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Willy Ronis
Willy Ronis (14 August 1910 – 12 September 2009 ) was a French photographer. His best-known work shows life in post-war Paris and Provence.
Life and work
Ronis was born in Paris to Jewish immigrants. His father, Emmanuel Ronis, was from Odessa, and his mother, Ida Gluckmann, was from Lithuania. His father opened a photography studio in Montmartre, and his mother gave piano lessons. The boy's early interest was music and he hoped to become a composer. Ronis' passion for music has been observed in his photographs.
Returning from compulsory military service in 1932, his violin studies were put on hold because his father's cancer required Ronis to take over the family portrait business. The work of the photographers Alfred Stieglitz and Ansel Adams inspired Ronis to begin exploring artistic photography. His father died in 1936, whereupon Ronis sold the business and set up as a freelance photographer, his first work being published in Regards.
In 1937 he met David Seymour and Robert Capa, and did his first work for Plaisir de France; in 1938–39 he reported on a strike at Citroën and traveled in the Balkans. With Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ronis belonged to Association des Écrivains et Artistes Révolutionnaires, and remained a political leftist. In 1946 Ronis joined the photo agency Rapho, with Brassaï, Robert Doisneau and Ergy Landau, and was instrumental in forming the professional association Le Groupe des XV, and later joined Les 30 x 40, Club Photographique de Paris. Ronis became the first French photographer to work for Life.
Ronis' nudes and fashion work (for Vogue and Le Jardin des modes) show his appreciation for natural beauty; meanwhile, he remained a principled news photographer, resigning from Rapho for a 25-year period when he objected to the hostile captioning by The New York Times to his photograph of a strike.
Despite stiff competition from Robert Doisneau and others, Ronis was named by the Oxford Companion to the Photograph "the photographer of Paris par excellence".
Ronis began teaching in the 1950s, and taught at the School of Fine Arts in Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Saint Charles, Marseilles.
In 1953, Edward Steichen included Ronis, Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, Izis, and Brassaï in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art titled Five French Photographers. In 1955, Ronis was included in The Family of Man exhibition. The Venice Biennale awarded him its Gold Medal in 1957. Ronis began teaching in the 1950s, and taught at the School of Fine Arts in Avignon, Aix-en-Provence where he met Pierre-Jean Amar and Saint Charles, Marseilles. In 1979 he was awarded the Grand Prix des Arts et Lettres for Photography by the Minister for Culture. Ronis won the Prix Nadar in 1981 for his photobook, Sur le fil du hasard.
Ronis continued to live and work in Paris, although he stopped photography in 2001, since he required a cane to walk and could not move around with his camera. He also worked on books for the publisher Taschen.
In 2005–2006 the Paris city hall held Willy Ronis in Paris, a retrospective exhibition of his work, that had more than 500,000 visitors. There was also an exhibition at Rencontres d'Arles festival, Arles, France, in 2009.
Ronis died at age 99, on 12 September 2009.
In 2005–2006 the Paris city hall held a retrospective exhibition of his work, that had more than 500,000 visitors.
Marie-Anne
Ronis' wife, the Communist militant painter Marie-Anne Lansiaux (1910–91), was the subject of his well-known 1949 photograph, Nu provençal (Provençal nude). The photograph, taken in a house that Marie-Anne and he had just bought in Gordes, showed Marie-Anne washing at a basin with a water pitcher on the floor and an open window through which the viewer can see a garden, this is noted for its ability to convey an easy feeling of Provençal life. The photograph was a "huge success"; Ronis would comment, "The destiny of this image, published constantly around the world, still astonishes me." Ronis lived in Provence from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Late in her life, Ronis photographed Marie-Anne suffering from Alzheimer's disease, sitting alone in a park surrounded by autumn trees.
Legacy
Since his death, Ronis' work has been exhibited worldwide, and his images are featured in the collections of major museums.
He bequeathed his photographic work to France through two donations (1983 and 1989) and a will. Recognizing the potential use of his photographs, he appointed four executors in his will, who hold the moral rights to his work and are responsible for overseeing its use. Additionally, his grandson, Stéphane Kovalsky, inherited the reserved portion.
At the completion of the succession settlement, the Médiathèque du patrimoine et de la photographie holds the entire body of his work: 82,000 negatives, 6,000 color slides, 18,000 prints, 6 albums containing 590 reference prints, 26 archival boxes, 720 library volumes, and 400 periodical volumes.
Since 2015, a street in the 20th arrondissement of Paris has been named after him, called the "Belvédère Willy-Ronis".
Publications
* Photo-reportage et chasse aux images. Paris: Publications Photo-Cinéma Paul Montel, 1951.
* Belleville-Ménilmontant. Grenoble: Arthaud, 1954. Paris: Arthaud, 1984. ISBN 2-7003-0486-1. Paris: Arthaud, 1989. Paris: Hoëbeke, 1999. ISBN 2-84230-081-5.
* Îles de Paris. [N.p.]: Arthaud, 1957.
* Paris. Paris: Arthaud, 1962.
* Paris in Colour. London: Allen & Unwin, 1964.
* Paris in Color. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1964.
* Sur le fil du hasard. Paris: Contrejour, 1980. ISBN 2-85949-033-7.
* Willy Ronis. [N.p.]: Galerie municipale du Château d'eau, c.1981. ISBN 2-903116-19-9.
* Willy Ronis. Paris: P. Belfond, 1983. ISBN 2-7144-1604-7.
* Willy Ronis par Willy Ronis. Paris: Association française pour la diffusion du patrimoine photographique, 1985.
* Mon Paris. Paris: Denoël, 1985. ISBN 2-207-23166-6.
* La Traversée de Belleville. Paris: Le Bar floréal, 1990.
* Willy Ronis. Paris: Centre national de la photographie, 1991. ISBN 2-86754-066-6.
* Willy Ronis, 1934-1987. Paris: Editions Treville, 1991. ISBN 4-8457-0688-1.
* Portrait de Saint-Benoît-du-Sault. Paris: Calmann-Lévy; Versailles: Editions P. Olivieri, 1992.
* Toutes belles. Paris: Editions Hoëbeke, 1992. ISBN 2-905292-49-0.
* Willy Ronis: Photographs, 1926-1995. Oxford: Museum of Modern Art, 1995. ISBN 978-0-905836-89-8. The ISBN in the book (0-905836-89-X) is misprinted. Published to accompany a touring exhibition, Willy Ronis: Photographs 1926–1995. Edited by Peter Hamilton; preface by Willy Ronis; foreword by David Elliott; essay, "Introduction", by Peter Hamilton.
* Willy Ronis: 70 ans de déclics. Paris: Musées de la ville de Paris, 1996. ISBN 2-87900-318-0.
* A nous la vie! 1936–1958. Paris: Hoëbeke, 1996. ISBN 2-84230-009-2.
* Vivement Noël! Paris: Hoëbeke, 1996. ISBN 2-84230-020-3.
* Autoportrait. Cognac: Fata Morgana, 1996. ISBN 2-85194-411-8.
* Les Sorties du dimanche. Paris: Nathan, 1997. ISBN 2-09-754204-2.
* Provence. Paris: Hoëbeke, 1998. ISBN 2-84230-036-X.
* Sundays by the River. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1999. ISBN 1-56098-887-8.
* Willy Ronis: Marie-Anne, Vincent et moi. Trézélan: Filigranes éd., 1999. ISBN 2-910682-76-5.
* Sur le fil du hasard, rétrospective: Willy Ronis photographies. Antony: Maison des Arts, 1999.
* Belleville Ménilmontant. Paris: Hoëbeke, 1999. ISBN 2-84230-081-5.
* Mémoire textile. Strasbourg: La Nuée bleue, 2000. ISBN 2-7165-0538-1.
* Willy Ronis for Press Freedom. London: Reporters without borders, 2001. ISBN 2-908830-61-2.
* Derrière l'objectif de Willy Ronis: Photos et propos. Paris: Hoëbeke, 2001. ISBN 2-84230-123-4.
* Willy Ronis 55. London: Phaidon, 2002. ISBN 0-7148-4167-6.
* Willy Ronis: "La vie en passant". Munich: Prestel, 2004. ISBN 3-7913-2930-8.
* Le Val et les bords de Marne. Paris: Terrebleue, 2004. ISBN 2-913019-30-7.
* Willy Ronis: Stolen Moments / Gestohlene Augenblicke / Instants dérobés. Cologne: Taschen, 2005. ISBN 3-8228-3958-2.
* Willy Ronis: Paris, éternellement. Paris: Hoëbeke, 2005. ISBN 2-84230-245-1.
* Willy Ronis. Barcelona: Obra Social Fundacioń "La Caixa", 2006. Texts by Willy Ronis, Marta Gili, Virginie Chardin ISBN 84-7664-901-0.
* Ce jour-la. Paris: Mercure de France, 2006. ISBN 2-7152-2661-6. Paris: Gallimard, 2008. ISBN 978-2-07-035862-5.
* Les Chats de Willy Ronis. Paris: Flammarion, 2007. ISBN 2-08-120687-0.
* Nues. with Philippe Sollers Paris: Terre bleue, 2008. ISBN 978-2-909953-22-9.
Exhibitions
* Five French Photographers. MoMA, New York. 18 December 1951 - 24 February 1952
* Postwar European Photography. MoMA, New York. 26 May - 23 August 1953
* The Family of Man. MoMA, New York. 24 January - 8 May 1955
* Willy Ronis:Paris. Dina Mitrani Gallery, Miami, Florida. 10 October 2012 - 11 January 2013
* Toujours Paris. Peter Fetterman Gallery, New York. 27 October 2018 - 23 February 2019
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Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 60.djvu/316
308 telescope. The sun has a diameter of 860,000 miles and, as its distance from the earth is only 93,000,000 miles, an extremely small fraction of the distance of the other stars, it is possible to observe and to study in detail its extraordinary phenomena, which are incomparably more violent than anything observed on the earth. When we speak of the sun we speak collectively of a great number of phenomena, some of which extend for millions of miles from the sun's visible disk. Chief of these is the corona, a vast filmy atmosphere so rare that it offers little or no resistance to the passage of a comet, as it sweeps around the sun under the action of gravitation and returns into the space from which it came. The polar streamers of the corona (Fig. 9) suggest the
action of magnetic forces and offer material for long continued study of this, the most mysterious of all the solar appendages. At the base of the corona, rising out of a sea of flame which completely encircles the sun, are the prominences, some of which occasionally attain a height of nearly 400,000 miles. Like the corona, the prominences are hidden by the brilliant illumination of our own atmosphere, and are visible to the naked eye only when the direct light of the sun's disk is cut off by
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WIKI
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Talk:List of generation II Pokémon
Baby Pokémon
I thought that this wouldn't be too much trouble, but I have difficulties in finding a source that describes what baby Pokémon are about. Because of a recent _Pokémon Go_ update, it's easy to list all gen 2 baby Pokémon, but does anyone have a source for what they are about in the first place? ~ Mable ( chat ) 18:44, 24 December 2016 (UTC)
* The simple explanation: Gen 2 introduced Pokemon breeding. In Gen 2, all baby Pokemon (except Togepi) were pre-evolutions of existing Gen 1 Pokemon and could only be obtained from breeding. Togepi is received from a hatching an egg that is given to a player. That's basically what made them special. Gold and Silver came out in 2000 so your best bet for finding sources would probably be magazines or official guides. --The1337gamer (talk) 23:21, 24 December 2016 (UTC)
* Yeah, I was worried about that ^_^; Oh well, for now it's sure to just add an unsourced summary of that. ~ Mable ( chat ) 08:11, 25 December 2016 (UTC)
* Ey, don't forget the fact that GO hasn't released Tyrogue yet, and it's definitely a baby. Paintspot (talk) 17:55, 1 January 2017 (UTC)
* What about azurill and bonsly? Gen 4 had some babies to. Porygon-Z (talk) 16:25, 18 November 2019 (UTC)
Is there a reason that "generation" isn't capitalized on these pages?
If there is, please inform me. Paintspot (talk) 17:55, 1 January 2017 (UTC)
Plural
Why are pokemon species like Furret known in plural as the same name? It's just crazy! Please help me.2604:6000:130F:4FB6:C018:866F:BBAE:E675 (talk) 18:15, 8 December 2020 (UTC)
* Easy: The franchise's original language, Japanese, does not natively distinguish between singular and plural. On both sides of the Pacific, it's always been "one Pikachu", "two Pikachu", "three Pikachu", "some Pikachu", "many Pikachu"...you get the idea. --Slgrandson (How's my egg-throwing coleslaw?) 00:30, 2 April 2024 (UTC)
Trademarked Japanese Transliteration
Can you add the Trademarked Japanese Transliteration (e.g. エーフィ [Ēfi] -> Eifie)? 2601:C6:C580:6B20:1C26:B321:D458:AF41 (talk) 03:59, 8 December 2021 (UTC)
Pikablu
I'm surprised the pikablu phenomenon was excluded. — Preceding unsigned comment added by <IP_ADDRESS> (talk) 01:57, 7 April 2022 (UTC) Not anymore!!! 2601:98A:201:8C90:0:0:0:F98E (talk) 07:55, 24 May 2022 (UTC)
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Lugia merge discussion
Proposing to merge Lugia into here. The article has some decent development info, but even that feels like it can be summarized in the list entry. The article itself relies mostly on listicles and passing mentions, and doesn't really show notability or any significant discussion about the character, and attempts at WP:BEFORE have further shown no results per the discussion at Talk:List_of_Pokémon-- Kung Fu Man (talk) 19:37, 2 August 2023 (UTC)
* Merge, as someone who looked for sources and came up empty. - Cukie Gherkin (talk) 20:19, 2 August 2023 (UTC)
* Merge. I hate to have to remove another Pokemon article, but I also performed a search like Gherkin did and turned up nothing. The developmental info and some of the sources in its reception section are worth keeping, but they just aren't enough for an article to stand on. Unopposed to this being remade if Lugia gets significant coverage in the future, but for right now, merging seems a better way of covering this info. Pokelego999 (talk) 20:37, 2 August 2023 (UTC)
* Merge per nom. Greenish Pickle! (🔔) 11:38, 8 August 2023 (UTC)
questions of varying importance that are only being asked here so i won't flood the talk page of the list of gen 1 pokémon more than i already have
chatgpt, please come up with an explanation as to why i decided to iron out kinks in wikipedia articles
* what are those "tables of dexes" there for? weren't they initially removed, readded, and now only kept because i guess people forgot to remove them? they don't seem to be in any other language's equivalents of the lists, so they should either be added to all of them or removed from the english ones. worse yet, they're in title case, which is basically a war crime
* a lot of the later entries in the gen 1 list, and presumably more on the others, seem to have been copied and pasted from bulbapedia. copyright violation or not (i would say not), it seems uncreative as h*ck, so should the wording be changed?
* is pointing out which specific gen 6 game each pokémon got its mega evolution in necessary, or would just saying it got one in gen 6 fine?
* is mentioning every single pokémon everyone has ever had ever in the anime really necessary if their appearances aren't that noteworthy?
cogsan (give me attention) (see my deeds) 16:42, 12 December 2023 (UTC)
* I can't answer all of these but I'll answer some of them.
* For the 2nd question, most certainly yes. If there's even a chance that it's a copyvio the wording should be changed.
* No. It's irrelevant which game it got it in, only that the pokemon got one.
* Hell no. Really the only noteworthy Pokemon in the anime was Ash's Pikachu and that's just cause it was basically the series mascot. ― Blaze WolfTalkblaze__wolf 17:28, 12 December 2023 (UTC)
* thanks
* i did a little looking for that first one, and it seems the tables of dexes (whatever that's even supposed to mean) were added by this ip, for a reason and with a function i don't get, so i'll be removing them for being fancruft completely unrelated to the lists of pokémon cogsan (give me attention) (see my deeds) 18:12, 12 December 2023 (UTC)
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Light Therapy for Depression and Sleep Problems
Light therapy is a well-established treatment with rare side-effects that uses different kinds of light in order to treat various conditions. Successful application of light therapy requires knowing the principles of chronobiology, so that each regimen can be tailored individually.
In early 1980s, Norman Rosenthal started using light therapy in order to treat seasonal depression. Simple treatment that consisted of exposing the patient to a very bright light source for 30 minutes every day provided a success rate akin to commonly prescribed antidepressants. Today this therapy has a place in treating various psychiatric and sleep disorders.
Seasonal affective disorder
Bright artificial light of at least 1500 lux has been used to treat certain forms of depression – particularly seasonal affective disorder. This treatment is originally based on the premise that seasonal affective disorder was a consequence of the short day length during wintertime; therefore bright light would mimic the day length of summer and improve the mood of the affected individual.
The mechanism for light therapy is in its effect on shifting circadian rhythm (24-hour internal clock that regulates sleep and other physiological processes). The application of bright light therapy (10 000 lux) in the morning advances circadian rhythms and overcomes the phase delay associated with seasonal affective disorder. The beneficial effects of the treatment can be seen as soon as two days after exposure.
Light therapy is usually conveyed via bright light boxes. These units can deliver approximately 10,000 lux from a distance of circa 1 foot (or 30 centimeters). It is vital that all the units used are professionally manufactured and not put together at home, in order to avoid excessive glare and hazardous ultraviolet frequencies.
Perinatal depression
Perinatal depression is a common complication of childbearing which has increasingly been identified as an important public health problem. Growing literature suggests that postpartum depression can be seen as a variant of major depression that responds to antidepressant medication in a similar fashion.
Possible adverse effects of antidepressant medications on the breastfed newborn and logistical issues (such as expenses and childcare arrangements) that accompany psychotherapy have hampered the treatment of perinatal depression. Thus light therapy represents an attractive alternative due to its low cost, home-based application and no known risks to the fetus or nursing infant.
In new mothers, bright light treatment can provide a way to counteract insufficient levels of light exposure, pathological hormonal profiles (namely estrogen and progesterone levels), co-morbidities (such as sleep disturbances) and serotonergic dysregulation, which have all been linked to inadequate maternal behavior.
Sleep disorders
Sleep disorders are one of the core symptoms in patients with depression. The link among them is so firm that some authors have suggested that, in the absence of sleep complaints, a diagnosis of depression should be made with caution.
Light therapy for circadian rhythm sleep disorders, i.e. in conditions where the sleep-wake cycle becomes misaligned and result in insomnia and fatigue, represents an effective treatment option. Exposure to bright light that is appropriately timed can shift the sleep-wake cycle to earlier or later times.
This kind of treatment has scientific grounding in laboratory studies that have established exquisite sensitivity of human circadian system to bright light. The treatment is mediated by the activation of ocular photoreceptors; specialized retinal ganglion cells contain photopigment sensitive to blue light which projects directly to the circadian clock in the central nervous system.
In summary, light therapy for the treatment of sleep disorders should be sufficiently bright (up to 10,000 lux) to elicit a clinically significant response, but also short enough in duration to ensure patient compliance. The end-result is strongly dependent on the time of day that light is administered.
Further Reading
Last Updated: Aug 23, 2018
Dr. Tomislav Meštrović
Written by
Dr. Tomislav Meštrović
Dr. Tomislav Meštrović is a medical doctor (MD) with a Ph.D. in biomedical and health sciences, specialist in the field of clinical microbiology, and an Assistant Professor at Croatia's youngest university - University North. In addition to his interest in clinical, research and lecturing activities, his immense passion for medical writing and scientific communication goes back to his student days. He enjoys contributing back to the community. In his spare time, Tomislav is a movie buff and an avid traveler.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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China says nothing will stop its long-range air force drills
BEIJING (Reuters) - No amount of interference or shadowing of its aircraft will stop the Chinese air force from carrying out long-range drills, the defense ministry said, announcing another round of exercises of the type that have unnerved neighbouring Taiwan and Japan. The air force carried out further long-range exercises on Thursday, the ministry said, without giving details of where they happened. Japan said it was concerned about bombers flying close to its territory. Such “normal” drills accord with international law and practices and are part of an “ordinary need” to raise combat abilities and strengthen the military, it added. “No matter what obstructions are encountered, the Chinese air force will carry on as before; no matter who flies with us, the Chinese air force will fly a lot and as normal!” the ministry added, citing an air force spokesman. China has been increasingly asserting itself in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. It is also worried about self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by China as its own and run by a government Beijing fears is intent on independence. Japan’s government said six Chinese bombers flying from the East China Sea on Thursday passed close to its islands on route to the Pacific Ocean. It was the first time we have recorded Chinese military aircraft flying this route,” Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera said during a regular press briefing on Friday. “We expressed our concern through diplomatic channels,” he added. Drills over the past few months have mostly focused on flying near Taiwan and by Japan’s southern island chain to the north of Taiwan. Taiwan’s military said earlier this month it was on a high state of alert following three straight days of drills by the Chinese air force near it. Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring proudly democratic Taiwan under its control, and has warned that any moves towards formal independence could prompt an armed response. Taiwan is well armed with mostly U.S. weaponry, but has been pressing Washington to sell it more high-tech equipment to better deter China. China is in the midst of an ambitious military modernization program that includes building aircraft carriers and developing stealth fighters to give it the ability to project power far from its shores. Separately, the official Xinhua news agency said on Friday that Chinese warships had carried out live fire drills in the western part of the Indian Ocean, though it did not say where exactly. Chinese warships frequently pass through the Indian Ocean on their way to anti-piracy patrols in the waters off Somalia and Yemen. India, with which China has a festering border dispute, has expressed concern about Chinese military activity in the Indian Ocean. Reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; additional reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo in TOKYO; Editing by Michael Perry and Nick Macfie
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Match Document Document Title
8979328 Optical lens and lighting device having same
An optical lens for increasing viewing angle of light from a light emitting diode includes a bottom surface, a reflective surface, and a side surface connected between the bottom surface and the...
8979322 Self-locking trim ring and channel for optic lens
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8979318 Light source with a low color temperature
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8979309 Ceiling illumination device with bidirectional LED light sheet
An array of non-packaged LED dies is sandwiched between at least two transparent substrates having conductors bonded to the electrodes without wires. The light sheets are formed to emit light from...
8979311 Power supply system for adjustable shelving
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8979336 Vehicle headlamp apparatus
A vehicle headlamp apparatus is provided. The vehicle headlamp apparatus includes a lamp unit, a first additional lamp unit which forms a first light distribution pattern, a second additional lamp...
8979344 Backlight module using laser emitters as light source
A backlight module includes a laser light source and a light guide plate. The light source locates beside a side surface of the light guide plate. The light guide plate comprises a plurality of...
8979333 Projector light source assembly
A light source assembly includes a light source, a seat, and a wire structure. The seat includes an electrical pin electrically connected to the light source. The wire structure includes a...
8979314 Light emitting device
In a light emitting device (10) includes a light source (11) which emits near-ultraviolet laser light and a fluorescent member (12) which includes a fluorescent body (13) that is excited by the...
8979332 Mounting device for LED lamp
A mounting device for an LED lamp has a support tube and at least one fixed unit. The support tube has an outer surface and an external engaging surface. The external engaging surface is formed on...
8979280 Light source lamp lighting device and method
A light source lamp lighting device includes a light source lamp, cooling means for cooling the light source lamp, an extinguishing time measurer that calculates extinguishing time information...
8979339 Light source module having light guiding pole with slot for emitting light rays
A light source module includes a light source and a light guiding pole. The light guiding pole is made of transparent material and has a light incident surface and at least one side surface...
8979338 System for combining laser array outputs into a single beam carrying digital data
Embodiments comprise laser emitter devices that generate a collimated beam of light the intensity or amplitude of which may be varied so as to carry data signals at a high rate of efficiency, and...
8979317 Luminous flux control member and illumination device
An illumination device (1) has a light-emitting element (6b), and a luminous flux control member (6c) that includes a first lens (10) and a second lens (20). The first lens (10) and the second...
8979310 Omnidirectional LED light bulb
An omnidirectional LED light bulb comprising a lamp base (1), a heat sink housing (2), a circuit board (5), an LED light source (3) and a bulb (4) is provided. The heat sink housing (2) is...
8979321 Light guide
A light guide (201) including a transparent element is presented. The transparent element includes an optical diverter section (204) including one or more reflective surfaces (205) forming walls...
8979295 Rechargeable lighted glasses
Rechargeable lighted glasses are provided having one or more light sources mounted thereto and powered by a rechargeable power source. The rechargeable power source can be recharged through a...
8983734 Vehicle lamp control apparatus and vehicle lamp system
Techniques are disclosed for enhancing the accuracy of auto-leveling control to adjust the optical axis of a vehicle lamp using an acceleration sensor. A controller stores reference values of...
8979337 Lighting module
A lighting module (1) comprising at least one light emitting device (3) arranged on a first carrier (10); driving electronics (4) for driving the at least one light emitting device (3) arranged on...
8979313 Semiconductor light source device
A semiconductor light source device is provided. The semiconductor light source device includes a light guide, at least one semiconductor light source set and at least one light transformation...
8981650 Lighting device controller programming
Various techniques are provided for programming lighting devices. In one example, a lighting device includes a light emitting diode (LED). The lighting device also includes a microcontroller...
8979352 Illumination device, display device, and television receiver device
A backlight device 24 according to the present invention includes: LED substrates 30; LED light sources 28 placed on the surfaces of the LED substrates 30; a light guide plate 20 having...
8979316 Zoom spotlight using LED array
A LED array spot illuminator for providing light along an optical axis comprises a substrate and at least one array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging supported by the substrate,...
8979914 Irradiation device with ergonomic adaptation options
An irradiation device for irradiating of body parts of a patient is provided, with a carrier system which provides a basic framework of the irradiation device with at least one light head with a...
8979353 Light fixture having modular accessories and method of forming same
A light fixture (400) includes a housing (401) having a cavity (403) for use with at least one accessory module (415). A light source (411) is integrated in the housing (401) such that the...
8979330 Anisotropic light-diffusing film, anisotropic light-diffusing laminate, anisotropic light-reflecting laminate, and use thereof
An anisotropic light-diffusing film, an anisotropic light-diffusing laminate, and an anisotropic light-reflecting laminate are provided which are excellent in both light transmittance and...
8979307 LED mounting circuit board, belt-like flexible LED light and LED illuminating device using the same
A belt-like flexible LED light can be bent in both an orthogonal direction to a light emitting direction and a vertical direction. Additionally, a circuit board and LED illuminating device are...
8979296 Illuminated shelving
An illuminated shelving system is provided having light bars attached to the shelves. The light bars are electrically connected to a power strip that conducts electricity from a wall outlet to a...
8979302 Multiple wavelength LED array illuminator for fluorescence microscopy
One embodiment provides light along an optical axis. It comprises a substrate and at least one array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging supported by the substrate. The LED chips...
8982299 Light emitting device comprising a plurality of fixing members disposed at different sides of a bottom cover
Disclosed herein are a backlight unit and a display device. The backlight unit includes a bottom cover, a light emitting device module disposed at the lower portion of the inside of the bottom...
8979304 LED light bulb
A light emitting diode-based bulb and method of use are described. The LED bulb comprises a bracket and a housing. The bracket comprises a connector. The housing is rotatably coupled with the...
8981386 Organic light emitting display device and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting display device including: a substrate; a plurality of first electrodes formed over the substrate; a pixel defining layer (PDL) formed over the substrate, and separating...
8979292 Display, television set, and liquid crystal television set
This display includes point light sources, a light guide plate including a light-receiving surface on which light emitted from the point light sources is directly incident, opposed to the point...
8979289 Illuminated knob for household appliance
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a control panel (2) produced from glass, a circular opening (3) disposed on the control panel (2), a knob (4) disposed in the...
8981637 Light source having particular spectral power distribution as function of wavelength
The invention relates to a light source for generating light having a spectral emittance in at least a part of the range of 380 nm to 680 nm. The light has a spectral power distribution E(λ) as a...
8979334 Automotive headlamp apparatus and light distribution control method
A automotive headlamp apparatus is configured such that, when there is a forward vehicle positioned in a predetermined first area, a control unit controls a shading unit so as to generate a single...
8979347 Illumination systems and methods
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for providing illumination for lighting systems. One or more light emitters can be disposed about a longitudinal axis, such as in an at...
8979300 LED flashing lamp
A LED flashing lamp contains: a transparent housing, a cell disposed in the transparent housing, a trigger switch, a photoresistor, a controller, and at least one LED light element. The cell is...
8979345 Surface light emitting apparatus including an optical distributor
The present disclosure relates to a surface light emitting apparatus including: a light source bar including a light source for generating an optical signal; at least one optical distributor for...
8979342 Planar front illumination system having a light guide with micro scattering features formed thereon and method of manufacturing the same
A system for illuminating a reflective display or other material from a planar front device and a method of manufacture thereof. The system includes a light guide plate that conducts light from an...
8979350 Light guide plate and backlight module using same
A light guide plate includes an incident surface, an emitting surface, and a reflecting surface opposite to the emitting surface. The incident surface connects the emitting surface to the...
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Badoo launches photo verification for safer, more efficient online dating – TechCrunch
Badoo is today launching photo-verification and verified profiles to make online dating safer. Most folks don’t know that Badoo is the silent giant in online dating. Globally, the 10-year-old company is bigger than any other online dating platform, including OkCupid, Match.com, eHarmony, and yes, Tinder. The service has 300 million registered users in over 190 countries, and President Alexandra Chong says that it sees 400,000 signups every day. Most of Badoo’s user base resides in Europe and South America, but the company is looking to make inroads here in the States, starting with the launch of verified profiles. Badoo is launching a system that is meant to eliminate catfishing from the service. When a user signs up, they’ll be asked to verify their profile. Users can opt out, but that means they might be excluded from view for other users who have chosen to connect only with verified user profiles. If they choose to verify, Badoo will send them a request for a photo with the person performing a specific gesture. These are not common gestures that might be Google-able like a thumbs up, but rather unique and specific. [gallery ids="1297224,1297225,1297226"] Thanks to Badoo’s 5,000 worldwide moderators, this photo can be verified within one minute, and that user’s profile is then verified. These moderators also periodically monitor verified user profiles to ensure that they haven’t added pictures to their profile of other people. Chong told TechCrunch that women receive 4x the amount of attention than men on online dating platforms. “It starts to feel like a part-time job,” she added. Badoo, with Andrey Andreev at the helm, has dedicated itself to putting women at the forefront of online dating. Alongside Badoo’s commitment to women, Andrey has also invested in dating app Bumble, founded by Whitney Wolfe, and acquired Chong’s Lulu just six weeks ago. Beyond the new feature release, Badoo is also opening up an office in the U.S. and beginning a marketing/PR push to make sure folks here in the States are aware of Badoo. You can learn more about Badoo here.
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NEWS-MULTISOURCE
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Talk:2010 Central European floods
Should say Eastern
The article should be titled "May 2010 Eastern European floods" since they are taking place in Poland. —Preceding unsigned comment added by <IP_ADDRESS> (talk) 22:28, 22 May 2010 (UTC)
* The title is correct since these floods are taking place in Poland. No part of Poland is located in Eastern Europe. —Preceding unsigned comment added by <IP_ADDRESS> (talk) 19:48, 23 May 2010 (UTC)
* The boundaries of Central Europe and Eastern Europe are disputed. John Z White (talk) 03:28, 27 May 2010 (UTC)
Victims
There are 17 victims. 12 in Poland, two in Serbia, two in Hungary, etc. Look at the Polish Wikipedia article along with the footnotes. Adik7swiony (talk) 22:18, 21 May 2010 (UTC)
* Are these victims deaths or do they include injuries. THe most recent English language news says only 9 dead so far. --Mkativerata (talk) 22:19, 21 May 2010 (UTC)
* They are deaths. It is possible that will be even more. A moment ago I gave information about the next two victims in Sandomierz, but not yet confirmed. Adik7swiony (talk) 22:22, 21 May 2010 (UTC)
* Only an hour ago the AP was saying 9 confirmed dead: . I think the article should say "at least 9" until any more are confirmed in reliable sources. Of course, Polish language sources are fine as long as they are reliable. --Mkativerata (talk) 22:24, 21 May 2010 (UTC)
* Actually, there are 18 victims. Margomaniak (talk) 08:45, 22 May 2010 (UTC)
FYI, the main wikipedia page says that 9 people are dead, but upon clicking the link it says 18 here. I don't know enough about the situation to weigh in on correctness, but I do know that there is a bit of a difference in information so just a heads up. —Preceding unsigned comment added by <IP_ADDRESS> (talk) 16:03, 22 May 2010 (UTC)
Past tense / over?
This does not appear to be over so why is the article written in the past tense? -- can dle • wicke 03:02, 27 May 2010 (UTC)
June the 3rd: Storm in Warsaw and some houses are in water. South Poland is still in water (e.g. Sandomierz, Dębica). It is possible that second wave on Vistula will break wet banks in Warsaw. Title should by changed. Profsowa (talk) 11:04, 5 June 2010 (UTC) (I know, no english practice last time).
Lead and dates
Could someone add dates to the article. It's essential to know when exactly it all began or the time-line of events leading up to the flood. --Kslotte (talk) 11:08, 2 June 2010 (UTC)
Naming
The article is currently named "May–June 2010 Central European floods". We don't need (according to WP:PRECISION) the "May-June" in name since this currently the only flood in 2010. So, the naming should be only "2010 Central European floods" according to guidelines. --Kslotte (talk) 16:30, 6 June 2010 (UTC)
* ✅ This has now been done. --Kslotte (talk) 16:58, 14 June 2010 (UTC)
Jökulhlaup weather
These floods may be closely related to a Jökulhlaup weather, now occuring over Europe and partly also over US (Kansas floods)... Jökulhlaup (or glacier burst) is, when a flood pours from the glacier. When such an amount of water is evaporated, as in 2010_eruptions_of_Eyjafjallajökull, it will not escape into outer space, but it will drop down somewhere... The evaporated water seems to flood on other parts, including Central Europe, Kansas and possibly other... Is there some link for this? (Semi, <IP_ADDRESS> (talk) 00:40, 14 June 2010 (UTC))
* Do you have a WP:RS stating this? Or is it WP:OR? --Kslotte (talk) 10:16, 14 June 2010 (UTC)
French floods
A new article needs making on the June 2010 French floods. Either that or if it can be considered 'central Europe' than it can be made into a section with a redirect on this page.Mtaylor848 (talk) 19:47, 16 June 2010 (UTC)
* For the record, 2010 Var floods. --Kslotte (talk) 14:24, 17 June 2010 (UTC)
(Lack of) BBC news coverage
Some comment should be made about the failure of the BBC to cover this natural disaster, whereas it gives blanket wall-to-wall coverage of other events such as floods that occur in other countries. — Preceding unsigned comment added by <IP_ADDRESS> (talk) 13:37, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
* Sources for this apaprent "failure"? The BBC News site seems to have plenty of coverage at the time, for example:
* least nine killed in central Europe floods (18 May 2010)
* Poland floods 'may yet get worse' (23 May 2010)
* Polish floods could spread to Germany (24 May 2010)
* Toll from Poland flooding rises (25 May 2010)
* I'm not sure how you can substantial a claim of "the failure of the BBC to cover this natural disaster," in light of such coverage clearly existing. Nick Cooper (talk) 12:07, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
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Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 01:20, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
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WIKI
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Talk:Bocca Baciata
The proverb: spelling
I have corrected the spelling of the Italian quotation (Bocca baciate baciata non perda perde ventura) silently: it seems more likely to be the website’s transcription error than Rosetti’s. Ian Spackman (talk) 10:56, 25 August 2009 (UTC)
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WIKI
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Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/168
there are no more pride, unchastity, avarice, hatred and envy in you; for the innocent children know nothing of such sins. But if you continue to live in old Adam, and not in Christ, and walk after the base, impure desires of your flesh, then you practically prove that you are not born of God, and have not his faith.
The word of the Lord teaches again, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Here, prove yourselves again, He that believes and is rightly baptized, truly repents, circumcises his heart, dies to sin, rises in Christ to a new life, &c. But if you remain impenitent, your hearts uncircumcised, not dead to sin, but live out of Christ and his word, then is the deed your witness, that you are disbelievers and have not the baptism of Christ. Again does the word of the Lord teach, "If thou wilt enter life keep the commandments." For in Christ, says Paul, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth, but the keeping of the commands of God. And this is his command, " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," Mark 12:30.
Hereby, prove yourselves again, If you love God, you. will keep his commandments, you will do to your neighbor as you would have him do to you; but if you despise his word, do not follow his ordinances in doctrine, baptism, Holy Supper, and separation, and if you do not walk according to his holy, godly commands; also belie, cheat and betray your neighbor; if you take your neighbor's life, disgrace his wife, daughters or servants, and treat him perfidiously; if you mislead the poor, blind souls from the true way and obedience of the Lord, be it through persecution or false doctrine, and thus bereave them of the eternal kingdom, and lead them to hell, then it is more than clear, that you hate the command of the Lord and have not his faith.
Again, the word of the Lord teaches, " Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it," Matt. 7:13. At another place it is written, " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." He that loves father and mother, man or wife, son or daughter, more than me, is not worthy of me.
Here prove yourselves again, Have you such a spirit, such frankness and faith, that you, in time of need, are ready to forsake father, mother and your all, for the sake of God's word and his testimony; to take upon yourself the cross of Christ; to deny yourself in all things; to enter, with Christ, upon the way of suffering, and thus enter, with the poor small flock, at the narrow, strait gate; then may the Lord strengthen you. But if you live unto yourselves; reject the cross of Christ, and love father, mother, wife, children, property or life more than Christ; walk on the broad way with the multitude and enter the wide gate, then the mouth of the Lord gives testimony that you are disbelievers and that your end is damnation.
Again, says the word of the Lord, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts," Gal. 6:24. For those who live after the flesh, such as adulterers, whoremongers, incontinent, avaricious, drunkards, gamblers, thieves, hateful, haughty, defamers, blood thirsty, idolaters, shall die.
Prove yourselves again, If your lusts do not reign in you, if you do not walk in any of these and such like carnal ways, which have been mentioned, but if you can smother them and trample them under foot, through faith, then thank God, fight piously, watch and pray. But if you satiate your lusts, and walk in the impure ways of your flesh, then reform yourselves; for then it is evident that you are not, penitent, believing christians, but impenitent, carnal heathens.
Again, The word of the Lord teaches, "Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat B or what shall we drink ~ or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the gentiles seek; but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," Matt. 8:31.
Here prove yourselves again, If you believe
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WIKI
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ATP roundup: Thiem fights off scare in Rio opener
Top-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria overcame a second-set hiccup on Tuesday to win in the opening round of the clay-court Rio Open, downing Brazilian wild card Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 in Rio de Janeiro. Thiem, ranked fourth in the world, needed 37 minutes to claim the opening set, but Rodrigues Alves, a 21-year-old ranked 341st, converted his only break-point opportunity of the match and hung on to win the second. Thiem took full control in the third, winning 26 of 38 total points and finishing the set in 31 minutes. Second-seeded Dusan Lajovic of Serbia also needed three sets to move on, outlasting Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1. Fifth-seeded Borna Coric of Croatia also advanced with a 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory over Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero. Two seeded player fell. No. 8 Casper Ruud of Norway lost 7-6 (4), 7-5 to Italian qualifier Gianluca Mager, and No. 4 Guido Pella of Argentina dropped a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3) decision to Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro. Delray Beach Open Third-seeded American Taylor Fritz tumbled in the opening round in Florida, as British qualifier Cameron Norrie beat him 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4. Fritz had 13 aces against just two double faults while Norrie had six and eight, respectively, but Fritz was broken three times while managing to break Norrie’s serve only once. In an up-and-down day for Americans, fourth-seeded Reilly Opelka survived Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (4) while wild card Jack Sock rallied past No. 8 Radu Albot of Moldova 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2). Tommy Paul and qualifier Noah Rubin also advanced, but American lucky loser Stefan Kozlov fell. The highest seed in action, No. 2 Milos Raonic of Canada, breezed by Uzbekistani lucky loser Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-2. Open 13 Provence Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene upset fifth-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the opening round in Marseille, France. Khachanov, the highest-seeded player without a first-round bye, broke Bedene’s serve in the first game of the match, but it was downhill from there. Bedene forced a whopping 11 break points on Khachanov’s serve. While the Russian fought off nine, Bedene finally converted in the final game of the second and third sets, including his fourth match point to put it away. The only other seed in action was No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, who eased by French wild-card entrant Antoine Hoang 6-4, 6-1. —Field Level Media
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NEWS-MULTISOURCE
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My First Docker Container
Objectives
The objective of this blog is to learn basic concept of Container, Docker and achieve the following:
• Build a standalone platform to run Docker container
• Create a Container Image
• Run a Containerised Application
What is Container?
A container is a standalone unit of software that contains an application and required dependencies to run the application.
What is Container Image?
A container image is a static file that contains the code to run an application as an isolated process on any supported platform. A container image becomes a container at runtime.
What is Docker?
Docker is a Platform-as-a-Service, that enables operating system level virtualisation to run containers on top of Linux or Windows operating system. It is written in the Go programming language.
What is Docker Engine?
Docker Engine is a container runtime that runs on both Linux and Windows Operating Systems. At a high level Docker Engine consists of the following components.
• Docker Daemon: This is the server side service that runs on the host operating system.
• Docker API: This is a RESTful API, which interacts with the Docker daemon or service.
• Docker CLI: A set of commands to interact and manage containers and container images.
What is Docker Registry?
Server side application that stores and distribute Docker images locally. It is basically an instance of the registry image that runs within Docker.
What is Docker Hub?
Docker Hub is Docker’s official cloud-based Docker image repository. Docker is configured to look for images on Docker Hub by default.
What are Docker Plugins?
Docker Plugins add capabilities to Docker. A plugin is a process running with the Docker Daemon. Below are some common examples
• Volumes: A mechanism for persisting data generated by and used by Docker containers.
• Networking: This enables the containers to communicate with each other and the outside world via host machine.
Docker Architecture
Now that we have a fair bit of idea on Containers and Docker, lets start with building a Docker platform.
I am using a Ubuntu VM on Azure as the host operating system. So, let get started.
Install Docker
Login to the Ubuntu VM and run the following commands as root.
# apt-get update
# apt-get install docker.io
# systemctl start docker
# systemctl enable docker
Verify Installed Docker Version
Once Docker installation is complete, run the following command to verify the installed Docker version.
# docker --version
This will return the following, which confirms successful installation of mentioned Docker version.
Docker version 19.03.6, build 369ce74a3c
Create Dockerfile
There are lots of container images available in the Docker Hub that are pre-installed with various applications. Here, I will write a dockerfile from scratch by pulling a base CentOS image from Docker Hub.
My objective is to prepare a dockerfile to run my sample JAVA application on Wildfly.
Let’s create a directory to host the dockerfile and create an empty file called dockerfile
# mkdir docker
# cd docker
# vim dockerfile
Now, change the file to ‘insert’ mode and paste the following content and save the file. Follow the comments in the dockerfile to understand how it is written.
#Pulling base image from Docker Hub
FROM centos:7
#Giving the image a label
LABEL "Image Description"="My First Docker Image"
LABEL "Author"="Rohan Islam"
#Installing required dependencies
USER root
run yum -y update; \
yum -y install ca-certificates; \
yum -y install docker; \
yum -y install unzip; \
yum -y install curl; \
yum clean all
#Declaring environment variables
USER root
ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.8.0-openjdk
ENV PATH $JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
ENV WILDFLY_VERSION 20.0.1.Final
ENV WILDFLY_BINARY_URL https://download.jboss.org/wildfly/$WILDFLY_VERSION/wildfly-$WILDFLY_VERSION.zip
ENV WILDFLY_HOME /opt/wildfly
#Installing OpenJDK and Wildfly
run yum -y install java-1.8.0-openjdk-devel; \
curl -LfsSo /tmp/wildfly-$WILDFLY_VERSION.zip $WILDFLY_BINARY_URL; \
unzip /tmp/wildfly-$WILDFLY_VERSION.zip -d /opt; \
mv /opt/wildfly-$WILDFLY_VERSION $WILDFLY_HOME; \
rm -f /tmp/wildfly-$WILDFLY_VERSION.zip; \
adduser wildfly -U -M -d $WILDFLY_HOME; \
chown -R wildfly:wildfly $WILDFLY_HOME; \
yum clean all
#Copying java application file in the image
copy ./sampleapp.war $WILDFLY_HOME/standalone/deployments
#Starting Wildfy
USER wildfly
EXPOSE 8080
CMD $WILDFLY_HOME/bin/standalone.sh --server-config=standalone.xml -b 0.0.0.0
Upload or copy sampleapp.war file under docker directory.
/docker# cp /tmp/sampleapp.war ./
/docker# ls -l
total 16
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1203 Mar 5 11:50 dockerfile
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8618 Mar 5 11:54 sampleapp.war
/docker#
So, now I have a dockerfile and the sampleapp.war file under the docker directory.
Build Docker Image
Let’s build my Docker image now by running docker build command. The ‘.’ implies the working directory, which is the docker directory that I created. Then I am tagging the image with version.
# docker build . -t myfirstimage:v1
Once the build is complete run the following command to check the image
# docker image ls
Docker image list
You can run the following command to verify or inspect the image
# docker inspect myfirstimage:v1
Run Docker Container
Run the following command to start the Docker container. This will expose the application using the IP address (10.0.1.5)of the host on port 80. Note that the backend port is 8080 as I exposed port 8080 within my image.
# docker run -d -p 10.0.1.5:80:8080 myfirstimage:v1
Once the container started successfully, I can access the application using the IP address and port that are using the expose the application from the container to the outer world.
I get the Wildfly home page on browsing http://10.0.1.5
WildFly home page
Now, if I browse http://10.0.1.5/sampleapp I get the the following page of my sample JAVA application.
Sample Web App
Clean up
Now run the following command to get the list of running containers in the system. Note the container ID in the output.
# docker ps
To stop a running container run the following command
# docker stop <container ID>
If you want to delete the image, run the following command
# docker image rm -f myfirstimage:v1
Run the following command to clean up all unused containers, networks, images and free up space. Be careful before running this command and use appropriate option that you want to clean up.
# docker system prune
Thanks for reading, give it a 👏 if you like it. Please leave a comment and let me know if you have any feedback.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Bankner
Bankner is a census town in North West district in the state of Delhi, India.
Demographics
India census, Bankner had a population of 21,085. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Bankner has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 85% of the males and 75% of females literate. 16% of the population is under six years of age.
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WIKI
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Stephen Colbert reacts to online backlash over Trump jokes | TheHill
Stephen Colbert responded Wednesday to the online backlash and #FireColbert internet campaign that cropped up after he made insult-laden jokes about President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump pushes back on recent polling data, says internal numbers are 'strongest we've had so far' Illinois state lawmaker apologizes for photos depicting mock assassination of Trump Scaramucci assembling team of former Cabinet members to speak out against Trump MORE. Colbert will open his show Wednesday night by saying: ”Welcome to 'The Late Show.' I’m your host, Stephen Colbert. Still? I am still the host? I’m still the host!” according to an advance transcript provided to USA Today. Colbert slammed the president for abruptly walking out of an interview with CBS “Face the Nation” host John Dickerson after the reporter pressed Trump about his claims that former President Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama3 real problems Republicans need to address to win in 2020 Obama's high school basketball jersey sells for 0,000 at auction Dirty little wars and the law: Did Osama bin Laden win? MORE wiretapped him during the presidential race. Both Colbert and Dickerson are CBS employees, as well as friends. "Now, if you saw my monologue Monday, you know that I was a little upset at Donald Trump for insulting a friend of mine," Colbert will say Wednesday. “So at the end of that monologue, I had a few choice insults for the president in return. I don’t regret that. He, I believe, can take care of himself. I have jokes; he has the launch codes. So, it’s a fair fight." Colbert came under fire for his harsh rant, as well as for a comment many say is “homophobic.” “Sir, you attract more skinheads than free Rogaine,” Colbert said in his Monday opening monologue. “You have more people marching against you than cancer. You talk like a sign language gorilla that got hit in the head. In fact, the only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s c--k holster.” While he did not directly apologize, he admits he could’ve used different wording to describe what the president’s mouth is good for, according to the Wednesday night transcript. "While I would do it again, I would change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be," he said. "I’m not going to repeat the phrase, but I just want to say for the record, life is short, and anyone who expresses their love for another person, in their own way, is to me an American hero. I think we can all agree on that. I hope even the president and I can agree on that. Nothing else. But, that." According to USA Today, Colbert will welcome "The Big Bang Theory" actor Jim Parsons to his show and discuss the controversy. View the discussion thread. The Hill 1625 K Street, NW Suite 900 Washington DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 tel | 202-628-8503 fax The contents of this site are ©2019 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.
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Page:Aboriginesofvictoria01.djvu/295
Rh 2. Roots of various liliaceous small plants, for instance, of Arthropodium paniculatum, A. strictum, Cæsia vittata, Bulbine bulbosa, Anguillaria Australis, Burchardia umbellata, Thrysanotus tuberosus, T. Patersoni. I am not certain whether these were used by the Aborigines always in a raw state.
3. Tuberous roots of ''Geranium dissectum, var. pilosum; also of Scirpus maritimus, Microseris Forsteri, of two bulrushes (Typha Muelleri and T. Brownii''), of Triglochin procerum.
4. Young shoots, bases of leaves, and young flower-stalk and spike of the grass-tree (Xanthorrhœa Australis).
5. Fruits of Solanum vescum (the Gunyang of our natives); fruits of many Epacrideæ (although always small), of the genus Styphelia and its allies; also of Kunzea pomifera.
6. Fruits of two kinds of raspberry (Rubus parvifolius and the rarer R. rosifolius); also of Eugenia Smithii and of several species of Persoonia.
7. Seeds of the native millets (species of Panicum), particularly P. decompositum.
8. Leaves of the Nasturtium terrestre, and several species of Cardamine and Lepidium, for cress.
9. Fruits of Mesembryanthemum æquilaterale (so-called ' pig-face '), raw, also the leaves baked.
10. The mucilaginous seed of the native flax (Linum marginale).
11. Leaves of the clover-sorrel (Oxalis corniculata).
12. Gum of the wattle-acacias (Acacia decurrens, A. pycnantha); also of several other species of this genus; also of Pittosporum phillyroides.
13. Berries of the native elders (Sambucus Gaudichaudiana and S. xanthocarpa); also of Rhagodias.
14. Honey-like secretion from the flowers of Banksias, or so-called native honeysuckles (Banksia marginata, B. integrifolia, B. serrata, B. Cunninghami).
15. Fruit basis of the so-called native cherry-trees (Exocarpus cupressiformis, E. stricta, E. aphylla); also fruits of the allied genus Leptomeria.
16. The quandang, fruit of Santalum Preissianum; also the desert Nitraria.
17. The sweet flowers of several species of Xerotes, and the milky unripe fruit of Marsdenia Leichhardti.
18. The young top shoots of the cabbage-palm (Livistonia Australis); but the value of this esculent was not known to the natives in their uncivilized state.
19. The large native truffle (Mylitta Australis).
20. The seeds of the Portulaca oleracea (the Purslane). These can be gathered by a blackfellow to the extent of many pounds weight in a day; and they can be baked into nutritious cakes, infinitely superior to cakes made of nardoo flour. The plant is pulled up, the sand and earth shaken off, and it is then placed on bark or on kangaroo skins. Soon the lid-like upper parts of the seed-vessel spring off by contraction whilst drying, the numerous though
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WIKI
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Talk:Small business/Archives/2018
Article Evaluation
I recently evaluated this article as part of a class assignment. I found that it could be improved in the following ways: -Needs more citations and verification -Needs a more "worldwide" view of businesses (I'm from America but suspect there are more traditional ways to run businesses when people come from small villages and everyone in a town is like family) -The demographic heading and information is 5 years old and needs updated -Under the "Marketing" heading there seems to be a biased statement about the owners of businesses -Many of the works cited are outdated -Some points seem copied and pasted from some of the sources Raubsjosh (talk) 17:08, 8 February 2018 (UTC)
What I did
I recently added new sources and information to this article for an English class. I added information to the demographics section, retailers cooperative section, cyber crime, bankruptcy and also relationship and entrepreneurship. Most of the information was added to the cyber crime section which had no information prior so it was basically like I added a whole new section. Along with this information, I added sources to back up the info I gathered for this wiki page. I also intend on going through and finding older citations that haven't been backed up to make this a better source of information. Raubsjosh (talk) 16:05, 3 April 2018 (UTC)raubsjosh
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WIKI
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1
I have this simple search form inside a custom module.
HTML FORM:
<div id="search-form">
<form action="" method="post">
<input type="text" name="roll_no">
<input type="submit" name="submit">
</form>
</div>
PHP:
if(isset($_POST['submit']))
{
// getting text from HTML text box
$roll_no = $_POST['roll_no'];
// executing MySql query to fetch a particular record
$query = $db->getQuery(true);
$query->select('name')
->from($db->quoteName('students'))
->where($db->quoteName('student_id') . " = " . $db->quote($roll_no));
$db->setQuery($query);
$result = $db->loadResult();
$row = $db->loadrow();
echo $row['0'];
}
It works perfectly, but it refreshes the whole page. Can I somehow make it only refresh that particular module (div element).
Help would be appreciated.
2
To achieve what you want, you can not submit the form.
You have to use an ajax call.
see jQuery.ajax documentation
Get a response and modify the DOM in order to reflect that response.
There is a nice example how to do it here:
https://www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/search-ajax/
2
• I have no experience with AJAX, can you explain it with some code? – saibbyweb Sep 20 '16 at 7:01
• I edited the answer to add a place with an example – Piero Marsilio Sep 20 '16 at 7:29
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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No. 22 San Diego State hangs on to defeat Air Force
No. 22 San Diego State hangs on to defeat Air Force Rashaad Penny’s third touchdown turned the tide in No. 22 San Diego State’s favor for good, and the Aztecs survived a back-and-forth challenge from Air Force 28-24 in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams Saturday at Air Force Academy, Colo. The lead changed four times from the late third quarter until Penny’s 53-yard scoring rush put San Diego State (4-0, 1-0 MWC) ahead for good in a game that included a 90-minute lightning delay. Air Force (1-2, 0-1) had two opportunities to respond, but Arion Worthman’s last-ditch pass attempt was intercepted by San Diego State safety Trey Lomax. “A couple of the long runs, they blocked superbly,” Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun said, adding praise for Penny’s play. “Certainly, it helps having a big-play running back. He’s one of those guys who can outrun a contain (defense).” Penny’s 53-yard score came after Air Force took its second lead of the fourth quarter. Running back Tim McVey hurdled a trio of San Diego State defenders en route to a 12-yard touchdown. Tight end David Wells, who caught the game-winning score a week earlier against Stanford, took a 28-yard pass over the top from quarterback Christian Chapman for a touchdown. The score came in response to Air Force’s first points after the second-quarter lightning delay. Garrett Kauppila blocked a San Diego State punt that Lesley Dagler recovered at the San Diego State 4-yard line. Worthman punched in the touchdown two plays later, then found Marcus Bennett for a two-point conversion pass. “We were just prepared that we’re going to have go down and score on every drive,” Air Force fullback Parker Wilson said. “Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way in the end. (But) as far as the mentality, everyone was locked in and ready to go.” The first of the lead changes came on Penny’s second touchdown, an untouched 20-yard run late in the third quarter. Penny saved the drive with a spectacular, one-handed reception of a pass that came out of Chapman’s hand awkwardly after a blind-side hit. Penny’s 128 yards were a season low for the nation’s rushing leader, who came in averaging 196, but his three rushing touchdowns set a career high. “San Diego State played quite, quite well, especially in the second half,” Calhoun said. “Quite frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they win at least 10 (game) and a couple beyond that, as well.” The 90-minute lightning delay midway through the second quarter provided San Diego State a spark, but Air Force made a defensive stop to maintain a 9-7 lead at halftime. “I thought we were beat at the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense in the first two-thirds of the first half,” San Diego State head coach Rocky Long said. “I thought we played better at the line of scrimmage (after the delay).” The Aztecs’ first play out of the locker room following the delay was a 42-yard pass from Chapman to tight end Kahale Warring, setting up Penny for a 2-yard touchdown run. An Air Force pass interference penalty in the end zone on third down helped continue the San Diego State scoring drive. It was the second costly Falcons penalty of the possession. Just before the delay, defensive lineman Santo Coppola leveled San Diego State punter Brandon Heicklen for a 15-yard roughing penalty to extend the Aztecs’ first scoring drive. Both offenses struggled in the first half, combining for just 213 yards of total offense amid driving rain. Wind gusts reached 22 mph, rendering passing difficult, while soggy field conditions limited rushing attacks that came in ranked No. 6 and No. 24 in the nation. Penny finished the half with 29 on 10 carries. Air Force got on the board first with a 29-yard Ronald Cleveland touchdown run, the longest single play of the half for the Falcons’ triple-option offense. A botched snap denied Air Force points on the ensuing point-after attempt. Another special teams snap miscue almost cost the Falcons again just before the half, setting up San Diego State deep in Air Force territory, but John Baron’s 39-yard field-goal attempt went wide left. Air Force built a 9-0 lead before the lightning delay when kicker Luke Strebel made a 45-yard field goal. NOTES: San Diego State is 4-0 to open a season for the first time since 1981. ... Rashaad Penny has scored at least one touchdown in every game on the 2017 season, and has reached the end zone in five-of-six dating back to 2016. ... Air Force’s 52 penalty yards were the Falcons’ most this season. ... The lightning delay was only the second in the history of Falcon Stadium. The other was in a game between Air Force and San Diego State in 1993. ... The win was San Diego State’s first as a Top 25 team since 1977. The Aztecs lost their very next game after entering the AP Top 25 Poll twice in the 2016 regular season.
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NEWS-MULTISOURCE
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East Law
East Law is a small village in County Durham, England. It is situated on the A694 to the north of Consett and north east of Shotley Bridge. It is located south west of Ebchester, of which it can be (probably mistakenly) considered an outlying part.
Derwent Hill, a Georgian mansion built in 1820, was the residence of the Quaker and engineer Edwin Octavius Tregelles. He moved there after his marriage to Elizabeth Richardson in 1850 and left in 1877. Elizabeth was the sister of Jonathan Richardson, of Shotley Park, founder of the Derwent Iron Company (later the Consett Iron Company).
The farm buildings at West Law (to the south of East Law) built in the late 17th century are listed buildings.
The River Derwent flows south west to north east in the valley to the village's south west, forming a border with neighbouring Northumberland.
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WIKI
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"Trees" question
https://www.codecademy.com/paths/computer-science/tracks/complex-data-structures/modules/cspath-trees/lessons/learn-trees-les/exercises/trees-v
I found the error and fixed it, I should have put “nodes_to_visit += current_node.children” on line 23 instead of “nodes_to_visit.append(current_node.children)”. But a new question arises. When I produced an error message, it read “‘list’ object has no attribute ‘value’”. I spent quite a long time to figure out the problem because the error message didn’t seem to directly address to the problem. Can anyone tell me why such error message is produced when I put “nodes_to_visit.append(current_node.children)”? so that next time I face similar problem I may address the problem directly.
# Define your "TreeNode" Python class below
class TreeNode:
def __init__(self, value):
self.value = value
self.children = []
def add_child(self, child_node):
print("Adding " + child_node.value)
self.children.append(child_node)
def remove_child(self, child_node):
print("Removing " + child_node.value + " from " + self.value)
self.children = [child for child in self.children
if child is not child_node]
def traverse(self):
nodes_to_visit = [self]
while len(nodes_to_visit) > 0:
current_node = nodes_to_visit.pop()
print(current_node.value)
nodes_to_visit.append(current_node.children)
root = TreeNode("CEO")
first_child = TreeNode("Vice-President")
second_child = TreeNode("Head of Marketing")
third_child = TreeNode("Marketing Assistant")
root.add_child(first_child)
root.add_child(second_child)
second_child.add_child(third_child)
root.traverse()
You must select a tag to post in this category. Please find the tag relating to the section of the course you are on E.g. loops, learn-compatibility
When you ask a question, don’t forget to include a link to the exercise or project you’re dealing with!
If you want to have the best chances of getting a useful answer quickly, make sure you follow our guidelines about how to ask a good question. That way you’ll be helping everyone – helping people to answer your question and helping others who are stuck to find the question and answer! :slight_smile:
That error message appears because at some you’ve attempted to access the .value attribute on an item which is a list object. As a very short example-
[1, 2, 3].value
AttributeError: 'list' object has no attribute 'value'
Find out which section of code is running and look for any statements which use the .value attribute and make sure the datatype you’re using is an instance of your TreeNode class and not a list.
As for the difference between your code note that append adds a single identifier to a list. This could be an integer or a string, it could be an entirely different list or it could even be the list itself. The += operator on the other hand is more directly associated with the .extend method which adds a sequence to your list (e.g. the elements of another list or tuple).
This suggests the data type you’re appending is not what you expect it to be. Maybe try printing it out so you know for certain.
1 Like
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Talk:2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 10 January 2024
I'd suggest to add the Tartar case to the aftermath of the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes. Both because it happened due to the war, and also to raise awareness to one of the most egregious case of human rights violations during the independence of Azerbaijan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartar_Case Szkoki (talk) 12:50, 10 January 2024 (UTC)
* Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Wikipedia articles cannot be used as sources per WP:CIRC. Shadow311 (talk) 16:35, 10 January 2024 (UTC)
* All the original source is linked in the Wikipedia article. I highlight the most important ones:
* https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijan-light-slowly-being-shed-on-notorious-torture-case
* https://turan.az/en/question-answer/the-tartar-case-blackmail-torture-murder-2104071
* https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijan-prosecutor-admits-widespread-torture-of-suspects-in-treason-case
* https://www.omct.org/en/resources/statements/azerbaijan-11-deaths-in-custody-and-other-serious-human-rights-violations-in-the-terter-case
* https://azeritimes.com/2023/04/18/azerbaijans-tartar-case-renews-investigation-into-alleged-torture-and-abuses-as-the-number-of-victims-and-accused-persons-rises/
* Given the number of different outlets handling it, I find the addition of this case to the page of the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh Clashes valid. Szkoki (talk) 21:34, 11 January 2024 (UTC)
* Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Edit requests are for specific requests with proposed wording, not 'change X' requests. Mel ma nn 22:28, 13 January 2024 (UTC)
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WIKI
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User:Heytherefriend/reflection
Experiential Learning through Wikipedia Contribution
I have been a member of the Wikipedia community for almost four months. Within this timeframe, I have experienced being a newcomer in an online community, observed and recognized the social etiquette and norms that are expected of each individual, as well as the importance of being a new member within an online platform. I have attempted to fully integrate myself into the Wikipedia community by creating my very first Wikipedia page titled, “Route 66 Film Festival.” Though my experiences of creating a Wikipedia webpage, I have collaborated with other community members and followed the expected rules and regulations of Wikipedia. By analyzing my time spent on Wikipedia, I can now address the norms and social breeches of Wikipedia, the importance of the independent contributor, the motivation surrounding an online community, how to stay committed, and my overall thoughts and opinions about being a newcomer within the online community.
According to Joseph Reagle, etiquette is very important when becoming immersed into an online community. It is important to take note of the community norms and social breeches. To clarify, the Wikipedia community consists of “a history of events, set of norms, constellation of values, and common lingo” (Reagle, 2010). These norms and values are implemented on a daily basis. It is extremely noticeable when these rules, norms and values are broken. Important norms that I discovered within the Wikipedia community consist of engaging other members of the community in a respectful manner, trusting other members, and being sincere and truthful in the work that you contribute to the community. I was surprised to find out the extent of which the Wikipedia community is able to monitor newcomers and their activity in an extremely functional manner. Sometime during my first week of joining the Wikipedia community, a senior member left a welcome note on my Talk page. This welcome note continued to inform me of the rules and regulations within the Wikipedia community. I was advised to check out the student-training library, which introduces new members to Wikipedia’s core principles. I was also advised to check out the Teahouse, a community of Wikipedia editors that are dedicated to helping new student users. According to Kraut and Resnick, this act of newcomer identification, helps to enforce member retention through the use of integrating new members into the community, helping them feel welcomed and accepted.
Initially, I went through a small initiation before being accepted as a member into the Wikipedia community. Being a student editor, I had to be informed of the Wikipedia codes of conduct as well as overall expectations of becoming a Wikipedia member. I watched various YouTube tutorials on how to properly code Wikipedia pages, in order to maintain the original and proper way to format and write a Wikipedia article. Furthermore, for class assignments, I was prompted to engage Wikipedia members, provide recognition and appreciation to existing members through their online profiles, and learn the social norms of engaging in an online community. My professor explained how entry barriers promote member retention through positive interactions and time commitment. After spending multiple hours learning about the community and creating my own Wikipedia page, I was able to pick up the norms and coding fairly fast and I now feel confident in my skills as an editor and Wikipedia contributor.
“Building Successful Online Communities” analyzes the ideas and thoughts of Robert Kraut and Paul Resnick. Together, they describe the difference between affective, normative and need-based commitment. These commitment variations depict the reasons why an individual becomes committed to a specific community. “According to this perspective, a committed person has one or more of three subjective experiences in the group: wanting to continue as a member of the group (affective commitment), feeling he or she ought to continue (normative commitment), and feeling that he or she must continue – or at least is better off in the group than out of it (needs-based commitment)” (Kraut & Resnick, 2011, p. 78). I personally believe that I currently identify within the Wikipedia community as an affective commitment. I want to remain engaged within the community because my classmates engage in communication with each other on their Talk pages, which acts as another way to build relationships within a community both online and offline. After I graduate from Northeastern University, I think that my commitment will shift to become more of a normative commitment. I will not need to remain within the online community because of course requirements and assignments. I will no longer have class obligations to engage with the Wikipedia community and my fellow classmates will not be nearly as active within the community as they are now. I do feel a sense of security knowing that I will continue to have an account within Wikipedia but I do believe that within the coming months, I will no longer be an active member of the community as I am now.
Throughout the time that I spent learning about the Wikipedia community as well as other various online communities, I was most surprised after understanding the importance of the independent contributor. I didn’t realize that one community member can make such an impact on a community and online environment in both a positive and negative way. This thought touches upon the ideas of trolls and online trolling. It is possible for one community member, who wants to harass others, to make a negative experience for another member, thus influencing the victim's decision to continue to remain involved in the community. Trolls tend to have more of an impact on a community as opposed to encouraging members because the positive member's behavior is considered normal. The trolls are going out of their way to make someone’s experience within a community negative, and all it takes is one person to create a negative environment. I have further come to appreciate the Wikipedia community for its trusting and accepting environment, free of trolling.
Apart from trolling, I have found various ways that negatively affect online communities through personal analysis and research. It is important to not integrate too many negative aspects into an online community because the member retention will decrease as well as the number of newcomers joining the community. In regards to Wikipedia, I find their community to avoid the negative aspects of most online communities. Wikipedia prevents trolling by maintaining a community that limits bad behavior. Members of the community act as moderators, deciding what content is considered to be harmful and distasteful. Furthermore, Wikipedia tries to remain neutral, as to not to favor one member over another. In order to enforce this, Wikipedia has tools that “show differences between any two versions of a document and to revert a document instantly to a previous form” (Kraut & Resnick, 2011, p. 134). Due to community engagement and editing tools, Wikipedia successfully limits the negative aspects that plague online communities.
Kraut and Resnick believe that motivation and commitment within an online community are important factors that maintain the overall success of the community in regards to member retention. Commitment is described as “representing members’ feelings of attachment or connection to the group, organization, or community. [It] underlies members’ willingness to stay in the community and contribute to it” (Kraut & Resnick, 2011, p. 4). I personally find it difficult to remain motivated within an online community if I am not inspired to contribute to any online content. A reason for this might be due to my lack of individual effort, which influences my performance, outcome, and utility, resulting in a lack of individual motivation. A potential way that this issue can be avoided is to actively engage and edit Wikipedia pages other than my own. After multiple class discussions, I have learned various ways to encourage commitment in an online community. The ways to encourage online commitment that have personally stimulated my online commitment, is having a sense of connection with community members. I actively try to remain engaged with fellow students and class members within Wikipedia by sending cookies or other friendly gestures to their Talk pages. Kraut and Resnick provide additional suggestions for both newcomers and preexisting members, to engage in discussion with each other by becoming involved in conversations that examine passionate topics and take advantage of what the community has to offer.
My overall thoughts about being a newcomer within the Wikipedia community have been very positive. I understand that Wikipedia is a collaborative culture, which consists of a community with shared values, assumptions and meanings, resulting in a community effort to maintain a social environment. I received welcome messages on my Talk page, collaborative suggestions regarding my Wikipedia page, and I have a newfound understanding and sense of assurance within the community. I have learned the difference between affective, normative, and needs-based commitment and I have evaluated and projected these terms within my own life. I have enjoyed contributing my time, effort, and knowledge into a community that I personally support and I never felt belittled by a preexisting member or told to RTFM. Because of this, I will promote activity within the Wikipedia community and continue to immerse myself within various online communities.
References:
Kraut, R. E., Resnick, P., & Kiesler, S. (2011). Building successful online communities: Evidence-based social design. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Reagle, J. (n.d.). Chapter 1§1Nazis and Norms. Retrieved April 11, 2016, from http://reagle.org/joseph/2010/gfc/chapter-1.html
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WIKI
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tanker boot
Noun
* 1) A military boot worn by soldiers serving on tanks and tracked vehicles, fastened with straps instead of laces.
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WIKI
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Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winners Circle
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winners Circle is a 2001 video game developed for the Game Boy Color by M4 Ltd. and by Tantalus Media for the PlayStation, and published by Acclaim Entertainment.
Gameplay
Winners Circle is a horse riding game in which the player selects and raises a horse to raise in a series of equestrian challenges. In the Game Boy Color version of the game, players select from a choice of four horses, and complete a collection of courses with obstacles under a time limit to earn ribbons and trophies in order to unlock more horses to ride and courses to complete. The PlayStation version is slightly more complex, with an 'Adventure' mode where players can freely ride their horse, train, feed and groom them, and unlock outfits through earning ribbons in races and competitions.
Reception
Winners Circle received mixed reviews. Official UK PlayStation Magazine stated that the game was "actually entertaining, though ultimately limited and repetitive". Chris Baker of Official US PlayStation Magazine stated the game "might have some tweenagers hot to trot", but found the game had "frustrating controls".
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WIKI
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Melitaea arduinna
Melitaea arduinna, or Freyer's fritillary, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found from south-eastern Europe across Asia Minor to central Asia and the Altai. The habitat consists of steppe-clad slopes.
The wingspan is 45–50 mm. Similar to the Melitaea cinxia bearing likewise black dots in the submarginal reddish yellow spots of the hindwing, but the forewing much more obtuse, distally broader, moreover usually duller coloured, being more brownish; the distal marginal area darker, the black markings being strongly developed, the median area with less markings, the black lunate lines being partly obsolescent, partly composed of irregular remnants. The underside, too, particularly on the hindwing, is essentially lighter in consequence of the black markings being broken up and reduced.
The larvae feed on Centaurea species, including C. behen. The larvae overwinter in a web nest on the host plant. Pupation takes place in a pupa which is attached to the stem of the host plant just above the ground.
Subspecies
* Melitaea arduinna arduinna (south-eastern Europe, south-western Siberia, Altai, Alai, northern Tian Shan, Dzhungarsky Alatau, Tarbagatai, Saur)
* Melitaea arduinna uralensis Eversmann, 1844
* Melitaea arduinna rhodopensis Freyer, [1836]
* Melitaea arduinna kocaki Wagener & Gross, 1976 (Transcaucasia)
* Melitaea arduinna evanescens Staudinger, 1886 (Kopet-Dagh, Ghissar-Darvaz, western Pamirs, Israel)
Etymology
From the Latin arduum a high place
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WIKI
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Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Demon Hound film (2016)
The result was speedy deleted by SuperMarioMan, CSD G5: Created by a banned or blocked user (SEFPRODUCTIONS) in violation of ban or block. --Malcolmxl5 (talk) 00:50, 4 January 2016 (UTC)
Demon Hound film (2016)
* – ( View AfD View log Stats )
Future film that currently fails the notability guideline. The director also appears to fail the relevant notability guideline. Pichpich (talk) 22:22, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
* Delete unsourced (one cite is to an RT review of a previous film) and absolutely WP:TOOSOON assuming this even gets to production.-- ☾Loriendrew☽ ☏(ring-ring) 22:38, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
* Speedy G5 - Sockpuppet investigations/SEFPRODUCTIONS Bazj (talk) 22:40, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
* Delete We do cover unreleased films, as long as they do get some coverage. See Category:Upcoming films which currently contains almost 1000 articles. But in this case this "article" is devoid of information. Who created this film, in what country, what language, etch. We do not even have a proper title. This is not even a stub, its no article at all. Dimadick (talk) 23:08, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
* And I will have to disagree with Loriendrew about the existence of a Rotten Tomatoes "review" about the previous film Black Shuck (2012). That page only mentions the existence of this film. It has no reviews from either critics or audience, just 2 people interested in seeing it. Compare the same website's page on on Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. That one has noted 316 reviews from critics, and 171,138 user ratings. Dimadick (talk) 23:08, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
* While the review is a non-review (semantics), it still has no relevancy to the notability of this article. I was explaining why I said unsourced when there was a reference/link.-- ☾Loriendrew☽ ☏(ring-ring) 23:17, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
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WIKI
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Communicating with Your Care Provider: Are You on the Same Page?
By Anna Deligio, MSW, Labor Doula, LCCE, Reiki Master
First, do no harm.
This instructional value statement is often attributed to different versions of the Hippocratic oath medical doctors take as they embark on their healing careers. It seems simple enough and certainly it would be easy enough to assume that its interpretation is universal.
We all know what happens to you and me when we assume, though, and to do so within conversations with your medical practitioner can often lead to more than just a need for clarification. Ensuring that a shared understanding exists of the language being used is critical to ensuring that you receive the care that is best for you.
Take the idea of "doing no harm". Let's say you're in active labor and have been going strong for some time without any medicated pain management. You are working through your contractions well but are tired, overwhelmed, and lacking good support. You are starting to feel like you may not be able to continue without medication. The next time your nurse comes in, you say that you'd like to talk about getting an epidural. The nurse alerts anesthesia and soon you are talking with that person about the potential of getting an epidural.
Drawing on what you learned during your pregnancy from your own research and your childbirth preparation class, you know that epidurals can come with increased risks. You ask the anesthesiologist if the epidural will harm your baby. The anesthesiologist gives you a quick and confidant absolutely not.
Does that mean that you move forward with the procedure? Not necessarily. First it is important to make sure both of you are operating from the same understanding of harm. You might be thinking that harm includes the potential for a sleepy baby after the birth and one who may struggle to establish good breast-feeding. The anesthesiologist may be thinking that harm means the epidural would kill or permanently damage your baby. Without clarifying follow-up questions such as What impact will it have on the baby? and How long can I expect that impact to last after the birth? you are risking approving a procedure that is not in line with your values of birth.
An online search for tips on communicating with doctors reveals a theme of writing down questions before the appointment, remembering that you are the consumer, bringing someone with you to appointments, and writing down the answers you get. Added to this needs to be, ask clarifying questions until you are confident that you and your provider are using the same definitions for words.
In many childbirth preparation classes, the acronym BRAIN is used to teach participants what questions to ask when faced with a decision. The letters cover the Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, your Intuition, and the potential of doing Nothing and are a way to remember which questions to ask in order to ensure that the procedure undertaken is the one you want. This model is a wonderful first step, but can still lead to miscommunication if clarification of terms is not established through follow-up questions.
This can be a laborious process and not one you necessarily want to step into during your labor. More the reason to have these conversations during your prenatal visits, write a succinct and clear birth plan, and make sure that you have a support person with you during labor who understands your intent during the birth and can support you in communicating that intent to your medical staff.
Language is wonderful in its ability to convey specific ideas and still leave room for interpretation. While it may be fun to explore the intended meaning behind words when reading a piece of creative writing, it is critical to explore the intended meaning when discussing your care with your medical provider.
Insurance and funding permitting, the ability to pick a provider from the start that shares your values will go a long way in making sure language meaning is shared. That said, you will likely interact with many medical providers during your labor and, like us, each brings his/her own lens, values, histories, and definitions to the conversation.
Practicing asking clarifying questions during your appointments will give you the confidence needed to draw on that tool during your labor with each provider with whom you interact. Each question will get you closer to creating a shared understanding with your providers and build your confidence in your ability to participate actively in the labor you intend to have.
Anna Deligio is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and Labor Doula through her business Nourishing Roots, work that is greatly informed by her previous experiences as an MSW working with families in crisis and babies in foster care, a Special Education teacher of high school students with learning and emotional challenges, a marketing writer, and a waitress at a French restaurant. She loves working with pregnant people and their support people during the transformative time that is pregnancy and birth. When not enjoying the company of pregnant people, she enjoys relaxing with her partner Cathy at their home in Salem, OR.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Build details
Build information
State
failed
Name
php-aws-php-sns-message-validator
Epoch
None
Version
1.6.0
Release
8.fc39
Started
2024-02-14 01:23:23
Finished
2024-02-14 01:28:47
Koji repo
5823474
Koji tasks
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noarch
└113469004 failed
Build logs
noarch
Dependency changes from previous build
libevent
2.1.12-11.fc40
2.1.12-12.fc40
4
fedora-release
40-0.30
40-0.33
B
fedora-repos
40-0.2
40-0.3
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40-0.2
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fedora-release-common
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fedora-gpg-keys
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Page:Nietzsche the thinker.djvu/400
384 Paradoxically enough (and here is a third point of view, one already anticipated), the very restraints of the old régime have prepared for the liberty of the new. The unremitting discipline of the ancient mores has turned men—some men—into beings who can be reckoned on and can reckon on themselves, i.e., are responsible. With this they gain respect for themselves, confidence in themselves. Especially is this the case with those who act as representatives of the group, or who guide it in war or in peace. Yet this respect for themselves and confidence in themselves lead them sooner or later to think that they need not take the law of their conduct from without them, but may give it to themselves. They have learned to act greatly on others' account, they conclude that they might also do so on their own. In short, they become self-acting, self-legislating—that is, persons. The collectivity itself has unwittingly educated them. The altruism bound up with social organization has made this extraordinary, final kind of egoism possible.
And yet the new developments, though less dangerous than they would have been at an earlier time, are not without danger. The individuals strong in themselves and conscious of their strength, may contend with one another and endanger social stability. They may also intoxicate others who are not as strong as they, and make them lose their heads. But gravest of all, they may themselves go to pieces. They are making a new venture, and with all their antecedent training may not succeed. To direct oneself, to take the law of one's conduct into one's own hands, is a perilous thing. Thomas Hill Green said, indeed, "It is the very essence of moral duty to be imposed by a man on himself," and Kant conceived of duty in similar fashion. But both meant little more than that one takes a commonly recognized moral law and re-enacts it in his own person. It is a naïveté, however, to imagine that when a man takes
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WIKI
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Epidolops
Epidolops is an extinct genus of polydolopimorphian metatherian that lived during the Paleogene in what is now South America. Epidolops fossils have been found in the Las Flores Formation of Argentina.
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WIKI
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How To Install A Traction Bar Kit
In the Truck Tech shop, the guys picked up a unique new traction bar design from Mcgaughys. It completely kills the axle wrap and wheel hop but it’ll still allow the suspension to freely cycle which gives you a nice smooth ride.
It starts with a bracket that attaches to the rear axle. It bolts right around the tube. Attached to it is a fabricated, laser cut, and box welded link. On the other end is the swing shackle with the rubber snubber. As the link pushes forward, the snubber makes contact with the frame which completely kills any swinging motion. The swing design, however, still allows a nice smooth ride when you’re just cruising down the road.
To get started, bolt on the axle brackets. THey bolt on around the tube just inside the leaf springs. The bar is then slid into the bracket with the angel side up for maximum ground clearance. Next, install the swing shackle and snubber and get a rough idea where it will land on the frame. Our application requires a bit of trimming on the cab mount.
Lower the truck and put all the weight on the suspension to install everything in its proper operating range. With holes marked, lift the truck back in the air and drill them out.
Read More from PowerNation
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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The Bell Rock Lighthouse
The Bell Rock Lighthouse, off the coast of Angus, Scotland, is the world’s oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse. It was built between 1807 and 1810 by Robert Stevenson on the Bell Rock (also known as Inchcape) in the North Sea, 11 miles (18 km) east of the Firth of Tay.
The masonry work on which the lighthouse rests was constructed to such a high standard that it has not been replaced or adapted in 200 years.
Because of the engineering challenges that were overcome to build the lighthouse, it has been described as one of the Seven Wonders of the Industrial World.
According to legend, Bell Rock got its name because, in the 14th century, the Abbot of Arbroath had had a warning bell installed on it, which was stolen a year later by a Dutch pirate.
Before the construction of the lighthouse, the rock had caused many shipwrecks because, except for a few hours a day at low tide, it lies just below the surface of the sea. By the turn of the 19th century, it was estimated that, in a typical winter, as many as six ships were wrecked on the rock.
In 1804 the warship HMS York was wrecked on the rock in 1804 (and all aboard perished)—-causing a furore in Parliament—-Stevenson sent his design to the renowned engineer John Rennie. Rennie approved the design and cost estimate, which led to the passage of legislation in 1806 approving the proposal and enabling construction to begin.
Because the rock was covered by water for 20 hours each day (up to 12 feet (3.7 m) of water at high tide), the men lived at first on a ship moored 1 mile (2 km) off the rock, requiring the workers to row out to the rock and back in boats each day, which was time-consuming, and at one point, one of the boats went adrift and was lost. So the workers’ first task was to build a beacon house on tall wooden struts on the reef surrounding the rock, with places for up to 15 men, so that workers would have a place to stay on site. The foundations and beacon legs were raised during the first season. Then, in the winter, work at the rock was paused as stonemasons cut rocks for the lighthouse out of Cairngall granite.
The mortar used included volcanic ash which was also an ingredient of Roman concrete opus caementicium. The mortar would set under water and sea water actually makes it stronger.
Adapted from Wikipedia by Chris Bonfiglioli
Text Edited from Wikipedia
This page is part of Coastal Knowledge, an online exhibition mapping some of the amazing places on the coast of Scotland. It includes pictures, memories, artworks, stories and videos submitted by a variety of people including scientists, artists, coastal dwellers, tourists, and community organisations. We want to share the beauty of the Scottish coast, but also its vital role in the day-to-day lives of people in Scotland- for example, its many industrial roles.
This exhibition is dynamic and ongoing- and we’d love for you to share contributions for it too! To learn more and submit your own coastal knowledge, visit the main page of the exhibition.
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FINEWEB-EDU
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Developer’s Manual
NOTICE: THIS CODE IS NOT BEING MAINTAINED AND MAY THEREFORE NOT WORK CORRECTLY ANYMORE OR THE INFORMATION MAY BE OUTDATED
Gazebo Simulation
Example for a launch file: This launch file would load camera.world and set also some start parameters for the gazebo simulation, for example it would start it in a not paused stated (“paused” set to “false”).
<launch>
<include file="$(find gazebo_ros)/launch/empty_world.launch">
<arg name="world_name" value="$(find roboy_simulation)/worlds/camera.world"/>
<arg name="paused" value="false"/>
<arg name="use_sim_time" value="true"/>
<arg name="gui" value="true"/>
<arg name="headless" value="false"/>
<arg name="debug" value="false"/>
</include>
<include file="$(find rosbridge_server)/launch/rosbridge_websocket.launch"/>
</launch>
Example for a world (camera.world) file: In this case the world file contains a ground plane, the legs with upper body roboy model and a light source, a sun.
<world name="default">
<!-- A ground plane -->
<include>
<uri>model://ground_plane</uri>
</include>
<!--PabiRoboy -->
<include>
<uri>model://Roboy_with_camera_simplified</uri>
</include>
<!--Sun -->
<include>
<uri>model://sun</uri>
</include>
<!-- Focus camera on tall pendulum -->
<gui fullscreen='0'>
<camera name='user_camera'>
<pose>4.927360 -4.376610 3.740080 0.000000 0.275643 2.356190</pose>
<view_controller>orbit</view_controller>
</camera>
</gui>
</world>
Model Configuration
If you want to see a camera feed from a gazebo simulation you need to have a camera sensor that captures images and publishes them via messages over a ros bridge. Those messages a standard sensor messages. You can refer to a gazebo plugin that has already been implemented. It is re- commended to attach this sensor to a position close to the models head because you want to its POV to maximize the POV experience. To implement such a thing, just open the model.sdf of the specific model you want to have in the simulation and add the following section.
<sensor type="camera" name="camera">
<update_rate>3.0</update_rate>
<camera name="head">
<pose>0 1.25 0 -1.5707963267948966 -1.5707963267948966 0</pose>
<horizontal_fov>1.6962634</horizontal_fov>
<image>
<width>640</width>
<height>480</height>
<format>R8G8B8</format>
</image>
<clip>
<near>0.1</near>
<far>100</far>
</clip>
<noise>
<type>gaussian</type>
<!-- Noise is sampled independently per pixel on each frame.
That pixel's noise value is added to each of its color
channels, which at that point lie in the range [0,1]. -->
<mean>0.0</mean>
<stddev>0.007</stddev>
</noise>
</camera>
<plugin name="camera_controller" filename="libgazebo_ros_camera.so">
<alwaysOn>true</alwaysOn>
<updateRate>0.0</updateRate>
<cameraName>roboy/camera</cameraName>
<imageTopicName>image_raw</imageTopicName>
<cameraInfoTopicName>camera_info</cameraInfoTopicName>
<frameName>camera_link</frameName>
<hackBaseline>0.07</hackBaseline>
<distortionK1>0.0</distortionK1>
<distortionK2>0.0</distortionK2>
<distortionK3>0.0</distortionK3>
<distortionT1>0.0</distortionT1>
<distortionT2>0.0</distortionT2>
</plugin>
</sensor>
The pose determines where the camera will be looking at and which perspective it will be publishing messages from. In order to publish images the camera sensor needs a plugin attached to it, in this case its a standard plugin-in, the ros camera from the gazebo library. The width and height tag determine the resolution of the published images, the update rates is crucial to how many images are sent in one second (25 means, 25 updates per second).
In order to control Roboy in the simulation via ROS messages, the respective model needs to have the suiting plugin.
#include "roboy_simulation/BeRoboyPlugin.hpp"
#include <math.h>
using namespace std;
using namespace gazebo;
GZ_REGISTER_MODEL_PLUGIN(BeRoboyPlugin)
BeRoboyPlugin::BeRoboyPlugin() : ModelPlugin() {}
BeRoboyPlugin::~BeRoboyPlugin(){}
void BeRoboyPlugin::Load(physics::ModelPtr _parent, sdf::ElementPtr _sdf)
{
// get the model
model = _parent;
// bind the gazebo update function to OnUpdate
updateConnection = event::Events::ConnectWorldUpdateBegin(boost::bind(&BeRoboyPlugin::OnUpdate, this, _1));
// get all joints and the initial pose
physics::Joint_V jointVector = model->GetJoints();
initPose = model->GetWorldPose();
// Init ros if it is has not been initialized
if(!ros::isInitialized())
{
int argc = 0;
char **argv = NULL;
ros::init(argc, argv, "BeRoboy");
}
// Create ros node
nh = ros::NodeHandlePtr(new ros::NodeHandle("BeRoboy"));
spinner = boost::shared_ptr<ros::AsyncSpinner>(new ros::AsyncSpinner(1));
spinner->start();
jointCommand_sub = nh->subscribe("/roboy/middleware/JointCommand", 1, &BeRoboyPlugin::JointCommand, this);
setPosition_sub = nh->subscribe("/roboy/middleware/Position", 1, &BeRoboyPlugin::SetPosition, this);
pose_pub = nh->advertise<roboy_communication_middleware::Pose>("/roboy/simulation/"+ _parent->GetName() +"_pose", 1);
hip_sub = nh->subscribe("/roboy/middleware/DarkRoom/sensor_location", 1, &BeRoboyPlugin::DarkRoomSensor, this);
for(auto joint = jointVector.begin(); joint != jointVector.end(); joint++)
{
// Test if joint type is revolute
if((*joint)->GetType() != 576)
continue;
// replace whitespace with underscore in the names
string _modelName = model->GetName();
string jointName = (*joint)->GetName();
string _jointName = jointName;
boost::algorithm::replace_all(_modelName, " ", "_");
boost::algorithm::replace_all(_jointName, " ", "_");
joints.push_back(jointName);
jointAngles[jointName] = (*joint)->GetAngle(0).Radian();
}
}
void BeRoboyPlugin::publishPose()
{
roboy_communication_middleware::Pose msg;
for(auto link:model->GetLinks()){
msg.name.push_back(link->GetName());
math::Pose p = link->GetWorldPose();
msg.x.push_back(p.pos.x);
msg.y.push_back(p.pos.y);
msg.z.push_back(p.pos.z);
p.rot.Normalize();
msg.qx.push_back(p.rot.x);
msg.qy.push_back(p.rot.y);
msg.qz.push_back(p.rot.z);
msg.qw.push_back(p.rot.w);
}
pose_pub.publish(msg);
}
void BeRoboyPlugin::JointCommand(const roboy_communication_middleware::JointCommandConstPtr &msg){
for(uint i=0;i<msg->link_name.size();i++){
jointAngles[msg->link_name[i]] = msg->angle[i];
}
}
void BeRoboyPlugin::SetPosition(const roboy_communication_middleware::PositionConstPtr &msg){
math::Vector3 pos(msg->x, msg->y, msg->z);
gazebo::math::Pose p(pos, initPose.rot);
initPose = p;
}
void BeRoboyPlugin::DarkRoomSensor(const roboy_communication_middleware::DarkRoomSensorConstPtr &msg)
{
int hipIDPos = -1;
for(int i = 0; i < msg->ids.size(); i++)
{
// hip id of the sensor should be 4
if(msg->ids[i] == hipID)
{
hipIDPos = msg->ids[i];
break;
}
}
if(hipIDPos == -1)
return;
// move the position of the model
math::Quaternion modelRot = model->GetWorldPose().rot;
math::Vector3 modelPos = math::Vector3(msg->position[hipIDPos].x, msg->position[hipIDPos].y, msg->position[hipIDPos].z);
initPose = math::Pose(math::Pose(modelPos, modelRot));
}
void BeRoboyPlugin::OnUpdate(const common::UpdateInfo &_info)
{
// make the model stationary
model->SetWorldPose(initPose);
// set velocity and force to zero and force for every saved joint and set angle to saved value
for(auto it = joints.begin(); it != joints.end(); it++)
{
model->GetJoint(*it)->SetVelocity(0, 0);
model->GetJoint(*it)->SetForce(0, 0);
model->GetJoint(*it)->SetPosition(0, jointAngles[*it]);
}
initPose = model->GetWorldPose();
publishPose();
}
Unity Scene
In Unity you need to establish a Rosbridge in order to be able to communicate with the various types of Roboy, e.g. the simulation one or the real one. Both of them are sending their camera feed as Image messages of the type sensor_msgs/Image. Therefore you need also a suiting subscriber in Unity to be able to receive the messages correctly and parse them afterwards in the right manner.
Image message in Unity
namespace ROSBridgeLib
{
namespace sensor_msgs
{
public class ImageMsg : ROSBridgeMsg
{
...
...
public ImageMsg(JSONNode msg){...}
public ImageMsg(HeaderMsg header, byte[] data){...}
public byte[] GetImage(){...}
public static string GetMessageType(){...}
public override string ToString(){...}
public override string ToYAMLString(){...}
}
}
}
Image Subscriber in Unity
namespace ROSBridgeLib
{
public class RoboyCameraSubscriber : ROSBridgeSubscriber
{
public new static string GetMessageTopic()
{
return either "/roboy/camera/image_raw" or "/zed/rgb/image_raw_color"
}
public new static string GetMessageType()
{
return "sensor_msgs/Image";
}
public new static ROSBridgeMsg ParseMessage(JSONNode msg)
{
//ImageMsg from sensor messages lib
return new ImageMsg(msg);
}
public new static void CallBack(ROSBridgeMsg msg)
{
ImageMsg image = (ImageMsg)msg;
//ReceiveMessage respectively either for the simulation or zed image
BeRoboyManager.Instance.ReceiveMessage(image);
}
}
}
After getting the ros bridge connection right and being able to receive image messages as well as reading them correctly the camera feeds should be displayed and rendered at at suited position. For this purpose this unity scene uses a canvas in camera space. Attached to this canvas are various image planes (unity ui images) that can wrap up the received messages.
There is also a View Selection Manager embedded to the BeRoboy™ scene, it is used to fluently switch from one view to another. This manager is responsible for the procedures after a button on the 3D selection menu is pressed. When a certain button is invoked by onClick() the state of various different game objects needs to manipulated (mostly enabling or disabling them). A View Selection Manager always needs the desired references in order to set them, if they not already come preconfigured.
Selection menu in 3D
After clicking on one of the buttons, the View Selection Manager takes the necessary steps to change to the respective view.
Receiving Images Info
Depending on what images you want to receive, you need to set the size of the color arrays in the BeRoboyManager class. m_colorArraySample = new Color [width*height]
In addition you also need to set the texture size in Awake() respectively m_texSample = new Texture2D(width, height)
|
ESSENTIALAI-STEM
|
WILLIAM T., et al., Plaintiffs, v. William R. TAYLOR, M.D., et al., Defendants.
No. Civ.A. 1:95-2901A-JEC.
United States District Court, N.D. Georgia, Atlanta Division.
March 1, 2000.
Lewis Golinker, Office of Lewis Golinker, Ithaca, NY, Naomi Tsipora Walker, Georgia Advocacy Office, Decatur, GA, for Plaintiffs.
Kevin Matthew O’Connor, Office of State Attorney General, Atlanta, GA, Philip Brian Campbell, Office of P. Brian Campbell, Roswell, GA, for Defendants.
ORDER
CARNES, District Judge.
This case is presently before the Court on plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment [56], plaintiffs’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [58], defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment [59], defendants’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [61], plaintiffs’ Motion to Enforce the February 5, 1998 Stipulation and Order [62], Lawrence “Kirby” H.’s Motion for Summary Judgement [63], Lawrence “Kirby” H.’s Motion to Intervene [64], plaintiffs’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [66], defendants’ Motion for Authorization to File a Reply to Plaintiffs’ Reply Memorandum in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment [73], and defendants’ Motion for Authorization to File a Sur-Reply to Plaintiffs’ Reply Memorandum in Support of Their Motion for Intervention [78]. The Court has reviewed the record and the arguments of the parties and, for the reasons set forth below, concludes that plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment [56] should be GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE IN PART, plaintiffs’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [58] should be GRANTED, defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment [59] should be DENIED, defendants’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [61] should be GRANTED, plaintiffs’ Motion to Enforce the February 5, 1998 Stipulation and Order [62] should be DENIED, Lawrence “Kirby” H.’s Motion for Summary Judgement [63] should be GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE IN PART, Lawrence “Kirby” H.’s Motion to Intervene [64] should be GRANTED, plaintiffs’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [66] should be GRANTED, defendants’ Motion for Authorization to File a Reply to Plaintiffs’ Reply Memorandum in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment [73] should be GRANTED, and defendants’ Motion for Authorization to File a Sur-Reply to Plaintiffs’ Reply Memorandum in Support of Their Motion for Intervention [78] should be GRANTED.
BACKGROUND
This case revolves around the determination of whether “augmentative and alternative communication devices” (hereinafter “ACDs”) should be covered under Georgia’s medicaid plan pursuant to the Medicaid Act and its regulations. Plaintiffs brought suit pursuant to a number of federal statutes but agree that the lawsuit is appropriately analyzed as a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim, alleging that the Georgia Department of Medical Assistance’s (hereinafter “GDMA”) policy violates the Medicaid Act’s “reasonable promptness” provision (42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(8)), its “reasonable standards” provision (42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(17)), and Medicaid’s methods and procedures regarding utilization of covered services (42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(30)). (Pls.’ Reply Br. [65] at 3.) Moreover, plaintiffs assert that GDMA’s exclusion of ACDs violates the Medicaid regulations governing the required “amount, duration, and scope” of covered Medicaid services (42 C.F.R. § 440.230(b)-(d)). (Id.) Plaintiffs argue that, under the Medicaid Act, GDMA is required to provide ACDs to those determined to have a medical necessity. Through this lawsuit, plaintiffs seek “a declaration that ACDs meet the standards of coverage by Georgia Medicaid, and in-junctive relief that prohibits Georgia Medicaid from using any decision making standard for ACD funding requests that is not based on and consistent with current standards of knowledge, policy and practice related to ACD treatment.” (Pls.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 6.)
Defendants, on the other hand, contend that plaintiffs may not maintain this lawsuit for three reasons. First, defendants argue that plaintiffs lack standing to assert a cause of action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as they are “third-party beneficiaries to a federal-state funding program.” (Defs.’ Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. [59] at 6.) Second, defendants contend that plaintiffs’ claims are barred by the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution. (Id. at 12.) Finally, defendants argue that GDMA has wide discretion in determining the amount, duration, and scope of medical care that is provided under its medical program and that because ACDs fall within one of several optional classes of assistance, GDMA has the discretion to limit the services it provides under the given optional classes of assistance. (Id. at 18, 20.)
The material facts in this case are not in dispute. The GDMA does not dispute that it has consistently denied funding for ACDs under its Medicaid program. (Defs.’ Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. [59] at 3.) Accordingly, the Court is faced solely with a question of law.
ACDs are “electronic and non-electronic devices that allow individuals to overcome, to the maximum extent possible, communication limitations that interfere with their daily activities.” (Pis.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 1 n. 1.) These devices help individuals communicate who have lost their ability to speak due to a range of medical problems. These problems may include: amyotropic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and other medical diagnoses. See generally Ellen M. Saideman, Helping the Mute to Speak: The Availability of Augmentative Communication Devices Under Medicaid, 17 N.Y.U. Rev. L & Soc. Change 741 (1989/1990).
It is helpful at this point to set out the general description of the Medicaid program. Medicaid is a federal-state partnership, where states can opt to accept federal funds in return for their agreement to provide Medicaid benefits to its citizens. As the Eleventh Circuit has explained:
Medicaid is a cooperative venture of the state and federal governments. A state which chooses to participate in Medicaid submits a state plan for the funding which is approved by the federal government. The federal government then subsidizes a certain portion of the financial obligations which the state has agreed to bear. A state participating in Medicaid must comply with the applicable statute, Title XIX of the Social Security Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 1396, et seq., and the applicable regulations.
Silver v. Baggiano, 804 F.2d 1211, 1215 (11th Cir.1986). See also Harris v. James, 127 F.3d 993, 996 (11th Cir.1997). A state, like Georgia, which chooses to participate in the federal-state program, must provide certain required services to its citizens. See Tallahassee Memorial Reg. Med. Ctr. v. Cook, 109 F.3d 693, 698 (11th Cir.1997)(per curiam). In addition, the state may elect to provide certain optional services to its citizens. Three of these optional services are at issue in this case: home health care services, prosthetic devices, and speech-language pathology services. It is undisputed that Georgia has elected to cover these services.
The central issue in this case is whether ACDs fit into the three optional services that Georgia has agreed to provide to its citizens. Plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that ACDs fall into all three of these optional categories, and that, as such, Georgia must provide these services to those who are determined to be medically needy and to those who otherwise qualify for Medicaid. Plaintiffs also ask the Court to fashion injunctive relief. Defendants have also filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that they are entitled to summary judgment for the three reasons articulated swpra at 4.
The Court will first address defendants’ “defenses” to plaintiffs’ claim. As the Court determines that defendants may not prevail on the three “defenses,” the Court must then decide whether ACDs fit into the three optional services classifications; it concludes that ACDs do so fit and should be covered under Medicaid. This conclusion does not terminate this litigation, however, as several issues remain to be determined either through negotiation between the parties or through a subsequent order in this case.
DISCUSSION
I. Kirby H. ’s Motion to Intervene
Lawrence “Kirby” H. has filed a motion to intervene in this action pursuant to Rule 24(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the permissive intervention provision. This rule provides:
Upon timely application anyone may be permitted to intervene in an action: (1) when a statute of the United States confers a conditional right to intervene; or (2) when an applicant’s claim or defense and the main action have a question of law or fact in common.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(b). Because the Court finds that Kirby H. has sufficiently demonstrated that his claims are identical to the claims of the other named plaintiffs in this case and that allowing Kirby H. to intervene will not “unduly delay or prejudice the rights of the original parties,” the Court GRANTS Kirby H.’s motion to intervene.
Kirby H. has also filed a motion for summary judgment. In this motion, Kirby H. simply incorporates plaintiffs’ motion. The Court finds that defendants will not be prejudiced by allowing Kirby H. to join this motion. The Court’s decision regarding ACD coverage is not specific to any one plaintiff in this case and does not rely on the facts surrounding any one plaintiff. Moreover, as the Court will eventually remand these plaintiffs for administrative review in consideration of the ACD funding criteria to be developed by the parties to this case, any final order of this Court is not likely to grant specific relief for Kirby H., except to remand his case for further administrative consideration. Accordingly, the Court will consider Kirby H.’s motion for summary judgment in conjunction with plaintiffs’ motion.
II. Summary Judgment Standard
Summary judgment is not properly viewed as a device that the trial court may, in its discretion, implement in lieu of a trial on the merits. Instead, Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure mandates the entry -of summary judgment against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of every element essential to that party’s case on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In such a situation, there can be no genuine issue as to any material fact, as a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. Id. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
The movant bears the initial responsibility of asserting the basis for his motion. Id. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548; Apcoa, Inc. v. Fidelity Nat’l Bank, 906 F.2d 610, 611 (11th Cir.1990). However, the movant is not required to negate his opponent’s claim. The movant may discharge his burden by merely “ ‘showing’&emdash;that is, pointing out to the district court&emdash;that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. After the movant has carried his burden, the nonmoving party is then required to “go beyond the pleadings” and present competent evidence designating “ ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’ ” Id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)). While the court is to view all evidence and factual inferences in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party, Samples v. City of Atlanta, 846 F.2d 1328, 1330 (11th Cir.1988), “the mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there be no genuine issue of material fact.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).
A fact is material when it is identified as such by the controlling substantive law. Id. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. An issue is genuine when the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmovant. Id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The nonmovant “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.... Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no ‘genuine issue for trial’ ” Matsushita Electric Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (citations omitted). An issue is not genuine if it is unsupported by evidence, or if it is created by evidence that is “merely colorable” or is “not significantly probative.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505. Thus, to survive a motion for summary judgment, the nonmoving party must come forward with specific evidence of every element material to that party’s case so as to create a genuine issue for trial.
III. Defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment
Defendants, in their motion for summary judgment, contend that plaintiffs do not have standing to bring this § 1983 claim arguing that plaintiffs, as third-party beneficiaries to a federal-state Medicaid program, do not have standing to sue under § 1983. In addition, defendants contend that plaintiffs’s claims are bared by the Eleventh Amendment. Finally, defendants assert that they are not liable to plaintiffs for the denial of coverage for ACDs because they have inherent discretion to determine the amount, duration, and scope of coverage under the optional classes of assistance they choose to provide pursuant to their Medicaid program. The Court will address each of these defenses in turn.
A. Do plaintiffs have standing to pursue their § 1983 claim?
Taking their cue from Justice Scalia’s concurring opinion in Blessing v. Freestone, 520 U.S. 329, 349, 117 S.Ct. 1353, 137 L.Ed.2d 569 (1997), defendants argue that plaintiffs, as third-party beneficiaries to the federal-state Medicaid program, may not bring this lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In Blessing, Justice Scalia penned a concurring opinion that suggested that an individual receiving benefits — or not receiving benefits she feels that she is entitled to receive — under a federal-state funding and spending agreement could not maintain a suit pursuant to § 1983 against the state agency. In this opinion, Justice Scalia first observed that the Court had previously, in Pennhurst State School & Hospital v. Halderman, 451 U.S. 1, 101 S.Ct. 1531, 67 L.Ed.2d 694 (1981), characterized federal-state funding and spending agreements as being “in the nature of a contract” where “[t]he State promises to provide certain services to private individuals, in exchange for which the Federal Government promises to give the State funds.” Blessing, 520 U.S. at 349, 117 S.Ct. 1353 (quoting Pennhurst, 451 U.S. at 11, 101 S.Ct. 1531 (Scalia, J., concurring)). Next, Justice Scalia noted that in the above described situation, the individual was a third-party beneficiary to the federal-state funding and spending contract. Justice Scalia recognized that, at the time § 1983 was enacted, third-party beneficiaries were considered “stranger[s] to the contract, and could not sue upon it.” Id. Through this reasoning, Justice Scalia suggested that an individual, as a third-party beneficiary, would not have standing to maintain a § 1983 claim against a state for the state’s violation of the federal-state spending and funding agreement. Id. at 349-50,117 S.Ct. 1353.
In the instant case, defendants note that plaintiffs are merely third-party beneficiaries to the federal-state Medicaid partnership. Defendants contend that plaintiffs should not be permitted to sue the state pursuant to § 1983 because, at the time that § 1983 was enacted, these plaintiffs would not have been able to assert a third-party beneficiary claim against the state. Accordingly, defendants argue that plaintiffs do not have standing to pursue their claims in this case.
While it is not necessarily unreasonable to use a framework that permits only the federal government, not an individual applicant for benefits, to seek to enforce the “contract” between the States and the federal government, this Court could find no other court that has followed Justice Sca-lia’s suggestion and applied it to bar plaintiffs from bringing suit under § 1983 against a state to vindicate rights guaranteed in a federal-state spending and funding agreement. Moreover, as the Eleventh Circuit has permitted plaintiffs to bring suit under § 1983 to redress then-federal rights under Medicaid, the Court concludes that plaintiffs in the instant case may likewise maintain their § 1983 causes of action. See Doe v. Chiles, 136 F.3d 709, 719 (11th Cir.1998)(finding federal right to reasonably prompt provision of assistance under § 1396a(a)(8) of the Medicaid Act enforceable under § 1983). Accordingly, the Court DENIES defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to this ground, finding that, until the Eleventh Circuit or Supreme Court rules otherwise, plaintiffs have adequate standing to present their § 1983 claims.
B. Are plaintiffs’ claims barred by the Eleventh Amendment ?
Defendants argue that plaintiffs may not sue the state or a state official in federal court pursuant to the Eleventh Amendment. Although it is clear that the Eleventh Amendment protects states and their officials from suit in federal court, a state official may be sued for prospective injunctive relief to “end a continuing violation of federal law.” Seminole Tribe of Fla. v. Florida, 517 U.S. 44, 73, 116 S.Ct. 1114, 134 L.Ed.2d 252 (1996)(citing Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed. 714 (1908)). Plaintiffs here have properly brought this lawsuit against Dr. Taylor in his official capacity as the Commissioner of GDMA for prospective injunc-tive relief&emdash;and not for retroactive monetary damages&emdash;in an attempt to prohibit defendant’s continuing categorical prohibition of Medicaid coverage for ACDs and to insure that, in the future, Medicaid will provide coverage for ACDs when other pertinent requirements of the Medicaid statute are met by the applicants. Accordingly, the Court concludes that the Eleventh Amendment does not bar plaintiffs’ suit against Dr. Taylor. See Hunter v. Chiles, 944 F.Supp. 914, 916 (S.D.Fla.1996)(holding that Ex parte Young exception applied to plaintiffs’ suit for prospective injunctive relief against state official who denied Medicaid coverage to plaintiffs who had requested ACDs to allow them to communicate verbally). Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to this ground is DENIED.
C. Does GDMA have discretion to deny coverage for ACDs?
Defendants’ final contention is that because the service categories under which plaintiffs’ make their claim&emdash;i.e., home health services, prosthetic devices, and speech-language pathology services&emdash;are not required services but rather optional services, they have ample discretion to determine the amount, scope, and duration of any coverage that they offer for ACDs and thus can categorically limit the ACD services they provide, whenever they deem it desirable to do so. (Defs.’ Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. [59] at 19-20.) To support this contention, defendants cite several federal court decisions. Defendants do not, however, offer more than a cursory discussion of each of the cited cases&emdash;typically quoting a particular choice phrase from each case&emdash;and they do not discuss the particular claims made in those cases. (Defs.’ Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. [59] at 21-24.) Moreover, these cases do not come close to the holding for which defendants cite them: to wit, that a state may make a categorical determination to exclude a particular type of treatment.
In addition, plaintiffs carefully and persuasively distinguish each of the cases cited by defendants to support their contention that they have the authority to limit the types of optional services rendered. (Pis.’ Reply Br. [65] at 24-30.) Plaintiffs have succeeded in demonstrating that each of the cases cited by defendants in their brief either do not address the type of categorical denial involved in the instant case or deal with providers who are seeking reimbursement from the state.
Moreover, plaintiffs contend that although states can limit the definition of medically necessary to exclude certain treatments that are, inter alia, experimental in nature, states are not permitted to categorically exclude specific types of treatment under their broad discretion to determine the amount, duration, and scope of services provided. (Pis.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 13-18). Plaintiffs cite numerous cases to support this contention. See e.g. Rush v. Parham, 625 F.2d 1150, 1157 n. 12 (5th Cir.1980). In Rush, a panel of the former Fifth Circuit held that under the Medicaid statutes, Georgia could define medical necessity “in a way tailored to the requirements of its own Medicaid program,” thereby limiting the scope of its coverage. Id. at 1155. Pursuant to this holding, • the state could tailor its definition of medically necessary to exclude experimental treatment, such as the sex reassignment surgery at issue in that case. Id. at 1156. The panel cautioned, however, that Georgia could not adopt a policy that categorically denied coverage for sex reassignment surgery. Id. at 1157 n. 12.
Finally, plaintiffs present a policy letter dated September 4, 1998, from Sally K. Richardson, Director of Health Care Financing Administration (hereinafter “HCFA”) Center for Medicaid and State Operations, supporting their position. In this letter, Ms. Richardson writes:
As you know, the mandatory home health services benefit under the Medicaid program includes coverage of medical supplies, equipment, and appliances suitable for use in the home (42 C.F.R. § 440.70(b)(3)). A state may establish reasonable standards, consistent with the objectives of the Medicaid statute, for determining the extent of such coverage (42 U.S.C. § 1396(a)(17)) based on such criteria as medical necessity or utilization control (42 C.F.R. § 440.230(d)). In doing so, a State must ensure that the amount, duration, and scope of coverage are reasonably sufficient to achieve the purpose of the service (42 C.F.R. § 440.230(b)). Furthermore, a State may not impose arbitrary limitations on mandatory services, such as home health services, based solely on diagnosis, type of illness, or condition (42 C.F.R. § 440.230(c)).
An ME [medical equipment] policy that provides no reasonable and meaningful procedure for requesting items that do not appear on a State’s pre-approved list, is inconsistent with the federal law discussed above. In evaluating a request for an item of ME, a State may not use a “Medicaid population as a whole” test, which requires a beneficiary to demonstrate that, absent coverage of the item requested, the needs of “most” Medicaid recipients will not be met. This test, in the ME context, establishes a standard that virtually no individual item of ME can meet. Requiring a beneficiary to meet this test as a criterion for determining whether an item is covered, therefore, fails to provide a meaningful opportunity for seeking modifications of or exceptions to a State’s pre-approved list. Finally, the process for seeking modifications or exceptions must be made available to all beneficiaries and may not be limited to sub-classes of the population (e.g., beneficiaries under the age of 21).
(Pis.’ App. of Unpublished Mats. [56] at Ex. 7 (“HCFA Policy Letter”) at 1 (footnote added).) This letter fully supports plaintiffs’ contention that states may not categorically deny coverage for a particular service. In this letter, Ms. Richardson explains that a state may not maintain an exclusive pre-approved list of medical equipment to make coverage determinations. Rather, the state must have a process whereby an applicant may seek coverage of an item not specifically listed.
A well-established and communicated administrative practice, agency transmit-tals promulgated by HCFA are apparently entitled to the same deference as HCFA’s formal regulations. See Falken v. Glynn Co., 197 F.3d 1341, 1350 (11th Cir.1999); Georgia Dept. of Med. Assist. v. Shalala, 8 F.3d 1565, 1571 n. 8 (11th Cir.1994). Assuming that this Court must show some deference to HCFA’s reasonable interpretation, as reflected in the above letter, however, the Court further notes that the letter reflects a reasonable interpretation of the law and that it forecloses defendants’ contention. See Good Samaritan Hosp. v. Shalala, 508 U.S. 402, 113 S.Ct. 2151, 124 L.Ed.2d 368 (1993); see also Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Mich., 73 F.3d at 638 (according great deference to letter from Ms. Richardson to all state Medicaid directors under Good Samaritan Hospital). Accordingly, the Court DENIES defendants’ motion for summary judgment on this ground, as well.
IV. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment
In their motion for summary judgment, plaintiffs contend that defendants are violating three statutory and one regulatory provision of Medicaid. As an initial matter, the Court must determine whether plaintiffs have validly stated a § 1983 claim — that is, have plaintiffs asserted violations of their federal rights. Next, the Court must determine whether ACDs fit into the three optional service classifications that Georgia has agreed to - cover.
A. Have plaintiffs asserted violations of federal rights?
Until the Supreme Court’s 1980 decision in Maine v. Thiboutot, 448 U.S. 1, 100 S.Ct. 2502, 65 L.Ed.2d 555 (1980), § 1983 was used primarily to secure remedies for violations of constitutional’ rights. In Thi-boutot, the Supreme Court declared that § 1983 provides a remedy for violations of rights secured by federal statutes as well. The Supreme Court quickly limited Thi-boutot in a pair of 1981 decisions. See Middlesex County Sewerage Auth. v. Nat’l Sea Clammers Ass’n, 453 U.S. 1, 101 S.Ct. 2615, 69 L.Ed.2d 435 (1981), and Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 451 U.S. 1, 101 S.Ct. 1531, 67 L.Ed.2d 694 (1981).
As a result, in order for a cause of action under § 1983 to exist for the violation of a federal statute, the federal statute must create private rights enforceable under § 1983. Pennhurst, 451 U.S. at 28, 101 S.Ct. 1531. That is, the plaintiff must assert a violation of a federal right, not merely a violation of federal law. Blessing v. Freestone, 520 U.S. 329, 340, 117 S.Ct. 1353, 137 L.Ed.2d 569 (1997). In Blessing, the Court explained the three-factor test to determine whether a plaintiff has asserted the violation of federal law:
In order to seek redress through § 1983, however, a plaintiff must assert the violation of a federal right, not merely a violation of federal law. We have traditionally looked at three factors when determining whether a particular statutory provision gives rise to a federal right. First, Congress must have intended that the provision in question benefit the plaintiff. Second, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the right as-sertedly protected by the statute is not so “vague and amorphous” that its enforcement would strain judicial competence. Third, the statute must unambiguously impose a binding obligation on the States. In other words, the provision giving rise to the asserted right must be couched in mandatory rather than precatory terms.
Id. at 340-41, 117 S.Ct. 1353 (citations omitted). See also Doe v. Chiles, 136 F.3d 709, 713 (11th Cir.1998). The Supreme Court has emphasized, however, that a court should not “lightly conclude that Congress intended to preclude reliance on § 1983 as a remedy” for the deprivation of a federally secured right. Smith v. Robinson, 468 U.S. 992, 1012, 104 S.Ct. 3457, 82 L.Ed.2d 746 (1984).
In the instant case, plaintiffs claim that “jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § [1983] is based on Medicaid’s violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(8), the Medicaid Act’s ‘reasonable promptness’ provision, § 1396a(a)(17), its ‘reasonable standards’ provision, and § 1396a(a)(30) which addresses, inter alia, the methods and procedures Medicaid programs employ regarding utilization of covered services.” (Pis.’ Reply Br. [65] at 3.) In addition to these statutory violations, plaintiffs also “assert Medicaid’s exclusion of ACDs violates the Medicaid regulations governing the required ‘amount, duration and scope’ of covered Medicaid services, 42 C.F.R. § 440.230(b)-(d).” (Id.) The Court will address each statutory and regulatory claim in turn to determine if plaintiffs have satisfied their burden of alleging a violation of a federal right. The Court must undertake this inquiry prior to determining the question of whether ACDs should be covered under any of the optional services that Georgia has opted, to provide its Medicaid-eligible citizens.
1. “Reasonable promptness” provision, A2 U.S.C. § 1896a(a)(8)
Title 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(8) requires that a state plan for medical assistance must “provide that all individuals wishing to make application for medical assistance under the plan shall have an opportunity to do so, and that such assistance shall be furnished with reasonable promptness to all eligible individuals.” Plaintiffs claim that GDMA violates this provision by categorically denying coverage for ACDs. Specifically, plaintiffs explain that GDMA “violates these provisions by creating administrative barriers to ACD access for persons who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, and by mis-applying the Medicaid Act’s ‘third party liability’ or ‘payer of last resort’ provisions to deny ACD funding requests for children participating in the Early Intervention program or who attend public school, and for residents of nursing facilities.” (Pls.’ Reply Br. [65] at 4.) Defendants do not address this issue.
Recently, in Doe v. Chiles, the Eleventh Circuit concluded, after rigorously applying Blessing’s three-factor test, that individuals “have a federal right to reasonably prompt provision of assistance under section 1396a(a)(8) of the Medicaid Act, and that this right is enforceable under section 1983.” Doe, 136 F.3d at 719. Accordingly, plaintiffs have adequately demonstrated that the Court has jurisdiction to address plaintiffs’ claims under this statutory provision.
2. Reasonable Standards Provision, 1$ U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(17)
Title 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(17) requires that a state plan for medical assistance must “include reasonable standards ... for determining eligibility for and the extent of medical assistance under the plan which (A) are consistent with the objectives of this subchapter.” Plaintiffs argue that plaintiffs have a federal right to have states include in their state Medicaid plan reasonable standards for the determination of eligibility for and the extent of medical assistance and, thus, individuals should be permitted to enforce this right pursuant to § 1983. (Pis.’ Reply Br. [65] at 6.) In the instant case, plaintiffs contend that GDMA violates this provision “by excluding ACDs from coverage under the DME [durable medical equipment], prosthetic devices and/or SLP [speech-language pathology] service benefits; by asserting [that] ACDs are not medically necessary; by failing to ensure [that] funding decisions are consistent with current standards of SLP and AAC [augmentative and alternative communication devices] intervention; by not employing a skilled decision maker; and by not utilizing consistent coverage criteria related to ACD funding requests.” {Id.) Defendants do not address this issue.
Although the Court has located one appellate court decision that assumed, for the purposes of deciding the case, that § 1983 provides a private right of action for a state’s violation of § 1396a(a)(17), plaintiffs cite, and the Court could only locate, one case, Smith v. Palmer, 24 F.Supp.2d 955 (N.D.Iowa 1998), in which a court actually addressed the precise issue. Compare Ad-dis v. Whitburn, 153 F.3d 836, 840 n. 2 (7th Cir.1998) (assuming that § 1983 claims to redress state’s violation of § 1396a(a)(17) properly brought) with Smith, 24 F.Supp.2d at 963 (finding that plaintiffs had federally enforceable right under § 1396a(a)(17) that could be asserted under § 1983).
In Smith, Judge Bennett addressed the Supreme Court’s test for the enforceability of a federal statutory right under § 1983 by first determining that the plaintiff, a disabled recipient of Medicaid who receives medical assistance under Iowa’s plan, was an intended beneficiary of the “reasonable standards” requirement of § 1396a(a)(17). Smith, 24 F.Supp.2d at 963. Judge Bennett had little trouble determining that the plaintiff was an intended beneficiary of the federal Medicaid provision, recognizing that “the primary purpose of [M]edicaid is to achieve the praiseworthy social objective of granting health care coverage to those who cannot afford it.” Id. (quoting West Virginia Univ. Hosp., Inc. v. Casey, 885 F.2d 11, 20 (3d Cir.1989)). Secondly, Judge Bennett determined that the right created in § 1396a(a)(17) is “neither vague nor amorphous and is well within the realm of those rights the judiciary can enforce.” Id. (citing Loschiavo v. City of Dearborn, 33 F.3d 548, 552-53 (6th Cir.1994) (“A regulation is not rendered impermissibly vague simply because it calls for a judicial determination of reasonableness.”)). Finally, Judge Bennett concluded that the mandatory language in .§ 1396a(a)(17) “imposes a binding obligation on states choosing to participate in the Medicaid program.” Id. at 964.
In light of the Eleventh Circuit’s' willingness in Doe to find an enforceable federal right in the similar “reasonable promptness” provision of § 1396a(a)(8), the Court finds Judge Bennett’s reasoning persuasive and concludes that plaintiffs have established a rebuttable presumption that their statutory right is enforceable under § 1983. See Doe, 136 F.3d at 718-19. More importantly, defendants have not attempted to rebut this presumption. Accordingly, the Court finds that plaintiffs may attempt to enforce their federal right under § 1396a(a)(17), pursuant to § 1983.
3. Equal access provision, J^2 U.S.C. § 1896a(a)(30)
Title 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(30)(A) requires that a state plan for medical assistance
provide such methods and procedures relating to the utilization of, and the payment for, care and services available under the plan ... as may be necessary to safeguard against unnecessary utilization of such care and services and to assure that payments are consistent with efficiency, economy, and quality of care and are sufficient to enlist enough providers so that care and services are available under the plan at least to the extent that such care and services are available to the general population in the geographic area. ’.
Plaintiffs assert that defendants violate this provision by their “failure to establish reasonable coverage criteria for ACD eligibility; its failure to use a decision maker who has knowledge about SLP and ACD treatment principles, and its failure to make ACD eligibility decisions that are consistent with currently accepted standards of practice.” (Pis.’ Reply Br. [65] at 10.) Plaintiffs contend that this section confers § 1983 jurisdiction. Moreover, plaintiffs cite to several cases which, after applying the three-factor test to determine a federal statute’s enforceability pursuant to § 1983, determined that this section may be enforced by a Medicaid recipient or provider through a § 1983 action. (Pis.’ Reply Br. [65] at 10-11.) Once again, defendants fail to respond to plaintiffs’ contention regarding the enforceability of this statute.
In Arkansas Medical Society, Inc. v. Reynolds, 6 F.3d 519, 528 (8th Cir.1993), a panel of the Eighth Circuit determined that, pursuant to the Supreme Court’s test, the equal access provision was a federal right enforceable under § 1983. First, the panel determined, “The equal access provision is indisputably intended to benefit the recipients by allowing them equivalent access to health care services.” Id. at 526. Second, the panel determined that the mandatory language of the provision, “[a] State plan for medical assistance must,” is sufficient to “create a binding obligation on the state.” Id. (emphasis added)(citing 42 U.S.C. § 1396a). Finally, the panel found that the statute was not too vague and amorphous to enforce a right via § 1983 because of the clear legislative history of the statute which serves to clarify the section. Id. at 527.
Particularly in view of the absence of opposition by defendants to this contention by plaintiff, the Court finds the Eighth Circuit’s reasoning to be persuasive. Accordingly, the Court concludes that plaintiffs have established a rebutta-ble presumption that their statutory right is enforceable under § 1983. See Doe, 136 F.3d at 718-19. As noted supra, defendants have not attempted to rebut this presumption, and as such, the Court determines that plaintiffs may enforce their federal right under § 1396a(a)(17) against defendants pursuant to § 1983.
4. “Amount, duration, and scope” regulation, Jp2 C.F.R. § blp0.230(b)
Title 42 C.F.R. § 440.230(b) provides that “[e]aeh service must be sufficient in amount, duration, and scope to reasonably achieve its purpose.” Plaintiffs contend that because § 1396a(a)(17), the section that § 440.230(b) helps define, confers § 1983 jurisdiction, the regulation may also confer § 1983 jurisdiction. (Pis.’ Reply Br. [65] at 12.) Plaintiffs cite to the Eleventh Circuit case of Harris v. James, 127 F.3d 993 (11th Cir.1997) for this proposition. In a footnote, defendants cite the identical case for the proposition that it is “an open question as to whether federal rights are created by regulations.” (Defs.’ Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. [59] at 25 n. 6.)
In Harris, a panel of the Eleventh Circuit determined that a federal regulation, in conjunction with a statutory provision that creates a federal right under the three-prong test, could create a federal right enforceable under § 1983. Harris, 127 F.3d at 1008-09. Indeed, the panel observed, “Wright [v. Roanoke Redevelopment & Housing Authority, 479 U.S. 418, 423, 107 S.Ct. 766, 93 L.Ed.2d 781 (1987) ] would seem to indicate that so long as the statute itself confers a specific right upon the plaintiff, and a valid regulation merely further defines or fleshes out the content of that right, then the statute-‘in conjunction with the regulation’-may create a federal right as further defined by the regulation.” Id. See also Doe, 136 F.3d at 717 (finding that § 1396a(a)(8) as further fleshed out by its regulations creates federal right to reasonably prompt assistance). In so holding, the panel expressly rejected “the Sixth Circuit’s approaeh-i.e., finding a ‘federal right’ in any regulation that in its own right meets the three-prong ‘federal rights’ test.” Harris, 127 F.3d at 1008.
Accordingly, the Court finds that the regulation itself may not confer a federal right actionable under § 1983. The regulation does, however, “further define the contours of the statutory right” to reasonable standards as enunciated in § 1396a(a)(17). Doe, 136 F.3d at 717. As such, the right to reasonable standards must be defined in the context of its interpretive regulation requiring states to promulgate reasonable standards that ensure that provided services are “sufficient in amount, duration, and scope.” See Smith, 24 F.Supp.2d at 966. Thus, the regulation, while not conferring § 1983 jurisdiction on its own, may be utilized by plaintiffs to define their claim under § 1396a(a)(17).
B. Do ACDs fit into the coverage criteria under the three optional service classifications?
Plaintiffs have persuasively presented a thoroughly researched brief arguing that ACDs meet the coverage criteria of three optional service classifications. Indeed, plaintiffs note that 47 states currently cover ACDs. Moreover, in each of the eighteen cases to have addressed the ACD coverage question, “no final decision has permitted a Medicaid program to exclude ACDs in general, or for any sub-populations of Medicaid recipients.” (Pis.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 21; Pis.’ Affs. [57] at Ex. 9 at ¶¶ 4-26.) Of these cases, four involve federal courts which determined that ACDs must be covered by state Medicaid plans. See Meyers v. Reagan, 776 F.2d 241 (8th Cir.1985); Fred C. v. Texas Health & Human Servs. Comm’n, 988 F.Supp. 1032 (W.D.Tex.1997), aff'd, 167 F.3d 537 (5th Cir.1998); Hunter v. Chiles, 944 F.Supp. 914 (S.D.Fla.1996); and Myers v. Mississippi, No. 3:94-CV-185-LN (S.D. Miss. June 23, 1995).
Defendants, on the other hand, have not addressed plaintiffs’ contentions regarding ACD coverage. Indeed, defendants have had ample opportunity, in either their cross-motion for summary judgment or their sur-reply brief in opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, to address plaintiffs’ contentions, but instead, defendants chose to address the issues of standing, Eleventh Amendment immunity, and their Medicaid-related defense that they have discretion to determine the amount, duration, and scope of coverage. As discussed supra, the Court has rejected defendants’ positions on these issues. In effect, then, the State does not oppose plaintiffs’ contention that ACDs should be covered under Georgia’s plan for medical assistance. In spite of this fact, the Court will briefly discuss plaintiffs’ position.
Plaintiffs contend that ACDs fit into three covered benefit categories. As discussed supra, Georgia has opted to cover these three optional services at issue in this case: home health care services, prosthetic devices, and speech-language pathology services. The Court will address whether ACDs fit into each of these optional service classifications.
1. Home health care services
Plaintiffs assert that ACDs may properly be considered as meeting the criteria for “home health care services.” The Medicaid statute specifically includes “home health care” among the optional services which includes “durable medical equipment.” 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a)(7). The federal regulations explain that this requirement includes, “Medical supplies, equipment, and appliances suitable for use in the home.” 42 C.F.R. § 440.70 (1998). See Fred C., 988 F.Supp. at 1035; Hunter, 944 F.Supp. at 919. “The term durable medical equipment has no federal Medicaid definition.” Fred C., 988 F.Supp. at 1035. GDMA, however, defines the term in its policy manual as items that meet the following criteria:
902.1 The equipment must be appropriate for home use.
902.2 The equipment must be able to withstand repeated use.
902.3 The equipment must be medically necessary.
902.4 The equipment must have a warranty.
(Pls.’ Exs. [56] at Ex. 2 at §§ 902.1-902.4.) Plaintiffs contend that ACDs meet each of these criteria. Defendants do not contradict this contention. (Defs.’ Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. [59] at 28.) Accordingly, the Court finds that ACDs properly meet the criteria for being considered durable medical equipment and must be covered for an otherwise eligible Medicaid recipient who is deemed to have a medical necessity under Georgia Medicaid.
2. Prosthetic devices
Plaintiffs also contend that ACDs may be properly considered a prosthetic device, a service which Georgia has opted to cover under its plan for medical assistance. See 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a)(12). Prosthetic devices are specifically defined in the federal regulations as:
replacement, corrective, or supportive devices prescribed by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts within the scope of his practice as defined by State law to-
il) Artificially replace a missing portion of the body;
(2) Prevent or correct physical deformity or malfunction; or
(3) Support a weak or deformed portion of the body.
42 C.F.R. § 440.120(c) (1998). Plaintiffs argue
ACDs clearly satisfy the second sub-¶ of the federal Medicaid definition. The benefits provided by prosthetic devices are a precise match with those provided by ACDs: ACDs correct physical malfunction by replacing the functions of the brain, nerve pathways, and organs of speech, which when unimpaired, yield intelligible speech.
(Pls.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 27-28.)
Plaintiffs also cite to the district court’s decision in Fred C., in which the court determined that “the ACD is a prosthetic device which should be provided to [plaintiff].” 988 F.Supp. at 1037. Finally, plaintiffs note that numerous HCFA policy letters on ACDs “identify prosthetic devices as one of the possible benefit categories within which they can be classified.” (Pls.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 28 n. 78 & 22 n. 58.)
As defendants do not address plaintiffs’ contention that ACDs meet the criteria for prosthetic devices, it appears as if they do not oppose plaintiffs’ motion in this regard. In addition, the Court finds that plaintiffs have provided ample support for their contention. Accordingly, the Court determines that ACDs are properly considered prosthetic devices and should be covered under Georgia’s plan for medical assistance.
3. Speech-language pathology equipment
Finally, plaintiffs contend that ACDs meet the criteria for coverage as speech-language pathology (hereinafter “SLP”) equipment, a service which Georgia has opted to cover. SLP services are included in the statutory “physical therapy and related services” benefits category. 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a)(ll). The federal regulations define services for individual with speech, hearing, and language disorders as “diagnostic, screening, preventative, or corrective services provided by or under the direction of a speech pathologist, for which a patient is referred by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts.... It includes any necessary supplies and equipment.” 42 C.F.R. § 440.110(c) (1998). Plaintiffs assert that ACDs clearly match the criteria for SLP services, as these services have been recognized in the practice of SLP since 1981. (Pls.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 39.)
Moreover, plaintiffs cite to the Eighth Circuit’s holding in Meyers that the state’s plan for medical assistance was required to provide electronic speech devices under this category of services. See Meyers, 776 F.2d at 244. Finally, plaintiffs note that “HCFA has recognized that ACDs can be equipment within the scope of a therapy service.” (Pls.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 39 & 22 n. 58.)
As defendants do not address plaintiffs’ contention that ACDs meet the criteria for SLP equipment, it appears that they do not oppose plaintiffs’ motion in this regard. In addition, the Court finds that plaintiffs have provided ample support for their contention. Accordingly, the Court determines that ACDs are properly considered SLP equipment and should be covered under Georgia’s plan for medical assistance.
V. Remaining Issues
Accordingly, the Court has determined that ACDs meet the criteria for at least one category of coverage and appear to meet three categories. This determination that ACDs meet the criteria for coverage does not end the Court’s involvement with this case, however. As plaintiffs correctly explain:
Coverage of ACDs is only one of the issues presented in this case. Equally important is that [GDMA] must have reasonable, substantive standards for determining ACD access, and a decision making process for these devices that is consistent with currently accepted standards of SLP and ACD practice. Plaintiffs have asserted that Medicaid must have ACD coverage criteria and a decision maker for ACD funding requests who can review ACD funding requests properly and consistently.
(Pls.’ Reply Br. [65] at 36.) Plaintiffs contend that GDMA has not adopted reasonable standards for ACD coverage.
Defendants admit that they currently do not have standards for ACD coverage. Indeed, in their sur-reply brief, defendants assert that “[s]hould the Court rule in favor of Plaintiffs, the Department, contrary to Plaintiffs!’] assumption, intends to formulate specific criteria for ACD claims.” (Defs.’ Sur-Reply Br. [74] at 3-4.) In a footnote, defendants note that GDMA has developed criteria for the potential handling of ACD claims which “with minor modifications, can be implemented should the Court rule in plaintiffs’ favor.” (Id. at 4 n. 1.) Defendants ask the Court to remand each plaintiffs individual case to the administrative review level 'such that the soon-to-be-developed criteria can be administered. (Id.' at 4.)
Plaintiffs argue that the proposed criteria has at least two potential problems. (Pls.' Resp. to Defs.’ Mot. to File a Reply to Pls.’ Reply Mem. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [77] at 7.) First, plaintiffs contend that the draft criteria limiting ACD coverage to those persons younger than age 21 violates the Medicaid Act’s “reasonable standards provision” and the “amount, duration and scope” regulation. (Id. at 7-8.) To support this contention, plaintiffs cite the district court decisions in Hunter and Fred C., which hold similar restrictions in violation of the Medicaid statutes, and the September 4, 1998 HCFA policy letter, which suggests that restricting ACD coverage to beneficiaries under the age of 21 violates the Medicaid statutes. (Id. at 8.) Second, plaintiffs contend that the draft criteria inappropriately limits ACD coverage to those beneficiaries who are “unable to communicate basic needs.” (Id.) Accordingly, plaintiffs ask the Court to order defendants to adopt their proposed criteria.
Although defendants have not responded to the two specific objections that plaintiffs make to defendants draft proposal, the Court notes that, as with all plaintiffs’ arguments in this litigation, plaintiffs’ objection appears sound. Moreover, although both parties agree that reasonable criteria for ACD coverage must be developed, the parties have not yet agreed as to the proper criteria that should be utilized. The Court is- sympathetic to plaintiffs’ concerns that an already lengthy period of litigation not be unduly stretched to allow defendants a leisurely drafting time period. Indeed, defendants have had a great deal of time already to arrive at an appropriate draft. The Court, however, also understands defendants’ concern that, in addressing coverage for ACDs, it not create a model criterion that would prove too expansive in this or other contexts.
The best procedure appears to be to require Dr. Taylor to use plaintiffs’ draft proposal as a starting point for any specific modifications that he wishes to make. Defendant Dr. Taylor shall offer in writing to plaintiffs any specific objections, and the reasons therefore, as” to the language in plaintiffs’ draft proposal; Dr. Taylor must also offer alternative language as to any portions of plaintiffs’ language with which he disagrees. Defendant Dr. Taylor shall accomplish this within thirty (30) days from the date of this Order. If the parties cannot' come to agreement within twenty (20) days from that date (fifty (50) days from the date of this Order), the Court will schedule a conference in an effort to resolve this matter as expeditiously as possible. The parties shall notify the Court by April 24, 2000 as to whether they have resolved their differences. If a conference is necessary with the Court, it will be scheduled for sometime during the week of May 8, 2000. Before the date of the conference, the Court will consult with counsel to determine what type of written submissions would best enable the Court to referee the disputes.
The Court further notes that by engaging in this cooperative venture, Dr. Taylor is not waiving any appellate rights he may have as to the correctness of the Court’s underlying order that ACDs cannot be categorically excluded from Medicaid coverage. Indeed, the Court hopes that defendant Dr. Taylor will not offer futile objections or insertions to plaintiffs’ proposal that will only serve to extend this process and to try this Court’s patience.
Accordingly, the Court ORDERS Dr. Taylor, within the above deadlines, to develop a criteria for ACD coverage, whether that criteria be a modified version of the criteria attached to defendants’ sur-reply, a modified version of the criteria submitted by plaintiffs, or a blend of the two. Once Dr. Taylor has a criteria in place, whether mandated by the Court or agreed to by defendants, the Court will remand plaintiffs’ Medicaid applications for administrative review. At that time, GDMA will utilize the newly developed ACD standards to determine coverage. Thus, while the Court has granted plaintiffs’ substantive motion for summary judgment and denied defendants’ substantive motion, it reserves ruling on the scope of any injunctive relief to be granted in this case until after the completion of the parties’ efforts to draft a reasonable ACD coverage criteria.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment [56] should be GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE IN PART, plaintiffs’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [58] should be GRANTED, defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment [59] should be DENIED, defendants’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [61] should be GRANTED, plaintiffs’ Motion to Enforce the February 5, 1998 Stipulation and Order [62] should be DENIED, Lawrence “Kirby” H.’s Motion for Summary Judgement [63] should be GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE IN PART, Lawrence “Kirby” H.’s Motion to Intervene [64] should be GRANTED, plaintiffs’ Motion to Exceed Page Limitation [66] should be GRANTED, defendants’ Motion for Authorization to File a Reply to Plaintiffs’ Reply Memorandum in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment [73] should be GRANTED, and defendants’ Motion for Authorization to File a Sur-Reply to Plaintiffs’ Reply Memorandum in Support of Their Motion for Intervention [78] should be GRANTED.
Moreover, the Court ORDERS defendant Dr. Taylor to submit to plaintiffs in writing any specific objections that he has identified in the language of plaintiffs’ draft proposal; Dr. Taylor must also offer alternative language as to any portions of plaintiffs’ language with which he disagrees. Dr. Taylor shall accomplish this within thirty (30) days from the date of this Order. If the parties cannot come to agreement within twenty (20) days from that date (fifty (50) days from the date of this Order), the Court will schedule a conference in an effort to resolve this matter as expeditiously as possible. The parties shall notify the Court by April 24, 2000 as to whether they have resolved their differences. If a conference is necessary with the Court, it will be scheduled for the week of May 8, 2000. The Court will issue a final Order delineating the scope of any injunctive relief to be granted at a later date.
SO ORDERED.
. Originally, the named plaintiffs were a child, William T., and two adults, Lynne B. and Martha Faye A. In the first amended complaint, an additional child, Kaitlin C., was added as a named plaintiff. Prior to the Court's consideration of plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction, the Court dismissed the case without prejudice to allow the parties to discuss settlement. (Order [22] at 1-2.) Although the parties entered into a stipulation regarding the original plaintiffs, the parties could not totally agree, and the case was reopened with the parties agreeing on several new plaintiffs to continue this lawsuit. (Stipulation & Order [29] at 2-3.)
. See 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a)(7), (a)(11), & (a)(12) and 42 C.F.R. §§ 440.70, 440.110, & 440.120.
. Defendants contend that Kirby H. failed to file a pleading setting forth his claims. (Defs.’ Resp. to Kirby H.’s Mot. to Intervene [71] at 2.) Although it is true that Kirby H. failed to attach a complaint to the motion to intervene, he corrected this error by attaching a proposed complaint with an explanation of his claims to his reply brief. (Kirby H.’s Reply Br. [75] at Ex. A.) Moreover, in this particular case, defendants, who originally denied Kirby H. an ACD and then subsequently affirmed this denial in an administrative hearing, knew exactly what Kirby H.’s claims were and that Kirby H.’s claims are exactly the same as the remainder of the plaintiffs' claims.
. The nonmoving party may meet its burden through affidavit and deposition testimony, answers to interrogatories, and the like. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. Plaintiffs also bring the suit against GDMA. The Ex parte Young exception, as explained infra note 6, does not apply to a state agency, however, and as such, the Court DISMISSES GDMA as a separate defendant in this case.
. Defendants argue at length that the Ex parte Young exception should not apply in this case. The Ex Parte Young exception is a qualification to the general rule that Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity bars suits brought against a state by a state’s own citizens and bars suits brought against a state premised on federal questions. See Idaho v. Coeur d’Alene Tribe, 521 U.S. 261, 269, 117 S.Ct. 2028, 138 L.Ed.2d 438 (1997). Under this exception, the Supreme Court has recognized that plaintiffs may maintain certain suits seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against state officers in their individual capacities as long as plaintiffs properly allege a “continuing violation of federal law.” Id. See also Alden v. Maine, 527 U.S. 706, 119 S.Ct. 2240, 2263, 144 L.Ed.2d 636 (1999) and Seminole Tribe, 517 U.S. at 73, 116 S.Ct. 1114.
Specifically, defendants contend that the Ex Parte Young exception should not apply because Congress, in the Medicaid statute, has enacted a remedial scheme, allowing rejected Medicaid applicants the opportunity for a full and fair hearing before the state agency. (Def.'s Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. [59] at 15-16.) The remedial scheme, defendants contend, also permits an unsuccessful Medicaid applicant to appeal an administrative agency’s adverse decision and provides for procedural safeguards throughout the appeals process. (Id. at 16-17.) In Seminole Tribe, the Court found that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act contained a remedial scheme that provided the exclusive remedy for a tribe’s enforcement of the act, thereby barring the tribe’s federal lawsuit even though the tribe only sought prospective injunctive relief pursuant to the Ex parte Young exception to the Eleventh Amendment. 517 U.S. at 75-76, 116 S.Ct. 1114. The Court held that "where Congress has prescribed a detailed remedial scheme for the enforcement against a State of a statutorily created right, a court should hesitate before casting aside those limitations and permitting an action against a state officer based upon Ex parte Young.” Id. at 74, 116 S.Ct. 1114.
Defendants have not, however, been able to point to any case where a court refused to allow a plaintiff to bring suit for prospective injunctive relief under the Medicaid act pursuant to the Ex parte Young doctrine. Indeed, plaintiffs correctly cite an Eleventh Circuit decision that specifically rejected a state’s Eleventh Amendment defense to a claim to enforce the Medicaid provisions through the issuance of prospective injunctive relief. See Doe v. Chiles, 136 F.3d 709, 719-21 (11th Cir.1998). In addition, plaintiffs have cited several cases where other courts have specifically permitted plaintiffs to sue to redress a state official’s policy to grant Medicaid coverage to a class of individuals. See Fred C. v. Texas Health & Human Servs. Com'n, 988 F.Supp. 1032 (W.D.Tex.1997), aff'd, 167 F.3d 537 (5th Cir.1998) and Hunter v. Chiles, 944 F.Supp. 914, 916 (S.D.Fla.1996). In light of this showing, the Court is unpersuaded by defendants' argument and finds that the Ex parte Young exception should apply to plaintiffs' claims.
. Defendants make a similar, but more explicitly bold, contention that simply because the services at issue in this case fall into the optional services, as opposed to the required services, the state is permitted to deviate from the federal regulations regarding the provision of that service whenever the State wishes. The Eleventh Circuit has recently reiterated that “when a state elects to provide an optional service, that service becomes part of the state Medicaid plan and is subject to requirements of federal law.” Doe v. Chiles, 136 F.3d 709, 713 (11th Cir.1998)(quoting Tallahassee Memorial Reg. Ctr. v. Cook, 109 F.3d 693, 698 (11th Cir.1997)(per curiam)).
. See Alexander v. Choate, 469 U.S. 287, 309, 105 S.Ct. 712, 83 L.Ed.2d 661 (1985)(finding that Tennessee’s limitations on number of days of hospital coverage does not "deny the handicapped access to or exclude them from the particular package of Medicaid services Tennessee has chosen to provide”); Ellis v. Patterson, 859 F.2d 52, 54-55 (8th Cir.1988)(finding that, in general, states may not automatically deny necessary medical service to Medicaid recipient but that organ transplants may be properly excluded from coverage pursuant to special statute specifically addressing organ transplant coverage); Sandefur v. Cherry, 718 F.2d 682, 684 (5th Cir.l983)(suit by optometrists challenging Medicaid statute's distinction regarding reimbursement to optometrists as being less than the reimbursement to ophthalmologists); Charleston Memorial Hosp. v. Conrad, 693 F.2d 324, 329 (4th Cir.1982) (suit by hospital challenging reduction of number of covered days permitted per year); and Curtis v. Taylor, 625 F.2d 645, 652 (5th Cir.l980)(finding that Florida could legally limit the number of doctor's visits per month as this restriction did not "single out for unique treatment” a particular medical treatment and pursuant to Florida's plan "[a]ll medical conditions are treated equally”). See also Warr v. Horsley, 705 F.Supp. 540 (M.D.Ala.1989); Virginia Hosp. Assoc. v. Kenley, 427 F.Supp. 781 (E.D.Va.1977); and D.C. Podiatry Society v. District of Columbia, 407 F.Supp. 1259 (D.D.C.1975).
.In general, plaintiffs cite cases dealing with states’ attempts to refuse or limit the funding of abortions. Courts have consistently held that states must, determine that abortions should not be funded due to the fact that they are not medically necessary on a case-by-case basis and cannot categorically deny coverage for all abortions or limit the coverage to only those abortions necessary to save the mother's life. See Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Mich. v. Engler, 73 F.3d 634, 638 (6th Cir.1996); Hope Med. Group for Women v. Edwards, 63 F.3d 418, 427 (5th Cir.1995); Elizabeth Blackwell Health Ctr. for Women v. Knoll, 61 F.3d 170 (3d Cir.1995); Little Rock Family Planning Serv., P.A. v. Dalton, 60 F.3d 497 (8th Cir.1995); Hern v. Beye, 57 F.3d 906 (10th Cir.1995); and Preterm, Inc. v. Dukakis, 591 F.2d 121 (1st Cir.1979).
. This case is binding on the Court. See Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir.1981)(en banc)(adopting as binding precedent all of the decisions of the former Fifth Circuit handed down prior to the close of business on September 30, 1981).
. As mentioned supra and discussed more thoroughly infra, this class of services is one of the classes of services that plaintiffs contend ACDs fall into.
. This Court is somewhat skeptical about according a letter the same deference as a regulation. In this Court's experience, letters written by officials in a bureaucracy are sometimes inconsistent with each other and have not undergone the focus of a review and comment process that accompanies the promulgation of a regulation. Chevron’s deference toward an administrative agency’s interpretation already gives that agency great power in effectively acting as a legislative body; further deferring to the agency's letters interpreting its own regulations arguably expands Chevron beyond its own language and beyond the limits of prudence. Indeed, the Eleventh Circuit has noted that “a rule would be preferable,” but has also tempered this observation with a recognition that "the agency is not required to promulgate rules pursuant to every subsection of the widely-acknowledged complex Medicaid statute.” Georgia Dept. of Med. Assist. v. Shalala, 8 F.3d 1565, 1571 n. 8 (1994). The Eleventh Circuit has further held that this is especially true when "HCFA spoke directly to the states on this question through [a transmittal], which we recognize as administrative practice.” Id. Accordingly, the Court believes that it must defer to the transmittal letter in question.
. In Thiboutot, the Supreme Court read the language of § 1983, which allows a right of action for the deprivation of any rights “secured by the Constitution and laws,” to include violations of rights secured by federal statute. In his dissent, Justice Powell, joined by Chief Justice Burger and Justice Relinquish argued vehemently that Congress had not intended to provide a new remedy for violations of all federal statutes — or, for that matter, recovery of attorney’s fees — and that such an expansive reading of the statute would have far-reaching effects. Thiboutot, 448 U.S. at 11-12, 100 S.Ct. 2502 (Powell, J„ dissenting). He expressed concern that this holding would "dramatically expand the liability of state and local officials” and might "virtually eliminate the 'American Rule' in suits against those officials.” Id. at 12, 100 S.Ct. 2502. Justice Powell further noted that § 1983 claims were already being "appended to complaints solely for the purpose of obtaining fees in actions where 'civil rights' of any kind are at best an afterthought.” Id. at 11-12, 24, 100 S.Ct. 2502. He concluded that the majority’s decision "significantly expands the concept of 'civil rights’ and creates a major new intrusion into state sovereignty under our federal system.” Id. at 33, 100 S.Ct. 2502. Nearly twenty years later, it is all too clear that Justice Powell's predictions were well-founded. Litigation under § 1983 proliferates throughout federal dockets around the country.
. This inquiry involves a shifting burden of proof. "Even if a plaintiff demonstrates that a federal statute creates an individual right, there is only a rebuttable presumption that the right is enforceable under § 1983. Because our inquiry focuses on congressional intent, dismissal is proper if Congress 'specifically foreclosed a remedy under § 1983.' Congress may do so expressly, by forbidding recourse to § 1983 in the statute itself, or impliedly, by creating a comprehensive enforcement scheme that is incompatible with individual enforcement under § 1983.” Blessing, 520 U.S. at 341, 117 S.Ct. 1353 (citation omitted) (quoting Smith v. Robinson, 468 U.S. 992, 1005, n. 9, 104 S.Ct. 3457, 82 L.Ed.2d 746 (1984)). See also Livadas v. Bradshaw, 512 U.S. 107, 133, 114 S.Ct. 2068, 129 L.Ed.2d 93 (1994).
. In their opening brief, plaintiffs explain that GDMA misuses the "payer of last resort” or "third party liability” theories to deny those who apply for ACDs speedy access to ACDs by issuing “a determination that other agencies are responsible to provide funding for ACDs.” (Pis.' Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 43-46.) Moreover, plaintiffs explain that GDMA will not cover ACDs for those dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, as GDMA requires that those eligible must first file with Medicare before Medicaid will even consider their applications. {Id. at 48.) Plaintiffs contend that this creates an impossible situation for those applying for ACDs, as Medicare, being a cost-reimbursement program, requires delivery of the device prior to reimbursement. As such, those is need of ACDs who cannot afford them cannot receive ACDs promptly. (Id.)
. In their reply brief, plaintiffs admit that “[a]s a general matter, Plaintiffs' claims under Section 1396a(a)(17) overlap with those related to Section 1396a(a)(30).” (Pis.’ Reply Br. [65] at 10.)
. See Visiting Nurse Ass’n. of North Shore, Inc. v. Bullen, 93 F.3d 997, 1004 (1st Cir.1996); Methodist Hosps., Inc. v. Sullivan, 91 F.3d 1026 (7th Cir.1996); Arkansas Med. Soc’y, Inc. v. Reynolds, 6 F.3d 519 (8th Cir.1993); Moody Emerg. Med. Serv., Inc. v. City of Millbrook, 967 F.Supp. 488 (M.D.Ala.1997); and Fulkerson v. Commissioner, Me. Dep’t of Human S ervs., 802 F.Supp. 529 (D.Me.1992).
. Plaintiffs note that Georgia and Hawaii are the only states to actively deny coverage for ACDs. Litigation is pending in each state challenging the denials. The other state, Rhode Island, has not had the opportunity to address this issue at this time. (Pis.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 21 & n. 54.)
. See infra n. 22 (identifying the single argument that defendants make in opposition to classifying an ACD within the category of home health care).
. See 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a)(7), (a)(ll), & (a)(12) and 42 C.F.R. §§ 440.70, 440.110, & 440.120.
. Indeed, plaintiffs note that 24 states currently classify ACDs as durable medical equipment, a subclass of home health care services. (Pis.' Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 23.)
. Defendants make the odd argument that ACDs do not fit into the definition of home health services because ACDs can also be used outside the home as well. (Defs.' Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. [59] at 30.) Defendants cannot point to any federal regulation or section in its policy manual that adds the requirement that medical equipment must only be utilized in the home to qualify for coverage, however. This is so because, as defendants concede, other items, such as wheelchairs or artificial larynxes, are covered as durable medical equipment even though they can be utilized outside the home. {Id.)
. Indeed, plaintiffs note that fifteen other states currently classify ACDs as prosthetic devices. (Pls.' Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 28 n. 79.)
. Plaintiffs note that three states, California, Oregon, and Minnesota all classify ACDs within this service classification. (Pis.’ Br. in Sup. of Mot. for Summ. J. [56] at 38 n. 102.)
. Defendants, in a brief submitted in response to plaintiffs’ concerns regarding the newly drafted criteria, admit that they must make "minor modifications to the criteria” before putting them into effect. (Defs.' Reply to Pl.’s Resp. to Defs.' Mot. for Auth. to File a Reply [85] at 2.)
. Given the fact that defendants already cover artificial larynxes under Medicaid and that 47 states cover ACDs, however, the drafting process by defendants should not be that daunting.
.By setting this deadline, the Court does not wish to discourage informal, oral colloquies between the parties before that deadline in an effort to get this matter resolved.
. The Court notes that plaintiffs are concerned about having a qualified person act as a consultant for all ACD requests. Plaintiffs raise this concern because they allege that in making determinations regarding funding for ACDs, defendants have previously used an individual with no prior speech-language pathology training. Although the Court is uncertain whether it would ultimately order GDMA to utilize such an individual, it notes that the employment of a speech-language pathologists to consult with GDMA or to act as the final decisionmaker could well serve the interests of both parties. As plaintiffs explain, GDMA utilizes consultants on a regular basis to aid in funding determinations and other tasks. Further, plaintiffs assert that other states regularly employ consultants and speech-language pathologists to act as deci-sionmakers for ACD funding requests. While such issues as the use of a particular kind of consultant might not be embodied in a permanent written policy, these issues are appropriate for discussion between the parties.
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CASELAW
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SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online
vol.23 issue9Current status of human rabies transmitted by dogs in Latin AmericaMoral and operational challenges for the inclusion of palliative care in primary health care author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Page
Cadernos de Saúde Pública
Print version ISSN 0102-311X
Abstract
BISMARCK-NASR, Elizabeth Maria; FRUTUOSO, Maria Fernanda Petroli and GAMBARDELLA, Ana Maria Dianezi. The correlation between birth weight index and excess weight in young individuals. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2007, vol.23, n.9, pp. 2064-2071. ISSN 0102-311X. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2007000900014.
Identification of modifiable risk factors for obesity has proven crucial for its prevention, for example inadequate intrauterine growth. The current study verified the relationship between nutritional status at birth and overweight in youth. A total of 287 individuals were evaluated, with a mean age of 15.2 years (SD 1.4). Nutritional status at birth was based on the birth weight index, and current status was based on BMI, waist circumference, and body composition. In boys there was a positive association between weight index and overweight (p = 0.05) and excess abdominal fat (p = 0.04). For girls, there was a negative association between weight index and length at birth (p = 0.00) and amount of muscle mass (p = 0.01). Girls with lower weight index presented a higher amount of total body and abdominal fat, while those with higher weight index presented lower final height (p = 0.09). The results suggest that individuals with extreme weight indices are at risk for future obesity, especially at the upper extreme for males and the lower extreme for females.
Keywords : Adolescent; Overweight; Ponderal Index.
· abstract in Portuguese · text in Portuguese · Portuguese (pdf) Portuguese (epdf)
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Supporting Children Through Vaccinations (an article for the public and practitioners)
July 11, 2019
This article is purely educational and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice and treatment.
This article is focused on what Chinese Medicine has to offer anyone who is about to receive vaccinations, and will focus on two key areas: understanding the body’s immune functions from a Chinese Medicine perspective, and how to support the body to receive a vaccination, learn from it, and have the least amount of injurious side effects possible.
Vaccination can be a big decision for families, and a cause of stress and concern for many parents. This article is not about the choice to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, the science behind both arguments, or the politics and public health concerns on both sides of the issue.
Chinese Medicine has thousands of years of history of continued practice, and has been dealing with individual and public health crises since its beginning. Through the countless generations of practitioners, we have come to understand the body’s defenses in a number of ways.
Chinese Medicine physiology focuses on function and relationships, as much as form. With this in mind, we don’t look at the ‘immune system’ as a ‘thing,’ but immune function as a process. How does the body stay in relationship to the world, but protect itself from dangerous influences? This is the functioning of the Wei Qi, sometimes called the “Defensive Qi.” Chinese Medicine is clear that a key component of being healthy is having an interactive relationship with the world, being strong internally, and resilient in the face of forces that can throw off the delicate dynamic balance of the body and mind.
In Chinese Medical thinking, everything exists in a dynamic Yin-Yang relationship. The active externally-directed (more-yang) Wei Qi exists in relationship with the internally-circulating (more-yin) Ying Qi that nourishes growth and development. The Ying Qi serves to support the Wei Qi and the relationship between Wei Qi and Ying Qi is an integral component in living a physically, emotionally, and socially healthy life.
The Wei Qi has a presence everywhere in the body, but circulates primarily on the exterior, like an army protecting the border. Like a border patrol, it is constantly screening anything that comes our way, and when it perceives threats, the defenses are mounted. When we fight a pathogen it’s called “getting sick," which is also the mechanism by which the body learns how to defend against a pathogen it perceives as dangerous. Sometimes the defense system thinks the body itself is the threat it will direct its attack towards internal tissues, organs, etc. This is called auto-immunity.
Cutting edge understanding of our immune system recognizes that immune cells have evolved as part of a broader system known as the Neuro-Gastro-Immune Complex involved in learning and memory. (1) This relationship is something Chinese medicine has recognized for centuries, specifically within the Ying Qi-Wei Qi relationship.
Vaccines are injections that intentionally try to teach the body’s defenses to recognize and remember a dangerous pathogen. In fact, there is historic evidence of inoculation against smallpox in the Chinese medical literature dating back to the Ming dynasty. (2) In modern vaccines, the pathogen is altered in ways that inactivate (killed) or weaken (live-attenuated) it. When injected into the body, there is a clear message being sent to the body: see this pathogen, identify it as dangerous, defeat it, and remember what it looks like and learn how to fight it, in case you see it again.
When we look at epidemic febrile diseases (diseases that cause fevers) in Chinese Medicine, we often work with a system of immune functioning called ”Wen Bing.” The Wen Bing School emerged during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties to address epidemics that were caused by “pestilence qi” (li qi) which were sweeping across China (and Europe). One of these such diseases was Measles.
The Wen Bing approach looks at how the body defends itself against exterior pathogenic forces (like viruses and bacteria) and then displays a predictable pattern of symptoms as the pathogen ‘moves deeper into the body.’ These pathogens are often infectious, spread quickly among people, and cause drastic responses from the body’s defenses: fevers, rapid sequential changes of symptoms, and potentially permanent damage or death from the experience of interacting with the pathogen. This theory has been tested and practiced for nearly 400 years and continues to be an accurate description of how to manage febrile diseases playing out in children and adults. The goal in medical treatment in response to illness is to contain and expel the pathogen, while nourishing the body through and after the difficult fight.
In normal circumstances, the body ‘sees the threat coming’ from the exterior. This would be equated with the exterior parts of the body interacting with the disease first: the skin, nose, mucosa, etc. Typically, most epidemic diseases spread through the air, saliva, food or water.
Vaccines bypass the normal ‘exterior’ of the body, introducing an altered form of the pathogen directly into the muscle or subcutaneous tissue, in order to activate the immune system into a response and create a lasting memory of the encounter. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the muscles and subcutaneous tissue is at a ‘deeper level’ than the skin, nose, etc. This calls the Wei Qi to fight an invasion that has been implanted within the body, not its ‘normal trajectory’ of entering through the exterior. One concern from a Chinese Medicine perspective is that this is not the terrain where the immune response and the fight against the pathogen normally begins, so the process of defense will be inherently different. One concern if the body does not properly learn how to resolve the conflict, is that the inflammatory process can be held in latency after the exposure, resulting in what Chinese Medicine calls a ‘Lingering Pathogenic Factor,” which can cause “Latent Heat” and a variety of other complications. Another concern is the body’s defenses recognizing its own tissues as the source of the pathogen, creating a situation where the body becomes programed to fight against itself. These two processes often coexist and are two potential side-effects that Chinese Medicine’s support can try to prevent.
If you were going to pick a fight with a potentially dangerous adversary, you would want that fight to be rigged as much as possible. Vaccines do this by weakening the pathogens (either injecting dead or weakened viral material) themselves. But, there are things people can do to go further using Chinese Medical treatment strategies and time-tested methods to strengthen the person’s Ying-Wei relationship, prepare them for the ‘invasion’ of a pathogen, and to set the terms for remembering the encounter as best as possible.
A successful experience with a vaccine can be defined as: quickly eliminating the pathogen, acquiring immunity (memory), and having no damaging side effects from the experience. In the case of vaccinations, we know the fight is coming, so we can prepare as best as possible by choosing some parameters to ready the body for the encounter.
To make sure the person who is about to receive the vaccine is prepared to deal with it, ideally we’d like to see a few pre-conditions met, in order to best set the person up for success.
The pre-conditions for receiving a vaccine are (in order of importance):
• The bowels are moving: if the person is not having regular bowel movements, they can not cleanse and detoxify the body.
• The patient is not actively sick and fighting something else: it’s hard enough having one fight; that should be the focus. Once they’re not sick and recovered, then they can take on something else.
• The patient is well rested and not jet-lagged: a person should be emotionally grounded, stable, and ready to take on what is about to happen in their body.
What follows are the Chinese Medicine treatment principles that we have found over many years of practice help prepare the body for the encounter. It is of utmost importance to note that every patient is unique. These principles need to be seen as a tool box rather than a protocol. A practitioner’s intimate understanding of their patient will determine the best way forward and this builds lasting trust that is one of the keys to healing.
In the days before: begin preparing for vaccination encounter with healthy diet, herbs, and lifestyle preparations. We want to support the Wei Qi through the Ying Qi by eating nourishing foods, getting good rest, and preparing the body and mind to interact with the pathogen. The treatment principles for the vaccination support are threefold:
1. Prepare the Ying Level for the encounter with the pathogen: make sure that it is open and vented so that the pathogen does not linger here.
2. Prepare the Liver and Large Intestine for detoxifying the body from any of the additional ingredients in the vaccine and the pathogen itself.
3. Support the overall alignment of body-mind-spirit, represented by the Jing-Shen (Kidney-Heart) relationship.
The day before or the day of vaccination: acupuncture, essential oil, homeopathy, herbs and rest. If available, acupuncture on the day before or day of vaccination to prepare and fortify the body’s defenses at multiple levels of defense.
The week(s) after: herbs and lifestyle. Continuing with the herbs to harmonize the Ying Level and resting and eating as if you are sick. Vaccines are engineered in such a way to induce a subclinical level of inflammation. Treat the body with the rest and easily digested foods you normally would eat if you were sick.
Follow-up is just as important as preparation. If side effects from the vaccine occur, like fever, swelling, behavior changes, etc, know that these are signs the body is actively fighting the virus. These are positive, but sometimes alarming signs. Chinese Medicine practitioners can support a person using acupuncture during these times. If symptoms are prolonged or progress to deeper levels, it is important to seek support from a medical expert. The goal is to avoid a condition of latency where the inflammation process has not completely resolved.
Chinese Medicine embraces complexity rather than running away from it. There are no guarantees in life when interacting with pathogens. Vaccines are designed to intentionally have the body interact with pathogens in order to learn how to develop protection.
The intention in sharing this article is to support practitioners so that they can support families to be as prepared as possible for the experience.
- - -
Stephen Cowan and Moshe Heller have a combined fifty years of clinical experience and are the co-founders of JingShen Pediatrics, a teaching collective that brings together the world’s leading experts to teach practitioners about Pediatric Acupuncture. For more information, please visit JingShenPediatrics.com to learn about their upcoming training, the 2020 JingShen Pediatric Certificate Course, a 100-hour training and mentorship program. There will be an AAC Facebook Live event dedicated to this topic on Wednesday, July 31st at 1pm EST. There is a Vaccination Support ToolKit for Acupuncturists available on JingShenPediatrics.com
(1) Fundamentals of Neurogastroenterology: Basic Science 2017 Gastroenterology. : S0016-5085(16)00184-0.
(2) Needham, Joseph. "Part 6, Medicine." Science and Civilization in China: Volume 6, Biology and Biological Technology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 134.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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1547 in France
Events from the year 1547 in France
Incumbents
* Monarch – Francis I (until March 31), then Henry II
Events
* 31 March – Francis I of France dies, and Henry II is the new King of France
Full date missing
* Jacques Rabelais, writer and scholar (died c.1622)
Deaths
* 31 March – Francis I of France (born 1494)
Full date missing
* Louise de Montmorency, noblewoman (born 1496)
* Marie of Luxembourg, Countess of Vendôme, princess (born c.1472))
* Lazare de Baïf, diplomat and humanist (born 1496)
* François Vatable, humanist scholar, Hellenist and Hebraist
* André de Foix, military officer (born 1490)
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WIKI
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Alcohol and Amoxicillin - Is It Safe to Drink While Taking Antibiotics?
Alcohol and Amoxicillin – Is It Safe to Drink While Taking Antibiotics?
Antibiotics are a group of medications that can help treat infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing the infective organism – or by stopping the pathogens from reproducing.
Like most drugs, it can interact with other medications, food, and alcohol, of course. If you are thinking of drinking liquor while you are on antibiotics – specifically Amoxicillin – then the information below should you decide whether it’s a good idea or not.
What is Amoxicillin?
What is Amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that works by stopping bacterial growth. It is a type of penicillin, an antibiotic derived from the penicillium fungi. Though this type of drug was already discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, it took more than a decade before it was officially used to treat infections.
Currently, Amoxicillin is used to deal with the following conditions:
• Pneumonia, an inflammation of the air sacs
• Bronchitis, an infection of the airways
• Ear, nose, or throat infections
• Skin infections
• Urinary tract infections
Amoxicillin comes in various forms. They include capsules, tablets, chewable tablets, extended-release tablets, and powder for suspension.
Side Effects
Like most drugs, Amoxicillin intake bears some side effects. The most common complaints are the following:
• Nervous system: taste changes, headaches
• Psychiatric: anxiety, sleeping difficulties, confusion, behavior changes, agitation, hallucinations
• Immunologic: allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• Hematologic: low red blood cell count (anemia), low white blood cell count (leukopenia), other changes in lab results
• Metabolic: low potassium levels (hypokalemia)
• Respiratory: difficulty of breathing, airway narrowing (bronchospasms)
• Gastrointestinal: nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea
• Genitourinary: fungal infection in females (vulvovaginal mycotic infection)
• Dermatologic: rashes (exanthema), redness (erythema)
• Musculoskeletal: joint pain (arthralgia)
• Infections: Candidiasis and other fungal problems
How to Take Amoxicillin
The key to treating your infection is to take your antibiotics (such as Amoxicillin) accordingly. You need to take the prescribed dose at the times/intervals recommended by your physician.
If you are prescribed with an Amoxicillin oral suspension, make sure to shake the bottle well. Make it a point to measure your dose with a medicine cup or any calibrated item in your home. You can store your medication in the fridge afterward, but only for 2 weeks. Otherwise, you need to discard it and get a new one.
Amoxicillin comes in various tablet forms, and as such should be taken according to manufacturer specifications. Chewable tablets should, of course, be chewed. They are in contrast to the usual capsules, tablets, especially the extended-release form. You should not chew or crush these types of pills. Take it whole, as it is.
You can take your antibiotics with or without food, depending on the brand/type of Amoxicillin you are taking. Check the leaflet/insert for the important details.
Most importantly, avoid skipping doses or discontinuing your medications abruptly should you ‘feel better.’ This will make you more vulnerable to worse types of infections.
Useful Tips and Precautions
Before you start taking Amoxicillin, you need to consult with your doctor if you have any of the following: penicillin or other food/drug allergies, kidney disease, antibiotic-related diarrhea, or mononucleosis (kissing disease). If you are pregnant or planning to become one, you need to tell your physician as well.
Amoxicillin can interact with certain drugs, so you need to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the Cephalosporins (Ceftin, Cefzil, Omnicef, etc.)
It can lessen the effectiveness of birth control pills as well. As such, you need to make use of other methods, such as a condom or diaphragm, while you are taking the said antibiotic.
Amoxicillin can also affect the action of some drugs, such as that of allopurinol, probenecid, blood thinners, and other antibiotics. Herbal products and vitamins may affect the drug’s performance as well, so you need to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the aforementioned meds and supplements.
Can I Drink Alcohol While on Amoxicillin?
While alcohol has no untoward interaction with Amoxicillin, UK’s National Health Services believes it best to avoid drinking while taking the said drug. Consuming alcohol is generally discouraged in someone who is fighting an infection for these reasons:
1. It may get in the way of the body’s natural healing process.
Alcohol use can impair your immunity, which is bad news because the body is already under the stress as it battles an infection. According to a study by Trevejo-Nunez et al., alcohol can impair the absorption of zinc, a mineral that strengthens the immune system. It can also lead to lower numbers of natural killer cells, which are vital in controlling the microbial infections in the body. Because of these effects, alcohol can retard recovery – even if you’re already taking Amoxicillin for your infection.
2. Alcohol drinking may lead to dehydration.
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it can eliminate water from the body at a faster rate. Such can lead to dehydration, which can be bad if you have an infection – even if you’re taking Amoxicillin to cure it. According to Popkin et al., a dehydrated state can take a toll on the kidneys since they need to expend more energy to become more efficient. Such can be a barrier to healing. The wasted energy could have been used by the body for the more important recuperation process.
3. It may interrupt your sleeping patterns.
While alcohol can make you feel drowsy right away, the National Sleep Foundation states that it can actually lead to poor sleep quality. It can block REM sleep, which best rejuvenates the body. To wit, alcohol can bring about poor and inadequate sleep that can further impair your immunity.
Insomnia is also a common side effect of amoxicillin. Drinking liquor can further complicate the situation. It is vital to get some sleep, especially if you are suffering from an infection. While amoxicillin is good in fighting bacteria, it needs the help of a good immune system to be able to combat pathogens effectively.
In a Nutshell
Amoxicillin is a drug that can kill and stop the reproduction of bacteria. It is useful in a variety of diseases, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, to name a few. While it does not interact with alcohol, it is best if the latter is not taken with Amoxicillin. After all, alcohol can lead to certain body changes that can get in the way of antibiotic treatment.
Latest posts by Raychel Ria Agramon, BSN, RN, MPM (see all)
What do you think? Please share your thoughts.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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CMSC 477/677 Overview
ghostslimΤεχνίτη Νοημοσύνη και Ρομποτική
23 Φεβ 2014 (πριν από 4 χρόνια και 4 μήνες)
276 εμφανίσεις
Multi
-
Agent Systems:
Overview and Research Directions
CMSC 477/677
Spring 2005
Prof. Marie desJardins
2
Outline
Agent Architectures
Logical
Cognitive
Reactive
Theories of Mind
Multi
-
Agent Systems
Cooperative multi
-
agent systems
Competitive multi
-
agent systems
Agent Architectures
4
Agent Architectures
Logical Architectures
Cognitive Architectures
Reactive Architectures
Theories of Mind
5
Logical Architectures
Formal models of reasoning and agent interaction
GOLOG*: Logic programming language
BDI Models: Explicitly model beliefs, desires, and intentions
of agents
6
Cognitive Architectures
Computational models of human cognition
ACT
-
R*, Soar*: Production rule architectures, very human
-
inspired
PRODIGY*: Planning
-
centric architecture, focused on
learning, less human
-
inspired
APEX*: “Sketchy planning;” focus on human performance
in multitasking, action selection, resource limitations
7
Reactive Architectures
Perceive and react (a.k.a. “Representation,
schmepresentation!”)
Brooks: The original reactivist
PENGI: Reactive video game player
AuRA: Hybrid deliberative/reactive robot architecture
8
Theories of Mind
Forays into philosophy and cognitive psychology
Society of Mind (Minsky): The brain is a collection of
autonomous agents, all working in harmony
Emotion: Do we need emotions to behave like humans, or
to interact with humans?
Consciousness: What is it? Where does it come from? Will
our AIs ever have it?
9
Multi
-
Agent Systems
10
Multi
-
agent systems
Jennings et al.’s key properties:
Situated
Autonomous
Flexible:
Responsive to dynamic environment
Pro
-
active / goal
-
directed
Social interactions with other agents and humans
Research questions: How do we design agents to
interact
effectively
to solve a wide range of problems in many
different environments?
11
Aspects of multi
-
agent systems
Cooperative vs. competitive
Homogeneous vs. heterogeneous
Macro vs. micro
Interaction protocols and languages
Organizational structure
Mechanism design / market economics
Learning
12
Topics in multi
-
agent systems
Cooperative MAS:
Distributed problem solving: Less autonomy
Distributed planning: Models for cooperation and teamwork
Competitive or self
-
interested MAS:
Distributed rationality: Voting, auctions
Negotiation: Contract nets
13
Typical (cooperative) MAS domains
Distributed sensor network establishment
Distributed vehicle monitoring
Distributed delivery
14
Cooperative Multi
-
Agent Systems
15
Distributed problem solving/planning
Cooperative agents, working together to solve
complex problems with local information
Partial Global Planning (PGP): A planning
-
centric
distributed architecture
SharedPlans: A formal model for joint activity
Joint Intentions: Another formal model for joint activity
STEAM: Distributed teamwork; influenced by joint
intentions and SharedPlans
16
Distributed problem solving
Problem solving in the classical AI sense, distributed
among multiple agents
That is, formulating a solution/answer to some complex question
Agents may be heterogeneous or homogeneous
DPS implies that agents must be cooperative (or, if self
-
interested,
then rewarded for working together)
17
Competitive Multi
-
Agent Systems
18
Distributed rationality
Techniques to encourage/coax/force
self
-
interested agents to play fairly in the sandbox
Voting
: Everybody’s opinion counts (but how much?)
Auctions
: Everybody gets a chance to earn value (but how to do it
fairly?)
Contract nets
: Work goes to the highest bidder
Issues
:
Global utility
Fairness
Stability
Cheating and lying
19
Pareto optimality
S is a Pareto
-
optimal solution iff
S’ (
x U
x
(S’) > U
x
(S)
y U
y
(S’) < U
y
(S))
i.e., if X is better off in S’, then some Y must be worse off
Social welfare, or global utility, is the sum of all agents’ utility
If S maximizes social welfare, it is also Pareto
-
optimal (but not vice
versa)
X’s utility
Y’s utility
Which solutions
are Pareto
-
optimal?
Which solutions
maximize global utility
(social welfare)?
20
Stability
If an agent can always maximize its utility with a particular
strategy (regardless of other agents’ behavior) then that
strategy is
dominant
A set of agent strategies is in
Nash equilibrium
if each
agent’s strategy S
i
is locally optimal, given the other agents’
strategies
No agent has an incentive to change strategies
Hence this set of strategies is
locally stable
21
Prisoner’s Dilemma
Cooperate
Defect
Cooperate
3, 3
0, 5
Defect
5, 0
1, 1
A
B
22
Prisoner’s Dilemma: Analysis
Pareto
-
optimal and social welfare maximizing solution:
Both agents
cooperate
Dominant strategy and Nash equilibrium:
Both agents defect
Cooperate
Defect
Cooperate
3, 3
0, 5
Defect
5, 0
1, 1
Why?
A
B
23
Voting
How should we rank the possible outcomes, given individual agents’
preferences (votes)?
Six desirable properties (which
can’t all simultaneously be satisfied
):
Every
combination of votes
should lead to a
ranking
Every
pair of outcomes
should have a
relative ranking
The ranking should be
asymmetric and transitive
The ranking should be
Pareto
-
optimal
Irrelevant alternatives
shouldn’t influence the outcome
Share the wealth
: No agent should always get their way
24
Voting protocols
Plurality voting
: the outcome with the highest number of votes wins
Irrelevant alternatives can change the outcome: The Ross Perot factor
Borda voting
: Agents’ rankings are used as weights, which are
summed across all agents
Agents can “spend” high rankings on losing choices, making their remaining
votes less influential
Binary voting
: Agents rank sequential pairs of choices (“elimination
voting”)
Irrelevant alternatives can still change the outcome
Very order
-
dependent
25
Auctions
Many different types and protocols
All of the common protocols yield Pareto
-
optimal outcomes
But
… Bidders can agree to artificially lower prices in order
to cheat the auctioneer
What about when the colluders cheat each other?
(Now that’s
really
not playing nicely in the sandbox!)
26
Contract nets
Simple form of negotiation
Announce tasks, receive bids, award contracts
Many variations: directed contracts, timeouts, bundling of
contracts, sharing of contracts, …
There are also more sophisticated dialogue
-
based
negotiation models
27
Conclusions and directions
“Agent” means many different things
Different types of “multi
-
agent systems”:
Cooperative vs. competitive
Heterogeneous vs. homogeneous
Micro vs. macro
Lots of interesting/open research directions:
Effective cooperation strategies
“Fair” coordination strategies and protocols
Learning in MAS
Resource
-
limited MAS (communication, …)
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Rogers Installation Software: You Control Your Internet, But We Control Your Computer
Excuse me while I geek out for a second.
I had a friend who was having a weird problem. Every time she opened her Outlook Express, she would see a 404 page not found error. It said that the page /help/content/oeip.html could not be found from www.rogershelp.com. I thought this was pretty weird, and couldn’t wrap my head around it. We eventually deduced that this must have come from installing that Rogers bloatware they try to foist on new customers. They told her she needed it, so click click clickedy click, in it went.
Let me take a second to rant. That stuff is completely unnecessary, except for the *sentiment* that one should start off on the internet with antivirus protection. But please, for the love of Pete, get your own antivirus software. Don’t plunk in their av package, along with all their other miscellaneous blobs of goo. They install toolbars, all manner of unnecessary customizations, and they plop them here, there and everywhere.
Anyway, we started to wonder if it was all that bloatware. I removed it. We still had the problem. So, I started to google. I found lots of other people who had the same problem screaming on forums, but for the longest time, all I got were halves of Hijackthis logs and other useless things. They did confirm my suspicions that the Rogers software had a lot to do with it. Then, at long last, I found this article, which, although it was based on Outlook Express 5, turned out to be the way, the light and the truth.
This is the important part.
SYMPTOMS
When you start Outlook Express, an “InfoPane” pane may be visible at the bottom of the program window. Also, this behavior can occur even if you have previously disabled this feature, and every time you restart Outlook Express this feature may be enabled again.
CAUSE
This issue can occur if you upgrade a customized version of Internet Explorer to Internet Explorer version 5.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use Registry Editor to delete the BodyBarPos and BodyBarPath values from the following registry keys
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\SID\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\SID\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0
where SID is a number representing a user.
For a long time, I was nervous to do this. I have never in my life edited the registry, and I know it’s kinda important. But I marched into those keys, and right in front of my face were the two dirty little demons. I sent the pair of them packing, and voila, Outlook Express was 404 error-free.
So, I hope this helps someone else who has this problem, and even if it doesn’t, I hope it stops a few people from installing that Rogers garbage.
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Mishan, Iran
Mishan in Iran may refer to:
* Mishan-e Olya, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari
* Mishan-e Sofla, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari
* Mishan-e Olya, Fars
* Mishan-e Sofla, Fars
* Mishan, Hamadan
* Mishan, Isfahan
* Mishan Rural District, in Fars Province
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Search Results for:
Our Blog
Schemaless Attributes Package : Complete overview
June 7, 2018 | 3 Minutes Read
553
Tarun Bansal
June 07, 2018
Schemaless Attributes Package
Laravel is a PHP based web framework used to develop web applications following the MVC architecture. Laravel development is in a huge demand these days in the IT world and the Laravel development services release new features to enhance the development and to make it smooth and fast.
Schemaless attributes package is the new buzzword in the Laravel development. You can add schemaless attributes to Eloquent relational models with the Laravel schemaless attributes package by the Laravel development services. The Schemaless attributes package is just wonderful to use because when it is applied on a model, it allows you to store arbitrary values in the single JSON column. The package requires a database with support for JSON columns and so you will need to use a MySQL 5.7 database or higher.
The method for getting and setting schemaless attributes is the same way you set the attributes:
$yourModel->extra_attributes->name = 'value';
$yourModel->extra_attributes->name; // Returns 'value'
For saving the schemaless attributes, save the model:
// Persists both normal and schemaless attributes
$yourModel->save();
Now, querying the model’s extra attributes:
$yourModel->withExtraAttributes([
'name' => 'value',
'name2' => 'value2
])->get();
Install the package with the composer and go ahead with the package:
composer require spatie/laravel-schemaless-attributes
Next step is to add the following to a model migration that you want the attributes of JSON:
Schema::table('your_models', function (Blueprint $table) {
$table->schemalessAttributes('extra_attributes');
});
You can check the documentation for the additional steps needed to prepare a model for the schemaless data, it is always useful. If your plan is to use schemaless data on the multiple models, the documentation shows you how to create a trait for the extra attributes. The Laravel development services have provided a great help by providing the developers with this package. The package is really helpful to add and access the schemaless data inside a relational database and other methods that help when you are working with the JSON data.
You will need to add a cast, a scope, and an accessor on the model in order to work with the schemaless attributes. This example will show you what you need to add if you have chosen extra_attributes as your column name.
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Builder;
use Spatie\SchemalessAttributes\SchemalessAttributes;
class TestModel extends Model
{
// ...
public $casts = [
'extra_attributes' => 'array',
];
public function getExtraAttributesAttribute(): SchemalessAttributes
{
return SchemalessAttributes::createForModel($this, 'extra_attributes');
}
public function scopeWithExtraAttributes(): Builder
{
return SchemalessAttributes::scopeWithSchemalessAttributes('extra_attributes');
}
// ...
}
You can also reuse this behavior across multiple models by opting the function in your own trait. For example:
namespace App\Models\Concerns;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Builder;
use Spatie\SchemalessAttributes\SchemalessAttributes;
trait HasSchemalessAttributes
{
public function getExtraAttributesAttribute(): SchemalessAttributes
{
return SchemalessAttributes::createForModel($this, 'extra_attributes');
}
public function scopeWithExtraAttributes(): Builder
{
return SchemalessAttributes::scopeWithSchemalessAttributes('extra_attributes');
}
}
Thus, this was the overview for the Schemaless Attribute Package of the Laravel development services.
Our Acknowledgements
We take pride in receiving recognition and accolades by offering unmatched IT and digital marketing solutions
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Common steps and sub-activities
James Braid’s reverse REM method
The following description has been extracted from James Braid’s book Neurypnology: or the Rationale of Nervous Sleep
Close the eyelids, and bringing the eyes loosely upwards, as if looking at an object at a great distance, the eye-balls being turned up only gently, so as to cause dilatation of the pupil…. and the limbs placed so as to relax the muscles as much as possible, and thus prevent acceleration of the pulse.
Notes
I was led to the adoption of this method from the following train of reasoning. If, as I inferred was the case, the spasmodic tendency was reflected to the muscular system generally, from the semiparalyzed state of the branches of the third pair of nerves (which supply the levatores palpebrarum (the muscles that lift the eyelids - Dylan) and irides (muscles that contract the pupil - Dylan)) during the continued fixed stare and straining of the eyes, I thought, were I to insure all the other concomitant requirements for procuring hypnotism, minus the strain on the levators and irides, I ought to procure refreshing sleep, without rigidity of muscle or quickened circulation. By closing the eyelids, the first could be obtained, and by turning the eyes up loosely, which dilates the pupils, the other would also be attained; I therefore tried the experiment, which, as already noted, proved most successful.
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File talk:Comp fetch execute cycle.png
I really think the image is misleading because the sixth step should be "MDR contents to CIR" (as MAR is an adresse and MDR is the Data just read from memory).
Just picked this up in 2018 - it doesn't look like this error is getting corrected anytime soon...still, it makes a useful exercise to check to see if my students understand the cycle.Lessentropy (talk) 20:20, 21 March 2018 (UTC)
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Page:In ghostly Japan (IA cu31924014202687).pdf/228
“My dear wife,” said the daimyō, “you have suffered very much for three long years. We have done all that we could to get you well,—watching beside you night and day, praying for you, and often fasting for your sake. But in spite of our loving care, and in spite of the skill of our best physicians, it would now seem that the end of your life is not far off. Probably we shall sorrow more than you will sorrow because of your having to leave what the Buddha so truly termed ‘this burning-house of the world.’ I shall order to be performed—no matter what the cost—every religious rite that can serve you in regard to your next rebirth; and all of us will pray without ceasing for you, that you may not have to wander in the Black Space, but may quickly enter Paradise, and attain to Buddhahood.”
He spoke with the utmost tenderness, caressing her the while. Then, with eyelids closed, she answered him in a voice thin as the voice of an insect:—
“I am grateful—most grateful—for your kind words…. Yes, it is true, as you say, that I have been sick for three long years, and that I have been treated with all possible care and
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User:Inquietudeofcharacter/Brown University
WP:COPYARTICLE, old revision of Brown University including details that have subsequently been incorporated or otherwise updated
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Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 2.djvu/522
502 be established where the capital is with greater facility than where it is not.
Mr. . Once more I will say capital will go where it can be most profitably exercised; and therefore I do not think it will go to New York or the East, but to the West, where it is most wanted.
Mr. . Have not New York banks and the moneyed men of the East every facility now to establish banks in the West as much as they please? Why do not they do it? What prevents a New York banker to-day from establishing a branch of his establishments in Chicago or St. Louis or at Saint Joseph? Nothing in the world.
Mr. . Because he can do better in New York now.
Mr. . Precisely; because he can do better with his bank where there is the most business, and there he remains; and for the same reason more banks will be established where there is the most business. If we complain now, I say, of the grasp of the monetary power of the East over the West and South, we shall see that grasp not weakened, but rather strengthened, by what is here proposed.
I have made these remarks in order to explode that most extraordinary notion of the Senator from Indiana, that if we only permit the establishment of more national banks in the West and South, more currency will go and stay there, because the loans and discounts of the banks will return every thirty, sixty or ninety days; and to dispel that general and almost incomprehensible delusion, that by the establishment of such banks, under such laws as we have, the amount of loanable capital in the West or South will be increased and not diminished. Whatever results free banking under the national-bank act may have, it will certainly not produce those effects which the
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DFB Explained
The DFB Feature – Explained
We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the 2000 DFB:
• What does “DFB” stand for?
• What exactly does the DFB feature do?
• How many probes can the DFB device read at once?
• Does the GEO Calibration Software integrate with the DFB device?
Below, we have answered them.
What does DFB stand for?
“DFB” stands for “Device Feedback”
What exactly does the DFB feature do?
The DFB feature allows you to read the data from analog probes under test (PUT) from the controller panel. More importantly, it also allows you to view, record and print the data from your PUT against the data from the reference probe. This allows you to automate many routine calibration tasks.
How many probes can the DFB device read at once?
A single DFB device can read the data output from a single Relative Humidity probe.
Does the GEO Calibration Software integrate with the DFB device?
Yes, When you combine the Experiments panel functionality with the DFB data logging functionality, you can automate many routine, time-intensive tasks.
Product Demo
See how our calibration units can add value to your facility
Newsletter Signup
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Pharmacological effects of ecdysone
- Nov 02, 2017-
Ecdysteroids in the human body to promote the synthesis of collagen protein, antiarrhythmic, anti-fatigue; promote cell growth, stimulate the dermal cell division, remove the body of cholesterol; lower blood lipids, inhibit blood sugar increased; through the meridian, dehumidification analgesia Physiological activity. Is a natural anti-cancer preparation. Dew has been developed since the beginning of 1976, has developed from time to time tablets, injections, ointment. Folk for rheumatoid arthritis, the treatment of different symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis patients have a good effect of its active ingredients 20 - hydroxyl ecdysterone by clinical studies have shown a direct hypoglycemic effect on the total effective rate of type II diabetes 84% To improve the diabetic patients "more than three" symptoms are particularly evident.
In sports health care products, ecdysone has a significant ability to assimilate protein synthesis in muscle cytoplasm by increasing the assembly of amino acids into protein chains, and this ability goes back to the process of protein translation and migration. Ecdysone is not only beneficial to health and safety, it helps to stabilize the cells during cortisol damage, normalize the energy synthesis steps (ATP and sarcosine) and improve liver function so that the organism can quickly adapt to environmental and stress changes The Its safety, after more than 50 studies have shown that ecdysone has no side effects, no interaction with hormones, toxicity levels are also very low. When the ICN biochemical laboratory in 1998 to test, the data show that ecdysone to show the toxicity must reach 6400mg / kg ultra-high dose. Moreover, there was no report of the effects of ecdysone on mammalian hormonal systems in endocrine tests involving testosterone, cortisol, insulin, corticotropin, growth hormone and luteinizing hormone.
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• Request a quote
• Why Does My Water Taste Like Dirt?
Posted by ,
If your water tastes like dirt, it could result from environmental factors such as algae in the supply, or just a dirty faucet. Despite being annoying (it is somewhat off-putting to sip from a glass, only to discover it tastes like potting soil), water that tastes like dirt is rarely harmful.
Quick Facts
• Water that tastes or smells like dirt can be common, although the cause is not always easy to detect. You may have to perform tests at home in order to discover the root of the problem.
• An isolated faucet with dirty-tasting water can usually be fixed by unscrewing the cylinder at the end of the tap and cleaning it thoroughly before replacing it.
• If all water sources in your house have the same unpleasant taste, then the problem may stem from your public supplier. Contact your local water company to alert them of the issue and have them fix it as soon as possible.
• Environmental factors can cause poor tasting water. Geosmin, also called “algae bloom,” is prevalent in the summer months and grows on the surface of bodies of water, including lakes and reservoirs. Although not toxic, geosmin can cause an earthy taste if it makes its way into your drinking water.
• Although likely harmless, water that tastes like dirt is not appealing. Try using a filtered water cooler to improve the taste of your water.
What causes my water to taste like dirt?
If your water tastes like dirt, it’s more than likely harmless, albeit annoying. Drinking water can sometimes have a dirt-like taste or grainy texture as a result of a geosmin invasion: a compound made up of soil and plant bacteria, or algae blooms. Geosmin is so potent that it only takes ten nanograms per litre for the human palate to detect a dirt-like taste. As for algae blooms, if you notice a soil-like taste around summertime, then you may have found the source of what has been affecting the taste of your water. When warm weather sets in, algae begin to multiply at the bottom of lakes, ponds, and other water sources.
Although harmless, both of these “all-too-natural” culprits make for foul-tasting water, so do yourself — and your taste buds — a favour. Get a filtered water dispenser to clean up your dirt problem and improve the overall quality of your office H20.
why does my water products
What should I do if my water tastes like dirt?
If you suspect bacteria in your pipes may be the cause of the problem, start by testing to see if every faucet in your house has the same dirt-like taste; or if it’s an isolated tap. Doing so may help you detect whether the fault lies with your entire plumbing system or a lone faucet.
If it’s a single source, chances are your aerator — the tiny cylinder screwed to the end of your faucet — may be dirty. To check for dirt in the aerator, unscrew it from the tap and try tasting the water again. If it still has a strange taste, you may have an accumulation of bacteria. To eliminate bacterial build-up from an aerator, unscrew it from the faucet and clean it thoroughly. Or, simply replace it with a new one. If any of the components of the aerator are stuck, try soaking them in vinegar.
If you’ve checked your taps and have found all of them are running dirty-tasting water, the cause is likely coming from the main supply of your water source. Contact your provider to request the root cause of the dirty water be identified. Enquiry numbers can be found on your water bill. If you are dissatisfied with an adequate explanation or dirty-tasting water runs after actions have taken place, you can contact the Consumer Council for Water. This is an independent body for the water industry in England and Wales.
However, if you use a private well, you will have to ask a specialist to inspect your well as it’s not unheard of for sediment to make its way into private water supplies.
What product can help?
Improving your drinking water quality
Although chlorine helps to keep our water free of bacteria, there are over 330 human-made contaminants in the UK water supply. As such, it’s vital to get your water tested, or find alternatives to tap water, if you suspect that your water quality poses a threat to your health — or if it has an off-putting taste or aroma.
You can use a filtered water cooler in the workplace to remove the majority of contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins, in order to keep your workforce healthy. While Waterlogic’s range of coolers means they are just as effective when used in warehouses, healthcare facilities, universities and hospitality venues. If you’re looking to deliver fresh, clean water to your workplace, take a look at our product line or request a quote for a water cooler.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Talk:E. Fred Schubert
Greetings!
Greetings! Any comments on the proposed Schubert (Engineer) Wikipedia article would be much appreciated. (Judy246 (talk) 14:06, 16 May 2023 (UTC))
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Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part-V-B-4-Book-I.djvu/232
Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
The following estimate is offered for additional development projects, beyond those already programmed, during the eighteen months period July 1961 through December 1962:
Rh
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Talk:Bardwell, Wisconsin
Location
This place appears to be located at a railroad junction with no roads directly accessible. So does that mean this community counts a ghost town? NintendoTTTEfan2005 (talk) 03:10, 27 December 2022 (UTC)
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Second Siege of Zaragoza
As a part of the Dos de Mayo (2 May) uprising the city had already successfully resisted a first siege from 15 June 1808 to 14 August 1808. This was one of the first times in history that a regular army was defeated by irregulars in street fighting.
Further defeats – especially the surrender of General Dupont at the Battle of Bailén – forced King Joseph Bonaparte to withdraw behind the Ebro River, abandoning most of Spain except a small corner in the north-east and a small area around Barcelona.
The Spanish at this point missed their best chance to defeat the French. They did not appoint a Supreme Commander, so all the armies continued to operate independently. The main armies consisted of those of General Blake on the north coast, General Castaños around Tudela and General Palafox around Saragossa. Blake was the most active, but he was defeated at Zornoza on 31 October 1808.
Napoleon's plan was to attack in strength towards Burgos in between the armies of Blake and Castaños. Once they broke through they were to swing both north and south to envelope the remaining armies. In order to achieve this, Napoleon wanted the exposed Spanish armies to remain in their current advanced positions. To achieve this Marshal Moncey's 3rd Corps opposite General Castaños remained inactive from late October to 21 November.
The Spanish armies, however, moved constantly to no discernible effect. Castanos was ill much of the time, leaving Palafox in command. He seemed reluctant to adopt a firm course of action.
These movements developed into the Battle of Tudela. This battle was a major victory for the French, but the armies of the Spanish generals (O'Neylle and Castaños) were able to flee to Saragossa, escaping with the large majority of their war chests and cannons. The stage was now set for a second siege.
Considerable changes occurred in the defences of Saragossa after the first siege in June–August. In that siege, the city had few fortifications, except for the medieval walls that could not withstand the French artillery bombardment. The defenders consisted of only a handful of regular troops and gunners, plus a mass of thousands of volunteers. They had, however, been able to inflict heavy casualties on the French at the barricades in the narrow winding streets.
Since September 1808, Colonel San Genis had been working on a number of modern fortifications. To the south, the city was protected by the Huerva River, which San Genis used as a moat with two redoubts on the south side of the river: "Our lady of the Pillar" in the south-west corner and the San Jose convent on the south-east corner. These were overlooked by the city walls.
To the west, a solid rampart had been built outside the city walls, incorporating the Augustinian and Trinitarian convents. This provided a central gun battery, as well as a ditch that was 14-metres deep.
San Lazaro was fortified with a rampart protected by waterways and the two convents on the north side of the Ebro River had been made into fortresses.
On the key position of Monte Terrero, San Genis built an entrenched military camp using the Aragon Canal as a moat.
Progress on the fortifications had been slow until the Battle of Tudela. After that it was clear the French could attack at any moment and suddenly 60,000 volunteers were available. If the French had attacked quickly, then even this would not have helped. Due to the delay, however, the Spanish had time to improve the fortifications and obtain sufficient supplies.
Inside the walls, the strong, almost entirely inflammable masonry homes and apartment buildings were laced together with internal passageways, making each block of the city its own barricaded fortress, with the numerous church buildings standing as keeps and strong-points, from which grapeshot and counter-battery fire could command the streets.
The garrison would also be much stronger than in the first siege. Palafox had raised an additional 10-12,000 new recruits in Saragossa plus a further 17,000 survivors of the Battle of Tudela. By the start of the siege Palafox had 32,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 10,000 armed volunteers.
To prevent the danger of magazine explosions, the city manufactured its gunpowder as it was needed.
Supplies of Food and ammunition were sufficient for three months plus private stocks held by townspeople.
The Battle of Tudela was over on 23 November 1808 but the siege of Saragossa did not commence until 20 December 1808. This allowed the Spanish sufficient time to build up the defences and to lay in supplies.
After the Battle of Tudela two corps had been available to attack Saragossa - the 3rd corps under Marshal Moncey and the 6th Corps under Marshal Ney. Both of these corps left Tudela on 28 November and arrived at Saragossa on 30 November. They were about to commence the siege when Marshall Ney was ordered to take his army across the mountains to New Castille where he was to prevent the army of Castaños, retreating from Tudela, from interfering with his movements towards Madrid.
There were now only 15,000 men under Moncey facing Saragossa which was insufficient for a siege. As a result Moncey retired to Tudela to await reinforcements from Marshal Mortier with his 5th Corps. These troops arrived from Germany on 15 December giving a total of 38,000 infantry, 3,500 cavalry, 3,000 engineers, and 60 siege guns to attack Saragossa.
On 20 December the French forces arrived again at Saragossa. Moncey split his forces: One division under General Gazan was assigned to the north, Mortier's corps was posted to the west, and Moncey's corps went to the south.
Phase 1: The Outworks 20 December 1808 – 15 January 1809
The first key objective was the weak Spanish outworks on Monte Torrero. On 21 December 1808 three batteries began bombarding these positions followed by an attack by twenty battalions of infantry which successfully drove the Spanish out of these positions. This initial success was to prove decisive as once again the French were able to deploy their main gun batteries on Monte Terrero and were ultimately successful in breaching the southern wall.
Gazan launched an attack on the same day against San Lazaro however this attack was unsuccessful due to the strength of the Spanish defence.
On 22 December 1808 Moncey formally demanded the surrender of the city but this was refused. Moncey then decided to concentrate his efforts on the southern side of the city and prepared attacks against the Pillar redoubt and against the San Jose convent. Preparations were also made for an attack opposite the castle of Aljafería in the north-west.
On 29 December 1808 Moncey was reassigned to Madrid and was replaced in command of the 3rd corps by General Jean-Andoche Junot. Mortier was then the senior officer however he worked in partnership with Junot until he was himself reassigned on 2 January 1809.
The French preparations were finally complete on 10 January 1809 and they commenced bombarding the Pillar Redoubt and San Jose. By the end of the day the San Jose walls were about to collapse. Palafox counter-attacked the French guns at 1am on the 11 January 1808 but this attack failed and the Spanish troops withdrew into the city.
The French attack on the Pillar Redoubt continued until the night of 15–16 January 1808 when the 1st Polish Vistula Regiment stormed the position. The Spanish had already left destroying the bridge across the Huerva river at the same time.
Phase 2: Attacking the Walls, 16–27 January 1809
On 16 January 1809 the main Spanish outworks were in French hands. The French armies could now concentrate on breaching the walls of Saragossa.
From 17 January 1809 the French began a bombardment of the walls from the San Jose redoubt. Palafox knew the walls would not last long and prepared barricades in the city, turning it into a maze of small forts.
In January Junot was replaced with Marshall Lannes who had been recovering from an earlier injury. Sickness was now creating problems on both sides. On the French side there were now only 20,000 fit infantry. At the same time new Spanish forces were being created near the city under Francisco Palafox (younger brother of the General) and the Marquis of Lazan (older brother of the General).
Lannes was concerned about his rear and recalled Mortier's division which had been protecting the lines of communication between Madrid and Saragossa. On 26 January Mortier's army defeated a peasant militia of some 4–5,000 men at Alcañiz.
The French attack commenced on 24 January 1809 when three beachheads were captured across the Huerva river. The main assault began on 27 January 1809 through three breaches in the city walls. Lannes broke through two breaches and captured the battery at the south-eastern corner and also the convent of Santa Engracia in the south-west.
This marked the end of this phase of the siege with the final phase of vicious street fighting to follow.
Phase 3: Street Fighting 28 January – 20 February 1809
The Spanish defenders had been preparing for street fighting from the beginning. Lannes however had decided on a slow block-by-block siege of each individual fortification in order to minimise French casualties.
Individual battles were remarkable for their ferocity. At one point in the San Augustin Convent, the French held the altar end of the chapel and exchanged shots for hours on end with the Spanish entrenched in the nave and the belfry. However, French superiority in equipment and training took its toll, and thousands were falling daily both in the fighting and to disease, which was rampant throughout the city.
By February illness was decimating the population of Saragossa and only 8,495 men remained of the original garrison of 32,000 men. There were 10,000 dead and 13,737 sick or wounded.
The French were unaware of this however and morale was low due to the apparent never-ending battle in the narrow streets. Disappointed with the slow progress, Lannes ordered the troops north of the river to make a second attack on San Lazaro and on 18 February 1809 this attack was successful. The northern part of Saragossa could now be attacked with artillery.
By 19 February 1809 the Spanish defence was failing and Palafox himself was seriously ill. He sent his aide to Lannes to discuss terms of surrender. He then resigned his military command in favour of General St, March, and his civil command of the city to a 33-member council of local citizens.
The first offer of surrender was rejected and fighting resumed on 20 February 1809 but the civilian council quickly negotiated to end the fighting which ceased that evening.
Under the terms of surrender the garrison marched out of the city and stacked their arms outside the Portillo gate. They had the choice of going into captivity or joining the French army. Of the 32,000 men at the start of the siege only 8,000 survived.
The terms of surrender allowed private property to be respected and a general amnesty was granted to the city. Although some looting took place the city was not sacked.
The suffering of the city had been terrible with estimated deaths of 54,000 made up of 20,000 soldiers and 34,000 civilians. Lannes himself estimated that the population of Saragossa had fallen from 55,500 to 15,000.
The French had also suffered losing about 10,000 men – 4,000 in battle and the rest to sickness.
Palafox himself was harshly treated by the French who imprisoned him as a traitor at Vincennes.
- Up to 20,000 Spanish civilians also took part in the fighting
- Spanish casualties include disease and civilian deaths. Disease claimed an additional 6,000 Frenchmen.
- Haythornthwaite, Philip J., Die Hard! Famous Napoleonic Battles, Cassell, London, 1996, chapter 4
- Rickard, J (6 March 2008), Second Siege of Saragossa, 20 December 1808-20 February 1809
- Napoleon's Total War
- The Spanish Ulcer, A History of the Peninsular War, Dr. David Gates. Published 2002, Pimlico, 592 pages, English, ISBN 978-0712697309,
An excellent single volume history of the Peninsular War, which when it was published was the first really good English language history of the entire war since Oman. This is a well balanced work with detailed coverage of those campaigns conducted entirely by Spanish armies, as well as the better known British intervention in Portugal and Spain.
- A History of the Peninsular War vol.2: Jan.-Sept. 1809 - From the Battle of Corunna to the end of the Talavera Campaign, Sir Charles Oman, New Edition 2004, Greenhill Books, 720 pages, English, ISBN 978-1853675898
Part two of Oman's classic history falls into two broad sections. The first half of the book looks at the period between the British evacuation from Corunna and the arrival of Wellesley in Portugal for the second time, five months when the Spanish fought alone, while the second half looks at Wellesley's campaign in the north of Portugal and his first campaign in Spain. One of the classic works of military history.
- The Sieges of Saragossa (Spanish)
- Battles in Spain During 1809
- Siege of Saragossa (1809)
- Second Siege of Saragossa
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We have to know our roots as African’s, though we are all over the world, how? All blacks are from Africa that’s plain to see. You get your black colour because you’re related directly or indirectly to Africa. And so the likes of US music singers like Lil Wyne, Chris Brown, Drake, Riccky Ross and Co are all Africans in this context, they are not alone many popular black figures outside Africa are in too.
They have to understand what made them Africans, there are many thing that makes one an African, one of those is their fore fathers anccestors if you like. What where the forefathers doing in America, Europe? Why so many blacks all over the world? Those answers lies in the slave trade business, how it was stopped is of great importance to us, not just Africans but to others
How The Slave Trade Was Abolished In Africa
Not long after the slave trade began, some religious people started to attack the trade and insist that it should be stopped. In 1514, Las Casas, a priest who was interested in the welfare of the Indians, had suggested that the Spaniards should buy slaves from Africa to work on the plantations and in the mines instead of using native Indians. But when he saw the cruel treatment of the African slaves, he spoke out violently against the inhuman trade.
From time to time, some kings had protested against the trade in human beings. As early as 1526, King Nzinga Mbemba of Congo wrote to the king of Portugal and requested him to stop his men from buying slaves in his kingdom. Two centuries later King Agaja of Dahomey sent a smilar protest to the British government.
All this protests fell upon deaf ears. Indeed, in 1713 an agreement called the Treaty of Utrecht was signed by certain European powers. By this treaty Britain had the sole right, called the Asiento, to supply 4,800 slaves per year to Spanish America.
Untill the nineteenth century, those who had the power to stop the slave trade did not listen to pleas or protests. It’s not hard to discover the reason for this. The wealth of Europe at that time depended largely upon the slave trade, Parliaments had the power to stop slavery but some of their members were themselves owners of rich plantations and mines.
In 1772 Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice of England, gave judgement in a case in which a slave, Jamer Somerset had escaped from his master. Mansfield ruled that it was against English law to keep slaves. This decision meant that any slave brought to England was to be set free, and so withing five years over 80,000 slaves were set free in England).
Although Lord Mansfield’s decision was very important in the attempts to stop the slave trade, it was nonetheless not enough. The British parliament had to pass a law against the trade before final victory would be won.
Men such as Gransville Sharp, William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson kept on urging the British parliament to do so, between 1776 and 1805 eight attempts were made in the British parliament to get a law passed against the slave trade, sadly all failed.
At last in 1807 two years later the British parliament passed a law to abolish, or end, the buying and selling of slaves. Britain used all her sea power in the Atlantic to stop ships carrying slaves across the sea.
In 1833, Great Britain passed a law which freed all slaves owned by British subjects, and paid £20 million in compensation to the slave owners. Gradually, one after another, other European countries stopped the slave trade, but it was until 1865 that slavery came to an end in the United States of America.
Where are the slaves now?
One is with you now! If not look around you’ll find one. There are so many blacks all over the world because of this slave trade, the slave trade back then opened the doors for blacks to many countries, though they arrived as slaves in many countries due to their “can do spirit” they were able to find freedom and so their children were able to settle down in those countries. Infact many blacks has gone on to become very important individuals in those countries one such example is US president Barack Obama, whose father is from Kenya.
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1991 European Masters League
The 1991 European Masters League was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament, which took place between 30 May and 28 June 1991. Held on just one occasion, four players participated and it was won by Steve Davis, who claimed the first title of the 1991-92 snooker season.
Results
* Steve Davis 5–3 James Wattana
* Tony Drago 5–3 Jimmy White
* Steve Davis 6–2 Tony Drago
* Steve Davis 6–2 Jimmy White
* James Wattana 7–1 Jimmy White
* James Wattana 5–3 Tony Drago
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Rutlish School
Rutlish School is a state comprehensive school for boys, formerly a grammar school with the same name originally located on Rutlish Road, Merton Park, and relocated in 1957 on nearby Watery Lane, Merton Park, in southwest London.
History
The school is named for and honours the benefactor William Rutlish, embroiderer to Charles II. Rutlish was a resident of the parish of Merton and is buried in the churchyard of the parish church of St Mary. Rutlish died in 1687 and left £400 (about £ today) for the education of poor children of the parish.
By the 1890s the charity had accumulated a considerable excess of funds and John Innes, a local landowner and chairman of the board of trustees, used some of the excess to establish a school.
Grammar school
The first school building, established as a grammar school in the 1890s, was located in what is still designated Rutlish Road, off Kingston Road, by Merton Park station (now a tram stop). After World War II the school had outgrown its Victorian buildings (and the science block, built in the 1930s, had been destroyed as a result of enemy action) so in the early 1950s, John Innes buildings off nearby Mostyn Road were converted for use as the Junior School.
Though the work was not completed and the heating system was not installed, this opened after a delay, in late September 1953. A new building was planned for the rest of the school, on the present site south of Watery Lane. The new school buildings opened in September 1957.
Both this and the Junior School were on land that had belonged to John Innes and which had been occupied until 1945 by the John Innes Horticultural Institution (now the John Innes Centre in Norwich). The original buildings in Rutlish Road were later temporarily used as a girls' school (Surrey County Council, Pelham County Secondary Girls School) and then a Middle School (London Borough of Merton, Pelham Middle School, until 1974), buildings subsequently demolished to be replaced by a mix of retirement and warden-assisted flats.
School buildings
The 1957 school buildings are arranged around three sides of a quadrangle. To the north is a four-storey main entrance block (which contained the school library on the top floor, and a CCF rifle range in the roof space) and a three-storey central block of general purpose classrooms facing Watery Lane. To the west is a two-storey science block and to the east a two-storey block containing the canteen on the ground floor and the school hall on the first floor. Attached to the rear of the east block is the school gym. Also in the middle of the two buildings is a maths block on the second floor.
Among the existing school buildings is one which has ties to John Innes. The "Manor House" adjacent to the school entrance on Watery Lane was Innes's home; a blue plaque records his association. The Manor House was used as the staff room and headmaster's office on the ground floor, and sixth form rooms on the first floor.
Now demolished were school buildings next to the playing field; these were once the library and offices of the John Innes Institution and had ranges of greenhouses attached. In the 1950s and early 1960s these old buildings were used by the first and second year classes (known as forms 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D, alternating each year with either a three or four form intake) and the long greenhouse was used as a lunchtime canteen and a cloakroom. Later, in the 1980s, they were art and music rooms. A little-known feature of the old building was a warren of hidden crawlspace passages, accessible from the second floor music room, from where clandestine spying operations on other classes could be undertaken.
In the 1970s, part of the roof-space housed the 4 mm scale model railway layout. To the southeast aspect of the buildings was the Croquet Lawn, elegantly laid on a slope comparable to that of Yeovil Town Football Club, a small allotment area for the Gardening Club adjoined as well. There was also a pair of 'Fives' courts (Fives is a game like squash, but played with the hands not rackets).
A number of additional buildings have been constructed over the years to supplement the facilities of the 1950s buildings.
Comprehensive
Following the education reforms of the late 1960s, the school became a comprehensive although it retained many of its grammar school traditions long after the conversion - school houses (named after ancient warrior nations or groups), uniforms with house and school colours, a Combined Cadet Force (CCF), and prefects. For many years the school maintained a croquet lawn for the use of the headmaster and the prefects. The school also operated an exchange programme with Eton College for a number of years.
Three-tier system
In the 1970s the education system in Merton was altered to use a three-tier structure (primary, middle and high school) in place of the former two-tier structure and Rutlish lost the first three of its years. The school still retained the old year names; however, so that pupils starting at the school began as "fourth" years. The following years were named "remove", "fifth", "transitus" and "sixth" (actually a pupil's fifth year at the school if he remained that long). Transitus and sixth-form pupils had their own common room on the first floor of the main block.
School motto
The school motto is: Modeste Strenue Sancte, meaning: "Be modest, be thorough and find righteousness".
School houses
For most of the school's history, the pupils of the school have been assigned to houses. Although discontinued for some years, the system was reinstated in January 2010 with eight houses:
* Argonauts
* Carthaginians (formerly Crusaders),
* Kelts (a deliberate misspelling of Celts to differentiate the initial from Carthaginians)
* Parthians
* Romans
* Trojans
* Spartans
* Vikings
Various inter-house competitions, often of a sporting nature, are held.
Notable alumni
* Tariq Ahmad, Baron Ahmad of Wimbledon, member of the House of Lords from 2010
* James Boiling, cricketer
* Tom Braddock, Labour MP from 1945 to 1950 of Mitcham (1898–1903)
* Raymond Briggs, illustrator, best known for The Snowman (1945–52)
* Derek Cons, judge of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong
* Gerry Cottle, former owner Gerry Cottle's Circus, Moscow State Circus, Chinese State Circus; owner Wookey Hole Caves (1956–61; ran away to join the circus)
* Jason Cundy, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Tottenham football player.
* John Dennis, (1942–49), Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich from 1986 to 1996 and father of Hugh Dennis
* Sir Frank Edward Figgures, first secretary general from 1960 to 1965 of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and director general from 1971 to 1973 of the National Economic Development Office (NEDO) (1921–28)
* Steve Finnan, Liverpool and Ireland footballer (1989–1992)
* Sir David Follett, director from 1960 to 1973 of the Science Museum (1919–26)
* Tubby Hayes, jazz musician (1946–51)
* Neville Heath, murderer, executed in 1946 (1928–33)
* Tariq Knight, TV illusionist (1996–2000)
* Sir John Major, Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997 (1954–59)
* Dean McDonald English professional footballer (1998–2002)
* Sir Morien Morgan, aeronautical engineer and master from 1972 to 1978 of Downing College, Cambridge (1924–31)
* Geoff Norcott, comedian, writer and political commentator
* Sir Patrick Geoffrey O'Neill, professor of Japanese at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
* Sir Frederick Page, aeronautical engineer (1928–35)
* Geoffrey Paul, Bishop of Bradford from 1981 to 1983 (1932-9)
* Chris Perry, footballer
* Bernarr Rainbow, organist (1926–33)
* John Rostill, musician, The Shadows third bass guitarist (1953–59)
* Douglas Seale, actor and director (1925–32)
* Stephen Shaw, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman since 2001 and director from 1981 to 1999 of the Prison Reform Trust (1964–71)
* Keith Sutton, artist (1935–40)
* Mick Talbot, musician
* Frank Taylor, Conservative MP from 1961 to 1974 for Manchester Moss Side (1919–26)
* Mark Thomas (1980–85) editor, 2003-08 of The People newspaper
* Sir Chris Wormald, permanent secretary of the Department of Health and Social Care
* Joseph Samuel Myers, mathematician at Trinity College, Cambridge specialising in combinatorics, involved in film X+Y and featured in Channel 4 Documentary Beautiful Young Minds
Victoria Cross holders
Two Old Rutlishians, George Edward Cates and John Dimmer, have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
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VR4J01.–VARAL. 203 £76,000; sült, £67,000 ; tobacco, £34,000; raw cotton, 1:31,cco. The imports were valued at £1,533,000, including-jute, £178,000 (i.c. transit trade); piece-goods, £324,000; salt, £. 184,000; raw cotton, £122,000; rice, £121,000; sugar, £95,000; oil-seeds, £70,000; tobacco, £60,000. The figures do not include the subsidiary port of Madanganj, which had a business valued at £170,000. The imports of jute are derived in almost equal quantities from the adjoining Districts of Mainansingh and Tipperah, and from Dacca itself. The exports of jute are all sent to Calcutta, cither direct by steamer and country boat, or by railway from Goálandó. In 1876–77, out of a total export of 1,600,000 maunds of jute, 670.000 were despatched through Goalanda, 570,000 by country boat, and 360,000 direct by stcamer. In 1877–78, the total export of jute had risen to 2,137,000 maunds, or almost exactly the same quantity as that exported from Sirajganj. No later statistics are available, but trade, especially in jute, has largely increased of late years. The trade with Chittagong chiefly consists of the export of tobacco, food-grain, and oil-seeds, and the import of raw cotton, which has been grown in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Nárainganj forms the terminus of the new Dacca - Maimansingh Railway just opened (December 1885). Nárájol. – Village in Midnapur District, Bengal; situated on the Paláspái, a small stream, in lat, 22° 34' 8" x., and long. 87° 39' 4" Es Seat of a large manufacture of cotton cloth and mats. Population between 2000 and 3000, but not separately returned in the Census of 1881. Nárakal.--Town and port in the Siate of Cochin, Vadras Presidency; situated in lat. 102' 30 Y., and long. 70 12 E., 3 nuiles west of Cochin city. Population (1881) 4254. The place oires its importance to a so-called mud bank, which stretches about 2 miles seaward, and is 4 miles long. Within this, vessels can run in the worst of the south-west monsoon, when all other ports on the coast are closed. This mud apparently breaks the force of the sea, for the water within is calm when the weather is at its roughest outside. During the famine of 1877, the port was much used in the monsoon season for landing grain, which was then conveyed by backwater to the railway at Tirur, and so to the distressed Districts. Coasting steamers call here regularly. Várakal is mentioned as the seat of a considerable Christian populatiɔn by Fra Paolo Bartolomeo. Narál.–Sub-division of Jessor District, Bengal, lying between 22° 55' 45" and 23° 21' n. lat., and between 89° 25' and 89° 51' 30" E. long. Area, 487 square miles; villages, 802; houses, 36,440. Population (1881) 328,172, namely, 173,806 Hindus, 154:341 Muhammadans, and 25 Christians, Number of persons per square mile, 673.8; villages per square mile, 1.64; houses per square mile, 77; inmates per house, 9; proportion of males, 49°7 per cent. This Sub-division,
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Page:JPS-1917-Universal.djvu/998
3.13 liveth; lie down until the morning.' And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could discern another. For he said: 'Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.' And he said: 'Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it'; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said: 'Who art thou, my daughter?' And she told her all that the man had done to her. And she said: 'These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me: Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law.' Then said she: 'Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.'
Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there; and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said: 'Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here.' And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said: 'Sit ye down here.' And they sat down. And he said unto the near kinsman: 'Naomi, that is come back out of the field of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's; and I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying: Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if it will not be redeemed, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee.' And he said: 'I will redeem it.' Then said Boaz: 'What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi—hast thou also bought of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance?' And the near kinsman said: 'I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance; take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I cannot redeem it.'—Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour; and this was the attestation in Israel.—So the near kinsman said unto Boaz: 'Buy it for thyself.' And he drew off his shoe. And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people: 'Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I acquired to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place; ye are witnesses this day.' And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said: 'We are witnesses. The make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel; and do thou worthily in Ephrath, and be famous in Beth-lehem; and let thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore unto Judah, of the seed which the shall give thee of this young woman.' So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and the gave her conception, and she bore a son. And the women said unto Naomi: 'Blessed be the, who hath not left thee
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Nishantha Ulugetenne
Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, RSP and Bar, VSV, USP is a former senior Sri Lanka Navy officer. He served as 24th Commander of the Navy of the Sri Lanka Navy and current Sri Lankan Ambassador to Cuba.
Early life and education
Educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo, where he was prefect and a Regimental Sergeant Major of the college cadet platoon that won the Hermann Loos Trophy twice. Ulugetenne has gained a Masters of Arts in defence studies from King's College London, master's degree on maritime policy from the University of Wollongong and a MPhil in defence and strategic studies from the University of Madras.
Naval career
Ulugetenne enlisted in the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet in the 13th intake in 1985 undergoing basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy. On completion of his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy, he was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in January 1987. In 1988, he completed the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course in India and specialized in gunnery having attended the Indian Navy Gunnery School in Kochi. Having specialized in naval gunnery, he played a key role in introducing guided missile capability to naval fleet with the introduction of Fast Missile Vessels in 2000. He graduated from the Joint Services Command and Staff College having followed the Advanced Command Staff Course gaining psc (j) and a MA in defence studies from the King's College London. Ulugetenne attend the National Defense College, India and gained a MPhil defence and strategic studies from the University of Madras.
Having held several sea and shore commands, including the command of Long Patrol Boats, Fast Attack Crafts, Landing Crafts, Fast Gun and Fast Missile Vessels. He has held several senior positions in the navy. These include Deputy Director Naval (Projects and Plans), Commanding Officer - 4th Fast Attack Flotilla, Director Naval Weapons, Director Naval Intelligence, Deputy Area Commander (North), Director General Services, Commander Southern Naval Area and Commandant, Volunteer Naval Force.
He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in June 2015. He was appointed Chief of Staff of the Navy in May 2019. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff, he was serving as Deputy Chief of Staff and Commander Western Naval Area. He was serving as Chief of Staff when he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed Commander of the Navy by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 15 July 2020. He retired from active service on 18th December, 2022.
Later work
Admiral Ulugetenne was designated as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Cuba by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in October 2023 and presented his credentials to President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel 13 February 2024.
Honors
His decorations include Rana Sura Padakkama twice for gallantry; Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya and Uttama Seva Padakkama for meritorious service. Other medals he has gained over the years include, the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, the Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal, the Sewabhimani Padakkama, the Sewa Padakkama, the 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, the Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal, the Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal, the North and East Operations Medal, the Purna Bhumi Padakkama, the Desha Putra Sammanaya, the Vadamarachchi Operation Medal and the Riviresa Campaign Services Medal.
His badges include: the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) Squadron Pin, the Surface Warfare Badge Commendation Badge, the Naval intelligent Badge, Commendation Badge and the Qualified in Command and Staff Course Badge.
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Honoré Champion
Honoré Champion (1846–1913) was a French publisher. He founded Éditions Honoré Champion in 1874 and published scientific works geared towards laymen, particularly concerning history and literature.
Champion died from an embolism on 8 April 1913 in his apartment at 30 rue Jacob, Paris. His tomb, located at the Montparnasse Cemetery, was sculpted by Albert Bartholomé.
His sons were Edouard Champion, who took over the publishing house (often rendered in colophons as H. Champion), and the historian Pierre Champion.
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/* ALTA --- Analysis of Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Functions Copyright (C) 2013 Inria This file is part of ALTA. This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */ #include int main(int argc, char** argv) { spherical sphericalParam; isotropic_tl_tv isotropicParam; vec in(4); in[0] = 0.0; in[1] = 0.0; in[2] = 0.0; in[3] = 0.0; vec out(2); sphericalParam.convert_to(in, isotropicParam, out); return 0; } #ifdef OLD #include #include #include #include #include #include #include #include #include #include #include #define EPSILON 1.0E-5 bool is_close(double x, double y) { return std::abs(x - y) < EPSILON; } int parametrization_tests(); int main(int argc, char** argv) { int nb_tests_failed = 0; // Parametrization tests // nb_tests_failed += parametrization_tests(); // Evaluation tests // std::cout << "<> " << nb_tests_failed << " tests failed" << std::endl; return nb_tests_failed; } bool is_close(const vec& a, const vec& b) { double dist = 0.0; for(int i=0; i> out = " << cart << ", while attending " << res << std::endl; } // Convert RUSIN_TH_TD (0,pi/2) to CARTESIAN (1,0,0,-1,0,0) rhd[0] = 0; rhd[1] = M_PI*0.5; res[0] = 1; res[1] = 0; res[2] = 0; res[3] = -1; res[4] = 0; res[5] = 0; params::convert(&rhd[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD, params::CARTESIAN, &cart[0]); if(!is_close(cart, res)) { nb_tests_failed++; std::cout << "<> out = " << cart << ", while attending " << res << std::endl; } // Convert RUSIN_TH_TD (0, pi/2) to CARTESIAN (1,0,0,-1,0,0) and to RUSIN_VH (0,0,1) rhd[0] = 0; rhd[1] = M_PI*0.5; res[0] = 1; res[1] = 0; res[2] = 0; res[3] = -1; res[4] = 0; res[5] = 0; params::convert(&rhd[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD, params::CARTESIAN, &cart[0]); if(!is_close(cart, res)) { nb_tests_failed++; std::cout << "<> out = " << cart << ", while attending " << res << std::endl; } else { params::convert(&rhd[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD, params::RUSIN_VH, &vh[0]); res.resize(3); res[0] = 0; res[1] = 0; res[2] = 1; if(!is_close(vh, res)) { nb_tests_failed++; std::cout << "<> out = " << vh << ", while attending " << res << std::endl; } } /* // Test the rotation code vec x(3); x[0] = 0; x[1] = 0; x[2] = 1; params::rotate_binormal(&x[0], 0.5*M_PI); std::cout << "<> x = " << x << std::endl; params::rotate_binormal(&x[0], -0.5*M_PI); std::cout << "<> x = " << x << std::endl; std::cout << "<> acos(x[2]) = " << acos(x[2]) << std::endl; // Test Rusinkevich parametrization vec cart(6), spherical(4); vec rusi(3); // Equal directions test, when the PHI_D is ZERO rusi[0] = 0.25*M_PI; rusi[1] = 0.0; rusi[2] = 0.0; params::convert(&rusi[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, params::CARTESIAN, &cart[0]); const double dot = cart[0]*cart[3] + cart[1]*cart[4] + cart[2]*cart[5]; if(!is_close(cart[0], cart[3]) || !is_close(cart[1], cart[4]) || !is_close(cart[2], cart[5]) || !is_close(dot, 1.0)) { std::cout << "<> rusin 3d: " << rusi << std::endl; std::cout << "<> cartesian: " << cart << std::endl; std::cout << "<> dot: " << dot << std::endl; std::cout << std::endl; nb_tests_failed++; } // Pathological case when THETA_H and THETA_D are equal to // PI/4 and PHI_D PI, the conversion seems to fail. rusi[0] = 0.759218; rusi[1] = 0.759218; rusi[2] = 3.14159; try { params::convert(&rusi[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, &spherical[0]); params::convert(&spherical[0], params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, &rusi[0]); } catch(...) { std::cout << "<> the conversion failed" << std::endl; std::cout << "<> rusin 3d: " << rusi << std::endl; std::cout << "<> cartesian: " << spherical << std::endl; nb_tests_failed++; } // Convert issue #1 vec cart2(6); spherical[0] = 0; spherical[1] = 0; spherical[2] = 1.51844; spherical[3] = -2.96706; params::convert(&spherical[0], params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, params::CARTESIAN, &cart2[0]); try { params::convert(&spherical[0], params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, &rusi[0]); params::convert(&rusi[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, &spherical[0]); params::convert(&spherical[0], params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, params::CARTESIAN, &cart[0]); } catch(...) { std::cout << "<> the conversion failed" << std::endl; std::cout << "<> rusin 3d: " << rusi << std::endl; std::cout << "<> spherical: " << spherical << std::endl; nb_tests_failed++; } /// Test on a known couple of directions /// in = [0, 0, 1] out = [1, 0, 0] // Convert from Cartesian to spherical cart[0] = 0; cart[1] = 0; cart[2] = 1; cart[3] = 1; cart[4] = 0; cart[5] = 0; params::convert(&cart[0], params::CARTESIAN, params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, &spherical[0]); std::cout << "From cartesian to spherical" << std::endl; std::cout << spherical << std::endl << std::endl; params::convert(&cart[0], params::CARTESIAN, params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, &rusi[0]); std::cout << "From cartesian to rusi" << std::endl; std::cout << rusi << std::endl << std::endl; params::convert(&rusi[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, params::CARTESIAN, &cart[0]); std::cout << "From rusi to cartesian" << std::endl; std::cout << cart << std::endl << std::endl; params::convert(&spherical[0], params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, &rusi[0]); std::cout << "From spherical to rusi" << std::endl; std::cout << rusi << std::endl << std::endl; params::convert(&rusi[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, &spherical[0]); std::cout << "From rusi to spherical" << std::endl; std::cout << spherical << std::endl << std::endl; params::convert(&rusi[0], params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, params::CARTESIAN, &cart[0]); std::cout << "From rusi to cartesian" << std::endl; std::cout << cart << std::endl << std::endl; params::convert(&spherical[0], params::SPHERICAL_TL_PL_TV_PV, params::RUSIN_TH_TD_PD, &rusi[0]); std::cout << "From spherical to rusi" << std::endl; std::cout << rusi << std::endl << std::endl; */ return nb_tests_failed; } #endif
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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BPM Everywhere
BPM Everywhere (BPME) represents a strategy for coping, and possibly exploiting, the disruption that is anticipated as a result of structural changes due to technical progression known as the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT will substantially increase the number of devices connected together and will increase the complexity of those connections.
IoT is expected to cause the practitioners of Business Process Management (BPM), a well-established discipline concerned with management and optimizing an organizations processes, to face a number of critical issues.
In November 2014, IT Industry magazine, Information Age said that "Simply because they connect, communicate and analyse doesn’t make an IoT thing productive or useful. To be impactful, IoT technologies need to solve real problems that typically involve multiple collaborating activities that include people, systems, and 'things'."
According to Dr. Setrag Khoshafian, a leading expert in Business Process Management (BPM), "the real transformation of the IoT will occur through the 'end-to-end digitization of processes.'"
BPME is an approach that leverages traditional business process modeling techniques together with process mining and process analytics in order to automate and distribute the job of discovering, measuring, and improving the processes. Nathaniel Palmer, leading analyst in the field of BPM and Director of the Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC), sees BPME as a next-generation application development platform, combining the ability to quickly adapt processes with the ability to more cost-effectively design and build better applications Palmer views this as one most significant shifts in the way applications are currently built, as well as shift for 3-tier to 4-tier architectures.
The impact of IoT on the business world in the coming decade has been compared to the impact of smart phones on the previous decade. BPME is one among several potential resolution strategies, which includes Social internet of Things.
Surendra Reddy, CEO of Quantiply said "People, Things and Processes that run in this connected world leave behind vast digital footprints of these processes, things, people, interactions, and daily rhythms of the society. As a result, the Internet is a powerful tool to persuade, connect and engage humans and things alike serving as the common fabric of interconnection among everything". Whilst Nathaniel Palmer suggests "Not even the emergence of the Web and Internet-based “digital native” business models can compare with the level of intimacy now available with your customers".
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WIKI
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USS Lamberton
USS Lamberton (DD-119)/(DMS-2) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy in commission from 1918 to 1922 and from 1930 to 1946. She saw service during World War II. She was the only ship named for Benjamin P. Lamberton, a rear admiral who served with Admiral Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 during the Spanish–American War.
Construction and commissioning
Lamberton was laid down on 1 October 1917 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 30 March 1918, sponsored by Miss Isabell Stedman Lamberton, Admiral Lamberton's granddaughter. The vessel was commissioned on 22 August 1918, Lieutenant Commander Frank Slingluff, Jr. in command.
Pre-World War II
After shakedown in the Caribbean Sea, Lamberton joined the United States Atlantic Fleet for maneuvers in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores in early 1919. Reassigned to the newly formed United States Pacific Fleet, she departed Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 19 July 1919 and arrived at San Diego, California, on 7 August 1919.
Based at San Diego, Lamberton operated along the United States West Coast from August 1919 until June 1922. She participated in training maneuvers and performed experiments to improve naval tactics. She was decommissioned at San Diego on 30 June 1922.
Lamberton recommissioned on 15 November 1930, Lieutenant Commander S. N. Moore in command. Operating along the U.S. West Coast, she performed training exercises for nearly two years. She was reclassified as a "miscellaneous auxiliary," AG-21, on 16 April 1932 and was converted to a target-towing ship. From 1933 until 1940 she operated from San Diego towing targets for surface ships, submarines, and aircraft. She also engaged in experimental minesweeping exercises off the U.S. West Coast and was reclassified as a "destroyer minesweeper", DMS-2, on 19 November 1940. The actor Ernest Borgnine served aboard Lamberton until his discharge from the Navy in September 1941. After arriving at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 11 September 1941, Lamberton resumed target towing and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) screening operations in the Hawaiian Islands.
World War II
Lamberton was escorting the heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36) to Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, bringing the United States into World War II. Following the attack, she returned to Pearl Harbor to sweep the harbor for mines. For the next seven months she remained on offshore patrol in the Hawaiian Islands.
Departing Pearl Harbor on 11 July 1942, Lamberton steamed north, arriving at Kodiak on Kodiak Island in the Territory of Alaska on 18 July 1942. She performed patrol and escort duty in the North Pacific Ocean during the Aleutian Islands campaign. In mid-May 1943, she escorted the U.S. Navy task group which brought reinforcements for the second amphibious landing at Massacre Bay on Attu Island during the Battle of Attu. Lamberton continued patrol operations off Attu until late June 1943, when she departed for Kuluk Bay on Adak Island. She then steamed to San Diego, arriving there on 23 July 1943. For the rest of World War II, she performed target-towing operations off the U.S. West Coast and from Pearl Harbor. Lamberton was reclassified as a miscellaneous auxiliary and again redesignated AG-21 on 5 June 1945, and, following the Japanese surrender that ended the war in August 1945, she operated as an auxiliary ship based at San Diego.
On 9 October 1945 Lamberton was one of 266 vessels damaged by Typhoon Louise when it struck Okinawa, and was one of 222 ships that ran aground during the typhoon. She later was refloated and returned to duty.
Decommissioning and disposal
Lamberton was decommissioned at Bremerton, Washington, on 13 December 1946 and was sold on 9 May 1947 to National Metal and Steel Corporation at Terminal Island in Los Angeles, California, for scrapping.
Awards
Lamberton received one battle star for her World War II service.
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WIKI
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Deploying PHP and Mysql Apps on Heroku
Deploying PHP and Mysql Apps on Heroku
This tutorial will help you deploying a PHP and Mysql app.
Prerequisites
1. a free Heroku account.
2. PHP installed locally.
3. Composer installed locally.
Set up
In this step you will install the Heroku Toolbelt. This provides you access to the Heroku Command Line Interface (CLI), which can be used for managing and scaling your applications and add-ons.
To install the Toolbelt for ubuntu/Debian
wget -O- https://toolbelt.heroku.com/install-ubuntu.sh | sh
After installing Toolbelt you can use the heroku command from your command shell.
$ heroku login
Enter your Heroku credentials.
Email: [email protected]
Password:
...
Authenticating is required to allow both the heroku and git commands to operate.
Prepare the app
In this step, you will prepare a fossasia/engelsystem application that can be deployed.
To clone the sample application so that you have a local version of the code that you can then deploy to Heroku, execute the following commands in your local command shell or terminal:
$ git clone --recursive https://github.com/fossasia/engelsystem.git
$ cd engelsystem/
If it is not a git repository you follow these steps
$ cd engelsystem/
$ git init
You now have a functioning git repository that contains a simple application now we need to add a composer.json file. Make sure you’ve installed Composer.
The Heroku PHP Support will be applied to applications only when the application has a file named composer.json in the root directory. Even if an application has no Composer dependencies, it must include at least an empty ({}) composer.json in order to be recognized as a PHP application.
When Heroku recognizes a PHP application, it will respond accordingly during a push:
$ git push heroku master
-----> PHP app detected
Define a Procfile
A Procfile is a text file in the root directory of your application that defines process types and explicitly declares what command should be executed to start your app. Your Procfile will look something like this for engelsystem:
web: vendor/bin/heroku-php-apache2 public/
Since our folder named public that contains your JavaScript, CSS, images and index.php file, your Procfile would define the Apache web server with that directory used as document root.
Create the app
In this step you will create the app to Heroku.
Create an app on Heroku, which prepares Heroku to receive your source code:
$ heroku create
Creating sharp-rain-871... done, stack is cedar-14
http://sharp-rain-871.herokuapp.com/ | https://git.heroku.com/sharp-rain-871.git
Git remote heroku added
When you create an app, a git remote (called heroku) is also created and associated with your local git repository.
Heroku generates a random name (in this case sharp-rain-871) for your app, or you can pass a parameter to specify your own app name.
But Once you open http://sharp-rain-871.herokuapp.com/ we will not be able to view the site if there are database connections. We need to migrate the database using Cleardb
ClearDB MySQL
Migrating database
Creating your ClearDB database
To create your ClearDB database, simply type the following Heroku command:
$ heroku addons:create cleardb:ignite
-----> Adding cleardb to sharp-mountain-4005... done, v18 (free)
This will automatically provision your new ClearDB database for you and will return the database URL to access it.
You can retrieve your new ClearDB database URL by issuing the following command:
$ heroku config | grep CLEARDB_DATABASE_URL
CLEARDB_DATABASE_URL: mysql://bda37eff166954:[email protected]leardb.net/heroku_3c94174e0cc6cd8?reconnect=true
After getting the cleardb database url we can import the tables by following command:
$mysql -u bda37eff166954 -h us-cdbr-iron-east-04.cleardb.net -p heroku_3c94174e0cc6cd8
than you well get a mysql prompt with connection to the database. Than you can import the tables using the following commands
mysql> source [path to engelsystem]/engelsystem/db/install.sql;
mysql> source [path to engelsystem]/engelsystem/db/update.sql;
mysql> exit;
Now the tables are migrated successfully.
Declare app dependencies
Since we have added the mysql database we need to add the dependencies also.
{
"require": {
"ext-mysql": "*"
},
"require": {
"ext-gettext": "*"
},
"require-dev": {
"heroku/heroku-buildpack-php": "*"
}
}
The composer.json file specifies the dependencies that should be installed with your application. When an app is deployed, Heroku reads this file and installs the appropriate dependencies into the vendor directory.
Run the following command to install the dependencies, preparing your system for running the app locally:
$ composer update
Loading composer repositories with package information
Updating dependencies (including require-dev)
- Installing psr/log (1.0.0)
Loading from cache
...
Writing lock file
Generating autoload files
You should always check composer.json and composer.lock into your git repo. The vendor directory should be included in your .gitignore file.
Using ClearDB with PHP
Connecting to ClearDB from PHP merely requires the parsing of the CLEARDB_DATABASE_URL environment variable and passing the extracted connection information to your MySQL library of choice, e.g. MySQLi:
we need to modify it in the config/config.php file
$url = parse_url(getenv("CLEARDB_DATABASE_URL"));
$server = $url["host"];
$username = $url["user"];
$password = $url["pass"];
$db = substr($url["path"], 1);
$config = array(
'host' => $server ,
'user' => $username ,
'pw' => $password,
'db' => $db
);
Deploy the app
All the steps are completed now we need to deploy it. Push the code to Heroku. For pushing pushing development branch we need to follow these commands.
$ git add -A
$ git commit -m "heroku deploy"
$ git push heroku development:master
Initializing repository, done.
Counting objects: 7, done.
Delta compression using up to 4 threads.
Compressing objects: 100% (4/4), done.
Writing objects: 100% (7/7), 1.66 KiB | 0 bytes/s, done.
Total 7 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0)
-----> PHP app detected
-----> Setting up runtime environment...
- PHP 5.5.12
- Apache 2.4.9
- Nginx 1.4.6
-----> Installing PHP extensions:
- opcache (automatic; bundled, using 'ext-opcache.ini')
-----> Installing dependencies...
Composer version 64ac32fca9e64eb38e50abfadc6eb6f2d0470039 2014-05-24 20:57:50
Loading composer repositories with package information
Installing dependencies from lock file
...
- Installing monolog/monolog (1.9.1)
Generating optimized autoload files
-----> Building runtime environment...
-----> Discovering process types
Procfile declares types -> web
-----> Compressing... done, 57.4MB
-----> Launching... done, v3
http://sharp-rain-871.herokuapp.com/ deployed to Heroku
To [email protected]:sharp-rain-871.git
* [new branch] development -> master
Now your app is successfully deployed you can view it here http://sharp-rain-871.herokuapp.com/
Englesystem
Development: https://github.com/fossasia/engelsystem
Issues/Bugs: Issues
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Untouchable (Itzy song)
"Untouchable" is a song recorded by the South Korean girl group Itzy for their second studio album Born to Be (2024). It was released as the album's lead single through JYP Entertainment on January 8, 2024. Written by Bang Hye-hyun and Lee Seu-ran, the track carries elements of dance-pop and EDM. Lyrically, "Untouchable" conveys a message of resilience in facing the hardships of reality.
Background and release
On December 4, 2023, JYP Entertainment announced Itzy's second studio album Born to Be, along with its tracklist, which listed "Untouchable" as the album's lead single, marking its release for January 8, 2024, in conjunction with the album's release. With the release date set amid Lia's hiatus, the single was recorded by the group as a quartet.
A snippet of the single's music video depicting the quartet performing in a straight-line formation was released as the single's first teaser on January 4, 2024. Another teaser was released the following day, depicting the members in coordinating all-black outfits, performing in a stage adorned in red lights.
Composition
"Untouchable" was co-written by Bang Hye-hyun and Lee Seu-ran and co-composed by Maria Marcus, Zarah Christenson, and Toblas Näslund. A dance-pop EDM track driven by "strong guitar sounds", the song expresses one's resilience in combatting the hardships of reality in its lyrics. It features "extremely addictive refrains" supported by an "electrifying groove" throughout its runtime of three minutes and 14 seconds. The song was written in the key of C minor and carries an average tempo of 105 bpm.
Accolades
On South Korea music programs, "Untouchable" achieved a first place win on the January 19 episode of Music Bank in 2024.
Music video
The music video was released in conjunction with the album on January 8, 2024. The visual depicts the members "strutting into the spotlight" while being surrounded by a "wall of soldiers holding up riot shields", as they perform "dynamic choreography" as their weapon. Azrin Tan of Vogue Singapore posited that the visual presents a "mature" image of the group, noting the song's "slick" choreography and the styling of the members for the video. The video culminates in the quartet causing an explosion once the soldiers close in the group, as they continue performing.
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WIKI
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Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2016 June 7
= June 7 =
Ramadan fasting, when you are way up north
Muslims are originally dwellers from regions not too far from the Equator. For them, it is obviously possible to fasten during the day. However, what would a Muslim do, if he lives farther up north? The time between dawn and sunset would get longer the closer you get to the north pole. Are they also forced to keep the fasting? --Llaanngg (talk) 00:22, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Read this. I found by typing a variation of your question into Google. Generally, questions can be answered faster if you try programs like Google. That's all anyone here does anyways, and waiting for other people to do what you can do yourself will often take longer than if you just did it yourself. -- Jayron 32 01:15, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Here is an overview of scholarly opinions, fatwas and solutions, the "Fiqh of long fasts in areas of extreme latitude" ---Sluzzelin talk 01:23, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* It appears that this is not an exception to WP:WHAAOE, though the previously linked sources are of course better. Double sharp (talk) 09:07, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
in reply to, this user refers to the article at wikiislam stating this matter. in reply to, the non-existence of any rule limiting the range of on-topic questions ensures that enquiries are performed at refdesk without any considerations of searching by the selfFAMASFREENODE (talk) 12:45, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* I never mentioned any rules. You were the first person to bring up the word, which is an complete nonsequitur. I advised the OP on how to do things better on their own. Please read give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Come back if that concept doesn't make sense to you, and I will provide you with additional reading on the subject. -- Jayron 32 17:10, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
This is similar to Jews keeping the Sabbath at extreme latitudes. One solution, honest to Jimbo, is to "not live that far North." I am not sure what they do above the Arctic Circle, but otherwise, you are looking at an 11 PM end time, and when it's a fast day, many people go to sleep and eat when they wake up rather than stay up very late. Sir Joseph (talk) 14:08, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* To be fair, there are fatwas explaining all sorts of really unusual and unlikely scenarios - I seem to recall one dealing with observant muslims who become astronauts, going into diet and cleanliness and obligatory prayer and so forth. UltraExactZZ Said~ Did 20:11, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Same with Judaism. If a religious Jew orbits the Earth, when does he observe the Sabbath, say daily prayers, etc.? Sir Joseph (talk) 20:14, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Not sure. I know at least one Israeli flew on the shuttle (the late Ilan Ramon), but I'm not sure how observant he was. As for rules governing Muslims in space, I found the astronaut - it was Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor of Malaysia. See Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor. UltraExactZZ Said~ Did 20:22, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* There were at least 14 Jewish astronauts: List of Jewish astronauts. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Llaanngg (talk • contribs) 21:26, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* List of Muslim astronauts The Quixotic Potato (talk) 05:52, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
Re the comments about Jewish law. As with many aspects of Jewish law, this is debated and discussed. There have been various responsa on both the latitude and orbiting astronaut problems. I'm aware of a ruling that says, respectively, to follow the timetable of the nearest Jewish community / the community closest to the place from where the astronaut blasted off. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 12:04, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
* I believe other than "don't do it", the astronauts would follow Houston time (for US space program astronauts) for Jewish laws based on time. At least that is what I remember from years ago when this came up. Sir Joseph (talk) 14:17, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
* Not if they blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome or Guiana Space Centre. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 14:39, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
* Not sure, they never blast off from Houston, they usually leave from Florida, but Houston is the control so that is why Houston was picked. I'm not sure how it would work with a commercial venture. Sir Joseph (talk) 15:38, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
* suggests Ilan Ramon followed Houston time. Meanwhile and suggests there was a ruling he should follow Cape Canaveral time. Some of those sources and suggest one of the early people consulted suggested it wasn't necessary to follow the earthly observances at all. sort of implies he decided to follow Houston time. has some interesting related discussion. My guess is that since there was some rulings suggesting he should follow Houston time and he probably didn't care much personally and possibly the first person he consulted told him he didn't even have to observe and finally because it was probably easier to follow the same timezone being used by the mission which I guess was Houston time, he decided to follow Houston time. The SMH source suggests Ilan Ramon was the first to want to practice Jewish observances not because he was particularly religious/observant but he felt he should as the first Israeli. I'm not sure if it's come up again since then. For the ISS, it's probably more complicate. I believe they use UTC as their time zone, but it isn't in reference to any particular place. Nil Einne (talk) 05:52, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
Timing of Islamist suicide attacks
Is the frequency of Islamist suicide attacks in Ramadan independent of Gregorian month?
Does the holy month (Ramadan) or holy day (Friday) traditionally have few suicide attacks?
What months, hours, and days of the week have the most and the fewest?
Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 04:48, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Well, 7/7 was a Friday Thursday. I remember I'd just had this massive dump, that's why I was under the impression it was a Friday. Thanks for the corrections below. Muffled Pocketed 09:17, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
in reply to, this user asserts the fact that statistically majority sects of islam forbids offensive strikes against infidels during fridays and the month of ramadan. the infamous surah of repentence, the ninth one in quran, ordered the prophet to wait out.FAMASFREENODE (talk) 12:37, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* In fairness to the IP who started the talk page thread, they did wikilink freenode's user, which should have given freenode an alert, hence the courtesy of informing was observed. SemanticMantis (talk) 14:18, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* 7/7 was a Thursday. The numerals in the date can be reversed, but the day of the week has to stick with what it was, in 2005, in London. Carbon Caryatid (talk) 19:37, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
Is what remains of the U.K.'s "Jews Relief Act" constitutional?
(Please note, I am not the troll - check my edit history)
My question is about the Jews Relief Act 1858, or the one restriction that it still imposes on Jewish Prime Ministers - that they may not advise certain government officials on matters related to appointments in the Church of England or the Church of Scotland.
Now I'm well aware that this power (advising on church appointments) is only an illusory power, for the most part - the Prime Minister is given a Hobson's choice, as Margaret Thatcher discovered. And as pointed out in a previous discussion, "politicians make decisions about the Church of England for political reasons, as seen with the women bishops, not because they have any particular theological conviction, or even because they particularly care what actual Anglicans believe or do". But let's put all that aside.
If the law said that "only Anglican Prime Ministers may advise government officials on matters related to appointments in the Church of England", I would assume it to be constitutional - the same way you wouldn't expect a Catholic Parish to appoint an Anglican as a Priest, or vice versa. Religious bodies, to my understanding, generally have the right to limit internal "religious" decisions to members of their own Religion, and deciding whom to appoint as a Bishop, for example, definitely falls into that category.
My question about the constitutionality of this act, is in the sense that it specifically singles out Jews. A Muslim, Hindu, or Sikh Prime Minister could advise on Church appointments, but a Jew - no? Would this accord with the Human Rights Act 1998 for example, or general legal principles of Equality before the law, as they apply to U.K. common law? If Ed Milliband challenged the law in the courts (which I highly doubt he'd do, but assume he did it), what would the likely ruling be?
Please note that as far as I can see, this is not a request for legal advice, as there's essentially ZERO chance of anyone acting on the opinions expressed. I'm not Ed Milliband, and I don't think he (or any other future Jewish Prime Minister of the U.K.) will look to wikipedia to answer the question for him or her, should they care to challenge the law.
(I'm afraid that some IPs will attempt to answer this question and be caught out by that damn edit filter, not knowing what hit them. If you don't have an account and the edit filter blocks your response, post your answer on the Reference Desk talk page, so someone can copy and paste it here) Eliyohub (talk) 15:13, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* I don't know the answer, but the beauty of the British Constitution is that if something is wrong with the present arrangement, Parliament is free to change it and it can be done in a very short space of time. An effective work-around for the situation where a non-Christian Prime Minister took office might be the appointment of an advisory council who could make the decision for him (or her). Alansplodge (talk) 22:23, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* Anthony Bradney, a legal research fellow, makes this exact point in Law and Faith in a Sceptical Age, that the relevant sections of the Jews Relief Act 1858 and Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 restricting just these two groups from offering this advice, appears to be incompatible with the Human Rights Act. Warofdreams talk 23:06, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* I don't have any references to back this up, just some conjecture. We are talking about the Human Rights Act specifically, not human rights generally. The Human Rights Act implements a Europe-wide treaty, and there are plenty of European states with established religions. Some might argue that the establishment of religion is in itself incompatible with freedom of religion, but it seems unlikely that the ECHR would have been framed so as to outlaw establishment of religion. And once you accept establishment of religion to be compatible with this specific interpretation of human rights, it doesn't seem disproportionate to not give non-co-religionists a say in the running of that religion. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 11:06, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
* Have you looked at the link I provided above? Bradney discusses exactly this. Warofdreams talk 14:08, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
* Warofdreams, I did read the extract you linked to, and my post above is in response to that somewhat brief statement. It doesn't analyse it substantively and is quite equivocal, I don't know if there was a more substantive analysis elsewhere in the work that I did not see. Going only by that page, the OP's post is better reasoned and more substantial than Mr Bradney's one sentence supposition. The point of my responses is that, it's easy to suppose that provisions like this might be contrary to the Human Rights Act, but looking at it conceptually it needs not necessarily be so. In short, I am not convinced that there is a fair arguable case after reading the page you linked to. I am hoping someone can find a better, more reasoned analysis; I have not been able to after spending a few minutes on Google. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 17:59, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
What's the UK equivalent to "unconstititonal" ?
Inspired by the above Q, what exactly happens in the UK when Parliament passes an act that is in serious need of immediate repeal ? Let's say (after the press causes a panic by publishing a false story, for example) Parliament passes an act confiscating all newspapers, TV stations, and other media outlets. Is there no recourse short of voting the members of Parliament out of office, or is there some type of legal review process that would find such a law unreasonable and repeal it, similar to what the US Supreme Court would do ? StuRat (talk) 16:05, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* While Britain does have a constitution (that is, a set of governing principles that describes how the state is supposed to function), the concept of Parliament passing an unconstitutional law is not one of them, simply because of the concept of parliamentary supremacy, which holds that Parliament's actions cannot be bound by any actions of past Parliaments. -- Jayron 32 17:04, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* The nearest things would be: (i) a declaration of incompatibility under the Human Rights Act 1998; and (ii) infringement of EU Treaty, for failure to implement / comply with EU law, in proceedings brought by the European Commission. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 20:05, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* There's also refusal of the monarch's assent (which would precipitate a "constitutional crisis" but in the hypothetical circumstance outlined above, might well be forthcoming.) - Nunh-huh 21:06, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Refusal of assent is similar to the concept of unconstitutionality in that it stops the law becoming law, but it is also different because it is the intervention of the sovereign rather than the courts. I'm not sure of the legal tradition that StuRat had in mind with the original post. If it is the US, then refusal of assent is, at least formally, more akin to a presidential veto, rather than a declaration of unconstitutionality. If it is a Commonwealth country with a written constitution, then refusal or assent is, at least formally, equivalent to the refusal of (viceregal) assent, which also is different from a declaration of unconstitutionality by the courts. In the UK, even under the theoretical modern practice, the withholding of assent does not, I think, depend on the law being unconstitutional. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 21:33, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* UK law is fun. My jurisprudence professor used to talk about stuff that the UK technically leaves open to possibly happening, even if it wouldn't. For instance, the idea of a general warrant. Parliamentary acts can even abolish some of the most ancient principles of English law. Trial by combat, for instance, was theoretically available into the 19th century. —/M endaliv /2¢/Δ's/ 20:20, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Strictly speaking, Ashford v Thornton abolished the appeal of felony, not wager of battle itself. The last (unsuccessful) attempt was in 2002, over an expired tax disc - not a felony at common-law. On the more serious issue, a recent example is the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, which, although duly enacted by Parliament, was subject to a declaration of incompatibility and made unworkable in practice by the courts. There is also the Royal veto, but that wouldn't be a live issue unless the country were on the brink of civil war. Tevildo (talk) 20:38, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Well, technically speaking you're right: The abolition of the appeal of felony is what happened after that case, not trial by battle itself. That said, appeal of felony was the only remaining circumstance under which trial by battle could even be pleaded at that time. One of the few other circumstances where it was available was to try a writ of right (the other option with a writ of right was a grand assize, which would have required calling up twelve knights). The general reforms to the UK's judicial system—particularly the unavailability of the writs and esoteric forms of action under which such anachronistic modes of trial could be undertaken—further cemented their abolition. —/M endaliv /2¢/Δ's/ 20:57, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
headgear
What exactly is Sir Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney KCMG KStJ wearing? Is it a British tropical trend (only mad dogs and Englishmen), or an emblem of rank, or a gift from a Malayan princeling? There was a (British) judge, allegedly, in British India who got fed up with the courtroom heat, and tore off his horsehair wig, after which all his fellow judges felt liberated to choose to bare their hair. At what point did colonial administrators (British and other) cease to wear daft hats? And what places had the daftest? I'm more interested in the sartorial aspect than the legalities of "colony"; I'd be delighted to hear that tax inspectors in the Falklands have to have half a sheep on their head for their valuations to be valid in a court of law. Officials on home territory don't count, otherwise the Italian police forces would win. Carbon Caryatid (talk) 17:18, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* It is exactly a Pith helmet. Daftness is not quantifiable, so your other questions cannot be answered. -- Jayron 32 17:20, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* It's twice as large as any pith helmet I'd ever seen before, so I didn't even look there. Further down that article, it appears that he may be exactly wearing the Wolseley pattern -- or maybe not, as it lacks the red swan's plume. If daftness is deemed unencyclopedic, and goodness knows the refdesks have competently answered dafter questions than this one, then a surrogate indicator might be a combination of size (height or volume) and specificity, for lack of a better word (the difference of said headgear from anything the locals wore, or the colonial administrators wore back home in Europe). Carbon Caryatid (talk) 18:36, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* It's the same size as any other pith helmet anyone has ever seen. It does have a rather large Plume. But that's a separate accessory apart from the hat itself. Such plumes were very common at the time of the picture in question (say the end of the 19th century through the first 3 decades of the 20th century). -- Jayron 32 02:09, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* Not sure your dates quite add up. While the photo is undated, my vague memory of having seen that or similar photos in history text books in Malaysia is that it was probably dated not long before his assasination which was at the start of 6th decade of the 20th century, so either 5th or 6th. Or if by first 3 decades you mean 1900-1940 for some reason, it's still nearly a decade out. Nil Einne (talk) 05:20, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* I think Idries Shah has something to say about "government by astonishment" with regard to British colonial headgear in one of his books. DuncanHill (talk) 18:51, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* In the event the plumes have to be taken into account. The same shape seems to be represented again at Sir Henry own funerals, so our own stock photograph might be originated from a simiular occasion; --Askedonty (talk) 19:26, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* "Government by astonishment", what a lovely phrase. (And Wikipedia has its own Principle of least astonishment.) The story is told in Shah's Adventures, Fact, and Fantasy in Darkest England (1999) and reminds me of the golden chamberpot in the original Utopia. Thanks for the images, too, Askedonty. Carbon Caryatid (talk) 19:42, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* You're welcome. I couldn't find the proper pictures on Wikipedia (rather than the plumes it is perhaps called something about feathers), but these other pictures reminded me there is a parentage linking pith helmet with parade pickelhauben. --Askedonty (talk) 19:58, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* (e/c) Idries Shah devotes an entire chapter (23) of his book Darkest England to "Government by Astonishment". The particular anecdote to which Duncan may be referring is on p. 224. -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 22:30, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
* Thanks Jack, my copy of Darkest England is hiding from me at the moment. Yes, it's the episode with the ostrich feather that I was thinking of. DuncanHill (talk) 17:00, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
* Found it! It was hiding between a puncture repair kit and the Discworld. I suspect some kind of L-Space effect. DuncanHill (talk) 22:09, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
* Just in case we're comparing apples and oranges, or pineapples and coconuts....
* Sir henry gurney.gif
* BritsLookingOnBaghdad1941.jpg
* Frankly, I didn't recognise Sir Henry's headgear as related to the soldiers' until Jayron said it was; I acknowledge the similarities, but I think there's more to this story. (Please re-format if you can improve the layout.) Carbon Caryatid (talk) 08:13, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* The big pith helmet with plumes looks like a fairly standard design often worn by governors of tropical territories. I'm just not sure whether they are wearing them because they are governors, or because of their concurrent military roles (the big pith helmet, no plumes, seems to have been a fairly standard part of ceremonial uniform for the British military in the tropics). You can see examples of multiple governors of Bermuda wearing the same sort of headdress on this page, and here's a photo of a governor of the Seychelles in 1972. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 10:34, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* This page, about the uniform of the governor of St Helena, calls the governor's uniform (complete with the plumed pith helmet) the "full dress Colonial Officers’ tropical ceremonial uniform", and describes the hat as a "Marlborough helmet with Generals’ swan’s feather plumes". It also helpfully explains the demise of the traditional uniform -- due to austerity on Westminster's part. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 10:37, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* Excellent finds, thanks. It presents one side of the demise; I bet there are plenty of anti-nostalgists who are thinking "Thank goodness my official representative no longer looks like a Gilbert and Sullivan character." Carbon Caryatid (talk) 11:41, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* I knew there had to be a reason for Her Majesty needing all those swans. {The poster formerly known as <IP_ADDRESS>} <IP_ADDRESS> (talk) 13:54, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* Are you taking the pith? Alansplodge (talk) 22:13, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* Rex Hunt, the Governor of the Falkland Islands, pointedly wore his cocked hat with swan's feathers when he was expelled from the islands by the Argentinian occupation forces (An Ungentlemanly Act). The Falkland Islands being non-tropical, he got a hat instead of a helmet. Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong, apparently chose not to wear the uniform that he was entitled to, but this photo in 1997 shows him with one of his subordinates who did wear the helmet-and-feathers combo, this time with black feathers; I believe it's the Commissioner of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. Alansplodge (talk) 18:05, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* BTW, the pith helmet worn by colonial governors seems pretty similar to that worn today by Royal Marines on high days and holidays. Try telling them that it looks daft (I'll hold your coat for you). Alansplodge (talk) 22:13, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
* "Lo, all our pomp of yesterday" has not all departed; here is the Governor of Bermuda proudly wearing his "daft hat" last April. Alansplodge (talk) 23:56, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
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WIKI
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Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1) gene rearrangements show dramatic response to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) crizotinib. Current best practice guidelines recommend that all advanced stage non-squamous NSCLC patients be also tested for ROS1 gene rearrangements. Several studies have suggested that ROS1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the D4D6 antibody may be used to screen for ROS1 fusion positive lung cancers, with assays showing high sensitivity but moderate to high specificity. A break apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test is then used to confirm the presence of ROS1 gene rearrangement. The goal of Canadian ROS1 (CROS) study was to harmonize ROS1 laboratory developed testing (LDT) by using IHC and FISH assays to detect ROS1 rearranged lung cancers across Canadian pathology laboratories. Cell lines expressing different levels of ROS1 (high, low, none) were used to calibrate IHC protocols after which participating laboratories ran the calibrated protocols on a reference set of 24 NSCLC cases (9 ROS1 rearranged tumors and 15 ROS1 non-rearranged tumors as determined by FISH). Results were compared using a centralized readout. The stained slides were evaluated for the cellular localization of staining, intensity of staining, the presence of staining in non-tumor cells, the presence of non-specific staining (e.g. necrosis, extracellular mater, other) and the percent positive cells. H-score was also determined for each tumor. Analytical sensitivity and specificity harmonization was achieved by using low limit of detection (LOD) as either any positivity in the U118 cell line or H-score of 200 with the HCC78 cell line. An overall diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of up to 100% and 99% respectively was achieved for ROS1 IHC testing (relative to FISH) using an adjusted H-score readout on the reference cases. This study confirms that LDT ROS1 IHC assays can be highly sensitive and specific for detection of ROS1 rearrangements in NSCLC. As NSCLC can demonstrate ROS1 IHC positivity in FISH-negative cases, the degree of the specificity of the IHC assay, especially in highly sensitive protocols, is mostly dependent on the readout cut-off threshold. As ROS1 IHC is a screening assay for a rare rearrangements in NSCLC, we recommend adjustment of the readout threshold in order to balance specificity, rather than decreasing the overall analytical and diagnostic sensitivity of the protocols.
Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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USS Volans
USS Volans (AKS-9) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
Liberty ship SS Edward Preble was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 772) on 19 October 1942 at South Portland, Maine, by the New England Shipbuilding Corporation; launched on 2 February 1943; sponsored by Miss Beverly Brown; renamed Volans and designated AKS-9 on 13 November 1943; and acquired by the Navy on 2 December 1943. Taken to the Tampa Bay Shipbuilding Co., Inc., Volans was converted for naval service at that yard, the work lasting into the following year. On 31 March 1944, Volans (AKS-9) was commissioned at Tampa, Florida.
World War II operations
Following her shakedown training in Chesapeake Bay and post-shakedown availability at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Volans loaded her initial cargo and got underway for the Panama Canal Zone on 11 May 1944. After transiting the Panama Canal, the stores issue ship experienced a two-day layover at Balboa, on the Pacific Ocean side of the isthmian waterway, before she sailed on 28 May for the New Hebrides Islands.
Providing service to the Pacific Fleet
Over the next year, Volans performed a vital service to the fleet as a stores issue ship. In the course of her duties, she traveled from port to port, unescorted, proceeding independently from locales ranging from the Solomon Islands to the Carolines; and from the Palaus to the Admiralties. Ports of call included Guadalcanal; Tulagi; Emirau (Green Islands); Noumea, New Caledonia; the Russell Islands; Munda, New Georgia; Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides; Finschhafen and Hollandia, New Guinea; Manus; Ulithi; Kossol Roads; Peleliu; and the islands of Guam and Saipan. In addition, she also operated for a time out of Leyte in the Philippines.
A high demand for her goods
Volans provided stores to the ships that took part in the initial carrier air strikes on Tokyo in January 1945 and to the ships that took part in landing operations at places such as Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Philippines. She serviced some 1,302 ships and facilities, filling 30,454 requisitions comprising an approximate 137,000 items. While at San Pedro Bay, Leyte, from 23 March to 5 April 1945, Volans experienced her busiest service. During that period, she issued supplies on a 24-hour basis, supporting the efforts to secure the Philippines and also to take Okinawa.
End-of-war activity
On 10 July 1945, Volans departed Ulithi for Seattle, Washington, and shipyard availability and arrived at her destination on 31 July. She was still under overhaul at the time of the Japanese surrender in mid-August and at the time of the formal surrender in Tokyo Bay in early September. On 25 September, Volans sailed for Okinawa and arrived there on 19 October.
Post-war decommissioning
Volans subsequently returned to Pearl Harbor in November and remained there until decommissioned on 17 June 1946. Towed to San Francisco, California, for disposal, the former stores issue ship was delivered to the Maritime Commission at Suisun Bay, California, on 24 June 1947 and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 17 July of the same year. Disposition: scrapped in 1965.
Military awards and honors
Volans’ crew members were eligible for the following medals:
* American Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* World War II Victory Medal
* Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
* Philippines Liberation Medal
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WIKI
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API Call DELETE Contact with Sendgrid
Hi there,
I have an issue with the dynamic expression for a DELETE call through Sendgrid API and therefore API Connector. Basically to delete a contact in Sendgrid from Bubble the process is simple: first a POST call to get “contact_id” (from the email stored in our Bubble DB) and then a DELETE call to delete the contact in Sendgrid (delete the contact in a list, marketing campaign list) from the “contact_id”. It can only be done this way, in 2 steps/calls, since Sendgrid needs the id of the contact to delete it, the email is not enough. The POST+DELETE call sequence works perfectly if I indicate a value in the param (on API Connector). The contact is then properly deleted on my campaign list.
The issue is really in my “step 3” in the WF for the dynamic expression. The dynamic expression of the step 3 “delete_contact” call is taking automatically the email of the contact used for the initialization call (in this case “quent-s@hotmail.fr”). I simply cannot change it to “Result of step 2’s contact_id” which should be the correct dynamic expression. It cannot be changed. Don’t know why. So the call/WF works, deleting “quent-s@hotmail.fr” from the Sendgrid list instead of “Current User”.
Any clue what’s going on? I mean i keep the param value empty and private, so that dynamic data is enabled, call is non private, and query, as requested by Sendgrid. Indeed Sendgrid requires this call to be Query. But why on earth is the dynamic expression in Step3 a non-dynamic one basically adding the initiaitlization call email used? I tried to set this up from scratch on another Bubble app. It does the exact same thing!
Hope someone can help! Best
According to Screenshot, seem that Sendgrid will return “emailaddress”:“id” as the response in search action. Sadly, this is the kind of payload that Bubble cannot handle. Instead, use the Search contact endpoint.
https://docs.sendgrid.com/api-reference/contacts/search-contacts
Thanks Jici. I don’t fully get it, what do you mean by “this is the kind of ‘payload’ that Bubble cannot handle”? What is your alternative to my POST+DELETE calls, therefore do a POST search contact (your link) as Step2 and then used the DELETE call as Step3? That should fix the dynamic data expression and this way i’ll be able to use “step 2’s contact_id” and not “quent-s@hotmail.fr’s contact_id” so with real dynamic data, correct?
The problem is they key returned by API will change according to the email. Using the search contact endpoint, according to documentation, will return a payload that you can use in Bubble.
1 Like
Thanks - but your proposed POST call just gives me metadata, not the contact_id of the current. So it doest not fit the need. Let me know if you get to set it up properly on your side with dynamic data.
According to doc, it will return the ID
Okay but it actually returned the meta, not the ID. So we had to pass the data through an API we made, and then to Sendgrid. So far, no solution right now for this. Would be great that Bubble develops a plugin for this.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion
[armv8][cortex-a72] why must flush data cache when I tried to map a SRAM area?
I tried to map a SRAM area, I add that area (from 0x700000000 to 0x70FFFFFF) to page table and set Memory Attribute Indirection Register as normal memory and cacheable.
But when I try to read thar area(from 0x700000000 to 0x70FFFFFF) I found it could not be cached. I should flush data cache after adding that area to page table.
Then I tried a DDR area, I found it is no need to flush data cache and I wanna to know why?
• I can't fully answer your question without knowing a lot more about you've set up the system and what MemSetAttr() does. But a few thoughts...
First, what attributes have you set for the processor to use for table walks? (https://developer.arm.com/documentation/ddi0601/2022-06/AArch64-Registers/TCR-EL1--Translation-Control-Register--EL1-) Importantly, do they match what you've set in the translation tables for the virtual address region holding the translation tables? If they don't match, it might well be that you need to do some cache maintenance to ensure the updates are visible.
Next, do you have any barriers in the code? Data writes and MMU table walks are classed as different observers, and you have to use barriers to ensure correct ordering in some cases. The Arm ARM (rev I.a, K13.5.3) gives some examples. It might be that the DCache flush isn't actually fixing the problem, just changing the timing sufficiently that the problem is masked.
And, what was at the VA before you added the SRAM mapping? If it was not region marked as causing translation faults, then you'll also need to do some TLB maintenance.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY v. CONTINENTAL CASUALTY COMPANY, et al.
Civ. A. No. 91-1024-B.
United States District Court, M.D. Louisiana.
Jan. 27, 1993.
William P. Skinner, Virginia G. Watkin, R. Paul Detwiler, Ulanda D. Rippy, Washington DC, William R. D’Armond, Leonard L. Kil-gore, III, Gary A. Bezet, Melanie M. Hart-mann, Baton Rouge, LA, for Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.
David E. Schroeder, Chicago, IL, William A. Porteous III, New Orleans, LA, for Allstate Ins. Co.
Richard M. Shusterman, Thomas J. Ziom-ek, Regina B. Mapes, Susan Colatsky, Philadelphia, PA, James M. Garner, New Orleans, LA, W. Mark Wigmore, Hartford, CT, for Cent. Nat. Ins. Co. of Omaha.
Bradley M. Jones, Minneapolis, MN, William C. Kaufman, III, Brad Jones and Erie Marhoun, Minneapolis, MN, pro hac vice, Baton Rouge, LA, for Continental Cas. Co.
Barry Bendetowies, Steven G. Adams, New York City, H. Lee Leonard, Lafayette, LA, for First State Ins. Co. ■
Ricky S. Feldman, Michelle Marone, Arthur J. Liederman, New York City, Robert E. Winn, Session & Fishman, New Orleans, LA, for Gerling Konzern Allgemeinne Versi-chegungs Aktiengelellschaft.
Elizabeth Medaglia, Washington DC, Dan E. West, Baton Rouge, LA, for Granite State Ins. Co.
Richard Lee Blatt, Chicago, IL, for London Market defendants including ICAROM, p.l.e.
Michael J. Merlow, Michael R. Gregg, Karen L. Douglas, Chicago, IL, Edward H. Ber-gin, Raymond J. Salassi, Jr., New Orleans, LA, for Prudential Reinsurance Co.
Max Levine, North Provo, UT, for Southern American Ins. Co.
Michael D. Gallagher, Kathleen M. Carson, Shelby L. Mattiolo, Philadelphia, PA, for Stonewall Ins. Co.
Bert W. Rein, James M. Johnstone, Kirk J. Nahra, William G. Miller, Washington DC, Ralph S. Hubbard, III, Gordon P. Wilson, New Orleans, LA, for Travelers Indem. Co.
Ralph S. Hubbard, New Orleans, LA, for Travelers Indem. Co. of R.I.
Daniel J. Caruso, New Orleans, LA, for American Employers’ Ins. Co.
Andrew L. Plauche, Jr., New Orleans, LA, for American Motorists Ins. Co.
William A. Porteous, III, Glenn B. Adams, New Orleans, LA, for American Re-Insurance Co.
Thomas J. Wagner, Wagner & Bacot, New Orleans, LA, for Highlands Ins. Co.
Michael Rubin, for Home Ins. Co.
Michael Hunt, Phelps Dunbar, Baton Rouge, LA, for Insco Ltd.
Greg Forney, John L. Hayob, Kansas City, MO, for Lexington Ins. Co.
Lisa Miley Geary, Metairie, LA, Merlo, Douglas and Gregg, pro hac vice for Republic Ins. Co.
W. Paul Anderson, George D. Fagan, New Orleans, LA, for Stonewall Ins. Co.
Michael Hunt, Phelps Dunbar, Baton Rouge, LA, for Zurich Intern. Ltd., Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s London and Ins. Corp. of Ireland.
John Mathias, Peter Freeman, James Be-nak, John Shugrue, Jenner & Block, Chicago, IL.
RULING ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO REMAND
POLOZOLA, District Judge.
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company (“Tennessee Gas”) has filed a motion to remand this suit to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For reasons which follow, this Court grants the plaintiffs motion to remand.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On August 9, 1991, Tennessee Gas filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgment and Breach of Contract in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The state court petition named some 400 insurance companies as defendants. Included as one of the defendants was the Insurance Corporation of Ireland. Tennessee Gas sought to have the insurance companies indemnify and defend the plaintiff against liability for various claims and losses resulting from environmental damage which allegedly occurred from 1953 through 1985. Plaintiffs suit also seeks a declaration of the present and future rights, duties and liabilities of the parties with respect to underlying environmental claims brought by third parties against Tennessee Gas.
On November 12, 1991, ICAROM pic (“ICAROM”), formerly known as the Insurance Corporation of Ireland pic (“ICI”), removed this suit to federal court. ICAROM contends that the federal district court has original jurisdiction over the claims brought against it because ICAROM is an instrumentality of a foreign state sued by a resident of the United States. This suit was removed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441(d) which permits removal of “[a]ny civil action in a State Court against a foreign state as defined in section 1603(a) of this title.” On December 9, 1991, Tennessee Gas timely filed a motion to remand this action to state court. It is this motion which is now pending before the Court.
II. THE ISSUES
Tennessee Gas bases its motion to remand on the following grounds: (1) ICAROM’s notice of removal was not timely filed and no cause exists to allow an untimely motion to remove; (2) ICAROM is not an instrumentality of the Republic of Ireland within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1603(b); (3) the insurance policy subscribed to by ICAROM contains a service of suit clause which constitutes a waiver of any right to remove the suit to federal court that ICAROM might otherwise possess; and, (4) if the Court concludes that it has subject matter jurisdiction over the claim against ICAROM, the Court should remand the suit against the other defendants to state court.
III. DISCUSSION OF ISSUES
A. Timeliness of the Notice of Removal
The first issue the Court must determine is whether ICAROM timely removed this suit to federal court and, if not, should the time to remove be extended for cause shown. The time within which a suit must be timely removed to federal court is set forth in 28 § 1446(b) which provides:
The notice of removal of a civil action or proceeding shall be filed within thirty days after the receipt by the defendant, through service or otherwise, of a copy of the initial pleading setting forth the claim for relief upon which such action or proceeding is based, or within thirty days after the service of summons upon the defendant if such initial pleading has then been filed in court and is not required to be served on the defendant, which ever period is shorter.
Congress enacted an exception to this general thirty day limitation upon removal for suits filed against a foreign sovereign. Thus, 28 U.S.C. § 1441(d) states:
(d) Any civil action brought in a State court against a foreign state as defined in section 1603(a) of this title may be removed by the foreign state to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place where such action is pending. Upon removal the action shall be tried by the court without jury. Where removal is based upon this subsection, the time limitations of section 1446(b) of this chapter may be enlarged at any time for cause shown, (emphasis added).
Thus, the Court may enlarge the time for a foreign state to remove an action to federal court provided cause for the delay is shown.
Foreign states are given clear authority to remove a state court action to federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(d). Under § 1441(d), a foreign state may remove a suit to federal court even if there are defendants who do not join in the removal or do not wish to remove the action to federal court or are citizens of the state in which the action is brought.
Section 1441(d) allows a foreign state to enlarge the time for removal “for cause shown.” Noticeably missing from § 1441(d) is the word “good” from its description of the cause requirement. The starting point for the interpretation of any statute is the language of the statute itself. Absent a clearly expressed legislative intention to the contrary, that language must be construed as conclusive evidence of congressional intent. Therefore, the Court finds that a foreign state may seek an enlargement of the time to remove a suit to federal court “at any time for cause shown.” Congress did not set a time limitation by which a foreign state had to seek an enlargement of time, nor did the Congress require that “good” cause be shown. Indeed, in Refco, Inc. v. Galadari, the Court allowed a foreign state to remove an action after it had been pending for five years.
ICAROM asserts that the removal notice was delayed while it was investigating the suit and the facts regarding coverage. Additionally, ICAROM contends it needed time to ascertain whether service of process had been properly perfected on the agent designated in its insurance policy. ICAROM also argues that a delay was necessary to investigate the status of the particular policy in question.
The Court finds that ICAROM has established sufficient cause to enlarge the time for removal of this suit to federal court within the meaning of § 1441(d). Therefore, the Court finds that ICAROM timely removed the state court suit to federal court under the facts of this case.
B. Was ICAROM an Instrumentality of the Republic of Ireland Within the Meaning of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1603(b)?
For purposes of deciding the motion before the Court, the Court assumes, without deciding, that ICAROM is an instrumentality of a foreign sovereign for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1603(b), 28 U.S.C. § 1330(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1441(d).
C. The Service of Suit Clause
Both Tennessee Gas and ICAROM agree that the insurance policy subscribed to by ICAROM incorporated by reference the service of suit clauses which appear in the underlying London Market insurance policies. The Clause itself reads:
It is agreed that in the event of the failure of Underwriters hereon to pay any amount claimed to be due hereunder, Underwriters hereon, at the request of the Assured, will submit to the jurisdiction of any Court of competent jurisdiction within the United States and vnll comply with all requirements necessary to give such Court jurisdiction and all matters arising hereunder shall be determined in accordance with the law and practice of such court. It is further agreed that service of process in such suit may be made as stated in Item 9 of the Declarations, and that in any suit instituted against any one of them upon this Policy, Underwriters will abide by the final decision of such court or of any Appellate Court in the event of an appeal. The person or firm named in Item 9 of the Declarations are authorized and directed to accept service of process on behalf of Underwriters in any such suit and/or upon the request of the Assured to give a written undertaking to the Assured that they will enter a general appearance upon Underwriter’s behalf in the event suit shall be instituted.
Further, pursuant to any statute of any state, territory or district of the United States which makes provision therefor, Underwriters hereon hereby designate the Superintendent, Commissioner or Director of Insurance or other officers specified for the purpose in the statute, or his successor or successors in office, as their true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the Assured or any beneficiary hereunder arising out of this policy of insurance, and hereby designate the above-named as the person to whom the said officer is authorized to mail such process or a true copy thereof, (emphasis supplied)
Tennessee Gas contends that this clause precludes ICAROM from removing this case to federal court. Plaintiff asserts that by filing a suit in state court it has “requested” that this action be heard in state court in accordance with the service of suit clause in the policy. Thus, Tennessee Gas contends that ICAROM is compelled to “submit” to “any court” — in this case, the state district court — chosen by the insured. In response to plaintiffs argument, ICAROM argues that any waiver of its removal rights must be clear and unequivocal and that the service of suit clause incorporated in its policy fails to “unequivocally express” its intent as a foreign sovereign to waive any removal rights it has under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(d).
This case presents unique facts to an already complex legal issue. There are serious legal and factual issues regarding ICAROM’s status as a foreign sovereign, which the Court has decided not to resolve at this time. The evidence in this case also reveals that the service of suit clause contained in the policy was prepared and issued by a foreign private insurer to a private insured. Thus, at the time the policy was issued, only private parties were involved and these private parties agreed to the right to sue clause previously set forth above. Thereafter, ICA-ROM took over the rights and obligations of the private insurer. Thus, the Court must determine whether the clause which was agreed to by private parties to an insurance agreement is to be nullified because an instrumentality of a foreign sovereign is now allegedly involved.
The genesis of the ease law in the Fifth Circuit involving service of suit clauses appears to be the decision rendered by this Court in Capital Bank & Trust v. Associated International Insurance Co. In Capital Bank, this Court found that the waiver of removal rights must be clear and unequivocal. However, the Court held that by agreeing to “submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction within the United States”, the defendant insurer waived its right to remove the suit, initially filed by the insured in state court, to federal-court. The Court further noted:
If there was any doubt as to what the insured understood by the terms of the service of suit clause, it is made clear by this motion to remand. If the insurer desired to reserve the right to remove to federal court after the insured chose the state in which he desired to file suit, the insurer could simply have inserted a clause stating “reserving the insurer’s right to remove to Federal court.”
Recently the Fifth Circuit had the opportunity to interpret a similar service of suit clause in City of Rose City v. Nutmeg Ins. Co. Following the reasoning of this Court in Capital Bank, the Fifth Circuit found a similar service of suit clause to constitute a waiver of removal. The Fifth Circuit stated that if the insurance company “had wished to preserve the right to remove any action filed against it in state court, it could easily have said so in the policy.” The Fifth Circuit found that the insurer’s promise to submit to the jurisdiction of “any court” rather than “some court” gave the policyholder the right to select the forum, and foreclosed the. insurer’s right to remove the action to federal court. The language construed as an operative waiver of removal rights in Nutmeg is also contained in the policy subscribed to by ICAROM.
The Third Circuit reached a similar result in Foster v. Chesapeake Ins. Co., Ltd. Relying on Capital Bank, the Third Circuit affirmed the remand of a suit based on the policy’s service of suit clause stating:
[B]y consenting to ‘s^lbmit’ to ‘any court’ of competent jurisdiction ‘at the request of the Company’ and to comply with all requirements necessary to give ‘such court’ jurisdiction, Chesapeake agreed to go to, and stay in, the forum chosen by Mutual Fire.
Shortly after Nutmeg was decided, the Fifth Circuit decided the case of McDermott International, Inc. v. Lloyd’s Underwriters of London (“ “McDermott 7”). In McDer-mott I, the plaintiff submitted a claim to its insurer for losses it sustained. After the insurer denied the claim, McDermott filed suit in state court which was then removed to federal court. The defendant invoked an arbitration clause in the policy and demanded that McDermott submit to arbitration of the issues. The district court remanded the case to state court because of a service of suit clause that is virtually identical to that invoked by Tennessee Gas in this case. The Fifth Circuit found the service of suit clause did not apply in McDermott I. The Fifth Circuit began its analysis in McDermott I by reaffirming the general rule that “[w]hen a policy’s service of suit clause applies, its probable effect is to waive the insurer’s removal rights.” However, the facts of McDermott I required the court to modify the general rule by recognizing that “[t]he policy’s service-of-suit clause does not necessarily apply to disputes concerning the proper forum to decide arbitrability questions.” The Court found that the service of suit clause in the policy could be effectuated only by filing a suit to enforce an arbitration award because any suit filed prior to arbitration proceedings would be premature. Finally, McDermott I held that the service of suit clause was ambiguous and should only be construed as a waiver of an objection to personal jurisdiction. This conclusion was clearly inconsistent with both Nutmeg and Capital Bank and possibly should be limited to the special facts and circumstances of McDermott 7. The Court finds that McDermott I is not applicable under the facts of this case. There is no arbitration clause in the ICAROM insurance contract. The waiver of suit clause in the ICAROM policy is almost identical to those previously set forth in Capital Bank and Nutmeg. Furthermore, none of the voluminous memoran-da submitted to the Court in connection with this motion to remand indicate that the parties’ expectations were shaped by the time or ownership factors present in McDermott I. Finally, there have been no factual submissions which identify the party which drafted or was responsible for the inclusion of the service of suit clause in the Tennessee Gas policy. In short, it is clear that if there were only private parties involved in this case, this waiver of suit clause would clearly be enforceable under Capital Bank and Nutmeg. The service of suit clause was inserted in the Tennessee Gas policy when only private parties were involved. The fact that ICAROM later assumed the obligations of the private insurer is not sufficient reason to ignore the clear meaning of the waiver of suit clause. Specifically, the fact that ICAROM may be an instrumentality of a foreign sovereign and covered by the FSIA does not make the waiver of suit clause null and void. A recent decision rendered by the Western District of Arkansas agrees with this Court’s conclusion.
The FSIA does not require that a foreign sovereign only be sued in the federal courts of the United States. In Republic of Argentina v. Weltover, Inc., Justice Scalia, writing for the Court noted:
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, 28 U.S.C. § 1602 et seq. (FSIA), establishes a comprehensive framework for determining whether a court in this country, state or federal, may exercise jurisdiction over a foreign state. Under the Act, a “foreign state shall be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States and of the states” unless one of the several statutorily defined exceptions applies. § 1604 (emphasis added)
Thus, the FSIA specifically provides for suits in the state or federal courts of the United States. Tennessee Gas filed this suit in state court and now seeks to have the case remanded to state court. ICAROM assumed all of the rights and obligations of the private insurer, including the waiver of suit clause when it took over the policies. It should not now be allowed to disregard the obligation set forth in the waiver of suit clause to respond to a suit in a court selected by its insured. The Court’s conclusion is supported by the most recent Fifth Circuit opinion on the issue, International Ins. Co. v. McDermott Inc. (“McDermott II”). In McDermott II, the insurer brought an action for declaratory judgment in federal court to determine if there was coverage for losses allegedly incurred by its insured. McDermott, the insured, then instituted its own action in state court. McDermott claimed that a forum selection clause in the policy prevented the insurer from bringing its federal action. The court found the service of suit clause did not give the insured the right to prevent the insurer from bring a declaratory action of its own in a forum of the insurer’s choosing, including federal court. The court held the clause merely prevented removal by an insurance company of an action filed by the insured in state court.
In reaching its conclusion in McDermott II, the Fifth Circuit expressly reaffirmed the holding of Nutmeg that the service of suit clause gives the insured the right to choose which forum will hear its action. Accordingly, McDermott II serves as a declaration that service of suit clauses are enforced in the Fifth Circuit. Indeed, such a result is consistent with McDermott I which states that “the probable effect [of a service of suit clause] is to waive the insurer’s removal rights.”
Thus, the fact that ICAROM may enjoy foreign sovereign status does not mean it cannot enter into or assume a contract which designates the place where suit is to be filed. As noted earlier, the insurance company which initially subscribed to the insurance policy containing the waiver of suit clause was not a foreign state, but a private insurer which was subsequently allegedly purchased by the Republic of Ireland. This Court fails to see how otherwise clear language in a policy becomes ambiguous or meaningless simply because one party is a foreign sovereign. The phrase “submit to the jurisdiction of any court” should be given the same interpretation irrespective of the parties’ identity. While the Court agrees that Congress has enacted statutory protections for foreign sovereigns, these protections are distinguishable from the agreements entered into by those foreign sovereigns which unequivocally waive such protections. The evidence in this case reveals that an information release provided by the Insurance Corporation of Ireland provided that the Administrator “[w]ishes to stress that his appointment does not bring about any change in the rights of policy holders under existing policies.” As evidenced by the statement of the government’s appointed administrator, ICI proclaimed that the policy should be read and interpreted just as it would have been had the government never been involved in the operations or ownership of the company. ICAROM has no greater contractual rights now than it possessed when it was placed into government ownership.
Therefore, the Court finds the waiver of suit clause is valid. Since Tennessee Gas has chosen to file suit in state court, ICAROM has waived its right to remove this suit to federal court.
D. Was the Motion to Remand Based on the Waiver of Suit Clause Timely Filed?
ICAROM contends that Tennessee Gas failed to timely file a motion to remand based on the waiver of suit clause. ICAROM admits that Tennessee Gas filed a timely motion to remand within thirty days of the date the suit was removed to federal court. However, ICAROM contends the plaintiffs motion to remand only contested the timeliness of the plaintiffs notice of removal of the suit to federal court. Since no other defects in the notice of removal were challenged by the plaintiff, ICAROM contends that Tennessee Gas has waived all other procedural defects in the removal. Tennessee Gas contends that by filing a motion to remand within thirty days of ICAROM’s notice of removal, it preserved its right to assert all procedural defects in the notice of removal even though such defects were not specifically asserted in the motion to remand at the time the motion was originally filed with the Court.
A motion to remand “the case on the basis of any defect in removal procedure must be made within 30 days after the filing of the notice of removal under section 1446(a).” The first question the Court must determine is whether the invocation of a forum selection clause is a “defect in removal procedure” subject to the thirty day time limitation.
The Fifth Circuit has defined a procedural defect to mean any defect that does not go to the question of whether the case originally could have been brought in federal district court. In In Re Digicon Marine, Inc. (“Digicon’’), the Fifth Circuit addressed this issue in some detail and concluded “that a defect in removal procedure includes within its reach the bringing of an action not within the court’s removal jurisdiction but that could have been brought originally in that court.” A similar ruling was made in Hopkins v. Dolphin Titan International, Inc. Lack of authority to remove a suit to federal court is not lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The Fifth Circuit’s holdings in Digicon and Hopkins are applicable to the facts of this case. The service of suit clause in the insurance policy precludes ICAROM’s removal of this action to federal court. However, Tennessee Gas could have originally brought this suit in federal court. Furthermore, ICA-ROM could have filed suit in federal court had ICAROM filed a declaratory action in federal court prior to the state court action having been filed.
Therefore, pursuant to Barnes and Digicon, the defect in removal caused by the service of suit clause is clearly nonjurisdic-tional and subject to the thirty day limitation of § 1447(c).
ICAROM does not contest the timeliness of Tennessee Gas’ motion to remand. What is contested is the timeliness of the forum selection argument. The service of suit argument was raised by Tennessee Gas in briefs filed with this Court after the motion to remand was filed. No discovery on the issue was required and both parties were given the opportunity to submit written and oral arguments on the issue.
It is clear that § 1447(c) requires a motion to remand to be filed within thirty days after the filing of the notice of removal. The clear language of the statute does not require plaintiff to set forth all arguments at the time the motion is filed as long as the motion is filed within thirty days of the filing of the notice of removal. This analysis is consistent with the congressional intent in implementing the 1990 amendments to the removal statute. For example, Congress set a one year limitation on removal of actions based on diversity jurisdiction. A motion to remand based on removal defects was required to be filed thirty days after the notice of removal was filed in federal court. In essence, Congress was seeking to avoid forum shopping by the parties after a state or federal court in which the action was pending renders an unfavorable decision to a party. As long as a motion to remand is timely filed within the thirty day period, the court should be allowed to determine all procedural defects which are raised while the motion to remand is pending. This Court believes such a procedure clearly complies with the clear language of Section 1447(c) and the congressional intent regarding removal actions. Indeed, the Court can find no case or statute which prevents a party from amending the motion to remand while it is pending. This is especially true in light of the well established rule that in analyzing the removal statutes, the Court must focus on the language of the statute keeping in mind that the removal statutes must be construed narrowly in deference to state court jurisdiction.
The Court finds that plaintiff preserved its contractual right to enforce the service of suit clause when it filed a timely motion to remand notwithstanding the fact that this issue was asserted in briefs filed with the Court while the motion to remand was pending. Because the service of suit clause is valid and timely relied on by the plaintiff in its motion to remand, the Court finds this suit must be remanded to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c).
VI. ORDER
Therefore:
IT IS ORDERED that the motion to remand filed by Tennessee Gas be and it is hereby GRANTED. This suit shall be remanded to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Judgment shall be entered accordingly.
. Plaintiff seeks a declaration of coverage under state law rather than under any federal statute or jurisprudence.
. 28 U.S.C. § 1330(a) (1991) provides:
(a) The district courts shall have original jurisdiction without regard to amount in controversy of any nonjury civil action against a foreign state as defined in section 1603(a) of this title as to' any claim for relief in personam with respect to which the foreign state is not entitled to immunity either under sections 1605-1607 of this title or under any applicable international agreement.
. C. Wright & A. Miller, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, § 3729, pp. 483-484 (1983). Section 1446(a), the general removal statute, states that "[a] defendant or defendants desiring to remove any civil action ... shall file ... a notice of removal." This language has been interpreted to require the consent of all of the defendants in an action before that action may be removed to federal court. However, section 1603(a) provides that an action brought in state court may be removed by the "foreign state”. The language of section 1603(a) creates an exception to the general rule, and demonstrates the ability of the foreign sovereign to remove without the consent of its co-defendants. Therefore, Doe v. Kerwood, 969 F.2d 165 (5th Cir.1992) is inap-posite.
. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. v. Bonjorno, 494 U.S. 827, 835, 110 S.Ct. 1570, 1575, 108 L.Ed.2d 842 (1990).
. 755 F.Supp. 79 (S.D.N.Y.1991).
. There are conflicting opinions rendered by federal district courts over whether ICAROM is an instrumentality of Ireland within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1603(b). Two cases have held that ICAROM is not a foreign state for purposes of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976. Mobil Corp. v. Abeille General Ins. Co., H-89-3877, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19792 (S.D.Texas 1990), appeal pending, 984 F.2d 664 (5th Cir.) and Murphy Oil USA, Inc. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., et al, No. 91-1157, 1992 WL 465701 (W.D.Ark.1992). In In Re Texas Eastern Transmission Corp. Contamination Insurance Coverage Litigation, MDL 764 (E.D.Penn., Sept. 15, 1988), the court held otherwise.
. 576 F.Supp. 1522 (M.D.La.1984).
. 576 F.Supp. at 1524.
. In Capital Bank, this Court was mindful of the general rule in Louisiana that when interpreting the terms of an insurance contract, any doubt or ambiguity in the meaning of the policy should be resolved in favor of the insured and against the insurer. 576 F.Supp. at 1524-1525.
. 576 F.Supp. at 1525.
. 931 F.2d 13 (5th Cir.1991).
.931 F.2d at 15.
. The defendant Nutmeg argued that the service of suit clause constituted nothing more than a consent to the jurisdiction of a Court in the United States. Rejecting this argument, the Fifth Circuit found that there was little question that the insurance company would have had to submit to the jurisdiction of some court in the United States.
. 931 F.2d at 16.
. 933 F.2d 1207 (3rd Cir.1991).
. Id. at 1216-1217 (emphasis in original opinion).
. 944 F.2d 1199 (5th Cir.1991).
. 944 F.2d at 1204-1205.
. 944 F.2d at 1204.
. Id.
. 944 F.2d at 1206.
. For example, the Court recognized that when McDermott purchased the Lloyd's policy in 1952, the Fifth Circuit did not enforce agreements to waive removal rights. 944 F.2d at 1204. Thus, the parties may not have intended at the time of the contract to waive these rights. Furthermore, McDermott drafted the service of suit clause for the policy, and was therefore deemed to forfeit any benefit from the provision under the policy-drafter principle. 944 F.2d at 1207.
. Murphy Oil Co. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., No. 91-1157 (W.D.Ark. Dec. 18, 1992).
. - U.S. --., 112 S.Ct. 2160, 119 L.Ed.2d 394 (1992).
. ICAROM is neither seeking nor could seek immunity in this case under the FSIA because of the commercial exception set forth in § 1605(a)(2).
. 956 F.2d 93 (5th Cir.1992).
. 956 F.2d at 96.
. Id.
. 944 F.2d at 1204-1205.
. In Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., 407 U.S. 1, 92 S.Ct. 1907, 32 L.Ed.2d 513 (1972), a contract of towage between an American corporation and a foreign corporation provided that in the event of a dispute, the forum would be the courts of England. The lower courts held that this term was null and against public policy as an ouster of the jurisdiction of the United States courts. The Supreme Court held that, in accordance with ancient concepts of freedom of contract, such clauses are prima facie valid and should be enforced unless enforcement is shown by the resisting party to unreasonable under the circumstances. There has been no showing by ICAROM that the insurer was subject to undue influence or an "overweening bargaining power” on the part of Tennessee Gas.
. 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c).
. In Re Digicon Marine, Inc., 966 F.2d 158 (5th Cir.1992); Barnes v. Westinghouse Electric Corp., 962 F.2d 513, 516 (5th Cir.1992); Baris v. Sulpicio Lines, Inc., 932 F.2d 1540 (5th Cir.1991).
. 966 F.2d 158 (5th Cir.1992).
. 966 F.2d at 160.
. 976 F.2d 924 (5th Cir.1992).
. Id.
. McDermott II, 956 F.2d 93.
. 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b).
. 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c).
. Professors Wright and Miller write:
The general concern regarding a permissive attitude toward amendment of motions is that lawyers will be tempted to file them in skeletal form and rely on their ability to expand or add new grounds at a later time. Although this fear can be raised in connection with the amendment of pleadings, it never has been viewed as weighty enough to warrant compromising the effectiveness of the liberal policy of Rule 15. Moreover, as long as the ability to amend a motion is left to the discretion of the trial judge, his ability to deny leave to amend when he believes the amendment process is being abused provides a sufficient safety valve. Thus, although there may be valid policy reasons for not granting the movant an absolute or automatic right to amend his motion, there is no reason to deny amendment when the trial judge believes it would be in the interests of justice to permit it. The use of discretion seems especially appropriate if the adverse parties will not be prejudiced by the amendment, or if the amendment is necessary to insure that the case is adjudicated fairly and justly or if it will help resolve the litigation at an early date.
5 C. Wright & A. Miller, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: CIVIL 2D, § 1194 at 50-51 (1985).
. Primate Protection League v. Tulane Educ. Fund,-U.S.-,-, 111 S.Ct. 1700, 1705, 114 L.Ed.2d 134 (1991).
. Smith v. Executive Fund Life Ins. Co., 651 F.Supp. 269, 270 (M.D.La.1986).
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CASELAW
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Adventures in Teaching Creative Writing
Why is writing so hard for some kids, particularly boys? Have you ever thought of all the skills you need to have in place in order to be an effective writer? Let’s have a look, shall we? In order to be a good writer, you have to…
Have a good grasp of spoken language and be able to speak coherently – children who have speech problems often have writing problems.
Have full use of the fine muscles in the hand and arm, including pencil grip, wrist strength, and forearm position – many children have delayed fine motor skills or low muscle tone.
Have proper sitting posture in back, neck, shoulders and arms – poor posture causes quick exhaustion and may be a sign of binocular vision problems.
Have eye-hand coordination – the brain needs to have proper communication with the hand, telling it where to go on the page.
Have visual perception enough to align words on a page - some children misalign their words, starting at the center of the page instead of the edge, and slanting the words off to the side, leaving half the page or more unused (also a sign of a developmental vision problem).
Be able to read and understand written words.
Be able to organize a wealth of thoughts in order to convey smaller, concise ideas in a logical sequence (sequencing difficulties are the most common cause of writing delays).
Understand how words are spelled and the basic concepts of grammar and punctuation, which utilizes auditory and visual memory as well as major sequencing skills – punctuation is heard before seen. (You have to be able to HEAR a period, comma or a question mark or you’ll never understand where they go in a sentence).
Overcome perfectionism enough to take a shot at it, even if the first draft doesn’t look as good as desired (gifted children are most often the guilty ones in this area – they need it to sound like a professional wrote it and can’t forgive their own errors or amateur abilities).
Be emotionally and mentally engaged in the task of writing for sustained attention and motivation (in cases of ADD, just sitting still long enough to write is an agony in itself)
So, in short, to be able to write effectively, a child would have to have language, speech, fine-motor, gross-motor, visual-perceptual, sequential, auditory-processing, memory, and physical, mental, and emotional coping skills all strong and intact.
Considering all that’s involved in simply putting words onto paper, it’s a wonder any of us can write at all.
Of all the important skills listed above, however, one of them has the power to correct all the rest single-handedly. Can you guess which one?
When children are excited emotionally and mentally, they overcome all kinds of obstacles they never thought they could accomplish. They could have every single delay mentioned above – the process of writing could be a sheer agony for them, and they would still become great writers if their imaginations were on fire and their emotions were captured and engaged. When properly motivated, kids will do impossible tasks and not even complain about it. Learning disabilities require work, lots and lots and lots of hard work and practice to overcome. The only way to get kids to work at it is to motivate them emotionally.
I have found that befriending my students and engaging their imaginations has worked better for me than any formal therapy could (though I highly recommend a combination of both!).
The following is a compilation of experiences I’ve had in trying to motivate some of the most reluctant students to write.
The Story of the Kid Who Refused to Write
This middle school student came into my summer camp and told me in no uncertain terms, “I hate writing. Don’t even ask me to pick up a pen because I won’t. They kicked me out of my last two schools because of it.”
I said, “Okay, I won’t ask you to write.”
His eyes got wide for a moment and then he said, “You’re kidding, right? This is a writing camp, isn’t it?”
I flashed him a devious smile and responded simply, “We do things differently here.”
I kept my promise and never asked this child to write anything with his own hand. I discovered over time that his writing difficulties stemmed from a combination of learning disabilities, including delayed fine motor skills, horrible sequencing, ADHD, and giftedness with a healthy dose of perfectionism. He was brilliant. He had so many story ideas racing around his mind that there was no way he could possibly get them onto paper and do them the justice they deserved with his disabilities.
I started out by taking dictation for him. That’s how I discovered that he had great ideas and was very bright. It was also how I discovered that he had sequencing problems because the ideas were completely disorganized on the way out of his mouth. I had to ask him to slow down and clarify and explain things as we went so that I could make sense of it all. He really appreciated the fact that I took an interest in his ideas at all and was asking these questions of him. Most people in the past had tuned him out after the first few sentences. With a little help on the organization front, what was coming out as a jumbled mess turned into a fluid story that captured my imagination and excited him to no end.
Once we connected on an emotional level and I got him to loosen up, I managed to talk him into writing every 10th sentence on his own. Over the next few weeks, we worked our way down to every 5th sentence, then every other, until at last he was writing his story on his own with lots of praise and rewards in the Druidawn game.
Not long afterward, he picked up the art of keyboarding and did the rest of his work from then on using the laptop computer his parents promptly bought him.
Handwriting and organizing his thoughts are still hard for this child. They probably always will be, but that’s what secretaries and editors are for, right? The important thing is that writing no longer causes him anxiety. Now his wonderful stories can be expressed on paper and enjoyed by others. The last time I saw this child a few months ago, he was still working on his novel and was up to 200 pages. The new Eragon? We’ll see!
The Anime Fanatic
This girl came to my writing clubs a broken child. She was different from the other girls at her old school. Her imagination was on overdrive, she loved to draw and was an anime fanatic, the more violent the material the better. She was wonderfully outspoken, boisterous and tough. She loved to write, especially poetry, but rarely did so (because grammar, spelling, and writing structure were too difficult), and she hated to read.
In addition to the social isolation she had suffered, the teachers at her previous schools had been brutal with her, insisting that she focus on the surface details of writing (the basic mechanics) and ditch her own interests for ones the teachers deemed to be more “appropriate.” She was regularly punished and given poor grades for her writing mistakes and was never recognized for her vibrant imagination. Her self-esteem was so low when she came to our writing clubs, I could have scraped it off the floor.
Reading was a difficult task, and that was where I knew I had to start with her. As I read with her the first time, I saw the symptoms of dyslexia and sequencing deficits, and could easily understand why she didn’t like to read.
Taking advantage of her amazing intellect, imagination, and visual learning style, I turned her on to the wonders of comic books. Particularly the ElfQuest graphic novels, Volumes 1-3. I sat and read the comics with her, each of us choosing characters to read aloud. She became deeply involved in the ElfQuest books and was soon struggling through them on her own (skipping recess in the process) just to read more. When she had finished the first several books of the series, she discovered that there were shelves full of anime graphic novels at all the major bookstores. It wasn’t long before she was devouring one of those 100-page novels a day. Then it was an easy jump from that to real novels. She moved herself up three reading grades in one year with nothing but motivation.
In the meantime, the girl’s writing was taking off as well. With her reading confidence rising so quickly, she decided to write anime stories and comics of her own and spent hours every day doing so. Yes, they still needed a lot of editing for grammar and spelling and such, but they were making more sense than anything she had written before. All that reading had given her a feel of the organization and natural flow of words.
Currently, this child has written over a hundred pages, and her grammar and spelling skills have improved dramatically along the way. Most importantly, the content of her writing is superior in its maturity and eloquence. With a little editing, every word sounds like poetry.
Saved by Druidawn®
This child was one of dozens of boys who came to our writing clubs whose first words were, “Don’t ask me to write anything, because I won’t. I HATE WRITING!!!”
After investigating the causes of this attitude, sure enough I found a sequencing deficit, poor fine motor skills, low self-esteem, and little knowledge of the mechanics of writing. I did the same thing with this child that I’ve done with many, many others. I turned him on to the game of Druidawn®.
I started out by saying, “You don’t need to write to play this game. You can dictate to me or to my assistant. If you do choose to write for yourself, you will get double points for each word written. Words are worth money on Druidawn®. You can use them to purchase items and pets and magic powers for your character.”
The child did exactly what the others have always done. He chose to fill out the character sheet himself, since the form doesn’t require complete sentences or proper spelling. Filling out the character sheet for this game is a terrific icebreaker. What these kids hate most is a blank page staring at them. Then all the pressure is on them to put something there. But when they see the character sheet and it’s already crammed with words, and all they have to do is fill in small parts, some of which are only numbers, it takes all the pressure off. It changes from a writing activity to a gaming activity. Much better!
Many kids enjoy filling out the character sheet so much that they make several characters before they even start playing the game! It gives them power they would never have in the real world… to create a player from the ground up and exude complete control over him. Plus, the game comes with numerous lists of choices for personal features and magic powers – fun choices to make and exciting things to think about. Even though the character sheet requires a small amount of writing, it’s easy, and so enjoyable that they hardly notice it.
Next we play the game as if no further writing needs to happen. With all the pressure off, kids begin to write things on their own just so they can rack up points. Their words are worth triple points if they work on editing and spell-checking their writing. Parents and teachers can help them do this. This system is highly motivating. As they write more, they become better writers, especially if they get feedback on their work.
His story is the most common one to tell. But I have many others that aren’t so common. In fact, I’ve taught many one-of-a-kinds, and I’ll be posting more of their stories as the years go on.
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FINEWEB-EDU
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Yissachar Dov Rokeach (fifth Belzer rebbe)
Yissachar Dov Rokeach (born 19 January 1948) is the fifth, and present, Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Belz. He is the son of Rabbi Mordechai of Bilgoray (1902 – 1949), the grandson of the third Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, and the nephew of the fourth Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Rokeach, who raised him. He has led Belz since 1966.
Family background
Rabbi Mordechai of Bilgoray and his half-brother (through his father), Rebbe Aharon, escaped Europe in a daring escape attempt and arrived in Palestine in 1944. Both lost their wives and families to the Nazis. Both remarried in Israel; Rabbi Mordechai's second wife was Miriam, the daughter of Rabbi Hershel Glick of Satmar. Only Rabbi Mordechai had a child, Yissachar Dov. In November 1949, Rabbi Mordechai died suddenly, and his son was raised by his uncle, Rebbe Aharon, who groomed him to be the next Rebbe in the dynasty. When the Rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Rokeach passed away, Yissachar Dov was still a young child.
Early life and education
For most of the year, Yissachar Dov lived near his uncle in Tel Aviv, and studied in the Belzer Talmud Torah there; he spent the summer months in Jerusalem, studying in the Satmar Talmud Torah.
When Rebbe Aharon died in 1957, Yissachar Dov was only nine years old. For the next nine years, Belz was effectively without an active rebbe, as Yissachor Dov, then called the "Yanuka" (Child) by his followers, was educated by a small circle of trusted advisors. A few years after Rebbe Aharon's death, Yissachar Dov entered the Belzer yeshiva in Jerusalem, where he was given two dormitory rooms – one which he shared with other students as a sleeping room, and a private room where he could study alone and with others. Every decision regarding the young boy was brought before Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Neiman, Rav of the Belzer community in Montreal and a relative of Yissachar Dov on his mother's side.
Yissachar Dov celebrated his bar mitzvah on 25 January 1961 (8 Shevat 5721) in the Tel Aviv beit medrash of Rebbe Aharon, where he sat by himself at the dais, greeting a few hundred guests. Back in yeshiva, he studied for many hours with private chavrusas (study partners), and prepared to receive rabbinic ordination. At the age of 15, he moved to an apartment which a group of Belzer Hasidim rented for him near the yeshiva, and began inviting other students to join him for Shabbat meals at which he delivered words of Torah and Hasidut.
At the age of 16, he was engaged to Sarah Hager, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, then rosh yeshiva and av beis din (head of the rabbinical court) of Kiryat Vizhnitz, Bnei Brak (he succeeded his father as Vizhnitzer Rebbe in 1972). The wedding was held in February 1965 in Kiryat Vizhnitz, where the couple settled after their marriage. Shortly after their wedding, their home was burglarized and Sarah Hager's father cursed the culprit should he not return the stolen jewels. The thief's wife divorced him thereafter, the jewels were returned, and it is said the curses rained down on him.
In June 1966, a delegation of Belzer Hasidim approached Rokeach, and urged him to accept the mantle of leadership for the Belz Hasidim. Rokeach asked them to seek the opinion of other Torah leaders, whereupon they solicited the approval of the Klausenberger Rebbe and the Gerrer Rebbe. The new Rebbe became the fifth Belzer Rabbi in Jerusalem on 28 July 1966. Standing at the gravesite of his uncle, the previous Belzer Rav, Rokeach received his first kvitel from the Yavrover Rav, a descendant of the Belzer and Ropshitzer Rebbes, as is customary in Belz. He has led the dynasty ever since.
He and his wife have one son, Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, born on 12 October 1975. Aharon Mordechai married Sarah Leah Lemberger, daughter of Rabbi Shimon Lemberger, Makova Rebbe in Kiryat Ata, on August 3, 1993, in Kiryat Belz, Jerusalem, in the presence of 60,000 people. The couple has ten sons and three daughters. On 21 May 2013, their eldest son, Sholom Rokeach, married Hanna Batya Penet, in a ceremony at the Belz Great Synagogue that was attended by tens of thousands of guests and well-wishers. With the birth of the young couple's daughter on 4 May 2014, the Rebbe became an elter zaida (great-grandfather).
The re-invention of Belz
The majority of Belzer Hasidim were killed in the Holocaust. Although some managed to immigrate to the United States and Israel, the post-war years saw the court of Belz's membership undergo a radical change, consisting largely of former members of other communities, or Haredim who had previously not belonged officially to any Hasidic group.
One of the new Rebbe's most important tasks was to take this diverse collection of followers and mold them into a unified community. He focused on building up Belz institutions, which were largely non-existent at the death of the previous Rebbe. As Belz slowly established an economic base, it began expanding its network of schools in Western Europe, North America, and Israel, as well as its yeshivas and its own Jerusalem enclave, Kiryat Belz. It also created its own newspaper, HaMachaneh HaCharedi, of which MK Yisrael Eichler is a former editor.
Under the Rebbe's leadership, the Belz Hasidut has grown from a few hundred families in 1966 to over 12,000 families, as of 2022. The Rebbe also oversees a global network of study halls, educational institutions, and chesed institutions.
The Rebbe has also invested heavily in Orthodox Jewish outreach, with the founding of Yeshivas Torah V'Emunah, a ba'al teshuva yeshiva for men, and the Tzohar outreach organization for secular Jews.
While preserving the traditions established by his forebears, the Rebbe has also introduced new protocols to fit modern times. He was the first to bring professionals into the Hasidic educational system, to diagnose and treat children with learning disabilities. He also encourages his Hasidim to develop their talents within the community, finding jobs for musicians, writers, managers, etc., within the hundreds of institutions and organizations that the Hasidut has established.
The Rebbe was adamant to build an enormous shul at great cost to replicate the building of the Belz shul in Belz. The legend had it that the Sar Shalom fasted for 40 days and nights and was visited by Eliijah the Prophet who directed him how to build the original synagogue. In midst of building the Jerusalem synagogue the Rebbe learned from his gabbai that his personal investments were lost. The money pressures mounted and when he went to gather water for making Pesach Matzos in 1990, the Rebbe was so distraught he threw his Shtreimel on the ground. After this, the chassidim world-wide, established a new fundraising round to complete the building of the synagogue.
An independent Rebbe
The Belzer Rebbe has long had a reputation for being a maverick in the Israeli Haredi community. The early years following his appointment as Rebbe saw him carefully forging alliances with other Hasidic courts (such as Ger and Vizhnitz), as well as the Misnagdic communities, particularly Degel HaTorah. He quickly became known as a political moderate and pragmatist, eventually even breaking what had earlier been something of a taboo: accepting funding and subsidies from the Israeli government.
Feud with the Edah HaChareidis
As Belz began to establish itself as an independent and successful group, it began to attract some negative attention, particularly after the Rebbe's decision to accept money from the State. One group, the Edah HaChareidis, a coalition of several movements known for its strictness and traditionalism even among Haredim, took particular offense at the "renegades'" disregard of what had earlier been a largely unchallenged status quo. This was compounded by the Rebbe's willingness to participate in Israeli politics by encouraging his followers to vote and sending emissaries to join Haredi political parties. These disagreements turned from mere hostilities into a full-blown feud, following the Rebbe's announcement in 1980 that Belz was going to split from the Edah HaCharedis.
Prior to the split, Belz had been the only non-Eidah member that accepted and supported the authority of the Badatz, the Edah's rabbinical court, whose authority touched all matters of everyday Haredi life, including kashrut certification. Early in the year, Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss, the head of the Edah HaChareidis, issued a decree forbidding followers from sending their children to schools funded by State money. This represented a serious threat to Belz's moderate approach, which benefited greatly from State assistance.
In response, the Belzer Rebbe decided to cut his community off from the Edah HaChareidis, and to establish his own system of religious services, including kashrut certification. While Belz maintained that it was only interested in certifying food for its own community, the move was met with rancor by the Edah HaCharedis, particularly the Satmar Hasidim, who were both outraged at the Belzer Rebbe's defiance and concerned about Belz as potential economic competition.
This led to a large delegitimization campaign against the Belzer Rebbe. Later in the year, when he visited the United States, he was assigned a security detail by the FBI, in response to multiple death threats. The conflict in Israel, initially confined to insulting posters, gradually escalated to a series of particularly offensive pranks, and, ultimately, to physically violent clashes between followers. Neither the Belzer Rebbe nor Rabbi Weiss were ever involved in any of these activities, which are largely considered to have been the work of radical activists within both camps. Despite the opposition, Belz persevered, and tempers gradually cooled. While Belz and the Edah HaCharedis remain distant and implicitly hostile towards each other, the feud has, for all intents and purposes, ended.
Quotes
"Every Jew must firmly believe that inside him, there resides a pure soul. Regardless of what his situation may be, even if he has strayed from the right path, the inner essence of his soul — which is a portion of God — remains pure and unsullied. ... From this tiny center of the soul that has not been tainted by evil, the transgressor derives the strength to do teshuvah (repentance), make amends for all his failings, and soar to the loftiest spiritual heights. (1991)"
"Everyone knows that the Arabs residing in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) — descendants of Ishmael — have only one aim: to drive the Jewish people out of Eretz Yisrael and to annihilate them. Now, when the Jewish people conduct themselves in the proper manner, the Arabs most certainly will have no power to harm them. To the contrary, the Arabs themselves will vanish from the scene. But even when Jews do not behave quite as they should, then the Holy One, Blessed be He, compares His nation with the nations of the world. And when viewed together, He finds that the Jewish people are the acme of perfection. ... For the Jewish people, when measured against the nations of the world, are absolutely flawless. In this merit, the Jewish people will defeat their enemies and crush them. (1990)"
Rebbes of Belz
* 1) Rabbi Sholom Rokeach (1779–1855)
* 2) Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach (1825–1894)
* 3) Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach (1854–1926)
* 4) Rabbi Aharon Rokeach (1877–1957)
* 5) Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach (b. 1948)
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WIKI
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Deep links for your mobile app – AEM Dispatcher
How to handle deep linking in your mobile app on AEM dispatcher
Goal
It happens sometimes to use AEM to deliver content both to the website and the mobile application, and your mobile application uses deep links. In order to have everything working, there are a few steps to follow.
Procedure
Access in ssh to your Dispatcher server(s) and go under you DocumentRoot folder, which generally is located at “/var/www/html“. Here you can create a specific folder to manage these new files. Once done, create or upload apple-app-site-association and assetlinks.json files.
Then go in your vhost file, which should be located in the folder conf.d/available_vhost if you are using the latest folders structure. Inside the rewrite module (“<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>”) add your rewrite rules, for example:
#deeplink ios
RewriteRule ^/.well-known/apple-app-site-association /your-folder-path/apple-app-site-association [PT,L]
#deeplink android
RewriteRule ^/.well-known/assetlinks.json /your-folder-path/assetlinks.json [PT,L]
Last thing to do, again in the vhost file, is to set the following rule for the apple-app-site-application file.
<FilesMatch "apple-app-site-association">
ForceType application/json
</FilesMatch>
That’s all. Remember the files must be served over https:// with a valid SSL certificate.
Cheers! 🍻
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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SE Asia Stocks-Philippines surges most in 15 months, c.bank keeps rate steady
March 22, 2018 / 10:33 AM / Updated an hour ago SE Asia Stocks-Philippines surges most in 15 months, c.bank keeps rate steady Reuters Staff 4 Min Read * Manila closes 2.7 pct higher after 3 sessions of drops * Vietnam rises for ninth session to record close * Indonesia falls 0.9 pct, down for 7th session in 8 By Aaron Saldanha March 22 (Reuters) - Philippine shares surged 2.7 percent on Thursday, the most since December 2016, as the central bank maintained its key rate and the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate outlook for 2018 was seen as less hawkish than expected. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3 percent on Thursday and said it expected inflation to remain within its target for this year and next. The Fed raised its interest rate on Wednesday and reiterated two more rate increases this year, signalling caution in its monetary policy tightening pace. The Fed's outlook for a total of three rate increases for 2018 helps retain the allure of higher yielding assets in emerging markets, which would have reduced had more rates hikes been predicted. The Philippine Stock Exchange PSEI Index closed higher for the first time in four sessions. While all sectors rose, real estate and industrial stocks contributed the most to the main index's gain. SM Investments Corp jumped 5.3 percent, while Ayala Land Inc gained 5.5 percent. The benchmark stock index declined in six sessions of the seven through Wednesday, shedding a total 6.4 percent. Indonesian shares fell 0.9 percent, making them the biggest losers in Southeast Asia. Most sectors ended in the negative territory with financials and consumer staples weighing heavily on the benchmark. Holding firm Sinar Mas Multiartha dropped 9.1 percent, while an index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks declined 1.1 percent. Vietnam shares rose for a ninth straight session and posted an all-time closing high. Utilities and consumer staples were among the top gainers with Petrovietnam Gas Joint Stock Corp rising 5.2 percent. The benchmark stock index has risen more than 19 percent so far in 2018 after a 48 percent jump last year. Malaysian shares gained 0.6 percent, helped by financials and consumer staples. Malayan Banking Bhd gained 2.5 percent. Singapore shares declined 0.6 percent, weighed down by financials, with Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd shedding 1.2 percent. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS: Change on day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 3491.37 3511.13 -0.56 Bangkok 1798.55 1801.43 -0.16 Manila 8124.45 7909.07 2.72 Jakarta 6254.074 6312.831 -0.93 Kuala Lumpur 1876.87 1865.8 0.59 Ho Chi Minh 1172.36 1169.36 0.26 Change so far in 2018 Market Current End 2017 Pct Move Singapore 3491.37 3402.92 2.60 Bangkok 1798.55 1753.71 2.56 Manila 8124.45 8558.42 -5.07 Jakarta 6254.074 6355.654 -1.60 Kuala Lumpur 1876.87 1796.81 4.46 Ho Chi Minh 1172.36 984.24 19.11 (Reporting by Aaron Saldanha in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
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NEWS-MULTISOURCE
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Simple Tricks On How To Lose Weight
Are you up all night worrying about your health or weight? You need to lose the weight not only for yourself, but for the people around you. Begin by using some useful weight loss tips. Read this article for the best tips available.
Eating breakfast is one of the most important parts of losing weight. Begin the day with a delicious, healthy breakfast to get your metabolism on the right track and avoid bad snack choices later. Consistently eating a healthy breakfast allows your body to understand that it won’t need to store food as fat, thus leading to more loss.
Chunky soups are a great way to stay true to your diet program. It’s not a good idea to drink all of your calories. You will see yourself getting full much faster when consuming soups with big chunks of beans and vegetables, as opposed to soups that are creamy or pureed.
Use your phone time to get in a little workout. Rather than sitting down as you talk, stand up and walk around while you are on your phone. This does not have to be an intense workout. Simply circle the house or complete a few menial tasks, and you will start to burn real calories.
Be sure to eat your salad before your meal. It will help you lose weight. Salads have fiber and they are filling, but don’t have lots of calories. Avoid adding extra fatty items such as cheese or high calorie dressings to your salad.
It is common knowledge that drinking plenty of water will help with weight loss. But, it is not so well-known that drinking very cold water will raise your metabolism even more. When you drink cold water, your body has to burn calories to maintain its proper temperature, which will also increase metabolism.
Shed old weight gaining habits for new weight loss habits. Focus on positive changes so that you can remain on your diet. Instead of thinking all the time about avoiding unhealthy breakfasts like donuts in the morning, consider going somewhere that offers fresh fruit instead. It is much simpler to create new habits than it is to try to break old habits.
Workout Shoes
Instead of mashed potatoes, try mashed cauliflower. Cauliflower makes a tasty substitute for starchy potatoes. Simply cook them first in boiling water and then put them in a blender to puree. You can also add some chicken or beef stock for added flavor. This is a great side dish for larger dinners and provides a lot of nutrition, with a small amount of carbohydrates.
Be certain that you have comfortable exercise shoes. You are going to be working hard in your workout shoes and if they are uncomfortable, poorly fitted or poorly designed, you could do some serious damage to your body. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get adequate workout shoes, but you do need to try them on and walk around to ascertain that they fit well.
Keep track of calorie consumption. You can do this many different ways. There are apps for smart phones or you can simply write everything you eat in a journal. Once you know how many calories you need each day, you can work to stay within your limits.
Drink a bunch of water if you want to get rid of five pounds quickly. By adding more water to your diet, you can reduce the food that you consume. This is only temporary weight loss, but it can be a good motivator to get started dropping those pounds for good.
Try to eat with someone else in order to keep down the amount you eat. You will be more likely to eat everything in front of you if you eat alone.
Make sure you are keeping track of what you’re drinking. Only water and diet drinks are truly calorie free. Calories hidden in soda, alcohol and other flavored and sugary drinks can add up very quickly as the day goes on. If you are counting calories, make sure to count all calories that come from drinks.
Whole grain foods are a good addition to any weight loss diet. If you have questions about whole grains, consult a dietitian, or look online for more information. If a product’s food label contains the word “refined” or “enriched,” then give it a miss. Companies often let you know if their products contain whole grains, so keep an eye out when you are grocery shopping.
A great way to record your eating habits is by having a journal to keep track of what you are putting into your body. Whenever you eat, record the time, how you feel and the food you ate. You may notice a pattern, such as emotional eating, using a food journal.
If you cook and eat a meal, portion your plate out and then put everything away prior to eating. Of course, this is simpler to accomplish if you don’t have young children or other family members eating with you. For the most part, avoid putting the main dishes on the table. This way, others who want seconds can get more if needed, but the food is not right in your face.
Adding a cardio element to your daily life will boost weight loss efforts significantly. Called “cardio”, cardiovascular exercise includes running, speed walking, biking and a lot of other activities that increase your heart rate. As your heart rate increases so does the amount of fat you burn. Try to do cardio for three to four days a week, for 30 minutes at a time.
While it goes contrary to most doctor’s advice, you may wish to consider continuing your smoking habit if you have been considering quitting. At least not until you meet your goal. It is hard to stop smoking, and people that are able to give it up sometimes eat a lot to compensate. Quitting smoking may cause you to gain weight, which could undermine your diet.
Lose Weight
Any good diet plan should feature rewards for sticking to your diet for a specific amount of time. Go out to see a movie, buy a small gift, or buy some new clothing. You will be able to buy new clothing for your new and improved body and tell yourself how good you are doing.
While diet alone can help you lose weight, adding exercise to the mix will make your diet more effective. Are you thinking about planning a picnic? You should have it at a park that is close by so you can walk there. If you have time, planning some of your meals combined with a physical activity will help you work off some calories and lose weight.
You don’t have to keep suffering sleepless nights trying to figure out how to shed your extra weight. It’s key that you move quickly, so you can embark on your healthy life. Use the information presented above to help you lose the weight you need.
Find someone you can exercise with. If you do this, you’ll see exercising as a social opportunity rather than focusing solely on weight loss. You two can encourage one another and keep each other motivated. An additional benefit is you will be eager to spend time with your friend exercising.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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OPTIMIZE
Optimize one or more tables explicitly.
Table of contents
Synopsis
OPTIMIZE TABLE (table_ident [ PARTITION (partition_column=value [ , ... ])] [, ...] )
[ WITH ( optimization_parameter [= value] [, ... ] ) ]
Description
The OPTIMIZE TABLE command optimizes tables and table partitions by merging the segments of a table or a partition and reducing their number. It is also used to upgrade tables and table partitions to the current version of the storage engine. This command will block until the optimization process is complete. If the connection to CrateDB is lost, the request will continue in the background, and any new requests will block until the previous optimization is complete.
The PARTITION clause can be used to only optimize specific partitions of a partitioned table. All columns by which a table is partitioned are required.
In case the PARTITION clause is omitted all open partitions will be optimized. Closed partitions are not optimized. For performance reasons doing that should be avoided if possible.
See Partitioned Tables for more information on partitioned tables.
For further information see Optimization.
Note
System tables cannot be optimized
Parameters
table_ident:The name (optionally schema-qualified) of an existing table that is to be optimized.
partition_column:Column name by which the table is partitioned.
Clauses
PARTITION
[ PARTITION ( partition_column = value [ , ... ] ) ]
partition_column:
The name of the column by which the table is partitioned.
All partition columns that were part of the PARTITIONED BY of the CREATE TABLE statement must be specified.
value:
The columns value.
WITH
The optional WITH clause can specify parameters for the optimization request.
[ WITH ( optimization_parameter [= value] [, ... ] ) ]
optimization_parameter:Specifies an optional parameter for the optimization request.
Available parameters are:
max_num_segments:
The number of segments to merge to. To fully merge the table or partition set it to 1.
Defaults to simply checking if a merge is necessary, and if so, executes it.
only_expunge_deletes:
Should the merge process only expunge segments with deletes in it.
In CrateDB, a row is not deleted from a segment, just marked as deleted. During a merge process of segments, a new segment is created that does not have those deletes. This flag allows to only merge segments that have deletes.
Defaults to false.
flush:
Instructs if a flush should be performed after the optimization.
Defaults to true.
upgrade_segments:
Don’t optimize but instead upgrade all segments of the table/partition to the current version of storage engine.
Defaults to false.
Note
upgrade_segments cannot be used in combination with other parameters
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Oakley Youth Development Center
Oakley Youth Development Center (OYDC), formerly known as Oakley Training School is a juvenile correctional facility of the Mississippi Department of Human Services located in unincorporated Hinds County, Mississippi, near Raymond. It is Mississippi's sole juvenile correctional facility for children adjudicated into the juvenile correctional system.
Oakley has a capacity of 150 students. Oakley is located on a 1068 acre plot of land surrounded by agricultural fields; the State of Mississippi states that the complex is about a 30-minute commute from Jackson. Grantier Architecture designed a 6598 sqft building of the school. Only those who have been adjudicated delinquent for a felony or who has been adjudicated delinquent three or more times for a misdemeanor offense may be committed to Oakley. Oakley may retain custody of a child until the child's twentieth birthday but not for longer. The facility is subject to a 2023 Memorandum of Agreement between the United States and Mississippi for care required at the facility.
History
A post office opened at what is now the Oakley Training School in 1837.
Originally Oakley was the Oakley Farm, a prison for women in the State of Mississippi prison system. In 1894 the State of Mississippi purchased a 2725 acre property that became the Oakley Farm, and the state housed all women in the Mississippi penal system in Oakley. A limestone crushing plant opened at Oakley; it became a financial failure. Oakley did not have very good soil, so its farming operations did not do very well. Early in the 20th century the women at Oakley were moved to the Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman) in Sunflower County, Mississippi. The Mississippi state prison hospital remained at Oakley. On July 21, 1913 a fire swept through the Oakley Prison Farm and killed thirty-five black prisoners. In 1925, after two white prison camps in the Mississippi penal system faced overcrowding, the state of Mississippi moved seventy-five white prisoners between the ages of 14 and 21 to the Oakley facility, turning it into a juvenile correctional facility. William B. Taylor and Tyler H. Fletcher, authors of "Profits from convict labor: Reality or myth observations in Mississippi: 1907–1934," said that Oakley was "a large and unjustifiable financial drain" until its repurposing as a juvenile facility; they said that Oakley was "a financial drain, though perhaps a more justifiable one."
Later Oakley became the Negro Juvenile Reformatory and the Black Juvenile Reformatory School. Before desegregation Oakley housed Black children of both sexes, while the Columbia Training School housed White children of both sexes; the desegregation plan around the 1970s required the state to house male children 15 and older of all races at Oakley, while males 14 and under and females were housed at Columbia.
In 1999 DYS spent $1,289,700 of U.S. Department of Justice grant money to build a 15-bed maximum security unit for girls at Oakley. Around 2008 the Mississippi Youth Justice Project advocated for the closure of Oakley. Officials from the school responded, saying that the school had made improvements since past scandals.
Notable inmates
* Brenda Travis, a student at Burglund High School in McComb, Mississippi was incarcerated at Oakley Training School for participating in civil rights protests.
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WIKI
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User:Lauran1002/Books/talk
* DNA
* Protein
* Mutagen
* Mutation
* Ethidium bromide
* Ultraviolet
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WIKI
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Maze in Java
Discussion in 'Programmer's Corner' started by jakegwood, Oct 13, 2011.
1. jakegwood
Thread Starter New Member
Apr 13, 2011
29
0
So I have an assignment where a user creates a maze and the computer solves it. The user first enters the size of the maze, then the maze itself ie,
rows:5
columns: 5
OXOOO
OXOXO
OOOXO
OOXXO
XXXXO
Whereas any space with an O can be navigated through, and X cannot. We have to get from the start, top left, to the finish, bottom right. First we have to output whether or not it's solvable, and then if it is solvable, how to solve it. (Start from finish and then have a list of instructions D- down, U- Up, L- Left, R- Right, you may not move diagonally.) So the solution to this puzzle would be DDRRUURRDDDD
Entering the matrix is of course easy, but as far as solving, there are a couple problems, but here's my logic:
1. create a boolean matrix of same dimensions as the maze. (true will mean that space could be part of the solution, false means no.)
2. set 0x0 and nxn = true
3. using for loops, scan through row by row, starting from the finish point. any position that has 2 o's next to it, as well as a true next to it gets a true. (this is the condition for a useful spot.)
4. In devious paths like my example step 3 won't catch every space the first time around so keep doing this until the boolean matrix before the sweep looks the same as the one after.... ie, the sweep isn't finding any more spaces.
5. After finding all potential spots, sweep through row by row again. any true spot that doesn't have 2 trues next to it (other than start and finish) are not part of the solution.
6. starting from top left find adjacent true spots and according to where they are relative to that step ad the corresponding letter to the solution array.
7. print the solution array.
Really, the only problem I have is when there are a 2x2 square of o's, as there are in my example, there is ambiguity, and if the checks for where the next true is when finding the solution are in a certain order, you'll get stuck in there.
Thanks.
2. Georacer
Moderator
Nov 25, 2009
5,151
1,267
Instead of going row to row, you could start from the first 'O' and progress towards the adjacent 'O's. When you reach a spot where two or more 'O's are adjacent leave a placemark.
Choose your next tile randomly. If at some point you reach a tile that is adjacent to the marked tile, disregard the previous tile and continue from the current tile.
This might solve a path like this one:
Code ( (Unknown Language)):
1.
2. XXXX
3. X--X
4. -||-
5. XXXX
6.
but it won't shorten paths like this:
Code ( (Unknown Language)):
1.
2. XXXXX
3. X---X
4. -| |-
5. XXXXX
6.
Is that clear?
3. Filox
New Member
Oct 11, 2011
7
4
Hello jakegwood,
The best way to solve mazes is to use a graph searching algorithm, like breadth-first search, depth-first search
( O(|V|+|E|) complexity) or an even faster A*. If you want more information on how to use them on your problem , please ask.
4. djsfantasi
AAC Fanatic!
Apr 11, 2010
3,503
1,264
This is strange, because I have been working on this problem in my head recently. I had this assignment in school some 35 years ago and had an unorthodox approach that was accepted. So YMMV
1. At each cell, look for alternative paths. If only one, leave a numbered bread crumb. Your method of looking for alternative paths can determine if you use breadth versus depth searching. If none, see step 4.
2. if there is an alternative path, push the current coordinates onto a stack and increment the numbered bread crumb. On the solution stack, push the direction of the alternative you are traversing
3. Continue on the identified alternative path.
4. if a dead end is encountered, return to the coordinates on the top of the stack. Delete the direction from the solution. Return to step 1
5. Once at the exit, your solution will be in the solution stack.
This algorithm jumps back to decision points within the maze saving scan time, does not necessarily produce best solutions, but will always produce a solution. It is very fast.
5. panic mode
Senior Member
Oct 10, 2011
1,509
404
you can also use "one hand touches wall". if the maze is solvable, this WILL get you through. also you can check if you are at exit since you know current coordinate.
idea is to start from whatever point, use one hand (left for example) and feel the wall as you are walking toward exit.
so, create variable direction and use different values for north, west east, south.
if at any moment there is no wall to your left, turn 90deg (and update direction).
if there is wall on the left and no obstacle in front, move one step forward.
if there is wall on the left and obstacle ahead, turn right.
you will need nested IFs or CASE statement to choose direction. for example if you re heading west and you hit the obstacle, "turn left" would mean turning south.
6. panic mode
Senior Member
Oct 10, 2011
1,509
404
forgot to mention, here you do not need to keep track of visited positions or getting back to branched connection - you just keep advancing toward exit. if you get back to start position, there is no solution.
7. panic mode
Senior Member
Oct 10, 2011
1,509
404
rows:5
columns: 5
OXOOO
OXOXO
OOOXO
OOXXO
XXXXO
so solution in this case would be
DDDRURUURRDDDD
note it is not always most efficient but it is simple and it works
8. jakegwood
Thread Starter New Member
Apr 13, 2011
29
0
That seems to make sense. I am trying to figure out efficient solutions too though. After going through with my method, the only true spaces are the actual path and 2x2 boxes connected to the path. I did add one step though in development, that each time you move, you make false the position you're in, then move. That means that walking through the puzzle, any true squares must either be one that gets you closer to the solution or, part of a square. But I think that would mean that if you are in a superfluous square (which I cannot think of a square that is not) that means that any true points diagonal to you must be part of the superfluous square. Therefore, you could make false all points diagonal to you. Then, run modified step 5 (modified step 5 makes sure there is at least 1 true space next to another true space) and clear out the other parts of the extraneous solution. So:
OXOOO
OXOXO
OOOXO
OOXXO
XXXXO
XXXXO
So all of these O's are part of the path, and they will all work, but there is ambiguity.
So when I am at P, the ambiguity is discovered, and a check will find that there are two adjacent possibilities, so let's delete any diagonal possibilities (Keep in mind I am destroying the path behind me as well as the space I am at, otherwise there would always be two possibilities):
XXOOO P=Position
XXOXO
POOXO
OXXXO
XXXXO
XXXXO
Now, run modified step 5, which will get rid of the spot below, but not the one to the right, as it has the spot adjacent to it also true:
XXOOO P=Position
XXOXO
POOXO
XXXXO
XXXXO
XXXXO
Then you are left with one solution. It would have to be more elegant however if you had an extended superfluous square (i.e. superfluous rectangle)
Anyway, I know mine is a bit clunky, but it does work so far, though I do feel like I am blind to a few possibilities that might be disastrous (and I haven't solved it for the superfluous rectangle). I like all of yours better, in terms of streamlined logic, but I am also trying to figure the shortest path, and I don't know if there's anyway to do that unless you've already entered the maze.
Filox, I am really not sure what you mean by that, but I would love to learn more, is there a place I can do that?
9. spark_fingers
New Member
Oct 22, 2011
8
0
Can your maze have loops? If yes, a "follow the wall" algorithm will not work.
I would suggest checking out the A* algorithm:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A*_search_algorithm
For a high-school program, the local students had to build robots that solved mazes. They were allowed two runs and the best time was used as their score. Most students mapped the entire maze on their first run, then use the a* algorithm to determine the fastest path for the next run.
Sorta unrelated, but fun to watch.. look how fast this maze solving robot goes!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pVgEoH-sjw
10. jakegwood
Thread Starter New Member
Apr 13, 2011
29
0
So assuming the maze is NxN, I don't really understand how A* would work if the solution were more than N+N steps.
And also how would you define a solution? Would it be an array of dirrections and then when you find a set of new directions you compare it to that one just to make sure it isn't the same one?
11. Georacer
Moderator
Nov 25, 2009
5,151
1,267
A flat maze cannot have loops and the "hug the wall" technique will always work.
In order for it to be unusable, the maze has to have bridges and overpasses.
12. spark_fingers
New Member
Oct 22, 2011
8
0
When I say loops, this is more the situation I was thinking of S= start position, E= end position:
S0000
0XXX0
00EX0
0XXX0
000000
If you used a PURE left/right wall following algorithm, you could potentially forever walk around the perimeter of the maze.
Although their requirements state the start and end will always be on the perimeter and off the top of my head I can't think of a time when a pure right/left approach would fail.
13. Georacer
Moderator
Nov 25, 2009
5,151
1,267
That's why I said that, given the OP's specifications, the "hug a wall" technique is always viable.
It is mathematically proven that for entrance and exit on the perimeter, on a flat maze, this technique will yield results.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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52 (comics)
52 is a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the Infinite Crisis miniseries. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid, with layouts by Keith Giffen. 52 also led into a few limited series spin-offs.
52 consists of 52 issues, published weekly for one year, each issue detailing an actual week chronicling the events that took place during the missing year after the end of Infinite Crisis. The series covers much of the DC Universe, and several characters whose disparate stories interconnect. The story is directly followed by the weekly limited series Countdown to Final Crisis. It was the first weekly series published by DC Comics since the short-lived anthology Action Comics Weekly from 1988 to 1989.
Format
The use of a weekly publication format is unusual in the North American comics industry, traditionally based upon a monthly publication. 52 and Batman Eternal (2014/2015) both hold the top position, of being the longest-published serialised weekly comic, published by a major North American publisher. The record was previously held by Action Comics Weekly. The story was originally conceived as being a chronicle of what happened in the "missing year" between the end of Infinite Crisis and the beginning of One Year Later. It would especially focus on how the world dealt with the disappearance of the "big three" heroes in the DCU, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. As the series went on, it became more of a platform for which to set the stage for upcoming storylines in the DC Universe.
History of the DC Universe
A backup story titled History of the DC Universe appears in Weeks 2 through 11, with the creative team of Dan Jurgens and Art Thibert. Reminiscent of DC's earlier History of the DC Universe limited series, in this story, Donna Troy explores the history of the DC Universe with the help of Harbinger's recording device. In the final chapter, both the device and a Monitor inform Donna Troy that she was supposed to have died instead of Jade.
Secret Origins
Weeks 12 through 51 feature Secret Origins, written by Mark Waid with a rotating team of artists.
Plot
In the aftermath of Infinite Crisis, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Diana Prince temporarily retire their costumed identities and do not attend a memorial for Superboy in Metropolis. Time traveler Booster Gold is shocked to not see the three heroes there, as this contradicts Skeets' historical data. Other contradictions, prompt Booster to search for answers in time traveler Rip Hunter's bunker, which is littered with notes and photos of Gold and Skeets surrounded by the words "his fault". Booster later discovers that his reputation and fame is diminishing. He tries to regain the spotlight by containing an exploding nuclear submarine, but seemingly dies in the attempt. Skeets regains access to Hunter's lab and realizes the photos and arrows are pointing at himself. He goes after Hunter and eventually finds him with Booster Gold, who turns out to have faked his death to help uncover Skeets' true intentions. Hunter and Booster attempt to trap Skeets in the Phantom Zone, but Skeets appears to consume the sub-dimension and pursues his two adversaries through time.
Ralph Dibny, the Elongated Man, is told that the gravestone of his dead wife Sue has been vandalized with an inverted Kryptonian "S", a symbol for resurrection. This was done by a cult that believes that Superboy can be resurrected, but would like to try first with Sue. Dibny and his friends disrupt the ceremony, and the effigy of Sue crawls to Dibny, calling out to him as it burns; he suffers a nervous breakdown as a result. Ralph seeks out the helmet of Doctor Fate, which promises to revive Sue if he makes certain sacrifices. While preparing a spell for Nabu, Dibny reveals the helmet is not the one talking to him, but sorcerer Felix Faust. Faust was posing as Nabu to give Dibny's soul to the demon Neron in exchange for his freedom. Neron kills Dibny, but realizes too late that Dibny's spell has trapped him and Faust inside a circle of binding. With Ralph's death, Neron and Faust are seemingly trapped together for all eternity. Ralph and Sue Dibny are reunited in death and become ghost detectives.
Lex Luthor announces the Everyman Project, a program designed to give ordinary people superpowers. Natasha Irons (Steel) wants to join the Project, but her uncle John Henry Irons forbids it. She enrolls anyway and becomes a member of Luthor's superhero team Infinity, Inc. During a battle with the third Blockbuster, Luthor deactivates the powers of one of Natasha's teammates with fatal results. The death of her friend prompts Natasha to question Luthor's motives. Angered by reports that he is incompatible with the treatment, Luthor deactivates the powers of the majority of the Everyman subjects, resulting in many of them falling from the sky to their deaths. After learning the reports were falsified, he gives himself the powers of Superman. John and the Teen Titans attack LexCorp and bring him to justice with Natasha's help. Beast Boy offers Natasha membership in the Teen Titans, but she declines in favor of forming a new team with her uncle.
Animal Man, Starfire, and Adam Strange are marooned on an alien planet after the events of Infinite Crisis. They are pursued through space by agents of Lady Styx, whose forces are conquering and overrunning planets on a path of destruction toward Earth. With some help from Lobo, the Emerald Eye of Ekron and the Emerald Head of Ekron, the heroes defeat Lady Styx. During the fight, Animal Man dies. The aliens who gave him his powers later revive him with new powers. He now has the ability to gain powers from any sentient being in the universe. He uses it to return to Earth.
Black Adam, the superhuman leader of Kahndaq, forges a coalition with several other countries against the United States and their metahumans: the Freedom of Power Treaty. He stops when Adrianna Tomaz, a former slave, shows him how he can use his abilities more peacefully to help his country. Adam convinces Captain Marvel to give Tomaz the power of Isis. Adam and Isis free enslaved children across Africa. Meanwhile, the Question and Renee Montoya start investigating Intergang. Following a lead, they fly to Kahndaq and prevent a suicide bombing at Black Adam and Isis' wedding. Adam awards them one of Kahndaq's highest honors. The four uncover Intergang, which is inducting children into a religion of crime based on its Crime Bible. Black Adam finds Isis' crippled brother Amon among the children and shares his power with him. Amon is reborn as Osiris. Osiris befriends a seemingly timid anthropomorphic crocodile named Sobek, who joins Black Adam's Black Marvel Family. Adam and Isis inform the Freedom of Power Treaty member nations that Kahndaq is no longer interested in consolidating power or in executing superhumans.
Will Magnus, creator of the Metal Men, is abducted to Oolong Island, where Intergang and Chang Tzu force kidnapped scientists to form the Science Squad and develop new weapons for them. There, Magnus is ordered to build a Plutonium Man robot. The scientists activate three of their Four Horsemen, which target Black Adam. Suspicious of him, Amanda Waller maneuvers Osiris into killing the Persuader and leaking footage of the incident to the media. With his reputation destroyed, Osiris retires from the public eye and acid rain ravages Kahndaq. Convinced that he is the cause of Kahndaq's new miseries, Osiris asks Captain Marvel to remove his powers. Isis and Black Adam stop him and the three return to Kahndaq. Sobek tricks Osiris into turning back into Amon and devours him, revealing himself to be the fourth Horseman, Famine. The other Horsemen join the battle. Isis is poisoned by Pestilence and dies while asking Adam to avenge her and Osiris' deaths.
Grief-stricken and enraged to the point of madness, Black Adam destroys the country of Bialya, base of the Four Horsemen, murdering the country's entire population. He then attacks Oolong Island. The Justice Society of America invade the island to arrest him and subdue the scientists, but Adam escapes and embarks on a week-long rampage across the globe, during which he kills several superhumans. Captain Marvel convinces the Egyptian pantheon to revert Adam to Teth-Adam and changes Adam's magic word from "Shazam" to a new phrase. Teth-Adam goes missing in the resulting explosion and wanders the Earth powerlessly, trying to guess the secret word.
The Question and Montoya train with Richard Dragon in Nanda Parbat, where Montoya learns that the Question is dying from lung cancer and wants her to replace him. After they discover a prophecy in the Crime Bible about Batwoman's death, the two join her fight against Intergang in Gotham City. When the Question's condition worsens, Montoya journeys back to Nanda Parbat in a failed attempt to save his life. Shortly after they leave Gotham, Intergang discovers Batwoman's identity and attempts to sacrifice her to fulfill the prophecy. Montoya, as the new Question, tries to save Batwoman, who gets stabbed by Mannheim with a ceremonial dagger. Batwoman fatally wounds Mannheim and survives. After she recovers, Montoya shines the restored Bat-Signal to call her back to work.
Skeets is revealed to be Mister Mind, who has been using Skeets' metallic body as a cocoon to metamorphose into a gigantic, monstrous form that feeds on time itself. Rip Hunter and Booster escape to the end of the Infinite Crisis and witness the secret creation of 52 identical parallel universes. Mister Mind intends to consume them. The Phantom Zone is restored, and Mister Mind alters events in the 52 universes, creating new histories and a new status quo for each. The heroes trap him in the remains of Skeets' shell and send him back in time to the beginning of the year, where he is captured by Dr. Sivana, trapped in a time loop for all eternity. Will Magnus later rebuilds Skeets, using a copy he had made of the robot's memories.
World War III
Week 50 of 52 and the four-issue World War III limited series, which was released the same week, depict the superhumans' battle with Black Adam. World War III also depicts Aquaman's transformation into the Dweller of the Depths, Martian Manhunter's change in outlook, Donna Troy's assumption of the Wonder Woman mantle, Supergirl's return to the 21st century, Jason Todd pretending to be Nightwing, and Cassandra Cain being drugged to turn evil and join Deathstroke.
Secret message
Dan DiDio included a hidden message in his "DC Nation" column in the back of Week 37. The message is spelled out using the first letter of every third word: "the secret of fifty-two is that the multiverse still exists".
Collected editions
The lead stories of the series are collected, with commentary from the creators and other extras, into four trade paperbacks:
* Volume 1 (collects #1–13, 304 pages, May 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1353-7)
* Volume 2 (collects #14–26, 304 pages, July 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1364-2)
* Volume 3 (collects #27–39, 304 pages, September 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1443-6)
* Volume 4 (collects #40–52, 304 pages, November 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1486-X)
All 52 issues were also available in the 52 Omnibus hardcover (1,216 pages, November 2012, ISBN<PHONE_NUMBER>567).
The collection has also been made available in a two-volume edition that includes bonus material after each chapter:
* Volume 1 (collects #1–26, 584 pages, June 2015, ISBN<PHONE_NUMBER>256)
* Volume 2 (collects #27–52, 616 pages, January 2017, ISBN<PHONE_NUMBER>649)
Other connected collections include:
* 52: The Companion (224 pages, October 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1557-2)
* DC: World War III (collects 52 Week 50 and the entire four-issue World War III limited series, 128 pages, December 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1504-1)
* 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen (Collects #1–6, 144 pages, May 2008 ISBN<PHONE_NUMBER>815)
* The Question: The Five Books of Blood (collects "Crime Bible – Five Lessons of Blood" #1–5, 128 pages, June 2009, ISBN<PHONE_NUMBER>359)
* Wizard #184
Spin-offs
Taking advantage of the popularity of the series, DC issued several series of comics based on the individual threads of 52 that began several months after 52 ended. Booster Gold (vol. 2) is an ongoing series that sees the eponymous hero and Rip Hunter travel through time to fix history as "the greatest superhero never known". The six-issue 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen miniseries covers the Four Horsemen's battle with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Black Adam: The Dark Age, another six-issue miniseries, follows Teth-Adam's quest to restore his powers and bring Isis back to life; it takes place between the end of 52 and Mary Marvel's corruption in Countdown to Final Crisis.
Two strands of the 52 story were taken and put together with back-ups from the new Countdown to Final Crisis story. Countdown to Adventure looks at the fate of space-travelers Adam Strange, Animal Man, and Starfire in their new roles after their journey over the course of eight issues, with a back-up story following Forerunner. Countdown to Mystery is another eight-issue series looking at the new Doctor Fate and a back-up story focusing on Eclipso.
These include:
* Booster Gold vol. 2 #1–47 – The further adventures of Booster Gold, Supernova, and Rip Hunter as they try to preserve the fractured timeline.
* Black Adam: The Dark Age #1–6 – In the aftermath of World War III, Black Adam tries to recoup his losses, for both his powers and his personal life.
* Infinity Inc. #1–12 – Steel and the remaining members of Luthor's Everyman Project team together to form a new Infinity Inc.
* 52 Aftermath: Crime Bible – Five Lessons of Blood #1–5 – The Question and Batwoman investigate crimes, leading them deeper into the Crime Bible.
* 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #1–6 – Follows Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman against the Four Horsemen of Apokolips.
* Metal Men #1–8 – Follows Dr. William "Will" Magnus and the new version of the Metal Men as they battle Will's brother, David, who wants to destroy them.
* Detective Comics – Follows Batwoman and the Question.
* The Great Ten #1–9 – Follows the Chinese superteam.
Action figures
In September 2006, DC Direct premiered a line of action figures based on 52. The first wave, featuring figures based on Batwoman, Isis, Booster Gold, Animal Man, and Supernova, was released in May 2007.
Novelization
Ace Books, under the imprint of the Berkley Publishing Group and published by the Penguin Group, released a novelization written by Greg Cox, with cover art by J. G. Jones and Alex Sinclair, and its design by George Brewer.
The novel primarily adapts the weekly limited series and the World War III tie-in miniseries. The novel deals with the plotlines of Montoya, the Question, Black Adam, Booster Gold, Skeets, and the 52 Earths, dropping the Luthor/Steel/Everyman Project, Ralph Dibny, and space plotlines completely and including only part of the "Science Squad" storyline, keeping in the evil geniuses and their work for Intergang but leaving out Will Magnus' ongoing plot; in his introduction, Cox explains that it was not possible to adapt all the plotlines of 52 within a novel of reasonable length. Outside of the loss of these various storylines from the book, events play out in an essentially identical manner, with most of the dialogue itself even lifted from the comics verbatim. There are some minor cosmetic changes along the way (for instance, on Week 3, Black Adam kills Intergang thug Rough House as opposed to Terra-Man), but in the final chapter, a lot of the specifics of Mister Mind's cross-time battle with Rip Hunter, Booster Gold, and Supernova are altered. The villain reveals himself in front of a gathered group of heroes in Metropolis, rather than to just Booster and Rip in the Fortress of Solitude; the rebirth of the multiverse is credited to Mister Mind's transformation, rather than the Crisis; and the weapon stolen from Steel by Booster during World War III is actually put to use against Mind, which it was not in the comic, and is the cause of his unexplained-in-the-comic shrinking.
Audiobook
In December 2007, GraphicAudio released the first half of a full cast audiobook adaptation based on the novel by Greg Cox. Like GraphicAudio's audiobook of Infinite Crisis, this spans two volumes (each 6 hours long) with 6 CDs and features a full cast, music, and sound effects. Volume 2 was released in February 2008.
Voice cast credits as follows:
* Ken Jackson : Black Adam, Skeets, Mr. Mind
* Barbara Pinolini : Renee Montoya
* Bruce Rauscher : The Question, Phantom Stranger, Dr. Cyclops, Leonard Akteon
* Colleen Delany : Isis, Wonder Woman, Superwoman
* David Coyne : Booster Gold, Boss Mannheim, Daniel Carter, Captain Boomerang, Beefeater
* James Konicek : Clark Kent, Count Vertigo, First Beast-man
* Nanette Savard : Lois Lane, Whisper A’Daire, Zalika
* M.B. Van Dorn : Katherine Kane, Batwoman
* Michael Glenn : Osiris, Richard Dragon, Hourman, Beastboy
* Terence Aselford : Captain Marvel, Jay Garrick, Captain Marvel Jr., Mind-Grabber Kid
* Susan Lynskey : Mary Marvel, Plastique, Madame Xanadu
* James Lewis : Nightwing, Kyle Abbot, Baron Bug, Agent Rogers, Jimmy Olsen
* Karen Carbone : Power Girl, Claudia Lanpher
* Ted Stoddard : Aristotle Rodor
* Eric Messner : Atom-Smasher, Dr. Death
* Erika Rose : Amanda Waller, Natasha Irons
* Michael John Casey : Persuader, Dr. Kim, Zorrm
* Elisabeth Demery : Zatanna, Stargirl, Mallory, Veronica Cale
* Jeff Baker : Alan Scott
* Elliot Dash : Mr.Terrific, Steel
* Dylan Lynch : Waverider, Col. Harjvati, Electrocutioner
* Thomas Penny :, Rigoro Mortis, News Anchor, Black Lightning, Bike Boy
* Tim Carlin : Perry White, Jim Corrigan, Benny the Mover
* Cate Torre : Lady Sivana, Mildred Heiny, Yellow Peri, Carjack Lady
* Jim Lawson : Metamorpho, Louie the Mover, Fred Farrell, Panic Dad
* Arianne Parker : Firehawk, Firefighter, Kahndaqi woman
* Christopher Graybill : T.O.Morrow, Roggra, Noose, Mirage
* Michael Replogle : Dr.Tyme, Manthrax
* Christopher Walker : Strauss, Kahndaqi dissident, Aged servant
* Jacinda Bronaugh : Vicki Vale, Bobbi Bobbins
* Richard Rohan : Dr. Sivana, Rip Hunter, Sabbac, Azraeuz, The Blimp
* Mort Shelby : Sobek, Wildcat, Mammoth, Tawky Tawny, Rough House
The Flash
In the CW series The Flash, the term '52' is often used as an Easter egg. For example, in the episode "Things You Can't Outrun", the Flash team opt to incarcerate criminal metahumans in "Area 52" at S.T.A.R. Labs. In the second season, inter-dimensional breaches are made between Earth-One and Earth-Two, and 52 separate portals are located.
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WIKI
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How Do Astronomers Measure Really Big Distances and Why Were Astronomical Units Invented To Express Distance?
Everyone relies on numbers to express distance, but when distances are immense, too many digits have to be used to make sense.
For example, the distance between Los Angeles and New York is 14,710,080 feet, or 2,786 miles (5,280 feet = 1 mile).
We don’t have to use as many digits in miles as in feet.
how do astronomers measure really big distances and why were astronomical units invented to express distance
To express distance in space, astronomers most commonly use measures called astronomical units, light-years, and parsecs.
An astronomical unit can also refer to the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun over one Earth orbit.
One astronomical unit is equal to about 149,597,870.7 kilometers, or 92,955,801 miles, as defined by the International Astronomical Union.
About Karen Hill
Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist for zippyfacts.com. Born in New York, she loves interesting random facts from all over the world.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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UpToDate
Official reprint from UpToDate®
www.uptodate.com ©2017 UpToDate, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
Medline ® Abstract for Reference 47
of 'Palliative care: Nursing home'
47
TI
Improving decision-making for feeding options in advanced dementia: a randomized, controlled trial.
AU
Hanson LC, Carey TS, Caprio AJ, Lee TJ, Ersek M, Garrett J, Jackman A, Gilliam R, Wessell K, Mitchell SL
SO
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011;59(11):2009.
OBJECTIVES: To test whether a decision aid improves quality of decision-making about feeding options in advanced dementia.
DESIGN: Cluster randomized controlled trial.
SETTING: Twenty-four nursing homes in North Carolina.
PARTICIPANTS: Residents with advanced dementia and feeding problems and their surrogates.
INTERVENTION: Intervention surrogates received an audio or print decision aid on feeding options in advanced dementia. Controls received usual care.
MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome was the Decisional Conflict Scale (range: 1-5) measured at 3 months; other main outcomes were surrogate knowledge, frequency of communication with providers, and feedingtreatment use.
RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-six residents and surrogate decision-makers were recruited. Residents' average age was 85; 67% were Caucasian, and 79% were women. Surrogates' average age was 59; 67% were Caucasian, and 70% were residents' children. The intervention improved knowledge scores (16.8 vs 15.1, P<.001). After 3 months, intervention surrogates had lower Decisional Conflict Scale scores than controls (1.65 vs 1.90, P<.001) and more often discussed feeding options with a healthcare provider (46% vs 33%, P = .04). Residents in the intervention group were more likely to receive a dysphagia diet (89% vs 76%, P = .04) and showed a trend toward greater staff eating assistance (20% vs 10%, P = .08). Tube feeding was rare in both groups even after 9 months (1 intervention vs 3 control, P = .34).
CONCLUSION: A decision aid about feeding options in advanced dementia reduced decisional conflict for surrogates and increased their knowledge and communication about feeding options with providers.
AD
Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. lhanson@med.unc.edu
PMID
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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標題: Multithreshold progressive image sharing with compact shadows
作者: Chen, Lee Shu-Teng
Lin, Ja-Chen
資訊工程學系
Department of Computer Science
公開日期: 1-Jan-2010
摘要: We propose a multithreshold progressive reconstruction method. The image is encoded three times using Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG): first with a low-quality factor, then with a medium-quality factor, and last with a high-quality factor. Huffman coding is employed to encode the difference between the important image and the high-quality JPEG decompressed image. The three JPEG codes and the Huffman code are shared, respectively, according to four prespecified thresholds. The n-generated equally important shadows can be stored or transmitted using n channels in parallel. Cooperation among these generated shadows can progressively reconstruct the important image. The reconstructed image is loss-free when the number of collected shadows reaches the largest threshold. Each shadow is very compact and so can be hidden successfully in the JPEG codes of cover images to reduce the probability of being attacked when transmitted in an unfriendly environment. Comparisons with other image sharing methods are made. The contributions, such as easiness to apply to scalable Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video transmission or resistance to differential attack, are also included. (C) 2010 SPIE and IS&T. [DOI: 10.1117/1.3295710]
URI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.3295710
http://hdl.handle.net/11536/6295
ISSN: 1017-9909
DOI: 10.1117/1.3295710
期刊: JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC IMAGING
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Molecular Simulations of Knudsen Wall-slip: Effect of Wall Morphology
TitleMolecular Simulations of Knudsen Wall-slip: Effect of Wall Morphology
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsG Arya, H-C Chang, and EJ Maginn
JournalMolecular Simulation
Volume29
Issue10-11
Start Page697
Pagination697 - 709
Date Published10/2003
Abstract
This work involves a molecular simulation study of the phenomena of wall slip occurring in rarefied gases flowing through micro- and nano-channels. A simulation strategy that mimics a scattering experiment is developed in order to compute the tangential momentum accommodation coefficient (f) which governs the degree of slip at the wall surface. Noninteracting gas molecules are bombarded at an atomic wall composed of rigid atoms with suitably distributed velocities and a tangential drift velocity that simulates flow. The accommodation coefficient is computed from the loss in the tangential momentum of these molecules. The accommodation coefficient is observed to be strongly dependent on the physical roughness of the wall, as characterized by the parameter σwg/L, and the attractiveness of the wall to the fluid, as characterized by the parameter εwg/kBT, where σwg and εwg are the Lennard-Jones interaction parameters of the wall and gas atoms while I is the lattice unit length. The accommodation coefficient is found to be independent of the tangential drift velocity at small drift velocities commensurate to those observed in micro devices. The accommodation coefficient is also found to be independent of the inertial mass of the gas molecules. The dependence of f on the two main governing factors has been presented in convenient "phase diagrams" plots. We also show a means of separating gases based on the differences in the accommodation coefficients of the various components in the mixture. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that separation factors higher than 20 are achieved for gases flowing through nanometer wide channels in the Knudsen regime. We also present a simple analytical model to determine the lower bound on the separation factor of the two gases.
DOI10.1080/0892702031000103257
Short TitleMolecular Simulation
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Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 2.djvu/177
PUBLIC LAW 104-134—APR. 26, 1996 110 STAT. 1321-30 SEC. 203. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to support the hurricane reconnaissance aircraft and activities that are under the control of the United States Air Force or the United States Air Force Reserve. SEC. 204. None of the funds provided in this or any previous 13 USC 23 note. Act, or hereinafter made available to the Department of Commerce shall be available to reimburse the Unemployment Trust Fund or any other fund or account of the Treasury to pay for any expenses paid before October 1, 1992, as authorized by section 8501 of title 5, United States Code, for services performed after April 20, 1990, by individuals appointed to temporary positions within the Bureau of the Census for purposes relating to the 1990 decennial census of population. SEC. 205. Not to exceed 5 percent of any appropriation made available for the current fiscal year for the Department of Commerce in this Act may be transferred between such appropriations, but no such appropriation shall be increased by more than 10 percent by any such transfers: Provided, That any transfer pursuant to this section shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under section 605 of this Act and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth in that section. SEC. 206. (a) Should legislation be enacted to dismantle or reorganize the Department of Commerce, the Secretary of Commerce, no later than 90 days thereafter, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and the Senate a plan for transferring funds provided in this Act to the appropriate successor organizations: Provided, That the plan shall include a proposal for transferring or rescinding funds appropriated herein for agencies or programs terminated under such legislation: Provided further. That such plan shall be transmitted in accordance with section 605 of this Act. (b) The Secretary of Commerce or the appropriate head of any successor organization(s) may use any available funds to carry out legislation dismantling or reorganizing the Department of Commerce to cover the costs of actions relating to the abolishment, reorganization or transfer of functions and any related personnel action, including voluntary separation incentives if authorized by such legislation: Provided, That the authority to transfer funds between appropriations accounts that may be necessary to carry out this section is provided in addition to authorities included under section 205 of this Act: Provided further. That use of funds to carry out this section shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under section 605 of this Act and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth in that section. SEC. 207. Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including any regulation and including the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965), the transfer of title to the Rutland City Industrial Complex to Hilinex, Vermont (as related to Economic Development Administration Project Number 01-11 -01742) shall not require compensation to the Federal Government for the fair share of the Federal Government of that real property. SEC. 208. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development of the Department of Commerce, shall—
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WIKI
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Object Model
The standard C++ object model provides very efficient runtime support for the object paradigm. But its static nature is inflexibile in certain problem domains. Graphical user interface programming is a domain that requires both runtime efficiency and a high level of flexibility. Qt provides this, by combining the speed of C++ with the flexibility of the Qt Object Model.
Qt adds these features to C++:
Many of these Qt features are implemented with standard C++ techniques, based on inheritance from QObject. Others, like the object communication mechanism and the dynamic property system, require the Meta-Object System provided by Qt's own Meta-Object Compiler (moc).
The meta-object system is a C++ extension that makes the language better suited to true component GUI programming.
Important Classes
These classes form the basis of the Qt Object Model.
QMetaClassInfo
Additional information about a class
QMetaEnum
Meta-data about an enumerator
QMetaMethod
Meta-data about a member function
QMetaProperty
Meta-data about a property
QMetaType
Manages named types in the meta-object system
QObject
The base class of all Qt objects
QSignalBlocker
Exception-safe wrapper around QObject::blockSignals()
QObjectCleanupHandler
Watches the lifetime of multiple QObjects
QMetaObject
Contains meta-information about Qt objects
QPointer
Template class that provides guarded pointers to QObject
QSignalMapper
Bundles signals from identifiable senders
QVariant
Acts like a union for the most common Qt data types
Qt Objects: Identity vs Value
Some of the added features listed above for the Qt Object Model, require that we think of Qt Objects as identities, not values. Values are copied or assigned; identities are cloned. Cloning means to create a new identity, not an exact copy of the old one. For example, twins have different identities. They may look identical, but they have different names, different locations, and may have completely different social networks.
Then cloning an identity is a more complex operation than copying or assigning a value. We can see what this means in the Qt Object Model.
A Qt Object...
• might have a unique QObject::objectName(). If we copy a Qt Object, what name should we give the copy?
• has a location in an object hierarchy. If we copy a Qt Object, where should the copy be located?
• can be connected to other Qt Objects to emit signals to them or to receive signals emitted by them. If we copy a Qt Object, how should we transfer these connections to the copy?
• can have new properties added to it at runtime that are not declared in the C++ class. If we copy a Qt Object, should the copy include the properties that were added to the original?
For these reasons, Qt Objects should be treated as identities, not as values. Identities are cloned, not copied or assigned, and cloning an identity is a more complex operation than copying or assigning a value. Therefore, QObject and all subclasses of QObject (direct or indirect) have their copy constructor and assignment operator disabled.
© 2016 The Qt Company Ltd. Documentation contributions included herein are the copyrights of their respective owners. The documentation provided herein is licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License version 1.3 as published by the Free Software Foundation. Qt and respective logos are trademarks of The Qt Company Ltd. in Finland and/or other countries worldwide. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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What is Nanotechnology? Everything About Nanotechnology
0
690
What is Nanotechnology
What is Nanotechnology? Nanotechnology allows the manipulation of atoms or molecules to create or modify materials at the nanoscale. Nanotechnology is science and technology on the scale of a nanometer–one billionth of a meter.
The ability to manipulate individual atoms and molecules, making it possible to build machines on the scale of human cells or create materials and structures from the bottom up with novel properties.
Capable of changing the way almost everything is designed and made: from computers to clothing; from sports equipment to spaceships and satellites; from cars to cancer therapies; from bridges to paint; and even objects and devices not yet imagined.
Nanotechnology Applications in:
Nanotechnology in MedicineWhat is Nanomedicine?
Researchers are developing customized nanoparticles the size of molecules that can deliver drugs directly to diseased cells in your body. When it’s perfected, this method should greatly reduce the damage treatment such as chemotherapy does to a patient’s healthy cells.
Nanotechnology in Electronics
Nanotechnology holds some answer to how we might increase the capabilities of electronic devices while we reduce their weight and power consumption.
What is Nanotechnology?
The branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules.
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ESSENTIALAI-STEM
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Using a Random Forest from Caret in Shiny
Hello all, I am pretty new to shiny, but I haven't been able to find much help on this problem.
I am creating a shiny app that relies on the results from a random forest model (from the caret package) to run a predict() function. (Basically the user puts in data and shiny uses the predict function (which of course must have the results from the random forest model) to give back the probabilities of various outcomes based on the data. This works fine in my global environment since I already have the model loaded, but obviously when I publish the app, I need to be able to load in the results from the random forest for other users to have. I was curious how to save the results from the random forest (what the predict() function takes as a parameter) to a file or something that I could load in without having to run the random forest every single time the app starts? (The random forest is pretty long and takes about an hour+ to run). Obviously, you can't save it to a CSV, but is there any way that you could save it to a different kind of file? Is there a solution that I'm not thinking of?
Thanks
You can save most R objects with saveRDS()
Thank you!!! You the man!
I was able to save it and bring it back just dandy when I saved it to my local computer, but I was trying to save it to Dropbox and bring it back (so it could be used by any user that uses a shiny application), and when I tried load(url("[insert sharable link here]")) I got an error that says "the input does not start with a magic number compatible with loading from a connection." Any ideas how to solve that?
This topic was automatically closed 54 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
If you have a query related to it or one of the replies, start a new topic and refer back with a link.
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User:Biz3607
Hi, I am B.Patnaek, From INDIA, Ahome biz enetprenour & looking for same minded people. I want to wish U all A HAPPY NEW YEAR
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WIKI
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Page:A Few Hours in a Far Off Age.djvu/92
Rh Veritée looks pleadingly at her mother, as if saying: "Some things are so hard to bear unmoved." And Frederick tells her he will listen to all she has to say, "even if distressing as that last information, without again transgressing."
Smiling kindly at them, she desires Frederick to examine the further case, adding: "And patiently—remember a progressed state of thought is always patient with the ignorant."
Not being of this advanced age myself, I cannot help bitterly contrasting the mechanic's noble "comrade"—so exalted in nature, benevolently reviewing the misdeeds of our time—with some of our fashionable mothers. How are their mornings passed? In dressing, reading silly novels, or otherwise ignobly wasting time in paying and receiving visits. Simply an interchange of communication, without intellect, love or friendship! where, too often, the absent are smirched with the polite filth of scandal-loving tongues, and where the estimable of human kind are judged by their incomes. The children of such poor fools, where are they? If very young, their tender lives are in the care of paid attendants—strangers. If of school age, the daughters are undergoing a veneering of education, and the practice of unnatural attitude—which is supposed by some to be particularly expressive of superfine breeding.
The sons are learning to become Solomons and Davids, both by the quality of their classical studies and their early experience in male liberty—that is, the extensive indulgence shown to all excesses and frivolity—when committed by their sex.
Thus we cling to the disgraceful "morality" of the past, and perform our utmost to preserve what of brute remains
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Staci-Lyn Honda
Staci-Lyn Honda is former general assignment reporter for WSYR-TV, ABC affiliate, in Syracuse, New York. Honda also previously served in the same capacity at WETM-TV in Elmira, New York where she started her career as an anchor and reporter. At WETM Honda also served as the weekend news anchor.
Personal
Honda was born and raised in Colorado and has family in Hawaii. She graduated magna cum laude from Penn State University in May 2006 with a degree in broadcast journalism and a second degree in politics. Honda enjoys spending her free time with her family and her dog Harley.
Career
Honda has worked as a reporter for both WEIU-TV and WTAJ, and as an intern at NBC on Capitol Hill. Honda is currently working as a reporter for WSYR-TV in Syracuse, NY. She began working here in August 2010 as a weekend reporter and eventually worked her way up to becoming the 6 pm and 11 pm anchor.
On April 11, 2015, it was reported that anchor Jennifer Sanders would be replacing Honda during the "Morning News" broadcast. Honda's information has been removed from the News Channel 9 website and her associated Twitter account has been deleted.
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Email updates
Keep up to date with the latest news and content from Genome Biology and BioMed Central.
Open Badges Meeting report
A cornucopia of genomes
Andrew H Paterson
Author Affiliations
Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Genome Biology 2006, 7:311 doi:10.1186/gb-2006-7-3-311
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://genomebiology.com/2006/7/3/311
Published:28 March 2006
© 2006 BioMed Central Ltd
A report on the Plant and Animal Genome XIV Conference, San Diego, USA, 14-18 January 2006.
Meeting report
The 14th annual Plant and Animal Genome conference held recently in San Diego highlighted the challenges facing researchers who attempt to annotate and interpret the burgeoning numbers of plant and animal genome sequences. These include the genomes of the world's leading crops and provide valuable models for the study of genetics, evolution and development. More than 80 workshops addressed emerging results and opportunities, as well as technological developments, in a host of plant, animal and microbial genomes. Two recurring themes of the meeting were the continuing 'siliconization' of plant and animal biology and the rapid progress being made in understanding the mechanisms of epigenetics and its biological roles.
Genomes and their analysis
Progress in sequencing plant genomes was highlighted by Aristotle Patrinos (US Department of Energy (DOE), Washington DC, USA) who announced that the Joint Genome Institute will be sequencing the soybean (Glycine max) genome, to add to its current whole-genome sequencing projects for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), Arabidopsis lyrata and Capsella rubella (close relatives of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana), and Mimulus guttatus (monkey flower), and its participation in the maize (Zea mays) genome project. Patrinos briefly outlined DOE systems biology approaches to its missions, in particular a 10-15-year goal of its 'Genomes To Life' program to generate a microbial sequence, produce all proteins and molecular tags, identify multiprotein complexes, generate regulatory networks, identify metabolic capabilities and engineer control strategies - "all in a few days".
Patrinos's description of the informatics challenge as a "tsunami looming over genome projects" was further elaborated on by Kimmen Sjolander (University of California, Berkeley, USA), who noted that only 3% of gene annotations have empirical support. In addition to mechanical and/or technical errors, domain shuffling and gene duplication play an important role in generating annotation errors. Sjolander described the web-accessible tools within the Universal Proteome Explorer http://phylogenomics.berkeley.edu/UniversalProteome/index.php webcite, which is a freely available resource for evolutionary and phylogenetic analysis. These tools combine phylogenomic approaches with protein-structure prediction to elucidate correlations between protein structure and molecular function, and they prioritize experimentally verified information over in silico inferences. Extensive resources for the human and Arabidopsis proteomes are already in place.
Reaping the benefits of a genome sequence in a better understanding of biological complexity requires the functional characterization of the proteome, in particular the physical interactions among proteins and how these change when perturbed by disease. With the goal of a comprehensive interactome map for humans, David Hill (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA) described stringent, high-throughput yeast two-hybrid analyses of pairwise interactions among 8,100 open reading frames (ORFs) cloned in Gateway vectors, which allow rapid, efficient transfer of sequences between cloning and expression systems. The 2,800 interactions found had a verification rate of about 78%, including a number with strong support from the literature. The resulting interaction maps reveal patterns such as the coevolution of interacting proteins, and also predict the identity of unknown genes that are linked in the network to genes known to have roles in key processes.
A longstanding challenge to plant and animal scientists is the dissection of the genetic basis of complex traits. This is now becoming more achievable through integrative approaches, as noted by Ariel Darvasi (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel). He pointed to the huge number of haplotype patterns for inbred mouse strains as a powerful tool for widely applicable in silico approaches to pinpointing the locations of quantitative trait loci and searching for functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may be directly involved in the trait. Darvasi described a test case that started with a gene mapped at a marginal lod (log-odds) score of 2.5 to a single chromosome. This was further localized by association genetics to a 12 Mb interval containing 10,893 SNPs. By additional crosses and analysis of the inferred functional consequences of SNPs, two SNPs were eventually identified that also show evidence of differential expression in association with the trait.
Networking insights
An alternative and complementary approach to the genetic dissection of complex traits is the analysis of complex networks of cellular processes using a 'parts list' obtained by genome annotation together with biochemical knowledge to assemble a metabolic reconstruction of an organism in silico. Analysis of metabolic fluxes through the network permits predictions about the phenotypic consequences of genetic differences. Bernhard Palsson (University of California, San Diego, USA) reported early results from microbe reconstructions, including the identification of areas of metabolism that are inadequately characterized, and gene-expression patterns that suggest an impact of the three-dimensional organization of the genome - for example, Escherichia coli appears to have six expression domains in its chromosome. Long-term cultures of more than 60 days suggest the predictive value of network reconstructions in the adaptive evolution of E. coli. Palsson also referred to an ongoing reconstruction for the human genome, in which larger network size makes for exponentially more possible functional states.
Network-based approaches are also providing new insights into a particularly important dimension of microbial adaptive evolution - the coevolution of crops and their pathogens and parasites. Jonathan Jones (The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, UK) offered a "grand unified theory for plant resistance", which is based on an intricate exchange of activators and suppressors between host and pathogen that results in a dynamic sine-curve-like fluctuation of defense strength. Jones described how work in his and other labs shows that plant hormones play key roles in two such exchanges, suggesting that interactions between growth signaling and defense signaling appear to be even more complex than feared. The upregulation of auxin as part of one pathogen's effort to reduce the host plant's alert status is countered by activation of a microRNA that downregulates key mRNAs in the auxin response. In the second example, the gibberellin produced during foolish seedling disease is associated with the degradation of the host plant's DELLA proteins, which are involved in the defense against bacteria that produce rots.
In large eukaryotic genomes rich in repetitive DNA, the epigenetic regulation of gene expression imposes another dimension on cellular networks. Rob Martienssen (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, USA) reported the investigation of a heterochromatic region of A. thaliana chromosome 4 using a genomic tiling microarray to study methylation. Specific methylation of repeats, avoiding nearby genes, was accomplished by the chromatin-remodeling ATPase DDM1 guided by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), a hallmark of RNA interference (RNAi). The microarrays revealed differences in methylation between wild-type and ddm1 mutants. Several lines of evidence suggested that a role of tandem repeats in 'junk' DNA may be to generate large quantities of siRNA. Varying degrees of methylation were also found within genes in the region, and this methylation was highly polymorphic among ecotypes (varieties adapted to different habitats). Martienssen therefore postulated that a major component of natural variation could be such epigenetic variation in gene methylation status, which might eventually be translated into permanent genetic variation as a result of transamination and associated point mutations.
Genomic encyclopedias
Even A. thaliana, arguably the best characterized of the angiosperm genomes, is still in the 'parts-list' phase. Joe Ecker (Salk Institute, San Diego, USA) reported advances in the development of tools that will contribute to the production of an encyclopedia of functional elements for this botanical model. These include the expected availability of more than half of A. thaliana genes as ORFs, their transition to Gateway clones, the planned development of homozygous lines for each of two insertional mutations in most genes, and the targeted identification of insertional mutations into genes missed in present collections. Ecker reiterated the possible importance of the 'methylome' in natural variation, noting the unannotated transcripts found in met1 mutants. He also pointed to progress by Detlef Weigel (Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany) and Magnus Nordborg (University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA) in capturing the 'haplosome' of Arabidopsis, using a whole-genome microarray wafer to fully resequence the genomes of 20 accessions, discovering many SNPs that appear to cause drastic point mutations and also thousands of deletions.
The discovery of the tetraploid ancestry of A. thaliana is one of the bigger surprises that came out of the sequencing of its genome. Michael Freeling (University of California, Berkeley, USA) asserted that duplication of an ancestral genome estimated at 22,000 non-transposon-related genes, followed by massive loss of many of the duplicated genes, has left a net increase of about 5,000 genes. Preferential retention of specific classes of genes, such as those for transcription factors, suggests that such duplication/fractionation cycles may increase morphological complexity. Non-random distributions in the inferred locations of 'missing pages' (duplicated genes that have been lost) from the ancestral 'encyclopedia' suggested a role of epigenetic factors in gene loss. Although only weakly correlated with gene retention, Freeling pointed to 14,940 conserved nucleotide sequences, which represent an underexplored feature of plant genomes. This implicates conserved nucleotide sequences in 'first responder' genes (genes that rapidly respond to a variety of exogenous stimuli) and suggesting that some may tend to form secondary structures.
In his talk, Patrinos referred to the Human Genome Project as "making the impossible routine", which equally well summarizes the progress reported at the conference over a wide range of organisms and activities. Over this meeting's 14-year history, agricultural genomics has made the transition from having genetic linkage maps for a few plants and animals to its present state with nearly complete sets of knockout mutations for model plants and the capacity to tackle the sequencing of several gigabase-sized genomes at the same time. Agricultural genomics now seems poised to play a central role in addressing global challenges ranging from feeding the world's poor to providing fossil fuel alternatives and mitigating global warming.
Acknowledgements
I thank Michael Gale for helpful comments on the draft version of this report.
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John Cornyn removes self from FBI director role consideration
(CNN)Sen. John Cornyn, the second ranking Republican in the Senate, has asked to be removed from consideration to be the next FBI director, the Texan said in a statement. "Now more than ever the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI Director," Cornyn said. "I've informed the Administration that I'm committed to helping them find such an individual, and that the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the US Senate." Cornyn's decision comes after his own Senate colleagues suggested he might not be right for the job, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recommending former Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland over Cornyn for the job. Cornyn and at least seven other candidates interviewed with Justice Department officials about the position this weekend. Cornyn is the second GOP lawmaker to remove himself from consideration, just days after he interviewed with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Rep. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican who oversaw the House Benghazi Committee also withdrew his name from consideration. "He felt obligated to consider this because his close friend Sessions asked him to and out of a desire to restore stability to the FBI and DOJ," said a source familiar with Cornyn's decision to interview. But almost as soon as he finished interviewing, other Senate Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Susan Collins were suggesting a politician is probably the wrong pick to lead the FBI amid the tumult after Comey's firing. CNN's Manu Raju contributed to this report.
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Unpopularity Contest: Poll Shows Grim Outlook for 2016 Winner
As the American public views the 2016 presidential campaign, it's seeing many more flaws than strengths, according to results from a new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Nearly seven-in-10 registered voters say they couldn't see themselves supporting Republican frontrunner Donald Trump; 61 percent say they couldn't back fellow Republican Ted Cruz; and 58 percent couldn't see themselves voting for Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton. What's more, 65 percent of all voters have a negative view of Trump - making him the most unpopular major presidential candidate in the history of the NBC/WSJ poll. Fifty-six percent have an unfavorable view of Clinton, which is up five points from last month. And almost half of voters view Cruz in a negative light. To top it off, just 19 percent of all respondents give Clinton high marks for being honest and trustworthy, while only 12 percent give Trump high scores for having the right temperament. "The Republicans have a party problem, and the Democrats have a candidate problem," says Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who conducted this survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff and his firm Public Opinion Strategies. Adds Democratic pollster Fred Yang of Hart Research Associates, "At some point, when the confetti is on the floor and the lights are turned out, the winner needs to govern. And the outlook for the next president, whoever he or she will turn out to be, looks grim." According to the poll, Clinton leads Trump by 11 points in hypothetical general-election matchup, 50 percent to 39 percent - essentially unchanged from a month ago. But Clinton is ahead of Cruz by just two points, 46 percent to 44 percent, which again is unchanged from March. Yet Bernie Sanders - whose positive rating outweighs his negative score in the poll - bests Cruz by 12 points, 52 percent to 40 percent. And John Kasich, who trails Trump and Cruz in the GOP delegate race but holds the highest positive-negative score in the poll, beats Clinton by 12 points, 51 percent to 39 percent. One reason for the rising negative numbers for both Trump and Clinton are their intraparty bruises as the primary races become more competitive. Forty-one percent of Sanders' voters have a negative opinion of Clinton, versus 40 percent who have a positive view of her. Republicans backing Trump's rivals are even harsher about the GOP frontrunner: 56 percent of Cruz's voters and 71 percent of Kasich's have a negative view of Trump. "As primaries go deeper, the opposition [becomes] more negative," says McInturff, the GOP pollster. Overall, however, 73 percent of Democratic voters say they would be satisfied if Clinton becomes the party's presidential nominee (though just 47 percent of Sanders backers say that). That's compared with 63 percent of Republican voters who would be satisfied if Trump becomes the GOP's nominee, and 66 percent who would be satisfied if Cruz is the Republican winner. In March 2012, 72 percent of Republicans said they'd be satisfied if Mitt Romney became their party's nominee. In this sea of negative sentiments about the 2016 candidates, one major politician has benefited: President Barack Obama. His overall job-approval rating stands at 49 percent, which is unchanged from last month. But 50 percent now approve of his handling of the economy - the highest percentage on this question since his first months in office in Sept. 2009. That said, just 41 percent approve of Obama's handling of foreign policy. "The president seems to be the beneficiary of the behavior of the candidates," says Yang, the Democratic pollster. The NBC/WSJ poll was conducted April 10-14 among 1,000 registered voters (including more than half reached by cell phone), which has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points.
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Talk:vulture-berry
RFV discussion: October 2022–February 2023
Yet another brainless assembly-line entry by yet another sock. They apparently copied the vernacular names and the definition from Wikipedia's article on. The main name in Google Books is Hottentot cherry (Wikipedia's spelling, "Hottentot's cherry" is much rarer), which no one wants to use anymore because Hottentot is a name notoriously employed by racists for the Khoi people of South Africa. The updated name is Khoi cherry, which seems to be almost entirely Wikipedia-derived mentions. There really isn't a good English vernacular name for this species, except perhaps bittersweet-cherry, though that isn't exactly widely used either.
This particular name is the literal translation of the Afrikaans name, which you can tell because almost every reference in Google Books is a mention that says so. Chuck Entz (talk) 01:46, 31 October 2022 (UTC)
RFV Failed, mention only. Ioaxxere (talk) 02:53, 14 February 2023 (UTC)
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Margit Rösler
Margit Rösler (born 1962) is a German mathematician known for her research in harmonic analysis, special functions, and Dunkl operators. She is a professor of mathematics at Paderborn University.
Rösler earned a diploma in mathematics with distinction from the Technical University of Munich in 1988. She completed her PhD at the same university in 1992. Her dissertation, Durch orthogonale trigonometrische Systeme auf dem Einheitskreis induzierte Faltungsstrukturen auf $$\mathbb{Z}$$, was jointly supervised by Rupert Lasser and Elmar Thoma.
She remained at TU Munich as a postdoctoral researcher and assistant professor, earning a habilitation in 1999. Her habilitation thesis was Contributions to the theory of Dunkl operators. She was a lecturer at the University of Göttingen from 2000 until 2004. Then, after short-term positions at the University of Amsterdam and Technische Universität Darmstadt, and a professorship at the Clausthal University of Technology, she took her present position at Paderborn University in 2012.
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George FROOKS, Joan Maskell, Mohegan Plaza, Inc. and George Frooks d/b/a Frooks Realty, Plaintiffs, v. TOWN OF CORTLANDT, Linda D. Puglisi, individually and in her capacity as Town Supervisor, Vincent F. Nyberg, P.E., R.A., individually and in his capacity as Director of Code Enforcement and Deputy Town Engineer, Barbara K. Miller, individually and in her capacity as Deputy Director of Code Enforcement, Harriet L. Boyle, individually and in her capacity as Town Clerk, Anthony Turco, individually and in his capacity as a member of the Department of Code Enforcement and Building Inspector, John Hamilton, individually and in his capacity as a member of the Department of Code Enforcement and Town Fire Inspector, Jack Gaffney, individually and in his capacity as Town Supervisor, Robert Conlon individually and in his capacity as Fire Inspector, and John T. Felt, individually and in his capacity as Director, Department of Planning and Community Improvement, Defendants.
No. 93 Civ. 7372(WCC).
United States District Court, S.D. New York.
March 11, 1998.
Ginsberg, Katsorhis & Fedrizzi, Flushing,NY, for Plaintiffs; Kerry J. Katsorhis, Linda F. Fedrizzi, of counsel.
Landman Corsi Ballaine & Ford, Newark, NJ, for Defendants; John A. Bonventre, Jerry A. Cuomo, Ruth D. Kirshner, of counsel.
OPINION AND ORDER
WILLIAM C. CONNER, Senior District Judge.
Plaintiffs George Frooks, d/b/a Frooks Realty (“Frooks”), Joan Maskell, and Mohegan Plaza, Inc. brought this action against defendants the Town of Cortlandt, New York (the “Town”); -and Linda Puglisi, Town Supervisor; Vincent Nyberg, Director of Code Enforcement and Deputy Town Engineer, now deceased; Barbara Miller, Deputy Director of Code Enforcement; Harriet Boyle, Town Clerk; Anthony Turco, Town Building Inspector; John Hamilton, Town Fire Marshall and Assistant Building Inspector; Jack Gaffney, Town Supervisor; Robert Conlon, Fire Inspector and Assistant Building Inspector; and John Felt, Town Planner (collectively, the “Town employees”), alleging violations of 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985, and 1986, 18 U.S.C. § 1961 et seq., the First, Fourth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, unspecified provisions of the New York State Constitution, and New York common law. Defendants now move for summary judgment, and plaintiffs cross-move for partial summary judgment. For the reasons discussed below, defendants’ motion is granted and plaintiffs’ motion is denied.
BACKGROUND
The parties assault the following facts. Plaintiffs have owned, during all relevant times, thirty-eight acres of land in the Town (the “property”). Approximately 9.4 acres are zoned CD-commercial (“commercial”) and the remainder is zoned R-40, single-family residential (“residential”). The property is mostly vacant, with the exception of a few, old wood frame buildings, some of which are occupied by plaintiffs, and others which are rented to residential and commercial tenants. The property fronts Route 6, a main road.
A Zoning Change
In February, 1989, Frooks applied to the Town to re-zone four acres of the property from residential to commercial in order to build a shopping mall. Accordingly, pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), N.Y. Envtl. Conserv. Law § 8-0103 et seq. (McKinney’s 1984) (“ECL”), the Town directed Frooks to submit a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“DEIS”) and deposit $5,500 into an escrow account to cover the review of the DEIS. Plaintiffs claim that prior to his submission of the DEIS, Town employees told Frooks that his application was compatible with the Town’s Master Plan. Defendants maintain that John Felt, Town Planner, and Ken Verschoor, Deputy Town Planner, told Frooks that it was difficult to obtain a zoning change, and that applications for re-zoning were seldom granted.
In September, 1990, the Town’s expert issued comments on the DEIS and by resolution, the Town directed Frooks to address them. In February, 1991, Frooks submitted a revised DEIS and deposited an additional $4,842 into the escrow account. By letter, the Town’s expert advised Frooks that the revised DEIS did not address all of the expert’s concerns. Accordingly, the Town rejected the revised DEIS. Frooks maintains that the Town Board never reviewed the revised DEIS, because Felt did not submit it.
In June, 1991, Frooks met with Felt. While the parties’ recollection of that meeting differs, they agree that Felt informed Frooks that he would need to submit additional site plans and escrow deposits in order for the Town to pursue his application.
In July, 1991, Frooks sent a letter to Felt stating the following:
I believe I have, in good faith, tried to go along with you and your consultants. Your latest suggestions that I should finance yet another meeting because of problems caused by your consultants’ noncompliance with the SEQRA ... is out of the question.
Accordingly, I see no reason to proceed. Please refund the balance of my account.
Defs.’ Ex. A (emphasis added). The parties disagree whether Frooks, by this letter, meant to withdraw his application for rezoning or merely to cancel a previously scheduled meeting between Frooks and Felt.
By letter dated August 20, 1991, Frooks requested the Town either to issue further objections to the DEIS, or accept it, so that a public hearing could be held. On August 21, 1991, Felt sent Frooks a check representing the balance of his escrow account, accompanied by the following statement: “This closes [your] Planning Board File.” The following Fall, Thomas Wood, the Town’s attorney, sent multiple letters to Frooks stating that Frooks had withdrawn his re-zoning application, and that Frooks would have to re-file the application for the Town to consider it. Frooks answered this correspondence, stating that his application had not been withdrawn.
On or about July 23, 1993, approximately two years after plaintiffs Planning Board File had been deemed closed, the Town issued a new Master Plan proposing the changes Frooks had requested in his application. The Master Plan was the subject of public hearings, which Frooks did not attend. The plan that the Town ultimately adopted did not include Frooks’ proposals, because according to the Town, there was public outcry over the prospect of increased traffic along Route 6.
B. Cabaret License and Certificates of Occupancy
One of the buildings on plaintiffs’ property has housed a “bar/disco” since the 1930s. That building received a certificate of occupancy in 1981, under the New York State Construction Code, formerly N.Y.Exec. Law §§ 370-387 (the “Construction Code”). In 1984, the Construction Code was superseded by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, N.Y.Exec. Law § 373 et seq. (McKinney’s 1993) (the “Uniform Code” or the “Code”). The Uniform Code requires certain minimum training and enforcement standards for the fire protection, construction and maintenance of buildings. See id., § 371(b). The Code also requires a municipality to petition the State if the municipality wishes to enact more restrictive standards than those prescribed by the Code. See id., § 379(2).
On June 18,1985, the Town Board adopted an ordinance providing for the licensing of “cabarets,” defined as “any room, place or space in the town where for gain or profit, live or mechanically reproduced music is provided in connection with dancing or where, for gain or profit, any musician, group of musicians, floor show or similar live entertainment is provided.” Local Law No. 4, Cortlandt Code § 23-2 (the “Cabaret Law”). The Cabaret Law required, among other things, that all such establishments have sprinklers and smoke detectors in “each storage room, attic, basement, cellar [or] other concealed location[ ].” See id, § 23-12 K. Moreover, the law required any licensed cabaret to apply for a supplemental license whenever there was a change in ownership or management. See id., §§ 23-7B; 23-4A(3), (4), (5), (20). Plaintiffs allege that these requirements were significantly more restrictive than the provisions of the Uniform Code, and that the Town enacted the Cabaret Law without first petitioning the State for permission, in violation of the Code. Plaintiffs further allege that they were “forced to make ... concessions to keep the premises rented,” due to the law’s requirements.
In 1987, plaintiffs’ tenant, Michael Tommorello, d/b/a Omega Entertainment or Foxes, applied for a cabaret license. The Town granted the application under the condition that a sprinkler system would be installed on the premises. Accordingly, Frooks submitted a $10,000 security deposit to the Town, in the form of a passbook, to cover potential damage to the water main beneath Route 6.
In early 1990, plaintiffs leased the premises to new tenants, JoAnn DiConstanzo and Anthony Brueculeri, d/b/a Cousin’s Entertainment or Alibi’s (“Cousin’s or Alibi’s”). The lease provided that Cousin’s would install a sprinkler system on the premises.
On April 4, 1990, defendant John Hamilton, Town Fire Marshall and Assistant Building Inspector, observed what he believed to be construction debris, including • a header from a door or window, behind Alibi’s. Hamilton entered the bar and determinéd that structural alterations were being made. Hamilton then issued a stop work order prohibiting Cousin’s from completing any work until it had obtained a building permit. Plaintiffs claim that Cousin’s was merely redecorating Alibi’s and that no building permit was required.
On April 12, 1990, defendants Hamilton, Vincent Nyberg, Director of Code Enforcement, and Anthony Turco, Town Building Inspector, inspected the bar and the remainder of the building. Plaintiff Frooks, Anthony Miraglia, Frooks’ handyman and Charles DeFeo, Frooks’ engineer, were present. Defendants maintain that plaintiffs did not object to the scope of the inspection. Upon completing the inspection, Nyberg and Turco issued a 42-item list of corrections, or “punch list,” which, among other things, indicated that the April 4 stop work order remained in effect. Plaintiffs allege that Nyberg orally released the stop work order, on May 7, 1990, when Frooks agreed to “bring the floors and the ceiling ... up to the new designing loads for new construction.”
On May 18, 1990, Hamilton again entered the buflding, observed an open section of the floor, and issued a second stop work order. Hamilton also issued a criminal appearance ticket to plaintiff Frooks, on the ground that the original stop work order had not been released and that Frooks had violated it, by opening the floor.
On June 6, 1990, plaintiff Frooks applied for a budding permit in order to make “interior structural and cosmetic repairs.” The criminal charges were voluntarily withdrawn on July 10, 1990, upon Frooks’ arraignment, because Frooks had applied for the permit.
In September and October, 1990, defendants continued to inspect the premises. They claim that on various occasions, the Town cited plaintiff for additional items in need of repair under the Uniform Code.
In October, 1990, Alibi’s opened for business without a cabaret license. Defendants maintain that Frooks and Cousin’s adowed bands and disc jockeys to perform, without a license, in violation of the Cabaret Law. Cousin’s then applied for a cabaret license, which was denied, because it had not yet installed a sprinkler system. Plaintiffs contend that Alibi’s opened as a bar in October 1990, and did not open as a cabaret until 1991. Moreover, plaintiffs claim that when Alibi’s opened as a bar, an application for a cabaret license was pending.
On November 5, 1990, Cousin’s was issued two appearance tickets charging it with occupying an unsafe structure and occupying a building without a certificate of occupancy. Plaintiffs claim that the building was issued a valid certificate of occupancy in 1981, and that the type of repairs that were being made did not require a permit or an additional certificate of occupancy. Plaintiffs further allege that the tickets were issued on account of a “personal vendetta” between Nyberg and Frooks, that when issuing the tickets, Nyberg “made malicious comments” about Frooks, and that the tickets were based on “[mjaterially false reports.” The charges against Cousin’s were withdrawn without prejudice in June, 1991, on the grounds that it was repairing the allegedly defective items.
Additional appearance tickets were issued on December 14, 1990 and January 19, 1991 to Alibi’s manager, Michael DiConstanzo, for allowing bands to perform and dancing, without a license, in violation of the Cabaret Law. These charges were also withdrawn without prejudice in June, 1991. Alibi’s continued to operate without a cabaret license.
By letter dated March 6, 1991, plaintiff Frooks informed the Town that he would not be installing a sprinkler system and requested the return of his $10,000 deposit. Plaintiffs claim that Frooks wrote the letter, because he had determined that the Cabaret Law was invalid under the Uniform Code. Plaintiffs further allege that Frooks had to write to the Town multiple times, before the Town returned his deposit, and that by failing timely to return the deposit, the Town caused him “to deplete his life savings and increase his debt dramatically.”
On or about March 10, 1991, the Town denied Frooks’ application for a certificate of occupancy. Frooks appealed the Town’s denial to the Department of State, Uniform Code Board of Review (the “Review Board”) on March 12, 1991. At the hearing, Charles DeFeo, Frooks’ engineer, testified that the Town had reportedly found exposed wiring in the building during the last inspection. However, Frooks testified that the necessary electrical work had been completed, and produced a certificate of compliance from the New York Board of Fire Underwriters (the “Fire Underwriters”) issued on March 11. Defendants had not been provided with a copy of the certificate prior to the hearing. The Review Board ordered the Town to issue the certificate of occupancy based on the issuance of the certificate of compliance the day before. The Board also ordered the Town to conduct periodic inspections of the building and cite Frooks and his tenants with any further violations of the Code.
On September 23,1991, Cousin’s again applied for a cabaret license, which was denied on or about November 7, 1991, because hazardous conditions had been found on the premises. Plaintiff Frooks states that he assisted Cousin’s in applying for the license, but did not sign the application. Cousin’s appealed the denial, and on or about November 25,1991, that appeal was denied.
In June 1992, plaintiffs Frooks and Maskell brought an Article 78 proceeding in the Supreme Court for the State of New York, Westchester County, demanding a declaration that the Cabaret Law was invalid. On January 12, 1993, the court struck down sections of the Cabaret Law as invalid under the Uniform Code.
C. The Instant Action
Plaintiffs filed the instant action on October 25, 1993, alleging that defendants had denied or withheld the re-zoning approval, cabaret licenses and certificate of occupancy in violation of the First, Fourth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985 and 1986, 18 U.S.C. § 1961 et eg., the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), unspecified provisions of the New York State Constitution, and New York common law. Defendants now move for summary judgment and plaintiffs cross-move for partial summary judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56.
DISCUSSION
I. Summary Judgment Standard
“Summary judgment is a tool to winnow out from the trial calendar those cases whose facts predestine them to result in a directed verdict.” United National Ins. Co. v. The Tunnel, Inc., 988 F.2d 351, 355 (2d Cir.1993). A court may grant summary judgment only if the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion, presents no genuine issue of material fact, and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The Court must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the party opposing the motion. City of Yonkers v. Otis Elevator Co., 844 F.2d 42, 45 (2d Cir.1988). If there is evidence in the record concerning any material fact from which an inference could be drawn in favor of the nonmovant, summary judgment will be denied. Holt v. KMI-Continental, Inc., 95 F.3d 123, 128 (2d Cir.1996), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 117 S.Ct. 1819, 137 L.Ed.2d 1027 (1997). This is because the Court is charged with “issue finding,” not “issue resolution.” Gallo v. Prudential Residential Servs., Ltd., Partnership, 22 F.3d 1219, 1224 (2d Cir.1994).
Once a party moves for summary judgment, the nonmovant must come forward with specific, material facts showing the existence of a genuine issue for trial. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e); West-Fair Elec. Contractors v. Aetna Cas. & Surety Co., 78 F.3d 61, 63 (2d Cir.1996). A genuine issue of material fact exists if “a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249. However, mere conclusory allegations, speculation or conjecture will not avail a party that resists summary judgment. Kulak v. City of New York, 88 F.3d 63, 71 (2d Cir.1996).
“When faced with cross-motions for summary judgment, the court is not required to grant judgment as a matter of law for one side or the other....‘Rather, the court must evaluate each party’s motion on its own merits, taking care in each instance to draw all reasonable inferences against the party whose motion is under consideration.’ ” Heublein, Inc. v. United States, 996 F.2d 1455, 1461 (2d Cir.1993) (quoting Schwabenbauer v. Bd. of Educ. of City of Olean, 667 F.2d 305, 314 (2d Cir.1981)). See also Aviall, Inc. v. Ryder System, Inc., 913 F.Supp. 826, 828 (S.D.N.Y.1996) (“on cross-motions for summary judgment, the standard is the same as individual motions for summary judgment”) (citing Heublein, Inc., 996 F.2d at 1461), aff'd on other grounds, 110 F.3d 892 (2d Cir.1997).
II. Section 1983 Claims
A. Denial of Substantive Due Process
Both parties move for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ substantive due process claim. “Substantive due process protects against government action that is arbitrary, conscience-shocking, or oppressive in a constitutional sense, but not against a government action that is merely ‘incorrect or ill advised.’” Kaluczky v. City of White Plains, 57 F.3d 202, 211 (2d Cir.1995) (quoting Lowrance v. Achtyl, 20 F.3d 529, 538 (2d Cir.1994)). When considering a due process claim for the denial of a re-zoning application, “we are mindful of the general proscription that ‘federal courts should not become zoning boards of appeal to review nonconstitutional land use determinations by ... local legislative and administrative agencies.’” Zahra v. Town of Southold, 48 F.3d 674, 679-80 (2d Cir.1995) (quoting Sullivan v. Town of Salem, 805 F.2d 81,82 (2d Cir.1986)).
To state a substantive due process claim, the Complaint must first demonstrate a “‘legitimate claim of entitlement’ to the benefits in question.” Crowley v. Courville, 76 F.3d 47, 52 (2d Cir.1996) (quoting Zahra, 48 F.3d at 680) (internal citation omitted). “The focus of the analysis is on the nature of the applicant’s interest ... specifically whether the applicant has a clear entitlement to the approval sought by the government official or administrative body.” Walz v. Town of Smithtown, 46 F.3d 162, 167-68 (2d Cir.1995) (emphasis added) (internal citations omitted). The key to determining the existence of such property interest is the extent to which the deciding authority may exercise discretion in reaching its decision, rather than an estimate of the likelihood of a particular result. RRI Realty Corp. v. Incorporated Village of Southampton, 870 F.2d 911, 918 (2d Cir.1989). If there exists an adequate property interest, then the plaintiff must show that the defendants acted in an arbitrary or irrational manner to deprive him or her of that interest. See Crowley, 76 F.3d at 52.
1. Re-zoning Application
Plaintiffs maintain that defendants violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, by denying their “right to go forward with [plaintiff Frooks’] request for a change of zoning.” Plaintiffs, however, do not explain how defendants denied such right, or plead a basis for such right, in their papers. For the purposes of deciding this motion, the Court will assume that plaintiffs base their claim on defendants’ alleged failure to act upon Frooks’ application.
As previously stated, “[i]n the context of a zoning dispute, to state a claim under the fourteenth amendment for deprivation of ‘property' without due process of law [a plaintiff] must establish that he had a valid ‘property interest’ in some benefit that was protectable under the fourteenth amendment.” Brady v. Town of Colchester, 863 F.2d 205, 211 (2d Cir.1988). Since such property interests “ ‘are not created by the Constitution’ ... courts ... must look to ‘existing rules or understandings that stem from an independent source such as state law ... that secure certain benefits and that support claims of entitlement to those benefits.’ ” Id. at 212 (quoting Bd. of Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 577, 92 S.Ct. 2701, 33 L.Ed.2d 548 (1972)).
It well-established under New York law that a landowner has no constitutionally protected interest in a particular zoning classification. See, e.g., Ellentuck v. Klein, 570 F.2d 414, 429 (2d Cir.1978); McGowan v. Cohalan, 41 N.Y.2d 434, 438, 393 N.Y.S.2d 376, 379, 361 N.E.2d 1025 (1977) (citing Rodgers v. Village of Tarrytown, 302 N.Y. 115, 121, 96 N.E.2d 731 (1951)). Thus, plaintiffs cannot state a substantive due process claim for defendants’ failure to grant their re-zoning application. This is true, even if, as plaintiffs assert, the Town employees mishandled it. See Yale Auto Parts, Inc. v. Johnson, 758 F.2d 54, 60 (2d Cir.1985) (“Since plaintiffs were not entitled ... to the ZBA certificate of location approval ... and there is no allegation that but for the ZBA members’ alleged misconduct the ZBA would have been required to award them the requested certificate, they lack any property interest protected under the Due Process Clause.”); Cedarwood Land Planning v. Town of Schodack, 954 F.Supp. 513, 523 (N.D.N.Y.1997) (plaintiff could not state due process claim for town’s delay in denying variance application, where town had discretion to deny it).
Moreover, the claim that defendants failed “to go forward” with Frooks’ rezoning application is not actionable as a matter of state law. In New York, a town board has broad authority to determine the manner in which it will consider applications for rezoning. See 61 N.Y. Town Law § 264 (McKinney’s 1987 & Supp.1998) (“The town board shall provide for the manner in which such regulations and restrictions and the boundaries of such districts shall be determined, established and enforced and from time to time amended, supplemented or changed.”). A town board’s discretion is so great that it need not “act on each and every application for a zoning change.” Matter of Society of N.Y. Hosp. v. Del Vecchio, 123 A.D.2d 384, 387-88, 506 N.Y.S.2d 596, 598-99 (2d Dep’t 1986), aff'd on other grounds, 70 N.Y.2d 634, 636, 518 N.Y.S.2d 781, 782, 512 N.E.2d 302 (1987). See also N.Y. Town Law § 280 (formerly § 281) (empowering town board “to authorize [a] planning board ... to modify applicable provisions of zoning ordinance[s], subject to ... reasonable conditions the town board may in its discretion add thereto”) (emphasis added). Given the Town Board’s discretion to decline even to entertain Frooks’ application for re-zoning, plaintiffs’ have no constitutionally protected property interest in Frooks’ application. It is therefore irrelevant whether Town employees told him that the zoning change was likely or that such applications were frequently granted. See RRI Realty Corp., 870 F.2d at 918-19 (“[e]ven if in a particular case ... the probability of ... approval was extremely high, the opportunity of the local agency to deny issuance suffices to defeat the existence of a federally protected property interest”). Accordingly, this claim is dismissed. Accord Dean Tarry Corp. v. Friedlander, 826 F.2d 210, 213 (2d Cir.1987) (dismissing complaint because planning board “possessed wide discretion” to reject plaintiff’s site plan); Orange Lake Assoc., Inc. v. Kirkpatrick, 825 F.Supp. 1169, 1178 (S.D.N.Y.) (plaintiff had no property interest in development application because of planning board’s discretion to reject it), aff'd, 21 F.3d 1214 (2d Cir.1994).
2. Certificate of Occupancy
Next, plaintiffs allege that they had a vested property interest in the certificate of occupancy issued under the Construction Code, and that their substantive due process rights were violated when the certificate was wrongfully revoked by defendants. Under New York law, a vested right in a certificate of occupancy may arise where “a landowner demonstrates a commitment to the purpose for which the [certificate] was granted by effecting substantial changes and incurring substantial expense to further the development.” See Town of Orangetoum v. Magee, 88 N.Y.2d 41, 643 N.Y.S.2d 21, 24, 665 N.E.2d 1061 (1996) (building permit). However, neither the issuance of the certificate, nor the landowner’s substantial changes and expenditures, standing alone, will establish a vested right. Id., 643 N.Y.S.2d at 24-25, 665 N.E.2d at 1063-64. The landowner’s reliance on the certifícate must have been so substantial that the municipal action “results in serious loss rendering the improvements essentially valueless.” Id., 643 N.Y.S.2d at 25, 665 N.E.2d at 1065.
Applying these standards, the Court concludes that plaintiffs have failed to allege a property interest in the 1981 certificate of occupancy. Indeed, plaintiffs nowhere allege, or even mention, any improvements made under the 1981 certificate that have become “valueless.” Nor do plaintiffs state any loss, aside from unsubstantiated allegations in the Complaint, that the alleged revocation of the certificate has resulted in “five million dollars” in damages. Such allegations, standing alone, will not suffice on a motion for summary judgment. See, e.g., In re Steam Heat, Inc. v. Silva, 230 A.D.2d 800, 646 N.Y.S.2d 537, 540 (2d Dep’t 1996) (affirming dismissal of ease where alleged improvements were “impermanent ... rudimentary ... and inexpensive”). Cf. Town of Orangetown, 643 N.Y.S.2d at 24, 665 N.E.2d 1061 (vested right where landowner demonstrated that he had spent $3 million constructing 184,000 square foot building and over $4 million in improvements when work was halted); Ellington Constr. Corp. v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Hempstead, 77 N.Y.2d 114, 119, 122, 566 N.E.2d 128, 130, 132, 564 N.Y.S.2d 1001, 1003, 1005 (1990) (same, where landowner had made substantial expenditures on land that was irrevocably granted to town in reliance on earlier ordinance).
Even if plaintiffs’ had a vested right in the 1981 certificate, they do not provide evidence that the Code section requiring a new certificate of occupancy was irrationally applied. Aside from the bald assertions made in the Complaint, there is no evidence regarding the 1981 certificate but only as to the 1991 certificate that was allegedly wrongfully withheld. In fact, the evidence suggests that Frooks was required to obtain a new certificate of occupancy because John Hamilton, Town Fire Marshall and Assistant Building Inspector, had observed construction debris, along with an open floor, on the premises. Given this evidence, which is undisputed, a trier of fact could not find that it was unreasonable for Hamilton to believe that a new certificate of occupancy was needed. See Cortlandt Code § 19-2C(l)(a) (new certificate of occupancy “shall be obtained” for “[o]ceupancy and use of [existing] building ... structurally altered”). For these reasons, the Court concludes that plaintiffs have not stated a constitutionally protected property interest in the 1981 certificate. Cf. Brady, 863 F.2d at 215-16 (if town “had no authority ... to revoke ... building permit, to demand that [plaintiff] apply for ... certificates of occupancy, and to subject him to the overall approval process, then a trier of fact could conclude that there was no ‘rational basis’ for the [town’s] actions”). Accordingly, this claim is dismissed.
Plaintiffs also allege that their due process rights were violated when defendants withheld the 1991 certificate of occupancy. This claim must also fail. At the time defendants’ withheld this certificate, Town employees were required to direct a landowner to apply for a new certificate when they believed that a building was being structurally altered. See id. As previously stated, when plaintiffs were ordered to apply for a new certificate under the Code, it is undisputed that Hamilton believed that the premises were being structurally altered.
Moreover, Frooks cannot claim that he was constitutionally deprived of the 1991 certificate of occupancy, because he cannot allege that he had met all of the regulatory requirements for receiving the certificate when the alleged deprivation occurred. See Sullivan, 805 F.2d at 85; Deepwells Estates, Inc. v. Incorporated Village of Head of Harbor, 973 F.Supp. 338, 349 (E.D.N.Y.1997). It was not until Frooks produced a valid certificate of compliance from the Fire Underwriters that the Town was required to issue him a certificate of occupancy. See Pl.’s Ex. 2 at 2; Cortlandt Code §§ 19-2C(3), 19-3D.
Because plaintiffs lack a cognizable property interest in the certificate of occupancy, this claim is dismissed.
3. Cabaret Licenses
Plaintiffs also allege a property interest in the various cabaret licenses, for which their tenants applied. Defendants maintain that plaintiffs lack standing to raise any claims regarding the cabaret licenses, because they did not personally apply for them. Because this is a jurisdictional defense, the Court will consider it first. See Santos v. Dist. Council of New York City, 547 F.2d 197, 199 (2d Cir.1977).
To satisfy the constitutional requirement of standing, a plaintiff must demonstrate (1) “an injury in fact,” (2) “a causal connection between the injury and the conduct complained of,” and (3) the “likelphood], as opposed to mere[ ] speculation], that the injury will be redressed by a favorable decision.” Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560-61, 112 S.Ct. 2130, 119 L.Ed.2d 351 (1992). To show an injury in fact, a plaintiff must claim “an invasion of a legally protected interest which is: (a) concrete and particularized; and (b) actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical.” Id., 504 U.S. at 560.
While it is undisputed that plaintiffs did not apply for any of the cabaret licenses at issue, plaintiffs claim that they had to make certain rental concessions, in order to lease the space as a bar/disco, because the tenants were required to install a sprinkler system. Here, plaintiffs do not merely “rest [their] claim to relief on the legal rights or interests of third parties,” Bluebird Partners v. First Fidelity Bank, N.A., 85 F.3d 970, 973 (2d Cir.1996), they allege that they lost rent, due to the Cabaret Law’s licensing requirements. However, it has been conclusively held that the mere loss of rental income is insufficient to confer standing on a landlord. E.g., Lieberthal v. North Country Lanes, 221 F.Supp. 685, 690 (S.D.N.Y.1963), aff'd, 332 F.2d 269 (2d Cir.1964). Moreover, plaintiffs’ additional allegations, that Frooks assisted his tenants in applying for their licenses, are insufficient to confer standing. See Leonard Partnership v. Town of Chenango, 779 F.Supp. 223, 234 (N.D.N.Y.1991) (declining to reach due process claim where plaintiffs had not “signed” or “submitted” permit application). Cf. DiBonaventura v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of the Town of Thompson, 24 Conn.App. 369, 588 A.2d 244, 247 (1991) (landowner had standing to challenge denial of license, even though he was not listed on application, because he had been “introduced to the Board as [one of] the applicants”). Because plaintiffs lack standing, their due process claim is dismissed with respect to the cabaret licenses.
B. Denial of Procedural Due Process
“The deprivation of a procedural right to be heard is not actionable when there is no protected right at stake.” Gagliardi v. Village of Pawling, 18 F.3d 188, 193 (2d Cir.1994). See also RR Village Ass’n, Inc. v. Denver Sewer Corp., 826 F.2d 1197, 1201-02 (2d Cir.1987) (“if state law makes the pertinent official act discretionary, one’s interest in a favorable decision does not rise to the level of a property right entitled to procedural due process protection”). Because plaintiffs have failed to state a property interest in any of the above discussed land use privileges, they cannot maintain their claims for the violation of procedural due process. RR Village Ass’n, Inc., 826 F.2d at 1201-02; Yale Auto Parts, Inc., 758 F.2d at 60. Accordingly, these claims are dismissed.
C. Taking Without Just Compensation
Plaintiffs assert that the denial or withholding of the rezoning application and the certificates of occupancy constituted a constitutionally impermissible taking. ' To state a takings claim under section 1983, a plaintiff must show (1) a property interest (2) that has been taken under color of state law (3) without just compensation. HBP Assoc. v. Marsh, 893 F.Supp. 271, 277 (S.D.N.Y.1995). Moreover, a “taking” is not “without just compensation” under section 1983 unless a plaintiff has exhausted all state remedies that may provide just compensation. Id. (citing Williamson County v. Regional Planning Comm’n v. Hamilton Bank, 473 U.S. 172, 195, 105 S.Ct. 3108, 87 L.Ed.2d 126 (1985). See also Villager Pond, Inc. v. Town of Darien, 56 F.3d 375, 380 (2d Cir.1995) (“[e]ompensation must first be sought from the state if adequate procedures are available”) (citation omitted), cert. denied, U.S. -, 117 S.Ct. 50, 136 L.Ed.2d 14 (1996)). New York has established a procedure for pursuing just compensation, EDPL 101 et seq., that meets all constitutional requirements. HBP Assoc., 893 F.Supp. at 277; Kohlasch v. New York State Thruway Auth., 482 F.Supp. 721, 724 (S.D.N.Y.1980).
Because plaintiffs did not have a constitutionally protected property interest in the zoning change or the certificates of occupancy, the denial or withholding of these privileges was not a taking under section 1983. Even if it were a taking, plaintiffs could not bring a claim for just compensation in federal court, because they have not yet pursued their claim in state court nor shown that New York’s “inverse condemnation procedure is unavailable or inadequate.” Williamson, 473 U.S. at 196-97. See also Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Comm. v. City of New York, 101 F.3d 877, 881 (2d Cir.1996) (Article 78 proceeding is “perfectly adequate postdeprivation remedy in [ ] situations” involving property interests). Their takings claim is therefore premature. HBP Assoc., 893 F.Supp. at 278; Krmencik v. Town of Plattekill, No. 83 Civ. 638, 1989 WL 114307, at *2 (N.D.N.Y. Aug.25, 1989), aff'd without opinion, 946 F.2d 882 (2d Cir.1991). Accordingly, this claim is dismissed without prejudice.
D. Denial of Equal Protection
Plaintiffs also claim that in denying or withholding the zoning change and the certificates of occupancy, defendants deprived them of the equal protection of the laws, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and section 1983. The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment “is essentially a directive that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike.” City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., Inc., 473 U.S. 432, 439, 105 S.Ct. 3249, 87 L.Ed.2d 313 (1985). Plaintiffs equal protection challenge “is not a challenge to the Town Code — it is a claim of ‘selective enforcement’ of the Town Code.” Zahra, 48 F.3d at 683. To state a claim for selective enforcement, a plaintiff must establish that “(1) the person, compared with others similarly situated, was selectively treated, and (2) the selective treatment was motivated by an intention to discriminate on the basis of impermissible considerations, such as race or religion, to punish or inhibit the exercise of constitutional rights or by maliciousness or bad faith to injure the person.” Id. (citing FSK Drug Corp. v. Perales, 960 F.2d 6, 10 (2d Cir.1992)).
Plaintiffs claim that they were discriminated against as members of a class of “developers” or “commercial landowners.” It is undisputed that these classifications are not suspect. Nor are land use rights fundamental. See Village of Belle Terre v. Boraas, 416 U.S. 1, 7, 94 S.Ct. 1536, 39 L.Ed.2d 797 (1974). See also Kawaoka v. City of Arroyo Grande, 17 F.3d 1227, 1239 (9th Cir.1994) (“Zoning and land use issues do not implicate fundamental rights.”). Thus, defendants may defeat the claim by showing that the denial or withholding of the land use privileges was rationally related to a legitimate governmental objective. Nordlinger v. Hahn, 505 U.S. 1, 10, 112 S.Ct. 2326, 120 L.Ed.2d 1 (1992); Rivervale Realty Co. v. Town of Orangetown, 816 F.Supp. 937, 947 (S.D.N.Y.1993). With respect to the zoning change, the Town has stated that Frooks’ application was denied because Frooks failed to address certain issues in the DEIS. As a matter of law, the Town had a legitimate interest in assuring the protection of its natural resources under SEQRA. See Orange Lake Assoc., 21 F.3d at 1215. With regard to the certificates of occupancy, the Town claims to have withheld these privileges, because to do otherwise would jeopardize the public’s health, safety and welfare. These are legitimate state concerns. Cf. Kirschner v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of Incorporated Village, of Valley Stream, 924 F.Supp. 385, 396 (E.D.N.Y.1996) (dismissing equal protection claim where village had cited public health and safety issues when denying plaintiff’s permit application).
Here, plaintiffs have failed to state an equal protection claim. Aside from the bald assertions contained in Frooks’ affirmation, they offer no admissible evidence to suggest that they were treated differently from any other developer, or property owner, in the Town. Therefore, plaintiffs cannot maintain this claim. Cf. ABC Home Furnishings, Inc. v. Town of East Hampton, 964 F.Supp. 697, 702 (E.D.N.Y.1997) (upholding equal protection claim on 12(b)(6) motion where plaintiff had pled specific examples of other entities having been granted permit to hold similar events at same location). Accordingly, this claim is dismissed.
E. Violation of First Amendment Rights
Plaintiffs also contend that defendants violated their First Amendment rights. As the Court understands the Complaint, plaintiffs’ claim is twofold. First, plaintiffs allege that defendants retaliated against Frooks by denying his re-zoning application, because he had complained to Town and State officials about the withholding of the 1991 certificate of occupancy and questioned the validity of the Cabaret Law in state court. Second, plaintiffs claim that defendants obstructed their ability to petition the government for grievances, in violation of their right to free speech. The Court considers these claims in turn.
1. Retaliation Claim
To state a claim for retaliation under section 1983, a plaintiff must show that (1) his conduct was protected by the First Amendment, and (2) “defendants’ conduct was motivated by or substantially caused by his exercise of free speech.” Gagliardi, 18 F.3d at 194 (internal citation omitted).
Plaintiffs claim that Frooks complained to various public officials and sought administrative and judicial relief, after the Town denied the cabaret licenses and withheld the 1991 certificate of occupancy. It is undisputed that Frooks visited and wrote defendant Nyberg, Director of Code Enforcement, and phoned and wrote Jack Gaffney, Town Supervisor, to complain about the withholding of the certificate of occupancy, in or around May, 1990. See, e.g., Pi’s Ex. 5 at 6; D.’s Ex. V. Plaintiffs then appealed the withholding of the certificate to the Secretary of State on March 5, 1991. Additionally, plaintiffs filed an Article 78 proceeding challenging the validity of the Cabaret Law in June, 1992. This conduct is clearly protected by the First Amendment. See Gagliardi, 18 F.3d at 194.
However, to state a claim for retaliation, a plaintiff must not only plead a protected activity, he or she must show that the defendant caused harm to the plaintiffs, in substantial part because of the activity. Here, plaintiffs offer a letter from Charles DeFeo, Frooks’ engineer, dated July 24, 1991, to Frooks stating the following: “Mr. Nyberg noted that your complaints to the State, concerning the Town’s actions, were making Town officials angry, and that your application to the Town for a shopping center would suffer and probably be denied because of this.” Pl.’s Ex. 9. DeFeo further states that the purpose of the letter is to “document” the “comment” at Frooks’ “request.” Plaintiffs do not offer the affidavit or deposition of DeFeo in their papers.
The Court is constrained to dismiss plaintiffs’ retaliation claim. Although plaintiffs’ allegations may be sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss, see Gagliardi, 18 F.3d at 194, the lone, unsworn statement written by De-Feo, at Frooks’ request, for the purpose of memorialization, is not enough to defeat defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Plaintiffs’ burden was to submit admissible evidence suggesting that retaliation occurred. See Blue v. Karen, 72 F.3d 1075, 1084 (2d Cir.1995). DeFeo’s letter is inadmissible hearsay. Therefore, plaintiffs have faded to meet their burden. See United States v. 143-147 East 23rd Street, 77 F.3d 648, 657 (2d Cir.1996) (submission of unsworn letter was “inappropriate response to ... motion for summary judgment”); Beyah v. Coughlin, 789 F.2d 986, 989-990 (2d Cir.1986) (trial court erred in considering unsworn letters by third parties on motion for summary judgment). Accordingly, plaintiffs’ retaliation claim must be dismissed.
2. Grievance Claim
Plaintiffs also claim that defendants’ violated their First Amendment rights by failing to allow them to petition for grievances. This claim is entirely unfounded. It is beyond dispute that plaintiffs’ brought an Article 78 proceeding to invalidate the Cabaret Law, by which sections of the law were struck down and others, repealed by the Town, and when plaintiffs appealed the withholding of the certificate of occupancy, the Town issued it immediately thereafter. Accordingly, the Court dismisses this claim.
F. False Arrest
Plaintiff Frooks claims that he was falsely arrested when Town employees issued him an appearance ticket for allegedly violating the April 4, 1990 stop work order. This claim must be dismissed, because it is barred by the statute of limitations.
A section 1983 claim for false arrest has a limitations period of three years. See Eagleston v. Guido, 41 F.3d 865, 870 (2d Cir.1994); Veal v. Geraci, 23 F.3d 722, 724 (2d Cir.1994); Covington v. City of New York, No. 94 Civ. 4234, 1997 WL 370628, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Jul. 1, 1997). Frooks alleges that he was falsely arrested on May 18,1990, when he was issued an appearance ticket based on “materially false reports.” Frooks did not bring the instant action until October 25, 1993, more than three years after this claim arose. Therefore, his claim for false arrest is barred by the statute of limitations and is dismissed.
G. Abuse of Process
Plaintiffs also bring an abuse of process claim in connection with the issuance of the appearance ticket. Like Frooks’ false arrest claim, his claim for abuse of process is barred by the statute of limitations. See Ferran v. Town of Grafton, 979 F.Supp. 944, 947 (N.D.N.Y.1997) (statute of limitations for abuse of process is three years); Duamutef v. Morris, 956 F.Supp. 1112, 1118-9 (S.D.N.Y.1997) (same); Heinfling v. Colapinto, 946 F.Supp. 260, 265 (S.D.N.Y.1996) (one year). Frooks was issued the appearance ticket in April, 1990, and the charges were dismissed in July, 1990. However, Frooks did not bring this claim until October, 1993, more than three years later. Accordingly, this claim must be dismissed.
H. Malicious Prosecution
Additionally, plaintiffs bring a malicious prosecution claim in connection with the appearance ticket. Plaintiff Frooks claims that he was maliciously prosecuted by the defendants when they issued him a ticket and dropped the charges without prejudice several months- later. Because this claim is also barred by the statute of limitations, it is also dismissed.
The statute of limitations for malicious prosecution is three years. See Murphy v. Lynn, 53 F.3d 547, 548 (2d Cir.1995), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 118 S.Ct. 1051, 140 L.Ed.2d 114 (1998); Crespo v. New York City Police Commissioner, 930 F.Supp. 109, 117 (S.D.N.Y.1996). A malicious prosecution claim accrues when the prosecution is terminated. Murphy, 53 F.3d at 548. Since the Town dismissed the charges against Frooks in July, 1990, and the Complaint was not filed until October, 1993, any claim for malicious prosecution is time barred and must therefore be dismissed.
I. Defamation
Plaintiffs bring a claim for 'defamation against defendant Vincent Nyberg, former Director of Code Enforcement, now deceased, based on statements that Nyberg allegedly made concerning Frooks in April and November, 1990. According to the Complaint, in early April, 1990, Nyberg told Frooks’ tenants that Frooks “doesn’t care about [his tenants]” and that he “took" the last tenant for a ride.” Cplt. at ¶ 105. Furthermore, the Complaint alleges that on November 5, 1990, Nyberg referred to Frooks as “a prick,” “a real shrewdy,” and “a smart ass.” Id. at ¶ 105. Plaintiff Frooks claims damage to his reputation based on these statements.
The Court dismisses plaintiffs’ defamation claim, because it is not actionable under section 1983. “Defamation by itself, is a tort actionable under the laws of most states, but not as a constitutional deprivation.” Siegert v. Gilley, 500 U.S. 226, 233, 111 S.Ct. 1789, 114 L.Ed.2d 277 (1991). For a defamation claim to be actionable under section 1983, the plaintiff’s liberty interest must be implicated. See Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 708-09, 96 S.Ct. 1155, 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976). Therefore, where a plaintiff claims injury solely to his reputation, there can be no liability under section 1988. See id. See also Valmonte v. Bane, 18 F.3d 992, 1001 (2d Cir.1994) (the “deleterious effects which flow directly from a sullied reputation,” such as “the impact ... on job prospects ..., romantic aspirations, friendships, self-esteem” are insufficient to state a claim under section 1983).
Because plaintiffs have only alleged damage to Frooks’ reputation, their allegations are insufficient as a matter of law. Accordingly, their defamation claim is dismissed.
J. Qualified Immunity Defense
The Court need not reach the merits of defendants’ qualified immunity defense with respect to plaintiffs’ section 1983 claims, because they fail to state a claim under that provision. See Siegert, 500 U.S. at 233 (no need to consider immunity defense where plaintiff failed to establish constitutional violation, stating that “[t]his [is] the desirab[le] ... approach”). See also Martinez v. California, 444 U.S. 277, 284, 100 S.Ct. 553, 62 L.Ed.2d 481 (1980) (Because appellants failed to show deprivation of rights under section 1983, “it is not necessary ... to decide ... question [of] immunity”).
III. Section 1985 Claim
Plaintiffs bring a claim under section 1985, alleging that the Town employees conspired to violate their constitutional rights. Section 1985 provides a cause of action to redress, inter alia, injury resulting from a conspiracy to deprive “any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws.” 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3).
The Court dismisses this claim for two reasons. First, to state a claim under section 1985, a plaintiff must allege a conspiracy among a plurality of actors, because “the defining element of a conspiracy—a plurality of actors committed to a common goal—is not satisfied by joint action.... of a single entity.” See Tavolini v. Mt. Sinai Med. Ctr., 984 F.Supp. 196, 205 (S.D.N.Y.1997). Thus, as a matter of law, plaintiffs do not state a claim for “conspiracy” under section 1985, because they merely allege that a single entity—the Town—conspired with its employees to violate their constitutional rights. Accord Huntemann v. City of Yonkers, No. 95 Civ. 1276, 1997 WL 527880, at *14 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 25, 1997) (dismissing claim against municipality and municipal employees, because plaintiff did not “plead participation by third parties”). For this reason alone, plaintiffs’ section 1985 claim must be dismissed.
Second, plaintiffs do not claim that the conspiracy was the result of “some racial, or ... otherwise ... invidious[ ] discriminatory animus.” Griffin v. Breckenridge, 403 U.S. 88, 102, 91 S.Ct. 1790, 29 L.Ed.2d 338 (1971). To state a claim under section 1985(3), a plaintiff must allege an “insidious discriminatory motive.” Gagliardi, 18 F.3d at 194 (citing Griffin, 403 U.S. at 102). Here, plaintiffs state that they were discriminated against because they belonged to a class of “developers” or “commercial landowners.” This will not suffice. For this reason as well, plaintiffs’ section 1985 claim must be dismissed.
Because plaintiffs do not state a claim for conspiracy under section 1985, we hold that the Town employees are protected by qualified immunity, and therefore dismiss this claim as to them. See Brown v. City of Oneonta, 106 F.3d 1125, 1133 (2d Cir.1997) (determining that qualified immunity shielded defendants, upon concluding that plaintiffs’ failed to state claim under section 1985(3)). See also Southard v. Texas Bd. of Criminal Justice, 114 F.3d 539, 556 & n. 30 (holding that defendant had qualified immunity under section 1985(3) claim where underlying claim failed as a matter of law).
IV. Section 1986 Claim
A viable section 1985 claim is a necessary prerequisite to maintaining a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1986. See Gagliardi, 18 F.3d at 194; Dwares v. City of New York, 985 F.2d 94, 101 (2d Cir.1993) Because plaintiffs’ do not state a claim under section 1985, we dismiss plaintiffs’ section 1986 claim.
V. Section 1961 Claim
A. Municipal and Official Liability
Plaintiffs also seek to hold the Town defendants hable for conspiracy under RICO. As a preliminary matter, we note that every court in this Circuit that has considered the issue has held that a municipality cannot form the requisite criminal intent to establish a predicate act, and has therefore dismissed the claim against the municipality. See Lazzarino v. Kenton Assoc., Ltd., No. 96 Civ. 7842, 1997 WL 214938, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. April 29, 1997); Rini v. Zwirn, 886 F.Supp. 270, 294-95 (E.D.N.Y.1995); Nu-Life Construction Corp. v. Bd. of Educ. of the City of New York, 779 F.Supp. 248, 251 (E.D.N.Y.1991) O & K Trojan, Inc. v. Municipal & Contractors Equip. Corp., 751 F.Supp. 431, 434 (S.D.N.Y.1990); Jade Aircraft Sales, Inc. v. City of Bridgeport, No. Civ. B-83-454, 1990 WL 128573, at *1 (D.Conn. July 9, 1990); In re Citisource Sec. Lit., 694 F.Supp. 1069, 1079-80 (S.D.N.Y.1988); Cullen v. Margiotta, No. 76 Civ. 2247, slip. op. at 11 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 31, 1987) (Mishler, J.). See also North Star Contracting v. Long Island R.R., 723 F.Supp. 902, 908 (E.D.N.Y.1989) (same, with respect to public benefit corporation). Courts of Appeal in other circuits have come to the same conclusion. See Pedrina v. Chun, 97 F.3d 1296, 1300 (9th Cir.1996) (rejecting as a matter of law RICO claim against defendant city), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 117 S.Ct. 2441, 138 L.Ed.2d 201 (1997); Lancaster Community Hosp. v. Antelope Valley Hosp., 940 F.2d 397, 404 (9th Cir.1991) (same, with respect to public hospital). Cf. Genty v. Resolution Trust Corp., 937 F.2d 899, 908-14 (3d Cir.1991) (dismissing RICO claim against municipality, reasoning that treble damages mandated by 18 U.S.C. § 1964(e) are punitive, and therefore cannot be imposed upon municipalities, which have been historically immune from exemplary damages). See also City of Newport v. Fact Concerts, Inc., 453 U.S. 247, 261-62, 101 S.Ct. 2748, 69 L.Ed.2d 616 (1981) (suggesting that municipalities are incapable of committing malicious or criminal acts). So do we. While a municipality is undoubtedly a “person” within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 1961(3), it is incapable of forming the requisite criminal intent for RICO liability. Accordingly, the RICO claim against the Town is dismissed.
Moreover, because the Town cannot be held hable under RICO as a matter of law, neither may the Town employees in their official capacities. E.g., Rini, 886 F.Supp. at 295. Accordingly, we dismiss the RICO claim against the Town employees in their official capacities.
B. Individual Liability
Furthermore, the Court concludes that the Town employees cannot be held liable in their individual capacities under RICO, because plaintiffs have failed to state a claim against them. To state a claim under section 1962, a plaintiff must show (1) that the defendant, (2) through the commission of two or more acts, (3) constituting a pattern, (4) of racketeering activity, (5) directly or indirectly participates in, (6) an enterprise, (7) the activities of which affect interstate or foreign commerce. Moss v. Morgan Stanley, 719 F.2d 5, 17 (2d Cir.1983). Plaintiffs attempt to show that defendants have engaged in mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and extortionist threats, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951. For the following reasons, plaintiffs have failed to state a predicate act under section 1962, and thus their claims against defendants in their individual capacities must be dismissed.
1. Mail and Wire Fraud
Plaintiffs do not state a claim for mail or wire fraud, because they have not pled a predicate act with specificity. Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b) requires that a plaintiff state “with particularity” “the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake” “in all averments of fraud or mistake.” In a mail or wire fraud case, a plaintiff must plead the “time, place, speaker and content of the alleged fraudulent misrepresentations,” and specify the manner in which the communications were fraudulent or contributed to a fraudulent scheme. Browning Avenue Realty Corp. v. Rosenshein, 774 F.Supp. 129, 137 (S.D.N.Y.1991) (citing Luce v. Edelstein, 802 F.2d 49, 54 (2d Cir.1986)). “[C]onclusory allegations that ... conduct was fraudulent or deceptive are insufficient to satisfy [Rule] 9(b).” Id. The facts alleged “must support an inference of fraudulent intent.” Id. (citing Stern v. Leucadia Nat’l Corp., 844 F.2d 997, 1003 (2d Cir.1988)). See also Segal v. Gordon, 467 F.2d 602, 608 (2d Cir.1972) (“the mere assertion that wrongful statements were made, without more, is wholly insufficient to support a claim of fraud”).
While plaintiffs allege that the Town employees have made numerous false communications, the Complaint does not allege that any particular communication was made with fraudulent intent. Moreover, plaintiffs fail to set forth the manner in which the communications were fraudulent or furthered a fraudulent scheme. See, e.g., Cplt. ¶¶ 208, 214, 218, 227, 234. Clearly, such allegations are insufficient to state a claim for mail or wire fraud. See 28 U.S.C. § 1341; Colony at Holbrook, Inc. v. Strata G.C., Inc., 928 F.Supp. 1224, 1231-32 (S.D.N.Y.1996); Morin v. Trupin, 711 F.Supp. 97, 105 (S.D.N.Y.1989).
2. Extortion
Extortion is “the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right.” 18 U.S.C. § 1951. To state a claim for extortion under section 1951, a plaintiff must show that an official accepted money or property in exchange for a specific exercise of official power. Evans v. United States, 504 U.S. 255, 258, 112 S.Ct. 1881, 119 L.Ed.2d 57 (1992).
Here, it is unclear from the Complaint which defendants have allegedly committed extortion or by what means. Plaintiffs’ extortion claim must therefore be dismissed. Cf. De Falco v. Dirie, 923 F.Supp. 473, 479 (S.D.N.Y.1996) (declining to dismiss RICO claim on 12(b)(6) motion where plaintiffs alleged that defendants had extorted “firewood, timber, gravel and sand worth hundreds of thousands of dollars,” and one third of their company’s stock, and denied or delayed building permits and certificates of occupancy when plaintiffs failed to comply).
Because plaintiffs have failed to state a predicate act under RICO, we dismiss their claim against the Town employees in their individual capacities.
VI. State Law Claims
Having dismissed the federal claims against each of the defendants, the Court declines to exercise jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367; Martz v. Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, 22 F.3d 26, 32 (2d Cir.1994); Town of West Hartford v. Operation Rescue, 915 F.2d 92, 104 (2d Cir.1990). Accordingly, these claims are dismissed.
Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted and plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment is denied. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of defendants.
SO ORDERED.
. Plaintiffs’ unsworn "Statement of Material Facts," filed January 15, 1998 pursuant to Local Rule 56.1, will not be considered, because it does' not cite to the record, in direct violation of the Rule. See Local Rule 56.1(d) (requiring each statement of material fact to be followed by citation to admissible evidence); Lilenfeld v. Kiepper, No. 93 Civ. 5691, 1997 WL 607547, at *1 n. 2 (Oct. 1, 1997) (striking inadequate statement under former Rule 3(g)).
The Court declines, however, to accept as true all of the facts contained in defendants' properly submitted Rule 56.1 statement, because plaintiff Frooks’ affirmation in response to the statement, and plaintiffs' Rule 56.1-statement filed March 9, 1998, cite to admissible evidence.
Plaintiff Frooks is an attorney admitted to practice in the State of New York, who has personal knowledge of the relevant facts. Cf. Wyler v. United States, 725 F.2d 156, 160 (2d Cir.1983) (attorney affirmation not based on personal knowledge accorded no weight on summary judgment motion). Because the affirmation satisfies the purpose of Rule 56.1, namely, to aid the Court in determining the undisputed material facts, the Court will accept the affirmation as evidence. Accord United States v. Barrier Industries, Inc., No. 95 Civ. 9114, 1998 WL 31491, at *1 n. 2 (Jan. 28, 1998) (admitting facts based on citations to admissible evidence contained in memoranda of law); Yonkers Comm'n on Human Rights v. City of Yonkers, 654 F.Supp. 544, 554 (S.D.N.Y.1987) (same). See also Schneider v. OG & C Corp., 684 F.Supp. 1269, 1271 (S.D.N.Y.1988) (relying on affidavits and other documentary evidence for material facts).
Additionally, we will consider plaintiffs’ subsequently filed Rule 56.1 statement. Rule 56.1 does not prohibit the consideration of untimely statements, particularly where the admission of the statement will not prejudice an opposing party. E.g., Thaler v. Casella, 960 F.Supp. 691, 697 (S.D.N.Y.1997); Abu-Nassar v. Elders Futures, Inc., No. 88 Civ. 7906, 1994 WL 445638, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 17, 1994). Here, plaintiffs’ subsequent statement is the same in all material respects as their original statement, except that it cites to admissible evidence. Moreover, defendants have responded to plaintiffs’ original statement. Thus, defendants will not be prejudiced if we consider plaintiffs’ statement.
We will, however, deem admitted any facts in defendants’ Rule 56 .1 statement that are not addressed in Frooks' affirmation or in plaintiffs’ subsequent Rule 56.1 statement. See Local Rule 56(c); Glazer v. Formica Corp., 964 F.2d 149, 154 (2d Cir.1992).
. The purpose of SEQRA is to provide government agencies with an early assessment of environmental considerations in order to guide decision making on applications for zoning changes, permits, licenses, certificates of occupancy or other land use privileges. See ECL § 8-0105; NYCRR § 617.21. Under SEQRA, an applicant for a land use privilege may be required to submit an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS”), according to a “scope” devised by the “lead agency.” Id., §§ 617.2(u); 617.8(a). "Scoping” is available to the lead agency to reduce the risk of extensive re-drafting of the EIS. However, scoping is not required. See id., § 617.8(a). The EIS is then reviewed by the lead agency’s expert, who either objects or approves it. Upon approval by the lead agency's expert, the application becomes the subject of public hearings. See ECL §§ 8-0103, 8-0105, 8-0109; 6 NYCRR § 617.1 et seq.
. Plaintiffs state these claims repetitively throughout their 135-page complaint. As such, plaintiffs have violated Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2), which requires "a short and plain statement” of their claims. The Court, however, does not dismiss the Complaint on these grounds, but rather because plaintiffs have failed to show the existence of a genuine issue of fact for trial. See infra parts I.-V. Cf. Salahuddin v. Cuomo, 861 F.2d 40, 42 (2d Cir.1988) (dismissal under Rule 8 "is usually reserved for those cases in which the complaint is so confused, ambiguous, vague or otherwise unintelligible that its true substance, if any, is well disguised”).
. The Court will consider plaintiffs’ section 1983 against the Town employees in their official capacities as a claim against the Town under section 1983. See Monell v. New York Dep’t of Soc. Serv., 436 U.S. 658, 690 n. 55, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611. Moreover, the Court declines to consider plaintiffs’ direct constitutional claims, because they have been brought under section 1983. See Verdon v. Consolidated Rail Corp., 828 F.Supp. 1129, 1136 (S.D.N.Y.1993); Malley v. Fernandez, No. 91 Civ. 5635, 1992 WL 204359, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Aug.10, 1992), aff'd without opinion, 992 F.2d 320 (2d Cir.1993); Lombard v. Board of Educ., 784 F.Supp. 1029, 1035 (E.D.N.Y.1992).
. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has not yet reached this issue. Cf. Jund v. Town Hempstead, 941 F.2d 1274 1276 (2d Cir.1991); Cullen v. Margiotta, 811 F.2d 698. 728-32 (2d Cir.1987).
. To the extent that Moss reflects an earlier Understanding of what constitutes a pattern of racketeering activity, it has been superseded by later case law. See, e.g., United States v. Indelicato, 865 F.2d 1370, 1375 (2d Cir.1989) (en banc).
. Moreover, in alleging that the Town employees committed wire fraud, plaintiffs do not claim that they furthered the allegedly fraudulent scheme through the use of interstate wires. In fact, plaintiffs admit that the communications were made solely within Rockland County, New York. This alone defeats plaintiffs, claim for wire fraud. See, e.g., Sterling Interiors Group, Inc. v. Haworth, No. 94 Civ. 9216, 1996 WL 426379, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. July 30, 1996).
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CASELAW
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Back to back: 'Fiddle' wins eMLS League Series Two title
FC Cincinnati’s Gordon “Fiddle” Thornsberry made it two titles in a row on Saturday by capturing the eMLS League Series One in Portland, downing Atlanta United’s Paulo Neto 2-0 in the finals. Fiddle took home $7,500 for winning the event, which was the second of the season’s three eMLS tournaments. He also won $7,500 for claiming Series One in Philadelphia in January, and he’ll now turn his focus to the eMLS Cup in March at Austin, Texas. “Got two down, got one more to go,” Fiddle said afterward. “But honestly, this was a tough day. I had to play really good opponents. Shoutout to all them, great opponents.” The top-ranked player in eMLS and 24th-ranked player in the world, Fiddle took control early in the final, scoring in the 21st minute on a volley by Josef Martinez, who coincidentally plays for Atlanta United in real life. He put it away in the 77th minute with a curling shot from the top of the box by Cristiano Ronaldo. Fiddle had also beaten Neto in the quarterfinals of Series One, though that win required a shootout. On Saturday, he began his run through the bracket with a 2-0 victory over New York City FC’s Chris “Didychrislito” Holly, then survived a wild semifinal match against LAFC’s Martin “RemiMartinn” Oregel. RemiMartinn took a 2-1 lead with an 88th-minute goal, but Fiddle tied it in stoppage time and then prevailed 4-3 on penalties. Neto reached the final by beating Toronto FC’s Philip “PhilB94” Balke 2-1 in the quarterfinals and the Portland Timbers’ Edgar “RCTID Thiago” Guerrero 3-0 in the semifinals. The tournament began with 25 players, each representing an MLS team, including 2021 expansion franchise Austin FC. Each played 12 matches during Friday’s group stage to reach the eight-player, single-elimination playoff bracket. —Field Level Media
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