen from the ambient air is converted at the cathode to hydroxide, zinc is oxidized at the anode by the hydroxide, and water and electrons are released to provide electrical energy. Metal-air batteries have a relatively high energy density because the cathode utilizes oxygen from ambient air as a reactant in the electrochemical reaction rather than a heavier material such as a metal or metallic composition. Metal-air battery cells are often arranged in multiple cell battery packs within a common housing to provide a sufficient amount of power output. The result is a relatively light-weight battery.
To operate a metal-air battery cell, it is necessary therefore to provide a supply of oxygen to the air cathodes of the cells. Some prior systems sweep a continuous flow of new ambient air across the air cathodes at a flow rate sufficient to achieve the desired power output. Such an arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,983 to Cheiky. Cheiky uses a fan within the battery housing to supply a flow of ambient air to a pack of metal-air battery cells. When the battery is turned on, an air inlet and an air outlet are opened and the fan is activated to create the flow of air into, through, and out of the housing. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,551 and 5,641,588 are incorporated herein by reference.
One problem with a metal-air battery is that the ambient humidity level can cause the battery to fail. Equilibrium vapor pressure of the metal-air battery results in an equilibrium relative humidity that is typically about 45 percent. If the ambient humidity is greater than the equilibrium humidity within the battery housing, the battery will absorb water from the air through the cathode and fail due to a condition called flooding. Flooding may cause the battery to burst. If the ambient humidity is less than the equilibrium humidity within the battery housing, the metal-air battery will release water vapor from the electrolyte through the air cathode and fail due to drying out. The art, therefore, has recognized that an ambient air humidity level differing from the humidity level within the battery housing will create a net transfer of water into or out of the battery. These problems are particularly of concern when the battery is not in use, because the humidity tends to either seep into or out of the battery housing over an extended period of time.
Another problem associated with metal-air batteries is the transfer of carbon dioxide from ambient air into the battery cell. Carbon dioxide tends to neutralize the electrolyte, such as potassium hydroxide. In the past, carbon dioxide absorbing layers have been placed against the exterior cathode surface to trap carbon dioxide. An example of such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,725.
Maintaining a battery cell with proper levels of humidity and excluding carbon dioxide has generally required a sealed battery housing. As discussed above, however, prior art systems such as that disclosed by Cheiky, have used a fan of some sort to force ambient air through the battery housing during use. Large openings are provided to permit the in-flow and out-flow of air. These openings are generally sealed during non-use by a mechanical air door. If the air door is not present or not shut during non-use, large amounts of ambient air would seep into the housing. This flow of air would cause the humidity and carbon dioxide problems within the housing as discussed above. The oxygen in the ambient air also would cause the cell to discharge, thereby leading to xe2x80x9cleakagexe2x80x9d current and a reduction in cell efficiency and lifetime.
Even with the use of air doors, however, a certain amount of oxygen and contaminates tend to seep into the cell during non-use. Some leakage current is therefore inevitable. Although the air doors limit this leakage current and the other problems discussed above, the use of the air doors increases the complexity of the battery housing itself and increases the cost and time of manufacture of the overall battery.
Air doors have not been needed in some applications of metal-air cells, such as shown in include U.S. Pat. 4,118,544 to Przybyla. Przybyla describes a primary metal-air button cell used with watches and hearing aids. Such cells operate during a single, continuous discharge at very low current levels. In essence, Przybyla relies upon the use of continuous xe2x80x9cleakage currentxe2x80x9d to power devices with very low current demands.
Metal-air cells typically are designed to have a relatively large air electrode surface, so that as large a power output as possible can be obtained from a cell of a given volume and weight. Once air is ventilated into a metal-air battery housing, a goal has been to distribute the oxygen-bearing air uniformly and efficiently to all air electrode surfaces. Recirculation air managers including fans within the battery housing have been developed to distribute air within the housing while keeping the volume of make-up air as low as practicable. However, in multiple cell systems, air distribution paths typically have extended from a fan, positioned along a periphery of the housing adjacent to an air door, for a lengthy distance over all of the air electrode surfaces. An example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,477. Oxygen is depleted from the air stream so that oxygen concentration at the end of the distribution path often has fallen below a level desired for optimal power production from all the cells. Known systems that solve this problem by blowing outside air over the cells and exhausting it immediately without recirculation are subject to the flooding or drying out problems described above.
Thus, there has been a need for a practical air manager system for a metal-air battery without mechanical air doors or other mechanical sealing methods to prevent diffusion therethrough when the battery is not in use. The system should maintain a stable water vapor equilibrium across the air cathode of a metal-air cell while convectively providing new oxygen for operation of the cell at desired power levels in a simplified battery housing. There also has been a need for an air distribution system within a metal-air battery housing that minimizes the length of the air distribution path to the air electrode surfaces and minimizes the variation of the concentration of oxygen in the distributed air for all cells.
The present invention provides a ventilation system for a metal-air battery having a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell. The housing has at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening. A fan is positioned to force air into the air inlet opening and out of the air outlet opening when the fan is turned on. The openings are sized with a length in the direction through the thickness of the housing being greater than a width in the direction perpendicular to the thickness of the housing. The openings are unobstructed and are sized to eliminate substantially the air flow into the air inlet opening and out of the air outlet opening when the fan is turned off.
More particularly, the present invention provides a ventilation system for a metal-air battery having a preferred output current density with the fan on of about 50 to 200 ma per square inch of air cathode surface. Each opening preferably has a length to width ratio where the length is greater than about twice the width, with each opening having a length of about 0.3 to 1.5 inches and a width of about 0.03 to 0.3 inches. The openings are preferably sized in the aggregate to permit a flow rate therethrough of about 20 to 80 cubic inches per minute when forced by fan having a capacity of about 100 to 3000 cubic inches per minute.
When the fan is turned off, the openings are sized to slow the rate of diffusion therethrough such that the drain current density is less than 1 ma per square inch of air cathode surface. The preferred ratio of the output current density to the drain current density of the battery is at least 100 to 1. The flow rate with the fan off is preferably about 0.01 to 0.2 cubic inches per minute or less.
According to another aspect of the invention, a metal-air battery is provided that includes a recirculating air distribution system within a metal-air battery housing that minimizes the length of the air distribution path to the air electrode surfaces and minimizes the variation of the concentration of oxygen in the distributed air for all cells, by providing a fan within the battery housing positioned to distribute air to two separate sets of metal-air cells at the same time. In this configuration, all cells of both sets of cells receive air quickly, and the air received is of more uniform oxygen concentration because the air paths are shorter than in previous configurations utilizing the same number of cells.
In the housing of a battery embodying this aspect of the invention, a fan defines a flow axis from a negative pressure side of the fan to a positive pressure side of the fan. The battery further includes at least one ventilation opening in the housing; a plurality of metal-air cells within the housing, at least a first cell being located on a first side of the fan flow axis and at least a second cell being located on a second side of the fan flow axis; a first air path extending from the positive pressure side of the fan along an air electrode side of the first cell and to the negative side of the fan; and a second air path extending from the positive pressure side of the fan along an air electrode side of the second cell and to the negative side of the fan; the fan supplying air to both the first and second air paths at the same time.
The ventilation opening or openings utilized in this embodiment can be of the type described for the first embodiment, or of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,729, or can be of the type utilizing an air door. Preferably, two elongate passageways are ported to each side of the fan, and have a length and diameter selected to substantially eliminate diffusion therethrough when the fan is turned off.
In another aspect of the invention, a metal-air cell is provided that includes a micromachine air mover. The micromachine air mover is a pump created from layers of etched silicon to form a three-dimensional structure with sealed cavities. The pump includes a deformable diaphragm that vibrates to generate airflow into a pump chamber. By actuating the diaphram, the pump chamber changes volume and air flow is generated across the metal-air cells.
Thus, it an object of the present invention to provide an improved ventilation system for a metal-air cell or battery.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method for supplying reactant air to a metal-air cell or battery.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an air manager apparatus and method that maintains a more stable water vapor equilibrium across the air cathode of a metal-air cell while still providing new oxygen needed for operation of the cell at desired power levels.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an air manager system that does not require a mechanical air door.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an air vent for a metal-air battery housing that substantially eliminates diffusion therein when the fan is turned off.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recirculating air distribution system within a metal-air battery housing that delivers oxygen-rich air to all cells in an efficient manner.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reviewing the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. |
India can grow faster than China: Nouriel Roubini
Noted global economist Nouriel Roubini, who had predicted the global recession of 2008 in 2006, has said that India had the potential to overtake China in economic growth.
"In the next few years, it is possible that the growth of India might surpass that of China, with India maintaining a close to double-digit growth, while China might slow down to eight per cent or so," said Roubini, while delivering the Lakshmipat Singhania Centennial Lecture.
Roubini said countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil and Turkey, with their increasing reliance on domestic markets, have a "distinct edge" over China which is still dependent on trade and a weak currency to spur its growth story. |
Antimalarial activity of herbal extracts used in traditional medicine in Korea.
Aqueous extracts of 6 traditional Korean medicines used to treat malaria were tested in vitro for their antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. The EC50 values for the herbal extracts were in the range 1.4-8.1 microg/ml. Significant antimalarial activity was observed with Coptis japonica (EC50=1.4 microg/ml), but it demonstrated no selective toxicity (selectivity=1). In contrast, Kalopanax pictus showed antimalarial activity (EC50=4.6 microg/ml) and higher selective toxicity (>4). This indicated that K. pictus may be potent for a new antimalarial agent. |
It has already been well recognized that there is a need for a plant watering device which will ensure an adequate supply of water to a plant after a considerable lapse of time and without human intervention, after initial setting up of the device.
Thus, for example, a person leaving his or her dwelling for a period of time, for example for the purpose of a vacation, often requires to ensure that a plant in the dwelling is adequately irrigated during that period of time but, nevertheless, frequently desires to avoid overwatering of the plant and, also, to avoid granting access to another person to the dwelling for the purpose of watering the plant.
Various attempts have been made in the past to provide a watering device which fulfills such a purpose by providing a constant, possibly very slow, supply of water to a plant, or by effecting a delayed supply of water to the plant.
For example, one prior watering device comprises a tray to be placed under a pot containing the plant, with a wick extending from the tray through the base of the pot and terminating in a potting mix within the pot, so that water is drawn up the wick by a wicking action.
Another prior device comprises a large tray fitted with a porous styrofoam base for a plant pot and, in that case, moisture percolated up to the pot from the tray by capillary action trough the styrofoam base.
Another prior suggestion is a cone shaped device made of pottery, which is glazed at the open end of the cone-shaped device, the opposite, pointed end of the device being closed but remaining unglazed, so that when the cone is inverted and pushed into the soil, and the inside of the device is filled with water, the water is slowly released through the pointed end of the device to water the plant and, thereby, to prevent it from drying out.
It will be appreciated that the above-described devices are intended to effect constant watering of a plant, rather than providing a delayed supply of water to the plant after a period of time during which no watering occurs.
A further prior art watering device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 267,296, which teaches a self-irrigating flower pot or vase in which apertures allow water to pass from a reservoir into a saucer and then into the pot. Evaporation from the saucer and absorption of water in the pot cause the liquid level in the saucer to fall below the apertures, which allows further water to flow from the reservoir. Once again, this prior device constantly waters the pot.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,255, issued Mar. 17, 1964 to B. Kaiser, shows the use of evaporation from an auxiliary reservoir to control air flow into a main reservoir and, thus, to control the outflow of water from the main reservoir. More particularly, according to the teachings of this prior device, evaporation from a so-called water receiver uncovers the lower end of a tube, to allow air to flow into a main container, which in turn allows water to flow therefrom through an outlet.
While the device shown in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,255 effects delayed watering of a plant or the like, by employing evaporation in a separate water chamber to delay the onset of irrigation, as described above, it nevertheless simply allows a single flow of water from the main container at a delayed period of time but in a continuous manner, and does not in any way enable an intermittent, i.e. repeated, watering action to be effected.
Further prior art watering devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,438,575; 4,060,934; 4,085,546; 4,121,608; 4,241,538 and 4,542,762. |
Q:
mysql time to date conversion fetches null value
The below mentioned query is returning null but my inner query is fetching values like
SELECT CONCAT(
FLOOR(HOUR(time_milis) / 24), ' ',
MOD(HOUR(time_milis), 24), ':',
MINUTE(time_milis),':',
SECOND(time_milis))
FROM (
SELECT SUM(TIMEDIFF(logout_timestamp,login_timestamp)) AS time_milis FROM t_access_log WHERE logout_timestamp!='0000-00-00 00:00:00' GROUP BY login_id
)se
what am i missing here
A:
Your time_milis are all seconds, but hour need a time like '10:05:03', you can just use sec_to_time. Like this:
SELECT concat(hour(sec_to_time(time_milis)), ' ', sec_to_time(time_milis))
FROM (
SELECT SUM(TIMEDIFF(logout_timestamp,login_timestamp)) AS time_milis FROM t_access_log WHERE logout_timestamp!='0000-00-00 00:00:00' GROUP BY login_id
)se
|
WASHINGTON – A senior official in Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign asked an Israeli private intelligence firm to plan a “social media manipulation” effort against political rivals, including the usage of fake profiles and the spreading of false information. The contacts between Rick Gates, Trump’s deputy campaign manager in 2016, and Israeli company Psy-Group, were first reported on Tuesday by the New York Times. The services were likely not used for Trump's campaign eventually, the report says.
According to the report, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating foreign interference in the 2016 election, is closely examining these contacts. His office, the report said, has interviewed workers from Psy-Group and collected documents from the company’s headquarters in Israel.
Mueller is specifically interested in an alleged $2 million payment that the company’s founder reportedly received shortly after the 2016 election from George Nader, a senior adviser to the government of the United Arab Emirates.
>> The countless Israeli connections to Mueller’s probe of Trump and Russia | Analysis ■ Who is Joel Zamel, the Australian-Israeli linked to Mueller’s Trump Probe?
Open gallery view Trump and Senator Ted Cruz speak simultaneously at the Fox Business Network Republican presidential candidates debate in North Charleston, South Carolina, January 14, 2016 Credit: \ REUTERS
While the report states that it’s unclear if anything came out of Psy-Group’s offers to the Trump campaign, it indicates an opening of senior officials in Trump’s campaign to discussing the same kind of social media manipulation that was eventually carried out by Russia during the election.
The report said that in March 2016, Gates heard about Psy-Group, a private intelligence firm that employed former Israeli intelligence officers, from a Republican consultant named George Birnbaum.
"There is no evidence that the Trump campaign acted on the proposals, and Mr. Gates ultimately was uninterested in Psy-Group’s work," the Times reported, citing a person with knowledge of Gates' communication with the Israeli firm. "Psy-Group’s owner, Joel Zamel, did meet in August 2016 with Donald Trump Jr., Mr. Trump’s eldest son," the Times noted.
The meeting took place at Trump Tower, and one other person who participated in it was Nader, the senior adviser to the UAE government.
In the 1990s, Birnbaum helped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s successful campaign to become prime minister. He has remained close to political figures in Israel over the years. When he met Gates at the height of Trump’s battle to become the Republican nominee in the presidential race, Birnbaum recommended Psy-Group to Gates, who was interested in technological ways to hurt Trump’s rivals within the Republican Party.
Birnbaum, the report says, put the two sides in touch. According to documents obtained by the paper (and according to the report, also by Mueller’s team of investigators), Psy-Group offered a social media manipulation campaign that would target Texas Senator Ted Cruz, at the time Trump’s main competitor for the Republican nomination. The proposed manipulation campaign was supposed to include fake social media profiles that would attack Cruz and discredit him in the eyes of Republican Party delegates, who eventually decide on the party’s presidential nominee.
According to the report, Psy-Group also offered to provide the Trump campaign with “unique intel” that would come from “covert sources.” The Trump campaign eventually didn’t accept this proposal, it said.
The Israeli company also offered the Trump campaign another project, aimed at using similar tactics against Hillary Clinton, who back in the spring of 2016 was emerging as the likely Democratic nominee whom Trump would face in the general elections. This proposal also included an unclear reference to “complementary intelligence activities” that would target Clinton.
This firm also offered the Trump campaign services such as creating fake social media campaigns that would target Clinton, and specifically use “rifts and rivalries within the opposition.” This proposal wasn’t accepted. During the general election, it should be noted, fake social media accounts operated by Russia promoted left-wing messaging against Clinton, in an attempt to persuade left-leaning voters to either not vote, or cast their ballot for the Green Party.
The number of votes that the Green Party received in 2016 in the three states that decided the result of the election - Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan - was larger than the gap between Trump and Clinton in those specific states.
According to the report, a short time after the 2016 election, Nader paid Zamel $2 million. It is not clear what was the reason for that payment. A lawyer for Zamel told the NYT that his client “never pitched, or otherwise discussed, any of Psy-Group’s proposals relating to the U.S. elections with anyone related to the Trump campaign, including not with Donald Trump Jr., except for outlining the capabilities of some of his companies in general terms.”
Gates, for his part, was indicted last year on multiple charges of financial fraud and tax evasion. He pleaded guilty to some of the charges, cooperated with Mueller’s investigation, and testified against Trump’s campaign manager, Paul Manafort, during his recent trial in Virginia, which ended in a guilty verdict last month. |
Zimbabwe hit by deadly floods after drought Published duration 3 March 2017
image copyright AFP image caption Zimbabweans have experienced both drought and flooding in the space of a few months
Zimbabwe has appealed for $100m (£82m) to help those hit by floods that have killed 246 people since December.
Officials say floods, which follow a crippling drought, have swept through villages, destroying roads, crops and livestock in the south of the country.
The air force has transported some marooned villagers to safety.
Last week the cash-strapped government was criticised for reportedly spending up to $2m to celebrate President Robert Mugabe's 93rd birthday.
Mr Mugabe has declared the floods a national disaster.
Around 2,000 people have been left homeless by the flooding, with a further 1,500 described as "marooned", in an official government briefing , with communities cut off by the damage to roads.
Five bridges on major highways have been swept away, Transport Minister Joram Gumbo told local media.
The deadly floods have compounded the problems facing many Zimbabweans, who are still reeling from the affects of a crippling drought.
More than four million people are estimated to be in need of food aid after rains failed last year.
In what the government calls "an astounding shift from a drought condition to an excessively wet situation," it lists 10 provinces, mainly in the south and west of the country, which have been worst affected by the recent flooding.
Public infrastructure has been badly hit with 74 schools damaged, Minister for Local Government Saviour Kasukuwere said.
Seventy dams had burst and 85% of the country's dams were full, meaning that "even low amounts of rainfall will cause flooding," he added. |
Filming wrapped up a while ago, but not so much as a single official image has been released from Spider-Man: Homecoming as of yet. We do however have yet another promo poster (via @tomhollandbr ) from an Italian VFX event. As you can see, it doesn't reveal much, but we do get another look at Peter Parker fully suited up and clearly ready to leap into action against The Vulture.Sadly, there's still no sign of that villain, but he'll hopefully be included in the first batch of official images from the reboot...whenever they arrive! With rumours pointing to the trailer debuting with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story , that could be sooner rather than later, but we'll have to wait and see. |
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The Rev. Billy Graham became known as "America's pastor" by refusing to pick a political side while reaching out to other religious leaders and invoking "the Lord" rather than Jesus. But his son, the Rev. Franklin Graham, isn't practicing what his father preached.
The Swiss government's financial regulatory authority - FINMA, just released official guidelines to regulate certain initial coin offerings (ICOs). The move will help recognize cryptocurrencies as part of the financial system of the country. While other nations have been largely skeptical of cryptocurrencies, with some even placing bans on them; Switzer […]
PARIS/BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany and France pressed on Monday for a rapid deal between Greece and its private creditors that cuts its soaring debt to sustainable levels and said they were committed to a sealing a new bailout for Athens by March to avert a disastrous default.
Euro zone finance ministers met in Brussels to discuss the terms of a Greek debt restructuring and new treaties that will pave the way for tighter fiscal discipline and a new rescue fund the bloc wants in place by mid-year.
Ahead of that meeting, French Finance Minister Francois Baroinsaid an elusive deal to convince the banks and investment funds that own Greek debt to accept deep losses on their holdings appeared to be “taking shape.”
But his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble warned that any deal must help Greece cut its debt mountain to “not much more than 120 percent of GDP” by the end of the decade, from roughly 160 percent today, something many economists believe will not be achieved by the existing plan.
“The negotiations will be difficult, but we want the second program for Greece to be implemented in March so that the second (bailout) tranche can be released,” Schaeuble told a news conference in Paris with Baroin and the heads of the German and French central banks.
“Greece must fulfill its commitments, it is difficult and there is already a lot of delay,” Schaeuble said.
After several rounds of talks, Greece and its private creditors are converging on a deal in which private bondholders would take a real loss of 65 to 70 percent on their Greek bonds, officials close to the negotiations say.
But some details of the debt restructuring, which will involve swapping existing Greek bonds for new, longer-term bonds are unresolved.
Charles Dallara, the Institute of International Finance chief who is negotiating on behalf of the private debt holders, left Athens over the weekend saying banks had no room to improve their offer.
Sources close to the talks told Reuters on Monday that the impasse centered on questions of whether the deal would return Greece’s debt mountain, currently over 350 billion euros, to levels that European governments believe are sustainable.
“There will likely be an updated debt sustainability analysis that will be discussed at the Eurogroup,” a banking source in Athens said, requesting anonymity. “Talks will continue this week. The aim is to have an agreement by late next Monday.”
In Brussels, European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said talks had been “moving well” and expressed confidence a deal could be sealed this week.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was no question of extending Greece a bridging loan if talks with the private sector dragged on further.
The euro pushed up to its highest level against the dollar in nearly three weeks on hopes Greece and the banks could overcome differences and seal a successful debt swap.
LAGARDE DEMANDS
Speaking in Berlin not far from Merkel’s Chancellery, IMF chiefChristine Lagarde urged European governments to increase their financial firewall to prevent Greece’s troubles from ensnaring bigger countries like Italy and Spain.
She also called on European leaders to complement the “fiscal compact” they agreed last month with some form of financial risk-sharing, mentioning euro zone bonds or bills, or a debt redemption fund as possible options.
“I don’t think it is right to do one new thing then do another, let’s get the ESM working,” Merkel said, reiterating that Germany was prepared to accelerate the flow of capital into the ESM ahead of its planned introduction in mid-2012.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, who has complained openly that his reform efforts have not been recognized by the markets, is reportedly pushing for the rescue fund to be doubled to 1 trillion euros. Lagarde stopped short of advocating that, saying: “I am not saying double it.”
But she did speak out in favor of folding funds from the EFSF into the ESM to give it more firepower.
The more immediate worry is Greece. Without the second bailout from the euro zone and the International Monetary Fund, Athens will not be able to pay back 14.5 billion euros in maturing bonds in March, triggering a messy default that would hurt the entire euro zone and send tremors beyond the 13-year old single currency bloc.
DETERIORATION
Euro zone leaders agreed in October that the second bailout would total 130 billion euros, if private bondholders forgave half of what Greece owes them in nominal terms.
But Greek economic prospects have deteriorated since then, which means either euro zone governments or investors will have to contribute more than thought.
A key sticking point is the coupon, or interest rate, the new Greek bonds would carry. Officials said the new bonds are likely to be 30 years in maturity and carry a progressively higher coupon, which would average out at around 4 percent.
Progress will be presented to the Eurogroup, the euro zone ministers, by Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
“We will listen to the Greek finance minister to hear what models there are,” said Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter as the talks got under way. “It is important to have a long-term model so that Greece has time … We know that the banks are not overly happy, but a crash is far more expensive than such a long-term plan.”
After dealing with Greece, euro zone ministers will choose a replacement for European Central Bank Board member Jose Manuel Gonzales Paramo, whose term ends in May.
The 17 ministers of the euro zone will then be joined by 10 ministers from the other European Union countries to finalize a treaty setting up the euro zone’s permanent bailout fund, the
ESM.
The 27 EU finance ministers will also prepare the final draft of another treaty to sharply tighten fiscal discipline in the euro zone, called the “fiscal compact,” that is designed to ensure another sovereign debt crisis cannot happen in future.
EU leaders are to sign off on both treaties at a summit on January 30, allowing the ESM to become operational in July.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germans have failed to grasp how Muslim immigration has transformed their country and will have to come to terms with more mosques than churches throughout the countryside, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily. “Our country is going to carry on changing, and integration is also a task for the society taking up the task of dealing with immigrants,” Ms. Merkel told the daily newspaper. “For years we’ve been deceiving ourselves about this. Mosques, for example, are going to be a more prominent part of our cities than they were before.”
Germany, with a population of 4-5 million Muslims, has been divided in recent weeks by a debate Over remarks by the Bundesbank’s Thilo Sarrazin, who argued Turkish and Arab immigrants were failing to integrate and were swamping Germany with a higher birth rate.
The Chancellor’s remarks represent the first official acknowledgement that Germany ,like other European countries, is destined to become a stronghold of Islam. She has admitted that the country will soon become a stronghold. In France , 30% of children age 20 years and below are Muslims. The ratio in Paris and Marseille has soared to 45%. In southern France , there are more mosques than churches.
The situation within the United Kingdom is not much different. In the last 30 years, the Muslim population there has climbed from 82,000 to 2.5 million. Presently, there are over 1000 mosques throughout Great Britain – many of which were converted from churches.
In Belgium , 50% of the newborns are Muslims and reportedly its Islamic population hovers around 25%. A similar statistic holds true for The Netherlands. It’s the same story in Russia where one in five inhabitants is a Muslim.
Muammar Gaddafi recently stated that “There are signs that Allah will grant victory to Islam in Europe without a sword, without a gun, without conquest. We don’t need terrorists; we don’t need homicide bombers. The 50 plus million Muslims (in Europe )will turn it into the Muslim Continent within a few decades.” The numbers support him.
I think the Muslims are smarter than the Europeans. Muslims will reproduce like rabbits but the Islamic Countries do not need to feed the Muslims. Send them to European Countries and let the Europeans feed them and bring them up. Now who is “smarter”?? . (Folks the Asians have a similar agenda . Each country has the responsibility to take care of there own citizens and economies fairly they should not be allowed to impose and burden other countries with there citizens. It is a legal and moral responsibility of each countries governments to protect there own economic stability by honouring there own citizens first and for most and not allow foreign influences to hold sway in any way over our sovereignty especially dark ET Religious programming treachery Tami)
It is odious treachery that brought them to other countries so it is our responsibility to deport any and all threats to our sovereignty way of life and health and safety of our present and future societies. I have been told that most immigration policies like the banking agenda has been based on fraud and criminality so most immigrants will be deported back to there countries of origin. I am not against other cultures I am against willful attempts to undermine sovereignty of countries and destroy there way of life and economies! Tami
PARIS (Reuters) – It is a war that Barack Obama didn’t want, David Cameron didn’t need, Angela Merkel couldn’t cope with and Silvio Berlusconi dreaded.
Only Nicolas Sarkozy saw the popular revolt that began in Libya on February 15 as an opportunity for political and diplomatic redemption. Whether the French president‘s energetic leadership of an international coalition to protect the Libyan people from Muammar Gaddafi will be enough to revive his sagging domestic fortunes in next year’s election is highly uncertain.
But by pushing for military strikes that he hopes might repair France’s reputation in the Arab world, Sarkozy helped shape what type of war it would be. The road to Western military intervention was paved with mutual suspicion, fears of another quagmire in a Muslim country and doubts about the largely unknown ragtag Libyan opposition with which the West has thrown in its lot.
That will make it harder to hold together an uneasy coalition of Americans, Europeans and Arabs, the longer Gaddafi holds out. Almost two weeks into the air campaign, Western policymakers fret about the risk of a stray bomb hitting a hospital or an orphanage, or of the conflict sliding into a prolonged stalemate.
There is no doubt the outcome in Tripoli will have a bearing on the fate of the popular movement for change across the Arab world. But because this war was born in Paris it will also have consequences for Europe.
“It’s high time that Europeans stopped exporting their own responsibilities to Washington,” says Nick Witney, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “If the West fails in Libya, it will be primarily a European failure.”
A FRENCH FIASCO
When the first Arab pro-democracy uprisings shook the thrones of aging autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt in January, France had got itself on the wrong side of history.
Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie had enjoyed a winter holiday in Tunisia, a former French colony, oblivious to the rising revolt. She and her family had taken free flights on the private jet of a businessman close to President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, and then publicly offered the government French assistance with riot control just a few days before Ben Ali was ousted by popular protests.
Worse was to come. It turned out that French Prime Minister Francois Fillon had spent his Christmas vacation up the Nile as the guest of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the next autocrat in the Arab democracy movement’s firing line, while Sarkozy and his wife Carla had soaked up the winter sunshine in Morocco, another former French territory ruled by a barely more liberal divine-right monarch.
Television stations were re-running embarrassing footage of the president giving Gaddafi a red-carpet welcome in Paris in 2007, when Libya’s “brother leader” planted his tent in the grounds of the Hotel de Marigny state guest house across the road from the Elysee presidential palace.
On February 27, a few days after Libyan rebels hoisted the pre-Gaddafi tricolor flag defiantly in Benghazi, Sarkozy fired his foreign minister. In a speech announcing the appointment of Alain Juppe as her successor, Sarkozy cited the need to adapt France’s foreign and security policy to the new situation created by the Arab uprisings. “This is an historic change,” he said. “We must not be afraid of it. We must have one sole aim: to accompany, support and help the people who have chosen freedom.”
MAN IN THE WHITE SHIRT
Yet the international air campaign against Gaddafi’s forces might never have happened without the self-appointed activism of French public intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy, a left-leaning philosopher and talk-show groupie, who lobbied Sarkozy to take up the cause of Libya’s pro-democracy rebels.
Libya was the latest of a string of international causes that the libertarian icon with his unbuttoned white designer shirts and flowing mane of greying hair has championed over the last two decades after Bosnian Muslims, Algerian secularists, Afghan rebels and Georgia’s side in the conflict with Russia. Levy went to meet the Libyan rebels and telephoned Sarkozy from Benghazi in early March.
“I’d like to bring you the Libyan Massouds,” Levy says he told the president, comparing the anti-Gaddafi opposition with former Afghan warlord Ahmad Shah Massoud, who fought against the Islamist Taliban before being assassinated. “As Gaddafi only clings on through violence, I think he’ll collapse,” the philosopher told Reuters in an interview.
On March 10, Levy accompanied two envoys of the Libyan Transitional Council to Sarkozy’s office. To their surprise and to the consternation of France’s allies, the president recognized the council as the “legitimate representative of the Libyan people” and told them he favored not only establishing a no-fly zone to protect them but also carrying out “limited targeted strikes” against Gaddafi’s forces. In doing so without consultation on the eve of a European Union summit called to discuss Libya, Sarkozy upstaged Washington, which was still debating what to do, embarrassed London, which wanted broad support for a no-fly zone, and infuriated Berlin, France’s closest European partner. He also stunned his own foreign minister, who learned about the decision to recognize the opposition from a news agency dispatch, aides said, while in Brussels trying to coax the EU into backing a no-fly zone.
“Quite a lot of members of the European Council were irritated to discover that France had recognized the Libyan opposition council and the Elysee was talking of targeted strikes,” a senior European diplomat said. Across the Channel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, aware of the deep unpopularity of the Iraq war, had turned his back on Tony Blair’s doctrine of liberal interventionism when he took office in 2010. But after facing criticism over the slow evacuation of British nationals from Libya and a trade-promotion trip to the Gulf in the midst of the Arab uprisings, he overruled cabinet skeptics, military doubters and critics among his own Conservative lawmakers to join Sarkozy in campaigning for military action. However, Cameron sought to reassure parliament that he was not entering an Iraq-style open-ended military commitment.
“This is different to Iraq. This is not going into a country, knocking over its government and then owning and being responsible for everything that happens subsequently,” he said. In Britain, as in France, the government won bipartisan support for intervention.
GERMANY MISSING IN ACTION
In Germany, on the other hand, the Libyan uprising was an unwelcome distraction from domestic politics. It played directly into the campaign for regional elections in Baden-Wuerttemberg, a south-western state which Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats had governed since 1953.
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, leader of the Free Democrats, the liberal junior partners in Merkel’s coalition, tried to surf on pacifist public opinion by opposing military action. Polls showed two-thirds of voters opposed German involvement in Libya, a country where Nazi Germany’s Afrika Korps had suffered desert defeats in World War Two. Present-day Germany’s armed forces were already overstretched in Afghanistan, where some 5,000 soldiers are engaged in an unpopular long-term mission. Westerwelle made it impossible for Merkel to support a no-fly zone, even without participating. He publicly criticized the Franco-British proposal for a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the use of force to prevent Gaddafi using his air force against Libyan civilians. Merkel said she was skeptical. The Germans prevented a March 11 EU summit from making any call for a no-fly zone, much to the frustration of the French and British.
Relations between France’s Juppe and Westerwelle deteriorated further the following week when Germany prevented foreign ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized powers from calling for a no-fly zone in Libya. Westerwelle told reporters: “Military intervention is not the solution. From our point of view, it is very difficult and dangerous. We do not want to get sucked into a war in North Africa. We would not like to step on a slippery slope where we all are at the end in a war.”
That argument angered allies. As the meeting broke up, a senior European diplomat tells Reuters, Juppe turned to Westerwelle and said: “Now that you have achieved everything you wanted, Gaddafi can go ahead and massacre his people.”
When the issue came to the U.N. Security Council on March 17, 10 days before the Baden-Wuerttemberg election, Germany abstained, along with Russia, China, India and Brazil, and said it would take no part in military operations.
Ironically, that stance seems to have been politically counterproductive. The center-right coalition lost the regional election anyway, and both leaders were severely criticized by German media for having isolated Germany from its western partners, including the United States. The main political beneficiaries were the ecologist Greens, seen as both anti-nuclear and anti-war.
U.S. TAKES ITS TIME
In Washington, meanwhile, President Barack Obama was, as usual, taking his time to make up his mind. Military action in Libya was the last thing the U.S. president needed, just when he was trying to extricate American troops from two unpopular wars in Muslim countries launched by his predecessor, George W. Bush.
Obama had sought to rebuild damaged relations with the Muslim world, seen as a key driver of radicalization and terrorism against the United States. The president trod a fine line in embracing pro-democracy and reform movements in the Arab world and Iran while trying to avoid undermining vital U.S. interests in the absolute monarchies of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other Gulf states. Compared to those challenges, Libya was a sideshow.
The United States had no big economic or political interests in the North African oil and gas producing state and instinctively saw it as part of Europe’s backyard. Obama had also sought to encourage allies, notably in Europe, to take more responsibility for their own security issues. Spelling out the administration’s deep reluctance to get dragged into another potential Arab quagmire, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a farewell speech to officer cadets at the West Point military academy on March 4: “In my opinion, any future Defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should ‘have his head examined’, as General (Douglas) MacArthur so delicately put it.”
Prominent U.S. foreign policy lawmakers, including Democratic Senator John Kerry and Republican Senator John McCain pressed the Obama administration in early March to impose a “no- fly” zone over Libya and explore other military options, such as bombing runways. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on February 28 that a “no-fly” zone was “an option which we are actively considering”.
But the White House pushed back against pressure from lawmakers. “It would be premature to send a bunch of weapons to a post office box in eastern Libya,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said on March 7. “We need to not get ahead of ourselves in terms of the options we’re pursuing.”
While Carney said a no-fly zone was a serious option, other U.S. civilian and military officials cautioned that it would be difficult to enforce.
On March 10, U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper forecast in Congress that Gaddafi’s better-equipped forces would prevail in the long term, saying Gaddafi appeared to be “hunkering down for the duration”. If there was to be intervention, it had become clear, it would have to come quickly.
ARAB SPINE
U.S. officials say the key event that helped Clinton and the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, persuade Obama of the need for intervention was a March 12 decision by the Arab League to ask the U.N. Security Council to declare a no-fly zone to protect the Libyan population. The Arab League’s unprecedented resolve — the organization has long been plagued by chronic divisions and a lack of spine — reflected the degree to which Gaddafi had alienated his peers, especially Saudi Arabia. When the quixotic colonel bothered to attend Arab summits, it was usually to insult the Saudi king and other veteran rulers.
The Arab League decision gave a regional seal of approval that Western nations regarded as vital for military action.
Moreover, two Arab states – Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – soon said they would participate in enforcing a no-fly zone, and a third, Lebanon, co-sponsored a United Nations resolution to authorize the use of force. Arab diplomats said Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, a former Egyptian foreign minister with presidential ambitions, played the key role in squeezing an agreement out of the closed-door meeting.
Syria, Sudan, Algeria and Yemen were all against any move to invite foreign intervention in an Arab state. But diplomats said that by couching the resolution as an appeal to the U.N. Security Council, Moussa maneuvered his way around Article VI of the Arab League’s statutes requiring that such decisions be taken unanimously. It was he who announced the outcome, saying Gaddafi’s government had lost legitimacy because of its “crimes against the Libyan people”.
The African Union, in which Gaddafi played an active but idiosyncratic role, condemned the Libyan leader’s crackdown but rejected foreign military intervention and created a panel of leaders to try to resolve the conflict through dialogue.
However, all three African states on the Security Council – South Africa, Nigeria and Gabon – voted for the resolution. France acted as if it had AU support anyway. Sarkozy invited the organization’s secretary-general, Jean Ping, to the Elysee palace for a showcase summit of coalition countries on the day military action began, and he attended, providing African political cover for the operation.
OBAMA DECIDES
Having failed to win either EU or G8 backing for a no-fly zone, and with the United States internally divided and holding back, France and Britain were in trouble in their quest for a U.N. resolution despite the Arab League support. Gaddafi’s forces had regrouped and recaptured a swathe of the western and central coastal plain, including some key oil terminals, and were advancing fast on Benghazi, a city of 700,000 and the rebels’ stronghold. If international intervention did not come within days, it would be too late. Gaddafi’s troops would be in the population centers, making surgical air strikes impossible without inflicting civilian casualties.
In the nick of time, Obama came off the fence on March 15 at a two-part meeting of his National Security Council. Hillary Clinton participated by telephone from Paris, Susan Rice by secure video link from New York. Both were deeply aware of the events of the 1990s, when Bill Clinton’s administration, in which Rice was an adviser on Africa, had failed to prevent genocide in Rwanda, and only intervened in Bosnia after the worst massacre in Europe since World War Two.
They reviewed what was at stake now. There were credible reports that Gaddafi forces were preparing to massacre the rebels. What signal would it send to Arab democrats if the West let him get away with that, and if Mubarak and Ben Ali, whose armies refused to turn their guns on the people, were overthrown while Gaddafi, who had used his airforce, tanks and artillery against civilian protesters, survived in office?
The president overruled doubters among his military and national security advisers and decided the United States would support an ambitious U.N. resolution going beyond just a no-fly zone, on the strict condition that Washington would quickly hand over leadership of the military action to its allies. “Within days, not weeks,” one participant quoted him as saying.
A senior administration official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the key concern was to avoid any impression that the United States was once again unilaterally bombing an Arab country. Asked what had swung Washington toward agreeing to join military action in Libya, he said: “It’s more that events were evolving and so positions had to address the change of events.”
“The key elements were the Arab League statement, the Lebanese support, co-sponsorship of the actual resolution as the Arab representative on the Security Council, a series of conversations with Arab leaders over the course of that week, leading up to the resolution. All of that convinced us that the Arab countries were fully supportive of the broad resolution that would provide the authorization necessary to protect civilians and to provide humanitarian relief, and then the (March 19) gathering in Paris, confirmed that there was support for the means necessary to carry out the resolution, namely the use of military force,” the official said.
When Rice told her French and British counterparts at the United Nations that Washington now favored a far more aggressive Security Council resolution, including air and sea strikes, they first feared a trap. Was Obama deliberately trying to provoke a Russian veto, a French official mused privately.
“I had a phone call from Susan Rice, Tuesday 8 p.m., and a phone call from Susan Rice at 11 p.m., and everything had changed in three hours,” a senior Western envoy told Reuters. “On Wednesday morning, at the (Security) Council, in a sort of totally awed silence, Susan Rice said: ‘We want to be allowed to strike Libyan forces on the ground.’ There was a sort of a bit surprised silence.”
THE VOTE
Right up to the day of the vote, when Juppe took a plane to New York to swing vital votes behind the resolution, Moscow’s attitude was uncertain. So too were the three African votes. British and French diplomats tried desperately to contact the Nigerian, South African and Gabonese ambassadors but kept being told they were in a meeting.
“There was drama right up to the last minute,” another U.N. diplomat said. That day, March 17, Clinton had just come out of a television studio in Tunis, epicenter of the first Arab democratic revolution, when she spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on a secure cellphone. Lavrov, who had strongly opposed a no-fly zone when they met in Geneva on February 28 and remained skeptical when they talked again in Paris on March 14, told her Moscow would not block the resolution. The senior U.S. official denied that Washington had offered Russia trade and diplomatic benefits in return for acquiescence, as suggested by a senior non-American diplomat. However, Obama telephoned President Dimitry Medvedev the following week and reaffirmed his support for Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization, which U.S. ally Georgia is blocking.
China too abstained, allowing the resolution to pass with 10 votes in favor, five abstentions and none against. It authorized the use of “all necessary measures” – code for military action — to protect the civilian population but expressly ruled out a foreign occupation force in any part of Libya. The United States construes it to allow arms sales to the rebels. Most others do not.
Reuters reported exclusively on March 29 that Obama had signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces. The White House and the Central Intelligence Agency declined comment. Clinton said no decision had been taken on whether to arm the rebels.
ARAB JITTERS, COLD TURKEY
No sooner had the first cruise missiles been fired than the Arab League’s Moussa complained that the Western powers had gone beyond the U.N. resolution and caused civilian casualties. His outburst appeared mainly aimed at assuaging Arab public opinion, particularly in Egypt, and he muted his criticism after telephone calls from Paris, London and Washington.
Turkey, the leading Muslim power in NATO with big economic interests in Libya, bitterly criticized the military action in an Islamic country. The Turks were exasperated to see France, the most vociferous adversary of its EU membership bid, leading the coalition. Sarkozy, who alternated on a brief maiden visit to Ankara on February 25 between trying to sell Turkish leaders French nuclear power plants and telling them bluntly to drop their EU ambitions, further angered Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan by failing to invite Turkey to the Paris conference on Libya.
Italy, the former colonial power which had Europe’s biggest trade and investment ties with Libya, had publicly opposed military action until the last minute, but opened its air bases to coalition forces as soon as the U.N. resolution passed. However, Rome quickly demanded that NATO, in which it had a seat at the decision-making table, should take over command of the whole operation. Foreign Minister Franco Frattini threatened to take back control of the vital Italian bases unless the mission was placed under NATO.
But Turkey and France were fighting diplomatic dogfights at NATO headquarters. Ankara wanted to use its NATO veto put the handcuffs on the coalition to stop offensive operations. France wanted to keep political leadership away from the U.S.-led military alliance to avoid a hostile reaction in the Arab world.
The United States signaled its determination to hand over operational command within days, not weeks, as Obama had promised, and wanted tried-and-trusted NATO at the wheel.
It took a week of wrangling before agreement was reached for NATO to take charge of the entire military campaign. In return, France won agreement to create a “contact group” including Arab and African partners, to coordinate political efforts on Libya’s future. Turkey was assuaged by being invited to a London international conference that launched that process.
That enabled the United States to lower its profile and Obama to declare that Washington would not act alone as the world’s policeman “wherever repression occurs”. While the president promised to scale back U.S. involvement to a “supporting role”, the military statistics tell a different tale. As of March 29, the United States had fired all but 7 of the 214 cruise missiles used in the conflict and flown 1,103 sorties compared to 669 for all other allies combined. It also dropped 455 of the first 600 bombs, according to the Pentagon.
For all the showcasing of Arab involvement, only six military aircraft from Qatar had arrived in theater by March 30. They joined French air patrols but did not fly combat missions, a military source said. Sarkozy announced that the United Arab Emirates would send 12 F16 fighters , but NATO and UAE officials refused to say when they would arrive. Britain’s Cameron spoke of unspecified logistical contributions from Kuwait and Jordan. The main Arab contribution is clearly political cover rather than military assets.
CASUALTY LIST
While the duration and the outcome of the war remain uncertain, some political casualties are already visible.
Unless the conflict ends in disaster, Germany and its chancellor and foreign minister – particularly the latter – are set to emerge as losers. “I can tell you there are people in London and Paris who are asking themselves whether this Germany is the kind of country we would like to have as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. That’s a legitimate question which wasn’t posed before,” a senior European diplomat told Reuters. German officials brush aside such talk, saying Berlin would have the backing of its western partners and needs support from developing and emerging countries more in tune with its abstention on the Libya resolution.
Merkel has moved quickly to try to limit the damage. She attended the Paris conference and went along with an EU summit statement on March 25 welcoming the U.N. resolution on which her own government had abstained a week earlier. She also offered NATO extra help in aerial surveillance in Afghanistan to free up Western resources for the Libya campaign.
A second conspicuous casualty has been the European Union’s attempt to build a common foreign, security and Defense policy, and the official meant to personify that ambition, High Representative Catherine Ashton. Many in Paris, London, Brussels and Washington have drawn the conclusion that European Defense is an illusion, given Germany’s visceral reticence about military action. Future serious operations are more likely to be left to NATO, or to coalitions of the willing around Britain and France. By general agreement, Ashton has so far had a bad war. Despite having been among the first European officials to embrace the Arab uprisings and urge the EU to engage with democracy movements in North Africa, she angered both the British and French by airing her doubts about a no-fly zone and the Germans by subsequently welcoming the U.N. resolution. Unable to please everyone, she managed to please no one.
As for Sarkozy, whether he emerges as a hero or a reckless adventurer may depend on events beyond his control in the sands of Libya. Justin Vaisse, a Frenchman who heads the Center for the Study of the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution think-tank in Washington, detected an undertone of “Francophobia and Sarkophobia” among U.S. policy elites as the war began. “Either the war will go well, and he will look like a far-sighted, decisive leader, or it will go badly and reinforce the image of a showboating cowboy driving the world into war,” Vaisse said. The jury is still out.
(Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry in Paris, Arshad Mohammed, David Alexander and Mark Hosenball in Washington, David Brunnstrom in Brussels, Lou Charbonneau and Patrick Worsnip at the United Nations, Peter Apps in London, Andreas Rinke and Sabine Siebold in Berlin, Yasmine Saleh in Cairo, Simon Cameron-Moore in Istanbul and Maria Golovnina in Tripoli; writing by Paul Taylor; editing by Simon Robinson and Sara Ledwith)
And in Germany a protest against the authoritarian Berlin government unequalled in scale and drawing support from all sections of society, has ended with an unparelleled victory. It is true that the nuclear waste which was the immediate focus of the protest finally reached its destination in Gorleben this morning. But what happened in the preceding 48 hours has changed the political landscape.
The Berlin academic Klaus Hurrelmann said the protests were a “spark from which a new political movement can grow.“
How long until a new political movement is born that gives a voice to the people and restores their freedom and rights?
„There is a feeling that those on top just do whatever they want and consider the people to be stupid. We won’t put up with that. We’re going to get involved,“ sociologist Dieter Rucht said, summing up the feeling of the people of Germany.
The police operation against the protestors in Wendland went on for more than two days and night without a break. It took two days and nights for the police to beat clear a path for the transport of nuclear waste to a depot in Gorleben, northern Germany.
The police had to fight for every inch of the railway track, for every inch of the road, for every crossing and for every track through the woods. No one took a step back. And if the police finally cleared the last 4,000 protestors this morning from the road to allow the convoy of trucks laden with Castor containers to trundle into Gorleben depot, it was only because there were a staggering 20,000 police officers, hundreds of police cars, helicopters, mounted police deployed.
But not even the sheer numbers would have been enough in the face of such determined, organised and creative resistance. The police literally had to beat the protestors out of the way and they did so with incredible brutality.
Medical personnel treating injured activists were themselves beaten by the police, reported Gabriele Pelce. Police even stopped medics bringing a woman in Leitstade whose leg had been broken to hospital, forcing her to lie in agony in the freezing cold. Protestors who had climbed a tree where brought down with tear gas and beaten with batons when they fell to the ground. At least 1000 people suffered injuries. The brutality of the police seemed to know no bounds Fingers were smashed with blows. Faces bled from punches to the head.
The police chiefs clearly reckoned that no civilians could or would withstand the assaults with batons, pepper spray and the tear gas, or stand up to such punishment. They thought that the people – school children, students, the elderly protesting on behalf of their children at work– would crack under the relentless harrassment, the threats of arrest and imprisonment, the freezing cold, the tear gas, batons, horses, helicopters, water cannon, dogs as well as the relentless glare of the floodlights that made the wood as bright as day at midnight.
But everyone stood their ground and now the whole country talks about the protestors with deep respsect – a respect that no single politician has been talked about for years.
At stake was not just the nuclear policy of the government, rejected by the overwhelming majority of the people and profiting just a handful of corporations. At stake was the whole issue of whether Germany is still a democracy in which the government follows the will of the people or an authoritarian police state run by corporations and banks for their profit.
As in Stuttgart it was the ordinary people who came out in force to defend democracy. In Stuttgart, it was the students, schoolchildren, the elderly, teachers, doctors, the farmers, lawyers, artists who stood up against particular corporate interests and corrupt politicians.
The protests in Wendland mark another high water mark. Again, ordinary people turned out in force to defend democracy and the principles of freedom with unflinching determination and courage.
The police lashed out wildly at protestors. Yet it was the police who became exhausted and who broke down sooner, their morale in shreds, their nerves worn out. It was the police who ended up discredited for fighting for the coporations like hired mercenaries.
Even Konrad Freiberg from the police union GdP today attacked the decision by Chancellor Angela Merkel to push through the extension of nuclear energy in spite of a legally binding agreement to phase it out as ”a highpoint of fatal political paths of error.”
“It was a huge political error to unilaterally cancel the consensus on nuclear energy that had been formed with so much difficulty,” he said.
Freiberg accused the government of pushing the police into the role of “those who help accomplish the retention of power by politicians.”
He said that the “intransparent, contradictory politics of the government that appears one-sided and favourable [to corporations]” is driving citizens “rightly” onto the streets.
There was something really awe inspiring and amazing in the willingness of so many people from all walks of life to stand together and work together for the common good. Five Greenpeace activists held up the transport by road for hours yesterday by chaining themselves to a steel pipe in the road inside a lorry. Four farmers chained themselves to a pyramid. Every part of wendland, every village, every farm, every inn, every shop became a unit in the line of defence, and bore the brunt of the attack by the corporate-controlled government on the fundamental principles of a democratic state and yet their hearts and nerves did not fail them. 600 tractors skillfully repulsed the advancing columns of water cannon trucks and police cars bringing reinforcements. Other farmers drove sheep and goats onto the road to block the police. The local post office set up a branch close to the main base of the resistance and helped people to send postcards. These were the kind of people that stood in the line of the main attack.
None of the people will be the same again. Germany will surely never be the same again. Their intelligent, creative and effective resistance will never be forgotten.
The protestors showed an astonishing good humour, courage and powers of endurance, singing songs, playing music, sharing food and blankets, buoyed by bonds of solidarity and support from the general public. Thanks to intelligent organisation and logistics, they created in the bleak and muddy woods, turning gold in autumn, an efficient and homely camp with a field kitchen, a pizza oven, and hot soup. There they planned their blockades, pouring over maps, communicating with the world via sms, ready to fight for freedom with an unshakeable committement, incredible resourcefulness and a a readiness for sacrifice that was amazing.
Anyone has had to sleep outside for even one night in subzero temperatures in the rain will understand what spending 48 hours outdoors in the muddy woods of northern Germany means. And then, on top of that, to have to face the massed ranks of the police, see the horses and hear the thuds of the truncheons, the shouts, and with hardly any sleep.
Their protest capturing the imagination and sympathy of the general public has left the government even more isolated and the corproate clique who run the country, whose leading figures belong to bizarre little freemason lodges with eccentric beliefs in some super race that they do not belong to if there were ever such a thing, and who rely on the brute force of the police, and on brainwashing by the the controlled media to push through their agenda in a very precarious position.
The defense of democracy and freedom has come not from the political parties, not from organisation such as Amnesty Internation. This defense againt the globalist totalitarian agenda has come from the ordinary people, who mobilised, who came out onto the streets, and who would not be beaten and intimidated.
The ordinary people were ready to brave the cold and rain, to walk for kilometres through woods, to be beaten by police, and to raise their banners over and over again after they were ripped from their hands, to be assualted with pepper spray, freeze in the night time, sit in blockades, to endure spartan conditions for freedom. Conscious of the risks, knowing the dangers they would face, they had come well prepared, wearing thick clothes, bringing sleeping backs, practising blockades for the time when the police would “lift them”.
The courage and friendly concern of the protestors as they faced the clatter of boots, the thuds of the truncheons, the sound of helicopters high up in the night car, the sirens of police cars has proven so effective that they have brought the police state to its knees. Together these people repulsed the concerted attempt by the corporations to leverage the police forces to ram through their take over of the political structures and economy and establish a Germany where the people are to work and pay taxes, to fight in the armies and kill and be killed for the profits of the corporations and have absolutely no say.
The police know better than anyone how stubbornly the people resisted. The people had to be dragged away into camps, refusing to walk inspite of the fact that they could have walked away and gone home. Thy preferred to spend the night in subzero temperatures out in the open in an improvised prison surrounded by police vehicles than to get to their feet on the orders of the police. They preferred to sleep in the mud and frost in blankets and with no waste or food and suffer hypothermia than to march on the orders of the police. These were people who were ready to endure yet another night in the freezing cold rather than give up to the authoritarian police state.
It is a moot question where so much courage, community spirit and strength was forged. A glance at Tacitus’s book Germania gives a clue. He describes the tribes inhabiting northern Germany in a way that would seem to fit the protestors.
„A region so vast, the Chaucians do not only possess but fill; a people of all the Germans the most noble, such as would rather maintain their grandeur by justice than violence. They live in repose, retired from broils abroad, void of avidity to possess more, free from a spirit of domineering over others. They provoke no wars, they ravage no countries, they pursue no plunder. Of their bravery and power, the chief evidence arises from hence, that, without wronging or oppressing others, they are come to be superior to all. Yet they are all ready to arm, and if an exigency require, armies are presently raised, powerful and abounding as they are in men and horses; and even when they are quiet and their weapons laid aside, their credit and name continue equally high,” Tacitus wrote 2000 years ago. |
Lena Dunham accepts Howard Stern’s apology on air
Lena Dunham accepted an invitation to appear on Howard Stern’s radio show on Wednesday so he could apologize in person for branding her “fat.”
The shock jock called the “Girls” creator a “camera hog” and “a little fat girl who kind of looks like Jonah Hill” after first watching her hit TV show, but soon changed his mind and began heaping praise on the star as the series continued.
He reached out to Dunham and invited her onto his Sirius-XM show to say sorry for his rude remarks, and the gracious Golden Globe winner accepted the offer.
During their chat on Wednesday, Stern bombarded Dunham with compliments, insisting, “I realize: not only am I addicted (to ‘Girls’), but I totally get you. I’m in love with you and your character.”
Stern then tried to take back his comments about her weight by assuring the star she isn’t “obese or anything”, prompting a giggling Dunham to reply, “Howard Stern says I’m ‘not obese or anything’… I appreciate it and I appreciate your effort to rectify (the situation), but whether you’d done that or not, I’d have remained a (Stern) enthusiast.” |
Vatican City, Feb 18, 2018 / 09:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Lent is a time to face our temptations and be converted by the Gospel, Pope Francis said in his Angelus address on the first Sunday of Lent.
His reflections were based on the passage in the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus is tempted by Satan in the desert for 40 days.
Jesus goes into the desert to prepare for his mission on earth, the Pope said.
While Jesus has no need of conversion himself, he must go to the desert out of obedience to God the Father and “for us, to give us the grace to overcome temptation.”
“For us, too, Lent is a time of spiritual ‘training’, of spiritual combat: we are called to face the Evil one through prayer, to be able, with God’s help, to overcome him in our daily life,” he continued.
Immediately after he is tempted, Jesus goes out of the desert to preach the Gospel, which demands conversion from all who hear it, the Holy Father said.
“(Jesus) proclaims, ‘Repent, and believe in the Gospel!’ — believe, that is, in this Good News that the kingdom of God is at hand. In our life we always have need of conversion — every day! — and the Church has us pray for this. In fact, we are never sufficiently oriented toward God, and we must continually direct our mind and our heart to Him.”
Lent is the time to have the courage to reject anything that leads us away from God and repent, Francis noted, “but it is not a sad time!”
“It is a joyful and serious duty to strip ourselves of our selfishness, of our ‘old man,’ and to renew ourselves according to the grace of our Baptism,” he said.
During Lent, we must listen to the call of Christ and be converted, recognizing that true happiness lies in God alone, Francis said.
He concluded his address with an appeal to Mary:
“May Mary Most Holy help us to live this Lent with fidelity to the Word of God and with incessant prayer, as Jesus did in the desert. It is not impossible! It means living the days with the desire to welcome the love that comes from God, and that desires to transform our life, and the whole world.” |
Q:
Shortest way to initialize a dictionary
Is there a terser way to declare and initialize a dictionary in F#?
let grid = Map.empty
.Add(0, true).Add(1, true).Add(2, true)
.Add(3, true).Add(4, false).Add(5, true)
.Add(6, true).Add(7, true).Add(8, true)
A:
I use:
[0, true
1, false
2, true]
|> Map.ofList
A:
@CaringDev's answer is good, but there's yet another consideration.
The elements of the tuple have key/value relation, so for best clarity I use the following definition:
let (=>) x y = x,y
This lets me write a very readable, self-documented code like this:
let myValue1 =
Map [
0 => true
1 => false
2 => false
]
Also, let makeMap x = new Map<_,_>(x) lets you write the code in another style, depending on your team's coding conventions:
let myValue2 =
[
0 => true
1 => false
2 => false
] |> makeMap
|
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Discussion: This report further bolsters the view that the quality of the acute psychedelic experience is a key mediator of long-term changes in mental health. Future therapeutic work with psychedelics should recognize the essential importance of quality of experience in determining treatment efficacy and consider ways of enhancing mystical-type experiences and reducing anxiety.
Results: For the interaction of OBN and DED with Time (QIDS-SR as dependent variable), the main effect and the effects at each time point compared to baseline were all significant ( p = 0.002 and p = 0.003, respectively, for main effects), confirming our main hypothesis. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation of OBN with QIDS-SR (5 weeks) was specific compared to perceptual dimensions of the ASC ( p < 0.05).
Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with treatment resistant depression underwent treatment with psilocybin (two separate sessions: 10 and 25 mg psilocybin). The Altered States of Consciousness (ASC) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of experiences in the 25 mg psilocybin session. From the ASC, the dimensions OBN and DED were used to measure the mystical-type and challenging experiences, respectively. The Self-Reported Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS-SR) at 5 weeks served as the endpoint clinical outcome measure, as in later time points some of the subjects had gone on to receive new treatments, thus confounding inferences. In a repeated measure ANOVA, Time was the within-subject factor (independent variable), with QIDS-SR as the within-subject dependent variable in baseline, 1-day, 1-week, 5-weeks. OBN and DED were independent variables. OBN-by-Time and DED-by-Time interactions were the primary outcomes of interest.
Introduction: It is a basic principle of the “psychedelic” treatment model that the quality of the acute experience mediates long-term improvements in mental health. In the present paper we sought to test this using data from a clinical trial assessing psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In line with previous reports, we hypothesized that the occurrence and magnitude of Oceanic Boundlessness (OBN) (sharing features with mystical-type experience) and Dread of Ego Dissolution (DED) (similar to anxiety) would predict long-term positive outcomes, whereas sensory perceptual effects would have negligible predictive value.
Introduction
Psychedelic therapy may be more appropriately thought of as a distinct form of (drug-assisted) psychotherapy than as a pure pharmacotherapy. Psychedelic therapy involves a small number of high-dose psychedelic dosing sessions that are intended to facilitate a profound, potentially transformative psychological experience (Dyck, 2006; Majić et al., 2015). Psychedelic dosing sessions do not take place in isolation but rather are flanked by psychological preparation and integration. Preparation is intended to facilitate trust and rapport and a mind-set tuned toward emotional openness and “letting go” of psychological resistance (Richards, 2015; Russ and Elliott, 2017). Dosing sessions themselves typically take place in a welcoming environment, with dim lighting, eye-shades, calming and emotionally-directing music, with empathic support provided by trained therapists. The integration sessions subsequent to the dosing session(s) involve the same therapists (usually two) listening to the patient's narrative of their experience, which may include e.g., details of specific emotional insights.
A guiding principle of psychedelic psychotherapy is that the occurrence of a profound, potentially transformative psychological experience is critical to the treatment's efficacy. Evidence has shown that high-dose psychedelic sessions can reliably produce profound psychological experiences rated among the most “meaningful” of a person's life (Griffiths et al., 2006). A number of research teams have referred to these profound experiences and have applied relevant rating scales that have evolved out of studies of spontaneous and drug-induced “mystical,” “spiritual,” “peak” or “religious” experiences (Maslow, 1959; Stace, 1960; Pahnke and Richards, 1966; Maclean et al., 2012). Regardless of the terms chosen to define them, evidence suggests that profound psychological experiences can be predictive of subsequent psychological health, whether induced by psychedelics (O'Reilly and Funk, 1964; Klavetter and Mogar, 1967; Pahnke et al., 1970; Kurland et al., 1972; Richards et al., 1977; Maclean et al., 2011; Garcia-Romeu et al., 2014; Bogenschutz et al., 2015; Griffiths et al., 2016; Johnson et al., 2016; Ross et al., 2016), or other means (James, 1902; Maslow, 1959; Noyes Jr, 1980; Ludwig, 1985; Csikszentmihalyi and Csikszentmihalyi, 1992; Snell and Simmonds, 2015). Furthermore, some recent ketamine for depression studies have also found an association between the quality of acute experience (Sos et al., 2013; Luckenbaugh et al., 2014)—including the occurrence of mystical-type experiences (Dakwar et al., 2014)—subsequent positive clinical outcomes. Given the growing evidence favoring the therapeutic value of psychedelics (dos Santos et al., 2016; Rucker et al., 2016; Carhart-Harris and Goodwin, 2017), it is timely that we better understand their therapeutic mechanisms.
The so-called “mystical” experience has been a classic problem area for mainstream psychology—if not science more generally. The term “mystical” is particularly problematic, as it suggests associations with the supernatural that may be obstructive or even antithetical to scientific method and progress (Carhart-Harris and Goodwin, 2017). It is important to note that by using the term the mystical-type experience, we are referring only to the phenomenology of the experience and are keen not to endorse any associations between it and supernatural or metaphysical ideas. Readers interested in the phenomenology of mystical-type/peak experiences may wish to explore these classic texts (James, 1902; Stace, 1960; Maslow, 1964; Pahnke and Richards, 1966; Csikszentmihalyi and Csikszentmihalyi, 1992; Hood Jr et al., 2009; Richards, 2015).
In the late 1960s, William Richards and Walter Pahnke (former pupils of Abraham Maslow and Timothy Leary respectively) developed a measure of “peak” or “mystical-type” experience that was much inspired by the work of Stace (1960). Studying reports of “mystical-type” experiences occurring in a variety of different world religions, Stace identified a number of common or “universal” components that are largely independent of religious or cultural context (Stace, 1960). Based on this landmark work, Richards and Pahnke developed the “mystical experience questionnaire” (MEQ) designed to enquire whether related components featured in the psychedelic drug experience. The scale measured six components of experience: (1) sense of unity or oneness, (2) transcendence of time and space, (3) deeply felt positive mood, (4) sense of awesomeness, reverence and wonder, (5) meaningfulness of psychological or philosophical insight, (6) ineffability and paradoxicality (Pahnke and Richards, 1966; Pahnke et al., 1970). A similar questionnaire which is based on Stace (1960) is the “M scale” (Hood Jr, 1975). Both the MEQ and M scale have been found to be predictive of long-term positive therapeutic outcomes in trials of psilocybin for cancer-related distress (Griffiths et al., 2016; Ross et al., 2016), tobacco smoking (Garcia-Romeu et al., 2014; Johnson et al., 2016) and alcohol dependence (Bogenschutz et al., 2015).
Perhaps the most widely used subjective measure of altered states of consciousness, and particularly the psychedelic state, is the altered states of consciousness questionnaire (ASC) (Dittrich, 1998). We chose this scale over the MEQ as it measures a broader range of subjective phenomena, not just the “mystical-type experience.” Crucially, this enabled us to test the specificity of the relationship between mystical-type experiences (vs. e.g., perceptual changes) and subsequent therapeutic outcomes. One of the principal ASC factors is named “oceanic boundlessness” (OBN)—a term that has its origins in a conversation between Sigmund Freud and the French intellectual and “mystic” Romain Rolland (Freud, 1920) and makes reference to an “oceanic feeling” of boundlessness (Freud, 1929). Sharing a common intellectual background in Stace (1960) (Majić et al., 2015), items belonging to the OBN are closely related to those found in the MEQ. Previous factor analyses have parcellated the ASC into either 5 (Dittrich, 1998) or 11 dimensions (Studerus et al., 2010). As one of the original 5 ASC factors, OBN is explicitly linked to Stace's “mystical experience”, (Studerus et al., 2010) and 4 of the 11 revised ASC factors also relate to OBN. Explicitly, the 4 OBN sub-factors are named “insightfulness,” “blissful state,” “experience of unity” and “spiritual experience” (Studerus et al., 2010).
We recently completed an open-label clinical trial assessing the feasibility of treating 20 patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) with psilocybin (Carhart-Harris et al., 2017). Results were encouraging: 47% of patients showed a clinically significant response 5 weeks post treatment (≥50% reduction in depressive symptoms). The present study sought to extend on our previous reports on this trial, by specifically focusing on whether the quality of the acute psychedelic experience was predictive of longer-term clinical outcomes. Specifically, we asked whether psilocybin-induced OBN and Dread of Ego Dissolution (DED) (related to acute anxiety) were predictive of decreases in depression at a key endpoint, whether the relationship between OBN and decreased depression was significantly stronger than between psilocybin's more generic sensory perceptual effects and depression changes.
Materials and Methods
This trial received a favorable opinion from the National Research Ethics Service London—West London, was sponsored and approved by Imperial College London's Joint Research and Compliance Office (JRCO), and was adopted by the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network. The National Institute for Health Research/Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility gave site-specific approval for the study. The study was reviewed and approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and a Home Office Schedule One license was obtained for drug storage and administration. All participants provided written informed consent after receiving a complete description of the study.
Design
The full study procedure is reported in Carhart-Harris et al. (2016a). The inclusion criteria were major depression of a moderate to severe degree (16+ on the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating scale [HAM-D]), and no improvement despite two adequate courses of antidepressant treatment. The patients were asked to be antidepressants-free for at least 2 weeks before the study. Twenty patients underwent two psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions, a week apart. The first involved a low-dose of psilocybin (10 mg, p.o.), and the second, a high-dose (25 mg, p.o.). Post capsule ingestion, patients lay with eyes closed and listened to music pre-selected by the research team (Kaelen et al., 2017) (https://www.mixcloud.com/MendelKa/playlists/psilocybin-v13/). Two therapists adopted a non-directive, supportive approach, allowing the patient to experience a mostly uninterrupted introspection. Preparation session occurred 1 week before the 10 mg psilocybin dose and the integration session occurred 1-day and 1-week after the 25 mg psilocybin dose. Out of the initial 20 patients, 19 completed the study (6 females; mean age = 44.7 ± 10.9; 27 to 64). Eight more subjects were added to the study since publication of the initial 12 in Carhart-Harris et al. (2016a)—for a full clinical report of the 20 patients see Carhart-Harris et al. (2017).
Clinical Outcomes
Post-treatment ratings of relevant symptomatology were compared against those collected at baseline (before therapy). The main clinical outcome for this analysis was the self-rated 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS-SR16 or just “QIDS-SR” for brevity). Five weeks after the 25 mg psilocybin session was chosen as the primary endpoint. The reason for this was that after 5 weeks, the next point of data collection was 3 months, and at this time-point some of the subjects had gone on to receive new treatments, thus confounding potential inferences. The response rate (≥50% reduction in QIDS-SR scores) at the 5 week time point was 47% (n = 9). Secondary clinical outcomes were used to further examine the hypothesis that the mystical-type experience relates to positive clinical outcome. These secondary measures were QIDS-SR at 1-day, 1-week, 3-months, and 6-months; Beck Depression Inventory (BDI, original version) at 1-week, 3-months, and 6-months; Clinician rated Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D) at 1-week; Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS; measures trait pessimism) at 1-week and 3-months; Spielberger's Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at 1-day, 1-week, 3-months, and 6-months; Life Orientation Test Revisited (LOT-R; measures optimism) at 1-week and 3-months; and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS; measures anhedonia) at 1-week and 3-months. Standard criteria for meaningful “response” were calculated for the depression rating scales (≥50% from baseline).
Measures of Acute Psilocybin Session
The altered state of consciousness questionnaire (ASC) (Dittrich, 1998) was used to measure the acute subjective experience. It was completed retrospectively by the patient as the psilocybin session was coming to an end (i.e., ~5–6 h post ingestion). As stated above, the ASC can be divided into 5 (Dittrich, 1998) (94 items), or 11 dimensions (Studerus et al., 2010) (42 items). The 5 dimensions are: OBN, DED, visionary restructuralization (VRS), auditory alterations (AUA), and vigilance reduction (VIR) (n.b. translation from the German original may explain the slightly peculiar choice of terms e.g., “visionary restructuralization”). As noted above, the OBN items were formulated based on six of the nine categories of “mystical experiences” proposed by Stace (1960) (Bodmer et al., 1994; Studerus et al., 2010) in a similar way to the MEQ (Pahnke and Richards, 1966; Maclean et al., 2012). Dread of ego-dissolution is considered to probe negative, aversive experiences in which anxiety is a central aspect. Visionary restructuralization measures altered perception and meaning including visual hallucinations and synesthesia. The 11 sub-dimensions are made only from OBN, DED and VRS. The OBN sub-dimensions are experience of unity, spiritual experience, blissful state, insightfulness, and disembodiment. The DED sub-dimensions are impaired control or cognition, and Anxiety. The VRS sub-dimensions are complex imagery, elementary imagery, audio/visual synaesthesia, and changed meaning of percepts.
We hypothesized that OBN and DED would predict clinical outcome up to 5 weeks. To test this hypothesis, we used repeated measure ANOVA. (analysis was done in SPSS v24, GLM with repeated measures). Time was the within-subject factor (independent variable), with QIDS-SR as the within-subject dependent variable in baseline, 1-day, 1-week, 5-weeks. OBN and DED were independent variables (covariates in SPSS). OBN-by-Time and DED-by-Time interactions were the primary outcomes of interest. The contrast for the within-subject factor was simple, comparing each level to the 1st one (baseline). Furthermore, we hypothesized specificity in the relationship between OBN and depression changes by comparing the strength of this correlation with that between the perceptual factors from the ASC, namely VRS and AUA, and depression changes (Steiger, 1980; Lee and Preacher, 2013). A threshold of OBN > 0.6 was used to distinguish a “complete” OBN. This threshold is similar to MEQ > 0.6 which was used in other studies to identify “peakers” and “complete mystical-type experience” (Pahnke et al., 1970; Richards et al., 1977; Maclean et al., 2011; Garcia-Romeu et al., 2014; Johnson et al., 2016). In a different study, OBN and MEQ showed a Pearson correlation of 0.93 (Liechti et al., 2017), suggesting that these two questionnaire quantify a similar experience and that a similar threshold can be used. For descriptive purposes, we tested whether those patients who had a “complete” OBN had a better clinical outcome. This analysis was done to expand the initial hypothesis to other time points and questionnaires.
We also issued participants an in-house measure, the 29-item “psychedelic questionnaire” (PQ)—which was completed at the same time as the ASC. The PQ has been previously used in a number of our pharmacological challenge studies due to its brevity relative to the full ASC (Carhart-Harris et al., 2012, 2016b). As a descriptive exploratory analysis, correlation between PQ and clinical outcome at 5 weeks was calculated for all items. The same exploratory analysis was also done on all of the 94 items of the ASC.
Results
Prediction of QIDS-SR up to 5 Weeks
These following are primary results of this study. Table 1 presents the results of the repeated measures ANOVA with Time as the within-subject factor (independent variable), QIDS-SR as the within-subject dependent variable in baseline, 1-day, 1-week, 5-weeks. OBN and DED were independent variables. [Sphericity assumed: Mauchly's W = 0.71 (p = 0.411)]. For the interactions of Time X OBN, and Time X DED, the within-subjects effect and the within-subjects contrasts at each time point compared to baseline were all significant (p < 0.05), confirming our main hypothesis. Regression analysis with ΔQIDS-SR (5-weeks) as a dependent variable and OBN and DED as independent variables found that together they explain 54% of the variance (r2 = 0.59, adjusted r2 = 0.54; standardized beta values of OBN, DED, were 0.605, −0.649, respectively). For descriptive purposes, Figure 1 presents plots of Pearson's correlation of the 5 dimensions of the ASC predicting ΔQIDS-SR (5 weeks). Furthermore, based on a standard threshold for defining clinical response (≥50% reduction in QIDS-SR score at 5 weeks vs. baseline), a comparison of responders (n = 9) vs. non-responders (n = 10) in the 11D ASC scores is presented for descriptive purposes in Figure 2.
TABLE 1
Table 1. Repeated measures ANOVA; OBN and DED predict changes in QIDS-SR over different time points up to 5 weeks.
FIGURE 1
Figure 1. Correlation of ASC (5 dimensions) with change of clinical outcome at 5 weeks (ΔQIDS-SR).
FIGURE 2
Figure 2. ASC (11 dimensions) of responders and non-responders at 5 weeks. Error Bars = Standard Error.
As hypothesized, OBN was a significantly better predictor of reductions in depression than both VRS and AUA (z = 1.64 and z = 2.01, respectively, p < 0.05) (Steiger, 1980; Lee and Preacher, 2013).
Prediction of Secondary Clinical Measures
The following are the secondary results of this study. Clinical outcomes for “complete” OBN were compared with those for “non-complete” OBN for secondary clinical outcomes such as measures of trait anxiety, anhedonia, optimism and pessimism (Table 2). Patients that had “complete” OBN (n = 11, OBN = 0.83 ± 0.1) had better outcomes than those who did not (n = 8, OBN = 0.33 ± 0.16), on a number of different measures and at different time points (1-day, 1-week, 5-weeks, 3-months, and 6-months). Response rates of “complete” OBN are presented in Table 2.
TABLE 2
Table 2. Comparisons of “complete” OBN (n = 11) and “non-complete” (n = 8) with different clinical measures in different time points.
In further exploratory analyses, correlations were calculated between all 94 items of the ASC and ΔQIDS-SR and were ordered by the strength of correlation (Table S1). The same was done for all 29 items of the PQ (Table S2). In both examples, it is apparent that items that best relate to OBN correlate most strongly with positive clinical outcomes, while sensory phenomena correlate less, and anxiety is predictive of worse outcomes.
Discussion
Consistent with our prior hypothesis, psilocybin-induced high OBN (sharing features with mystical-type experience) and low DED (similar to anxiety) predicted positive long-term clinical outcomes in a clinical trial of psilocybin for TRD. This result replicates those of previous studies showing that psychedelic-induced peak or mystical-type experiences are predictive of positive long-term outcomes (O'Reilly and Funk, 1964; Klavetter and Mogar, 1967; Pahnke et al., 1970; Kurland et al., 1972; Richards et al., 1977; Maclean et al., 2011; Bogenschutz et al., 2015; Griffiths et al., 2016; Johnson et al., 2016; Ross et al., 2016). This relationship appears to be somewhat specific, in that OBN was significantly more predictive of positive clinical outcomes than altered visual and auditory perception—endorsing the moniker “psychedelic” (“mind-revealing”) over “hallucinogen” when referring to this class of drug—at least in the context of psychedelic therapy. It also suggests that the therapeutic effects of psilocybin are not a simple product of isolated pharmacological action but rather are experience dependent. We also found that greater DED (anxiety and impaired cognition) experienced during the drug session was predictive of less positive clinical outcomes.
One may naturally infer from these findings that the occurrence of OBN or mystical-type experience mediates long-term positive clinical outcomes (Griffiths et al., 2016; Ross et al., 2016) and while this assumption may be valid, we must exercise caution about ascribing too much to this relationship. It remains possible that as yet unmeasured and therefore unaccounted for components of psychedelic therapy play important roles in mediating long-term outcomes. There are several candidate factors in this regard, and the following should not be considered an exhaustive list: emotional insight/breakthrough or catharsis; priming and suggestibility; reliving of trauma/defining life events; insights about the self and relationships; the patients relationship to music heard; his/her success at “letting go”; the quality of therapeutic relationship; and the degree of “closure” attained during post-drug integration work (Frederking, 1955; Sandison, 1955; Abramson, 1956; Martin, 1957; Eisner and Cohen, 1958; Leuner, 1961; Jensen, 1963; Shagass and Bittle, 1967; Richards, 1978; Loizaga-Velder, 2013; Gasser et al., 2014; Belser et al., 2017; Russ and Elliott, 2017; Watts et al., 2017).
These factors may exert influence before, during and after the acute experience itself and may also be more or less dependent on particular psychological frameworks and their relevant vocabularies. For example, the psychoanalytic models of Freud and Jung were dominant in psychiatry in the mid-twentieth century and thus references to ego, repression and the unconscious are commonplace among the psychedelic research literature of this period. While the processes that underlie these constructs may indeed be operative in the context of psychedelics, little effort has been made to define, measure and quantify their contributions (Shagass and Bittle, 1967; Barr et al., 1972). The development of subjective (Nour et al., 2016), behavioral and biological measures (Carhart-Harris et al., 2012, 2016b; Lebedev et al., 2015; Tagliazucchi et al., 2016) relevant to these constructs, and more importantly, the processes that underlie them, would represent an important advance not just for psychedelic science but for the psychological frameworks themselves (Carhart-Harris et al., 2014). We should be conscious of not being too attached (or averse) to any specific theoretical frameworks however, and approaches that endeavor to access “framework-free” descriptions of phenomena may prove particularly useful in this regard (Varela, 1996; Petitmengin, 2006). Critically, it is our view that it is possible to work toward a secular, biologically-informed account of the mystical-type experience that does not resort to “explaining away” or “reducing down” the core phenomenology and depth psychology may be a useful bedfellow in this regard.
Returning to the present study's main findings, DED was found to negatively correlate with clinical outcome, yet, none of the patients showed a worsening of clinical symptoms at 5 weeks. Less DED combined with high OBN predicted 54% of the variance of clinical change at 5 weeks—a substantial contribution and one that helps justify the emphasis placed on minimizing anxiety and relinquishing psychological resistance in psychedelic therapy (Eisner and Cohen, 1958; Sherwood et al., 1962; Grof et al., 2008; Richards, 2015), as well as paying careful attention to preparation and “set and setting” (Hartogsohn, 2017; Carhart-Harris et al., in press). That anxiety arises in parallel with psychological struggle is resonant with principles of psychoanalytic theory (Sandison, 1961), as can be seen in the choice of terms for the “DED” and “OBN” factors of the ASC—both of which invoke constructs that can be traced to Freud (1929, 1962).
According to psychoanalytic theory, the overcoming of psychological resistance is required for emotional breakthrough and insight (Freud, 1920) and the occurrence of mystical-type/peak experiences (Jung, 2014). Consistently, writers on the mystical-type/peak experience have reliably identified loss of self or “ego-dissolution” as one of its basic pre-requisites and features (James, 1902; Stace, 1960; Maslow, 1964). Recent work has sought to develop and validate a measure that is sensitive to difficult or challenging psychedelic experiences (Barrett et al., 2016; Carbonaro et al., 2016) and there is some evidence that the intensity of such experiences is predictive of positive long-term outcomes, whereas the duration of struggle is predictive of negative outcomes (Carbonaro et al., 2016). This is presumably because the successful resolution of conflict brings with it, insight and relief, whereas the failure to breakthrough perpetuates suffering. ASC and other questionnaires such as the challenging experience questionnaire (CEQ) (Barrett et al., 2016) may be insensitive to whether or not successful resolution of psychological conflict has occurred. Therefore, the development of new scales specifically designed to focus on emotional breakthrough after struggle may add considerable value.
Improving our subjective measures of high-level human experiences such as the mystical-type/peak experience will enhance our ability to understand their psychology and underlying neural substrates. As touched on in the introduction, psychopharmacology is increasingly acknowledging the importance of “context” and particularly “environment” as a factor mediating the effects of both intrinsic neurobiological features (e.g., genotypes) and exogenous pharmacological inputs—such as drugs (Alexander et al., 1981; Caspi et al., 2010). For example, a recent popular model of the action of SSRIs incorporates “environment” and cognitive (re)appraisal (Harmer et al., 2017) as key determinants of therapeutic efficacy (see also Branchi, 2011; Belsky, 2016). Like SSRIs, classic psychedelic drugs also work on the serotonin system; however, unlike the SSRIs, they are direct agonists at the 5-HT2A receptor (Nichols, 2016). There is compelling evidence that the 5-HT2A receptor is psychedelics' key site of action (Nichols, 2016). Intriguingly, recent work has found that the phenotypic expression of 5-HT2AR genotypes is significantly dependent on the influence of “environment” (Jokela et al., 2007). These findings may imply that enhanced sensitivity to context is an important function of 5-HT2A receptor signaling (Carhart-Harris and Nutt, 2017).
Ascending from the pharmacological to the whole-brain systems level, increased cortical entropy has been found to be a reliable feature of the psychedelic state (Carhart-Harris et al., 2014), to relate to high-level subjective experiences such as “ego-dissolution” (Nour et al., 2016; Atasoy et al., 2017; Schartner et al., 2017) that are relevant to the mystical-type experience, and to be predictive of longer-term trait changes—such as increased “openness” (Lebedev et al., 2016). Recent work suggests that increased brain entropy under psychedelics is consistent with the brain being more closely tuned to “criticality” (Atasoy et al., 2017). Criticality refers to systems that reside in a functional “sweet spot”, critically poised between order and disorder—in which they can effectively retain information (by being sufficiently ordered) while being appropriately adaptive and sensitive to change (by being sufficiently disordered). Intriguingly, one of the signatures of a critical system is a sensitivity to perturbation (Bak, 1996). It follows that enhanced sensitivity to perturbation in a psychedelically-induced “entropic” and “critical” brain may account for the special sensitivity to “environment” that is characteristic of the psychedelic state (Hartogsohn, 2016; Carhart-Harris et al., in press).
Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of OBN, mystical-type or peak experiences (Vollenweider, 2001) should enable us to better comprehend, define and study them. This is important, not least because they are proving to be important determinants of treatment success in psychedelic therapy (Richards et al., 1977; Bogenschutz et al., 2015; Griffiths et al., 2016; Johnson et al., 2016; Ross et al., 2016). Crucially, better understanding the biological basis of mystical-type/peak experiences and their longer-term impact on the mind and brain should help to demystify them, facilitating an easier conversation about them with mainstream psychology. Researchers in the mainstream have as much a responsibility as those in “the periphery” to facilitate this. Denying the relevance of these phenomena is as damaging to scientific progress as denying their physical basis. The prize for successfully integrating mystical-type experience into mainstream science may be their potential to have a substantial positive impact on medicine, education and society—which ironically, may, at least in part, explain why their integration into western society has proved so difficult to achieve (Stevens, 1987).
To summarize, the occurrence of high OBN (sharing features with mystical-type experience) and low DED (relating to anxiety and impaired cognition) under psilocybin predicted positive clinical outcomes in a trial of psilocybin for TRD. This relationship exhibited a degree of specificity, in that psilocybin-induced OBN was significantly more predictive of reduced depressive symptoms than the drug's more generic visual and auditory perceptual effects. Future work, with a larger sample size, is required to more comprehensively and systematically measure the influence of different potential predictive factors on the quality of acute psychedelic experiences (Gasser et al., 2014; Belser et al., 2017; Watts et al., 2017) and subsequent long-term outcomes (Carhart-Harris et al., in press). As psychedelic therapy gains influence and credibility (Carhart-Harris and Goodwin, 2017), it seems vital that appropriate consideration is paid to the importance of promoting a certain kind of experience, as the quality of that experience may be the critical determinant of therapeutic success.
Author Contributions
LR analyzed the data and wrote the paper; DN sanctioned the research and approved an earlier draft of the manuscript; RC-H designed and conducted the research, and wrote the paper.
Funding
LR is funded by the Imperial College Scholarship Scheme; DN is funded by the Edmund J. Safra Foundation (P17264) and RC-H is funded by the Alex Mosely Charitable Trust. This study was funded by an MRC clinical development scheme grant (MR/J00460X/1), the Alex Mosley Charitable Trust (G30444), the COMPASS group (I30006), and the Beckley Foundation.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
This work was carried out as part of the Beckley/Imperial Research Collaboration.
Supplementary Material
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00974/full#supplementary-material
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Tons of green make-up, nose glue and mechanical legs: Shrek the Musical pays close attention to detail, and is one of the few London shows that hasn’t been scaled down for the road
Wandering around backstage at Shrek the Musical in Nottingham’s Theatre Royal, you encounter disembodied green ogre heads and hands at every turn. A wig team is working on perfecting the show’s 150 hairpieces, and each incredibly intricate costume for the 110 characters in the production is heavier and more detailed than the last. The show spends thousands of pounds every month on silicon prosthetics that feel so real you would question if they were prosthetics at all. There is no scrimping on detail when it comes to Shrek.
Dean Chisnall, who plays the lead green ogre, is about to head into make-up, two hours ahead of everyone else. On days with two shows, his make-up and Shrek cowl stay on for 11 hours, and eating is a struggle. The most expensive piece of kit in the show isn’t the large dragon that sits in a lonely corner behind the stage, Princess Fiona’s beautiful wedding dress or Lord Farquaad’s fantastic mechanical legs, but Donkey’s costume, which has been hand-knotted to appear exactly like fur.
Extraordinary detail
This level of extraordinary detail may be commonplace in the West End, but it’s less so for a show on the road, according to Chisnall. “The detail of the show is everything. It’s very rare you get a London production going on tour that’s not been scaled down, and we’re very lucky that ours hasn’t at all.”
His commitment to the make-up process has been something of an ongoing battle, especially during the summer heatwave. “It gets tiring, but it doesn’t get boring,” he says. “There has never been a London production in the history of musical theatre that has been this extensive, certainly with the make-up. Phantom of The Opera was the biggest before, but this is far bigger.”
With such a well-known and well-loved story, there’s a certain pressure to recreate the magic of the film, particularly for kids, according to Faye Brookes, who plays Princess Fiona. “There’s a responsibility, because it’s a story that everyone is familiar with or has heard of. With all the children there, you have a responsibility to tell that story from its original. We tell it as if it has never been told before.”
This responsibility particularly weighed on Idriss Kargbo, Donkey in the musical, in terms of living up to Eddie Murphy’s version of the character from the film. “It has been a lot of pressure,” says Kargbo. “But I feel that as an actor, so long as you throw all of yourself into it, it won’t completely get in the way of your work. Obviously it’s always underlying, and Eddie Murphy has made this incredible character so famous, but I think I’ve always put it at the back of my mind.”
Bigger role for Farquaad
Gerard Casey, who plays Lord Farquaad, had an easier time in this respect, as his role in the musical is far bigger than in the film. “The character Lord Farquaad in the musical has been rethought and recreated completely. It’s a fantastic bit of writing. He was played by the brilliant John Lithgow in the movie, but actually the part of Lord Farquaad in the movie is quite small. I didn’t have any pressure like that because it’s been rethought in a really clever way,” he says.
Chisnall, however, is quick to emphasise that the musical sticks pretty closely to the story. “Obviously it’s been adapted to become a musical – that goes without saying. But there is the essence of the original story on stage, with not really many changes, to be honest.”
It’s the spirit of the film people love, and that’s what they’ve tried to reproduce on stage, according to Chisnall. “It’s the heart and soul of the movie most of us know,” he says. “Some people don’t know the story when they come and see it. Then they see it and think, wow, it’s got lots of inner messages, and all the rest of it. It’s such a charming piece.”
The underlying message is what makes the show for Casey.
“I think the lovely thing about this piece, and Nigel [Harman, tour director] talked about it a lot in rehearsals, is that it’s all about duality. Everybody has a different side to them – it’s all about being accepted. My character is a narcissistic sociopath who has his eye on the prize and wants to be king, but he actually loves a bit of musical theatre and is quite damaged. All these characters have layers.”
Refusal to judge people
It’s not all morals, however. What Chisnall admires most about Shrek is his refusal to judge people on their image, but what he loves most about the show is how that’s interwoven into what is a really fun production. “We get to see that side of things and it’s got all those sorts of messages throughout the show, but that’s as well as being very funny and very colourful.”
While Brookes sometimes questions her role as she picks leftover glue from her nose the morning after a show, it’s worth it, she says, to see the children belly laughing in the audience.
The haphazardly applied nose glue is essential for her 90-second transformations from Princess Fiona to ogre. It’s a transformation I’m warned not to hang around backstage for, for fear of being trampled by a flurry of people with green markers.
Shrek the Musical runs from Oct 21 to Nov 9 at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Tickets from €20. |
Q:
How to Pause and Resume Audio recording in android
I am developing an audio recording application using MediaRecorder class.
I have the following requirement:
1.When a pause button is pressed then pause recording.
2.When a resume button is pressed then resume recording where it paused.
I try this link
But I am unable to implement the functionality.
Any help/suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
A:
This link also may useful for those who need to pause and record audio.
https://github.com/lassana/continuous-audiorecorder
A:
Media Recorder class does not support to pause and resume , see second link class overview
try to use stop and restart
How can i pause voice recording in Android?
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/media/MediaRecorder.html
http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Android_Audio_Recording_and_Playback_using_MediaPlayer_and_MediaRecorder
|
Q:
Why would you use MVC over Web Forms?
Recently an architect described our company as offering a Rolls-Royce solution (MVC) when all he needed was a Toyota (Web Forms).
I'm curious to find out what you think about web forms vs MVC as an architectural choice.
A:
The Rolls-Royce/Toyota analogy is terribly flawed and misleading. One (ASP.NET MVC) is not simply a fancier or more expensive version of the other (ASP.NET WebForms). They are vastly different approaches to building web applications using ASP.NET.
To me, the biggest architectural difference between MVC and WebForms is how they work with the stateless environment of the web: WebForms works hard to build a set of abstractions that hide the stateless nature of web programming, whereas MVC embraces the stateless environment and works with it.
Each approach has its benefits and detriments, but I really enjoy how building web sites with MVC feels much more natural than WebForms (with its layer upon layer of leaky abstractions).
A:
Old question but it deserves a more detailed answer just in case anybody else out there is still actually having a dilemma over it.
Ultimately, webforms is a thin-client solution by which it's meant that you press a bunch of pretty buttons and the front end (client) stuff is built for you. If you have people who know how to crank it out in webforms and there are absolutely no maintainability/modifiability concerns and the site is completely short term and disposable, there is nothing at all wrong with this approach. It is possible to learn how to do your own stuff but in this case it would require knowing both the web stuff webforms tries to protect .NET app developers from and all the webforms stuff that makes most client-side web devs want to murder the Microsoft engineers responsible.
In the 99.5% of all other use-case scenarios, we've stopped trying to hide the web from app developers because really, if you want to write web apps you're much better off actually learning how the web works. The irony of thick vs thin client solutions is that inevitably the thin-client approach inevitably bloats the crap out of your front end and is anything but performant. More importantly, these solutions have always made things inflexible as all Hell for people who actually know what they're doing and don't want to be constrained by the framework in effect.
There is nothing quite so pointless as taking somebody who knows everything about CSS, JavaScript, HTML, XHR and making them completely useless by roadblocking them every step of the way with a framework that...
Clears out all 'unneeded' script tags in the head tags to keep you from screwing up on script dependencies. (better to let a 'script manager' handle that for you) Granted, nobody puts 'em up there nowadays if they know what they're doing but that's just messed up.
Insists you wrap all of the HTML in one ginormous form tag. HTML doesn't allow forms inside forms so you do forms the webforms way or no way at all.
Creates like an 18-step "life-cycle" for what really should boil down to reacting to UI events by interacting with the browser to send messages to the server and then react when the server responds. Abstracting that process with a big giant pile of garbage never needed to happen (and to be fair, MS isn't the only jackass who's tried to do this).
Actually does everything it possibly can to get in the way of using non-webforms solutions to problems. Example: When I was a more junior client side dev I spent an entire day finding a way to make a submit button at the top of the page trigger a submit button at the bottom of a page (I assume due to that one-big-giant-form thing). Normally this would take 5 minutes but after quite a few hours reverse engineering the webforms JavaScript responsible, I discovered that they were among other things setting a property I didn't even know about at the time that tells you what the last form element to have focus was so that when a submit button was clicked, only the official Microsoft Submit(tm) button would work in regards to the activation of an official Microsoft Submit(tm) handler.
So no, Rolls-Royce vs Toyota, is completely unreasonable. I would say more, a perfectly reasonable Hyundai that you pay way too much for vs. a Microsoft engineered Pinto with an onboard system that automatically makes sharp 90 degree turns when it discovers you bought gas or oil from somebody other than Microsoft and it's detected a convenient wall to slam into. An ideal car for the suicidally-brand-loyal driver who knows nothing about the web and wants to swear life-long loyalty to Microsoft.
All .NET MVC really is, is simple and reasonable, and it doesn't reinvent its own layer to slap on top of the web. It just works with what's there to help knock out some boilerplate for you. There's better/cheaper/free-er frameworks available but if you've already locked yourself into the .NET thing, you could do much worse.
But seriously, stay the !@#$ away from webforms. It's almost dead now. Let it go. Tell your clients you'll do it for three times the money if they also promise you an exclusive and lucrative by-the-hour support contract for when they actually want to do something new or different or when crap starts breaking because not even MS could be bothered to continue adding to that behemoth of a 10,000 line ajax.js file they pull out of their DLL ass where you can't touch it.
A:
An ASP.NET MVC solution doesn't have to be any more complicated than a WebForms solution. Personally, I find ASP.NET MVC to actually be a lot simpler than WebForms, and it definitely seems to be inherently cleaner.
From my experience, a lot of the MVC frameworks (ASP.NET, Rails, CodeIgniter, etc.) have much of the same core functionality and conventions. WebForms is really the odd duck from a web perspective. My guess is most web programmers would be much faster at picking up ASP.NET MVC than WebForms.
|
How much does testing cost?
Fees range from $400 to $700 per student, depending on type of assessment, tests administered and your geographical location. Given these tough financial times, we try to work with your budget as much as possible to fit your needs. More importantly, our rates remain affordable without compromising the quality of services or report. Call for more details, or fill out this form for a quote.
Why do fees vary so much among professionals for the same type of testing? Professionals working in the same geographical area may charge different rates for what appears to be the same type of service. Many find there is little negotiating room for their fees when the overhead associated with expensive office space is a factor. The quality and depth of the services provided (i.e. computer generated reports vs customized reports) is another factor influencing fees. Another reason for the discrepancy in rates is because the choice of testing instruments used to assess different abilities varies greatly among professionals in the field. Experienced clinicians find that less instruments are needed to arrive at similar conclusions. This being said, only learning disabilities that are recognized by IDEA can qualify a student for accommodations or services. If the parent's purpose of testing is mainly to obtain accommodations for their child, our testing process is the most time and cost effective approach. Taking this into account, Child Testing ensures not only affordable rates, but also very high quality service and accurate reports which are accepted by all academic institutions.
-Home testing services (tests are conducted in your own home by a licensed school psychologist)
-Comprehensive, descriptive/graphical report with diagnosis. *We do not hand out generic computer generated print outs*
-Specific and detailed recommendations for home and school (i.e.: requests for extended testing time, special classroom accommodations and/or placement, revisions to IEP's, 504 Plans, targeted tutoring, referrals for therapy and other follow up interventions)
-Post assessment phone meeting to discuss results and recommendations. This includes parents and authorized third parties (i.e. school counselor/psychologist, teacher, social worker).
Do you have an office? Where are you located?
Child-Testing and its affiliates (Miamipsychologicaltesting.com, Ftlauderdalepsychologicaltesting.com, Jacksonvillepsychologicaltesting.com and Orlandopsychologicaltesting.com) are based out of Tampa, but we do not operate out of an office. We only offer at-home testing at this time. The psychologist will go out to your city and test the student in your place of residence. If that's not convenient, you may arrange to test at your local library or school. We service the entire state of Florida, including Florida Keys.
Is there a discount for siblings?
Siblings tested the same day receive a 5%, as well as military personal and teachers.
What tests do you use?
In regards to standardized tests, our practice utilizes the complete Wechsler series, including: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition WISC-IV (ages 6 to 16), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition WPPSI-IV (ages 2 to 7), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III) for ages 16 through 71, and The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Third Edition (WIAT-III), for preschool through college level. In addition to standardized tests, other processes make up part of the assessment (see below).
My child may be gifted, have ADD and a specific learning problem (Dyslexia), do you test for all those in one test?
As with any condition, no single test or assessment tool can identify everything. Therefore our assessment process includes, but is not limited to: an IQ test, a standardized Individual Achievement test, review of student's background (early development, family history, environmental factors and health history), historical trends of his school performance, teacher observations, past progress reports and test grades, parent and teacher reports and in some cases, specific observational inventories filled out by parents/caregiver or teacher. The evaluator's expertise and experience with twice exceptional students is also paramount in the adequate identification of LD's, ADD/ADHD and other conditions.
How many visits/sessions does the entire testing process take?
ONE VISIT. Child-Testing has developed a meticulous time-efficient system where most of the background and relevant information is gathered beforehand via some forms which are emailed to parents. This alone saves hours of time, as many other centers may take up an entire session to gather this information. We kindly ask parents to take enough time to fill out the forms. On the day of the appointment, the testing process itself takes between 1 to 2 1/2 hours per child. After testing, report is emailed in a PDF within 2 business days. Results are discussed via phone conference at your convenience at no additional charge.
After testing how do I get my child Help?
In the report, all recommendations are detailed (i.e.: IEP, 504 Plan, special in-school placement, testing accommodations, further services, therapy, tutoring, referrals to other professionals, etc...)
Do you offer follow up treatment such as behavior therapy services if recommended in your report?
No. To avoid conflict of interest issues, Child Testing does not offer any of the recommended follow up treatments, such as behavior therapy or tutoring. However, if the child needs further interventions, these will suggested and detailed in the report.
How soon can my child get tested?
Due to the high volume of referrals, we recommend you call as soon as possible to make an appointment. Keep in mind that anywhere between 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. are optimum testing times, as children tend to be most alert. Some Saturday and Sunday appointments are available upon request if weekdays are not possible.
How soon can I expect results?
After testing, you can expect the full PDF report in 48-72 hours. PLEASE CALL in to discuss results and answer all your questions.
Will my child's school and doctor accept the results?
Absolutely. Child-Testing is run by a licensed School Psychologist by the Florida Department of health, (Lic # SS905). Reports, diagnosis and recommendations are nationally accepted, including some international institutions.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Cash, personal checks, money orders and all mayor credit cards. Credit card payments have a 2.9% service fee. Please keep in mind that payment must be made in full at the time of testing. Unfortunately no payment plans are accepted.
How can I make an appointment?
To schedule an appointment, please call (813) 468-6528 or email: [email protected] . You may also click HERE and fill out the form.
If you have any other questions, comments or concerns please call (813)468-6528. |
Achievements
Extremely undulating seabed terrain, with majority of the section beig hard rock. Dredging quantum was close to 300, 000 m3, which was achieved by deploying three cutter suction dredgers, one backhoe dredger and one rock dredger
Two crossings each 550 m long by Horizontal Directional Drilling method
Achieved 1.89 million safe man-hours
Achieved quickest golden tie in of the onshore and offshore sections within a record 3 hours |
Posts
JTB in Action
The Investigator
Updates
So my last post was about a new tool/framework I had written in python to make looking up general information about hostnames/ips easier. Since I made that blog post I have updated it quite a bit. I added ASN information lookups as well as blacklist checking. I made functionality improvements such as being able to use all the menu options from the command line in various combinations. You can now investigate many hosts at once with the Mass Investigator and combine reports of the same format into 1 file.
Next Steps
So far I had been so focused on developing this tool I had yet to really use it in action and thoroughly test it. In this post I want to walk through some uses I have found recently. Hopefully this will help you guys see different use cases for this tool and how it can make your life easier. With the added functionality and switches, the application has grown widely so let’s see what it can do!
JTB in the Wild
Doing recon on your network
This example doesn’t utilize much of the functionality but shows 1 use case that can likely apply to many people:
Save that output to a file named network.txt and cat network.txt | awk '{print $1}' > ips_home.txt to save just the IPs to a new file named ips_home.txt. (The “ips_” at the beginning is necessary for JTB to recognize if the it is a file of ips or host names.)
Then, to get hostnames and open ports on your network run ./jtb.py -m ips.txt to create a new csv report in reports/csv/ for each host with the gathered information. Or for prettier text reports run ./jtb.py -m ips_home.txt -f txt or to get the prettier text report and combine ALL reports stored into 1 file for each format run ./jtb.py -m ips_home.txt -c home where “home” is the beginning of the filename stored in reports/txt/home_combined.txt. The combine function is still rough so it will combine all saved reports that aren’t already combined reports.
Investigating an SSH bruteforce attack
If any of you have spun up a server in cloud you know that it’s SSH service gets bruteforced like crazy. When I noticed this in the logs I moved the SSH port to a high port and threw a simple honey pot on that port to catch the attempted credentials and the IP address that it came from. I would then run a script to collect the IP addresses in the logs into a single file named ips_bruteforce.txt.
Then just run ./jtb.py -m ips_bruteforce.txt -c bruteforce to get all the information it can on the hosts and spit the info into reports/txt/bruteforce_combined.txt. This is probably one of the most useful use-cases for this tool as it can provide a wealth of information about attackers.
BitSight Alerts
And last but not least, dealing with BitSight alerts, the reason I wrote the tool in the first place. BitSight will throw an alert that only provides your Public IP that caused the alert and when they detected it. In order to track this down I need to look up information about that IP such as where it is registered, I work for an international company, the hostname for the IP, check blacklists to see if it is sending out lots of bad traffic, and search splunk for the IP to see if I can track down the offender.
To get all the info I can on the offending IP I would simply run ./jtb.py -i <offending ip> -f txt which will also create a text report which is the easiest to read. If I wanted to further process this information with different scripts or tools I could export it as CSV or JSON. Or if I was worried about interacting with the target I could tack on the -p flag to make it run in passive mode and disable nmap.
In order to search splunk I need to convert the UTC time BitSight gives me to the local time zone. Luckily I can just run ./jtb.py -t <time> to get the UTC time in local time.
Just like that I have all this information that would have taken multiple tools, copying and pasting, and likely some googling to find out, very quickly and easily, and in 1 central place to reference.
That’s Not all Folks!
There are many more use-cases for this tool out there. I tried to write it as robust as possible so that if any 1 module fails it won’t break the whole thing but if I missed anything let me know!
As the tool continues to grow, and I add more modules, functionality, and build integration the use-cases will continue to grow and I will likely make a follow up post as I use and develop JTB. |
Q:
quiz about bit related topics
i have following quiz:
Let x be an integer larger than the odd number q. Change the value of x using the following rule
if x is even
then x / 2
else x – q
until x becomes smaller than q
If the final value of x is zero, what can you say about the original input value?
I am thinking about one thing: if x is odd or x=2*k+1 and we are subtract also odd number, we get even. Also I want to note, that unless x is power of 2, at some step dividing by 2, we get odd number. Let take q=11; x>11;let's take x=23; because x=23 is odd, we will have x=x-q x=23-11=12; now x is even so we will have x/2=6<11, so here we can't determine which value of x is about,but if x=22, then we will have x=x/2=11 x=11 is odd, so we will have x-q=0--> it means that x is multiple of q, but which one odd or even number? Let's take x=33; x is odd so x=x-11=22 it is even x=x/2=11, it is odd so x-q=0; no does it means that x is multiple of q?
A:
Yes, it is apparently that x is multiple of q.
|
Q:
Limit $\lim_{n\to+\infty} (1-\frac1{2^2})(1-\frac1{3^2})\cdot \cdots \cdot(1-\frac{1}{n^2})$ and series $\sum_{n=2}^{\infty} \ln(1-\frac1{n^2})$
Possible Duplicate:
Finding Value of the Infinite Product $\prod \Bigl(1-\frac{1}{n^{2}}\Bigr)$
Compute:
\begin{align*}
\lim_{n\to+\infty} (1-\frac{1}{2^2})(1-\frac{1}{3^2})(1-\frac{1}{4^2})\cdot \cdots \cdot(1-\frac{1}{n^2})
\end{align*}
Well, I do so:
$$\lim_{n\to+\infty} (1-\frac{1}{2^2})(1-\frac{1}{3^2})(1-\frac{1}{4^2})\cdot \cdots \cdot(1-\frac{1}{n^2})=\lim_{n\to+\infty}\prod_{j=2}^n (1-\frac{1}{j^2})$$
let $$a_n = \prod_{j=2}^n (1-\frac{1}{j^2})\quad\Rightarrow\quad \ln a_n = \ln\left(\prod_{j=2}^n (1-\frac{1}{j^2})\right)$$
so:
$$\ln\left(\prod_{j=2}^n (1-\frac{1}{j^2})\right)=\sum_{j=2}^{\infty} \ln (1-\frac{1}{j^2})$$
consider
$$\sum_{n=2}^{\infty} \ln(1-\frac{1}{n^2})$$
but as you study this series??
A:
If you write it like
$$
\lim_{n\to \infty}\prod_{j=2}^n \frac{(j+1)(j-1)}{j^2}
$$
you get
$$
\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{1}{2}\frac{(n+1)!(n-1)!}{(n!)^2},
$$
where factorials cancel in the limit and give $\frac{1}{2}$, because a $2$ is missing in the numerator to get $(n+1)!$.
A:
Actually there is a neat form for the partial products.
Let
$$f(n)=(1-\frac{1}{2^2})(1-\frac{1}{3^2})(1-\frac{1}{4^2})\cdot \cdots \cdot(1-\frac{1}{n^2})=\prod _{k=2}^n \left(1-\frac{1}{k^2}\right)$$
We show by induction that $f(n)=\frac{n+1}{2 n}$. $$f(n)=\left(1-\frac{1}{n^2}\right)f(n-1)=\frac{n^2-1}{n^2}\cdot\frac{n}{2(n-1)}=\frac{n+1}{2n}$$
Therefore $\lim_{n\to+\infty}f(n)=\lim_{n\to+\infty}\frac{n+1}{2 n}=\lim_{n\to+\infty}(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2n})=\frac{1}{2}$
|
Q:
What is this pattern in SQL
have a table that contains this format:
HistoryDataTbl:
Id, LookupId, PreviousValueReferenceId, CurrentValueReferenceId, UpdatedDate
ReferenceDataTbl:
Id, Value
ReferenceData Sample:
Id Value
1, ValueA
2, ValueB
3, ValueC
4, ValueD
HistoryDataTbl Sample:
Id PreviousValueId CurrentValueId UpdatedDate
1 1 1 '2017-01-10 14:38:51.110'
2 3 2 '2017-02-10 14:38:51.110'
3 1 4 '2017-03-10 14:38:51.110'
4 2 3 '2017-04-10 14:38:51.110'
HistoryDataTbl has multiple rows pointing to value in the ReferenceDataTbl.
How do I show on one line each the PreviousValue and CurrentValue while joining to the ReferenceDataTbl?
select UpdatedDate
,(select top 1 [value] from ReferenceData where id =
hd.PreviousValueReferenceId) as PreviousValue
,(select top 1 [value] from ReferenceData where id =
hd.CurrentValueReferenceId) as CurrentValue
FROM HistoryData hdt
order by UpdatedDate
Pretty sure the pattern I'm trying to use is wrong since I had to do top 1 because of "Subquery returned more than 1 value". What pattern needs to be applied here?
Updated the post since after trying out the posted solution it is now returning 4 rows while there are only 2 HistoryDataTbl entris. That needs to return only 2 entries.
The linked thread as duplicate did not help me as much as this thread did so don't want to accept that.
Thanks for reading.
A:
Easy - you just need to join to the reference table twice - once for each value:
SELECT H.ID,
H.LookupID,
Prev.Value AS [Previous Value],
Curr.Value AS [Current Value],
H.UpdatedDate
FROM HistoryDataTbl H
JOIN ReferenceDataTable Prev
ON H.PreviousValueReferenceID = Prev.ID
JOIN ReferenceDataTbl Curr
ON H.CurrentValueReferenceID = Curr.ID
EDIT:
You said you want only one row - you can achieve that with CROSS APPLY:
SELECT H.ID,
H.LookupID,
Prev.Value AS [Previous Value],
Curr.Value AS [Current Value],
H.UpdatedDate
FROM HistoryDataTbl H
CROSS APPLY
(
SELECT [Value]
FROM ReferenceDataTable R
WHERE R.ID = H.PreviousValueReferenceID
) Prev
CROSS APPLY
(
SELECT [Value]
FROM ReferenceDataTable R2
WHERE R2.ID = H.CurrentValueReferenceID
) Curr
|
Wise Sons is a hip Jewish deli that started as a pop-up and is now a mainstay in the Mission. Get the Ruben.
The Mill is a a collaboration between Josey Baker Bread and Four Barrel Coffee and it's all about the cinnamon toast and cream cheese and pepper on rye.
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archives for innovative exhibitions (like the must-see show The Possible) and film retrospectives.
Curated by Dave Wilson, The Possible invites viewers to convene and participate in the act of making. On view through May 25.
Trouble Coffee in the Outer Sunset is known for fresh young coconuts and cinnamon toast. It's a funny little pairing but I love it.
Right next door to Trouble, The General Store stocks vintage dresses and ceramics by many LA-based designers.
And if you're feeling active, hike Mount Tam for a killer workout and and 360 degree view of the Bay Area.
San Francisco Weekend
03/12/2014
My sister is a yoga teacher and writer living in San Francisco and over the years Alex and I have spent many weekends visiting her. She is a gracious hostess and continues to show us the greatest spots: the best burrito, the best croissant, the most beautiful hikes and awesome day trips. There’s so much fun to be had in the bay area and this list is merely scratching the surface. These are my favorite things to do right now in SF. Enjoy! |
A cataract is “any opacity which establishes in the crystalline lens of the eye or its envelope.” Cataracts create a range of factors, with one of the most typical element being the lasting direct exposure to ultraviolet light. Cataracts could additionally create from innovative age or additional impacts of illness such as diabetes mellitus.
An outcome of denaturation (the conversion of DNA from the double-stranded to the single-stranded state; splitting up of the hairs is frequently completed by home heating) of healthy lens proteins, there are numerous hereditary aspects which are likewise understood to play a significant function inclining a specific to cataracts. As discussed over with progressing age the occurrence of cataracts ends up being even more leading. Cataract development is anticipated in any private over the age of 70 (50% of all individuals in between the ages of 65 as well as 74 & about 70% of those over 75).
Cataracts are most frequently assisted through a surgical treatment called cataract surgery. The surgical procedure intends to recover the eye back to its initial state by getting rid of any cataracts that are existing.
We’re just provided one collection of 2 eyes. Caring for them is very essential. This could suggest straightforward preventative measures such as putting on sunglasses to stop our eyes from aspects such as ultraviolet light, wind, as well as from obtaining fragments in the eye that could harm or lenses. Reflexology for eyes can also be used. |
472 F.2d 293
82 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2329, 70 Lab.Cas. P 13,356
MICHIGAN HOSPITAL SERVICE CORP., Petitioner,v.NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Respondent and InternationalUnion, United Automobile, Aerospace andAgricultural Implement Workers ofAmerica, Intervenor.
No. 72-1002.
United States Court of Appeals,Sixth Circuit.
Dec. 19, 1972.
Robert S. Rosenfeld, Southfield, Mich., for petitioner; James DiMeglio, Keywell & Rosenfeld, Southfield, Mich., on brief.
Paul J. Spielberg, Washington, D. C., for respondent; Peter G. Nash, Gen. Counsel, Marcel Mallet-Prevost, Asst. Gen. Counsel, Kenneth B. Hipp, Atty., N. L. R. B., Washington, D. C., on brief; Jerome H. Brooks, Director, Region 7, N. L. R. B., Detroit, Mich., of counsel.
Stephen I. Schlossberg, John A. Fillion, Edwin G. Fabree, Detroit, Mich., for intervenor.
Before PHILLIPS, Chief Judge, and CELEBREZZE and PECK, Circuit Judges.
CELEBREZZE, Circuit Judge.
1
This case is before us on the Company's petition for review and the Board's cross-application for enforcement of the latter's order, reported at 194 N.L.R.B. No. 7, directing the Company to cease and desist its refusal to bargain with the Union (Intervenor herein) as the exclusive representative of the Company's Westside (Detroit) district office sales representatives. The Company concedes that it refused to bargain but challenges the propriety of the bargaining unit. The sole question for review, therefore, is whether the Board abused its discretion by recognizing the sales representatives at the Company's Westside district office as an appropriate bargaining unit.
2
Section 9(b) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 159(b) provides in part that:
3
"[t]he Board shall decide in each case whether, in order to assure to employees the fullest freedom in exercising the rights guaranteed by this subchapter, the unit appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining shall be the employer unit, craft unit, plant unit, or subdivision thereof. . . ."It is well established that a determination under this section "involves of necessity a large measure of informed discretion, and the decision of the Board, if not final, is rarely to be disturbed." Packard Motor Car Co. v. N. L. R. B., 330 U.S. 485, 491, 67 S.Ct. 789, 793, 91 L.Ed. 1040 (1947). See also N. L. R. B. v. Lou DeYoung's Market Basket, 406 F.2d 17, 23-24 (6th Cir.) remanded on other grounds, 395 U.S. 828, 89 S.Ct. 2125, 23 L.Ed.2d 737 (1969); N. L. R. B. v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., 341 F.2d 750, 756 (6th Cir.) cert. denied, 382 U.S. 830, 86 S.Ct. 69, 15 L.Ed.2d 74 (1965).
4
It is also established that in reviewing the Board's determination under Section 9(b), a court is merely to consider whether the designated unit is an appropriate unit, and not whether it is the appropriate unit or if another unit may have been more suitable. N. L. R. B. v. Pinkerton's, Inc., 428 F.2d 479, 487 (6th Cir. 1970) (dissenting opinion); State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. v. N. L. R. B., 411 F.2d 356, 358 (7th Cir. 1969); N. L. R. B. v. Lou DeYoung's Market Basket, Inc., supra, 406 F.2d at 24. Recognizing this limited scope of judicial review, we turn to the facts relevant to the propriety of the bargaining unit designated by the Board in the present case.
5
The Company, a non-profit Michigan corporation, is engaged in marketing and servicing "Blue Cross" and "Blue Shield" prepaid hospital care to group and individual subscribers throughout that State. It employs approximately 2000 employees, including 64 sales representatives which constitute the Marketing Division's General Sales Group. The General Sales Group divides the State into three geographic regions, with a total of 13 district offices. Region I covers the Detroit Metropolitan area and includes five district offices and 30 sales representatives-one of these five being the Westside district office, with its seven sales representatives who were recognized as an appropriate unit by the Board in the present case.
6
The General Sales Group is headed by the Company's General Sales Manager. Each of the three regions is headed by a regional manager, who reports directly to the General Sales Manager. Each of the 13 district offices is supervised by a district manager, who reports directly to the respective regional manager.
7
It is clear from the record in this case and the briefs and arguments of counsel that most personnel policies are uniformly established and maintained on a company-wide basis. This is evidenced in part by the use of detailed personnel manuals which set forth the Company's labor policies. All of the Company's sales representatives are salaried within uniform ranges established on a company-wide basis, with eligibility for regular merit increases governed by company-wide standards. Fringe benefits, including the use of a company car, vacations and holidays, hospitalization and life insurance, and moving expenses are similarly established on a company-wide basis. Moreover, pursuant to company-wide policies sales representatives are required to make at least four customer or account calls per day, attend weekly sales meetings conducted by the district manager, and contact the district office daily to report their activities.
8
Final decisions respecting the hiring of sales representatives (as well as district managers) for the district offices in Region I are exclusively in the hands of the regional director, who interviews these prospective employees after initial screening and referral by the Company's Personnel Department. Newly hired representatives are initially placed in a utility pool (undergoing training and assisting in a district office) and later permanently assigned to a district office pursuant to the manpower needs prescribed by the General Sales Manager. The General Sales Manager is the lowest level Company official with authority to discharge a sales representative. Decisions respecting transfers, promotions, and merit salary increases are made by the regional manager and the General Sales Manager, upon recommendation of the district manager. Regional sales goals are established by the General Sales Manager, with the regional director in turn setting sales goals for each district office and the territories (of individual sales representatives) therein. The regional manager, to the exclusion of the district manager, also has authority to designate and change the territories of the individual sales representatives.
9
Acknowledging that final decisions effecting the terms and conditions of sales representatives' employment are thus made primarily at the regional or company-wide levels, the Regional Director's decision (accepted without review by the Board in the present unfair labor practice proceeding) nonetheless emphasizes the role of the district manager as evidence of the homogeneity of the Company's Westside district office sales representatives as a collective bargaining unit. The Regional Director cited the following functions of the district manager:
10
"While the district manager lacks authority to hire or fire sales representatives, he does exercise other supervisory responsibilities over the district's employees. Thus, the district manager has the authority to recommend the discharge, promotion, and probation of sales representatives within his district; he is empowered to adjust employee grievances at the district level, and acts as a communication channel to the Regional [Manager] on those grievances that he cannot adjust; he has the authority to discipline sales representatives for gross misconduct; and he is the one to assign work to sales representatives. In addition, the district managers within Region I apparently exercise even more authority because of their 'experience' than do district managers in other regions, in that the district manager's performance review of sales representatives is rarely, if ever, altered by the Regional [Manager]. The district manager also writes a merit review for each sales representative within the district which is used by the Employer as a basis for granting to or withholding from sales representatives merit pay increases. In the day-to-day functioning of the district office, the sales representatives look for guidance and supervision from the district manager."
11
Upon stipulation by the parties, the Regional Director also relied upon the record and exhibits in Case No. 7-RC-10402 (decision and direction of election issued April 27, 1971), wherein the sales representatives at the Company's Grand Rapids district office were recognized as an appropriate unit.1 From that record and the evidence in the present case, the Regional Director determined that the Company's "district offices are to a significant degree, separate entities through which the Employer conducts its operations in the respective population centers or clusters within the State of Michigan." Finding that the distinguishing characteristics of the Westside district office unit did not warrant a ruling different from that in Case No. 7-RC-10402, the Regional Director concluded that the unit possesses sufficient "autonomy, integrity and homogeneity" to be appropriate for collective bargaining.2
12
From the record before us we find sufficient evidence to support the findings of the Regional Director, as adopted by the Board, and we are unable to rule that the Board abused its discretion in designating the unit as appropriate for collective bargaining. Although the district manager clearly lacks final authority to decide many questions which are the subjects of collective bargaining, it is equally clear that the Westside district office manager possesses "considerable influence in the final decisions with respect to . . . personnel matters," comparable to that of the branch claims manager in Continental Ins. Co. v. N. L. R. B., 409 F.2d 727, 729 (2d Cir. 1969). See also State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. v. N. L. R. B., supra, 411 F.2d at 358-359; N. L. R. B. v. Western & Southern Life Ins. Co., 391 F.2d 119, 122 (3d Cir. 1968); N. L. R. B. v. Quaker City Life Ins. Co., 319 F.2d 690, 692 (4th Cir. 1963). Compare Wayne Oakland Bank v. N. L. R. B., 462 F.2d 666, 669 (6th Cir. 1972); N. L. R. B. v. Pinkerton's, Inc., supra, 428 F.2d at 484-485.
13
As was recently noted by this Court in N. L. R. B. v. Pinkerton's, Inc., supra, 428 F.2d at 481.
14
"[W]e assume that to require a bargaining unit to comport to the employer's administrative organization would unduly restrict employees' freedom under Section 9(b) of the Act."
15
The Board may certainly consider the interests of an integrated multi-unit employer in maintaining enterprise-wide labor relations [see Continental Ins. Co. v. N. L. R. B., supra, 409 F.2d at 728], but not at the expense of the employees' interest in the "fullest freedom in exercising [their] rights." 29 U.S.C. Sec. 159(b).
16
"The short answer is simply that the overriding policy of the Act is in favor of the interest in employees to be represented by a representative of their own choosing for purposes of collective bargaining, and the Board was entitled to give this interest greater weight than that accorded to the employer in bargaining with the largest, and presumably most convenient possible unit." N. L. R. B. v. Western & Southern Life Ins. Co., supra, 391 F.2d at 123.
17
We are unable to say that the relatively small amount of time spent by Westside district office sales representatives on large, multi-district accounts, and the relatively minor portion of those representatives' time spent conferring with the personnel from the Company's Detroit headquarters, and the geographic proximity of the Region I district offices3-taken together-refute the Regional Director's determination that that designated unit constitutes a "distinct and homogeneous work group operating within a circumscribed sphere, the district."
18
Viewing the record as a whole and giving full consideration to the factors weighing against the Board's decision, we are thus unable to rule that the Board abused its discretion in designating the present unit as appropriate for collective bargaining. Beyond this determination, we are powerless to substitute our judgment for that of the Board. The Board's order is therefore enforced.
1
We note that the Board may properly "articulate the basis of its order by reference to other decisions . . . so long as the basis of the Board's action, in whatever manner the Board chooses to formulate it, meets the criteria for judicial review." N. L. R. B. v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 380 U.S. 438, 443 n. 6, 85 S.Ct. 1061, 1064, 13 L.Ed.2d 951 (1965)
2
The Regional Director also noted that "[t]here is no showing that the Westside district office sales representatives seek to be represented on a broader basis than their district office or that any labor organization seeks to represent them on such a broader basis."
As was clearly stated by the Supreme Court in N. L. R. B. v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., supra, 380 U.S. at 441-442, 85 S.Ct. 1061, Section 9(c)(5) of the Act does not prevent the Board from considering the extent of organization as one factor in its unit determination, so long as it is not the controlling factor supporting the determination.
3
Region I covers the Metropolitan Detroit area and consists of five district offices: Pontiac, Westside, Downtown, Northside, and Mount Clemens. The Region I office and the Home office are also located within the Metropolitan Detroit area. The Company notes that the distance between the two closest district offices (Westside and Downtown) is about 12 miles-considerably less than the 65 miles separating the designated unit from the district headquarters in N. L. R. B. v. Pinkerton's Inc., supra, and the 25 miles separating the farthest of the branch offices from the main office in Wayne Oakland Bank v. N. L. R. B., supra. Whereas we recognize that the degree of geographical isolation may be one factor in considering whether or not the Board abused its discretion in designating a collective bargaining unit, no single factor can be given controlling weight. Rather, "[t]he issue as to what unit is appropriate for bargaining is one for which no absolute rule of law is laid down by statute, and none should be by decision." Packard Motor Car Co. v. N. L. R. B., supra, 330 U.S. at 491, 67 S.Ct. at 793
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@import "../../../common/css/theme/dark";
@import "coach.editor";
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Memory Corruption Bugs Found in VLC Media Player
There are two memory corruption vulnerabilities in some versions of the VLC open-source media player that can allow an attacker to run arbitrary code on vulnerable machines.
Neither one of the vulnerabilities has been fixed by VideoLAN, the organization that maintains VLC. Security researcher Veysel Hatas reported the vulnerabilities to VideoLAN in December and published the advisories on Full Disclosure on Friday. One of the bugs is a DEP access violation vulnerability and the other is is a write access flaw.
Both vulnerabilities affect version 2.1.5 of VLC media player, but only on the outdated Windows XP operating system. While XP is no longer supported by Microsoft and is several versions out of date, it still is used widely in developing countries and in embedded devices, as well.
“VLC Media Player contains a flaw that is triggered as user-supplied input is not properly sanitized when handling a specially crafted FLV file. This may allow a context-dependent attacker to corrupt memory and potentially execute arbitrary code,” the advisory says.
The description of the second vulnerability is much the same.
“VLC Media Player contains a flaw that is triggered as user-supplied input is not properly sanitized when handling a specially crafted M2V file. This may allow a context-dependent attacker to corrupt memory and potentially execute arbitrary code,” the advisory says.
There are no patches available for the vulnerabilities, according to the advisory.
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Improving termination of pregnancy services in New Zealand.
The aim of this article is to review evidence of the access and timeliness of termination of pregnancy (TOP) services to date in New Zealand and to provide clinic level and policy recommendations for service improvement. Compared to other countries, New Zealand successfully provides access to TOP services regardless of ability to pay, yet still lags behind other OECD countries in timeliness of services. There are clear differences in the organisational structure of clinics around the country, the most striking difference being between the private and public sectors. Streamlining referral pathways, expanding the availability of medical TOPs, and improving the organisational structure of clinics would all contribute to improving the timeliness of services and therefore the quality of care received by women. Improvements in the timeliness of TOP services in New Zealand are needed and achievable, even without legislative changes. |
It is one of those unseemly matters that tend to beset governments right around election time. And yet Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister Chang Hsien-yao’s removal from office on August 16 for allegedly leaking classified information to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is not just another sensational political scandal. The Chang affair has raised serious questions about the Ma administration’s ability to manage cross-Strait relations and secure Taiwan against intensified PRC espionage activities; and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for President Ma Ying-jeou’s party the Kuomintang (KMT).
Taiwan is preparing to hold local elections on November 29 in which a record 11,130 public servants will be chosen. It is generally believed that a strong showing by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the local elections could greatly improve the party’s chances in Taiwan’s 2016 legislative and presidential elections. Hence, a scandal such as the Chang affair that increases doubts about the Ma administration’s controversial China policy or its ability to fulfill its fundamental responsibilities could have grave knock-on consequences for the president’s party at the ballot box.
The story of Chang’s removal from office broke quietly. On August 16, the MAC announced that Chang was stepping down from his position for “family reasons.” The following day, however, Chang informed Taiwanese media that he had in fact been told to resign on August 14. MAC spokeswoman Wu Mei-hung then told a press conference that the council had lied about Chang’s resignation in order to protect him while it conducted an internal investigation. The case has since been turned over to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office.
Details of the Chang affair remain murky. According to a report by the Taiwanese newspaper The United Daily News, Chang is accused of leaking two “secret” documents, four “confidential” documents, and 18 other classified documents. Investigators have not disclosed precisely what kind of information Chang is alleged to have leaked, but various Taiwanese media have reported that Chang provided the PRC with information related to Taiwan’s airspace, among other things.
The Ma administration has tried to downplay the Chang case, arguing that Chang wasn’t in charge of negotiating any of the 21 cross-Strait agreements signed since Ma came to office in 2008. The president himself has likened the scandal to “small waves” going against the general trend of progress in cross-Strait relations. A spokesman for the PRC’s Taiwan Affairs Office echoed Ma’s message at a regular press conference earlier this month. Nevertheless, many wonder how leaks by one of Taiwan’s top negotiators responsible for dealing with the PRC could do anything but damage cross-Strait relations and cast a shadow on the already contentious issues being negotiated under the Economic Cooperative Framework Agreement (ECFA) – the preeminent achievement of President Ma’s pro-engagement strategy toward the PRC.
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Some Taiwanese worry that the leak story, if true, might just be the tip of the iceberg. At the start of Taiwan’s new legislative session on September 12, legislators voiced their concerns to Premier Wang Jin-pyng and MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi that Chang might not have acted alone. Yesterday, Wang was questioned by legislators from the Democratic Progressive Party, and was urged to halt cross-Strait negotiations until the investigation into Chang is concluded.
This fear that the PRC might have penetrated the recesses of one of Taiwan’s most important cabinet-level administrative agencies has reignited an old debate over whether or not the Ma administration is doing enough to protect Taiwan against PRC spying. In March of last year, Ma admitted that Taiwan’s increasing engagement with China had led to a growing number of security breaches in Taiwan, but added that the situation was “under control.”
A high-level government official giving away state secrets to the PRC would seem to belie those reassurances. Nevertheless, the Ma administration is in no position right now to reevaluate its China policy or wage a campaign to beef up Taiwan’s security. It has already seen one of its key cross-Strait initiatives stall this year as a result of vigorous public and political opposition, and anything that draws attention to the broader implications of the Chang scandal will only re-energize that opposition. Therefore, going into the November elections all the administration and its supporters in the KMT can do is try to tamp down speculation about the Chang case and parry the DPP’s thrusts in the media and the legislature. Damage control is the name of the game.
Kristian McGuire is an independent, Washington-based researcher and volunteer with Taiwan Security Research. He recently earned his master of international affairs degree from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. |
Q:
wanted put array list items into variables using loop
i am dynamically adding items to array-list after i wanted to
Initialize Variables using this array-list items
my array-list is
ArrayList<String> dayCountList = new ArrayList<String>();
i try to do like this but it doesn't work
for (int i = 0; i < dayCountList.size() ;i++) {
double day+"i" = Double.parseDouble(dayCountList.get(i));
}
A:
You can create a array or array list of double type like this.
ArrayList<String> dayCountList = new ArrayList<String>();
.
.
double day[]=new double[dayCountList.size()];
// now use your loop like this
for (int i = 0; i < dayCountList.size() ; i++) {
day[i] = Double.parseDouble(dayCountList.get(i));
}
Now you can call your variables like day[0], for first element
day[1] ,for second and so on.
Hope this helped you.
|
If holding current of a thyristor is 2 mA then latching current should be
0.004 A.
0.002 A.
0.01 A.
0.009 A.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Which of following is not a power transistor?
IGBTs
TRIAC
COOLMOS
SITS
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Which of following is normally ON device
BJT
SIT
IGBT
TRIAC
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Which of the following is disadvantage of fast recovery diodes?
Recovery is only 5 µs.
Doping is carried out.
Recovery is only 50 µs.
None of these.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
A single phase full bridge inverter can operated in load commutation mode in case load consist of
RLC underdamped.
RLC critically damped.
RL.
RLC overdamped.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Thermal voltage VT can be given by
KT/q.
Kq/T.
(K2/q)(T + 1/T - 1).
qT/K.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Which semiconductor device acts like a diode and two transistor?
SCR
Triac
UJT
Diac
Correct!
Wrong!
-
IGBT combines the advantages of
None of these.
BJTs and SITs.
SITs and MOSFETs.
BJTs and MOSFETs.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
COOLMOS device can be used in application up to power range of
1 KVA.
100 KVA.
500 VA.
2 KVA.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
If the anode current is 800 A, then the amount of current required to turn off the GTO is about
200 A.
600 A.
20 A.
400 A.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
A power semiconductor may undergo damage due to
Low dv/dt.
High dv/dt.
Low di/dt.
High di/dt.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
The latching current of SCR is 20 mA. Its holding current will be
23 mA.
40 mA.
60 mA.
10 mA.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Which of the following is true?
SIT is a high power, high voltage device.
SIT is a low power, high frequency device.
SIT is a high power, high frequency device.
SIT is a high power, low frequency device.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
A thyristor can termed as
DC switch.
Both AC & DC switch.
AC switch.
Square wave switch.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Which of following devices has highest di/dt and dv/dt capability?
SITH
SIT
SCR
GTO
Correct!
Wrong!
-
A power MOSFET has three terminals called
Drain, source and base.
Collector, emitter and gate.
Drain, source and gate.
Collector, emitter and base.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Compared to transistor, ______________ have lower on state conduction losses and higher power handling capability
Thyristor
TRIACs
Semi conductor diodes.
MOSFETs.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Power transistor are type of
MOSFETs
BJTs
All of above.
IGBTs
Correct!
Wrong!
-
The turn-on time of an SCR with inductive load is 20 µs. The puls train frequency is 2.5 KHz with a mark/space ratio of 1/10, then SCR will
Turn on if inductance is removed.
Turn on.
Not turn on.
Turn on if pulse frequency us increased to two times.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
A GTO can be turned on by applying
None of these.
Positive drain signal.
Positive gate signal.
Positive source signal.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
SITH is also known as
Filled controlled diode.
None of these.
Filled controlled rectifier.
Silicon controlled rectifier.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Which one is most suitable power device for high frequency (>100 KHz) switching application?
BJT
Microwave transistor.
Schottky diode.
Power MOSFET.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
Practical way of obtaining static voltage equalization in series connected SCRs is by the use of
one resistor across the string.
one resistor in series with each SCR.
resistors of the same value across each SCR.
resistors of different values across each SCR.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
The capacitance of reversed biased junction J2 in a thyristor is CJ2 = 20 pF and can be assumed to be independent of the off state voltage. The limiting value of the charging current to turn on the thyristor is 16 mA. What is the critical value of dv/dt?
800 V/µs.
1000 V/µs.
600 V/µs.
1200 V/µs.
Correct!
Wrong!
-
A modern power semiconductor device that combines the characteristic of BJT and MOSFET is |
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Is Customization The Solution?
There may or may not be a kinder, gentler future for the asset-management industry, but investors are certain to be pitched a more personalized one.
More asset managers are attempting to cast themselves as providers of "solutions," an elastic term whose meaning stretches from products such as target-date funds to services such as matching institutions' pension liabilities to assets, and from providing dependable income streams to producing inflation-targeted returns.
In some ways, it boils down to benchmark aversion and rethinking along more customized lines. That's partly a result of attrition in core areas such as equity mutual funds. The shift promises to steer the conversation away from "alpha" and trying to produce good relative performance -- by beating, say, the S&P 500 -- and toward goals that aren't defined by a stock benchmark.
Investors' unhappiness with stock funds stems from the funds' lengthy underperformance. But even people whose funds matched or beat the S&P 500 by a small margin over the past decade can't be very happy, given the weak showing of that key market gauge; investors have pulled more than $670 billion from stock funds since 2008. It makes sense for investors to think less about benchmarks if the benchmarks themselves perform poorly.
A McKinsey & Co. study underscores the industry's new enthusiasm for customization. It found that 85% of the asset managers surveyed cited solutions as a promising growth area. (The firm's two other top picks are passive index trackers and alternative investments.) Many of us know solutions as managing retirement money, college funds, or income streams. For institutions, the term might include controlling pension costs.
Chris Goolgasian, head of U.S. portfolio management at State Street Global Advisors' investment solutions group, calls the industry's fixation on benchmarks a problem. His group manages $165 billion in the solutions category, which, in its case, includes tactical asset-allocation strategies, target-date funds, and liability-driven investing. None are closely tied to stock indexes.
How much of this is simply slick marketing? The asset-growth figures suggest that something bigger is afoot. About $320 billion in net new money flowed into the solutions category, if you define it to include target-date and target-risk funds, tax-managed strategies, inflation-protected bonds, 529 college saving plans, and similar products, McKinsey found. The expectation is for the tally to pick up substantially. The average asset manager participating in the study estimated that such outcome-oriented products would account for more than one-third of flows by 2015. "The terms by which you are successful in the eyes of your clients are changing," says Kurt MacAlpine, co-author of the study.
Sure, the industry has a self-interest in making fewer comparisons to stock benchmarks when they're unflattering. And some of the "solutions" it's touting, including many target-date funds, have produced dismal results. But many investors seem to want a more customized approach, and big-picture investment thinkers have been talking about this for a while. MIT Professor Andrew W. Lo wrote about what he termed "personal indexes" more than a decade ago. Says Lo: "One size does not fit all. Buying and holding passive investment vehicles like the S&P 500 is a crude approach to what an investor really cares about for his or her own personal circumstances."
My take on the "customization solution"? To be brutally honest, it's a bunch of marketing fluff to shift investors' attention away from the abysmal performance of the money management industry.
Sure, no two pension funds are alike. They all have different liabilities and liquidity constraints and their portfolio should reflect this. But at the end of the day, it's all about alpha. Stock and bond managers have to beat the established benchmarks and hedge funds and private equity have to return absolute returns. You can "customize" your portfolio all you want, the bottom line is your internal and external managers need to deliver alpha.
And while passive investment vehicles might seem like a "crude approach" to some, the reality is that this inexpensive approach continues to outperform the majority of active managers, including smart money which is falling off a cliff.
Of the thousands of hedge funds and other vehicles registered as Securities and Exchange Commission investment advisors, more than 150 have the word "alpha" in their names. But calling yourself alpha and actually generating it are entirely different things.
Putting money into a Standard & Poor's 500-stock index fund would have gained you more than 12% so far this year, while investing in the average hedge fund would have generated just 4.8% in returns, net of fees, through September, according to hedge-fund performance tracker HFR. Even most strategies correlated with equity markets trail the S&P by a wide mark. Put simply, alpha, or the value a manager adds to returns beyond his benchmark, just isn't there. And that's what the typical hedge fund promises investors, in return for its hefty fees.
Hedge funds typically lag behind broader indexes slightly during years with double-digit S&P gains—they do have to hedge, after all—but it's rarely by this much.
Managers across all strategies are concerned about another 2008-like market crash, but in the meantime, they've been hurt by central banks' persistence at keeping interest rates low. Add in volatility and a U.S. presidential election where the top three issues are the economy, the economy, and the economy, and it's clear that hedge-fund managers are more concerned about managing risk than gambling on equities. Investors and other industry observers say that for perhaps the first time since the phrase hedge fund entered the lexicon, hot or gimmicky strategies aren't worth investing in at all. It's the manager that counts.
"It's a return to the roots of the hedge-fund industry, when it was a small group of highly talented stockpickers and fundamental investors," says John Bailey, founder and chief executive of Spruce Private Investors, which invests in 30 different hedge funds for foundations and endowments.
Sure enough, some of the stars of the industry, like Appaloosa Management founder David Tepper and Steve Mandel of Lone Pine Capital, have more than doubled the returns of the S&P this year. While others, like Third Point Capital's Daniel Loeb, haven't been able to beat the broader markets, they've at least generated the double-digit gains that hedge-fund investors expect.
Perhaps it's time, though, to re-examine those expectations. The successful managers, with years of positive track records, are more of an exception now than ever before. Bailey says he and his firm recently conducted a study of rolling hedge-fund returns since the mid 1990s, tracking alpha specifically. His findings?
"You don't want to invest in the average hedge fund," Bailey says. "Hedge-fund industry alpha has been on the decline since the mid-1990s, and is actually trending toward zero."
But Ken Heinz, president of HFR, says this year's poor performance is more a case of growing fears among hedge-fund managers that a far-reaching economic crisis is coming. More managers are emphasizing less risk, even when playing the broader stock market. Third Point's third-quarter letter to investors said the fund matched the market's gain "with significantly less exposure."
Heinz says the decline in interest rates to near zero has also hurt hedge funds' returns.
"Equities are only a portion of what hedge funds are actually investing in," Heinz states. "Right now you're sitting here with record low interest rates." Making money off debt instruments with higher interest rates is gone, he says. "The opportunities to get 15% or 20% [returns] the last few years have not been as plentiful as what they would be in an environment where governments aren't suppressing their rates."
Then there's that whole election you may have heard about. While it's unclear what type of short-term effect on hedge funds an Obama re-election or Romney win might have, the sheer uncertainty of who will be in office on Jan. 20, 2013—and what that might mean for both the Federal Reserve and central banks overseas—has kept hedge funds from stepping too hard on the gas pedal.
"Postelection, we'll have a better view," says Kenneth S. Phillips, founder and chief executive of HedgeMark, a BNY Mellon affiliate that provides risk analytics and managed-account platforms for hedge funds. "The Fed established policies in the U.S. that were not influenced by the elections, and as it got closer to the elections, they could not change those policies because it would have the appearance of playing to the other party."
Once the election is over, Phillips says, investors will be able to go back to trying to identify the managers with the most important, if unquantifiable, skill in chasing alpha: talent.
"Talent is not something that can be easily discerned during a raging bull market that's being accelerated by central-bank intervention," Phillips says.
True, talent is not something that can be easily discerned during a raging bull market but the reality is few hedge funds understood or played the macro events of the last couple of years correctly. A lot of them succumbed to the noise, reducing risk at the worst time, worrying about Grexit, a collapse of the eurozone, a hard landing in China, the US fiscal cliff and another 2008 meltdown.
More worrisome, most hedge funds still don't understand the role of quantitative easing, fearing that the Fed and other central banks are on a collision course with Armageddon. The failure to understand central bank interventions post-2008 has been the single most important factor explaining the gross underperformance of hedge funds.
Instead of worrying about customizing their portfolios, institutional investors should be asking themselves a lot of hard questions at this stage of the cycle. For example, while structured credit hedge funds are the high yield flavor of the day, are there risks in these funds? It wasn't long ago that I wrote about the death of highly leveraged illiquid strategies but it seems like in this industry, the hunt for yield makes for short memories. To be sure, some of these funds investing in CLOs are excellent but as money chases performance, a bunch of charlatans are entering the space.
I'm hardly shocked that most US hedge funds lost ground in October. There will be more pain ahead for many funds that continue to reduce risk, fearing another meltdown. Wednesday's massive selloff was yet another opportunity to buy the dip in financials, energy, technology and materials. Smart hedge funds loaded up on coal, banks, energy and tech (never mind Romney's loss!).
All this to say that investors can "customize" their portfolios all they want but at the end of the day, it's all about alpha. I've never seen so many lame excuses from money managers trying to explain or shift attention away from gross underperformance. It's truly pathetic.
Finally, read an article on how a computer-driven hedge fund Cantab Capital Partners has closed to new investors because it is not confident it can deliver the same returns with more money. CTAs have been struggling of late but investors willing to seed emerging talent in this space should contact me directly (LKolivakis@gmail.com) and I'll put you in touch with an exceptional manager who was recently let go by a Canadian bank whose managers wouldn't know alpha if it landed on their lap (however, they know all about beta, increasing allocations to credit strategies!).Below, Bloomberg’s Jon Erlichman details losses incurred by hedge funds because of the drop in Apple’s share price. He also looks at the pressure on the company to deliver during the holiday season. He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s “Money Moves.” Told you to bet on BlackBerry's revival!
Bio, contact info and your support
I am an independent senior pension and investment analyst with years of experience working on the buy and sell-side. I have researched and invested in traditional and alternative asset classes at two of the largest public pension funds in Canada, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (Caisse) and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments). I've also consulted the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada on the governance of the Federal Public Service Pension Plan (2007) and been invited to speak at the Standing Committee on Finance (2009) and the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce and Trade (2010) to discuss Canada's pension system. You can follow my blog posts on your Bloomberg terminal and track me on Twitter (@PensionPulse) where I post many links to pension and investment articles as well as my market thoughts and other articles of interest. Please remember to support my efforts by clicking on the ads on the blog but more importantly by contributing via PayPal clicking on the buttons below. Anyone can contribute any amount at any time (all tips are greatly appreciated) but institutional investors are kindly requested to support this blog via an annual subscription of $500, $1000 or $5000 CAD (third option includes specialized consulting mandates). For all inquiries and comments, email me at LKolivakis@gmail.com.
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This blog has been voted one of the best financial blogs in the world. It is intended for a wide audience, including plan sponsors, pension fund managers, board of directors, government supervisors, financial reporters, retail and institutional investors, traders, actuaries, consultants, brokers, and most importantly, pension plan beneficiaries who want to understand where their contributions are being invested and how their pension plans are being managed.
As you scroll down the right-hand side, you will first see links to pension news, a guide to the basics, my blog archive, popular posts and comprehensive links to Canadian and global funds, government organizations, institutional organizations, advisors and vendors, broker dealers & investment banks, documents to pension plan governance, assets and liabilities, links to conferences, geopolitical news, market and industry research and my blog roll. All links are listed in alphabetical order.
I've also included links to worthy charities and resources to fight Multiple Sclerosis.
Readers can subscribe to my posts entering their email at the top of the right hand side. They can also search my blog using any key word in the custom search at the top of the page.
Finally, take the time to read my disclaimer at the bottom and always remember there is no free lunch on Wall Street.Always be skeptical of everything you read, including comments from yours truly!
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PBS - Have the Dutch Solved the Pension Problem?
Disclaimer
Pension Pulse is a collection of my thoughts pertaining to issues on pension funds and financial markets. The information and opinions contained on this site are merely guidelines. This site does not guarantee any monetary claims by following these recommendations. This website is not liable for any loss that you incur due to these programs, nor do we ask for any monetary gains from your success of using these recommendations.
We also do not guarantee the results of any products or recommendations listed on this site. You must do your own due diligence before investing in any product. |
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sidebar: home_sidebar
title: Info about Z00D
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permalink: /devices/Z00D/
device: Z00D
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{% include templates/device_info.md %}
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The Vampire Diaries: The Good, The Bad, (The Twilight Reference) and The Bloody
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Last night's Vampire Diaries was all about the formal wear, history and, swoon, some shirtless Salvatores. The series is doing a great job of slowly revealing the back story of the vampires in Mystic Falls while also progressing the romances and of course the brother-rivalry which has taken a pretty central spot so far.
Bonnie is still figuring out her powers, without much help from her friends or anyone else, but she's quietly becoming one of my favorite parts of the show. On the other hand, I'm not sure how much I care about Elena's aunt, whose love life might be causing some trouble for the Gilbert family soon. Check out my thoughts on the show if you just
.
The Good:
I love, love, loved the scene of Damon reading Twilight — hilarious. He says that "this book has it all wrong" and laughs off Caroline's questions about his lack of sparkling in the sun.
Holy hotness. The Salvatore guys were all about showing off their bodies last night. No complaints here.
Finally Elena was a good friend and noticed that Caroline is covering up some serious wounds from Damon. Maybe Elena isn't quite clued into what's going on, but at least she's worried and the scene at the end suggests that Caroline might be ready to talk.
On that note, Elena is growing a backbone with Stefan. It's about time for her to demand that he be less mysterious, especially considering how much she has gone through. She deserves to have some transparency from the guy she is trusting her heart to.
No diary writing this week, no crows, so there's that.
The Bad:
I am getting into this show, for sure, but not quite ready to put any heart into the aunt's backstory and love life. There was a bit too much time spent on that last night. Speaking of which, am I heartless for just not being that into Jeremy's story? The end was sweet when Vicki finally came to her senses and kissed him, but still, lets get back to the Salvatore hotness.
As I mentioned last week — five people are found dead drained of blood out of one neck bite and the police say it's a Mountain Lion?
The Bloody:
Once again the show started with a scary scene, this time a nightmare. It seems like it's Elena's, but really it's Stefan — why is he sleeping at all? — anyway, this leads to...
Um, hey brothers, why so stabby? Well, at least that meant some serious six pack from Stefan and one of the best lines from Damon yet: "This is Jon Varvatos, dude. Dick."
The last bite of Caroline seemed pretty intense, but she didn't die thanks to Stefan who helped her out. Plus, her blood was spiked which meant Damon could finally be captured.
I can't imagine that Damon will stay locked up for long, but the Mystic Falls police department, mayor and news anchor know what kind of "animal" is draining residents of blood — the vampires are back. We're still piecing together what happened in the past, or what made the vampires leave for however many decades, but things are still getting more and more interesting as the plot unfolds. What did you like or not like about "Family Ties"?
I think they are calling them attacks by mountain lions because they don't want to scare anyone and obviously they have their own way of dealing with the fact that the vampires are back as we seen in the closing shot. I agree with the others where the aunts back story is just a filler (who cares) but this show just keeps getting better and better every week.
I know Damon was supposed to be the bad guy, but I like him and I sensed a bad vibe from the mayor group at the end of the episode.
Auntie's love life only had some space because it was preparing us to know the guy was only in her life again to get that watch. I guess it was needed those scenes to happen.
And I don't think I'll get into this show. I love Damon and find impossible to life Stefan. And they try desperately to show how he's dreamy, good and hero. A snooze fest if you ask me. Those good vs bad battles are so cliche and annoyed me so much.
I´m loving this show more and more each week It has become my favourite new show of the fall, along with Glee. I too love the Twilight reference (and slight diss, if I may add, what with the sparkling and all...) and I love Damon´s lines. I´m also impressed with Ian Somerhalder´s performance, I think he has grown as an actor since his Lost days. I also love how Bonnie´s storyline is slowly becoming more and more intriguing, but the thing I love the most is the backstory of the town, the Salvatore family, Katherine, the watch, the crystal and Elena´s family...can´t wait for next week!!
I like Jeremy, but I'm tired of the whole vicki-jeremy-ty love triangle storyline. I also didn't really think much about Elena's aunt's lovelife. Besides that the episode was good; Damon has the best lines, I'm curious about Bonnie and that gem, and the ending was such a twist
Oh, and the end was exciting! I thought it was implied that the mayor and the local officials had some powers or they knew how to restrain the vampires somehow. I'm interested to find out what happens.
I loved the Twilight references too. This show is so much better than the Twilight books, in my opinion, and I'm glad that there is no "sparkling" involved.
I also didn't think I would like this show that much, but it has gotten better each week. I love the dynamic between Stefan and Damon. I'm warming up to Elena, but I could care less about the aunt. She is irritating...
I loved the "This is Jon Varvatos, dude. Dick." and Twilight lines. That Damon is a hoot. You aren't heartless for not caring about Elana's sister or brother's plotlines - I haven't even memorized their names.
I kinda missed the diary writing though. It's so moody.
I agree w/ both of you the Aunt's a snoozer. But I am TOTALLY loving this show. I almost didn't tune in b/c I thought this series was going to be complete cheeze but it has not dissapointed thus far. And what can I say I'm a sucker for the eye candy. |
The US Senate unanimously voted to extend the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) by ten years on Thursday.
The bill was passed by a vote of 99-0. It had previously been approved by a vote of 419-1 in the House of Representatives. President Barack Obama still has to sign the bill for it to become law.
The Obama Administration had hinted that it would have preferred not to sign the bill into law. It was passed with a veto-proof majority, however.
The ISA, which was first passed in 1996, enacts sanctions on companies that invest in Iran's energy sector in order to deter the Islamic Republic's pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened "revenge" against the US if the ISA extension is passed. He said that Iran would "retaliate" and that it would consider such a move to be a violation of the nuclear deal Iran signed with Western powers in 2015.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the law is meant to enable the US to stop Iran’s “persistent efforts to expand its sphere of influence.” Senator Ben Cardin, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that renewing the ISA was necessary to create a “credible deterrent” should Iran violate the nuclear deal. |
"I find the whole concept of being 'sexy' embarrassing and confusing," Watson said, showing the difference between her identity and the way in which she is often seen.
Published by snowingwell |
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sweets for the Sweet - French Yogurt Cake with Lemon
If I lived in Paris I would undoubtedly purchase my fine sweets and pastries at a patisserie, but I would apparently feel that it is OK to bake a simple yogurt cake for my family...like this one, a variation of the French Yogurt Cake in Dorie Greenspan's Baking, from my home to yours cookbook.
I chose this sweet to send as a surprise to Natasha and her heart's love, both fans of a slice of something sweet with their afternoon coffee. I made it in a mini loaf pan (see Peabody, I'm a convert...yay mini pans!) and knew that it was firm and moist enough to withstand a few days journey via snail mail to Natasha. She and her hubby are both sweet people, so this was a true sweet for the sweet.
I also made some fairy cakes using a Nordic ware tart pan and they sure looked cute once they were baked. I had a fairy cake with my Earl Gray tea and it was wonderful!
This cake goes together quickly if you have yogurt, a lemon and some almonds and the usual baker's supplies of flour and sugar. I had almond meal on hand but you can make your own with blanched almonds, ground in the food processor. Use a tablespoon of the sugar from the recipe and add it as you grind the nuts to keep them from becoming a paste.
These cakes are mildly sweet, fragrant with lemon, slightly chewy from the almonds, and perfect with a cup of tea or coffee. You can take the juice from the lemon and mix it with confectioners sugar to make a glaze for the top of the cake if you like, but I liked it like this:
French Yogurt Cake with Lemonfrom Dorie Greenspan's Baking: from my home to yours
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and put the oven rack in the center of the oven.
Butter 4 mini loaf pans and place on a baking sheet. (I used a tart pan and 1 mini loaf pan.)Whisk together the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and salt.
Put the sugar and zest in a medium bowl. With your fingertips rub the zest into the sugar until the sugar is moist and aromatic. Add the yogurt, eggs and vanilla and whisk vigorously until the mixture is very well blended. Still whisking, add the dry ingredients, then switch to a large rubber spatula and fold in the oil. You’ll have a thick, smooth batter with a slight sheen. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the top of loaf pans. The mini tart pans will self-level.
Bake the tart pans for about 20 minutes and the mini loaf pans for 30-40 minutes, or until the cake begins to come away from the sides of the pans. The cakes should be golden brown and a thin knife, inserted into the center of the mini loaf will come out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes, then run a blunt knife between the cakes and the sides of the pans.
What a marvelous surprise!! This is, indeed, moist and wonderful; just the right tartness, just the right sweetness. It was difficult for the two of us to not eat the whole loaf at once. But then we couldn't have it again :( so planning for the future won out.
Just getting a package was really neat, then add that it came from you, and then open it up and, oh wow!!
Thank you again!!
Love, Natasha <-- who never seems to be awake at the same time you are
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I love comments and if there are questions as part of your comment, I try to answer them in a few days. Just click on COMMENTS at the bottom of the post.
All of the content is my own, unless mentioned otherwise. I don't mind sharing, but please ask before you use any of the photos or content for any reason, or before you link to this or add this blog to any roundup (unless I've submitted it to you) and collection or in any way place content elsewhere. My email to contact is:plachman 'at'sonic'dot'net. Thanks! Happy blogging!! |
On The Road in Arizona: Our Ultimate American Adventure
From the moment we bought our van in 2015, we knew we had to take it cross-country.
After living in New York and travelling to most other major US cities, we wanted more. More of the deserts, the mountains, the parks and everything in between…..we wanted to see it all. For those that are new to our site, we drove our 2012 Dodge Ram Van from NY to LA last summer and had the time of our lives doing it. The people, the places, the landscapes will stay with us forever.
Here, we bring you a glimpse of our All-American road trip through Arizona and into Utah. From South to North as we drove it: Saguaro; Sedona; Grand Canyon; Horseshoe Bend; Antelope Canyon; Page and Lake Powell.
With so many incredible wonders, so close together, this is the route to take if you’re short on time! This entire two-state is nothing short of breathtaking. |
There’s obviously money in this (despite all the criticism denouncing the idea), because the company continues to add to its growing list of deceased celebrities who are “revived” for performances as holograms.
A month after it was announced that Whitney Houston, Billie Holiday, Patsy Cline, Buddy Holly, Bing Crosby, and others will be “reborn” as holograms, the company behind the push (Hologram USA) has revealed that comedians Redd Foxx and Andy Kaufman will also be “recreated” for 21st Century audiences as holograms, and will begin performing again via live shows, in a nationwide tour set for 2016.
“Who knew that the persistent rumors that Andy Kaufman would return from death would come true?” said Hologram USA CEO Alki David. “We have the opportunity to resurrect him and present his genius with the same vitality and joy that his first audiences experienced 40 years ago. As for our other debut comedy hologram legend: Redd Foxx is a hero who helped change the game not just in comedy but in how Americans talk about race and sex.”
Samantha Chang, Director of Licensing of CMG said: “We’re delighted to work with Hologram USA to celebrate Andy Kaufman and Redd Foxx, two comedians who changed the genre forever. As with all our work with legendary artists, we insure that every project is authentic and created with the utmost respect for the person’s life and work.”
“I grew up listening to Redd Foxx records and watching Andy Kaufman standup,” said SVP of Hologram USA Sales David Nussbaum, a comedy veteran in his own right. “So bringing them back to entertain future generations is a tremendous honor. Acts like Kaufman and Foxx will help drive awareness to the futuristic qualities Hologram USA brings to live entertainment.”
FilmOn Studios will work with each comedian’s estate to create the shows which will include some of the stars’ famous characters and catch phrases, such as Kaufman’s Mighty Mouse routine, to Foxx’s famous fake heart attack line, “It’s the big one! I’m comin’ to join you Elizabeth!”
The Andy Kaufman and Redd Foxx hologram performances will also be excerpted and presented at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY at the world’s first Hologram Comedy Club, powered by HUSA. The NCC broke ground in August.
Hologram USA owns the exclusive North American patent to the technology that creates the only life-like HD holograms. The company is part of Alki David’s Anakando Media Group of companies which is also home to the streaming TV platform FilmOn.com, pay-per-view site ETV.com, and digital distribution site MondoTunes. The company is the only licensed producer in North America of the patented technology that creates the HD quality holograms that are creating what The Hollywood Reporter has called a billion dollar industry in the making. Select Hologram USA productions will stream live on FilmOn.com, on television. It is the same technology that created the famous Tupac Shakur hologram at Coachella in 2012. For more information please visit HologramUSA.com. |
Banks cut rates ahead of RBI policy review
The bigger banks like SBI and ICICI Bank had already reduced their lending rates a couple of days before the RBI rate cutMumbai: Banks have begun to reduce interest rates ahead of Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy announcement on Wednesday as cost of funds continues to decline. Bank of Baroda on Tuesday reduced its one-year benchmark lending rate by 20 basis points (100 bps = 1 percentage point).
The RBI is widely expected to cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 6%. Some economists are even forecasting a 50-basis-point cut, given the slowdown on the back of the cash crunch caused by demonetisation.
“With the revision of MCLR by Bank of Baroda, the offered rate of interest on loan product will be lower by 20 basis points across all the tenors,” the bank said in a statement on Tuesday. For a one-year loan, the lending rates have been reduced to 9.05% from 9.25%.
On Monday, Bank of India had reduced lending rates and SBI will review its lending rates on Thursday. Last week, another state-run lender, Dena Bank, had reduced its MCLR by 10 basis points to 9.30% from 9.40% for one-year tenor.
According to 26 of 33 economists in a Bloomberg survey, the six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) led by RBI governor Urjit Patel is expected to lower the repurchase or repo rate — at which the central bank lends to banks — by 25 basis points to 6%. Three economists see a 50-basis-point cut, while four expect no change. The second meeting of the MPC began on Tuesday. Although both the government and RBI nominees have equal representation, the RBI governor has a casting vote. The decision of the panel will be released on Wednesday.
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They can also be a key intermediary between businesses in the shadow economy and those in the formal economy helping firms to manage their affairs, legalise and “come out of the shadows” says Director of Professional Insights, ACCA, Maggie McGhee.
Robin Banerjee, Managing Director and Executive Director, Caprihans India Ltd, a subsidiary of Bilcare Ltd and author of the book, Who Cheats and How? Scams, Frauds and the Dark Side of the Corporate World, talks to ET CFO about the best fraud management practices and the CFO’s role in these. |
Beyonce Challenges Jhud for MTV Movie Award
Dreamgirls, Jhud and Beyonce were both nominated for Best Performance by the MTV Movie Awards. Besides competing with each other for the award, they will go up against Johnny Depp, Will Smith, Keira Knightley, and Gerard Butler who were nominated in the same category. |
Expression of Rac1 alternative 3' UTRs is a cell specific mechanism with a function in dendrite outgrowth in cortical neurons.
The differential expression of mRNAs containing tandem alternative 3' UTRs, achieved by mechanisms of alternative polyadenylation and post-transcriptional regulation, has been correlated with a variety of cellular states. In differentiated cells and brain tissues there is a general use of distal polyadenylation signals, originating mRNAs with longer 3' UTRs, in contrast with proliferating cells and other tissues such as testis, where most mRNAs contain shorter 3' UTRs. Although cell type and state are relevant in many biological processes, how these mechanisms occur in specific brain cell types is still poorly understood. Rac1 is a member of the Rho family of small GTPases with essential roles in multiple cellular processes, including cell differentiation and axonal growth. Here we used different brain cell types and tissues, including oligodendrocytes, microglia, astrocytes, cortical and hippocampal neurons, and optical nerve, to show that classical Rho GTPases express mRNAs with alternative 3' UTRs differently, by gene- and cell- specific mechanisms. In particular, we show that Rac1 originate mRNA isoforms with longer 3' UTRs specifically during neurite growth of cortical, but not hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the longest Rac1 3' UTR is necessary for driving the mRNA to the neurites, and also for neurite outgrowth in cortical neurons. Our results indicate that the expression of Rac1 longer 3' UTR is a gene and cell-type specific mechanism in the brain, with a new physiological function in cortical neuron differentiation. |
Q:
Indexer with Dictionary
I am not able to proceed with the below code . Can anyone please help ?
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace Demo_Inidexers
{
public class MyIndexer
{
Dictionary <int,string > testdctnry = new Dictionary<int,string>() ;
public string this[int index,string val ]
{
get
{
string temp;
if (index > 0)
MessageBox .Show ("Hey m Zero");
return testdctnry[index];
}
set
{
if (index > 1)
MessageBox.Show("Setting up");
testdctnry.Add(index, val);
}
}
}
static class Program
{
static void Main()
{
MyIndexer MI = new MyIndexer();
}
}
}
In the above code how can i use both indexer and dictionary . I am very new to c# , please help . i want to understand indexer .
A:
The value for setting an indexer shouldn't be used as the second argument. The get simply has no access to a set value, as there is none. In the set method there is a contextual keyword, value, that has the value set to the indexer:
public class MyIndexer
{
private Dictionary <int,string> testdctnry = new Dictionary<int,string>();
public string this[int index]
{
get
{
if (index > 0)
MessageBox.Show("Hey m Zero");
return testdctnry[index];
}
set
{
if (index > 1)
MessageBox.Show("Setting up");
testdctnry[index] = value;
}
}
}
|
Q:
Search directory of .psd files for specific text?
I have a directory of hundreds of Photoshop files (.psd) and need to locate files by searching for a string of text that exists within a file.
Using Finder to search for "Contents" doesn't seem to work.
Is there an app to accomplish this?
A:
I have no idea if this will work because I don't know how PSD files store text, but try this. Open terminal (applications/utilities), type cd <space> and drag the folder containing PSDs onto the terminal; the folder path will be filled in. Hit enter. You are now "in" that folder in your terminal.
Next, do grep -i "some string here" *.
cd tells the system to change directory. grep is a command line utility that opens a file and searches for a string. -i is a flag that tells grep to ignore case sensitivity. Then you give it the string and * means all files in the current directory.
See if that turns anything up.
|
On Dec. 15, The Washington Post published a report detailing a list of words they said the Trump administration had forbidden the Center for Disease Control from using in briefings. But while the existence of this list has been confirmed by multiple CDC sources, the nature of the so-called “ban” and who ordered it are still not entirely clear.
Naturally, upon reports of the list, scientists and those who believe in the scientific process were up in arms across the country. The list, which was comprised of the words “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “diversity,” “transgender,” “fetus,” “evidence-based” and “science-based,” obviously presented a direct threat to scientific advancement, inclusion and transparency in the United States. But then other reports began to trickle in.
The New York Times quickly got in on the story, publishing their own article that didn’t implicate the Trump administration directly. After interviewing several former and current officials from both the CDC and Health and Human Services (which is more involved with the budgeting process), NYT came away with a different story. Here they are quoting a spokesman for HHS—the cabinet-level department overseeing the CDC:
“The assertion that H.H.S. has ‘banned words’ is a complete mischaracterization of discussions regarding the budget formulation process,” an agency spokesman, Matt Lloyd, said in an email. “H.H.S. will continue to use the best scientific evidence available to improve the health of all Americans. H.H.S. also strongly encourages the use of outcome and evidence data in program evaluations and budget decisions.”
The list of words does exist, but if they aren’t banned words, what are they? Well, the list was first unveiled at meeting of senior CDC officials to discuss budgeting with HHS officials. Here’s what a former CDC official had to say about the list as it pertained to the CDC’s budget:
“It’s absurd and Orwellian, it’s stupid and Orwellian, but they are not saying to not use the words in reports or articles or scientific publications or anything else the C.D.C. does,” the former official said. “They’re saying not to use it in your request for money because it will hurt you. It’s not about censoring what C.D.C. can say to the American public. It’s about a budget strategy to get funded.”
By that account, the ban list is less government censorship and more scientists trying to coax science-averse Republicans into funding their proposals. That would mean the list is an internal strategy, designed to diplomatically navigate a conservative group which holds the reins to the funding the CDC needs. This jibes with WaPo’s claim that the CDC had suggested alternative words or phrases to use instead of the seven words. If the “ban” list came from within the CDC and HHS, it would make sense for them to suggest alternative ways to say the same thing.
Still, PBS notes that some scientists say a list of discouraged words, even if they’re not outright banned, will direct policy at the CDC, and will be seen as an indirect order to give those issues short shrift.
Finally, the CDC director Brenna Fitzgerald took to social media to try to clear the air. And while she did make it very clear that the CDC would certainly not be outright banning specific words in their reports, she didn’t mention who actually came up with the ban or what was actually said at the meeting:
You may be understandably concerned about recent media reports alleging that CDC is banned from using certain words in budget documents. I want to assure you that CDC remains committed to our public health mission as a science- and evidence-based institution. — Dr Brenda Fitzgerald (@CDCDirector) December 17, 2017
With the director asserting there are no banned words, the likelihood of the list being an internal document rises. It means that the list of seven words was most likely a budget strategy floated by the CDC in an effort to get as much money as possible from a government controlled by conservatives. So while we probably can’t directly blame the Trump administration for cut-and-dried censorship, we can still blame Republicans in Congress and in Trump’s administration for being so notoriously, idiotically anti-science that senior CDC officials are trying to avoid using the word itself when asking for money. |
Q:
Why don't ODataQueryOptions work for both sides of a 1..* relationship?
I have two tables that are joined by a link table and exposed through OData / Entity Framework:
USERS
USERGROUP
Using ~/api/Users, the following [USER] API controller action returns results:
public IEnumerable<USER> Get(ODataQueryOptions<USER> options)
{
var unitOfWork = new ATMS.Repository.UnitOfWork(_dbContext);
var users = options.ApplyTo(unitOfWork.Repository<USER>().Queryable
.Include(u => u.USERGROUPS)
.OrderBy(order => order.USERNAME))
.Cast<USER>().ToList();
unitOfWork.Save(); // includes Dispose()
return users;
}
I am, however, unable to apply the ODataQueryOptions to the following [USERGROUP] API controller action:
public IEnumerable<USERGROUP> Get(ODataQueryOptions<USER> options)
{
var unitOfWork = new ATMS.Repository.UnitOfWork(_dbContext);
var userGroups = options.ApplyTo(unitOfWork.Repository<USERGROUP>().Queryable
.Include(u => u.USERS)
.OrderBy(order => order.GROUPNAME))
.Cast<USERGROUP>().ToList();
unitOfWork.Save(); // includes Dispose()
return userGroups.AsQueryable();
}
When I do, I get the following error:
Cannot apply ODataQueryOptions of 'DAL.USER' to IQueryable of
'DAL.USERGROUP'.
Instead, I have to omit the options.ApplyTo(...):
var userGroups = unitOfWork.Repository<USERGROUP>()
.Query()
.Include(u => u.USERS)
.Get()
.OrderBy(order => order.GROUPNAME);
Can someone please explain to me why this is?
Thanks.
A:
The error message says it all. You cannot apply a query meant to be applied on a collection of users on a collection of user groups. Change the parameter type to ODataQueryOptions<USERGROUP>.
|
Southwest Airlines has been in the media recently for allegedly booting former star of "The L Word" Leisha Hailey and her girlfriend off a flight for sharing a same-sex kiss. But did you know that Southwest has been crazily overreacting to things for years?
It's true. Most, if not all, of the stories you've heard about celebrities and us ordinary folk getting unnecessarily grounded from flights have been from Southwest Airlines. And these are the tales of discrimination we KNOW about. Who can say how many victims of Southwest's lunacy are out there right now, still huddled together in terminals, altering their clothing or frantically dieting hoping to one day board a flight?
I like to think there is one man sitting high atop an air flight control tower that watches people pass through the metal detectors and holds his thumb out to decide whether people are worthy enough to fly Southwest, gladiator style. Or maybe they only accept resumes from people with a history of mental illness.
Whatever the reason, here are 8 examples of Southwest deciding who and what's acceptable to fly, the only way they know how...rudely and dramatically. Enjoy! |
Q:
PHP variable with jQuery. PHP variable undefined if using jQuery in but works when jQuery code is used in footer
I'm having trouble getting a PHP variable to work with jQuery.
I define a PHP variable in the body, $x and am sending this to a PHP file. The PHP file echo's the variable value.
Inside the jQuery script, I create a Javascript variable:
var test_php_variable = <?php echo $x; ?> ; //$x is undefined, why?
When this line of code is executed, it looks like $x is not defined. I would have thought that because it is enclosed inside the $(document).ready(function() {} ); tags that it would wait for the PHP code in the HTML body to execute first.
This line of code works, but it doesn't allow me to use the variable:
var test_php_variable = <?php echo 10; ?> ; // no problems with a constant
One interesting thing is that when I include all the jQuery code at the end of the HTML body, the code works.
Why would $x be undefined if I use this code in the HTML head?
HTML/jQuery code:
<html>
<head>
<!--load jQuery from Google -->
<script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.6.1/jquery.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type ="text/javascript">
//wait until the document is ready - maybe it is loading the javascript
//before the document is ready?
$(document).ready(function() {
//the line of code below does not work, $x is not defined
var test_php_variable = <?php echo $x; ?> ;
$('#Update_variable').click(function(){
//give a "Loading..." message
$('div#test1 span').html('Loading...')
//ask the server to echo "test_variable"
//place "test_variable" in the span of #test1
$.get('server_response.php',
'test_variable=' + test_php_variable,
function(data){
$('div#test1 span').html(data);
}, 'html'); //end $.get
}); //end click
}); //end document ready
</script>
</head>
<body>
<?php $x=10; ?> <!-- it's as if the jQuery code is executing before this line of code -->
<div id="test1">
Some Text<br/>
<span>replace_this_with_server_response</span>
<br/>
<input type="submit" id ="Update_variable" value="Update">
</div> <!-- end test1 -->
</body>
server_response.php code:
<?php
sleep(1);
echo 'test_variable = '.$_GET['test_variable'];
?>
A:
You are receiving the error because $x is undefined at that point in the script. PHP processes the page from top to bottom. To demonstrate, this code will throw an error:
<?php
echo $x;
$x = 10;
?>
...but this code will work:
<?php
$x = 10;
echo $x;
?>
This has nothing to do with jQuery. You can resolve this particular problem by putting the javascript at the bottom of the page, or at least after your $x = 10; line.
A:
All php code is executed on the server side. All javascript code is executed on the client side.
So, the server is reading:
var test_php_variable = <?php echo $x; ?> ;
<?php $x = 10; ?>
and sending
var test_php_variable = undefined ;
to the browser.
If instead you change it to:
<?php $x = 10; ?>
var test_php_variable = <?php echo $x; ?> ;
The server will send
var test_php_variable = 10 ;
to the browser.
Try looking at the server response in a tool like Charles
|
Armed Forces Medical College Admission Test 2016-17 will be held on 14th October, 2016. Admission test will start at 10.00 am. Application fee is TK 750. Bangladeshi unmarried male and female both can apply. Age cannot be over 20 years as on 1st July, 2016.
Armed Forces Medical College Admission Result 2016-17
Eligibility:
Students must have total CGPA 9.00.
Students must have minimum CGPA 4.00 in SSC or equivalent and HSC or equivalent exam separately.
Students must pass SSC or similar exam in 2013 & 2014 from science group,
Students must pass HSC or similar exam in 2015 & 2016 from science group,
Students having CGPA below 3.50 are not allowed to apply,
Students must have min CGPA 3.50 in Biology subject (HSC or similar exam),
Message From Admin
Welcome to Career Resources in Bangladesh arena.We are working hard to provide authentic and reliable information of Education, Job, Exam, and Result from the whole country.Though ResultDownload.com means Download of all Results, but this is the complete House of Career Resources in Bangladesh.***We provide information from the entire web after verifying their validity.We believe that still there is something wrong in our verification,So please let us know if there is any mistake or wrong in our information hub.If you have any Queries, please feel free to contact Us.Mail us at: info@resultdownload.com . |
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