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--- abstract: 'The recent results of 13 TeV ATLAS and CMS di-photon searches show an excess at di-photon invariant mass of 750 GeV. We look for possible explanation of this within minimal left right symmetric model (MLRSM). The possible candidate is a neutral Higgs of mass 750 GeV that can decay to di-photon via charged Higgs and right handed gauge boson loop. However, the cross-section is not consistent with the ATLAS and CMS results. We then discuss one possible variation of this model with universal seesaw for fermion masses that can explain this excess.' author: - Arnab Dasgupta - Manimala Mitra - Debasish Borah title: 'Minimal Left-Right Symmetry Confronted with the 750 GeV Di-photon Excess at LHC' --- Introduction ============ The recently reported 13 TeV center of mass energy data of the large hadron collider (LHC) experiment have pointed towards the existence of a resonance of mass about 750 GeV and width around 45 GeV decaying into two photons [@lhcrun2a; @atlasconf; @CMS:2015dxe]. The ATLAS collaboration has reported the presence of this 750 GeV resonance from their $3.2 \; \text{fb}^{-1}$ data with a statistical significance of $3.9\sigma$ ($2.3\sigma$ including look-elsewhere effects) whereas CMS collaboration has reported the same with a significance of $2.6\sigma$ from their $2.6\; \text{fb}^{-1}$ data. Apart from the mass and decay width, these two experiments have also measured the cross section $\sigma(pp\rightarrow \gamma \gamma)$ to be $10\pm3$ fb (ATLAS) and $6\pm3$ fb (CMS). The large decay width as well as the sizeable cross section have made it a challenging task to come up with beyond standard model (BSM) frameworks which can accommodate it. Although the reported signal could well be a statistical fluctuation, it has drawn significant attention from the particle physics community leading to a large number of interesting possible explanations including two Higgs doublet models, additional scalars coupling to vector like fermions, extra dimensions, dark matter among others as well as the implications of this signal reported in the works [@750pheno16Dec; @750GeVsinglet; @750pheno17Dec; @750pheno18Dec; @750pheno21Dec; @750pheno22Dec; @750pheno23Dec; @750pheno24Dec; @LR750GeV; @750pheno25Dec; @750pheno29Dec]. In this work, we try to scrutinize one of the very popular BSM framework, known as the left right symmetric model [@lrsm; @lrsmpot] in the light of the reported ATLAS and CMS results. Very recently, this model have been analyzed in the context of several other excesses: such as 2.8$\sigma$ excess in the $eejj$ final state reported by CMS [@Khachatryan:2014dka; @Gluza:2015goa], $3.4 \sigma$ diboson excess reported by ATLAS [@lrdiboson; @Dobrescu:2015qna] and [@ATLASdiboson] and the dijet results [@lrdijet] and [@CMSdijet]. The MLRSM model has few additional Higgs states, where few of the scalars can have lower than TeV scale masses. The neutral Higgs state which has 750 GeV mass, can decay to di-photon via charged Higgs and gauge boson loop. We compute its production cross section at LHC and the branching ratio into two photons. We do a parameter scan of the model by varying the different parameters of the potential, with a fixed symmetry breaking scale. The computed cross section $\sigma(pp \to H^0_2 \to \gamma \gamma)$ is way below the observed one with a few fb. We show that the minimal version of this model with the neutral Higgs states as 750 GeV resonance can not explain the observed signal. We then consider the possible modification to the MLRSM in order to explain the observed signal. The easiest modification is the addition of vector like quarks which can couple directly to the 750 GeV neutral scalar. This will not only enhance the production cross section but also the partial decay width into two photons. This scenario has already been explored within several different models mentioned above. Instead of arbitrarily adding vector like fermions into the MLRSM to explain the observed signal, we try to focus on the possibility of having these exotic fermions to serve another purposes. One possibility could be to realize these fermions within some higher fermion representations of grand unified theories like SO(10). Since TeV scale MLRSM does not give rise to gauge coupling unification at high energy scale, it will be very natural to have these exotic fermions at TeV scale which not only arise naturally within SO(10) framework but also can help to achieve gauge coupling unification. Another interesting motivation for additional vector like fermions is their role in generating masses of the known standard model fermions. This can happen for example, if the standard model Higgs can not directly couple to the left and right handed fermions of the model, but can do so only through additional heavy fermions. There is one such a version of LRSM where such vector like fermions have to be incorporated in order to generate observed fermion masses [@VLQlr; @univSeesawLR]. This model was studied later in the context of cosmology [@gulr] and neutrinoless double beta decay [@lr0nu2beta]. The model gives rise to fermion masses through a universal seesaw framework where the standard model fermion masses arise after integrating out heavy fermions. Leaving the possibility of having new physics source within a grand unified theory framework to a future work, here we focus on the LRSM with universal seesaw for fermion masses. We consider a 750 GeV neutral singlet scalar which can couple to vector like fermions and can give rise to the observed signal. This paper is organized as follows. In section \[sec1\], we briefly discuss the MLRSM and then discuss the possibility of a 750 GeV neutral scalar in view of the LHC signal in section \[sec2\]. In section \[sec3\], we briefly discuss the LRSM with universal seesaw and in section \[sec4\] we study the possibility of explaining the LHC signal of a 750 GeV resonance decaying into two photons. We finally conclude in section \[sec5\]. Minimal Left-Right Symmetric Model (MSLRM) {#sec1} ========================================== Left-Right Symmetric Model [@lrsm; @lrsmpot] is one of the very well motivated BSM frameworks where the gauge symmetry of the electroweak theory is extended to $SU(3)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R \times U(1)_{B-L}$. The right handed fermions which are singlets under the $SU(2)_L$ of SM, transform as doublets under $SU(2)_R$, making the presence of right handed neutrinos natural in this model. The Higgs doublet of the SM is replaced by a Higgs bidoublet to allow couplings between left and right handed fermions, both of which are doublets under $SU(2)_L$ and $SU(2)_R$ respectively. The enhanced gauge symmetry of the model $SU(2)_R \times U(1)_{B-L}$ is broken down to the $U(1)_Y$ of SM by the vacuum expectation value (vev) of additional Higgs scalar, transforming as triplet under $SU(2)_R$ and having non-zero $U(1)_{B-L}$ charge. This triplet gives rise to the Majorana masses of the right handed neutrinos through symmetry breaking. The heavy right handed neutrinos participate in the seesaw mechanism and generate the Majorana masses of the light neutrinos. On the other hand, the left handed Higgs triplet generates Majorana masses of the light neutrinos through type II. The fermion content of the minimal LRSM is $$Q_L= \left(\begin{array}{c} \ u_L \\ \ d_L \end{array}\right) \sim (3,2,1,\frac{1}{3}),\hspace*{0.8cm} Q_R= \left(\begin{array}{c} \ u_R \\ \ d_R \end{array}\right) \sim (3^*,1,2,\frac{1}{3}),\nonumber$$ $$\ell_L = \left(\begin{array}{c} \ \nu_L \\ \ e_L \end{array}\right) \sim (1,2,1,-1), \quad \ell_R= \left(\begin{array}{c} \ \nu_R \\ \ e_R \end{array}\right) \sim (1,1,2,-1) \nonumber$$ Similarly, the Higgs content of the minimal LRSM is $$\Phi= \left(\begin{array}{cc} \ \phi^0_{11} & \phi^+_{11} \\ \ \phi^-_{12} & \phi^0_{12} \end{array}\right) \sim (1,2,2,0) \nonumber$$ $$\Delta_L = \left(\begin{array}{cc} \ \delta^+_L/\surd 2 & \delta^{++}_L \\ \ \delta^0_L & -\delta^+_L/\surd 2 \end{array}\right) \sim (1,3,1,2), \hspace*{0.2cm} \Delta_R = \left(\begin{array}{cc} \ \delta^+_R/\surd 2 & \delta^{++}_R \\ \ \delta^0_R & -\delta^+_R/\surd 2 \end{array}\right) \sim (1,1,3,2) \nonumber$$ where the numbers in brackets correspond to the quantum numbers with respect to the gauge group $SU(3)_c\times SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R \times U(1)_{B-L}$. In the symmetry breaking pattern, the neutral component of the Higgs triplet $\Delta_R$ acquires a vev to break the gauge symmetry of the LRSM into that of the SM and then to the $U(1)$ of electromagnetism by the vev of the neutral component of Higgs bidoublet $\Phi$: $$SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R \times U(1)_{B-L} \quad \underrightarrow{\langle \Delta_R \rangle} \quad SU(2)_L\times U(1)_Y \quad \underrightarrow{\langle \Phi \rangle} \quad U(1)_{em}$$ The symmetry breaking of $SU(2)_R \times U(1)_{B-L}$ into the $U(1)_Y$ of standard model can also be achieved at two stages by choosing a non-minimal scalar sector. [[We]{}]{} denote the vev of the two neutral components of the bidoublet as $k_1, k_2$ and that of triplets $\Delta_{L, R}$ as $v_{L, R}$. Considering $g_L=g_R$, $k_2 \sim v_L \approx 0$ and $v_R \gg k_1$, the gauge boson masses after symmetry breaking can be written as $$M^2_{W_L} = \frac{g^2}{4} k^2_1, \;\;\; M^2_{W_R} = \frac{g^2}{2}v^2_R$$ $$M^2_{Z_L} = \frac{g^2 k^2_1}{4\cos^2{\theta_w}} \left ( 1-\frac{\cos^2{2\theta_w}}{2\cos^4{\theta_w}}\frac{k^2_1}{v^2_R} \right), \;\;\; M^2_{Z_R} = \frac{g^2 v^2_R \cos^2{\theta_w}}{\cos{2\theta_w}}$$ where $\theta_w$ is the Weinberg angle. After the symmetry breaking, four neutral scalars emerge, two from the bidoublet $(H^0_0, H^0_1)$, one from right handed triplet $(H^0_2)$ and another from left handed triplet $(H^0_3)$. Similarly there are two neutral pseudoscalars, one from the bidoublet $(A^0_1)$ and another from the left handed triplet $(A^0_2)$. Among the charged scalars, there are two singly charged ones $(H^{\pm}_1, H^{\pm}_2)$ and two doubly charged ones $(H^{\pm \pm}_1, H^{\pm \pm}_2)$. Under the approximations made above, the scalar masses are given by $$M^2_{H^0_0} = 2 \lambda_1 k^2_1, \, \, \, M^2_{H^0_1} = \frac{1}{2}\alpha_3 v^2_R, \, \, M^2_{H^0_2} = 2\rho_1 v^2_R, \, \, M^2_{H^0_3} = \frac{1}{2}(\rho_3-2\rho_1)v^2_R$$ $$M^2_{A^0_1} = \frac{1}{2}\alpha_3 v^2_R - 2(2\lambda_2-\lambda_3)k^2_1, \, \, M^2_{A^0_2} = \frac{1}{2}v^2_R (\rho_3-2\rho_1), \, \, M^2_{H^{\pm}_1} = \frac{1}{2} (\rho_3-2\rho_1)v^2_R +\frac{1}{4} \alpha_3 k^2_1$$ $$M^2_{H^{\pm}_2} = \frac{1}{2}\alpha_3 v^2_R + \frac{1}{4} \alpha_3 k^2_1, \, \, M^2_{H^{\pm \pm}_1} = \frac{1}{2} (\rho_3-2\rho_1)v^2_R+\frac{1}{2}\alpha_3 k^2_1, \, \, M^2_{H^{\pm \pm}_2} = 2\rho_2 v^2_R +\frac{1}{2} \alpha_3 k^2_1$$ where $\lambda_i, \alpha_i, \rho_i$ are dimensionless couplings of the scalar potential of this model [@lrsmpot]. We take into account the following results and experimental searches that fix the dimensionless parameters. - In the above, $H^0_0$ can be identified as SM like Higgs of mass 125 GeV, that fixes the coupling $\lambda_1$. Few of the other couplings can be constrained after taking into account the experimental limits on the scalar masses. - We demand that the Higgs $H^0_2$ has a mass 750 GeV that explain the di-photon bump, that fixes the dimensionless coupling $\rho_1$. - In order to avoid the flavor changing neutral currents (FCNC) processes, the neutral scalars from bi-doublet $H^0_1, A^0_1$ have to be heavier than 10 TeV [@fcnc], which puts further constraint on $\alpha_3$ for a fixed $v_R$. This also constrain the charged Higgs mass $H^{\pm}_2$ to be heavy. - The lower bound on the mass of doubly charged scalar $H^{\pm \pm}_1 $ from the multilepton search [@Aad:2014hja] fixes the coupling $\rho_3$. This automatically fixes the mass of singly charged scalar $H^{\pm}_1$ as well. This leaves only two free parameters $ (2\lambda_2-\lambda_3)$ and $\rho_2$ in the expressions for scalar masses to be varied arbitrarily. The other couplings in the full scalar potential are also free to be varied and are not affected by the chosen spectrum of scalar masses. 750 GeV neutral scalar in MLRSM {#sec2} =============================== Among the neutral physical scalars in MLRSM, the $H^0_0$ is the standard model like Higgs with mass $125$ GeV. The other two neutral (pseudo) scalars from the bidoublet namely $H^0_1, A^0_1$ are heavier than at least 10 TeV due to tight constraints from FCNC. However, the other three neutral scalars $(H^0_2, H^0_3, A^0_2)$ originating from the scalar triplets can lie at 750 GeV. We consider $H^0_2 \equiv \Delta^0_R$ as a possible candidate for a 750 GeV neutral scalar decaying into two photons. [ As the heavy Higgs $H^0_2$ does not directly couple with gluons or quarks, hence its production will be governed by the mixing with the SM Higgs. The production cross-section of the $750$ GeV heavy Higgs at 13 TeV LHC is [@physrepdjouadi] $$\sigma (p p \to H^0_2) \sim \theta^2 \times 0.85 \,\rm{pb},$$ ]{} where $\theta \sim \alpha \frac{k_1}{M_{H^0_2}}$ is the mixing between SM Higgs state and the $H^0_2$, and we have considered the dimensionless parameters $\alpha_1=\alpha_2=\alpha$. As the neutral scalar $H^0_2$ does not couple to a pair of charged fermions at the tree level, the only way it can decay into two photons is through a charged gauge or scalar boson loop. This can happen through a loop containing $W_R$ bosons or one of the charged scalars $H^{\pm}_1, H^{\pm}_2, H^{\pm \pm}_1, H^{\pm \pm}_2$. The total production cross-section of $p p \to H^0_2 \to \gamma \gamma$ is $$\sigma(p p \to H^0_2 \to \gamma \gamma) \sim \theta^2 \times 0.85 \times \rm{Br}(H^0_2 \to \gamma \gamma) \, \rm{pb}.$$ We first consider the following benchmark values of the scalar masses and compute the decay widths. Following this we will provide a full parameter scan. $$m_{H^0_0} = 125 \; \text{GeV}, \;\; m_{H^0_2} = 750 \; \text{GeV}, \;\; m_{H^{\pm}_1} = 380 \; \text{GeV}, \;\; m_{H^0_1} = m_{A^0_1} = m_{H^{\pm}_2} = 10\; \text{TeV}.$$ $$m_{H^{\pm \pm}_1} = 465 \; \text{GeV}, \;\; m_{H^{\pm \pm}_2} = 380 \; \text{GeV}.$$ The values are chosen in such a way to satisfy the current experimental bounds. We show the partial decay width of $H^0_2$ to $\gamma \gamma$ and di-Higgs modes for these illustrative points in the parameter space. Few comments are in order. - We show the partial decay width to two photons through the $W_R$ loop in Fig. \[fig2\], where the $W_R$ mass has been set to be 3 TeV-in agreement with the collider constraint [@Khachatryan:2014dka]. The partial decay width through gauge boson loop is extremely suppressed and can not explain the diphoton signal. - We show the partial decay width of $H^0_2 \rightarrow \gamma \gamma$ through charged Higgs loop in Fig. \[fig1\] as a function of the parameter $\alpha$. This also decides the decay mode $H^0_2 \rightarrow H^0_0 H^0_0$. We have set the charged Higgs masses to the lowest possible value, which is consistent with collider searches. The masses of the neutral scalars have been set to 10 TeV and $W_R$ mass as 3 TeV. - The mixing parameter $\theta$ can be constrained from di-Higgs search [@dihiggscms], which is $\mathcal{O}(0.3)$ for 750 GeV scalar resonance decaying into di-Higgs with 100$\%$ branching ratio. - From Fig. \[fig1\], it is evident that for the parameter $\alpha > 0.001$, the partial decay width to di-Higgs will be larger than the di-photon. Including both the gauge boson $W_R$ and charged Higgs, this limit goes to $\alpha \sim 0.01$. - It is straightforward to see from Fig. \[fig2\] and Fig. \[fig1\] that the partial width of $H^0_2 \rightarrow \gamma \gamma$ through all available charged particles in loop falls below 1 GeV for small $\alpha$ and can not explain the large decay width preferred by the ATLAS and CMS data. - In the above, we have considered large mass &gt; 1 TeV for the heavy neutrinos, which is consistent with the collider constraint [@Khachatryan:2014dka]. Therefore, the decay of $H^0_2 \to N_R N_R$ is absent. However, we have checked that even with lighter heavy neutrino masses, the total decay width of $H^0_2$ is not in agreement with the di-photon results. - The partial decay width to $\gamma \gamma$ via top loop is extremely suppressed $10^{-7}$ GeV, while its decay to $t-\bar{t}$ and $W-W$ is 2.78 GeV and 11.62 GeV for mixing $\theta \sim 0.3$. [[ The total cross section $\sigma (pp\rightarrow H^0_2 \rightarrow \gamma \gamma) = \sigma(pp\rightarrow H^0_2) \text{BR}(H^0_2 \rightarrow \gamma \gamma)$ for the above mentioned parameter values is $ < $ 1 fb for smaller branching ratio, and clearly can not take into account the required cross-section $\sim $ 10 fb to fit the ATLAS and CMS data. ]{}]{} Considering the other two neutral scalars $H^0_3$ and $A^0_2$ as potential 750 GeV candidate will not significantly improve the situation. This requires beyond MLRSM physics to explain the recently observed di-photon excess at 750 GeV by ATLAS and CMS. [ [Following the above discussion with a particular set of parameters, we now provide a full parameter scan where we vary the parameters $ \alpha_1=\alpha_2 , \alpha_3, \rho_3, \rho_2, 2\lambda_2-\lambda_3$ in the following ranges.]{}]{} $$\alpha_1 , \alpha_3, \rho_3, \rho_2, 2\lambda_2-\lambda_3 \equiv 10^{-4} - 4 \pi.$$ In Fig. \[figx\] and Fig. \[figdw\], we show the total cross-section and decay width for these ranges of parameters with $\alpha_1=\alpha_2=\alpha$. The blue region corresponds to the following mass cut on the scalars: $$m_{H^{\pm}_{1}}, m_{H^{\pm \pm}_{2}} \ge 380 \; \text{GeV}, \;\; m_{H^0_1} = m_{A^0_1} = m_{H^{\pm}_2} > 10\; \text{TeV}, \, \, m_{H^{\pm \pm}_1} \ge 465 \; \text{GeV}. \label{masscut}$$ Note that, with the cut on the decay width of $H^0_2 \le 50 $ GeV, the total cross-section is extremely small and can not explain the di-photon result. In addition to this, although for large value of $\alpha$, the cross-section increases, however the branching ratio to di-Higgs also increases. Hence to avoid any constraint from di-Higgs channel, $\alpha$ should be small. LRSM with Universal Seesaw (LRSM-US) {#sec3} ==================================== The fermion content of the LRSM with universal seesaw is the extension of the MLRSM fermion content by the following vector like fermions $$U_{L} (3, 1, 1, \frac{4}{3}), \;\; U_{R} (3^*, 1, 1, \frac{4}{3})\;\; D_{L} (3, 1, 1, -\frac{2}{3}), \;\;D_{R} (3^*, 1, 1, -\frac{2}{3})$$ $$E_{L,R} (1,1,1, -2), \;\; N_{L,R} (1,1,1,0)$$ each of which comes in three different copies corresponding to the three fermion generations of the MLRSM or the standard model. The presence of these extra fermions is necessary due to the fact that the usual scalar sector of the MSLRM is replaced by the following scalar fields $$H_L (1, 2, 1, -1), \;\;H_R (1,1,2,-1), \;\; \sigma (1,1,1,0)$$ Due to the absence of the usual bidoublet, the left and right handed fermion doublets of the MSLRM can not directly couple to each other. However, they can couple to the scalar fields $H_{L,R}$ via the additional vector like fermions. $$\begin{aligned} \mathcal{L} & \supset Y_U (\bar{Q_L} H^{\dagger}_L U_L+\bar{Q_R} H^{\dagger}_R U_R) + Y_D (\bar{Q_L} H_L D_L+\bar{Q_R} H_R D_R) +M_U \bar{U_L} U_R+ M_D \bar{D_L} D_R\nonumber \\ & Y_E (\bar{\ell_L} H_L E_L+\bar{\ell_R} H_R E_R) +M_E \bar{E_L} E_R+ \text{h.c.}\end{aligned}$$ where we have ignored the terms corresponding to neutrino masses. For details of the origin of neutrino masses, one may refer to the discussions in [@gulr]. After integrating out the heavy fermions, the charged fermions of the standard model develop Yukawa couplings to the scalar doublet $H_L$ as follows $$y_u = Y_U \frac{v_R}{M_U} Y^T_U, \;\;y_d = Y_D \frac{v_R}{M_D} Y^T_D, \;\;y_e = Y_E \frac{v_R}{M_E} Y^T_E$$ where $v_R$ is the vev of the neutral component of $H_R$. The apparent seesaw then can explain the observed mass hierarchies among the three generations of fermions. The non-zero vev of the neutral component of $H_R$ also breaks the $SU(2)_R\times U(1)_{B-L}$ symmetry of the model into $U(1)_Y$ of the standard model. The left handed Higgs doublet can acquire a non-zero vev $v_L$ at a lower energy to induce electroweak symmetry breaking. However, the left-right symmetry of the theory forces one to have the same vev for both $H_L$ and $H_R$ that is, $v_L=v_R$ which is unacceptable from phenomenological point of view. To decouple these two symmetry breaking scales, the extra singlet scalar $\sigma$ is introduced into the model. This field is odd under the discrete left-right symmetry and hence couple to the two scalar doublets with a opposite sign. After this singlet acquires a non-zero vev at high scale, this generates a difference between the effective mass squared of $H_L$ and $H_R$ which ultimately decouples the symmetry breaking scales. 750 GeV neutral scalar in LRSM-US ================================= [^1] \[sec4\] The LRSM with universal seesaw has three neutral scalars: one from $H_L$, one from $H_R$ and one from the singlet $\sigma$. Now the neutral scalar part of $H_L$ is the standard model like Higgs with mass 125 GeV. On the other hand the neutral scalars from $H_R$ is supposed to be heavy in order to avoid dangerous flavor changing neutral currents. The scalar $\sigma$ is naturally heavy as it is responsible for discrete left-right symmetry breaking at a scale above $v_R$. To allow the possibility of a neutral 750 GeV scalar, we add another singlet $\zeta$ into the model which can couple to the vector like quarks and leptons as $Y_{f\zeta} \zeta \bar{f_L}f_R$ where $f$ is the vector like fermion. This essentially boils down to the singlet scalar resonance coupled to additional vector like fermions as an explanation of 750 GeV di-photon excess put forward by [@750GeVsinglet]. The singlet scalar can be produced dominantly in pp collisions by two different ways: (a) through mixing with the standard model Higgs and (b) through gluon gluon fusion via new vector like quarks. The singlet scalar can decay into two photons through the vector like fermions in a loop. Since the mixing with the standard model Higgs is constrained, we assume the corresponding production channel to be negligible. We then consider the production of the singlet scalar $\zeta$ in proton proton collisions dominantly through gluon gluon fusion with the vector like quarks in loop. This singlet scalar can decay either into two photons or two gluons or one photon, one Z boson at one loop level whereas the tree level decay into a pair of standard model Higgs can be neglected assuming small mixing. Using the loop level production cross section and decay width expressions given in [@physrepdjouadi], we calculate for what values of vector like fermion masses $m_f$ and their Yukawa couplings $Y_f$, the desired cross section $\sigma(pp\rightarrow \zeta \rightarrow \gamma \gamma)$ can be obtained. For simplicity we consider all the quark and lepton masses and their Yukawa couplings degenerate. Since the masses of vector like leptons are less constrained than that of vector like quarks, we consider vector like lepton masses to be half of vector like quark masses. It should be noted that vector like quark masses are restricted to be $m_q \geq 750-920$ GeV depending on the particular channel of decay [@VLQconstraint] whereas this bound gets relaxed to $m_q \geq 400$ GeV [@VLQconstraint2] for long lived vector like quarks. Further constraints on vector like quarks can be found in [@vlqhandbook]. The constraints on vector like leptons are much weaker $m_l \geq 114-176$ GeV and allows the possibility of the 750 GeV scalar to decay into them at tree level [@VLLconstraint]. We however, do not allow tree level decay of $\zeta$ into vector like leptons which will reduce the branching ratio $\text{BR} (\zeta \rightarrow \gamma \gamma)$. Considering $m_l = m_q/2$, we then constrain the corresponding Yukawa couplings $Y_q, Y_l$ from the requirement of producing the observed signal. The restricted Yukawa couplings for some benchmark values of quark masses are shown in figure \[figyukawa\]. Further constraints on the model comes in terms of the Yukawa couplings involved in the seesaw relations for fermion masses discussed in the previous section. For standard model fermion mass $m_f$, the Yukawa couplings are constrained as $$\frac{y^2 v_R}{M} = \frac{m_f}{v_L}$$ where $M$ is the heavy vector like fermion mass, $v_R$ is the $SU(2)_R$ breaking scale and $v_L=246$ GeV is the electroweak symmetry breaking scale. If $m_f$ is top quark mass and $v_R \approx 6$ TeV, then for $M=1500$ GeV, the corresponding Yukawa couplings are constrained to be $y \approx 0.42$. However, fitting with all the fermion masses will require non-degenerate heavy vector like fermion masses. Another constraints comes from the mixing of these heavy fermions with the standard model fermions. For the case of vector like quarks, such mixings with standard model quarks are constrained to be small $\theta \leq 0.1$ from precision measurements of electroweak parameters [@vlqhandbook]. Parametrising the heavy-light quark mixing from the seesaw relations as $\sin^2\theta \approx \frac{y^2 v_R v_L}{M^2}$ and using the constraints $\theta \leq 0.1, \frac{y^2 v_R v_L}{M} = m_f$, we get the constraints on the heavy quark masses as $M \geq 100 m_f$. This is possible to achieve for $M=1500$ GeV in case of bottom and lighter quark masses. But for top quark seesaw, the corresponding heavy vector like quark has to be much heavier than 1500 GeV considered in this simple analysis. It should be noted that there are 6 vector like quarks and 3 vector like charged leptons in the model. However, the singlet scalar can not decay into them at tree level. These exotic fermions only appear at one loop to allow the scalar to decay into $gg, \gamma \gamma$ or $\gamma Z$. However, such loop level decay is not enough to generate the total decay width observed by the LHC. Similar observations were also made by [@750GeVsinglet]. If the LHC confirms the measured decay width in future, this will invite further modification to the left-right model considered in this work. Conclusion {#sec5} =========== We have studied the minimal left right symmetric extension of the standard model in view of the latest LHC observations of a 750 GeV neutral resonance decaying into two photons with a cross section of around 10 fb. Since the extra neutral scalars (in addition to the 125 GeV Higgs boson) from the bidoublet of MLRSM are very heavy to be in agreement with flavor constraints, we consider the neutral scalar $H^0_2$ from one of the triplet scalars of the model namely, $\Delta_R$. The discussion will be similar for the neutral component of $\Delta_L$. Since the triplet does not couple to quarks, we consider the production of this scalar only through its mixing with the standard model Higgs. We then consider the possible decay of $H^0_2$ and calculate the total as well as partial decay widths. After incorporating the LHC constraints on neutral as well as charged scalar masses, we find that the total cross section $\sigma(pp\rightarrow H^0_0 \rightarrow \gamma \gamma)$ remain below the observed 10 fb signal, after putting constrain on the decay width of $H^0_2 \le 50$ GeV. The cross section is maximal, close to 1 fb only for very high values of the dimensionless parameter $\alpha = \alpha_1 = \alpha_2$ of the scalar potential. This parameter also decides the size of the $H^0_2$ mixing with the standard model like Higgs $H^0_0$ and hence constrained to be $\alpha \leq 0.3 M_{H^0_2}/k_1$, to avoid collider constraint. Thus, the di-photon cross section will be much smaller than 1 fb after taking the constraint on $H^0_0-H^0_2$ mixing into account. It is observed from Fig. \[figx\], that after taking the experimental lower bounds on neutral and charged scalar masses into account, the total cross section gets shifted to higher side. This is due to the fact that, experimental lower bounds on scalar masses also restricts relevant dimensionless parameters to high values for fixed $v_R$. As the same parameters also appear in the decay widths, they increases the total cross section. We also observe that the neutral scalar $H^0_2$ can have a sizeable total decay width $\approx 50$ GeV as observed by the LHC for allowed parameter space though it can not give rise to the 10 fb di-photon signal simultaneously. We then briefly mention another possible left right model with universal seesaw for fermion masses. Due to the existence of additional vector like fermions, the production of a neutral scalar and its decay into two photons can he enhanced at the same time. By taking some benchmark values of additional fermion masses, we show how their couplings to a neutral 750 GeV scalar get restricted from the requirement of producing a 10 fb di-photon signal. The neutral scalar in such a scenario however, fails to give rise to the large decay width observed by experiment. Thus, if the di-photon cross section as well as the decay width are both confirmed by future LHC data, then further improvement of the left right symmetric models discussed in this work will be required. We leave such an investigation to future work. The work of M.M was supported by the DST-INSPIRE Faculty grant. The authors would like to thank Ketan M. Patel, IISER Mohali for very useful discussions. [99]{} “ATLAS and CMS physics results from Run 2”, talks by J. Olsen and M. Kado, CERN, December 15, 2015. The ATLAS collaboration, ATLAS-CONF-2015-081. CMS Collaboration \[CMS Collaboration\], collisions at 13TeV,” CMS-PAS-EXO-15-004. K. Harigaya and Y. Nomura, arXiv:1512.04850; Y. Mambrini, G. Arcadi and A. Djouadi, arXiv:1512.04913; M. Backovic, A. Mariotti and D. Redigolo, arXiv:1512.04917; A. Angelescu, A. Djouadi and G. Moreau, arXiv:1512.04921; Y. Nakai, R. 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Related Post AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young has passed away aged 64, following a difficult struggle with dementia, which was confirmed in 2014. Reports have stated that the Australian musician died peacefully on Saturday. Malcolm Young was a foundational element to the history of AC/DC – a rock and roll band who has sold over 200 million records worldwide since its inception in 1973. The performer was behind much of the writing of the bands material, which allowed them to evolve into one of the most popular groups in rock and roll history. Some of AC/DC’s most famous songs include ‘Highway to Hell’ and ‘Back in Black’. The efficiency and catchiness of Young’s guitar riffs became legendary and inspired an array of future artists, from Guns N’ Roses’ Izzy Stradlin to Metallica’s James Hetfield. Unfortunately, as his dementia condition worsened, the musician became increasingly confused and forgetful of riffs to songs he used to know so well, like ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’. This memory lapse shows how serious of a disease dementia is and how it can completely strip someone of their creative core if given time to worsen. A statement that was released shortly after his death, read that “from the outset, he knew what he wanted to achieve and, along with his younger brother, took to the world stage giving their all at every show. Nothing less would do for their fans.” Malcolm’s strength lay in his talent and not in his showboating or charismatic performances. He often was not the main feature of the bands live shows, as his younger brother, Angus was, who regularly dressed as a schoolboy and paraded on stage like Chuck Berry. In reaction to the news, Angus remarked that “as his brother it is hard to express in words what he has meant to me during my life, the bond we had was unique and very special. He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live on forever.” George Young, Malcolm’s elder brother, who produced for AC/DC, also sadly passed away aged 70 last month. Malcolm Young will be remembered for his formidable guitar riffs, potent songwriter capacity and as a producer who had a fierce musical prowess which has inspired many.
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Course This course is an intermediate level course designed to teach Customer Process Manager (CPM) architects to integrate CPM with contact center service channels. The course shows students how to configure... Duration About Pegasystems Pegasystems Inc. is the leader in software for customer engagement and operational excellence. Pega’s adaptive, cloud-architected software – built on its unified Pega® Platform – empowers people to rapidly deploy, and easily extend and change applications to meet strategic business needs. Over its 30-year history, Pega has delivered award-winning capabilities in CRM and BPM, powered by advanced artificial intelligence and robotic automation, to help the world’s leading brands achieve breakthrough business results. For more information on Pegasystems (NASDAQ: PEGA) visit www.pega.com.
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November 20, 2009Thank you for answering my MB polo shirt buttoning policy question! Here's a follow up: With Christmas around the corner family has been asking what I want. I've decided I'm ready to ditch the Clarks and get a legit pair of new business casual shoes for work (black and brown). To accomplish this I'm going to request gift cards but they'll have to be to the same store in order to stack them all together. But which store is the best for MB shoe shopping? Was thinking Nordstrom but haven't been that impressed with their selection. I'd also prefer an actual store versus online but will defer to your expert opinion. Where do you get your shoes?--Jay A: We get our shoes all over the place. Any of the retailers linked on our home page, if they sell shoes we've probably bought a pair. Our biggest wins, however, have come from bluefly and we recommend it for you in spite of its online-ness. Great options for your immediate bizcash need and depending on your adventurousness and line of work, they've always got interesting sport/fashion from Prada, Puma, Tod's, and Adidas, which is the direction we're going these days.
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Police fire tear gas and arrest altar boys during Mass in Congo A woman gestures during a demonstration to call for the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to step down (Getty Images) Congolese bishops condemned 'with the utmost vigour' the 'attack on freedom of worship' Police invaded Catholic churches and fired tear gas during Mass in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday as protests against the rule of President Joseph Kabila intensified. One witness at St. Michael’s Church in central Kinshasa told AFP that officers broke up the Mass and arrested altar boys, still in their liturgical robes, who had been protesting against the president. “While we were praying, the soldiers and the police entered the church compound and fired teargas at the church,” he said. Another added: “People fell, first-aiders are resuscitating old ladies who have fallen” – but the priest continued saying Mass. The rector of Kinshasa’s St Alphonse Parish, Mgr Hugues Ndongisila, also told Radio France Internationale that police had beaten and robbed Catholics when they sought refuge in his church, shooting out its stained-glass windows. He said the bodies of two dead protesters had later been collected by the Red Cross. Church leaders in Congo have expressed shock at the violence. Security forces have targeted Catholic protesters, leaving at least eight dead and 120 people detained. The December 31 protest against rule by President Joseph Kabila was organised by the Kinshasa archdiocesan lay coordination committee. At least a dozen priests are among those detained. “We condemn with utmost vigour this unjustified violence,” the Congolese bishops’ conference said in a statement January 2. “We similarly denounce this attack on freedom of worship, which is guaranteed in every democratic state, as well as the profanation of churches and physical aggression against the faithful and their priests.” The statement said the bishops were “profoundly shocked by such ignoble acts,” and would demand a “serious and objective inquiry” into who was responsible. A UN spokeswoman said seven deaths had been recorded in Kinshasa, and another at Kananga. The violence was condemned by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who urged Kabila’s government to show restraint and “respect the rights of Congolese people to free expression.” The Catholic Church makes up around half the 67.5 million inhabitants of Congo, and the bishops have pressed Kabila to step down since his second and final term expired in December 2016. Later, a church-brokered accord allowed the president to stay in office, alongside an opposition head of government, pending elections by the end of 2017. However, in November, Congo’s Electoral Commission said the ballot would be postponed until December 23, 2018. In a November statement, the bishops’ conference said church observers had recorded 56 deaths and 355 arrests in half a year of opposition protests. They urged Kabila to release political detainees and stick to the December 31, 2016, accord.
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Julian Savulescu Julian Savulescu (born 22 December 1963) is an Australian philosopher and bioethicist. He is Uehiro Professor of Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford, Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford, Director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Sir Louis Matheson Distinguished Visiting Professor at Monash University, and Head of the Melbourne–Oxford Stem Cell Collaboration, which is devoted to examining the ethical implications of cloning and embryonic stem cell research. He is a former editor and current board member of the Journal of Medical Ethics (2001-2004 and 2011-2018), which is ranked as the No.1 journal in bioethics worldwide by Google Scholar Metrics as of 2013. In addition to his background in applied ethics and philosophy, he also has a background in medicine and completed his MBBS (Hons) at Monash University. He completed his PhD at Monash University, under the supervision of philosopher Peter Singer. Procreative beneficence Julian Savulescu coined the phrase procreative beneficence. It is the controversial putative moral obligation of parents in a position to select their children, for instance through preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), to favor those expected to have the best life. An argument in favor of this principle is that traits (such as empathy, memory, etc.) are "all-purpose means" in the sense of being instrumental in realizing whatever life plans the child may come to have. In some of his publications he has argued for the following: that parents have a responsibility to select the best children they could have, given all of the relevant genetic information available to them, a principle that he extends to the use of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnoses (PGD) in order to determine the intelligence of embryos and possible children; and that stem cell research is justifiable even if one accepts the view of the embryo as a person. Julian Savulescu also justifies the destruction of embryos and fetuses as a source of organs and tissue for transplantation to adults. In his abstract he argues, "The most publicly justifiable application of human cloning, if there is one at all, is to provide self-compatible cells or tissues for medical use, especially transplantation. Some have argued that this raises no new ethical issues above those raised by any form of embryo experimentation. I argue that this research is less morally problematic than other embryo research. Indeed, it is not merely morally permissible but morally required that we employ cloning to produce embryos or fetuses for the sake of providing cells, tissues or even organs for therapy, followed by abortion of the embryo or fetus." He argues that if it is permissible to destroy fetuses, for social reasons, or no reasons at all, it must be justifiable to destroy them to save lives. Further, as editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics, he published, in 2012, an article by two Italian academics which stated that a new-born baby is effectively no different from a foetus, is not a "person" and, morally, could be killed at the decision of the parents etc. Along with neuro-ethicist Guy Kahane, Savulescu's article "Brain Damage and the Moral Significance of Consciousness" appears to be the first mainstream publication to argue that increased evidence of consciousness in patients diagnosed with being in persistent vegetative state actually supports withdrawing or withholding care. In 2009, Professor Savulescu presented a paper at the ’Festival of Dangerous Ideas,’ held at the Sydney Opera House in October 2009, entitled "Unfit for Life: Genetically Enhance Humanity or Face Extinction," which can be seen on Vimeo. Savulescu argues that humanity is on the brink of disappearing in a metaphorical ‘Bermuda Triangle’ unless humans are willing to undergo 'moral enhancement'. Reception Robert Sparrow wrote, in the Journal of Medical Ethics, that Savulescu's justification for the principle of procreative beneficence can and should be extended further. If parents have a moral obligation to create children likely to have the best possible life, they should prefer to have children that have been genetically engineered for an optimal chance at such a life, even if those children bear little or no genetic relation to them. Rebecca Bennett, however, criticizes Savulescu's argument. Bennett argues that "the chances of any particular individual being born is spectacularly unlikely, given the infinite number of variables that had to be in place for this to happen. In order for any particular individual to exist, that individual's parents have to have been created in the first place, they have to meet at the right time and conceive us at a particular time to enable that particular sperm to fuse with that particular egg. Thus, it is clear that all sorts of things, any change in society, will effect who is born.". According to Bennett, this means that no-one is actually harmed if one does not select the best offspring, as the individuals born could not have had any other, worse life as they would otherwise never have been born - "choosing worthwhile but impaired lives harms no-one and is thus not less preferable", as Bennett puts it. Bennett argues that while advocates of procreative beneficence could appeal to impersonal harm, which is where one should aim to ensure the maximum possible potential quality of life and thus embryos without or with the least impairments should be selected (as the impersonal total quality of life will be improved), this argument is flawed on two counts. Firstly on an intuitive level, Bennett questions if benefit or harm that doesn't affect anyone (i.e it is impersonal) should be worthy of consideration as no actual people will gain or lose anything. Secondly and on a theoretical level, Bennett argues that attempting to increase the sum total impersonal happiness (or decrease impersonal harm) can lead to repugnant conclusions, such as being obliged to produce as many offspring as possible to bring more people into the world to raise the level of impersonal happiness, even if the quality of life of individuals suffers for it due to scarcity and overcrowding. Bennett argues that this conclusion is repugnant because "it cares little about what we normally regard as morally important: the welfare of individual people". Other information In 2009 Professor Savulescu was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award by Monash University. In 2009 he was also announced as the winner in the Thinking category of The Australian newspaper's Emerging Leaders Awards. He has co-authored two books: Medical Ethics and Law: The Core Curriculum with Tony Hope and Judith Hendrick and Unfit for the Future: The Need for Moral Enhancement (published by Oxford University Press) with Ingmar Persson. Professor Savulescu is a member of the Board of Directors Executive Committee of the International Neuroethics Society. He has also edited the books Der neue Mensch? Enhancement und Genetik (together with Nikolaus Knoepffler), Human Enhancement (together with Nick Bostrom), Enhancing Human Capacities, The Ethics of Human Enhancement See also Bioethics Biopolitics Designer baby Human enhancement Human genetic engineering Morphological freedom Procreative liberty Reproductive rights Reprogenetics Techno-progressivism Transhumanism References External links The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. The Hinxton Group: An International Consortium on Stem Cells, Ethics & Law. Stronger, smarter, nicer humans. Philosophy Bites podcast of Julian Savulescu interviewed by Nigel Warburton on the Yuk Factor. Category:1963 births Category:Bioethicists Category:Living people Category:Fellows of St Cross College, Oxford Category:Australian philosophers Category:Australian people of Romanian descent
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--- abstract: 'Gesture recognition is a challenging problem in the field of biometrics. In this paper, we integrate Fisher criterion into Bidirectional Long-Short Term Memory (BLSTM) network and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BGRU), thus leading to two new deep models termed as F-BLSTM and F-BGRU. Both Fisher discriminative deep models can effectively classify the gesture based on analyzing the acceleration and angular velocity data of the human gestures. Moreover, we collect a large Mobile Gesture Database (MGD) based on the accelerations and angular velocities containing 5547 sequences of 12 gestures. Extensive experiments are conducted to validate the superior performance of the proposed networks as compared to the state-of-the-art BLSTM and BGRU on MGD database and two benchmark databases (*i.e.* BUAA mobile gesture and SmartWatch gesture).' address: - 'Department of Automation, Beihang University, Beijing, China' - 'Department of Computer Science, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China' - 'University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.' - 'Nortumbria Univesity, Newcastle, UK.' author: - Chunyu Xie - Ce Li - Baochang Zhang - Chen Chen - Jungong Han bibliography: - 'mybibfile.bib' title: Deep Fisher Discriminant Learning for Mobile Hand Gesture Recognition --- Fisher Discriminant,Hand Gesture Recognition ,Mobile Devices Introduction {#sec:introduction} ============ Towards natural human-computer interaction, the emergence of smartphones has changed our lives and made our lives more convenient. The interaction between people and mobile phones are through the touch screen, camera and microphone. However, due to environmental constraints, these interaction methods suffer from many uncontrollable problems. For example, the video based methods do not work well in the night time. Nowadays, inertial sensors including accelerometer and gyrometer are built in smartphones [@lane2010a; @choi2005; @mantyla2000hand], which can record the signal of hand movements when their devices are in use. Therefore, gesture action using inertial sensors can be easily achieved and understood [@liu2009uwave]. Different from computer vision based gesture recognition, the requirements for gesture recognition based on inertial sensors (*e.g.* accelerometer and gyrometer) are much simpler[@catal2015on]. However, the mobile gesture recognition inevitably encounters several external variations including signal intensity differences (intense versus weak gestures), temporal variations (slow versus fast movements) and physical differences (users’ physical conditions, etc.). In addition, the noise caused by the hardware device also has a severe impact on the recognition performance. Support vector machine (SVM), hidden Markov model (HMM) and dynamic time warping (DTW) have been introduced to solve the problems mentioned above. Recently, deep learning methods have significantly push the state-of-the-art in human activity recognition. They avoid feature engineering and are able to learn data representations and classifiers simultaneously. Among those, the recurrent neural network (RNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)[@hochreiter1997long] are popular sequential modelling methods. They have been successfully applied to many fields such as language modeling[@mikolov2011extensions; @sundermeyer2012lstm; @mesnil2013investigation], image captioning[@vinyals2015show; @xu2015icml], video analysis[@ng2015cvpr; @alahi2016social; @deng2015structure; @ibrahim2015a] and 3D action recognition. These methods can also be utilized to solve our problem, since the mobile gesture signals are sequential data streams of inertial sensors[@shin2016dynamic; @lefebvre2013ANN]. The publicly available databases are very important to researchers for algorithm development and evaluation. However, most of the previous works in the field of mobile gesture recognition were conducted with self-prepared data. And few databases related to mobile gesture recognition are publicly available. In this paper, we first introduce a mobile based gesture recognition benchmark, which can help researchers to evaluate and compare their algorithms by using the same gesture data. The database was collected based on 32 participants (23 males and 9 females), consisting 12 gestures of 5547 repetitions. Two Fisher discriminative deep models termed F-BLSTM and a variant F-BGRU are proposed for hand gesture recognition on mobile devices. The Fisher criterion which minimizes the [intra-class variations and maximize inter-class variations]{} is incorporated into softmax loss of LSTM, leading a better classification ability to cope with external variations. The flowchart of the gesture recognition approach is shown in Fig.\[fig:flowchart\]. ![image](flowchart.pdf){width="\linewidth" height="0.4\textheight"} In summary, we make the following contributions: 1. We collect a large mobile gesture database using an Andriod [Huawei]{} device, which is the largest database in published studies for mobile gesture recognition systems. 2. We integrate Fisher criterion into BLSTM network to improve the traditional softmax loss training function. Extensive experiments on our [MGD, BUAA Mobile Gesture database,]{} and a public database are conducted to verify the superior performance of the proposed networks. The rest of the paper is organized as follows. Section\[sec:relatedwork\] introduces the related works, and Section\[sec:approach\] describes the details of the proposed method. Experiments and results are presented in Section\[sec:experiments\]. Finally, Section\[sec:conclusion\] concludes the paper. Related Work {#sec:relatedwork} ============ [Gesture recognition has been extensively investigated in the last two decades, and remarkable advances are achieved using inertial sensors in mobile devices[@rekimoto2001iswc; @jang2003signal; @kallio2003online; @bulling2014a]. For the application of human computer interaction, Rekimoto [*et al.*]{}[@rekimoto2001iswc] detected the movement of arm using a specific wearable device. But it is difficult to get high precision in practice because of large size of the equipment. Fresca [*et al.*]{}[@ferscha2007gestural] studied and recognized human gesticulation and the manipulation of graspable and movable everyday artifacts as a potentially effective means for the interaction with smart things. Parsani [*et al.*]{}[@Parsani2009A] designed an embedded system which could analyze and recognize smartphone gestures involving a combination of straight line motions in three dimensions. Roy [*et al.*]{}[@Roy2014Demo] suggested that the walking direction should be detectable through the accelerometer and get blended into various other motion patterns during the act of walking, including up and down bounce, side-to-side sway, swing of arms or legs, *etc.*. They also analyzed the human walking dynamics to estimate the dominating forces and used this knowledge to find the heading direction of the pedestrian. For the application of biological monitoring, Park [*et al.*]{}[@Park2014Poster] demonstrated a very promising application to classify and monitor heartbeats, while Nandakumar [*et al.*]{}[@Nandakumar2015Contactless] monitored sleep apnea using the sensors in smartphones to develop more convenient conditions for gesture recognition[@hoang2013adaptive]. Besides, there are also some other applications.]{} As reported in[@Agrawal2011Using], Agrawal [*et al.*]{}proposed a system called PhonePoint Pen that uses the built-in accelerometer in mobile phones to recognize the human writing. The system, based on Nokia N95 platform, was evaluated through 10 students and 5 hospital patients. Results showed that English characters can be identified with an average accuracy of 91%. The system presented a promising prospect for mobile based gesture recognition. [Mobile gesture recognition has provided new directions and also delivered compelling performance for the application of machine learning. Hofmann [*et al.*]{}[@hofmann1998velocity] proposed a recognition scheme based on Hidden Markov Models (HMM)[@markov] and used discrete HMM (dHMM) to recognize dynamic gestures. The approach essentially divided the input data into different regions and assigned each of them to a corresponding codebook for classifying them with dHMM. The vector codebook was obtained by a clustering method, serving as an unsupervised learning procedure to model the feature vector distribution in the input data space. The experiments were carried out using 500 training gestures with 10 samples per gesture, yielding an accuracy of 95.6% for 100 test gestures.]{} In[@kallio2003online], gestures were captured with a small wireless sensor-box that produced three dimensional acceleration signal. Kallio [*et al.*]{}trained the dHMM model by using five states and a codebook size of eight. They [measured]{} the recognition accuracy of system using four degrees of complexity. In[@kela2006accelerometer-based], an HMM model was trained with five states, achieving a rate of 96.1% accuracy for classifying 8 gestures. Pylv [*et al.*]{}[@pylvanainen2005accelerometer] proposed a method based on continuous HMM (cHMM), which takes correlated time information into consideration. The experiment achieved reliable results, with 96.67% of correct classification on a database of 20 samples for 10 gestures. In[@Zhang2009Hand], multi-stream HMM consisting of EMG and ACC streams was utilized as decision fusion method to recognize hand gestures. For a data set of 18 gestures, each trained with 10 repetitions, the average recognition accuracy was about 91.7% in real application. [Besides HMM, a few other popular techniques have been used in gesture recognition. Akl [*et al.*]{} proposed a gesture recognition system based primarily on a single 3 dimensional accelerometer, by employing DTW[@akl2010accelerometer-based].]{} The system defined a dictionary of 18 gestures and a database of 3700 repetitions from 7 users[ and got up to 90% classification accuracy in the experiment.]{} David [*et al.*]{}[@Mace2013Accelerometer] proposed two approaches including Naive Bayes and DTW for recognizing four gesture types from five different subjects in the experiment. The results revealed Bayesian classification is better than DTW. Wu [*et al.*]{}[@wu2009gesture] employed multi-class Support Vector Machine (SVM) for user-independent gesture recognition and demonstrated that SVM significantly outperformed other methods including DTW, Naive Bayes and HMM. In[@Hsu2009Integrating], Wang [*et al.*]{} combined LCS and SVM to perform the classification task and achieved the classification accuracy of 93%. Another line of research focuses on the feature extraction and selection. For example, the principle component analysis was used for feature selection and dimensionality reduction in gesture classification[@Marasovic2011Accelerometer]. [In[@He2011Accelerometer], the hybrid features combined short-time energy with Fast Fourier Transform, denoting the fusion of time-domain features and frequency-domain features, were presented for recognizing seventeen complex gestures on cell phone.]{} An average recognition accuracy of 89.89% was obtained using multi-class SVM. [Driven by the tremendous success of deep learning, the research paradigm has been shifted from traditional approaches to deep learning methods for mobile gesture recognition[@shin2016dynamic; @lefebvre2013ANN].]{} Shin [*et al.*]{}[@shin2016dynamic] developed a dynamic hand gesture recognition technique using recurrent neural network (RNN) algorithm. The gesture recognition model was trained using the SmartWatch Gestures database[@costante2014eusipco]. Each gesture sequence contains acceleration data from the 3 dimensional accelerometer. An evaluation of the network size was presented, and the best performance was obtained by using the LSTM layer with the size of 128. Lefebvre[@lefebvre2013ANN] carried out gesture recognition experiments on a database consisted of both accelerometer and gyrometer sensors. The sensor data was captured using an Android Nexus S Samsung device. 22 participants, from 20 to 55 years old, contributed to the database of the 14 symbolic gestures. The results showed that gesture recognition utilizing both sensors can achieve better performance than using each individual sensor. [Moreover, the BLSTM based method achieved an accuracy of 95.57% on the database of total 1540 gestures. To the best of our knowledge, the BLSTM based method is currently the state-of-the-art baseline and performs better than previous approaches such as cHMM, DTW, FDSVM and LSTM]{}. The Proposed Approach {#sec:approach} ===================== In this section, we first describe the network structures of [Bidirectional Long-Short Term Memory (BLSTM) and its variant – LSTM with Gate Recurrent Unit (BGRU).]{} Then, we propose to incorporate the Fisher criterion to improve the discriminative power of these deep models, dubbed F-BLSTM and F-BGRU. Bidirectional LSTM {#sec:blstm} ------------------ We briefly describe the LSTM unit which is the basic building block of the proposed F-BLSTM model. The neurons of LSTM contain a constant memory cell name, which has a state $c_t$ at time $t$. [A LSTM neuron unit is presented in detail at the bottom of Fig.\[fig:blstm-architecture\]]{}. Each LSTM unit for reading or modifying is controlled through a sigmoidal input gate $i_t$, a forget gate $f_t$ and an output gate $o_t$. At each time step $t$, [LSTM unit receives inputs from two external sources at each of the three gates.]{} The current frame $x_t$ and previous hidden states $h_{t-1}$ are two sources, and the cell state $c_{t-1}$ in the cell block is an internal source of each gate. The gates are passed through the tanh non-linearity and activated by logistic function. After multiplying the cell state by the forget gate $f_t$, the final output of the LSTM unit $h_t$ is computed by multiplying the activation $o_t$ of the output gates with updated cell state. Denoting all $W_*$ are diagonal matrices, the updates in a layer of LSTM units are summarized as follows: $$\begin{array}{l} {i_t} = \sigma \left( {{W_{xi}}{x_t} + {W_{hi}}{h_{t - 1}} + {W_{ci}}{c_{t - 1}} + {b_i}} \right),\\ {f_t} = \sigma \left( {{W_{xf}}{x_t} + {W_{hf}}{h_{t - 1}} + {W_{cf}}{c_{t - 1}} + {b_f}} \right),\\ {c_t}={f_t}c_{t-1}+{i_t}tanh\left(W_{xc}x_t+W_{hc}h_{t-1}+b_c\right),\\ o_t=\sigma\left(W_{xo}x_t+W_{ho}h_{t-1}+W_{co}c_t+b_o\right),\\ h_t={o_t}tanh\left(c_t\right). \end{array} \label{eq:lstm-unit}$$ ![image](blstm-architecture.pdf){height="0.9\textheight"} The model of [BLSTM uses Recurrent Neural Nets (RNNs)]{} made of LSTM units, which have shown the great ability to deal with temporal data in many applications [@sundermeyer2012lstm]. We consider the gesture data using 3 dimensional accelerometer and 3 dimensional gyrometer synchronized input vectors through sampling timestep. As shown in Fig.\[fig:blstm-architecture\], the forward and backward LSTM hidden layers are fully connected to the input layer and consist of multiple LSTM neurons each with full recurrent connections. Several experiments have been conducted with different hidden neuron sizes and 128 neurons yield the best results. The output layer has a size equivalent to the number of neuron to classify (*i.e.* $M=128$). $G = \left\{ {G_1,...,G_{T}} \right\}$ is a gesture sequence of $T$ size, $G_t = \left(x_1\left(t\right),...,x_{N}\left(t\right)\right)$ is a vector at timestep $t$ and $N$ denotes the sensor number, and $\left(y_1,...,y_{n}\right)$ is the BLSTM output set with $n$ being the number of gestures to be classified. The softmax activation function is used for this layer to give network response between 0 and 1. Classically, these outputs can be considered as posterior probabilities of the input sequence belonging to a specific gesture class, and the softmax loss function is presented as follows $${\cal L}_s = - \frac{1}{m} \sum\limits_{i = 1}^m \log \frac{{{e^{W_{{y_i}}^T{O_i} + {b_{{y_{i}}}}}}}}{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 1}^n {{e^{W_j^T{O_i} + {b_j}}}} }}, \label{eq:softmaxloss}$$ where $O_i =\left(o_1,...,o_M\right)$ denotes the [$i$th output belonging to the $y_i$th class]{}. $W_j$ denotes the $j$th column of the weights $W$ in the last layer and $b$ is the bias term. $m$ is the size of mini-batch and $n$ is the number of classes. Deep Fisher Discriminant Learning {#sec:fisherloss} ---------------------------------- To further enhance the performance of BLSTM, we incorporate the Fisher criterion into the softmax loss function, which is shown in Fig.\[fig:blstm-architecture\]. First, the input layer consists of the concatenation of 3 dimensional accelerometer and 3 dimensional gyrometer signals synchronized in time (*i.e.* $N=6$). The sensor data is normalized between 0 and 1 according to the maximum value that sensors can provide. In order to minimize the intra-class variations and maximize the inter-class variations of gesture data, we propose a new Fisher criterion based on Fisher Linear Discrimination as follows: $${\cal L}_f = \frac{1}{m}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^m {\left\| {{O_i} - {\mu_{{y_i}}}} \right\|_2^2} - \frac{\delta}{n\left(n-1\right)} \sum\limits_{j = 1,k = 1}^n {\left\| {{\mu_j} - {\mu_k}} \right\|_2^2} } \label{eq:fisher}$$ where ${\mu_{{y_i}}}$ is the $y_i$th class mean of output vectors, and $\delta$ is the discriminative factor. As updating the mean vector ${\mu_{{y_i}}}$ when learning BLSTM, the Fisher criterion utilizes the whole training set and mean vectors of each class in every iteration. We propose to augment the loss in Eq.(\[eq:softmaxloss\]) with the additional Fisher criterion term in Eq.(\[eq:fisher\]) as follows: $$ {\cal L} = {\cal L}_s +\theta{\cal L}_f \\ \label{eq:wholeloss}$$ where $\theta$ and $\delta$ are bounded in $[0,1]$, and these two parameters are used for balancing three parts of the loss function. In forward and backward processes, we set output vector ${O_i}$, mean vector ${\mu_j}$, loss parameter $W$, scalar parameters $\theta$, $\delta$ and learning rate $\lambda$, BLSTM parameters $H_f$ and iteration number $e$, respectively. In each iteration, we compute the loss of F-BLSTM by Eq. (\[eq:fisher\]) and Eq. (\[eq:wholeloss\]), and the backpropagation error by $$\frac{{\partial {L^e}}}{{\partial O_i^e}} = \frac{{\partial L_s^e}}{{\partial O_i^e}} + \theta \frac{{\partial L_f^e}}{{\partial O_i^e}}. \label{eq:backerror}$$ Then, we update the parameter $W$, mean vector $\mu_{j}$ and BLSTM parameter $H_f$ in the $e+1$ iteration by the following formulas until the converge stopping criterion. $$\begin{array}{l} {W^{e + 1}} = {W^e} - {\lambda ^e} \cdot \frac{{\partial L_f^e}}{{\partial {W^e}}},\\ \mu _j^{e + 1} = \mu _j^e - \alpha \cdot \Delta \mu _j^e,\\ H_f^{e + 1} = H_f^e - {\lambda ^e}\sum\nolimits_i^m {\frac{{\partial {L^e}}}{{\partial O_i^e}}} \cdot \frac{{\partial O_i^e}}{{\partial H_f^e}}. \end{array} \label{eq:parmean}$$ With proper scalar parameters $\theta$, $\delta$ and $\alpha$, the discriminative power of F-LSTM can be significantly enhanced for hand gesture recognition. This network is learned using classical online backpropagation through time with momentum. For classifying a new gesture sequence, we use a majority voting rule over the outputs along the sequence (*i.e.* keeping only the most probable class $argmax _{i \in \left[ {1,n} \right]}{O_i}$) to determine the final gesture class. A detailed parameter analysis of $\theta$, $\delta$ and $\alpha$ is presented in Section\[sec:parameter\]. Bidirectional GRU and F-BGRU {#sec:bgru} ---------------------------- To further enhance the performance of network, a variant of BLSTM termed Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BGRU) was proposed in[@cho2014arxiv; @chung2014eprint] to make each recurrent unit to adaptively capture dependence of different time scales. Similarly to the BLSTM unit, the BGRU has the activation $h_t$, candidate activation $\tilde{h}_t$, update gate $z_t$ and reset gate $r_t$ units to modulate the flow of information in unit without some separate memory cells, as shown in Fig.\[fig:bgru-unit\]. The flows in BGRU are summarized as follows: $$\begin{array}{l} {z_t} = \sigma \left( {{W_z}{x_t} + {W_{zf}}{h_t} + {b_z}} \right),\\ {r_t} = \sigma \left( {{W_r}{x_t} + {W_{rf}}{h_t} + {b_r}} \right),\\ {{\tilde h}_t} = tanh\left( {W{x_t} + U\left( {{r_t} \odot {h_{t - 1}}} \right) + {b_h}} \right),\\ {h_t} = \left( {1 - {z_t}} \right){h_{t - 1}} + {z_t}{{\tilde h}_t} \end{array}. \label{eq:bgru-unit}$$ where the activation $h_t$ at time $t$ is a linear interpolation between previous activation $h_{t-1}$ and the candidate activation $\tilde{h}_t$, the candidate activation $\tilde{h}_t$ is computed same as traditional recurrent unit. The update gate $z_t$ decides the number of units to update its activation, and so as the reset gate $r_t$. It is easy to notice that the BGRU unit also controls the flow of information like the BLSTM unit, but without having to use a memory unit. Similar to F-BLSTM, we also apply the Fisher discriminative function for BGRU and learn a new variant named F-BGRU model to recognize hand gestures. ![image](bgru-unit.jpg){width="0.65\linewidth"} Experiments {#sec:experiments} =========== Hardware Device {#sec:database} --------------- Our mobile hand gesture database is collected using a Huawei device with Android system, which has a 3 dimensional accelerometer and a 3 dimensional gyrometer. According to[@lefebvre2013ANN], we collect the data of both accelerometer and gyrometer, [and record each gesture by pressing, holding and releasing the “Sensor" button on the touch screen.]{} ### Gesture Dictionary As shown in Fig.\[fig:gesture-dic\], the gesture dictionary consists of two categories including Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and English capital letters (A, B, C, D, E, F). Furthermore, the stroke order of gestures is set in advance to ensure the consistency of gestures drawed by left or right hand of each participant. We directly collect all accelerometer and gyrometer data, then transfer the data from the cellphone memory to the computer for gesture recognition. ![image](gesture-dic.jpg){width="\linewidth"} ### Database Collection The database named MGD consists of 12 gestures performed by 32 participants (23 males and 9 females) with about fifteen times per gesture. Therefore, there are a total of 5547 gesture sequences. The sampling time of accelerometer and gyrometer sensors is 5ms corresponding to a frequency of 200Hz. To the best of our knowledge, it is the largest database so far for mobile based gesture recognition, [which is of benefit to the research community]{}. Implementation Details {#sec:preprocess} ---------------------- In this section, we present the details of the implementation of our experiments. We use Tensorflow toolbox as the deep learning platform and an NVIDIA GTX 1070 GPU to run the experiments. In order to validate the effectiveness of our proposed Fisher criterion in LSTM for modeling temporal sequences, we compare our methods, F-BLSTM and F-BGRU, with the state-of-the-art baselines (BLSTM and BGRU[@chung2014eprint]) on three benchmarks including our proposed database (MGD), and two previous databases: the BUAA Mobile Gesture database[@xie2016ccbr] and the SmartWatch Gestures database[@chung2014eprint]. We comprehensively evaluate the performance of the proposed model under different parameter settings of $\delta$, $\alpha$ and $\theta$ in Sec.\[sec:parameter\], and provide extensive experimental comparison in Sec.\[sec:comparison\]. **Data preprocessing.** The main objective for data preprocessing is to facilitate gesture recognition. In real world applications, the sensor data often contain a lot of noise due to complex environmental conditions and hardware limitations. Therefore, we first carry out a filtering process to suppress noise (i.e. data smoothing). We experimented with Average Filter, Median Filter and Butterworth Filter, and selected the Average Filter in terms of its good performance and computational efficiency. Fig.\[fig:filtered-data\] shows the original accelerometer and gyrometer data and the processed data using the Average Filter. \ \ The gesture execution speed of different participants may vary considerably, which leads to different signal lengths due to a fixed sampling frequency (200HZ) of accelerometer and gyrometer in the mobile phone. For example, gestures completed relatively faster will have fewer sampling points. Also, the signal strength of gesture sequences may vary. To cope with signal strength and speed variations, we apply amplitude and sequence normalization to the original signal sequences. Specifically, we first normalize a signal $x_i^n\left(t\right)$ by $$x_i^n\left( t \right) = \frac{{{x_i}\left( t \right) - \min _{t = 1}^T{x_i}\left( t \right)}}{{\max _{t = 1}^T{x_i}\left( t \right) - \min _{t = 1}^T{x_i}\left( t \right)}},\;\;\; \forall i \in \left\{ {1,...,6} \right\}. \label{eq:normalize}$$ Then, we use cubic spline interpolation to normalize the length of a sequence to a fixed size (we set this size as 1000 in our experiments). Fig.\[fig:preprocessed-data\] shows the preprocessed accelerometer and gyrometer data, where the sequence has been filtered and normalized. \ Study of Fisher Criterion Parameters {#sec:parameter} ------------------------------------ In our model, the hyperparameter $\theta$ impacts the Fisher criterion, $\alpha$ controls the update rate of mean $\mu$ in F-BLSTM, and $\delta$ adjusts the relationship of intra-class distance and inter-class distance between features. These parameters would affect the performance of gesture recognition. In order to configure an optimal parameter setting, we conduct parameter tuning experiments for the F-BLSTM model as follows. 1. We fix $\alpha$ to 0.5, $\delta$ to 0.01 and vary $\theta$ from 0 to 1 to investigate the effect of parameter $\theta$. Fig.\[fig:parameter-theta\] shows the classification accuracy on testing set. The result shows that the model trained with only softmax loss has poor performance, which certificates the necessity of introducing Fisher criterion. 2. We fix $\alpha$ to 0.5, $\theta$ to 0.1 and vary $\delta$ from 1e-5 to 0.1 to verify that the inter-class distance’s joining promote the classification ability. As shown in Fig.\[fig:parameter-delta\], $\delta$ balances the relationship of intra-class distance and inter-class distance. We can set $\delta$ to an appropriate value to make the classification better according to different circumstances. 3. We fix $\theta$ to 0.1, $\delta$ to 0.01 and vary $\alpha$ from 0 to 1 to train different models. The classification accuracy of these models on our gesture database are illustrated in Fig.\[fig:parameter-alpha\]. We find that the classification performance of our model remains relatively stable across a wide range of $\alpha$, but a moderate value of $\alpha$ has a better performance. ![image](parameter-theta.png){width="0.5\linewidth"} \ ![image](parameter-delta.png){width="0.5\linewidth"} ![image](parameter-alpha.png){width="0.5\linewidth"} \ \ Analysis of Model Effect {#sec:discussion} ------------------------ As shown in the analysis mentioned above, the F-BLSTM and FBGRU achieves a better discriminant ability than the baseline BLSTM and BGRU. This section further discusses the better feature disctribution has been achieved. By the study in last section, we set $\theta$ to 0.1, $\delta$ to 0.01 and $\alpha$ to 0.5 in the F-BLSTM model, and set the parameters to 0.3, 0.01, 0.5 in the F-BGRU model, respectively. Fig. \[fig:featurevisualization\] shows the feature visualizations on MGD database. In Fig. \[fig:featurevisualization\](a) and Fig. \[fig:featurevisualization\](b), the BLSTM and BGRU features of 12 classes are visualized by t-SNE [@Maaten2009Science] with the parameters of initial dimension 100 and perplexity dimension 30, while the F-BLSTM and F-BGRU features are illustrated in Fig. \[fig:featurevisualization\](c) and Fig. \[fig:featurevisualization\](d), respectively. Clearly, the fisher discriminant learning features are more discriminative than the original baseline features, especially the F-BGRU feature in Fig. \[fig:featurevisualization\](d) can be better discriminated than the BLSTM feature in Fig. \[fig:featurevisualization\](a). As another verification, the quantitative evaluation is performed based on three databases in the next section. Comparison with State-of-the-Arts {#sec:comparison} --------------------------------- **Experiment on [MGD]{} Database.** For the proposed database, we select 3500 sequences for training our model and 2047 sequences for testing. After preprocessing, the length of each data sequence is set to 1000, thus each input sample (3-axis accelerometer and gyrometer signals) is a matrix of [$1000 \times 6$]{}. Here, we train the network using adaptive moment estimation, with the learning rate as 0.002 and the batch size as 200. For the F-BLSTM model, we set $\theta$ to 0.1, $\delta$ to 0.01 and $\alpha$ to 0.5. We complete the training of BLSTM and F-BLSTM models at 1.5K iterations. The parameters of F-BGRU model are set to 0.3, 0.01, 0.5 respectively. The training of BGRU and F-BGRU is completed at 1.2K iterations. We report the performance of different methods on the testing set based on the average over 5 runs. The class-wise classification accuracy comparison of different mothods is presented in Table.\[table:ourdatabase\]. It is clear that by incorporating the Fisher criterion to the base models (BLSTM and BGRU), the recognition performance can be improved. Fig.\[fig:curve-proposed\] also shows the behaviors of F-BLSTM and F-BGRU models. Dotted lines denote training errors, and solid lines denote testing errors for different methods. As can be observed from the figure, our proposed softmax function with Fisher criterion effectively speeds up the convergence of training and achieves a smaller error rate. BLSTM F-BLSTM BGRU F-BGRU --------- ------- ----------- ------- ----------- A 97.41 97.85 97.09 98.09 B 94.17 96.50 97.24 98.78 C 98.95 99.40 99.85 100.00 D 96.88 99.04 98.02 98.87 E 96.88 97.40 98.48 98.61 F 96.86 98.59 97.62 99.54 1 93.80 95.33.82 96.62 98.53 2 98.60 98.82 99.03 99.35 3 96.69 97.56 98.29 99.42 4 98.77 98.97 99.28 99.29 5 96.55 98.16 99.77 100.00 6 99.10 99.32 99.77 99.61 Overall 97.05 **98.04** 98.38 **99.15** ![image](curve-proposed.eps){width="\linewidth"} **Experiment on BUAA Mobile Gesture Database[@xie2016ccbr].** This database has 1120 samples for gestures A, B, C, D, 1, 2, 3, 4. Each sample includes three-dimensional acceleration and angular velocity of the mobile phone. The training and testing sets are divided randomly into 70% and 30%, respectively. We conduct the experiments using the same setting for F-BLSTM and F-BGRU. We set $\theta$ to 0.1, $\delta$ to 0.03 and $\alpha$ to 0.5. Model training is finished at 400 iterations. Table.\[table:buaadatabase\] shows that LSTMs with Fisher criterion still have better results than baselines on a smaller dataset. Similarly, the models converge faster and yield lower classification error rates with the Fisher criterion as shown in Fig.\[fig:curve-buaa\]. BLSTM F-BLSTM BGRU F-BGRU --------- -------- ----------- -------- ----------- A 100.00 99.17 98.34 99.58 B 97.29 98.92 97.84 98.37 C 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 D 99.26 97.42 96.77 99.35 1 97.87 99.57 100.00 100.00 2 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 3 97.06 100.00 100.00 100.00 4 95.83 97.50 97.08 97.08 Overall 98.44 **99.06** 98.75 **99.25** ![image](curve-buaa.eps){width="\linewidth"} **Experiment on SmartWatch Gesture Database[@costante2014eusipco].** ![image](example-smartwatch.png){width="0.6\linewidth"}\ The database has been used to evaluate gesture recognition algorithms for interacting with mobile applications using gestures. Eight different users performed twenty repetitions of twenty different gestures for a total of 3200 sequences. The gestures are depicted in Fig.\[fig:example-smartwatch\]. Different from the 6-dimensional sequences of previous two databases, each sequence in this dataset only contains acceleration data from the 3-axis accelerometer of a first generation Sony SmartWatch. Furthermore, due to the lower sampling frequency, we set the length of each gesture sequence preprocessed to 50. We randomly select 2400 sequences as training set and the rest 800 sequences as testing set. The parameters of Fisher criterion follow the same setting in previous experiment. Adaptive moment estimation is used to train the network, and the initial learning rate $\lambda$ is set to 0.0001. The batch size is 1000. Training for BLSTM and F-BLSTM is stopped at 1.4K iterations, and BGRU and F-BGRU at 2K iterations. [Fig.\[fig:curve-smart\] shows the training error and testing error during the training process. Like Fig.\[fig:curve-proposed\] and Fig.\[fig:curve-buaa\], dotted lines denote training errors, and solid lines denote testing errors. Table.\[table:smartwatch-database\] lists the classification results for different gestures. Notice that our proposed models perform considerably better than the baselines across the 20 gestures.]{} BLSTM F-BLSTM BGRU F-BGRU --------- ------- ----------- -------- ----------- 1 94.58 97.91 97.08 97.50 2 95.00 97.22 95.56 95.56 3 86.90 87.59 93.10 93.10 4 95.91 97.27 97.27 97.73 5 96.88 98.13 96.88 98.13 6 93.33 94.07 96.30 100.00 7 96.44 96.89 98.22 99.56 8 97.62 98.57 100.00 100.00 9 93.49 96.74 96.74 97.67 10 94.84 98.06 100.00 100.00 11 89.76 94.15 94.15 95.12 12 92.89 92.44 96.00 97.33 13 90.42 95.00 94.17 95.42 14 94.88 96.30 96.30 97.21 15 95.14 95.14 100.00 97.84 16 92.20 89.27 93.17 93.17 17 96.52 95.65 99.13 100.00 18 96.22 97.30 96.76 95.68 19 94.29 94.76 94.76 96.67 20 97.21 98.60 100.00 100.00 Overall 94.30 **95.65** 96.80 **97.40** ![image](curve-smart.eps){width="\linewidth"} Based on the experimental evaluations, we can observe that LSTM models with Fisher criterion consistently outperform the standard LSTMs on three different databases, validating the advantage of the proposed Fisher criterion. Furthermore, with even less data, the proposed Fisher criterion helps the LSTMs obtain a better result. This proves that it has a significant effect on a small database, showing the Fisher criterion has a widespread application scope. Conclusion {#sec:conclusion} ========== [In this paper, we have collected a large gesture database, namely MGD, for the application of mobile based gesture recognition. We proposed a novel Fisher criterion for F-BLSTM network to effectively classify the mobile hand gestures. Based on F-BLSTM, we also extended the F-BLSTM to a variant F-BGRU. By conducting numerous experiments, we proved that the mobile gesture recognition based on F-BLSTM networks which is supervised by the Fisher criterion has an outstanding performance. An appropriate values of Fisher criterion parameters contribute to the better results.]{} Acknowledgement {#acknowledgement .unnumbered} =============== The work was supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of China under Contract 61672079, 61473086, 61601466. The work of B. Zhang was supported in part by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents University within the Ministry of Education, China, and in part by the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission under Grant Z161100001616005. Baochang Zhang is the correspondence. References {#references .unnumbered} ========== Biography {#biography .unnumbered} ========= **Chunyu Xie** received the B.S. degree and is a master in automation from Beihang University. His current research interests include signal and image processing, pattern recognition and computer vision.\ \ **Ce Li** received the B.E. degree in Computer Science from Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, in 2008, the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from the School of Electronic, Electrical and Communication Engineering at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, in 2012 and 2015, respectively. She is currently a research assistant with China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China. Her current interests include computer vision, video analysis and machine learning. She was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China for Youth.\ \ **Baochang Zhang** received the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from Harbin Institue of the Technology, Harbin, China, in 1999, 2001, and 2006, respectively. From 2006 to 2008, he was a research fellow with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, and with Griffith University, Brisban, Australia. Currently, he is an associate professor with the Science and Technology on Aircraft Control Laboratory, School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China. He was supported by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of Ministry of Education of China. His current research interests include pattern recognition, machine learning, face recognition, and wavelets.\ \ **Chen Chen** received the B.E. degree in automation from Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China, in 2009, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA, in 2012, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA, in 2016. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Center for Research in Computer Vision, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA. His current research interests include compressed sensing, signal and image processing, pattern recognition, and computer vision. He has published over 40 papers in refereed journals and conferences in the above areas.\ \ **Jungong Han** is currently a Senior Lecturer with the Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies at Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK. Previously, he was a Senior Scientist (2012-2015) with Civolution Technology (a combining synergy of Philips Content Identification and Thomson STS), a Research Staff (2010-2012) with the Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI), and a Senior Researcher (2005-2010) with the Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e) in Netherlands. Dr. Han’s research interests include Multimedia Content Identification, Multi-Sensor Data Fusion, Computer Vision and Multimedia Security. He is an Associate Editor of Elsevier Neurocomputing (IF 2.4) and an Editorial Board Member of Springer Multimedia Tools and Applications (IF 1.4). He has been (lead) Guest Editor for five international journals, such as IEEE-T-SMCB, IEEE-T-NNLS. Dr. Han is the recipient of the UK Mobility Award Grant from the UK Royal Society in 2016.\ \
{ "pile_set_name": "ArXiv" }
Introduction {#s1} ============ Delaying older adults' transition from living in the community to institutionalization is of major public health importance. It is also important for older individuals themselves, most of whom would prefer to remain living in the community [@pone.0046061-Luppa1]. A number of studies, conducted across a range of settings (eg. population-based and dementia-based samples) have investigated risk factors for institutionalization in older adults [@pone.0046061-Luppa1], [@pone.0046061-Gaugler1]. Dementia, disability in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) are the most consistent risk factors for admission to a residential aged care facility (RACF) [@pone.0046061-Luppa1], [@pone.0046061-Gaugler1]. However, other studies have identified sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors as additional important predictors of institutionalization in older adults [@pone.0046061-Heyman1], [@pone.0046061-Lieberman1]. While most studies that have investigated predictors of institutionalization have looked at severe cognitive impairment, the contribution of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to institutionalization in older adults is not clear. One study has looked at the association of cognitive impairment not including dementia with adverse outcomes including institutionalization in older adults [@pone.0046061-Tuokko1]. However, the diagnosis was based on clinical judgment rather than the use of specific diagnostic criteria. More research is also needed to understand factors contributing to institutionalization in an ethnically diverse population. There is growing ethnic diversity in older populations in many western countries including Australia, Canada, and the USA [@pone.0046061-Gibson1], [@pone.0046061-Turcotte1], [@pone.0046061-He1]. Cultural differences in values and expectations of family support as well as the availability of culturally appropriate residential aged care services could all contribute to different rates of institutionalization for minority elders. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted to investigate MCI as a risk factor of institutionalization in older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate a range of risk factors including demographics, socioeconomic status, health risk factors, health conditions including MCI, physical performance, medication use and service use as predictors of institutionalization in an ethnically diverse community-based cohort of older men, enrolled in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP). Investigating predictors of institutionalization in the CHAMP cohort represents a unique opportunity due to the availability of data including a range of clinical assessments, cognitive assessments, physical performance measures and use of community-based home care services. Methods {#s2} ======= Study Population {#s2a} ---------------- Participants were community-dwelling older men, participating in the CHAMP study, an ongoing cohort study in Sydney, Australia [@pone.0046061-Cumming1]. Eligible participants were aged ≥70 years at baseline and living in a specific study area (the Local Government Areas of Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield) near Concord Hospital. The only exclusion criterion was living in a RACF. The Electoral Roll was chosen as the sampling frame for the study. Registration on the Electoral Roll is compulsory and regularly updated, making it a suitable population-wide sampling frame. Invitation letters were sent to 3627 men and contact was made with 3005. Most of the 622 men who were not contacted did not have a listed telephone number. One hundred and ninety of the contacted men were not eligible for the study because they had moved out of the study area, moved into a nursing home, or had died. Of the 2815 eligible men contacted, 1511 (53.7%) participated in the study. An additional 194 (11.4%) men living in the study area heard about the study from friends or the local media and were recruited before receiving an invitation letter, giving a final sample of 1705 participants. All participants gave written informed consent. The study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee Concord RG Hospital. Data Collection {#s2b} --------------- Participants underwent baseline assessments that comprised self-completed study questionnaires and a clinical assessment that consisted of physical performance measures, neuropsychological testing and medication inventory. Following the initial baseline assessment, the men were contacted regularly at 4-monthly intervals to enable updating of data on institutionalization. Data collected during baseline assessments (2005--7), including self-reported questionnaire data and clinical information, were used in the current analysis along with longitudinal data on institutionalization. Ascertainment of Predictor Variables {#s2c} ------------------------------------ The main groups of predictor variables included demographic factors, socioeconomic status, health risk factors, health conditions, physical performance measures, medication use and service use. These predictors have been identified based on the clinical significance, and based on previous studies investigating risk factors for institutionalization [@pone.0046061-Luppa1], [@pone.0046061-Gaugler1]. ### Sociodemographic factors {#s2c1} Sociodemographic variables included age, marital status (married versus other) and living arrangements (live alone versus live with others). Social support was measured using the shortened Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) which measures both social support satisfaction and social interactions [@pone.0046061-Koenig1]. The first item in the DSSI was modified in the CHAMP which allowed the creation of two separate variables for the number of family and non-family supports. These variables were entered into models separately to the score for social interactions and subjective support. The men were also asked their country of birth which enabled grouping of the men into the categories of Australian-born, overseas-born from an English-speaking country (ESB), and overseas-born from a non-ESB. The CHAMP study area has a high proportion of immigrants and as a result, only 49.8% of men in the CHAMP study were born in Australia and 19.6% were born in Italy. ### Socioeconomic status {#s2c2} Socioeconomic status was measured using four separate variables: age at leaving school, main lifetime occupation (managers and professionals versus other), source of income (government pension only versus other) and house ownership. ### Health risk factors {#s2c3} Physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) [@pone.0046061-Washburn1]. Participants were asked about whether they had ever consumed alcohol and whether they had consumed at least 12 alcoholic drinks in the past 12 months. This enabled categorization of current non-drinkers into lifelong abstainers and ex-drinkers. For those who consumed at least 12 drinks in the past year, the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption was assessed, enabling categorization of drinkers as either safe drinkers (1--21 drinks per week) or harmful drinkers (\>21 drinks per week) [@pone.0046061-Australian1]. Smoking status (never smoker, ex-smoker, current smoker) was also assessed. ### Health conditions {#s2c4} Data on medical conditions were obtained from the self-reported questionnaires in which participants reported if they had any of the following diseases: diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, osteoporosis, Paget's disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, hypertension, coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, intermittent claudication, chronic obstructive lung disease, liver disease, chronic kidney (renal) disease or kidney (renal) failure, cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers), or arthritis. The number of reported comorbidities was dichotomized at the upper quartile (≤4 versus\>4). Participants also self-reported the presence of shortness of breath, and a history of having fallen in the past 12 months. Data on self-rated health were obtained and dichotomized into excellent/good versus fair/poor/very poor. Corrected visual acuity was assessed using a Bailey-Lovie chart [@pone.0046061-Bailey1] and poor vision was defined as those with \<6/19 visual acuity. The presence of incontinence was defined as leaking urine at least two or three times a week. Participants were asked about the presence of chronic pain (pain in the last six months that has lasted for ≥3 months and been experienced every day). Participants were also asked how much pain interfered in their normal activities in the past four weeks as part of the Short Form 12 [@pone.0046061-Ware1]. Participants were considered to have chronic intrusive pain if they reported the presence of chronic pain and pain that interfered with normal activities moderately, quite a bit or extremely. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (≥5 indicative of depressive symptoms) [@pone.0046061-Yesavage1]. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Goldberg Anxiety Scale [@pone.0046061-Goldberg1], with \>5 considered as presence of anxiety. ### Diagnosis of cognitive impairment {#s2c5} Participants were screened for cognitive impairment using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) [@pone.0046061-Folstein1] and the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline (IQCODE) [@pone.0046061-Jorm1] during the baseline clinic assessment. In addition to the cognitive screen participants also completed other cognitive assessments including Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination [@pone.0046061-Dudas1], Trail Making Task B [@pone.0046061-Reitan1], Weigl-Colour Form Sorting test [@pone.0046061-Byrne1] and Logical Memory Recall test [@pone.0046061-Wechsler1]. Participants with a MMSE less than or equal to 26 and/or IQCODE greater than 3.6 were invited to have detailed clinical assessments by the study geriatrician. This assessment included a review of medical comorbidities and medications, a standardized neurological assessment, a more detailed informant interview [@pone.0046061-Waite1] and the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) [@pone.0046061-Rowland1]. At a weekly consensus meeting two geriatricians, a neurologist and a neuropsychologist reviewed all medical, cognitive, informant and functional data and reached a final diagnosis of cognitive status for each participant. At the end of the screening and clinical assessments, participants were categorized as having dementia (n = 93), MCI (n = 120), unknown cognitive status (n = 164) or cognitively intact (n = 1328). Participants determined to be cognitively impaired but not demented were given the diagnosis of MCI, if they met the clinical criteria described by Petersen et al 2004 [@pone.0046061-Petersen1]. Although MCI was categorized according to the sub-types defined by Petersen et al, for the purposes of analyses and given small cell sizes, participants with all sub-types of MCI were grouped together. This is consistent with subjects fulfilling the general criteria for MCI [@pone.0046061-Winblad1]. Diagnosis and classification of dementia was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4^th^ edition) revised criteria and well recognized criteria for dementia subtypes [@pone.0046061-Roman1], [@pone.0046061-McKeith1], [@pone.0046061-McKhann1]. All sub-types of dementia were grouped together for analyses given small cell sizes. ### Physical function and performance {#s2c6} Functional status was measured with ADL and IADL scales. Disability in ADL was defined as needing help with ≥1 activities included in the modified Katz ADL scale [@pone.0046061-Katz1]. Disability in IADL was defined as needing help with ≥1 activities included in the OARS IADL scale [@pone.0046061-Fillenbaum1]. Physical performance was assessed by administering a standard performance battery that included the following tasks: (i) walking speed (m/s) over a 6-m course, adjusted for height; (ii) chair stands test-time to successfully complete five chair stands was assessed and time dichotomized at the slowest quartile; (iii) muscle (grip) strength (kg), and (iv) dynamic balance test. Muscle strength was measured using a Jamar dynamometer (Promedics, Blackburn, UK). The score was calculated as the grip strength (kg) of the dominant hand (best of two trials). Dynamic balance was assessed with a coordinated stability task [@pone.0046061-Lord1]. Scores were dichotomized at the highest (worst) quartile. Participants, who did not complete the tests due to physical inability, were included in the worst quartile for the corresponding performance measures. ### Medication assessment {#s2c7} Medication data were coded using the Iowa Drug Information Service (IDIS) drug code numbers. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of ≥5 regular prescription medicines [@pone.0046061-Gnjidic1]. Psychotropic medication use was defined as exposure to the following drug classes: anticonvulsants (IDIS code level 28120000), antidepressants and antipsychotics (IDIS code level 28160000) and anxiolytics (IDIS code level 28240000). ### Service use variables {#s2c8} Participants were asked about their use of a number of community services during the past 12 months. These services included: spending at least one day in an aged care day centre, being visited by Home Care to help with personal or household duties, using services of the Community and Aged Care Packages (CACPs), or any service to deliver or prepare meals at home. Participants were categorized as using one or more of these services in the past year versus using none of these services. Participants were also asked whether they had spent at least one night in a hostel or nursing home in the past 12 months and this was entered into models as a separate variable. Ascertainment of Outcome Variable {#s2d} --------------------------------- Institutionalization was defined as entry into a nursing home facility or hostel at any time during follow-up to 6.58 years. In Australia, there are two main forms of residential aged-care facilities: low-level care facilities (hostels) and high-level care facilities (nursing homes). Self-care retirement villages are not considered to be RACF and so moving into one of these facilities was not considered "institutionalization". Data on institutionalization were ascertained through a regular phone contact with the participants or their nominated contact person at 4-monthly intervals. While our data does not enable us to discriminate between permanent and respite institutionalization, the majority of admission to aged-care facilities in Australia are permanent [@pone.0046061-Australian2]. Statistical Analysis {#s2e} -------------------- Data are summarized as means (standard deviation) or numbers (proportions). Differences between institutionalized and non-institutionalized participants were compared using the two-sided t-test or χ^2^-test where appropriate. Initial univariate analyses of the association between the various study measures and institutionalization were conducted using Log-rank tests and examination of survival curves. Tests for linear trends were performed for continuous variables to determine the linearity of their relationship with institutionalization and, hence, whether to enter these variables into models as continuous or categorical variables. Testing for co-linearity between the variables was performed. There was no evidence of correlation between the variables. The appropriate parameterization of continuous variables as either categorical or continuous was also confirmed in the final model by using Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). Univariate Cox regressions were conducted to determine unadjusted hazard ratios for admission to an aged care facility for the various study measures. Variables that had a *p*\<0.25 in univariate analyses were included in the multivariate model with institutionalization as the outcome. Backward stepwise elimination was used to eliminate non-significant variables from the multivariate model. Backward stepwise elimination has an advantage over other methods (eg. forward) as it allows to examine a model with all independent variables as well as the joint predictive capability of all variables. Clinically significant interactions, and interactions identified in previous studies between dementia and urinary incontinence, dementia and falls, and arthritis and pain were examined by adding the interaction terms into the main effect models one at a time and including the significant interaction terms in the final model. None of the interaction terms remained significant in the model. In the final model, the proportional hazards assumption was assessed through use of a time-dependent covariate method, analysis of Schoenfeld residuals plots and graphical methods (eg. survival plots) for each variable. Upon the examination of the results of time-dependent covariate method, Schoenfeld residuals plots and survival curves, it was identified that the MCI covariate was violating the assumptions. To address this, the step function proportional hazards or piecewise Cox model was used to test the effect of MCI on institutionalization. Data were analyzed using SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated using SPSS software version 19.0 (SPPS Inc, Chicago, Illinois). Results {#s3} ======= Descriptive characteristics are provided in [Table 1](#pone-0046061-t001){ref-type="table"}. Of 1705 men studied at baseline, a total of 125 (7.3%) were institutionalized during a mean follow-up of 4.94 (range: 0.08--6.58) years. The mean age, social support satisfaction and social interactions were significantly different between institutionalized men compared with non-institutionalized men. The proportion of men institutionalized increased up to the age of 84 years, and then slightly dropped ([Figure 1](#pone-0046061-g001){ref-type="fig"}). In relation to health conditions, there were significant differences in all factors apart from the presence of anxiety symptoms between the two groups. ![The percentage of participants institutionalized with increasing age.\ Test for deviation from linear trend: P = 0.0003.](pone.0046061.g001){#pone-0046061-g001} 10.1371/journal.pone.0046061.t001 ###### Characteristics of the study population according to institutionalization status. ![](pone.0046061.t001){#pone-0046061-t001-1} Variable Total population (n = 1705)[a](#nt102){ref-type="table-fn"} Institutionalized(n = 124, 7.3%) Not institutionalized(n = 1581, 92.7%) P values --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------- ***Socio-demographic factors*** Age, mean (SD) 76.9 (5.5) 81.4 (5.7%) 76.6 (5.3%) \<0.001 Currently married 1278 (74.9%) 73 (58.9%) 1205 (76.2%) \<0.001 Live alone 318 (18.1%) 44 (35.5%) 274 (17.5%) \<0.001 Social support satisfaction, high (DSSS score ≥19) 1294 (76.9%) 69 (57.0%) 1225 (78.5%) \<0.001 Social interactions, high (DSSS score ≥9) 1019 (61.2%) 48 (40.3%) 971 (62.8%) \<0.001 Country of birth Australia 849 (49.8%) 82 (66.1%) 767 (48.5%) ESB immigrant 105 (6.2%) 9 (9.9%) 96 (11.2%) Non-ESB immigrant 751 (44.1%) 33 (28.7%) 718 (48.4%) 0.0002 ***Socio-economic factors*** Occupation, professional 505 (29.8%) 21 (16.9%) 484 (30.8%) 0.0011 Own house outright 1494 (88.9%) 104 (86.0%) 1390 (89.2%) 0.27 Years of education, ≥7 years 1429 (84.7%) 115 (94.3%) 1314 (83.9%) 0.002 Source of income, pension only 773 (45.9%) 66 (54.1%) 707 (45.3%) 0.06 ***Health risk factors*** Physical activity, normal/high (PASE score ≥80) 1263 (74.9%) 55 (45.5%) 1208 (77.2%) \<0.001 Alcohol consumption Lifelong non-drinker 147 (8.8%) 8 (6.5%) 139 (9.0%) Ex-drinker 250 (14.9%) 30 (24.4%) 220 (14.2%) Safe drinker (1--21 drinks per week) 1151 (68.7%) 77 (62.6%) 1074 (69.2%) Harmful drinker (\>21 drinks per week) 127 (7.6%) 8 (6.5%) 119 (7.7%) 0.02 Smoking status Never smoker 629 (37.3%) 51 (41.8%) 578 (37.0%) Previous smoker 956 (56.7%) 62 (50.8%) 894 (57.2%) Current smoker 101 (6.0%) 9 (7.4%) 92 (5.9%) 0.38 ***Health conditions*** Comorbidities, ≥5 237 (14.0%) 30 (24.6%) 207 (13.2%) 0.0005 Urinary incontinence 232 (14.0%) 27 (23.3%) 205 (13.3%) 0.003 Visual acuity, low (\<6/19) 74 (4.5%) 15 (12.5%) 59 (3.9%) \<0.001 Chronic intrusive pain 223 (13.4%) 24 (20.5%) 199 (12.8%) 0.02 Self-rated health, good or excellent 1176 (69.9%) 68 (57.1%) 1108 (70.9%) 0.002 Shortness of breath 210 (13.3%) 24 (19.4%) 186 (11.8%) 0.013 Hearing loss 1027 (61.1%) 85 (70.3%) 942 (60.4%) 0.03 History of falls 322 (19.1%) 50 (41.7%) 272 (17.4%) \<0.001 Depressive symptoms 246 (14.6%) 45 (37.5%) 201 (12.9%) \<0.001 Anxiety symptoms 123 (7.4%) 10 (8.7%) 113 (7.3%) 0.57 Cognitive status Normal 1492 (87.5%) 73 (58.9%) 1419 (89.8%) Mild cognitive impairment 120 (7.0%) 14 (11.3%) 106 (6.7%) Dementia 93 (5.5%) 37 (29.8%) 56 (3.5%) \<0.001 ***Physical function and performance*** ADL disability (needing help with ≥1 task) 141 (8.3%) 40 (32.3%) 101 (6.4%) \<0.001 IADL disability (needing help with ≥1 task) 697 (41.6%) 97 (80.8%) 600 (38.6%) \<0.001 Grip strength, poor (lowest quartile and unable) 486 (28.7%) 71 (58.2%) 415 (26.4%) \<0.001 Chair stands, slow (lowest quartile and unable) 462 (27.7%) 74 (63.3%) 388 (25.0%) \<0.001 Walking speed, slow (lowest quartile and unable) 242 (14.5%) 59 (49.6%) 183 (11.8%) \<0.001 Dynamic balance test, poor (lowest quartile and unable) 478 (29.1%) 70 (60.3%) 408 (26.7%) \<0.001 ***Medication use*** Polypharmacy (≥5 medicines) 639 (37.7%) 52 (42.3%) 587 (37.3%) 0.27 Psychotropic medications 211 (12.4%) 22 (17.9%) 189 (12.0%) 0.06 ***Service use*** Stay in nursing home in past year 29 (1.7%) 9 (7.4%) 20 (1.3%) \<0.001 Use of services in past year 193 (11.3%) 49 (39.5%) 144 (9.1%) \<0.001 ADL = Activities of Daily Living [@pone.0046061-Katz1]; DSSI = Duke Social Support Index [@pone.0046061-Koenig1]; IADL = Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [@pone.0046061-Fillenbaum1]; PASE = Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly [@pone.0046061-Washburn1]. Missing data not included in percentages. The multivariate Cox proportional model showed that age, marital status, social satisfaction, social interactions, country of birth, alcohol use, cognitive status, ADL disability, IADL disability, grip strength, and service use were significant predictors of institutionalization. However, the use of a time-dependent covariate and analysis of Schoenfeld residuals demonstrated that MCI violated the proportional hazards assumption (χ^2^ = 6.44, p = 0.01). Therefore, as the effect of MCI on institutionalization was not stable over entire follow-up time, and the proportional hazards assumption was not valid, the piecewise Cox proportional models were used to test the effect of MCI on institutionalization. The follow-up period was divided at 3.4 years (1250 days) based on examination of the survival curve for MCI and institutionalization ([Figure 2](#pone-0046061-g002){ref-type="fig"}). ![Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the time until institutionalization by cognitive status groups.](pone.0046061.g002){#pone-0046061-g002} [Table 2](#pone-0046061-t002){ref-type="table"} shows the results of the Cox proportional hazards models for the first 3.4 years of follow-up (Model 1) and beyond 3.4 years (Model 2) of follow-up. In the Cox regression model up to 3.4 years of follow-up, age, high social interactions, country of birth, dementia, ADL disability, IADL disability, grip strength and service use were significant predictors of institutionalization. Dementia (HR = 5.43, 95%CI: 3.00--9.81), ADL disability (HR = 3.22, 95%CI: 1.80--5.77), IADL disability (HR = 3.01, 95%CI: 1.32--6.86) and use of services (HR = 2.61, 95%CI: 1.46--4.66) were the most significant predictors of institutionalization. Interestingly, MCI was not associated with institutionalization during this time interval (HR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.22--2.36). Participants were less likely to be institutionalized if they had high social interactions (HR = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.27--0.85) and were a NESB immigrant (HR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.16--0.60). 10.1371/journal.pone.0046061.t002 ###### Final multivariate models for predictors of institutionalization up to 3.4 years and beyond 3.4 years of follow-up. ![](pone.0046061.t002){#pone-0046061-t002-2} Model 1: Predictors up to 3.4 years (n = 1658) Model 2: Predictors beyond 3.4 years (n = 1428) --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------- Age group (80+ vs \<80) 1.90 (1.05--3.45) 0.04 2.37 (1.37--4.08) 0.002 Marital status (currently married vs not married) NA NA 0.42 (0.24--0.72) 0.002 Social Interactions (high vs low) 0.48 (0.27--0.85) 0.01 0.47 (0.26--0.87) 0.02 ESB immigrant vs Australian born 0.91 (0.35--2.37) 0.85 0.92 (0.32--2.61) 0.87 NESB immigrant vs Australian born 0.31 (0.16--0.60) 0.0005 0.41 (0.22--0.77) 0.005 MCI vs normal 0.72 (0.22--2.36) 0.58 4.39 (2.17--8.87) \<0.001 Dementia vs normal 5.43 (3.00--9.81) \<0.001 6.05 (2.95--12.44) \<0.001 ADL disability (yes vs no) 3.22 (1.80--5.77) \<0.001 2.72 (1.36--5.46) 0.005 IADL disability (yes vs no) 3.01 (1.32--6.86) 0.009 2.71 (1.43--5.13) 0.002 Grip strength (low vs high) 2.19 (1.22--3.93) 0.008 1.95 (1.14--5.13) 0.002 Service use (yes vs no) 2.61 (1.46--4.66) 0.001 NA NA ADL = Activities of Daily Living [@pone.0046061-Katz1]; ESB = English Speaking Background; IADL = Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [@pone.0046061-Fillenbaum1]; MCI = Mild Cognitive Impairment; NESB = Non-English Speaking Background. NA, not applicable = not a significant predictor during the time period. In the Cox regression model for the period beyond 3.4 years of follow-up, age, marital status, social interactions, country of birth, cognitive status, ADL disability, IADL disability, and grip strength were statistically significant predictors of institutionalization. Dementia (HR = 6.05, 95%CI: 2.95--12.44), MCI (HR = 4.39, 95%CI: 2.17--8.87), ADL disability (HR = 2.72, 95%CI: 1.36--5.46) and IADL disability (HR = 2.71, 95%CI: 1.43--5.13) were the most significant predictor factors for institutionalization in this later time period. Married participants (HR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.24--0.70), NESB immigrants (HR = 0.41, 95%CI: 0.22--0.77), and those with high social interactions (HR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.26--0.87) were less likely to be institutionalized. Discussion {#s4} ========== In this prospective population-based study, we identified a number of predictors of institutionalization. The strongest predictors were dementia, MCI, ADL and IADL disability. Older adults with dementia had approximately six times the risk of institutionalization compared with those who did not have dementia. The predictive value of MCI changed with the length of follow-up. MCI was a significant predictor of institutionalization beyond 3.4 years of follow-up. In this period, participants with MCI had approximately four times the risk of institutionalization compared with those who were cognitively intact. The rate of institutionalization of 7.3% in this study is slightly lower when compared to previous studies conducted in population-based settings in Australia, Europe and USA. An Australian study of community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years, reported an 8.7% permanent nursing home placement over 14 years of follow-up [@pone.0046061-McCallum1]. In a study of adults aged ≥75 years living in Germany, 7.8% of participants were institutionalized during a mean follow-up of 7.6 years [@pone.0046061-Luppa2]. A USA study reported an institutionalization rate of 13.6% over 12 years of follow-up [@pone.0046061-Bharucha1]. The difference in the institutionalization rate across studies may be due to the greater ethnic diversity in the CHAMP study. Moreover, older men are generally less likely to be institutionalized as their wives commonly act as their caregiver at home. The findings of this study are consistent with meta-analyses that have highlighted dementia, ADL and IADL disability as the most important predictors of institutionalization in older adults [@pone.0046061-Luppa1], [@pone.0046061-Gaugler1], [@pone.0046061-Luppa2]. However, our study is the first study to show that MCI is an important predictor of institutionalization. Individuals with MCI are at an increased risk of developing dementia [@pone.0046061-Plassman1], [@pone.0046061-Manly1]. Therefore, our finding that MCI only contributes to an increased risk of institutionalization after more than three years suggests that this increased risk is associated with a progression of the MCI to dementia with an associated increased risk of institutionalization. In the CHAMP population, of the 120 men diagnosed with MCI at baseline, 82 men were re-assessed at Year 2 follow-up. Of these, 12% (n = 10) had progressed to dementia over two years and three of these had been institutionalized. This progression rate of MCI to dementia is similar to other community-based studies [@pone.0046061-Busse1]. However, other studies have reported higher conversion rates [@pone.0046061-Fischer1]. The prevalence of MCI has been found to be higher amongst older men than women in those living in nursing and veteran care homes [@pone.0046061-Guo1]. Cognitive impairment, excluding dementia, has been shown to predict adverse outcomes including institutionalization and mortality in older adults [@pone.0046061-Tuokko1]. Therefore, delaying the onset of dementia in individuals with MCI may reduce the risk of institutionalization, which is of major clinical and public health importance [@pone.0046061-Chukwujama1]. A recent study highlighted that not all predictors of institutionalization are robust with varying follow-up periods [@pone.0046061-CohenMansfield1]. Identification of risk factors that predict institutionalization over short versus a longer period of time may inform future interventions to delay institutionalization [@pone.0046061-CohenMansfield1]. We also found a strong relationship between country of birth, and risk of institutionalization. NESB immigrant men were about 70% less likely to be institutionalized compared with both Australian-born men. Different rates of institutionalization between ethnic groups has important implications for the planning of community and RACF services for older people, particularly as the proportion of older persons from an NESB in Australia is increasing [@pone.0046061-Gibson1]. Further research is required to confirm whether this difference in rates of admission is due to different cultural values about the role of family in supporting older persons to remain in the community or whether it is due to a relative lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate residential aged care services. Consistent with previous work [@pone.0046061-Grundy1], [@pone.0046061-McCann1], we also found that being married was associated with a reduced risk of institutionalization. Poor grip strength was also an important risk factor for institutionalization. One study has reported an association of weaker grip strength with increased risk of long-term nursing home stay in the unadjusted models only [@pone.0046061-Cooper1]. Interestingly, falls were not associated with an increased risk of institutionalization in our study, which is in contrast to previous studies [@pone.0046061-Tinetti1], [@pone.0046061-Dunn1]. Urinary incontinence was also not a significant predictor of institutionalization in this population, which is consistent with one study [@pone.0046061-HolroydLeduc1] but not with another [@pone.0046061-Thom1] conducted in community-dwelling older people. It may be that factors such as the physical performance measures and urinary incontinence are not significant predictors of institutionalization in models that already include ADL and IADL disability as these composite measures of function are determined in part by physical function and continence status. The major strengths of the CHAMP study include its representative sampling from the community, detailed assessment of cognitive status, comprehensive, objective and clinically validated physical performance measures, and availability of a range of important risk factors for institutionalization. However, there are some limitations to the present study. We were unable to investigate the association of caregiver characteristics with the onset of institutionalization. Some studies have shown that in addition to participant characteristics, caregiver characteristics are important determinants of nursing home placement for persons with dementia [@pone.0046061-Lieberman1], [@pone.0046061-Yaffe1] while another study found that compared to participant characteristics, caregiver characteristics may not play an important role in predicting institutionalization [@pone.0046061-Chan1]. This was a study of community-dwelling older men living in a defined geographical location, which may limit the study's generalizabilty to men living in other areas. It should be noted that the response rate in the CHAMP study is similar to other comparable cohort studies of this type [@pone.0046061-Cumming1]. Also the findings of this study may not be applicable to older women. Moreover, the validity of self-report data in participants with cognitive impairment may be questionable. In conclusion, in this population, the strongest predictors of institutionalization were dementia, MCI, ADL and IADL disability. Older adults with dementia had approximately a six times higher risk of institutionalization compared with those who did not have dementia. The contribution of MCI to institutionalization changed with time, with MCI being a significant predictor only beyond 3.4 years of follow-up. Participants with MCI had approximately a four times higher risk of institutionalization compared with those who were cognitively intact. Our findings suggest that in addition to other risk factors, MCI should also be considered when estimating the risks of long term institutionalization in older adults. Delaying the onset of dementia in individuals with MCI may reduce the risk of institutionalization in older adults, which is of major clinical and public health importance. [^1]: **Competing Interests:**The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. [^2]: Conceived and designed the experiments: DG FS RC LW FB VN DH DGL. Analyzed the data: DG FS. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: DG FS RC LW FB VN DH DGL. Wrote the paper: DG FS.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Central" }
Eighteenth District State Senate candidate Rep. Sam Berkowitz (D-Memphis) challenged his Republican opponent, Sen. John Cauthorn (R-Mexico) to a series of public debates to discuss issues of importance to the citizens. This challenge was made because Cauthorn has refused to debate opponents in past campaigns. "Candidates for public office have a responsibility to educate the public about our positions on key issues," Berkowitz said. "Senator Cauthorn and I have very different viewpoints on many issues, and the best way for the public to make educated comparisons is through a debate format." In addition to the challenge to hold public debates, Berkowitz also stressed the importance of keeping the campaign positive and focused on the issues. A press release from the Berkowitz for Senate campaign stated "Many citizens have commented about the negative tenor of the January 2001 special election that first elected Cauthorn to the Missouri Senate." Berkowitz stated he would like to see a campaign that doesn't seek to repeat recent history. "It's easy for slick, big-city political consultants to find an obscure committee vote and create mean-spirited distortions of reality," said Berkowitz. "After the events of last September our citizens have come together as a nation and we need honest campaigns that seek to unite us instead of divide us. I plan on being honest with the people of the 18th District, and I hope Senator Cauthorn will do the same." The representative indicated he is willing to meet with Senator Cauthorn to discuss the scheduling of the debates and the formats of the proposed events.
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Q: Laurent series of $\frac{1}{1-\cos{3z}}$ Let the Laurent series of the function $f(z)=\frac{1}{1-\cos{3z}}$ be $\sum_{-\infty}^{\infty}{{a}_{k}{z}^{k}}$. a) Compute ${a}_{-3}$, ${a}_{0}$ and ${a}_{1}$. b) Find the biggest $R$ so that the above Laurent series converges in the domain $0 < |z| < R$. This question is quite similar to the one answered in this post, except we have $3z$ instead of $z$. However I never come up with the same conclusion when doing the calculation myself : \begin{equation} \cos{z} = 1-\frac{{z}^{2}}{2!} + \frac{{z}^{4}}{4!} - \frac{{z}^{6}}{6!} + \dots \end{equation} \begin{align} \Longrightarrow \frac{1}{1-\cos{z}} &= \frac{1}{\frac{{z}^{2}}{2!} - \frac{{z}^{4}}{4!} + \frac{{z}^{6}}{6!} - \dots} \\ &= \frac{2}{{z}^{2}} \frac{1}{1-\frac{2{z}^{2}}{4!} + \frac{2{z}^{4}}{6!} - \dots} \\ &= \frac{2}{{z}^{2}} \frac{1}{1-\left(\frac{2{z}^{2}}{4!} - \frac{2{z}^{4}}{6!} + \dots\right)}\end{align} and with $\frac1{1-z}=1+z+z^2+\ldots$ for $|z|<1$, I get : \begin{align} \frac{1}{1-\cos{z}} &= \frac{2}{z^2}\left(1 + \frac{z^2}{12} - \frac{z^4}{360} + \dots\right) \ &= \frac{2}{z^2} + \frac{1}{6} - \frac{z^2}{180} + \dots \end{align} I started the Laurent series today for an assignment and therefore I am not very proficient with those objects. However I made the calculation many times and I never get what seems to be the right result from Wolfram. This has probably something to do with the convergence of $\frac{2{z}^{2}}{4!} + \frac{2{z}^{4}}{6!} - \dots$ on the disk $\{z \quad | \quad |z| < 2\pi\}$. I would love some help about this. Thank you very much A: Since $f$ is an even function, $a_{-3}=a_1=0$. You have $1-\cos(3z)=\frac92z^2-\frac{27}8z^4+\cdots$. So$$\frac1{1-\cos(3z)}=\frac1{\frac92z^2-\frac{27}8z^4+\cdots}=\frac{a_{-2}}{z^2}+a_0+a_2z^2+\cdots$$and therefore$$1=\left(\frac92z^2-\frac{27}8z^4+\cdots\right)\left(\frac{a_{-2}}{z^2}+a_0+a_2z^2+\cdots\right),$$from which you can deduce that $a_{-2}=\frac29$. The biggest $R$ such that the series converges on $D(0,R)\setminus\{0\}$ is $\frac{2\pi}{3}$, since $\pm\frac{2\pi}3$ are the complex numbers $z$ closest to $0$ such that $1-\cos(3z)=0$.
{ "pile_set_name": "StackExchange" }
1. Field of the Invention The invention in general relates to electrical test probes, and more particularly to an improved probe tip structure which reduces the input capacitance of the probe. 2. Statement of the Problem Electrical test probes are often used to connect electrical circuits to test instruments, such as oscilloscopes or voltmeters, while minimizing the loading of the circuit under test. Two desirable electrical characteristics of an electrical test probe are; first, the probe should not influence or "load" the response of the circuit under test; and secondly, that the signal response at the test instrument should be an accurate, though possibly attenuated, representation of the probed signal over the range of frequencies of interest; that is, the signal on the output of the test probe follows the signal at its input. Generally, the first characteristic is accomplished by making the impedance at the probe input as high as possible to prevent the test probe and instrument to which it is connected from drawing significant current or otherwise significantly altering the electrical parameters on the node to be tested. The impedance at the output is generally a value that meets the impedance needs of typical test instruments. Thus test probes may be thought of as essentially impedance buffers. Some probes, generally called divider probes, may also attenuate the voltage of the circuit under test and decrease the capacitance and increase the resistance presented to the circuit by an attenuation factor. For example, a probe with an attenuation factor of 10 will reduce the voltage of the input signal, reduce the input capacitance of the probe, and increase the resistance of the probe by a factor of 10. This invention will be implemented in terms of a passive divider probe; however, it is applicable to active divider probes and other probes in general. The accomplishment of the second characteristic, the accurate reproduction of the signal, is usually more complicated. Frequencies of electrical signals that a test probe are called on to transmit to a test instrument can vary from zero, in the case of DC signals, to the gigahertz range, in the case of extremely fast digital circuits. Thus it is essential that test probes have a response that is flat to a high degree of accuracy across a wide range of frequencies or band width. However, the capacitance of the probe connecting cable and the probe amplifier circuit interacts with the voltage divider resistors in the probe, limiting the possible bandwidth. Thus most test probes include a frequency compensation circuit near the probe tip which compensates for the capacitance of the probe cable and amplifier and thus broadens the band width. This compensation circuit usually includes a compensation capacitor, which is difficult to miniaturize. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,051 issued Dec. 15, 1992, on an invention of Thomas J. Zamborelli. It is not physically possible to locate the compensation circuit at the very end of the probe tip that contacts the circuit to be tested. Thus, there is always a portion of the probe tip and attached probe tip lead that exhibits stray capacitance to grounded portions of the probe tip, especially the shield that is often present. The stray capacitance of this portion of the circuit will be seen entirely by the circuit under test. This capacitance will not be reduced by the attenuation factor. Thus it is critical to minimize the stray portion of a test probe circuit. Current trends toward miniaturization in integrated circuit packaging, multiplication of leads on integrated circuits, and increased signal speeds tend to aggravate the problem of stray capacitance. As the number of chip leads increases, it becomes necessary to utilize probes with multiple probe tips, so as to provide the possibility of multiplexing test signals and/or simultaneous testing of several leads at once. As lead spacings in integrated circuits shrink, the tips of multiple tip test probes are forced closer together, and it becomes increasingly difficult to locate the compensation circuits, particularly the compensation capacitors, near the probe tips. Though not to the same extent as for multiple tip probes, this phenomenon also affects single tip probes since large diameter probes can cause shorts and mechanical difficulties in placing the probe tip on an integrated circuit lead. Thus the trend is toward long probe tips and tip leads that exhibit high stray capacitance. If left unshielded, these longer probe tips and tip leads result in high self inductance and both inductive and capacitive coupling to adjacent probe leads. These factors, combined with the increasingly high frequencies of electronic circuits, result in increased crosstalk and decreased signal fidelity. To combat crosstalk and allow faithful transmission of signals, shielding these long tips and tip leads is necessary. However, shielding increases stray capacitance between the tip lead and the shield. Thus there is a need for a electrical probe in which the stray capacitance, and therefore the input capacitance is reduced. 3. Solution to the Problem The invention solves the above problem by incorporating the stray capacitance into the frequency compensation circuit. The invention provides an intermediate or middle conductor between the probe input conductor and the shield conductor. The middle conductor is very thin, preferably formed by a thin-film process. It has been found that the thinner the middle conductor the better, so long as the middle conductor is not so thin that its resistivity becomes a factor in the compensation circuit. The thinness of the middle conductor permits the probe tip according to the invention to be the same size as or only slightly larger than the conventional probe tip. Thus it can easily be adapted to miniaturization. The capacitance between the middle conductor and the probe input conductor takes the place of the compensation capacitor, thus a compensation capacitor separate from the tip structure itself is no longer necessary, further contributing to miniaturization. When implemented in the standard coaxial probe tip structure, the invention provides a triaxial probe tip. The invention may also be implemented in almost any other probe tip structure, such as in the flat probe tip structure used in multiple tip, flex circuit type probe leads. The total input (or loading) capacitance of a probe having the probe tip according to the invention may be reduced by as much as 50% in comparison to the conventional probe. The possible reduction in capacitance is found to vary with the attenuation factor of the probe. For a probe with an attenuation factor of 10, the possible reduction is 34% and reaches 50% for an infinite attenuation factor.
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{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Central" }
Q: How to match Firefox's about page in extension manifest? I would like to match Firefox's about page like so: "content_scripts": [ { "matches": ["about:debugging"], "js": ["import.js"] } ] The script doesn't run. If I try other matches it works properly on "normal" websites. A: If I'm not mistaken in Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft, Opera, and Vivaldi these are the things you aren't allowed to modify because they go against extension policies. Meaning, You can't do this, sorry. about-scheme chrome-extension-scheme chrome-scheme edge-extension-scheme edge-scheme moz-extension-scheme ms-browser-extension-scheme opera-scheme vivaldi-scheme wyciwyg-scheme (In bold are the ones that will effect Firefox)
{ "pile_set_name": "StackExchange" }
"You really look like her so much." "I met your mother many years ago." "In Germany" "From her I learned so much." "She was a great teacher, a great spititualist." "The best that I have ever met." "My mother was a dancer." "She was a good actress." "A white witch." "And from your father, you have inherited some of his talents." " But what dou you say?" " Call me Martha." "I did not come here to talk to you." "Leave me in peace, understood?" "How could you escape at the station?" "But... what do you say?" "Elisa gave you a hand." "She guided you." "Didn't she?" "I don't know." "I've felt... a voice." "Did you really know my mother?" "Fairly well." "You do not know much of her, right?" "Not." "I remember very little of her." "I was a childl when she died." "In the accident at Freiburg." "No, dear, I am sorry, it wasn't that way." "Your parents were killed." "What?" "It is not possible." "Nobody told me that." "What do you know?" "Your mother battled a powerful Black witch." "Mater Suspiriorum." "The Mother of Sighs." "The Mother of Sighs?" "Father Johannes, how many drops?" "Twenty, thank you." "You're not well, you should rest." "I cannot with what is happening!" "Take the drops." "I have waited for you a long time." " Are you Sarah?" " Yes." "Their existence is a new world you do not know." "2000 years ago, witchcraft emerged from the Black sea." "Three sisters have wandered the world bringing death and destruction." "Researching in art history books I came to discover that" "Mater Suspiriorum established in Freiburg..." "Mother of Darkness, Mater Tenebrarum, in Nueva York," "Mater Lacrimarum will come to Rome." "They call her the Mother of Tears and she's the most beautiful and the most cruel of the three." "And she's the only invict." "Mater Tenebrarum and Mater Suspiriorum are dead for years." "The Mother of Sighs is the one that killed my parents." "Yes, your mother fought bravely but she could not stop her." "A young dancer, Suzy Banion, could kill her." "The opening of the box found by Brusco returned the power to the Mother of Tears." "Who told that to you?" "Your friend Michael spoke to me by phone about a tunic which is a magical and powerful talisman." "I have had visions." "Witches from all around the world have come to celebrate her return." "They arrive by air, by train, by car..." "They want Rome to fall again." "They want to inaugurate the second era of witches." "Sorry, Father, I am confused" "It is not your mind, it's the world that is sick." "Come and see." "Only I have a case of exorcism per month." "In recent days I have faced more than throughout my life." "Why all this?" "The Mother of Tears spreads evil all around her." "A few killed, others are suffering, she causes chaos and human despair." "I have a book in my studio to borrow you." "Mother, you have arrived!" "Sarah, here." "Run!" "Run toward my car!" "Open, quick!" "Why they are all going for me?" "For your mother." "Hey, what are you doing?" "I call Michael." "Don't be stupid." "They can trace you." "You'll sleep with me me tonight." "At least you will be safe." "No, I prefer to walk home." "Michael may go for me later." "This is my number and my address." "It does not bother me, call me anytime." "Thanks." "You are the daughter of Elisa." "You are like family for me." "I do not want to scare you, but being who you are, you should not trust anyone." "I promise." "Wait, what's happening?" "They're burning the Church." "The situation worsens." "There was someone in my apartment, the light was turned on." "I saw it beneath the door." "I beg you, help me, Martha!" "Breathe deep." "Calm down." "Helga, she is Sarah." "Hi." " What is she doing here?" " Cool it, she's my friend." "Please help me, I do not know what is happening to me." "Why all this to me?" "Why?" "Because being who you are, they don't want to take risks." "But..." "I am nobody." "I know." "No, you are more than you think." "Helga, excuse us for a moment, please." "You are gifted, Sarah." "You must accept this fact, If you want to survive." "Observe." "The spirits roaming... they are many, especially here in Rome." "The old house is full of ghosts." "Think well, the city is 2700 years old." "Underneath, there are five layers of cemeteries." "How did you do that?" "You also can do it." "With your skills, you see things that others do not see." "Collect all your energy and concentrate at this point." "Well, now lift the lid and blow." " Sarah." " It can not be." " Sarah." " Mamma!" "Do not touch her!" "Or she'll disappear." "Mater Lacrimarum becomes stronger." "Where are you?" "You are in grave danger, my daughter." "Get ready for combat." "Don't leave, mom." "Marta, make her come back, please." "She said that I should fight." "Please help me." "I am only a medium." "I just can communicate with the spirits." "I do not have your talent or your mother's." "Now you need to be guided in the right direction." "Tomorrow, I will introduce you to Guglielmo DeWitt." "He is a great Belgian thinker." " Okay." " He will tell you anything useful." "Thanks." "Grab the phone!" "Hello!" "Marta!" "You must leave the house now!" " Marta!" "Who is it?" " Escape!" "It is already late for her." "Run!" "Now!" "¡Mater!" "Where is Sarah?" "He was not at home." "Idiot." "Be strong, be strong!" "" " Mom." " Be strong, Sarah." "Mom, what happened to Dad when...?" "It is a thing of the past..." "I am desperately angry with you." "You have to be at my side, please do not leave me again." "My little Sarah, I can not speak now." "Use your skills, use it well!" "We have to look for a girl called Sarah" "Mandy." "If you found her, comunicate immediately." "Michael, come here" "What dou you have?" "Michael, you aren't well." "Where is Paul?" "He's dead." " Oh, my God." " They killed him." "But you don't want to talk about that." " Come on." " My home is not safe." "We will go to my house and you'll explain everything" " Don't turn the light on." " Why?" "They don't have to know that we are here." "I'm happy to found you." " This cough... give the jacket." " No, no." "I am cold." "This house is frozen." "Never went." "I was followed." "Now I know well." "Sorry I didn't believe you." "I'm so sorry." "It's all right." "You shouldn't smoke." "The cough..." "Do you want me to prepare you anything?" "A tea?" "No, I'm okey." "I'm so happy I found you." "Now I am calm." "Really." "Michael, you are bleeding." " You're a liar." " How?" "It is true." "No, I don't believe you." " You're a liar." " But, what do you say?" " Let me see." " ¡Don't touch, you are a liar!" "I told you to put your hands apart!" "Did you think you'd lose respect for me?" "My son... how naive you are." "What have you done to your son?" "Your mother will not help you anymore" "Now we all have a single mother, the Mother of Tears." "Witch, bitch!" "Find Guglielmo!" "We begin the news with what is undoubtedly news of the moment... they call it the second fall of Rome... the city is witnessing hundreds of violent acts..." "Commissioner Marchi, who do you think that is behind all this?" "It all started with the events at the Museum of Ancient Art in Rome." "Yes, the brutal murder of the vicecurator Giselle Mares." "But what is the nexus?" "All that is what uleashed all this hell." "All pay attention to this woman..." "Sarah Mandy..." "The only witness to the tragedy of the Museum." "If someone sees her, don't try to stop her." "Call the Police." "Shit!" "Hi." "I must talk with Guglielmo DeWitt." "Sorry, who are you?" "You don't know my name." "OK, come on in." "Did you want to see me?" "Please, sit down." "As you can see, I can't move very much." "My friend talked to me about..." "Did you think that I din't reconize you, Sarah Mandy?" "And that the Police is looking for you as a suspect of murder?" "One thing for us, the alchemists, is that we just don't look at only one side." "Of course, the white magic is a good thing." "The black magic too." "The things that we do are based on our Artifacts." "It's science." "Esotericism, theosophy, laws of nature... a bit of this, a bit of that." "This will exactly tell me who you are." "And what thing you have really been able to see." "I see that you have this instinct similar to the alchemists." "Ah, you were sent by Marta Colussi." "You have found your, Elisa Mandy." "What have you done to me?" "What was your thought?" "That I would let you enter my house without knowing who actually you are?" "Well, ¿exactly, why have you come here?" "I must find the Mother of Tears." "Why?" "Haven't you seen what happens?" "Rome is plunged into chaos." "We must stop her." "What do you think to do?" "Kill her?" "Well, my mother was a powerful woman." "And I think I have some of her powers." "And when did you find that?" "I don't know." "If you think in something, you must give a hand." "Father Johannes said that she wants to start the second era of the witches." "He was right." "It already started in the city." "It will be necessary more than a single good witch to face her." "You should seek help." "What do you mean?" "That I'm alone?" "I can't give you answers, but I can give you the information." "We have to look to the roman alchemist named Varelli, he lived long ago in this town, he was a talented architect, at the end of his life, he built residences for the Three Mothers." "Here are the things you need to know" "The Three Mothers." "I do not know how much it'll cost, but I'll get what alchemists call SILENTIUM." "We won't bribe profane minds with our knowledge." "I have met the Three Mothers, I constructed for them three houses:" "One in Freiburg, one in New York and One in Rome." "Otherwise, I found a horrible secret... from there is where the Sisters will spread pain, tears and darkness in the world." "This design of the house is the one that Varelli built in Rome." "What you see, it doesn't exit." "what you don't see, it's the truth." "It's an enigma" "Find the house of Mater Lacrimarum and you'll have the answer." "Are you sure to go on?" "You don't know how much." "Stop here!" "Hey, who are you?" "I have seen a group of women coming in here, did you see them?" "No, do you have something for me?" "Yeah, take." "How long do you live here?" "So long... 30 or 40 years." "I'm here since I escaped from the nazis when the war ended." "Can you tell me who lived here before?" "I do not know... some sort of association of philosophers..." "artists." "I do not remember." "Why did the leave?" "When the nazis came, they took a lot of people." "Hey, don't go in, I will denounce you!" "Listen." " She shouldn't go in." " She went it so fast." "I will look upstairs." "You watch here." "All right." "She's not here." "You're an idiot, don't you remember what I told you to do?" "Inform!" "From anybody coming in here to browse around." " Is that clear?" " Yeah." "Come." "Where did the go?" "I can feel them." "What you see, it doesn't exit." "what you don't see, it's the truth." "The mystery of the house." "These are the same signs that in the urn." "We are in a secret catacomb." "Oh my God." "This is the house of the Mother of Tears." "And her followers." " Witches." " Witches?" "The Three Graces." "What are you doing here?" "I'm an art researcher." "I came to visit the catacombs." "Mater, give me the power!" "The tunic!" "Wonderful!" "Powerful!" "Mater, watch out!" "An intruder!" "Get him!" "We will eat you alive now." "Get him!" "Our time is coming." "Welcome, Sarah." "Come closer." "Come to me." "Who wants to eat the girl?" "We have been waiting for this moment for a thousand years." "Our power is here." "Nobody will be able to stop us." "Nobody no more!" "¡Nooooo, bitch!" "¡Sarah, it's me, calm down!" "Give me your hand, come on!" "Stay calm!" "Get out, get out." "Panetone for Cinemageddon"
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So the eyes are a very useful ways to sometimes to determine truthfulness, and there’s a lot of things so the first thing, let’s talk about eye contact. There’s not one shred of academic research that shows breaking eye contact is an indication of lying. However, everybody believes that. Everybody believes that If you break eye contact you’re lying, there’s not one shred of research that shows that, okay. However, there is some research that shows that people tend to make an overbearing amount of contact when they lie, because they think that you, you think that if they break eye contact that you are going to perceive them as lying. So one of the things you’ll see people do is, I swear to God, I swear to God, I didn’t do that, and then they make an unusual amount of eye contact, which is a deviation from how they make could be an indication of lying. Also blink rates, it’s really a strong way of determining, it’s not a strong way, but it’s one of the ways you could maybe use to determine whether someone is lying. So there’s two responses with blink rate. Our blink rate tends to increase when we get really emotional about something, all right. So blink rate is coordinated with emotion all right, so you’ll see an increase in blink rate right there. But blink rate also decreases when we experience something called cognitive overload. And what cognitive overload is, it’s basically when our brain, lying requires more cognition then telling the truth. So lying requires more cognitive facilities than when you are telling something honest. So what tends to happen behaviors tend to stop when you are lying. So one of the cool things you’ll tend to see is, some research points to, when you see someone is telling a lie, you’ll see a decrease in cognitive overload, and when they get away with it, you’ll see an increase in blink rate, because they just got away with it. So it’s kind of cool, but it’s not highly accurate and it’s hard to look for, but it’s something you can be mindful of.
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Programma statistico comunitario 2008-2012 - Trasmissione e verifica tempestive dei dati statistici forniti dagli Stati membri (discussione) Presidente L'ordine del giorno reca in discussione congiunta: la relazione, presentata dall'onorevole Zsolt László Becsey a nome della commissione per i problemi economici e monetari, sulla proposta di decisione del Parlamento europeo e del Consiglio relativa al programma statistico comunitario 2008-2012 - C6-0427/2006 -, e l'interrogazione orale (B6-0123/2007) degli onorevoli Zsolt László Becsey e Alexander Radwan, a nome del gruppo del Partito popolare europeo (Democratici cristiani) e dei Democratici europei, sulla trasmissione e verifica tempestive dei dati statistici forniti dagli Stati membri. Zsolt László Becsey relatore e autore. - (HU) Sono molto soddisfatto perché ora, dopo la prima lettura, sembra che si possa giungere all'accordo necessario per una decisione comune prima della pausa estiva. Dietro tutto ciò c'è un enorme lavoro da parte delle tre Istituzioni. Innanzi tutto, vorrei rendere merito alla commissione parlamentare per l'eccellente lavoro svolto. La sua proposta corrisponde perfettamente sia alle attuali priorità comunitarie sia al meccanismo del Trattato di Nizza. Vorrei ringraziare in modo particolare la Presidenza tedesca, e soprattutto il dottor Radermacher, presidente dell'ufficio statistico federale, il quale, fissando un ritmo incredibilmente sostenuto, ha reso possibile l'elaborazione e lo studio della posizione del Consiglio. Le priorità del Parlamento europeo sono state così prese in considerazione anche quando il lavoro era in corso di svolgimento. Uno speciale ringraziamento va anche rivolto ai relatori ombra dei due gruppi principali, i socialisti e i liberali, per il lavoro svolto. E' grazie a questo lavoro che è stato possibile trovare una maggioranza quasi schiacciante a favore dei compromessi comuni in seno alla commissione per i problemi economici e monetari. Cosa ha realizzato il Parlamento con questo testo comune? Uno dei risultati più importanti è che la sezione principale, la serie di elementi selezionati e raccomandati come prioritari dalla commissione parlamentare, è stata ampliata. Sono state inserite considerazioni sull'innovazione, lo sviluppo delle risorse umane, la coesione regionale e le sfide demografiche. Di conseguenza, l'elenco delle priorità è diventato equilibrato senza essere ridondante. Un altro importante risultato è, a mio avviso, il compromesso concluso a proposito della cooperazione tra le amministrazioni a livello nazionale e locale e anche nell'ambito della gestione delle statistiche. Spero che questo dia i suoi frutti anche in termini di qualità, che è un aspetto particolarmente importante che verrà affrontato più avanti congiuntamente all'interrogazione orale sull'affidabilità delle proiezioni macroeconomiche e dei dati statistici a breve termine. Qual era la priorità del relatore? Oltre al miglioramento della qualità e della rapidità dei servizi statistici, ho considerato come mio compito principale la riduzione degli oneri finanziari e amministrativi, soprattutto per le piccole e medie imprese. Era anche importante far sì che i criteri del regolamento non creassero confusione tra la protezione dei dati commerciali presentati singolarmente e l'obbligo di fornire informazioni statistiche generali. Siamo anche riusciti a ridurre al minimo l'onere di fornire dati in virtù di obblighi internazionali, principalmente delle Nazioni Unite, soprattutto grazie alla flessibilità dei relatori ombra. Un'enorme sfida è poi costituita dai nostri impegni internazionali, ma a tale proposito mi aspetto un atteggiamento più cauto, ed è proprio ciò che abbiamo approvato. Non dobbiamo sovraccaricarci nel settore della capacità statistica e dell'esportazione di know-how. Per me è un buon risultato anche il fatto che siamo riusciti a metterci d'accordo sui punti principali della relazione intermedia sullo stato di avanzamento prevista per il 2010. Su questa base mi piacerebbe che la Commissione presentasse una proposta di direttiva per contribuire a superare il problema politico del concetto statistico che determinerà il programma di lavoro di un altro, nuovo Parlamento e della relativa commissione competente, e assicuri che i nostri nuovi colleghi possano integrare direttamente il loro programma di lavoro nel quadro chiaro dell'attività statistica. Inoltre, ci siamo riferiti alle sfide principali che dobbiamo affrontare, anch'esse previste per il 2010, in particolare la riforma della PAC e della direttiva sui servizi finanziari, l'entrata in vigore della direttiva sui servizi o la definizione di nuove politiche comunitarie, il controllo dell'immigrazione, la criminalità e i cambiamenti climatici anche in ambito statistico. Il maggiore successo conseguito dal Parlamento è il fatto che, a partire da gennaio 2010, le relazioni intermedie sullo stato di avanzamento non saranno rivolte solo ai membri della rete statistica europea e ai comitati di esperti, ma saranno anche formalmente presentate al Consiglio e al Parlamento, sulla scorte della proposta. Pertanto, queste Istituzioni fondamentali potranno esprimere la loro opinione, a partire dalla prossima legislatura, sui problemi strategici e tattici del momento. Per quanto riguarda le priorità settoriali, gli elementi sollevati dal Parlamento sono stati inseriti nella relazione; basti citare le sfide costituite dagli indicatori dello sviluppo delle risorse umane, l'urbanizzazione, le pari opportunità per le donne e la misurazione dei processi di agglomerazione. La ringrazio, signora Presidente, e ora vorrei continuare con un'altra serie di questioni. Speriamo sinceramente che il sistema di controllo macroeconomico e il fatto che la politica economica di uno Stato membro è una preoccupazione che riguarda tutti noi, insieme al Patto di stabilità e di crescita, ci aiutino ad essere più sicuri all'interno dell'UE che all'esterno. Il Trattato CE afferma la responsabilità comune per le politiche economiche degli Stati membri, e anche per i loro fallimenti, suppongo. Il Parlamento europeo vota e controlla la Commissione che, tra le altre cose, vigila su Eurostat. Dal 2004 i problemi greci e ungheresi hanno messo in luce gravi carenze in questo sistema. In entrambi i paesi la politica economica e la manipolazione dei dati hanno addirittura influenzato le elezioni, non solo rendendo necessarie in seguito serie correzioni, ma anche mettendo in pericolo la fiducia nelle istituzioni pubbliche. L'Eurobarometro ha evidenziato un forte calo in Ungheria. In Ungheria dal 2004 ci sono state costanti discrepanze di vari punti percentuali tra i risultati promessi e la realtà rilevata successivamente. C'è una forte discrepanza tra la fine del 2005 e la fine del 2006, ad esempio: il debito presentava una differenza superiore a dieci punti percentuali rispetto al PIL, cioè tra i dati promessi e la realtà concreta. E' un peccato che il Commissario Almunia sia assente perché, se fosse qui ad ascoltare, sentirebbe che nel 2005 e nel 2006, invece di prendere in considerazione le proiezioni di mercato come quelle di Goldman Sachs e Standard [amp] Poor's, si diede ascolto alle osservazioni errate del governo. Il mercato si è trovato di fronte a una catastrofe e ha anche percepito il licenziamento illegittimo del personale dell'ufficio statistico. Eppure il sistema di previsione era stato un fiasco. La situazione più vergognosa si è verificata nel maggio 2006. All'epoca Almunia aveva previsto che in Ungheria tutti gli indici sarebbero migliorati, l'inflazione sarebbe stata bassa e la crescita elevata, mentre il Primo Ministro annunciava problemi molto gravi e un programma di austerità. Ammise di avere contattato telefonicamente Almunia e di avere utilizzato vari stratagemmi. In seguito Almunia - lo avrebbe sentito se fosse stato presente - si arrese: non abbiamo incluso le pensioni nel disavanzo, non abbiamo incluso i disavanzi occulti delle imprese statali, non sapevamo come calcolare l'autostrada. Questo, per me, significa arrampicarsi sugli specchi. In conclusione: il Primo Ministro ungherese ha ammesso la grave collusione politica, purtroppo anche con un membro della Commissione. Questi "intrighi di palazzo” non dovranno mai più ripetersi, perché le elezioni si stanno avvicinando e si svolgeranno altre volte in futuro, e solo l'ammissione della verità può aiutare. Penso, quindi, che la Commissione debba anch'essa riconoscere queste conclusioni politiche, perché il prezzo di questa mancanza di credibilità finirà per essere pagato non da noi ma dai cittadini ungheresi. Benita Ferrero-Waldner Membro della Commissione. - (EN) Signora Presidente, onorevoli deputati, vorrei innanzitutto ringraziare l'onorevole Becsey e la commissione per i problemi economici e monetari per l'eccellente relazione sul programma statistico comunitario per il periodo 2008-2012. Ciò renderà possibile l'approvazione tempestiva della base giuridica e il regolare avvio del programma nel 2008. Il programma statistico comunitario costituisce il quadro per la produzione di tutte le statistiche, nonché il quadro finanziario per la produzione delle statistiche comunitarie nel periodo in questione. Le statistiche sono un elemento fondamentale per elaborare le varie politiche e, in quanto tale, il nuovo programma si è concentrato sulle priorità attuali dell'Unione, dalla crescita e competitività allo sviluppo sostenibile e alla sicurezza. Gli emendamenti del Parlamento, volti a rafforzare le dimensioni di genere e regionale nelle statistiche e l'obbligo di informazione, sono accolti con particolare favore dalla Commissione. Vorrei, quindi, ringraziare ancora una volta il relatore, onorevole Becsey, e la commissione per lo sviluppo regionale per i considerevoli sforzi compiuti per dotare l'Unione di una base solida per le statistiche che saranno prodotte nei prossimi cinque anni. Per quanto riguarda le statistiche fiscali e l'interrogazione orale degli onorevoli Becsey e Radwan, la Commissione concorda sicuramente sul fatto che la qualità dei dati fiscali è fondamentale per il corretto funzionamento dell'Unione economica e monetaria e del sistema di sorveglianza del bilancio, nonché per la valutazione dei criteri di convergenza al momento di valutare la candidatura di uno Stato membro all'ingresso nella zona dell'euro. Le statistiche fiscali, come tutte le altre, sono soggette a revisioni. I dati sono rivisti regolarmente quando vengono messe a disposizione nuove informazioni sulle transazioni dei governi o quando si identificano e correggono errori o incongruenze. La revisione viene effettuata anche con lo scopo principale di rispettare in maniera più adeguata le norme contabili. Per gli statistici i dati diventano definitivi soltanto dopo almeno quattro anni. La maggior parte delle revisioni, nelle statistiche fiscali, sono di piccola portata e non hanno un impatto significativo sull'analisi economica e sulla vigilanza fiscale. Purtroppo ci sono anche stati alcuni casi di revisioni più ampie nelle statistiche fiscali che hanno messo sotto pressione la vigilanza fiscale. E' comunque, importante tenere presente che, nella maggior parte dei casi, quelle revisioni non sono state una sorpresa, ma erano state precedute da dichiarazioni pubbliche di Eurostat, che faceva notare che i dati inizialmente comunicati dagli Stati membri non erano in linea con le norme contabili e chiedeva agli Stati membri di correggerli. Quando si è rivelato necessario lo stesso Eurostat ha corretto i dati forniti dagli Stati membri. Ai sensi del regolamento (CE) n. 2013/2005, Eurostat ha riferito - e riferirà regolarmente al Parlamento europeo e al Consiglio - sulla qualità dei dati fiscali comunicati dagli Stati membri. Relativamente alle previsioni, la Commissione verifica regolarmente le previsioni e le proiezioni annunciate dagli Stati membri nei loro programmi di stabilità e convergenza, confrontandole con le proprie previsioni. Per molti Stati membri la Commissione ha affermato pubblicamente in alcune occasioni che le previsioni fiscali contenute nei programmi di stabilità e convergenza si basavano su proiezioni macroeconomiche ottimistiche. La Commissione ha anche messo in evidenza casi in cui le proiezioni nazionali non erano conformi alle norme contabili per transazioni specifiche, o casi in cui le misure politiche previste su cui si basavano le previsioni non erano ancora state confermate. Durante la preparazione delle proprie previsioni la Commissione confronta sistematicamente le proprie cifre con le proiezioni dell'FMI, dell'OCSE e di altre organizzazioni. L'esperienza insegna che le previsioni pubblicate dalla Commissione - quelle macroeconomiche e quelle fiscali - non sono distorte e sono almeno affidabili quanto quelle di altre fonti. Mieczysław Edmund Janowski relatore per parere della commissione per lo sviluppo regionale. - (PL) Signora Presidente, vorrei ringraziare l'onorevole Becsey per la relazione. Vorrei ringraziarlo doppiamente, innanzitutto in qualità di relatore per parere della commissione per lo sviluppo regionale, e in secondo luogo in qualità di rappresentante del mio gruppo politico. Non mi soffermerò sulla definizione delle statistiche. Mi limiterò a dire che si tratta di una scienza che valuta fenomeni e processi collettivi e di massa in modo quantitativo. Il suo obiettivo è quello di analizzare le regole che disciplinano questi fenomeni e di quantificarli. Grazie alle statistiche è anche possibile sintetizzare i risultati delle analisi e valutare l'accuratezza e l'affidabilità dei risultati. Lo dico per un buon motivo, perché i dati statistici sono spesso la base per importanti decisioni adottate a livello locale e regionale, ma anche nazionale, europeo e addirittura mondiale. E' quindi positivo avere un programma statistico comunitario per il periodo 2008-2012. La preparazione realistica e responsabile dei dati statistici ha un valore inestimabile. Ottenere tali dati comporta dei costi. Vorrei, quindi, chiedere alla signora Commissario se il nostro ambizioso programma per i prossimi cinque anni dispone di un sufficiente sostegno finanziario. Stiamo intraprendendo un compito che includerà 27 Stati membri, con diversi gradi di esperienza in questo settore delicato. E allora porrò una seconda domanda: quali passi sono stati intrapresi per garantire il miglior coordinamento possibile nell'analisi statistica? La signora Commissario è stata così gentile da sottolineare l'importanza del parere della commissione per lo sviluppo regionale e vorrei ringraziarla per questa affermazione lusinghiera. Passo ora alle questioni regionali. Nelle prospettive per il periodo 2007-2013 l'Unione europea ha destinato oltre un terzo del bilancio alla politica regionale in senso lato, attuando così il principio di coesione e solidarietà tra le regioni con livelli molto diversi di prosperità. Questi finanziamenti provengono dalle tasche dei contribuenti europei e non devono assolutamente essere sperperati. Per questo motivo abbiamo bisogno di metodi di controllo dell'attuazione della politica strutturale che siano del tutto imparziali, sufficientemente completi e affidabili. Disponiamo di questi metodi? Essi comportano il raffronto e l'elaborazione dei dati statistici a livello comunitario, di Stati membri, regionale e locale. La natura dei dati deve essere paragonabile, sia con i dati registrati al di fuori dell'Unione europea sia con quelli raccolti all'interno, visto che facciamo spesso paragoni tra noi e gli altri paesi. La realizzazione di obiettivi a breve termine o temporanei o problemi tecnici hanno causato errori temporanei nella compilazione dei dati statistici, con risultati drastici. Le analisi statistiche delle regioni si basano sulle unità NUTS. Ci si chiede, però, se questa separazione porta sempre a dati della stessa affidabilità. Io ho le mie riserve, soprattutto per quelle situazioni in cui c'è un forte divario tra il livello di sviluppo e la prosperità di una capitale regionale e del resto della zona. Un'altra questione che vorrei sollevare riguarda gli indici del livello di sviluppo per i paesi o le regioni. Il PIL pro capite è sufficiente, che peso si dovrebbe dare al tasso di disoccupazione, la qualità della vita come può essere misurata in questo settore particolare? Si tratta di questioni importanti e so che la soluzione non è semplice. In questo Parlamento parliamo spesso di innovazione. Abbiamo, quindi, bisogno di dati affidabili sull'istruzione, la scienza, la ricerca e l'innovazione. Ma quali metodi si dovrebbero utilizzare per confrontare dati che spesso provengono da fonti non ufficiali? Come possiamo definire la dinamica del cambiamento? Un'altra domanda di natura sociale. I cambiamenti associati alle migrazioni su vasta scala, in particolare di lavoratori, avvengono sotto i nostri occhi. Quali sono le conseguenze per la situazione sociale e le famiglie? Non dobbiamo poi dimenticare che l'alto livello di affidabilità dei dati statistici dipende sempre dall'affidabilità delle fonti di informazioni che, a sua volta, implica l'affidabilità e spesso l'anonimità dei dati originali. Per concludere, spero che il programma statistico comunitario contribuisca a realizzare anche gli obiettivi fondamentali dell'Unione europea. L'atteggiamento di Eurostat e dell'ufficio statistico centrale polacco mi danno sicurezza. Spero che sia davvero così. Othmar Karas a nome del gruppo PPE-DE. - (DE) Signora Presidente, signora Commissario, onorevoli deputati, vorrei iniziare congratulandomi con il relatore e ringraziandolo. Nella relazione chiede che i cicli legislativi e statistici vengano sincronizzati in modo da ridurre l'onere amministrativo per le piccole e medie imprese, e afferma che dobbiamo garantire che i dati ricevuti siano di qualità, ovvero che siano migliori, e che dobbiamo includere anche alcuni indicatori sociali e macroeconomici. Il relatore riferisce anche che abbiamo avanzato una richiesta alla Commissione per due motivi. Un motivo è costituito dalle costanti lamentele per il fatto che alcuni Stati membri forniscono dati statistici incompleti - i principali colpevoli sono la Grecia, il Portogallo, l'Italia e l'Ungheria. In un paese, l'Ungheria, il Primo Ministro ha ammesso di avere falsificato i dati e di avere nascosto la verità all'opinione pubblica e alla Commissione. Il secondo motivo è costituito dai numerosi requisiti che non sono stati applicati. Vorrei citarne uno: la Commissione deve avere il diritto di verificare i dati comunicati nel paese. La Commissione dovrebbe poter discutere con le banche nazionali, con il mondo della finanza e dell'economia, con i ministeri del Lavoro e con gli istituti di ricerca nel paese. Non possiamo basarci esclusivamente sui dati comunicati. I dati della Commissione devono essere confrontati con quelli della Banca centrale europea. Ci sono varie cifre di diversi livelli di importanza che devono essere raffrontate. In terzo luogo, per le informazioni relative all'euro - dati sui bilanci, il Patto di stabilità e di crescita e i criteri di Maastricht - la Banca centrale europea, la Commissione e gli Stati membri devono elaborare una relazione finale congiunta. Abbiamo bisogno di norme unificate e trasparenti per la raccolta dei dati. Conosciamo tutti le cifre sulla disoccupazione provenienti dagli Stati membri e per l'Unione europea. Vengono contrapposte le une alle altre ricorrendo a espedienti politici. Ciò crea incertezza, non trasparenza, e non fa altro che suscitare sfiducia. Ieke van den Burg a nome del gruppo PSE. - (EN) Signora Presidente, anch'io voglio iniziare congratulandomi con il relatore per l'eccellente lavoro svolto con questa relazione sul programma statistico per il periodo 2008-2012. Penso che siamo tutti d'accordo sul fatto che le statistiche sono essenziali e che ottenere dati corretti è una questione importante. E' vero che non si tratta solo di una questione tecnica, come possiamo vedere da questo dibattito e, in particolare, dall'interrogazione orale che è stata presentata, è anche una questione dalla forte portata politica, non solo perché i politici cercano di ingerirsi nelle statistiche, ma anche perché cercano di utilizzarle per opporsi alla coalizione di governo incolpandola di non aver fornito i dati corretti. Dovremmo assolutamente evitare queste situazioni. L'unica soluzione, secondo me, consiste nell'avere uffici statistici indipendenti che garantiscano dati indipendenti, corretti e di alta qualità, cui vanno aggiunti alcuni elementi citati dall'onorevole Karas, ossia le stesse definizioni di base, e così via. Ho l'impressione, signora Commissario, che il suo collega Almunia abbia già svolto molto lavoro sulla questione e qualcosa si è già mosso. Penso, ad esempio, al regolamento varato in materia e, in particolare, alle proposte legislative sulla governance delle statistiche e degli istituti statistici, di cui ci stiamo occupando in questo periodo. Devo dire agli onorevoli Becsey e Karas che sono stata sorpresa per il fatto che il loro gruppo politico non si è interessato a tutti i fascicoli legislativi di cui ci stiamo occupando al momento, perché a questo proposito possiamo dare una garanzia di buona governance dei dati, e la Commissione e Eurostat non hanno la competenza per intervenire in merito alla raccolta dei dati o per centralizzarla. Dobbiamo agire nell'ambito delle competenze e del mandato esistenti e, sotto questo aspetto, penso che il Commissario stia svolgendo un buon lavoro, cercando di farne il più ampio uso possibile. Spero che si possa avere un dibattito costruttivo sul miglioramento della governance e sulle migliori condizioni da creare, anziché darci la colpa l'un l'altro o incolpare i partiti dell'opposizione per non avere comunicato i dati correttamente. Spero che in futuro si assuma un atteggiamento costruttivo. Andrea Losco a nome del gruppo ALDE. - Signor Presidente, signora Commissario, onorevoli colleghi, anch'io mi associo ai complimenti del relatore Becsey per l'ottimo lavoro svolto. Aver contribuito all'approvazione in prima lettura è un fatto significativo, che dimostra l'operatività di questa Assemblea. Come già detto dal Commissario ma anche dagli altri intervenuti, lo scopo delle statistiche comunitarie quindi è quello di corroborare con regolarità l'elaborazione, la messa in opera e le valutazioni delle politiche comunitarie. L'Unione propone e realizza le sue politiche in campo economico, ambientale e sociale proprio fondandosi su queste informazioni e quindi la necessità che queste siano il più attinenti alla realtà, fotografando le situazioni ideali, nonché le concrete necessità dei cittadini. Per quello che riguarda il gruppo ALDE, ribadisco in quest'Aula la convinta approvazione, in linea generale, della proposta avanzata dalla Commissione, sapendo che ha toccato problemi e temi significativi, quali la prosperità, la competitività, la crescita, la solidarietà, la coesione economica e sociale, lo sviluppo sostenibile, la sicurezza, l'ulteriore allargamento dell'Unione europea. Credo che, come Parlamento europeo, abbiamo fatto bene a integrare, e quindi a completare, questa proposta inserendo l'innovazione e lo sviluppo umano, la coesione regionale e le sfide demografiche che la società europea deve affrontare. Questo è dunque il senso del nostro contributo: completare e non stravolgere la proposta della Commissione. In effetti, siamo convinti che vi sia un problema attualmente, che noi abbiamo sollevato all'atto di ultimare l'approvazione di questo percorso: trattasi della qualità dei dati, la quale è altresì garanzia della qualità della decisione. Avere quindi introdotto nel testo finale, oggetto del compromesso, il concetto della preparazione dei programmi dei lavori statistici annuali e della necessità di tener conto dell'uso ottimale delle risorse. Ciò per quello che riguarda il principio della better regulation, che già abbiamo approvato, e proprio alla luce della Comunicazione della Commissione relativa alla riduzione dell'onere di risposte alla semplificazione degli obiettivi nel campo delle statistiche comunitarie. Credo infine che sia stato importante l'avere introdotto la necessità che la Commissione effettui analisi ex ante sugli impatti finanziari delle nuove attività statistiche programmate che comportano oneri aggiuntivi per gli Stati membri, così come l'avere incluso studi di fattibilità per arrivare a un marchio di qualità delle statistiche europee e per rafforzare la credibilità del sistema statistico europeo, comprendendo l'EUROSTAT, le autorità statistiche nazionali, gli altri responsabili in ciascuno Stato membro, responsabili dell'elaborazione e diffusione delle statistiche europee. L'obiettivo è sicuramente quello di disporre di centrali statistiche indipendenti, ma su questo dobbiamo ancora lavorare. Benita Ferrero-Waldner Membro della Commissione. - (EN) Signora Presidente, vorrei dire che abbiamo un programma ambizioso, ma abbiamo i mezzi finanziari? Sono convinta di sì. La dotazione finanziaria prevista per il programma del periodo 2008-2012 rappresenta infatti un aumento del 15 per cento rispetto al periodo precedente. Penso che questo aumento sia superiore all'aumento medio per le prospettive finanziarie 2007-2013. Detto questo, la questione è pertanto chiusa. Per quanto riguarda il coordinamento, questo Parlamento sta attualmente esaminando una proposta della Commissione relativa alla costituzione di un consiglio consultivo di alto livello che migliorerà la governance del sistema statistico europeo e il coordinamento nella produzione delle statistiche. Penso che ciò sarà importante. Vorrei anche dire all'onorevole Karas che è corretto quanto diceva. La Commissione ha la possibilità di studiare i metodi utilizzati dagli Stati membri. Purtroppo, però, non possiamo andare oltre e non possiamo analizzare i dati in quanto tali. E, purtroppo, penso che la Commissione abbia già tentato, ma gli Stati membri finora non hanno voluto approfondire la questione, sulla quale si dovrebbe forse richiamare di nuovo la loro attenzione. Presidente La discussione è chiusa. La votazione si svolgerà giovedì, 12 luglio 2007.
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Diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis despite negative findings on serial late gadolinium enhancement with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging/18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography examinations. We present a case of a 42-year-old Japanese man with ocular and pulmonary sarcoidosis who eventually led to a diagnosis with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) through endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), despite negative findings on both late gadolinium enhancement with cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) imaging and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) develops in only 5% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis. Previous studies have reported that CS was found in up to 50% of autopsy series with fatal sarcoidosis, implying that CS is frequently underdiagnosed with potentially life-threatening consequences. Therefore, the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of CS are important. Currently, LGE-CMR and FDG-PET play an important role in establishing a diagnosis of CS with high sensitivity. In the presented case, regardless of serial examinations with LGE-CMR and FDG-PET, confirmed diagnosis of CS could not be achieved; ultimately, a definitive diagnosis of CS was obtained through EMB. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case showing the diagnosis of CS despite negative findings on serial LGE-CMR and FDG-PET examinations.
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Defend the Earth while lying under it with an Immobile Suit Gundam grave For a few years now, whenever online chatter of a new statue based on the machines of the Gundam universe goes on the picture above seems to always pop up. But exactly where is this MS monument of mourning? Is it even real? In the photo, the Gundam headstone appears to be lined up with the other graves outside of the stonemasonry shop, standing proud at around four meters (13ft) tall and weighing in at 10 tons. With that we might assume it’s a custom made incredibly ostentatious yet cool monument to the deceased. The grave theory is further strengthened after tracking this place down on Google maps. It can be found outside of a Kise Sekizai Boseki Center in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture. Kise Sekizai is a chain of Japanese grave makers in the area. According to the watermark on Google Street View it was last seen in 2013 and probably still stands there to this day. One particular use of the Gundam grave photo came when a netizen mused that in 30 years when fans of the original series start dying off, you’ll be bound to see Gundam themed graves turning up everywhere. Someone answered by posting the top photo to everyone’s amazement. Another reader commented “in 40 years the Gundam era of anime’s fans will die off, 50 years later the Evangelion era’s will perish, and in 60 years we will see the demise of K-On! fans.” That last comment really sums up the state of mecha anime in recent years. Still, if I can make it to my nineties I can look forward to an eight-foot tall Mio headstone, which otaku will forever take pictures of with themselves trying to look up her skirt.
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Q: Shell script - Giving error while iterating through array I have been trying to check for an If Condition on one name value in the array defined. I am experiencing this error: main.sh: line 9: [10.247.78.207: command not found main.sh: line 9: [10.247.78.207: command not found Here is my code: #!/bin/bash declare -a names=${names:-(10.247.78.207 10.247.78.206)} for (( i = 0 ; i < ${#names[@]} ; i++ )) do if ["${names[0]}" == "10.247.78.207"] then echo "hello" fi done A: Change ["${names[0]}" == "10.247.78.207"] to [ "${names[0]}" == "10.247.78.207" ]. That is space after [ and before ]. Hope this solves your problem.
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It is at once an exhilarating, paralyzing place to be — facing that veritable clean slate, blank screen, empty notebook — MacBook, in my case. Having wrapped up my first novel, Deliver Her (the writing part that is; not the selling part), I’m free to begin a new chapter, so to speak. The anticipation is not unlike waiting for slovenly teenagers to grow up and move out — only to be moved to tears by the sight of their empty rooms, caught off guard by a calendar of unscheduled hours. This is no random metaphor: at the same moment I’m casting about for a new project, my house has abruptly, prematurely emptied, my spouse and I eyeing each other the same way I regard the empty page — with a mix of giddy excitement and terror. Be careful what you wish for. Now that I finally have the luxury of time, it feels like a sanction. Though the discipline remains, the rigors of a self-imposed deadline have vanished, along with the concrete task that awaited me each morning. Like school lunches to be packed, or homework signed. Only in the case of writing, it was a little something I’d left for myself at the end of the previous day’s efforts, a gift to begin with. Now I need a new story to replace the old one, a new rhythm, a notion that so fully engages me it shakes me awake with ideas, interrupts my runs, taps me on the shoulder while I’m at my day job. It’s not that I don’t have a million ideas. I do — files full of inspiration, character names, titles. I’m good at titles. I think this comes from years of writing headlines. I have dozens of pieces I could revise for submissions, a hundred-plus pages of memoir-worthy prose, though those recollections are still too raw for publication. I’ll let them age a few more years. I thought I knew which story I would tell next — the “humming secret in my head,” as Alison McLeod so eloquently describes her next literary endeavor, the early treatment of her next novel. But doubts linger. What if I start something new, but the story sputters? Or there’s no heart to propel me forward? I might be tempted to “rest and recover,” as NoViolet Bulawayo did following the success of “We Need New Names:” “I’ve been trying to do a story collection,” she explains, “But it felt like I was pinching a stone so I’m leaving it alone.” Now there’s a metaphor. Even as I polish this post over several days, germs of ideas take root. This makes me happy. This is apparently how it is supposed to go. Memoirist and novelist Dani Shapiro says this about starting over: “I’m a much nicer person when I’m working on a book. When I begin I have so little to go on — a feeling, a sense, an image or two. It’s like coaxing shadows out of the corners.” I, too must have faith the idea will come, and that it will grip me, the way an infant’s tiny fingers latch onto the neck of your sweater. Just as I know that teenagers have a way of growing up and coming back, a little more polished than when they left, like a strong second draft of a novel.
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Q: How can I get the IP address and port of a client with PHP? How do I get the IP and port of a client with PHP? I tried the script below but it only gives me the IP address. <?php print $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']; ?> A: To get the port of the connected device you can use $_SERVER['REMOTE_PORT'] $ipAddress = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']; $port = $_SERVER['REMOTE_PORT']; A: Port is defined in http server (Apache or other and mostly it is 80 or 443) The PHP $_SERVER variables can be checked at this link. I am sure that 'REMOTE_ADDR' returns the IP address from which the user is viewing the current page. But if your server is behind NAT: If you are serving from behind a proxy server, you will almost certainly save time by looking at what these $_SERVER variables do on your machine behind the proxy. // in place of $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] $_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'] // in place of $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'] $_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_HOST'] && $_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_SERVER']
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It is important to know how to do an emergency stop to avoid collision. For example, in a rescue situation you will need to be able to stop effectively and promptly when approaching someone who has capsized.
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Here is a 33-year-old Ukrainian Village resident who says he was a troubled adolescent with a messiah complex. At a glance, his first novel, which just came out, suggests gravity and self-importance. It is 1,030 pages long and weighs three pounds. It's called "The Instructions," and it's intended to be read as such: Jewish scripture written by the protagonist in 2013, recounting miraculous events that occurred over four days in Chicago Public Schools in 2006. Yet it's also fast and funny, not unlike Levin himself — full of nervous energy and promise. Indeed, McSweeney's, Levin's San Francisco-based publisher (founded by Dave Eggers), is so optimistic about it that the book got a 12,000-copy first printing (generous for a novel so large); then it became a buzz book, landing on New York Magazine's list of the most anticipated titles of the fall season. All of which obscures what's interesting about it: "The Instructions" is nothing less than a bold (and somewhat meta) reimagining of Jewish fiction. As Levin's fourth-grade hero, a fledgling writer himself, explains: "I am not even remotely interested in writing a two-page short story about made-up Jewish people eating dinner." And neither is Levin. ••• After my initial impression, I think I discover a quirk, a recognizably author-like trait: Levin won't let me see inside his apartment. He won't invite me in. He says he was a smoker for a long time and has a parrot that he is protective of and his apartment smells and looks like "an old man's apartment," so out of embarrassment or protectiveness or both, he politely declines. We leave. A while later, I called George Saunders, the acclaimed short-story writer (who grew up on the South Side). He was Levin's creative writing adviser at Syracuse University. I tell him about the apartment thing. He gets it right away. "When I started to take off as a writer, there wasn't as much this sense you have now of being part of your own marketing. Now it can feel like people are de-authoring you, turning you into a personality," he says. "I bet Adam doesn't want to be de-authored. He has this book that could have just as well been published as a good, tiny book. But he has big ideas and needs to remind himself not to sway." Levin and I slump into a booth at the back of Atomix, a coffeehouse a few blocks from his apartment. He talks while I eat a bagel and listen. These bagels are fantastic, I blurt out, interrupting. "I know," he says, "I was lobbying them for years to carry New York Bagel & Bialy bagels. And now they do." He's like that, direct, pushy. He has a bullet for a head, little hair on top but stubble beneath. His voice is quick and frantic, loaded with F- and S-bombs. I say McSweeney's did a predictably nice job with the book design of "The Instructions" — so much so it's hard imagining an e-book. He says: "My parents have a (expletive) Kindle. They buy (expletive) like crazy and I don't know how they even (expletive) read it all, but if a whole (expletive) load of (expletive) nice middle-class folks will (expletive) buy my book and not (expletive) read it, I guess I'll never (expletive) know. But no, you're right, the book is a sweet (expletive) object. And the book itself is about, to some extent, its own (expletive) bookness. Not that I'm going all (expletive) Holden Caulfield and saying don't (expletive) make a movie out of my (expletive) book. But the e-reader thing is a choice. Make a (expletive) Venn diagram. There will be the people who would read this book in print. And there will be the (expletive) people who won't read it unless it's on Kindle. I'm (expletive) happy for those people who won't read it unless it's on (expletive) Kindle. Their choice. I'm no (expletive) fascist. But there's that third segment, the ones who would (expletive) read it in print but don't because they own a Kindle, so why (expletive) (carry around) a book? Those (expletive) people make me (expletive) sad." "Anyway," he adds, "Gurion would want you to read it as a book, on paper."
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Unit testing is a key tool for ensuring the correctness of our software, and Angular apps are no exception! In fact, part of what makes Angular so amazing is that it's a framework written from the ground up with testing in mind. Filters in Angular are often smaller and simpler than other Angular constructs like controllers or directives, but just like these other parts that make up an Angular application, filters can and should be unit tested to ensure they work as intended. In this Coffee Break Course, Envato Tuts+ instructor Dan Wellman will show you how to take an existing Angular app and add tests for one of its filters. You'll see how to write unit tests with Jasmine and then use Karma to run the tests from the command line. This is part of a series of Coffee Break Courses on testing in Angular.
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This week's round-up of commentary covers the effects of the Gaza conflict on Jerusalem, John Kerry's deft behind-the-scenes diplomacy during the Afghan elections, Asia's anticipation of rising conflict between US and China, a modern threat to London's historic cabs, and the foreboding future of German-American policy interaction. ByMonitor EditorsJuly 29, 2014 Palestinians pray as Israeli policemen stand guard (rear) during prayers on the second Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in the Arab East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud, Friday, July 11, 2014. “My city is coming undone. Sometimes the ripping of Jerusalem is so loud you can hear it from blocks away. Sometimes you hear it in quiet conversations...,” writes Gershom Gorenberg about the effect of fighting between Israel and Gaza on Jerusalem. “You can rightly blame the [Hamas] kidnappers of [the Israeli teens] Yiftah, Shaar and Fraenkel, whose goal was to ignite escalation and who were all too successful. You can blame the angry [Israeli teen protest] on Jaffa Road. But their anger is given direction by well-dressed politicians.... The irony is that the politicians who speak in mythic phrases about a politically unified Jerusalem seem to know very little about the actual Jerusalem, messy and beautiful, where lives zigzag across the political fault line, and to care even less about how their words have helped tear it apart.” “What John Kerry did at the backstage and how he could convince [Afghan presidential candidates] to work on deadlock breaking way has not been [revealed] fully. But the US sophisticated and senior US diplomat could be remembered as ‘saver’ of the country from political storm,” writes Masood Korosh about the controversy over the elections in Afghanistan. “He convinced both candidates to stay away from instigating the sentiments of civilians and pushing the country toward certain tragedy.... [Kabul] can sleep in no fear of firing rockets....” “It seems that a new Cold War between China and the United States is looming in the Pacific region...,” write coauthors Kai He and Huiyun Feng. “The United States launched a ‘pivot to Asia’, later termed ‘rebalancing’, to show its commitment and test China’s intentions. China tried to set a new status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea to demonstrate its own resolve in territorial disputes. Understandably both sides at the negotiation table intend to maximise their own interests.... The immediate concern for Asia is ...Washington’s return to a version of the 1969 Nixon Doctrine, in which the US supplies arms but not military forces to its allies. It is time for Asian countries to think about a regional solution for a post-American era.” The Globe and Mail / TorontoTaxi app shouldn’t replace iconic London taxi service “If Uber has its way, iconic black cabs will not be crawling the streets of London much longer, and no amount of nostalgic reverie for halcyon days will prevent this dismal development...,” writes Andrew Lovesey in a debate about London’s black cab service versus the car service app Uber. “As we inevitably move toward a world in which there are fewer and fewer private automobiles, there need to be a range of alternatives for getting around, from efficient public mass transit to, at the higher end, quality cab services. London has set the world standard for that, and we all have an interest in ensuring not only that it survives, but that it is emulated elsewhere.” Deutsche Welle / BerlinGerman-American relations take turn for the worse “The German-American partnership is a bond that’s tough to break. It has weathered numerous storms during the Cold War period and since, such as the split over the Iraq War. But, the ongoing crisis over US intelligence gathering and espionage in Germany and on Germans sparked by the [Edward] Snowden revelations one year ago has the potential to unravel the German-American partnership...,” writes Michael Knigge. “[T]he Obama administration’s stance can be summed up in three words: recalcitrance, callousness, ignorance.... Trust in the US by Germans ... is at a low point.... More worrisome, is the realistic possibility that post-Cold War generations of Germans grow up with a predominantly negative view of the US, fueled by the Iraq War and the NSA scandal. Washington should not let that happen.”
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GeoKrety (gr. geo = ‘earth’, krety pol. = ‘moles’) is a service similar to TravelBug(TM) or GeoLutins, aiming at tracking objects you leave in geocache containers. People move these registered objects (called GeoKrety) from cache to cache and register each move with this service. The trip of each GeoKret is then presented on a map.http://geokrety.org/ GeoKrety Logger is a first app for android devices to easily log geokrety. Topic moved per dzwiedziu's request. I could probably get you an old Windows Phone, but it wouldn't be until about June, and it wouldn't be cheap to mail it to Poland. But if you don't have one by then, I'll still send it. Would you like the link above edited by a native English speaker as well?
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/* * /MathJax/jax/output/HTML-CSS/fonts/TeX/WinIE6/Regular/Bold.js * * Copyright (c) 2009-2017 The MathJax Consortium * * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. * You may obtain a copy of the License at * * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 * * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and * limitations under the License. */ MathJax.Hub.Insert(MathJax.OutputJax["HTML-CSS"].FONTDATA.FONTS.MathJax_WinIE6,{57920:[518,17,1150,64,1084],57921:[694,193,575,14,561],57922:[518,17,1150,65,1085],57923:[694,194,575,14,561],57924:[518,17,1150,64,1085],57925:[767,267,575,14,561],57926:[724,194,1150,64,1084],57927:[724,193,1150,64,1085],57928:[694,224,1150,65,1085],57929:[694,224,1150,64,1085],57930:[547,46,1150,64,1084],57931:[547,46,1150,47,1102],57932:[694,16,639,1,640],57933:[710,17,628,60,657],57934:[694,-1,639,64,574],57935:[686,24,958,56,901],57936:[587,86,767,97,670],57937:[587,86,767,96,670],57938:[750,250,575,63,511],57939:[820,180,958,78,988],57940:[451,8,894,65,830],57941:[452,8,1150,65,1084],57942:[714,0,722,55,676],57943:[750,249,319,129,190],57944:[750,248,575,145,430],57945:[604,17,767,64,702],57946:[604,16,767,64,702],57947:[603,16,767,64,702],57948:[604,16,767,64,702],57949:[711,211,569,64,632],57950:[391,-109,894,64,828],57951:[524,-32,894,64,829],57952:[711,210,894,64,829],57953:[505,3,894,64,829],57954:[697,199,894,96,797],57955:[697,199,894,96,797],57956:[617,116,1150,64,1085],57957:[618,116,1150,64,1085],57958:[587,85,894,96,797],57959:[587,86,894,96,796],57960:[697,199,894,96,797],57961:[697,199,894,96,796],57962:[632,132,894,64,828],57963:[632,132,894,64,828],57964:[693,-1,894,65,829],57965:[711,-1,1022,69,953],57966:[500,210,1022,68,953],57967:[711,211,1150,65,1084],57968:[719,129,894,64,829],57969:[711,24,894,65,828],57970:[719,154,894,64,828],57971:[719,129,894,32,861],57972:[750,17,447,64,381],57973:[741,223,447,57,389],57974:[724,224,447,63,382]});MathJax.Ajax.loadComplete(MathJax.OutputJax["HTML-CSS"].fontDir+"/WinIE6/Regular/Bold.js");
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In this thought experiment, industry expert Johann W. Wiechers, PhD, concludes that skin differences between the human races are often very small but sometimes very real... So, I managed to do it all within a single month--not bad for a starting consultant in cosmetic science. To what am I referring? Within a single month, I booked flights to: Brisbane, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Shanghai, China; Bristol, United Kingdom; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Lima, Perú. In each of these countries I will meet representatives from local International Federation of the Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) societies, and will present on topics of cosmetic science. Each trip will involve a new presentation but the same basic talk can be used in different corners of our spherical world since the probability of finding another person with the same enormous carbon footprint as mine is fairly slim. And what’s more, cosmetic science is a global business, so what is true on one side of the planet is probably true on the other side, don’t you think? Of course, until you consider ethnic products. If the rationale for ethnic products is correct, then cosmetic science should be different in different places of the world. However, my behavior of using one basic talk in different corners of the world suggests that the science is the same. And if the science is the same, the products should be the same. So either I am wrong and there is indeed a different need amongst the various races on this planet, or our marketing colleagues have it wrong and the industry is selling stories. I know which one of the two I would prefer to be wrong, but let's explore this concept. Many papers and reviews have been written about differences in skin permeability between ethnicities. When Japanese women were compared with European women in their perception of lactic acid-induced sting, the difference was profound. Japanese women suffered much more from the lactic acid than their European counterparts. In examining studies that have compared in vivo differences in skin barrier function between Asian, Black and Caucasian skin, one quickly concludes that based on methyl nicotinate penetration, Asian skin is by far the most permeable of the three, followed by Caucasian; and Black skin is the toughest of the three. So there are differences and I am more wrong than I would like to admit; I should study the literature a bit better before stating an opinion that there are no differences between skins of different color. How could I have been so wrong? But now I recall another article describing skin penetration of acetylsalicylic acid, benzoic acid and caffeine, and I see that I was not wrong. That article showed no difference whatsoever between the three races in skin permeability. Because it is unlikely for both of us to be right, the search for truth continues. ...Although I cannot resist quoting my brother-in-law, a lawyer, who once said to me: “Johann, life is not about being right but about getting it right,” and I guess that is why he became a judge--so that he is always right! A reduced skin barrier function should be able to explain an increased sensitivity of Asian skin; so if my theory is right, the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of Asian skin should be higher than that of Black or Caucasian skin. So, back to the scientific literature...what do we see? To my astonishment, when TEWL values of Japanese and German women were compared, those of Japanese women were statistically significantly lower.... I am shooting myself in the foot here, and can already hear my marketing colleagues laughing in the background, saying, “We don’t need all this science, we know simply by listening to our customers!” I must defend myself to maintain some credibility and argue that my marketing colleagues do not know why the TEWL of Japanese women was shown to be lower than that of German women. This fact could be caused by a stabilization of the orthorhombic skin lipid phase in their intercellular spaces... and then it hits me and I see the light: The methyl nicotinate penetration study and the lactic acid that showed Asian skin to be more permeable penetrate via pores; whereas the acetylsalicylic acid, benzoic acid and caffeine all penetrate via the bulk of the stratum corneum. If Asian skin has more pores, bigger pores, or cleaner pores perhaps because of spicier food that causes the pores to open wider, this could explain it all. Asian skin seems to be more permeable but this could only be related to pores, whereas the least permeable skin lipid phase, the orthorhombic phase, may genetically be more stabilized in Asian skin. Finally, I know that I am right and can explain it all: Skin differences between the human races are often very small but sometimes very real. But by this time, I have completely lost my marketing colleagues. They’re already out there marketing sensitive skin creams to the Asian population. I may be right, but they are getting it right. And what's nice about our industry is that, in regards to this issue of ethnic skin, whether you are a cosmetic scientist being right or a cosmetic marketer getting it right, we’re both happy!
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Another piebald catfish caught on Lake Monticello Unique fish was released alive and well BRIAN COPE July 31, 2017 at 7:16pm Last month, we ran an article about a piebald catfish that was caught on Lake Monticello, and it turns out that wasn't the only piebald catfish caught on the midlands lake this summer. We've heard reports of at least two others being caught, including one that Gilbert's Michelle Keisler caught on June 4. Keisler was on a morning fishing trip with her dad and husband, and the trio had a field day, catching dozens of catfish on frozen cut herring on circle hooks, with most of them being blues. "Between the three of us, we caught about 60 blues and a few channel cats that morning within 4 hours. They ranged from two to four pounds, but there were a good many in the 12 to 15-pound range," said Keisler, who credits her husband Toby Keisler with knowing where to find the fish. Bill Wilson, Michelle Keisler's dad, is a lifelong bass angler, and he was shocked out how many catfish they boated in a morning of fishing, but they were all –– including Toby Keisler, who fishes for catfish on this lake quite often –– just as shocked when Michelle reeled in the piebald catfish. After we ran the earlier story, some of our readers who had already seen other reports of Keisler's fish asked if it was the same piebald, but looking at the photos, it's clear by the distinct color markings on each fish that they are two different piebalds. Keisler said one of the best things about this trip was that it was unclear whether she, her dad, or her husband had the most fun. And the piebald had a great day too. Keisler released it, hoping another angler can have the joy of catching it another day.
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🔼Peresh meaning For a meaning of the name Peresh, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Dung and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Excrement. BDB Theological Dictionary does not interpret our name but does confirm that it is identical to the noun פרש (peresh). Note that our name doesn't specifically refer to fecal matter but rather more generally to Belly Content, and brings to mind the mass of slithering intestines that emerges when an animal is slaughtered and disemboweled. Peresh's brother is named Sheresh, which appears to mean To Uproot, and these two names reflect the same archetypal duality as do the characters of Cain and Abel: the farmer and the shepherd. Our names Peresh and Sheresh reflect the first acts of the process of food preparation: the gutting of an animal and the uprooting of a plant.
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday slammed unhinged Democrats using Mueller’s report to attack President Trump and Attorney General Bill Barr. McConnell, speaking from the Senate floor, defended Trump from rabid Democrats using Mueller’s report to smear and attack the President and said, “case closed!” “What we’ve seen is a melt down — an absolute melt down! An inability to accept the bottom line conclusion on Russian interference from the special counsel’s report which said, the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities,” McConnell said speaking about the Democrats and their media sycophants. McConnell accused Dems and “TV talking heads” of peddling Russian collusion conspiracy theories. TRENDING: OUTRAGEOUS! Ohio State University President Sends Ignorant Text Message to Students Following Breonna Taylor Decision -- And a Crazy-Ass Video! “The special counsel’s finding is clear — case closed! Case closed,” McConnell said. McConnell accused Democrats of publicly working through the 5 stages of grief (TDS) — “First stage is denial,” he said. “Totally baseless speculation that perhaps Attorney General Barr hadn’t quoted the report properly,” McConnell added. McConnell said the Democrats are “angry that the legal system won’t magically undo the 2016 election for them and they’ve opted to channel all of their partisan anger onto the attorney general.” WATCH: .@SenateMajLdr’s response to Dems in denial of the Mueller Report findings: “Case closed.” pic.twitter.com/LblGAdV07k — GOP (@GOP) May 7, 2019 Fake Indian and 2020 Dem hopeful Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday called for impeachment proceedings against President Trump from the Senate floor. The Massachusetts Senator cited Mueller’s report and argued the information provided by the special counsel “clearly constitutes adequate information to begin an impeachment proceeding in the House of Representatives.” McConnell, who refers to himself as the “grim reaper” and vowed to stop the left’s Socialist agenda, will not move forward with impeachment so the Democrats are just screaming at the sky.
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SZ, What do you think? Kay ---------------------- Forwarded by Kay Mann/Corp/Enron on 05/11/2001 12:02 PM --------------------------- Ben F Jacoby@ECT 05/11/2001 10:04 AM Sent by: Ben Jacoby@ECT To: Janine Migden/NA/Enron@ENRON, Kay Mann/Corp/Enron@Enron cc: Subject: RE: Tennessee tax issues Janine: I don't need Stokes & Bartholemew to serve as lobbyists - I need them to continue to serve as local counsel on a few projects we're continuing to work on. I've been using Johnny Hayes for lobbying matters. Kay - do we need to do anything to keep Stokes on board as local counsel for our Haywood and Shelby projects? Thanks, Ben Janine Migden@ENRON 05/10/2001 05:19 PM To: Ben F Jacoby/HOU/ECT@ECT cc: Ben Jacoby/HOU/ECT@ECT Subject: RE: Tennessee tax issues Our lobbyists are the same. I will call you to discuss what you are working on. There are some tax issues which could have a potential impact. Janine Ben F Jacoby@ECT Sent by: Ben Jacoby@ECT 05/10/2001 04:29 PM To: Janine Migden/NA/Enron@ENRON cc: Subject: RE: Tennessee tax issues Thanks for the e-mail. Who is our lobbyist? I still have a need for Stokes & Bartholemew (Gif Thornton and Bill Bruce). Other that that, I think I'm covered. Please let me know the name of the lobbyist before terminating. Thanks. Ben
{ "pile_set_name": "Enron Emails" }
Healing and Awakening in action:New online group program focusing on depression coming up in November 2017: Depression as a wake-up callA 5-week program of loving inquiryStarting Tuesday, 14 November 2017 >> CLlCK HERE to find out more.Most psychological and therapeutic approaches to heal depression will look at ways of filling its emptiness and finding aliveness at the level of the personality, or suggest anti-depressants. For spiritual people, this will invariably feel not quite to the point. And you are right! Depression ultimately calls you to find your own light, the truth of yourSelf: the alive emptiness which animates even the depression. It is a wake-up call in the truest sense of the word.
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Introduction {#S0001} ============ The current prevalence of myopia in India is considerably higher than that reported in previous studies.[@CIT0001] Poor awareness, social taboo, and illiteracy are the most common causes of negligence and hesitation to receive visual acuity correction.[@CIT0002] Uncorrected visual acuity leads to unsatisfactory academic performance and constrained social interaction.[@CIT0003] Spectacle correction is a viable option, but it is underused owing to low social acceptance.[@CIT0004] Laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) or laser vision correction is an effective method for correcting refractive errors; however, it is not feasible for high-power corrections. In patients who require high-power corrections, the phakic intraocular lens is a viable alternative. Phakic lenses have become increasingly popular in the current scenario of refractive surgery because they induce relatively few higher-order aberrations at the cornea level and preserve the natural accommodations of patients.[@CIT0005] STAAR surgical Visian ICL™ has been extensively studied by various surgeons globally, and its efficacy has been proven effectively.[@CIT0006]--[@CIT0008] However, the implantable phakic copolymer lens (IPCL), manufactured by Care Group, Inc., has not been previously studied. This study retrospectively analyzed the safety and efficacy of the IPCL. Materials and methods {#S0002} ===================== Seventy-five eyes of 50 patients who had undergone an IPCL implantation operation from March 2015 to February 2017 were analyzed. Written informed consent was obtained from all the patients in tenets with declaration of Helsinki. The study was conducted in Ruby Eye Hospital after acquiring approval from the institutional review board. Patients aged 18--35 years with stable refraction were included in this study. In addition to high myopia (\>−8 D), rejection for LASIK owing to thin corneas and stable post-LASIK regression were other indications for implantation. Exclusion criteria were as follows: advanced keratoconus, irregular corneal topography, an anterior chamber depth of \<3.0 mm, narrow angles on gonioscopy, and endothelial guttae. Preoperative examination {#S0002-S2001} ------------------------ A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed in anterior and posterior segments through slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy, respectively. Visual acuity assessment was performed using Snellen charts; however, assessment results were converted to logmar units for statistical analysis. Corneal topography examination was performed using a Pentacam (software; Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany)"; the intraocular pressure was measured using noncontact tonometry and Goldman applanation tonometry, whereas the macular thickness and posterior pole status were evaluated through optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT, software version, Carl Zeiss Meditech, Jena, Germany). The anatomy of the corneal endothelium was assessed using a slit lamp, and its functionality was determined through serial ultrasonic pachymetry (specular microscopy was not available at our center). A corneal endothelium with stable serial pachymetry and without evidence of guttae was considered healthy. Gonioscopy was performed in all the patients to assess angle anatomy. The patients with no manifestation of any abnormality were evaluated the next day for their refractive status by performing cycloplegia refraction. The white-to-white (WTW) diameter was measured manually by using digital calipers in the supine position under topical anesthesia. The WTW diameter was also measured using optical biometry (IOL Master, Zeiss Inc.); however, the manual measurement was considered the final measurement. Routine yttrium aluminum garnet peripheral iridotomy (YAG-PI) was performed at least 1 week prior to surgery. After peripheral iridotomy (PI), the patients were treated with topical steroids. The IPCL is a customized lens that is manufactured after obtaining three preoperative parameters, namely subjective refraction, anterior chamber depth, and WTW diameter. Contact lens users were asked to discontinue usage for 15 days prior to the implantation procedure. Description of lens {#S0002-S2002} ------------------- The IPCL is made of a hybrid acrylic hydrophilic material ([Figure 1](#F0001){ref-type="fig"}). It is a rectangular lens with eight holes; two in each haptic, four along the transitional zone, and two along the periphery of the optic, which determines the orientation of the lens inside the eye. The peripheral optical holes should always be directed upward inside the eye. The haptics of the lens has three curves, and the central curve is smaller in diameter than the other two curves. It has a central vault that obviates contact with the anterior capsule of the lens (Surgical procedure: [[video S1]{.ul}](http://youtu.be/nNIdhzEZ-ng) and [[video S2]{.ul}](http://youtu.be/eZJxvgIiOg8))Figure 1Implantable phakic copolymer lens over the butterfly cartridge.. Under strict aseptic preparations, an IPCL was loaded in a butterfly cartridge containing balanced salt solution and a few drops of dispersive viscoelastic. The IPCL was placed in the inner groove of the cartridge, with the vault facing upward. The orientation of the IPCL inside the cartridge was identified using the peripheral holes provided in the optic. For right-eye implantations, the peripheral optical holes were on the left of the cartridge, and for left-eye implantations, the peripheral optical holes were on the right of the cartridge. Next, the haptics of the IPCL was taped to lock in the cartridge. Proper care was taken not to damage the optic portion. Then, the wings were folded and introduced into the groove of the handle. The plunger was pushed to visualize the smooth forward movement of the lens; any restriction and folding of the haptic inside the cartridge warranted reloading of the lens. This completed the loading of the lens. Then, a 2.8-mm temporal clear corneal incision was made in the patient's eye, and two side ports were made at 6 and 9 o'clock positions diagonally opposite to each other. Intracameral dispersive viscoelastic fluid (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) was introduced to create a space between the crystalline lens and corneal endothelium. The open end of the cartridge was introduced into the corneal incision. Then, using a slow and controlled push technique, the IPCL could unfold in the intracameral space. The unfolding of the lens occurred with the vault facing up, and correct unfolding was ensured by confirming that the peripheral optic holes were in a superior position. After complete unfolding of the lens, the leading haptic was tucked behind the iris by using a lens guide, followed by tucking of the trailing haptic. Finally, the viscoelastic fluid was washed out using a simcoe cannula, which ensured complete removal of the fluid from the intracameral space, including the inter-lens face, to prevent postoperative inflammation and intraocular pressure spikes. Postoperative assessment {#S0002-S2003} ------------------------ Visual acuity was assessed using Snellen visual acuity chart; however, it was converted to logmar units using standard conversion table for statistical assessment. Refraction was assessed using an auto refractometer to determine the amount of residual refractive error. The vault status of the IPCL was assessed through anterior segment optical coherence tomography (Cirrhus HD-OCT 5000, Zeiss Inc., Jena). ASOCT was performed at 1-month and 6-month postoperative period. Vault height (VH) was assessed in each post-op visit. VH was determined in photic and scotopic conditions. The anterior chamber reaction was assessed through slit lamp biomicroscopy by placing a 5 m×2-mm slit beam obliquely, preferably under dark light ambience. Outcome assessment {#S0002-S2004} ------------------ Scheduled postoperative visits were conducted on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 7, 30, 90, and 180 s. During each visit, the patient was assessed for lens position ([Figure 2](#F0002){ref-type="fig"}), vault status, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, intraocular pressure, and refractive status. On POD 30, the patients were asked to grade their satisfaction with the visual outcome on a scale of 1--5 provided on the satisfaction form ([Table 1](#T0001){ref-type="table"}).Table 1Satisfaction scoresGrades of satisfactionScoreNumber of patients (50);\ n (%)Unsatisfied10Acceptable22 (4%)Satisfied35 (10%)Very satisfied420 (40%)Extremely satisfied523 (46%) Figure 2(**A, B,** and **C**) Postoperative lens position on pupillary dilatation in slit lamp. Results {#S0003} ======= In total, 75 eyes of 50 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 25.36 years (\[standard deviation \[SD\]: 3.64, min: 18 years and max: 34 years). Twenty-six were male patients and rest were female patients, respectively, were included in the study ([Table 2](#T0002){ref-type="table"}).Table 2Patient demographics and visual acuity (N-75)**Age (in years)**Mean with SD25.36±3.60Median25Range18, 34**Age group (in years)**18--22.910 (20%)23--27.925 (50%)28--32.912 (24%)33--383 (6%)**Anterior chamber depth**\ **(in mm)**Mean with SD3.521±0.82Median3.545Range2.89, 4.14**White-to-white diameter**\ **(in mm)**Mean with SD11.70±0.42Median11.68Range10.7, 12.6**Pre-op intraocular pressure**\ **(in mmHg)**Mean with SD14.3±2.7Median15.2Range10, 22**Best-corrected visual acuity**\ **(pre-op) (in logmars)**Mean with SD0.38±0.26Median0.4Range (Min, Max)0, 1.2**Uncorrected post-op visual acuity (in logmars)**Mean with SD0.24±0.16Median0.2Range (Min, Max)0, 0.7**Follow-up (in years)**Mean with SD1.8±0.5Median1.8Range0.5, 2.8**Post-op spherical equivalent**Mean with SD0.65±0.28Median0.67Range (Min, Max)0, 1.5 Visual acuity {#S0003-S2001} ------------- The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.367 logmar units (SD: 0.266, SEM- 0.031, min: 1.2 and max: 0.0). The average refractive error corrected was −19.57 D spherical equivalents (min: −5 D and max: −27.25 D). The mean cylindrical error corrected was −2.86 D (min: 1.5 D and max: −5.5 D). Approximately 64.4% of the recipients (48 eyes) received a spherical IPCL, whereas the remaining received a toric IPCL. The mode of insertion in both types of IPCLs was identical. The orientation of the toric IPCL was identical to that of the spherical IPCL. The rotation of the IPCL was not required along the steep axis of the cornea because the toricity was incorporated in the lens hence it needs to be placed along 0- and 180-degree meridian only. The mean unaided postoperative visual acuity in the POD 30 was 0.225 logmar units (SD: 0.172, SEM- 0.020). The mean uncorrected visual acuity in the POD 30 of follow-up was significantly superior to the preoperative BCVA (*P*≤0.0001) ([Figure 3A](#F0003){ref-type="fig"}). 89.33% of the patients attained either same or better visual acuity in comparison to preoperative BCVA ([Figure 3A](#F0003){ref-type="fig"}). Forty-four eyes achieved greater than 0.1 logmar improvement compared to their preoperative BCVA ([Figure 3C](#F0003){ref-type="fig"}). Eight eyes had comparatively less visual outcome. Five eyes of three patients exhibited poor outcomes owing to ametropic amblyopia, dull foveal reflex, and macular scar; these outcomes had been explained to the patients prior to the procedure. However, none of the patients experienced any deterioration of vision during the study period. No loss of lines occurred during the observation period ([Table 2](#T0002){ref-type="table"}). A one-line improvement in contrast sensitivity was observed in 78.6% of the operated eyes.Figure 3(**A**) Comparative analysis between preoperative best-corrected visual acuity and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity. (**B**) Postoperative residual refractive power in diopters. (**C**) Visual Gain in postoperative period compared to preoperative best-corrected visual acuity. (**D**) Scatter plot of vault height assessed by anterior segment OCT (Zeiss Inc., Jena). Intraocular pressure {#S0003-S2002} -------------------- The mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 14.3±2.7 mmHg ([Table 1](#T0001){ref-type="table"}) and 18.3±3.5 mmHg on POD 1. The intraocular pressure remained within the normal range during all the points of follow-up. Anterior chamber cells and flare {#S0003-S2003} -------------------------------- Approximately, 86% of the eyes exhibited a clinically nonsignificant inflammatory reaction (≤2 cells) on POD 1. One patient experienced a severe inflammatory reaction with hypopyon on POD 1. However, complete remission of the inflammation was observed by POD 7, which remained stable thereafter. None of the patients required topical immunosuppressive therapy beyond 3 weeks. Postoperative refraction assessment by using the subjective auto refractometer {#S0003-S2004} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The mean residual refractive power was 0.65 D (0--1.5 D, SD: 0.29). In total, 30 eyes (40%) had spherical equivalents between 0 and 0.5 D, 42 eyes (56%) of eyes had residual power of 0.5--1 D, and rest three eyes had\>1D residual power ([Figure 3B](#F0003){ref-type="fig"}). However none of the patients required any form of spectacle correction. Furthermore, 86% of the patients were high to extremely satisfied with visual outcomes ([Figure 4](#F0004){ref-type="fig"}), thus obviating the need for further intervention. None of the patients required an explanation, a replacement, or a rotation of the IPCL during the follow-up period.Figure 4Satisfaction scores of the patients. Postoperative VH {#S0003-S2005} ---------------- Mean VH in ambient light condition was 296 microns SD, 43.59 microns median, 289 microns and in dark conditions were 323 microns SD, 56 microns median, 312 microns, the difference was statistically significant (*p*-value\<0.001). Mean VH at 1 month and 6 months were 286 microns±35 microns and 285 microns±38 microns, respectively. There was no significant difference in the VH at 6-month interval. Scatter plot ([Figure 3D](#F0003){ref-type="fig"}) demonstrating VH in ambient light condition at 1-month follow-up. Follow-up {#S0003-S2006} --------- The mean follow-up of the patients was 1.8 years (SD: 0.56 years, min: 0.5 and max: 2.8). The follow-up period was calculated until the end of the study period. Approximately 100% of the patients attended the follow-up on POD 7 and POD 30. However, all the patients did not attend the follow-up on PODs 90 and 180. Complications [(Table 3](#T0003){ref-type="table"}) {#S0003-S2007} --------------------------------------------------- One eye in one patient exhibited a severe inflammatory reaction with hypopyon on POD 1. Ultra-sonogram evaluation showed acoustic free vitreous cavity with normal retinochoroidal scleral thickening; hence, endophthalmitis was ruled out. After a diagnosis of toxic anterior shock syndrome (TASS), aggressive topical immunosuppression (prednisolone eye drops) was administered to the patient. Within the next 2 days, an increase was observed in the reaction with a marginal increase in hypopyon, which subsequently started resolving and completely resolved over 2 weeks. As the inflammation decreased, the patient's vision improved completely and remained stable until the last follow-up.Table 3ComplicationsComplicationsNumber of eyes (Percentage)1. Iris adhesions02. Corneal edema5 (6.66%)3. Pupillary distortion1 (1.3%)4. Intraocular lens dislocation05. Halo vision2 (2.66%)6. Angle closure glaucoma1 (1.3%)7. Cataract1 (1.3%)8. Corneal pigmentation3 (4%)9. Iris atrophy1 (1.3%) One eye in one patient had pupillary block acute congestive glaucoma on POD 1 owing to non-patent PI and significant anterior vaulting of the lens. However, the YAG-PI procedure was re-performed on the same crater as that of the previous PI. With adequate medical management, normal intraocular pressure was restored. Cataract formation is a significant postoperative complication of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses. We observed an anterior capsular cataract along the para-central area of crystalline lens in one eye, which was observed on dilatation of pupil 1 year postoperatively. However, it remained stable for the next 1 year and did not show progression. The patient had mild complaints of decreased vision but was not provided with any further intervention because of satisfactory binocular vision. Slit lamp examination of this patient revealed that the vault was normal, and no evidence of any contact with the anterior capsule of the lens was observed. We presumed that the cataract formation could be attributed to either manipulation during the intraocular procedure or to extremely high myopia. The patient was 22 years old and had received a −28 D IPCL intraocular lens. None of the patients had cystoid macular edema or retinal detachment during the observation period. Discussion {#S0004} ========== The posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens has become the only type of intraocular lens for the correction of many refractive errors.[@CIT0009] The reasons for its considerable success are the biocompatibility of the materials used, preservation of pupillary activity, and far from the corneal endothelium.[@CIT0010] The safety and efficacy of the Visian ICL™, with central holes, have been demonstrated in multiple centers and have been extensively reported in the literature.[@CIT0011],[@CIT0012] However, to our knowledge, the IPCL with peripheral optic holes has not been described in the literature. Similar to the ICL, the IPCL can be implanted through a 2.8-mm incision, regardless of the amount of refractive correction and without any effect on the biomechanics of the central part of the cornea. Spectacle correction of high myopia results in unsatisfactory vision correction because of higher-order aberrations.[@CIT0013] An intraocular lens at the focal point of the eye not only reduces the higher-order aberrations but also increases the field of vision.[@CIT0014] Thus, we presume that the phakic intraocular lens provides vision of a higher quality than spectacle correction (before surgery). In our study, the preoperative mean BCVA with spectacles was 0.38 logmar units, and the post-IPCL implantation mean unaided visual acuity was 0.24 logmar units. This difference was statistically significant (*P*=0.001). With the IPCL, the refractive results are predictable and stable, unlike those obtained using LASIK for high myopic correction, because the implantation of the IPCL does not involve the risk of flap-related complications and myopic regression.[@CIT0015] However, in patients older than 45 years, the risks of cataract development and refractive shift increase.[@CIT0016] Our study results showed a predictable visual outcome in 82% of the patients and 98% of the patients if we exclude eyes with refractive correction of \>−20 D. Additionally, in these eyes, uncorrected visual acuity exhibited two lines of improvement compared with the preoperative BCVA in 45% of the eyes. Our safety results were comparable to those of corneal refractive surgery in our center. Three eyes had complications, one eye with each of the following: pupillary block, cataract, and TASS . Future pupillary blocks were obviated by ensuring PI through retro-illumination. Cataracts are potential complications of phakic intraocular lenses. The reported incidence of cataracts is 1.1--5% according to a meta-analysis. However, only 0--1.8% of the cases are clinically significant and require an explanation of the phakic lens and cataract surgery.[@CIT0017] The incidence of cataracts in our study was 1.5% (one case), which was similar to the incidence reported in a previous study on ICL. However, because it was far from the pupillary axis and caused mild visual defects, no further intervention was sought. Conclusion {#S0005} ========== Thus, IPCL with peripheral optic holes is associated with highly satisfactory visual outcomes for patients with moderate to high myopia. Furthermore, it provides optimum long-term stability of vision. The follow-up period of our study was long, which enabled satisfactory assessment of postoperative stability. We believe that with foreseeable long-term results, IPCL can be considered an effective alternative to ICL in developing countries, thus adding a crucial component to the refractive surgery armamentarium. Disclosure {#S0006} ========== The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Central" }
Microcalorimetric study for the binding of ionic drugs to human erythrocytes and the ghost membranes. The binding of phenothiazine derivatives (as cationic drugs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (as anionic drugs) to human erythrocytes and ghost membranes has been compared with respect to their thermodynamic characteristics, by flow microcalorimetry at pH 7.4 and 37 C. From enthalpyentropy correlation, it was shown that anionic and cationic drugs are bound to different binding sites on the membranes. Phenothiazines bind to a single common site of the erythrocyte membranes with relatively high binding affinities (K = 10(4)-10(5) M-1). The binding is entropy-driven and characterized by a small negative enthalpy (delta H) and a positive entropy change (delta S), reflecting hydrophobic interactions. However, the binding reaction for the intact erythrocytes shows large negative values for both delta H and delta S. The values of K for the membranes and delta H for the intact erythrocytes increased with the increase of the hydrophobic character of the substituent group at the C-2 position of the phenothiazine nucleus (H less than Cl less than CF3). The results indicate that phenothiazines bind and or penetrate to the inner membranes of the erythrocytes and react with intracellular components such as haemoglobin, while anti-inflammatory drugs bind to the surface protein on the membranes with a lower affinity (K = 10(3) M-1) than phenothiazines, reflecting the small negative delta H and positive delta S for the interaction with intact erythrocytes.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Wavefront sensing using a liquid-filled photonic crystal fiber. A novel wavefront sensor based on a microstructural array of waveguides is proposed. The method is based on the sensitivity in light-coupling efficiency to the wavefront gradient present at the entrance aperture of each waveguide in an array, and hence the amount of incident light that couples is influenced by wavefront aberrations. The concept is illustrated with wavefront measurements that have been performed using a liquid-filled photonic crystal fiber (LF-PCF) working as a coherent fiber bundle. The pros and cons of the LF-PCF based sensor are discussed.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
/* * JBoss, Home of Professional Open Source. * Copyright 2019, Red Hat, Inc., and individual contributors * as indicated by the @author tags. See the copyright.txt file in the * distribution for a full listing of individual contributors. * * This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it * under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as * published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of * the License, or (at your option) any later version. * * This software is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU * Lesser General Public License for more details. * * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public * License along with this software; if not, write to the Free * Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA * 02110-1301 USA, or see the FSF site: http://www.fsf.org. */ package org.jboss.as.clustering.infinispan.subsystem; import org.infinispan.Cache; import org.infinispan.interceptors.AsyncInterceptor; import org.jboss.as.clustering.controller.FunctionExecutorRegistry; /** * Executor for metrics based on a cache interceptor. * @author Paul Ferraro */ public class CacheInterceptorOperationExecutor<I extends AsyncInterceptor> extends CacheOperationExecutor<I> { private final Class<I> interceptorClass; public CacheInterceptorOperationExecutor(FunctionExecutorRegistry<Cache<?, ?>> executors, Class<I> interceptorClass) { super(executors); this.interceptorClass = interceptorClass; } @Override public I apply(Cache<?, ?> cache) { return cache.getAdvancedCache().getAsyncInterceptorChain().findInterceptorExtending(this.interceptorClass); } }
{ "pile_set_name": "Github" }
Laurane Picoche Laurane Picoche (born 17 July 1985 at Remiremont) is a French athlete, who specializes in the distance races and in the middle distance races. Biography In cross-country she received the team silver medal at the 2012 European Cross Country Championships, at Szentendre Hungary, and placed fifth there in the individual event. She was also this same year the French Cross Country Champion. She won the 1500 meters title during the 2013 French Athletic Championships which took place in Charléty Stadium in Paris. She placed 8th at the 2014 Paris Marathon in 2:39:22. She placed 6th in the 2015 Paris Half Marathon just behind her compatriot Karine Pasquier, in 1:13:47 Records References External links Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:French female long-distance runners Category:French female marathon runners
{ "pile_set_name": "Wikipedia (en)" }
Methotrexate and misoprostol for early abortion in adolescent women. Investigate the potential effectiveness, side effects, and acceptability of medical abortion in female adolescents. Multicenter cohort study. Magee-Womens Hospital (Pittsburgh, PA) and University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC, Canada). Twenty-five pregnant adolescents less than 18 years old up to 49 days' gestation. Methotrexate, 50 mg/m2 intramuscularly, followed 5 to 6 days later by misoprostol, 800 micrograms vaginally, self-administered at home. Misoprostol administration was repeated by a doctor if abortion did not occur within 1 or 2 days. Acceptability was assessed before methotrexate injection and at follow-up 5 weeks later. Successful abortion (complete abortion without requiring a surgical procedure), immediate success (abortion within 24 hours of initial or repeat misoprostol administration), and acceptability. Complete abortion occurred in 24 of 25 (96%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 88%-100%) subjects. Immediate success abortion occurred in 23 (92%; 95% CI, 81%-100%) of these young women; the remaining subject who aborted did so on study day 10. The single failure was an incomplete abortion. Of the 23 participants who completed the follow-up acceptability evaluation, 4 (17%) believed that the process was a negative experience; 83% of participants would choose this same method again for a future abortion if needed and would recommend this method to a friend. Those who would not try this method again were without support of another individual at the time of the abortion. This medical abortion regimen is effective in adolescents. The overall acceptability in adolescents is similar to that reported for women 18 years of age or older. To minimize the likelihood of a negative experience with this abortion method in adolescents, home support for these patients should be evaluated during pretreatment counseling.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Produced by Spanish Diego The SaveMoney schizo, Sterling, slides on Stan Sono for his new single “Schizophrenia” soundtracked by Spanish. Say that three times fast. For this jazzy, horn-heavy, slow-roller, Sterling Hayes gets down with crooner Stan Sono to give us one of his best releases to date — just months after Sterling and Diego landed a large commercial placement with adidas. This one is oozing with vibes. Feels. All of that. It’s the schizo music. Hear him bleed from his soul below. He has a lot to say on this one. Feel it.
{ "pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2" }
Q: Effective operator in four-fermion interaction In one book, I have got the following lines which I found myself unable to understand what is effective operator? The paragraph is given below: The weak interaction describes nuclear beta decay, and at low energy it is given by an effective four fermion interaction. Since the effective operator has dimension 6, the coupling constant has inverse mass-squared dimension. A: To make things clear for the specific case you are talking about, think about what is really happening in beta decay. It occurs via the following process: It involves the exchange of a W boson and so to model the true process properly using the standard model requires the three point fermion gauge boson vertices (operators): $$\frac{g}{\sqrt{2}} W^\mu\left(\bar\nu \, \gamma_\mu e + \bar u \gamma_\mu d \right).$$ These are interactions between two fermions and the W boson allowing us to draw the above diagram. Note that the coupling constant $g$ is dimensionless. The contribution of the exchange of the W boson is given by $$\frac{g^2}{E^2-M_W^2}$$ where E is the energy transferred by the W boson. Now at low energies which correspond to small distances the W boson only propagates for a very small distance and it can be approximated by a contact interaction between the fermions: (Note here that we have replaced the individual quarks by $p$ and $n$ but that is not important to the argument). You see that the contribution of the $W$ is reduced to a contact interaction between four fermions! So the effective operator for this interaction now contains a term with four fermions such as $$G_F \, \bar\nu e \bar p n.$$ At low energies $(E^2 \ll M_W^2)$ we find $$\frac{g^2}{E^2-M_W^2} \to \frac{g^2}{M_W^2}$$ and so the new coupling constant (Fermi constant) is given by $$\frac{G_F}{\sqrt{2}}=\frac{g^2}{8M_W^2}$$ which has dimension of inverse mass squared! (The numerical factors are not important for the argument and come out from doing the full calculation properly). I am not sure if it was the use of the word operator in the quote that confused you. Remember that in QFT the fields are operators and so a term in the Lagrangian containing a bunch of fields is often referred to as an operator. If four fermion fields are involved (as above for the contact interaction) then it is called a four fermion operator. If the operator appears from integrating out some other fields (the $W$ in this case) then it is known as an effective operator meaning at low energies it effectively captures the correct physics.
{ "pile_set_name": "StackExchange" }
Syncarcinogenic effects of methyl methanesulfonate with methylazoxymethanol acetate in rat small intestine and liver. The carcinogenic potency of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and its combination effect with methylazoxymethanol (MAM) acetate were evaluated in rats. MMS was suggested to be weakly carcinogenic for the small intestine. Syncarcinogenic effects of MMS and MAM acetate which could be due to summation of their genotoxic influences were obtained in the small intestine and liver.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Q: Total number of ways of selecting two numbers from the set {1,2,3,4,5..........,3n} so that their sum is divisible by 3 is S. Find S? Total number of ways of selecting two numbers from the set $\{ 1,2,3,4,5..........,3n \}$ so that their sum is divisible by $3$ is $S$. Find $S$? This question came in my test and we were supposed to do it in less than $3$ minutes. I still can't get the answer A: If the first number is divisible by $3$, then so is the other one; we choose two multiples of $3$ out of $n$, total ${n\choose 2}$ possibilities. If the first number (say, $n$) is not divisible by $3$, then the remainder of the second number ($m$) by division by $3$ is different. So either $n$ or $m$ is $1\mod 3$ and the other $2\mod 3$. Since order isn't relevant, we can assume $n\equiv 1\mod 3$ and $m\equiv 2\mod 3$, so that we have ${n\choose 1}{n\choose 1}$ possibilities. Thus, $$S={n\choose 2}+{n\choose 1}{n\choose 1}=\frac12n\left(3n-1\right)$$
{ "pile_set_name": "StackExchange" }
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The opinions and information provided on this site are original editorial content of Sneaker News. The doors to the vault continue to crack open ajar a little bit more as Nike officially reveals plans to re-issue the 2001 classic – the Dunk Low co.jp “Plum”. As one of three colorful suede Dunks exclusive to Japan called the “Ugly Duckling” or “Ugly Dunkling” Pack, the Plums were known for its two-toned purple with red accents on the swoosh, laces, logos, and soles. Over time, the suede aged with alarming grace as the regal palette faded to a finish more akin to bordeaux red. Furthermore, the shoes were so beloved that Nike SB actually released them as Highs with fat tongues back in 2011. Revealed through some “vintage” style Japanese shopping catalogs, the Dunk Low co.jp “Plum” is confirmed to drop on February 7th for $110. This leaves the door wide open for not only the other two of the Ugly Duckling Dunks – the “Veneer” and the “Ceramic” – as well as other Dunk Low Pro, Pro B, and other non-SB gems of that era. What other Dunks would you like to see return to stores in fully restored form? Nike Dunk Low co.jp Release Date: February 7th, 2020 $110 Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.
{ "pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2" }
Parton railway station (Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway) Parton railway station served the hamlet of Parton, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, from 1861 to 1965 on the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway. History The station opened on 12 March 1861 by the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway. It closed to both passengers and goods traffic on 14 June 1965. References External links Category:Disused railway stations in Dumfries and Galloway Category:Former Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway stations Category:Railway stations opened in 1861 Category:Railway stations closed in 1965 Category:Beeching closures in Scotland Category:1861 establishments in Scotland Category:1965 disestablishments in Scotland
{ "pile_set_name": "Wikipedia (en)" }
Q: iOS - Unit Testing asynchronous private function in Presenter of MVP Hello I'm trying to unit testing a private function which located in Presenter This is my Presenter Codes and I'm using Networking Singleton Object APIService class MyPresenter { weak var vc: MyProtocol? func attachView(vc: MyProtocol?) { self.vc = vc } func request(_ id: String) { if id.count == 0 { vc?.showIDEmptyAlert() return } fetch(id) } private func fetch(_ id:String) { DispatchQueue.global.async { APIService.shared.fetch(id) { (data, err) in if let err = err { self.vc?.showErrorAlert() return } self.vc?.update(data) } } } } and this is my ViewController codes class MyViewController: UIViewController, MyProtocol { private var presenter: MyPresenter = MyPresenter() override func viewDidLoad() { super.viewDidLoad() presenter.attachView(vc: self) } func showIDEmptyAlert() { self.present .. } func showErrorAlert() { self.present .. } func update(data: String) { self.label.text = data } @IBAction func handleRegisterButton(_ sender: UIButton) { guard let id = idTextField.text else { return } presenter.request(id) } } These are my Presenter and View. And I wrote Test Code like this First, I made Mock PassiveView Like this class MyViewMock: MyProtocol { private (set) var showEmptyIdAlertHasBeenCalled = false private (set) var showErrorAlertHasBeenCalled = false private (set) var updateHasBeenCalled = false func showEmptyIdAlert() { showEmptyIdAlertHasBeenCalled = true } func showErrorAlert() { showErrorAlertHasBeenCalled = true } func update(data: String) { updateHasBeenCalled = true } } So I expected that if I could test Presenter's request(_:) methods with valid id and invalid but because request(_:) didn't get handler parameter and APIService.shared.fetch is asynchronous, I couldn't get correct result by calling request(_:). (Always false) How can I test this kind of Presenter? A: In terms ofXCTests, there is the XCTestExpectation class to test asynchronous functions. But there is an issue in your approach of testing the Presenter. You should use mock for your network service and stub it with expected arguments. It doesn't make sense to call the actual service. Unit tests are the fastest kind of tests. Private methods are a part of black-box which you should not care about its internal structure. Test public interfaces but don't test private methods. If you will try to mock and stub APIService, then you notice it's impossible to do if it's a singleton. You'll end up with injecting service as a dependency into Presenter for the better testability. If the service will be mocked and the stub will be used, then there is no need in using XCTestExpectation, because there won't be any asynchronous code.
{ "pile_set_name": "StackExchange" }
Influence of age on chromatic aberration of the human eye. We examined the difference in refraction when using portions of the visible spectrum from 437 to 671 nm, and report on the influence of age on the chromatic aberration in one subject 20 years after previous measurements. Changes in refraction were measured with a Rodenstock refractometer which has an exit pupil of 3 mm, and nine narrow band interference filters. Eight subjects were examined under cycloplegia and with dilated pupils. Results confirm previous reports that the magnitude of chromatic aberration decreases with age.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Investigation on individualized adjustment of target range of high-dose methotrexate]. To explore the way of individualized adjustment of target range of each high-dose methotrexate (MTX) 24 hours infusion to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. Twenty-four children and 105 infusions were included in the study. According to 1 h and 6 h plasma MTX concentrations after infusion, based on established high-dose MTX population pharmacokinetics model, the course predicted value of drug concentration at steady state (C(SS)) was calculated. MTX infusion rate and dosage was adjusted 8 h after the start according to the predicted value of C(SS). Then MTX concentration at 23 h (actual value of C(SS)) was measured. To achieve the target range of C(SS), adjustments of MTX dosage were required in 17 (71%) patients. Adjustments of MTX dosage were required in 45 (43%) infusions, the dose was increased in 42 infusions and decreased in 3 infusions. There were 29 infusions of high-dose MTX during consolidation therapy (after remission induction therapy). Among them, 16 infusions had increased dosage, and 1 infusion had decreased dosage. There were 76 infusions during maintenance therapy. Among them, 26 infusions increased dosage, and 2 infusions decreased dosage. Overall 95 (90%) infusions achieved the target range of C(SS), while in 8 infusions the doses were lower than the target range in 2 infusions the doses were higher than the target range. If there had been no adjustments, only 74 (70%) infusions could have achieved the target range. Adjustments of MTX dosage, compared with no adjustments, could remarkably enhance the rate of achieving the target range of C(SS) (chi(2) = 13.366, P = 0.000). Among 60 infusions of no adjustments, the actual values of C(SS) were well correlated with the predicted values of C(SS) (r = 0.487, P = 0.000), and the actual values of C(SS) were also correlated with the 6 h plasma MTX concentrations after infusions (r = 0.389, P = 0.002). The actual values of total clearance (CL) of MTX of 105 infusions were 7.01 +/- 2.06 L/(m(2).h). Inter-courses variability in CL was up to 4.4-fold. Intra-patient variability in CL was up to 2.9-fold. Predisposing factors that correlated with decreased CL of MTX were old age, heavy body weight, low blood phosphate, high blood bilirubin and infusions during maintenance therapy (P < 0.05). High-dose methotrexate chemotherapy needed individualized adjustment, as inter-courses variability of CL was up to 4.4-fold among 105 infusions. According to 1 h and 6 h plasma MTX concentrations after infusion, adjusting MTX infusion rate and dosage, overall 90% infusions achieved the target range of C(SS). High-dose MTX infusions during consolidation therapy needed individualized adjustment of target range more.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Transient ischemic attack in the vertebro-basilar circulation due to a hemodynamically significant variation - kinking of the extracranial section of the left vertebral artery. We present a case report of a 74-year old female patient with the clinical diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the vertebro-basilar (VB) circulation, in whom we found bilateral variation of the extracranial section of vertebral arteries on ultrasound, on the left side to the extent of kinking. This finding was later confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). We discuss the presumed hemodynamic significance of this variation and its etiological relation to the patient's clinical picture. Ultrasound examination of the carotid and vertebro-basilar circulations is an important examination technique contributing to an early detection of possible aetiology of the cerebral circulation disorders (Fig. 7, Ref. 18).
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Significance of overexpression of metallothionein in mouse urinary bladder focal lesions induced by treatment with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine. Metallothionein (MT) is expressed in various types of human tumors, including transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder, but its biological significance remains unclear. In the present study, the role of MT in urinary bladder carcinogenesis induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) treatment was investigated using C57BL/6 mice. One hundred 5-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups, which were given drinking water with or without 0.05% BBN throughout the experimental period. Subgroups of ten animals from each group were sacrificed at weeks 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25, and urinary bladder samples were examined immunohistochemically for MT, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and apoptosis. MT was found to be abundant in normal-looking mucosa, but decreased with progression from precancerous lesions to invasive carcinoma in the urinary bladder obtained from BBN-treated mice. Lesions could be divided into MT-positive and negative. There was a tendency for greater MT expression in PCNA-positive lesions, while apoptosis was rather associated with MT-negativity. These data suggest that the overexpression of MT may play a role in mouse urinary bladder carcinogenesis.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has the best evidence yet for an underground saltwater ocean on Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon. The subterranean ocean is thought to have more water than all the water on Earth's ... Dust particles smaller than about a wavelength of light are abundant in our solar system, created by collisions between asteroids and from the evaporation of comets. As they scatter sunlight, these particles ... The extraordinary promise of quantum information processing—solving problems that classical computers can't, perfectly secure communication—depends on a phenomenon called "entanglement," in which the ... With the ICL5101, Infineon Technologies AG extends its portfolio of lighting control ICs, addressing lighting systems in the range of 40W to 300W. The new high-voltage resonant controller IC provides a high ... A group of astronomers from the US, Europe, Chile and South Africa have determined that 70,000 years ago a recently discovered dim star is likely to have passed through the solar system's distant cloud of ... Automakers are cramming cars with wireless technology, but they have failed to adequately protect those features against the real possibility that hackers could take control of vehicles or steal personal ... Ramon Bargalló is a researcher belonging to the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Barcelona College of Industrial Engineering (EUETIB) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). In collaboration ... When someone you know is wearing an unfamiliar hat, you might not recognize them. Georgia Institute of Technology researchers are using just such a disguise to sneak biomaterials containing peptide signaling ... The Earth is often compared to a majestic blue marble, especially by those privileged few who have gazed upon it from orbit. This is due to the prevalence of water on the planet's surface. While water itself ... By using the full power of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer an international team of astronomers has discovered exozodiacal light close to the habitable zones around nine nearby stars. This light is ...
{ "pile_set_name": "Pile-CC" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device for video/audio apparatuses; it primarily concerns TV sets so that only this particular application will be referred to, namely both for commercial purposes, for example the so-called "Pay TV Systems", i.e. for the reception of paid programs, in hotels, and for private purposes, i.e. the TV reception of all privately accessible broadcasting stations, for example in private and holiday apartments, hospitals etc. Especially in the closed circuit systems of hotels, hospitals, holiday apartments etc. which are equipped with a centralised antenna device supplying a large number of TV receivers, this network also provides services. Such services comprise information, additional programs, video text information etc. It has proven profitable to broadcast cinema movies such as drama movies, adventure movies, cartoons or erotic movies via one or several programs of the local antenna networks of hotels. Since hotel guests are not used to having additional programs provided at home, the relevant information opportunities must be presented in a way which is easy to recognise. 2. Description of the prior art So far, it was customary to place so-called program display cards for Pay TV or hotel video in the hotel rooms. Since these displays must be sufficiently large in size to attract the attention of the guest on the one hand, but must not take up valuable space in the hotel room on the other, they are usually placed on top of the TV set as the reference point, i.e. 3 to 4 meters from the top of the bed. As a result, the guest cannot read the display or does not notice it among other advertising displays of the hotel. In addition, the information cards were often misplaced by the cleaning staff, knocked over by drafts or made unreadable in another way. In the private sector, a number of stations accessible to everybody can be received without the additional Pay TV programs. When a TV set is sold to a private household or installed in hospitals or holiday apartments all the stations must be programmed locally. The number can amount to 30 stations or more which are received via cable. For the average viewer it is very difficult or even impossible to remember the channel allocations of the individual stations. In the past, this problem was solved, for example, by sticking a list of stations to the back of the remote control device. Since this device was fully exposed, it became quickly soiled and easily damaged. In hospitals or holiday apartments it is often illegible or is not even noticed, because sufficient space is only provided on the bottom part. Even though remote controls, telephones etc. are already provided with tiltable or slidable lids to cover operational controls which, not being intended for daily use, are to be kept out of sight of the user, such lids are not suitable to accommodate exchangeable information or lists of stations. They are intentionally placed out of sight, are not meant to be discovered by the occasional user and need not be opened for switching on and using the TV set for its regular purpose. Furthermore, it is often necessary in hotels, hospitals etc. to draw the attention of the guests to special features, for example breakfast times, animation programs, cosmetic treatments, opening hours of hospital shops and such like. The use of remote control devices is also a good choice here, because these, in connection not only with the TV set, but also with video recorders, CD players and cassette tape decks, are often at the center of interest. It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a device for the remote control of video/audio apparatuses, especially TV sets, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and uses said device as an information or advertising vehicle. This object is solved by a remote control device for video/audio apparatuses comprising a casing, operational controls for actuating functions of the video/audio apparatuses, electrical or electronic, respectively, circuits for giving operational signals to the video/audio apparatuses, a tilted lid mounted movably to the casing, which lid covers at least some essential operational controls in one end position and exposes the covered operational controls in the other end position, and at least one assembly formed at the lid to accommodate an exchangeable information carrier. Suitable embodiments of the device according to the invention are defined by the features set forth in the sub-claims. The advantages provided by the invention are based on the design of the remote control device as a carrier of information which the TV viewer cannot but notice when switching on the corresponding TV set. This is because, in its normal position, the tiltable lid covers not only insignificant operational controls but also, at least in part, essential operational controls, namely those necessary for switching on and/or adjusting the set (selection of stations, volume), so that, primarily, only the outer face of the lid is visible together with the information provided thereupon, e.g. a direct reference to a Pay TV program or a certain station. Thus, if the user picks up the remote control device to switch on the TV set, he cannot fail to notice the advertising message. When he tilts the lid in order to expose the essential operational controls, additional information, e.g. a sample photograph, a Pay TV program, a list of stations or a weekly program schedule, will appear on the previously invisible inside of the lid, exactly in the visual angle above the operational control keys of the device. Tests have shown that this double exposure to information, particularly in the case of new stations and Pay TV programs, surprisingly results when the TV set is switched on in the regular manner in much higher viewer or switch-on ratings than could be achieved with the pointers used so far, e.g. display boards. At the same time, the operational controls of the remote control device, generally keys, are protected against dirt, for example dust, by the tiltable lid. In addition to information on Pay TV programs, additional information could be provided on the inner or outer surface of the lid, for example advertising for beverages, tobacco products, food and luxury items and such like. Even though it is possible in principle to attach the relevant information surfaces firmly to the lid, in a preferred embodiment the lid is equipped with a holding device for information cards that can be exchanged easily. This provides an opportunity to refer to new Pay TV programs in continuous, e.g. weekly, succession. The holding device for the information card may be arranged on the inner and/or the outer surface of the lid. Thus a maximum of two information cards can be accommodated if both the inner and the outer surface of the lid are to be used as information carriers. A particularly simple and therefore advantageous embodiment is provided if the tiltable lid is made, at least in part, of a transparent material, preferably a transparent synthetic material; in this case, the information card can be mounted on the inside of the lid and provided with information on both sides; the information on the one side will then be visible from the outside through the transparent lid, whereas the information on the other side only becomes visible when the lid is tilted. That way a variety of information can be provided in a simple manner, namely by using only one information card, and easily exchanged whenever necessary. The easy exchange of the information card becomes especially advantageous if it is guided along slits or rails provided along the edges of the lid. At the same time, both information surfaces of the information card are largely protected against damage, but also against soiling, namely one of the surfaces at all times by the transparent lid and the other at least when the lid is closed, if the information card is positioned between the lid and the operational panel of the remote control device and is thus covered. Even though the information card can basically be inserted into the lid or the rails of the lid from every direction, it is preferred to insert the information card into the lid from the side averted from the surface of the remote control while the lid is in the tilted position. It has turned out to be useful if the lid remains in the opened position, i.e. if it can be moved from this open position only if a certain force is used or if the remote control device is brought into an oblique position. In this locked position, the lid and thus also the information surface on its inside should be at a 60.degree.-200.degree. angle to the operational panel of the casing; this angle ensures good legibility of the information after the lid has been opened and at the same time operability of the operational controls. An angle between 90.degree. C. and 150.degree. between the operational panel of the casing and the lid is especially useful. By means of a simple mounting mechanism, such a lid can also be mounted onto existing remote control devices at a later point in time, so that they can be "upgraded". Advantageously, the information carrier is comprised of a sheet element, especially of cardboard, carton, plastic or paper; the material should take print well so that, for example, new information carriers can be printed weekly. According to a preferred embodiment, the hinged lid can be arranged tiltably on the casing of the remote control device by means of a hinge-like holding device. For this purpose, holes or projecting parts can be provided on opposite sides of the casing which find their counterparts in the hinged lid and interlock under bias or formfittingly, thus providing a firm yet tiltable hold of the hinged lid on the casing of the remote control device. The sheet-like information carrier is advantageously held by at least two holding devices, preferably at least two projecting parts on the side of the hinged lid facing the casing, sufficient space being provided between the lid and the projecting parts so that the information card can be inserted between the lid and the projecting parts with light pressure. In order to provide the projecting parts with guiding characteristics, the projecting parts can extend in the longitudinal direction of the lid so that a kind of slit guidance for the card is provided on both sides. An additional projecting support can be positioned at the end of the insert canal. In order to prevent the card from slipping out accidentally, a stop element can be positioned at that end of the lid from which the card is slipped, and helps prevent the card from slipping out accidentally. In order to prevent the hinged lid from accidentally being lifted off the casing of the remote control device, thus presenting, for example, a surface which can be broken off if a large force is applied, at least one clamp or stop element or such like may be positioned on the lid and/or the casing which holds the lid with slight holding force so that the user does not encounter any significant resistance when wishing to use the remote control device according to the invention, whereas any unintentional tilting of the lid of the remote control device is prevented.
{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
// // CKFetchShareMetadataOperation.h // CloudKit // // Copyright © 2016 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. // #import <CloudKit/CKOperation.h> /* Since you can't know what container this share is in before you fetch its metadata, you may run this operation in any container you have access to */ @class CKShareMetadata, CKFetchShareMetadataOptions; NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN API_AVAILABLE(macos(10.12), ios(10.0), tvos(10.0), watchos(3.0)) @interface CKFetchShareMetadataOperation : CKOperation - (instancetype)init NS_DESIGNATED_INITIALIZER; - (instancetype)initWithShareURLs:(NSArray<NSURL *> *)shareURLs; @property (nonatomic, copy, nullable) NSArray<NSURL *> *shareURLs; /* If set to YES, the resulting CKShareMetadata will have a rootRecord object filled out. Defaults to NO. The resulting CKShareMetadata will have a rootRecordID property regardless of the value of this property. */ @property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL shouldFetchRootRecord; /* Declares which user-defined keys should be fetched and added to the resulting rootRecord. Only consulted if shouldFetchRootRecord is YES. If nil, declares the entire root record should be downloaded. If set to an empty array, declares that no user fields should be downloaded. Defaults to nil. */ @property (nonatomic, copy, nullable) NSArray<NSString *> *rootRecordDesiredKeys; @property (nonatomic, copy, nullable) void (^perShareMetadataBlock)(NSURL *shareURL, CKShareMetadata * _Nullable shareMetadata, NSError * _Nullable error); @property (nonatomic, copy, nullable) void (^fetchShareMetadataCompletionBlock)(NSError * _Nullable operationError); @end NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_END
{ "pile_set_name": "Github" }
Effect of manganese (II) bis(glycinate)dichloride on Ca2+ channel function in cultured chick atrial cells. Manganese (II) bis(glycinate)dichloride (Mn(glycinate)2) is a coordination complex of manganese with application as a contrast enhancement agent for magnetic resonance imaging in the heart. To determine the cardioactivity of the manganese ion in this chelation cage, the effects of Mn(glycinate)2 on Ca channel function in the cultured chick atrial cell was studied. Mn(glycinate)2 decreased amplitude of contraction in chick atrial cells from embryos 14 days in ovo with complete inhibition of beating at 1 mM and half-maximal effect at 0.1 mM. Under control conditions, Bay K 8644, a Ca channel activator increased amplitude of contraction by 86% with a half maximal effect at 3.2 x 10(-7) M. In the presence of 0.025 mM Mn(glycinate)2, a concentration which had no effect on the amplitude of contraction, the maximum response to Bay K 8644 was decreased to 31%. Mn(glycinate)2 had no effect on the EC50 for the response to Bay K 8644, 1.7 +/- 0.1 x 10(-9) M (S.E.M., n = 4) in control cells compared to 2.2 +/- 0.4 x 10(-9) M (S.E.M., n = 4) in cells incubated with Mn(glycinate)2. 45Ca2+ uptake over 5 min in cultured chick atrial cells decreased from 2.0 nmol/mg protein in control cells to 1.5 nmol/mg protein in the presence of 10(-5) M PN200-110, a Ca2+ channel blocker, a decrease of 28%. 45Ca2+ uptake decreased to 0.94 nmol/mg protein (53%) in the presence of 1 nmol Mn(glycinate)2. Effects of Mn(glycinate)2 and PN200 were not additive. These data demonstrate that Mn(glycinate)2 exerts its negative inotropic effect, at least partially, by interfering with the function of the L-type Ca channels at high concentrations.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
/* * arLabelingSub*.c * ARToolKit5 * * This file is part of ARToolKit. * * ARToolKit is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify * it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or * (at your option) any later version. * * ARToolKit is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details. * * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License * along with ARToolKit. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>. * * As a special exception, the copyright holders of this library give you * permission to link this library with independent modules to produce an * executable, regardless of the license terms of these independent modules, and to * copy and distribute the resulting executable under terms of your choice, * provided that you also meet, for each linked independent module, the terms and * conditions of the license of that module. An independent module is a module * which is neither derived from nor based on this library. If you modify this * library, you may extend this exception to your version of the library, but you * are not obligated to do so. If you do not wish to do so, delete this exception * statement from your version. * * Copyright 2015 Daqri, LLC. * Copyright 2003-2015 ARToolworks, Inc. * * Author(s): Hirokazu Kato, Philip Lamb * */ #undef AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_CCC #undef AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_CCCA #undef AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_ACCC #define AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_C #undef AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_CY #undef AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_YC #undef AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_CCC_565 #undef AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_CCCA_5551 #undef AR_PIXEL_FORMAT_CCCA_4444 #undef AR_LABELING_DEBUG_ENABLE_F #undef AR_LABELING_WHITE_REGION_F #undef AR_LABELING_FRAME_IMAGE_F #undef AR_LABELING_ADAPTIVE #include "arLabelingSub.h"
{ "pile_set_name": "Github" }
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{ "pile_set_name": "Github" }
The more than three-and-a-half hour New York stock exchange shutdown on Wednesday was caused by engineers loading the wrong software on to the system, the NYSE admitted on Thursday. The NYSE said the shutdown, which sent some traders into panic about a possible cyber terrorist attack, was sparked by its systems being “not loaded with the proper configuration compatible” with new a software upgrade. “On Tuesday evening, the NYSE began the rollout of a software release in preparation for the 11 July industry test of the upcoming SIP (Securities Information Processor) timestamp requirement,” the NYSE said in a blogpost. “As customers began connecting after 7am on Wednesday, there were communication issues between customer gateways and the trading unit with the new release. It was determined that the NYSE and NYSE MKT customer gateways were not loaded with the proper configuration compatible with the new release.” The exchange said it took measures to update the system with “the correct version of software” before the markets opened but carrying out the further upgrade “caused additional communication issues between the gateways and trading units, which began to manifest themselves mid-morning”. “At 11.32am, because NYSE and NYSE MKT were actively trading but customers were still reporting unusual system behavior, the decision was made to suspend trading on NYSE and NYSE MKT.” Trading remained suspended until 3.10pm, just 50 minutes before the markets closed as normal. The closure was the seventh since the founding of a predecessor exchange in 1817. The other closures were due to major world events, including the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, the September 11 attacks in 2001 and hurricane Sandy in 2012. Tom Farley, president of NYSE, admitted on Wednesday that “it’s not a good day”, and said an investigation would be carried out. The shutdown became a major issue. President Barack Obama was briefed on the situation by Department of Homeland Security, which ruled out a cyber terrorism attack the prospect of which has long worried politicians, regulators and traders.
{ "pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2" }
Pancreatic lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of esters of hydroxymethyl phenytoin dissolved in various metabolizable vehicles, dispersed in micellar systems, and in aqueous suspensions. Lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of fatty acid esters of 3-hydroxymethyl phenytoin was studied in various triglyceride and ethyl oleate emulsions, dispersed in micellar solutions, and suspended in an aqueous buffered solution. Phenytoin release from ethyl oleate emulsions of the prodrugs show apparent first-order kinetics with the pentanoate to nonanoate derivatives and sigmoidal kinetics with the long-chain fatty acid derivatives (stearate and oleate). A transition in the kinetic behavior, between the short- and the long-chain acyl prodrugs, was observed with the decanoate derivative. These observations are accounted for by a proposed kinetic model. Phenytoin release from the solid prodrugs follows zero-order kinetics and is independent of the total amounts of suspended material but directly proportional to the lipase concentration. Lipolysis of the solid suspended prodrugs was dependent on the length of the acyl side chain of the prodrug, with maxima for the pentanoate and the octanoate derivatives. The short-chain derivatives, acetate and propionate, as well as the long-chain prodrug, stearate, showed the slowest lipolysis rate when present as solid dispersions. The zero-order rate is qualitatively correlated with the melting point of the prodrugs. This result might be expected if the melting point is taken as a measure of the cohesivity or packing of the molecules at the surface of a crystal.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Q: Inno Setup and Copying a file I have an installer that is working just fine. What I would like to do is copy a DLL that is part of the installed application to another folder. For example I am installing the application on E:\Folder, but I would like to copy a DLL from that install to E:\public. Is it possible to have Inno copy a file to another folder as part of an install? A: If you want to copy that library into a folder which is a subfolder of the parent folder selected by the user on the Select Destination Location wizard page, then you should specify the path relative to the {app} folder for the DestDir parameter of your [Files] section entry for that library. In script it would be something like this: [Files] Source: "App.exe"; DestDir: "{app}" Source: "Library.dll"; DestDir: "{app}\..\Public" Just to make it clear, if the user selects e.g. this folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\App Folder Then the library will be copied to this folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Public
{ "pile_set_name": "StackExchange" }
Frozen blueberry cheesecake | gluten-free&vegan| Frozen blueberry cheesecake | gluten-free&vegan| I’m not eating raw all the time, but I’m trying to incorporate it as much as possible in my meals. Cooked food is something I can’t live without so going raw is not an option for me. And living in a cold country like Sweden would probably make it much harder to sustain that lifestyle. A bowl of warm stew or soup on a cold winters day is the best thing to warm up my body and soul. I tend to eat more raw in the summer, but in winter, no thank you. I need my comfort food. But I do believe that eating raw food diet is the healthiest way of eating. Eating raw means eating mostly unprocessed, fresh veggies and fruits, so how can that not be healthy? You have probably seen countless frozen raw cheesecake recipes on the internet. This blueberry cheesecake is my way of making a raw vegan cake and maybe not much different from the other recipes but still my version of it. For this recipe, you would need a food processor. Simple, cheap one will do the job. I bought one on sale a few years ago and its still working perfectly fine. I can say that I’m more than satisfied with it. Food processor purchase is the best thing that happened to me. Of all kitchen appliances, a food processor is the one that I’m using almost daily. (I would not say no to a Vitamix or a Blendtec, though). This cake tastes best chilled and its perfect on warm summer day. But you can eat it whenever you like of course. I mean, don’t let me stand in your way. Blueberries in it give it a beautiful purple color and cashews that cheesy, creamy taste. Before starting don’t forget to put a can of coconut milk in the fridge and soak cashew nuts a few hours before. If you have any questions or just want to say hi, don’t be afraid to leave a comment. I’ll be more than happy to answer all of your questions. And if you try this recipe, let me know what you think.
{ "pile_set_name": "Pile-CC" }
Koutsounari Long Beach Koutsounari Long Beach is located 5 km east of the village Koutsounari near Ierapetra. Extends for 5 km so called Long beach. The development of the beach began after 1970 and it was mild. The beach is not organized, except for a small part of which has sun loungers, umbrellas and a canteen. The eastern part of the beach, located beneath known tavern and is also very organized. Throughout the rest of the beach, has lots of trees which can provide shade to visitors. All along, the beach has small pebbles in some places relatively shallow waters. Due to its length, the long beach is ideal for water sports. External links Beaches ierapetra.net Beaches of Ierapetra ierapetra.gr Beaches near Ierapetra explorecrete.com Long Beach of Agios Ioannis, Ierapetra cretanbeaches.com Category:Beaches of Crete Category:Landforms of Lasithi
{ "pile_set_name": "Wikipedia (en)" }
For decades, William Jellett danced at gigs and festivals, and told people he was the Son of God. Then, it seemed, he disappeared. Jellett at the Reading Festival, 1974 (Source: Vin Miles, UK Rock Festivals) It was a Saturday evening, St Valentine’s Day 1970, when William Jellett first thought he might be Jesus. He was on the London Underground, travelling back from work, and noticed the headline of the newspaper unfurled opposite him: “Cambridge riots — two policemen beaten up”. There had been student protests the night before, on Friday the 13th. Feeling “hurt for my brothers,” he later told 19 magazine, he put his head in his hands. He had the sense that everyone was his brother or sister, and that the music and freedom he had found over the last few years were slipping away, with this rising violence. The lights flickered between stations, catching the dull livery. He was only 21, but violence had always bothered him; back in the children’s home, back at school, back with the mods and rockers on the beaches. It seemed to be all around him now. The music press talked about Manson and Altamont and Kent State, and sometimes there were photographs of crowds at gigs too, in which he could see himself dancing, conspicuously. Music was getting heavier too, at the gigs he went to nearly every night: Black Sabbath had released their first album the day before, The Who recorded “Live at Leeds” that night. As the train rumbled forward, Jellett looked into his hands. They were less smooth than they had been, he saw. He had not been able to hold down regular work for a while, leaving the job he had found when he first moved to London, at the tea importer, then the job in the storeroom at the BBC, where he had spent much of his time scrawling designs in biro on cardboard. He now sometimes told people he “worked in an office”, if they asked, between songs, or in queues. He did, really. Travelling around the city, he cleaned flats and houses, and offices. His hands were hardening with the work. He had never noticed the lines in his palms before. Jellett at Bath Blues Festival, 1969 (Source: Lawrence Impey, UK Rock Festivals) For the first time, Jellett saw that the lines crossed in the centre of each hand. The cross, he would say, in the “idle of my palm”. He was well-attuned to religious symbolism, and divine calling. His parents had been in the Salvation Army, and he had felt something of this significance over the last couple of years, in the music he listened to. Now, the logic overcame him. He thought about reincarnation, and about universality and interconnectedness. If we are all one, he thought, he could be anyone. People had been calling him “Jesus” for a while, and he had adopted the nickname, but now it made sense. If he had been reincarnated, he thought, “there would be no permissive society, no underground, just people wanting to be themselves and live their lives the way they wanted to before”. The crosses were stigmata, he thought.
{ "pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2" }
Q: Web API 2 download file using async Task I need to write a method like below to return a text document (.txt, pdf, .doc, .docx etc) While there are good examples of posting file in Web API 2.0 on the web , I couldn't find a relevant one for just downloading one. (I know how to do it in HttpResponseMessage.) public async Task<IHttpActionResult> GetFileAsync(int FileId) { //just returning file part (no other logic needed) } Does the above needs to be async at all? I am only looking to return stream. (Is that okay?) More importantly before I end up doing the job one way or the otther, I wanted to know what's the "right" way of doing this sort of job... (so approaches and techniques mentioning this would be greatly appreciated).. thanks. A: Right, for your above scenario the action does not need to return an async action result. Here I am creating a custom IHttpActionResult. You can check my comments in the below code here. public IHttpActionResult GetFileAsync(int fileId) { // NOTE: If there was any other 'async' stuff here, then you would need to return // a Task<IHttpActionResult>, but for this simple case you need not. return new FileActionResult(fileId); } public class FileActionResult : IHttpActionResult { public FileActionResult(int fileId) { this.FileId = fileId; } public int FileId { get; private set; } public Task<HttpResponseMessage> ExecuteAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) { HttpResponseMessage response = new HttpResponseMessage(); response.Content = new StreamContent(File.OpenRead(@"<base path>" + FileId)); response.Content.Headers.ContentDisposition = new ContentDispositionHeaderValue("attachment"); // NOTE: Here I am just setting the result on the Task and not really doing any async stuff. // But let's say you do stuff like contacting a File hosting service to get the file, then you would do 'async' stuff here. return Task.FromResult(response); } } A: Methods are asynchronous if return a Task object, not because are decorated with async keyword. async is only a syntactical sugar to replace this syntax what can get rather complex when there are more tasks combined or more continuations: public Task<int> ExampleMethodAsync() { var httpClient = new HttpClient(); var task = httpClient.GetStringAsync("http://msdn.microsoft.com") .ContinueWith(previousTask => { ResultsTextBox.Text += "Preparing to finish ExampleMethodAsync.\n"; int exampleInt = previousTask.Result.Length; return exampleInt; }); return task; } Original sample with async: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh156513.aspx async always requires await, this is enforced by compiler. Both implementations are asynchroous, the only difference is that async+await replaces expands the ContinueWith into "synchronous" code. Returning Task from controller methods what do IO (99% of cases I estimate) is important because the runtime can suspend and reuse the request thread to serve other requests while the IO operation is in progress. This lowers the chances of running out of thread pool threads. Here's an article on the topic: http://www.asp.net/mvc/overview/performance/using-asynchronous-methods-in-aspnet-mvc-4 So the answer to your question "Does the above needs to be async at all? I am only looking to return stream. (Is that okay?)" is that it makes no difference to the caller, it only changes how your code looks (but not how it works).
{ "pile_set_name": "StackExchange" }
Some environments generate a tough combination of dirt, grime, soil, and debris that is very difficult to clean effectively with only one cleaner. One example of such an extreme environment is the vehicle race track, e.g., auto speedway, truck speedway, or the like. In the course of a race, windshields are splattered both with oils (e.g., motor oils and gear oils) and with rubber bits thrown from race tires that erode during racing. Dirty windshields obscure the driver's visibility, impairing the safety of all race participants. Accordingly, it is common practice to try and clean race vehicle windshields during pit stops. Cleaning a race vehicle windshield at a pit stop is not a simple matter, because this use imposes many stringent demands on a cleaner. In addition to being able to remove oils and rubber and other soil on the windshield, the cleaning agent must act to remove this grime very fast, i.e., within the time constraints of the pit stop. The cleaner also must be easy to remove quickly from the surface. Desirably, therefore, the cleaner must not only act fast, but also evaporate at a quick enough rate so that the time spent wiping the windshield with a clean cloth, squeegee, or the like, will be at a minimum. While quick cleaning action is important, this must also be balanced against residence time. The cleaner components must evaporate at a slow enough rate so that the cleaner has a long enough contact time with the soiled surface to remove the soils. Ideally, the cleaner also should go on and come off without requiring any rinsing with water or any other rinse agent. Besides being fast and simple to use, the cleaner must be compatible with the race vehicle itself. Importantly, the cleaner must leave no residue behind that might obscure visibility through the windshield. The cleaner also must not damage the LEXAN polycarbonate material that forms the windshield or the silicone sealant around the edge of the windshield. The cleaner must also be compatible with MYLAR polyester, because a clear plastic sheet, often made of MYLAR polyester and called a “tear-away”, often is used to cover the windshield. The “tear-away” is used to dampen impacts from particulate matter during the race and can be removed quickly during a pit stop when the sheet becomes so damaged that it obscures the race vehicle driver's view. Cleaners splashed across a windshield inevitably will contact the race vehicle body, too. Therefore, the cleaner must not damage the race vehicle's body paint. The cleaner also should provide good cleaning performance over a wide temperature range. For example, it would be very desirable to have a cleaner that provides good cleaning performance at temperatures ranging from 25° F. (−4° C.) to 140° F. (60° C.). Race vehicle bodies and the walls at racetracks need to be cleaned, too. These surfaces also are splattered with the same soils as the windshield, including oils and rubber. Also, race vehicle bodies and/or racetrack walls may be smeared with rubber from the tires of other race vehicles that sideswipe such surfaces during races. For these surfaces, in addition to being able to remove oils and rubber under the stringent conditions described above, the cleaning agent must not unduly damage the inks or the backings of the promotional decals or other graphics that are affixed to the vehicle's body or the racetrack walls. The racetrack, of course, is just one example of an environment in which oils and rubber collectively challenge a cleaner. There are many others, too. For example, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and the like also get splattered with oils, tar, rubber, bugs, and the like during the course of ordinary street driving. Industrial equipment, industrial floors which have been traversed and marked by tires, engines, motors, railways, railway cars, and the like may also suffer from such grime. With the growth of industry, a significant amount of hazardous waste products and products formerly regarded as useful but now recognized as hazardous have entered the environment. These hazardous materials are frequently present as contaminants on surfaces of equipment, installations of all kinds, civil works, soil, and the like. For example, a significant amount of radioactive waste, in the form of radionuclides, is present in nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons production plants, mining and milling equipment used for uranium mining, and in apparatus in the medical area where radioactive isotopes are used. The presence of these radionuclides, which contaminate equipment including pumps, pipelines, valves, concrete foundations, and all other equipment and structures with which the radionuclides have come into contact, now pose a serious health problem since their radioactivity is known to be carcinogenic. To qualify as a decontaminated facility, depending upon the type of radioactivity, the NRC requires that the level of radioactivity from radionuclides be reduced to less than 5,000 disintegrations per minute (DPM) in some cases and other lower levels in other cases. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were once widely used industrial chemicals, especially as insulating or hydraulic fluids in electrical capacitors, transformers, vacuum pumps, gas-transmission turbines, machinery, and various other devices and products. Their chemical stability and non-flammability contributed to their commercial usefulness. However, it has since been found that PCBs are carcinogens and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently lists PCBs and any surfaces or equipment containing PCBs as hazardous. Consequently, these chemicals are no longer recommended or used in new applications. However, a large amount of existing capital equipment, installed before the listing of PCBs as hazardous, contains PCBs. These installations pose a hazard whenever a spillage of PCBs occurs thereby contaminating the surrounding area or whenever routine repairs expose workers or the environment to PCBs. While it is desirable to remove PCBs and dispose of these in a suitable hazardous waste facility, PCBs are not easily removed from apparatus or spilled areas because of their capability to enter into the tiniest of pores and microscopic voids and spaces in surfaces with which they come into contact. For example, in transformers which frequently contain wood, paper, metal joints, and electrical components with minute crevices, the PCBs soak into pores and microscopic voids in the steel and concrete and fill the tiniest of microscopic spaces such as pores and microscopic voids, and the like, in metals. When PCBs have spilled onto a surface, such as a concrete surface, the PCBs over time will soak into pores and microscopic voids in the concrete and contaminate the concrete to well below the exposed surface and into the underlying substrate. Current techniques that merely clean the surface of concrete that has been exposed to the PCBs for a long period of time are not able to adequately clean the surface and do not reach PCBs held in the substrate below the surface in the pores and microscopic voids. Moreover, once surface cleaning has been completed, PCBs leach from the pores and microscopic voids to the surface over time due to the effect of a concentration gradient. Thus, the surface becomes recontaminated and further cleaning is necessitated. Likewise, while the bulk of the PCBs can be readily drained from some PCB-containing equipment, the residual PCB contaminant in pores, microscopic voids, crevices, and joints is not easily removed. It is found that upon refilling the drained apparatus with a replacement fluid for PCBs, PCBs will continue to leach from surfaces of the apparatus into the replacement fluid thereby contaminating it and rendering it hazardous. Likewise, heavy metals have been identified as hazardous to human health and the EPA requires their removal from environments where they pose a health hazard. Like PCBs and radionuclides, heavy metals have the capability to migrate into pores, joints, crevices, and microscopic voids in interior and exterior surfaces and thereby cause contamination in the substrate to well below the apparent surface of any apparatus, device, or ground surface with which they come into contact. Mere surface cleaning is therefore ineffective to remove heavy metals contamination from substrates. Certain pesticides and herbicides are also now known to be hazardous to human health. These compositions contaminate surfaces and substrates, such as concrete, but more especially particulate surfaces, such as soil, clay, gravel, and the like. There is a need for methods and cleaning compositions for the removal of contaminants including radionuclides, PCBs, herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals from porous and non-porous interior and exterior surfaces, particulate surfaces, and surfaces having minute spaces, crevices, pores, or microscopic voids into which these contaminants migrate and from which they are not readily extractable. Further, the method and cleaning compositions should desirably not only extract these contaminants from well below the surface to be cleaned, but should extract these to such a level that any remaining contaminants do not pose a hazard, i.e., a surface and its underlying substrate cleaned of PCBs would meet EPA regulations for reclassification from a hazardous to a non-hazardous material; a surface and its substrate cleaned of heavy metals, herbicides, or pesticides, would meet the EPA's TCLP standard setting the upper limit for their concentration; and a surface and its substrate cleaned of radionuclides would test at less than 5,000 DPM. The method and cleaning compositions should also desirably extract these contaminants without significant surface damage or scarring. Further, the method and cleaning compositions should desirably extract these contaminants with a minimum amount of hazardous waste byproduct which must be disposed of and, in the case of radionuclides, the byproduct waste should preferably be water soluble to assist in ease of disposal. Finally, cleaning compositions should desirably not be flammable. What is needed is a cleaner that has the power to clean oil, tar, rubber, bug residue, and other soils over a wide temperature range, yet will not damage metal, many paints, many inks, ceramic, wood, concrete, many plastics and/or the like.
{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Tag Archives: rain It would be great if climate change science was, as many people wish, unproven or uncertain. Alas, it is neither unproven nor uncertain and the impacts on our state, our country, and our planet are disastrous, certain, and growing ever more dangerous each year that we ignore the need for responsible, common-sense approaches to reduce emissions.
{ "pile_set_name": "Pile-CC" }
Optimisation of a sample preparation procedure for the screening of fungal infection and assessment of deoxynivalenol content in maize using mid-infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. A sample preparation procedure for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) using attenuated total reflection mid-infrared spectroscopy is presented. Repeatable spectra were obtained from samples featuring a narrow particle size distribution. Samples were ground with a centrifugal mill and analysed with an analytical sieve shaker. Particle sizes of <100, 100-250, 250-500, 500-710 and 710-1000 microm were obtained. Repeatability, classification and quantification abilities for DON were compared with non-sieved samples. The 100-250 microm fraction showed the best repeatability. The relative standard deviation of spectral measurements improved from 20 to 4.4% and 100% of sieved samples were correctly classified compared with 79% of non-sieved samples. The DON level in analysed fractions was a good estimate of overall toxin content.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Tästä on kyse Farmakogeneettisillä testeillä tarkoitetaan geenitestejä, joilla voidaan selvittää, miten lääkkeet eri ihmisiin tehoavat Tällä hetkellä on mahdollista testata noin 150 lääkeainetta Kaikkien lääkkeiden tehoon perimä ei vaikuta Farmakogeneettisiä testejä on tehty vasta muutamille tuhansille suomalaisille Anne istuu kotisohvallaan ja näyttää hänelle tehdyn geenitestin tuloksia. Kyseessä on farmakogeneettinen testi, joka kertoo, miten eri lääkeaineet vaikuttavat häneen. Anne on syönyt kaksi vuotta mielialalääkkeitä. Testin tuloksesta selviää, että kyse on ollut lääkkeistä, jotka eivät toimi hänelle samalla annostuksella kuin suurimmalle osalle muista ihmisistä. Anne on kiertänyt testituloksen kanssa usean lääkärin luona. Joka kerta hänelle on määrätty lääkkeitä, jotka on jo aikaisemmin todettu hänelle sopimattomiksi. Pettymys ja turhautuminen on käsinkosketeltavaa. Testitulos huojensi Palataan hetkeksi vuoteen 2016. Anne sairastuu työuupumuksen aiheuttamaan masennukseen. Hän on väsynyt, mieliala on huono. Olisi löydettävä sopiva mielialalääke, joka nopeuttaisi toipumista ja työhön palaamista. Kuluu kaksi vuotta, eikä sopivaa lääkettä ole vieläkään löytynyt. Anne on kokeillut useita eri lääkkeitä, mutta mikään ei ole tuonut apua. Sivuvaikutuksia on tullut sitäkin enemmän: muun muassa nivelsärkyä, päänsärkyä, ummetusta, käsien tärinää, hiustenlähtöä ja pahoinvointia. – Suurimman osan ihmisistä on hankala edes ajatella, että he alkaisivat käyttää mielialalääkettä. Niihin suhtaudutaan negatiivisesti. Jatkuvat tehottomat lääkekokeilut ja sivuvaikutukset lisäävät kielteistä suhtautumista ja nostavat kynnystä uusien lääkkeiden kokeiluun, Anne sanoo. Lukuisten epäonnistuneiden lääkekokeilujen jälkeen työterveyslääkäri suosittelee Annelle farmakogeneettistä testiä. Sillä voidaan selvittää, miten mikäkin lääke vaikuttaa potilaaseen ja kuinka nopeasti lääke poistuu kehosta. Testin perusteella voidaan ennakoida, kenelle lääkkeestä on apua ja kuka saa sivuvaikutuksia. Jatkuvat tehottomat lääkekokeilut ja sivuvaikutukset lisäävät kielteistä suhtautumista mielialalääkkeisiin. Anne Anne käy antamassa verinäytteen laboratoriossa. Kun tulokset tulevat, olo on huojentunut. Annen geenitestissä tarkasteltiin 19 eri geeniä. Kuudessa niistä oli poikkeamia, jotka saattoivat vaikuttaa lääkeaineiden tehoon. Kolme näistä kuudesta geenistä oli sellaisia, joilla oli yhteys Annen aikaisemmin kokeilemiin mielialalääkkeisiin. Syy lääkkeiden tehottomuudelle löytyi. Samalla saatiin selitys moneen muuhunkin asiaan, muun muassa siihen, miten migreeniin määrätty kodeiini aiheutti Annelle aina pahoinvointia. Perimä vaikuttaa joka viidenteen lääkkeeseen Farmakogeneettiset testit ovat Suomessa vielä melko harvinaisia: niitä on tehty muutamille tuhansille ihmisille. Testeillä voidaan toistaiseksi mitata noin 150 lääkeaineen sopivuutta eri potilaille. Geenitestien lausuntopalveluita laboratorioille tuottavan Abomics Oy:n toimitusjohtaja, sisätautien erikoislääkäri Jari Forström kertoo, että noin seitsemän prosenttia ihmiskäytössä olevista lääkeaineista on sellaisia, joissa genetiikalla on merkitystä. Nämä lääkeaineet ovat hyvin yleisiä lääkkeitä, joten Forströmin arvion mukaan kaikista ihmisille määrätyistä resepteistä 18 prosenttia on sellaisia, joihin genetiikka vaikuttaa. Psykiatria on yksi tärkeimmistä erikoisalueista, jolla geenitestejä voidaan hyödyntää. Muun muassa psykoosi- ja depressiolääkkeiden kohdalla geneettiset yksilölliset vaihtelut ovat suuria. Helsingin yliopistossa on tutkittu yhtä yleisimmin käytetyistä masennuslääkkeistä, sitalopraamia. Tutkimusten perusteella lääkeaine ei tehoa perimästä johtuen riittävällä tavalla joka viidenteen potilaaseen. Masennuslääkkeiden lisäksi geenitestit antavat tietoa myös kivunhoitoon liittyvien lääkeaineiden, esimerkiksi kodeiinin ja tramadolin, sopivuudesta. Kolmas tärkeä ryhmä ovat verenkiertolääkkeet. Abomicsin toimitusjohtaja Jari Forström uskoo, että testaamista vähentää se, etteivät lääkärit välttämättä tiedä asiasta. Paula Collin / Yle Jatkuvia pettymyksiä Kun Anne sai käsiinsä farmakogeneettisen testin tulokset, hän uskoi vihdoin löytävänsä sopivan mielialalääkkeen. Toisin kävi. Annen työterveyslääkäri sanoi suoraan, ettei osaa hyödyntää tuloksia tarpeeksi hyvin. Hän suositteli toista lääkäriä, jonka piti olla perehtynyt aiheeseen. Vierailu vastaanotolla tuotti kuitenkin pettymyksen. Lääkäri ei ollut kiinnostunut Annelle tehdystä geenitestistä vaan määräsi samaa lääkettä, jota Anne oli aiemminkin syönyt. Tämä käynti ei jäänyt Annen ainoaksi tuloksettomaksi lääkärikäynniksi. Hän varasi aikoja myös muille lääkäreille, mutta kaikki heistä määräsivät Annelle samoja lääkkeitä, joita hän oli kokeillut aiemminkin. Nämä kaikki lääkkeet olivat farmakogeneettisen testin perusteella sellaisia, jotka eivät normaaliannostuksella Annelle sovi. Eikö potilas olekaan lääkärille tärkein? Anne Suurin osa lääkäreistä ei edes vilkaissut Annen geenitestituloksia. Yksi lääkäreistä luki tulokset, mutta päätyi silti käyttämään edellisen lääkärin määräämää lääkettä. – Olen yrittänyt pehmeästi ja kohteliaasti tuoda esille, että minulla on tällainen geenitesti. Yksi lääkäri totesi, että on helpompi jatkaa samalla lääkkeellä kuin alkaa kokeilla uutta. Toinen sanoi, että ihmisessä on niin paljon geenejä, että ei tiedetä, kuinka paljon ne masennuslääkkeiden käytössä vaikuttavat. Vastaanotot ovat paitsi olleet kalliita, myös aiheuttaneet jatkuvia pettymyksiä. – Se turhauttaa. Kukaan lääkäreistä ei ole kunnolla osannut perustella vastahakoisuuttaan. Herää kysymys, kuinka paljon lääkäri antaa painoarvoa sille, tuleeko lääkkeestä sivuvaikutuksia ja miten se vaikuttaa potilaaseen. Eikö potilas olekaan lääkärille tärkein? Vai onko niin, että kun on kokeiltu useita lääkkeitä, potilas saa hankalan potilaan leiman, ja sitten ei enää haluta auttaa? Asenteet ja tietämys kaipaavat muutosta Abomicsin Jari Forström pitää Annen kohtaamaa tilannetta valitettavana. Ongelmat liittyvät asenteisiin, mutta myös tietämykseen. – Jos potilaalle on aikaisemmin määrätty tiettyä lääkettä, on lääkärin vaikea ymmärtää, miksi jostain päivästä lähtien ei saisikaan toimia vanhaan malliin. Kun tieto lisääntyy, vanhoista käytännöistä tulee hoitovirheitä, Forström sanoo. Myös dosentti Petri Vainio Turun yliopistosta pitää ikävänä sitä, että farmakogeneettisen testin tuloksiin suhtaudutaan vähättelevästi. Hän työskentelee Turun yliopiston ylläpitämässä kliinisen farmakologian konsultaatiopalvelussa. Sieltä lääkärit saavat neuvoja lääkehoitoon liittyvissä kysymyksissä. Kysymyksiä farmakogenetiikkaan liittyen tulee jonkin verran. Huomattavasti vähemmän tulee riskejä ja ennen kaikkea epäonnistumisia, kun lähdetään valitsemaan lääkehoitoa tiedon perusteella. Petri Vainio – Testit hankitaan usein kotimaiselta toimittajalta, ja ohessa tulee testituloksen tulkintaohje. Jos se ei riitä, autamme mielellämme. Tärkeintä on, että testitieto saadaan käytettyä potilaan parhaaksi, Vainio sanoo. Entä jos lääkäri ei halua hyödyntää farmakogeneettistä testiä, vaan hän uskoo pystyvänsä löytämään sopivan lääkkeen ilmankin testiä? Dosentti Petri Vainion mukaan tämä on se tilanne, jossa elettiin ennen kuin geenitestit tulivat käyttöön. Silloin valittiin joku lääkeannos ja mietittiin sen jälkeen, pitääkö annosta suurentaa tai pienentää vai lähdetäänkö hakemaan vaihtoehtoista lääkettä. – Niinkin voi lähestyä, mutta huomattavasti vähemmän tulee riskejä ja ennen kaikkea epäonnistumisia, kun lähdetään valitsemaan lääkehoitoa tiedon perusteella, Vainio sanoo. Dosentti Petri Vainio muistuttaa, että käytössä on myös paljon sellaisia lääkkeitä, joiden vaikutukseen perimällä ei ole merkitystä. Paula Collin / Yle Toistaiseksi suurin osa farmakogeneettisistä testeistä tehdään Suomessa silloin, kun huomataan, että lääkehoito ei tehoa ja tiedetään, että taustalla voi olla jonkin geenin vaikutus. Petri Vainion mukaan testejä kannattaisi näissä tapauksissa tehdä hyvin matalalla kynnyksellä. Vainio kuitenkin muistuttaa, että käytössä on myös paljon sellaisia lääkkeitä, joiden vaikutukseen perimällä ei ole merkitystä. Abomicsin Jari Forström uskoo, että testaamista vähentää se, etteivät lääkärit välttämättä tiedä asiasta. – Jos lääkärikoulutuksesta on kymmenen vuotta aikaa, eivät lääkärit ole saaneet asiasta oppia. Aika harvoin lääkäri pystyy työssään oppimaan uusia asioita tehokkaasti, Forström sanoo. Hän nostaa esiin myös sen, että lääkehoidon koulutuksesta vastaa varsinkin työssäkäyvien lääkärien osalta hyvin vahvasti lääketeollisuus. Ei sen intressinä ole puhua lääkkeiden haittavaikutuksista, Forström sanoo. Osaava lääkäri tekee testin, mutta seuraava ei osaa hyödyntää sitä. Jari Forström Jari Forström suuntaa sanansa erityisesti sairaanhoitopiireille, päättäjille ja lääkelaitokselle. – Farmakogeneettiset testit vaativat ohjeistusta ja Käypä hoito -suositusta. Jos asia on yksittäisen lääkärin mielenkiinnon kohteena, käy juuri näin, että osaava lääkäri tekee testin, mutta seuraava ei osaa hyödyntää sitä. Sen pitäisi mennä niin, että sairaanhoitopiirit sekä ministeriö ja Lääkelaitos laativat Käypä hoito -ohjeen, jossa kerrotaan, missä tilanteessa testiä pitää käyttää. Jari Forström kertoo, että geenitestien hinnat ovat laskeneet merkittävästi kymmenessä vuodessa. Farmakogeneettinen testi maksaa parisataa euroa. Se on hinta, jonka työssäkäyvä pystyy usein maksamaan. Hinta kuitenkin jarruttaa testauksen yleistymistä, ja koko väestön testaaminen on katsottu nykytilanteessa kannattamattomaksi. Tulevaisuudessa mennään kuitenkin todennäköisesti siihen, että testejä aletaan tehdä entistä enemmän jo ennen lääkityksen aloittamista. Potilaalla keinot vähissä Palataan vielä Annen luo. Jokaisen epäonnistuneen lääkekokeilun jälkeen tulee pettymys. Menee aikaa, että potilas saa kerättyä itsensä kasaan ja päättää, riittääkö voimia vielä uuteen kokeiluun. – Jos lääke ei osu kohdalleen, käy pahimmassa tapauksessa niin, että aikaa kuluu ja masennus ehtii pahentua. Jos henkilö on vielä työelämässä, sairasloma pitenee. Se on huono asia sekä potilaalle että työnantajalle. Anne itsekin on sairaslomalla eikä töihin paluusta ole vielä tietoa. – Jos ei löydy sopivaa lääkettä eikä psykoterapia auta, onko viimeinen vaihtoehto sairaseläke? Se on aika pelottava ajatus, Anne sanoo. AOP Yli 400 000 suomalaista käytti vuonna 2017 masennuslääkkeitä, kertovat Kelan tilastot (siirryt toiseen palveluun). Anne miettii, miten moni heistä mahtaa syödä tehotonta lääkettä, kokea jatkuvia pettymyksiä ja kerryttää kustannuksia sekä itselleen että yhteiskunnalle. Hän uskoo, että jos geenitestien hinnat vielä nykyisestä laskevat, alkavat monet maksaa testejä itselleen. Jo nyt testin pystyy ostamaan apteekista ja lähettämään itse analysoitavaksi. Tällöin näyte otetaan verikokeen sijaan pumpulipuikolla posken limakalvolta. – Ehkä sitä kautta tulee lääkäreille painetta, Anne arvelee. Hän tietää, että jossain vaiheessa keinot loppuvat. Vielä Anne ei ole antanut periksi. Hän suunnittelee varaavansa ajan ainakin vielä yhdeltä lääkäriltä. – Haluan oikeasti löytää sopivan lääkkeen ja ratkaisun terveystilanteeseeni. Siksi toivon, että lääkärikin tekisi kaikkensa. Juttua päivitetty kello 11.16: Poistettu yksi Annen sitaatti, jossa hän kertoi, mitä geenitestin tulokset kertoivat hänen aineenvaihduntansa toiminnasta liittyen kodeiiniin ja morfiiniin. Lue myös: Paljon käytetty masennuslääke ei sovi kaikille suomalaisille – geenit sanelevat, millaiset seuraukset lääkkeestä voi tulla
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54 Mich. App. 456 (1974) 221 N.W.2d 187 PEOPLE v. GOINS Docket No. 18269. Michigan Court of Appeals. Decided July 24, 1974. Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, and William C. Buhl, Prosecuting Attorney, for the people. Francis Zebot, Assistant State Appellate Defender, for defendant. Before: ALLEN, P.J., and T.M. BURNS and R.L. SMITH,[*] JJ. T.M. BURNS, J. An understanding of the chronology of events in the instant case is necessary for a proper consideration of defendant's questions on appeal. On May 17, 1971, defendant Eugene Goins was arraigned on a two-count information charging him with sale of marijuana, MCLA 335.152; MSA 18.1122, and carrying a concealed weapon without a license, MCLA 750.227; MSA 28.424. He stood mute, and the court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. *458 On July 1, 1971, the information was amended to add a third count, possession of marijuana, MCLA 335.153; MSA 18.1123. On July 6, 1971, defendant's plea of guilty was accepted on counts II and III of the amended information. He pled not guilty to count I (sale), and that count was subsequently quashed. On August 30, 1971, defendant was sentenced to 2-1/2 to 5 years on count II (carrying a concealed weapon and 2-1/2 to 10 years on count III (possession). On April 26, 1972, the trial court vacated defendant's conviction and sentence for possession of marijuana (count III) pursuant to People v Sinclair, 387 Mich 91; 194 NW2d 878 (1972). On May 5, 1972, the trial court vacated defendant's plea-based conviction and sentence for carrying a concealed weapon (count II) on the basis of a violation of People v Jaworski, 387 Mich 21; 194 NW2d 868 (1972). At the same time the court granted the prosecutor's motion to reinstate count I (sale). On July 13, 1972, the prosecution filed a supplemental information pursuant to MCLA 769.10; MSA 28.1082 and MCLA 769.13; MSA 28.1085, charging sale of marijuana and carrying a concealed weapon as "second felonies", thereby increasing the possible maximum sentences on those charges by fifty percent. On July 19, 1972, defendant was arraigned on counts I and II and the supplemental information and he pled not guilty to count I (sale) and the supplemental information on that charge, and guilty to count II (carrying concealed weapon) and the supplemental information on that charge, acknowledging the existence of a 1956 conviction for breaking and entering. Count I (sale) and its appended supplemental information were quashed. *459 On September 5, 1972, defendant was sentenced to 2-1/2 to 7-1/2 years in Jackson prison. On June 22, 1973, the prosecution moved to strike the conviction on the supplemental information as a result of the decision in People v McMiller, 389 Mich 425; 208 NW2d 451 (1973), and on July 12, 1973, the trial court entered an order amending defendant's sentence to 2-1/2 to 5 years in prison. Defendant first contends that after his plea of guilty to possession of marijuana was set aside, the prosecutor's reinstatement of the sale charge was improper because such action contravenes the policy expressed in People v McMiller, supra. In McMiller, our Supreme Court held that upon the acceptance of a plea of guilty, as a matter of policy, the state may not thereafter charge a higher offense arising out of the same transaction. The Court enumerated two overriding policy considerations when it stated at p 432: "Allowing trial on a higher charge following reversal of a plea-based conviction of a lesser offense would (1) discourage exercise of the defendant's right to appeal a conviction claimed to be based on an improperly accepted plea, and (2) tend to insulate from appellate scrutiny non-compliance with the guilty plea procedure established by the statute and the court rule." Applying these considerations to the case at bar, we are of the opinion that the trial court erred in allowing the prosecutor to reinstate the sale charge after defendant's guilty plea to possession had been set aside. We are aware that in People v McGreevy, 52 Mich App 52; 216 NW2d 623 (1973), the Court declined to apply McMiller retroactively. However, McGreevy is distinguishable on its facts, since there a guilty plea to a lesser offense had been set *460 aside, the defendant had been recharged with the greater offense and had again pled guilty to the lesser offense. In this case defendant did not again plead guilty to the lesser offense, but instead pled guilty to an unrelated offense. Therefore, McGreevy is not controlling and we conclude that the holding in McMiller applies to defendant's case, thereby precluding his retrial on the sale charge. Since we hold that it was improper to reinstate the sale charge against the defendant, we find it unnecessary to consider defendant's equal protection challenge to the statute under which the sale charge was reinstated. Defendant next claims that his plea of guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and the supplemental information on that charge was coerced by the improper reinstatement of the sale charge. Defendant argues that his plea was involuntary because he had no choice. He either had to plead guilty to the charge of carrying a concealed weapon or be faced with further prosecution and an increase in sentence via the supplemental information for sale of marijuana charged in contravention of the policy of McMiller. Defendant thus asserts that the only way he could extricate himself from the threat of the improper sale charge was to plead guilty to the concealed weapon charge. We agree. Defendant requested an evidentiary hearing before the trial court to determine whether his plea of guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and the supplemental information was coerced by the reinstated charge of sale of marijuana. Although this motion is still pending in the Van Buren Circuit Court, since such a hearing has not been held, we assume for our purposes that the motion has been denied. The motion should have been granted for if such hearing had been held, we would then have *461 before us a proper record from which we could determine the question of the involuntariness of defendant's plea. However, due to the circumstances of this case, we find remand for an evidentiary hearing unnecessary, since we are of the opinion that defendant's guilty plea should be vacated and that he should be granted a new trial on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon. We do so because we feel that with the improper sale charge now eliminated, an evidentiary hearing into the question of the involuntariness of defendant's plea would serve no useful purpose. Instead defendant is entitled to a new trial where the possibility of coercion would be nonexistent. We are aware that the Kindell[1] line of cases hold that even where a plea is induced by a desire to avoid the possibility of conviction on the greater offense, that is not a ground for vacating the plea on the ground of involuntariness. However, Kindell and its progeny are distinguishable on two grounds. First, in those cases the defendants were properly charged as to the greater offense, and thus their assertions that they were thereby coerced to pleading to the lesser offense were held to be meritless. But in the instant case, as we have already stated, defendant was improperly charged with a greater offense and we believe his claim of coercion to have merit. Second, in Kindell and its progeny, the defendants pled guilty to a charge which was a lesser included offense of the greater crime charged. Here the defendant's plea was to an offense totally unrelated to the greater sale of *462 marijuana charge. Therefore, the Kindell line of cases is not controlling. Since our previous discussion effectively disposes of this case, we find it unnecessary to deal with defendant's remaining allegations of error. A careful review of the record in regard to those issues discloses no prejudicial error. Reversed and remanded for a new trial on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon. All concurred. NOTES [*] Former circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment pursuant to Const 1963, art 6, § 23 as amended in 1968. [1] People v Kindell, 17 Mich App 22; 168 NW2d 909 (1969); People v Jackson, 20 Mich App 414; 174 NW2d 9 (1969); People v Sumlin, 32 Mich App 1; 188 NW2d 144 (1971); People v Grades, 35 Mich App 383; 192 NW2d 655 (1971).
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Deluge (fireboat, 1923) Deluge is a fireboat (also referred to as a firefighting tug) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Built by Johnson Drydock & Shipbuilding Co. of New Orleans in 1923, she was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. She was the nation's second oldest fireboat at the time. In March 1930, a fire broke out on the freighter Scantic, lasting two days. Ten crew members were killed. It was the first major fire the Deluge had to put out. In March 1958, a schoolhouse was on fire in Algiers. The Deluge helped aid the firemen by dousing the school with a quarter of a million gallons of water from the river. The most famous fire battled by the Deluge was the Christmas Eve fire in 1950. A barge with crude oil smashed into the Standard Oil tanker Baltimore, resulting in an oil spill. Fire quickly engulfed the oil, and from the docks it looked as though the river were on fire. Deluge quickly arrived and peppered the boats and the surrounding area with gallons of water. Successfully, the fireboat ended the threat. It was common for Deluge to fight forty fires a year. Along with battling fires, Deluge also completed other tasks. She completed numerous towing jobs as well as maintenance after a fire had occurred. This usually required clearing the silt off of docks and boats. Deluge would also rescue floating barges and boats and bring them back to the docks. The Deluge was retired in 1992. She is no longer operational and would require hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix. It is possible the fireboat will be stripped for its scrap metal if no buyer comes forward, as the maintenance for the boat is steadily increasing. References Category:National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana Category:Buildings and structures in New Orleans Category:Fireboats of the United States Category:Ships on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana Category:1923 ships Category:National Register of Historic Places in New Orleans
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Messages from the Multiverse - Podcasthttp://www.Hypnotropia.com Sun, 01 Mar 2020 05:02:06 +0000Sun, 01 Mar 2020 05:02:06 +000060enAll rights reservedfeeds@soundcloud.com (SoundCloud Feeds)A podcast on alternative science, hypnosis, shamanism, the paranormal and superphysical, consciousness exploration, and wellness to name some topics. Hosted by Ian R. Anderson - Certified Hypnotherapist, Certified Handwriting Analyst, Master Facilitator of Therapeutic Imagery. Hypnotherapy Instructor. Specializes in subconscious behavior, motivation, symbolism and meaning as well as using hypnosis to enhance creativity, spiritual exploration, reducing stress and negativity, success building. create inner-peace and explore consciousness. Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht. has also created successful techniques for improving memory and reducing performance and test anxiety with hypnosis. Hypnotropia is Ian's private Hypnotherapy practice in Encino, CA. Visit www.Hypnotropia.com for more information.A podcast on alternative science, hypnosis, shama…Hypnotropiamessagesfromthemultiverse@gmail.comIan R. Anderson, C.Ht.nohttp://i1.sndcdn.com/avatars-000227063582-0k9ech-original.jpgHypnotropiahttp://www.Hypnotropia.com tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/335772491Episode 18 - Universal Kabbalah and the Mystery of Being - Messages from the MultiverseTue, 01 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-18-universal-kabbalah-and-the-mystery-of-being-messages-from-the-multiverse 01:42:36Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan interviews Dr. Theresa Bullard, Physicist, Kabbalist and International Instructor for the Modern Mystery School on the topics of the Universal Kabbalah, the Tree of Life, the Creation of the Universe and the Structure of Reality. Edited by: Marcelino Lerma, Jr.Ian interviews Dr. Theresa Bullard, Physicist, Ka…Ian interviews Dr. Theresa Bullard, Physicist, Kabbalist and International Instructor for the Modern Mystery School on the topics of the Universal Kabbalah, the Tree of Life, the Creation of the Universe and the Structure of Reality. Edited by: Marcelino Lerma, Jr.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/325317643Episode 17 - U R the 1 Mini-Doc Series - Messages from the MultiverseTue, 30 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-17-u-r-the-1-mini-doc-series-messages-from-the-multiverse 01:17:05Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noJorge Perez, commercial artist agent, joins Ian to discuss his Short Form Documentary Series, U R the 1 - a collection of inspiring stories of the strength of the human spirit, showing the ability of an individual to heal, grow and forgive the most tragic events - told by those who experienced the events firsthand.Jorge Perez, commercial artist agent, joins Ian t…Jorge Perez, commercial artist agent, joins Ian to discuss his Short Form Documentary Series, U R the 1 - a collection of inspiring stories of the strength of the human spirit, showing the ability of an individual to heal, grow and forgive the most tragic events - told by those who experienced the events firsthand.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/312264178BONUS - HypnoShaman - Ian R Anderson, C.Ht. on ChakrapodMon, 13 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/bonus-hypnoshaman-ian-r-anderson-cht-on-chakrapod 01:36:03Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan R. Anderson, C.Ht., host of "Messages from the Multiverse" is the guest being interviewed on this episode of Chakrapod. Ian discusses HypnoShamanism, his synthesis of archaic and modern trance techniques for healing the Mind/Body/Spirit system. Other topics include Multiverse Consciousness, Spiritual Expansion, Freedom of Thought, Psychedelic Philosophy and Healing the Earth.Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht., host of "Messages from th…Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht., host of "Messages from the Multiverse" is the guest being interviewed on this episode of Chakrapod. Ian discusses HypnoShamanism, his synthesis of archaic and modern trance techniques for healing the Mind/Body/Spirit system. Other topics include Multiverse Consciousness, Spiritual Expansion, Freedom of Thought, Psychedelic Philosophy and Healing the Earth.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/309934452Episode 16 - Personal Power and Creativity w/ Tribal Baroque - Messages from the MultiverseMon, 27 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-16-personal-power-and-creativity-messages-from-the-multiverse 01:20:24Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noMusical duo, Tribal Baroque: Lila Angelique and Thoth, join Ian to discuss their music, their experience of the creative and alchemical process of transmuting the energy of emotions into personal power and creative energy for the purpose of creating beautiful art and music. They share their perspectives on the meaning and importance of creativity in human life, and the importance of allowing oneself to experience the full spectrum of emotion. In 2002 Thoth was the subject of an Academy Award winning documentary short titled "Thoth", about his life and music.Musical duo, Tribal Baroque: Lila Angelique and T…Musical duo, Tribal Baroque: Lila Angelique and Thoth, join Ian to discuss their music, their experience of the creative and alchemical process of transmuting the energy of emotions into personal power and creative energy for the purpose of creating beautiful art and music. They share their perspectives on the meaning and importance of creativity in human life, and the importance of allowing oneself to experience the full spectrum of emotion. In 2002 Thoth was the subject of an Academy Award winning documentary short titled "Thoth", about his life and music.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/305386378Episode 15 - Shamanic Soul Retrieval - Messages from the MultiverseSat, 28 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-15-shamanic-soul-retrieval-messages-from-the-multiverse 01:32:51Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan interviews Shamanic Healer, Holly Marie, on her life's passion: Shamanic Soul Retrieval and her work as a Shaman in modern society. Holly discusses many fascinating topics including the extraction of spirit entities, healing ancestral trauma, and DNA clearing. Holly's website: www.SacredHeartAscension.com Hypnotropia and Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.: www.Hypnotropia.comIan interviews Shamanic Healer, Holly Marie, on h…Ian interviews Shamanic Healer, Holly Marie, on her life's passion: Shamanic Soul Retrieval and her work as a Shaman in modern society. Holly discusses many fascinating topics including the extraction of spirit entities, healing ancestral trauma, and DNA clearing. Holly's website: www.SacredHeartAscension.com Hypnotropia and Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.: www.Hypnotropia.comtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/289878084Episode 14 - Kundalini Yoga and Kundalini Awakenings - Messages from the MultiverseSun, 23 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-14-kundalini-yoga-and-kundalini-awakenings-messages-from-the-multiverse 01:34:22Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan interviews Dharam Deep Singh on Kundalini Yoga and Kundalini Awakenings and the nature of Kundalini Energy, as well as many other topics. Dharam is a Yogi and teacher of Kundalini Yoga, DJ, Podcast Host and Hypnotherapist. He has taught yoga around the world from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Thailand and Bali, Indonesia.Ian interviews Dharam Deep Singh on Kundalini Yog…Ian interviews Dharam Deep Singh on Kundalini Yoga and Kundalini Awakenings and the nature of Kundalini Energy, as well as many other topics. Dharam is a Yogi and teacher of Kundalini Yoga, DJ, Podcast Host and Hypnotherapist. He has taught yoga around the world from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Thailand and Bali, Indonesia.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/287122662Episode 13 - Channeling Osairah - Messages from the MultiverseTue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-13-channeling-osairah-messages-from-the-multiverse 01:47:55Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan interviews Grace Cavanaugh on her fascinating and inspiring story of spiritual awakening, consciousness expanding and her discovery that she was a "clear channel". She then channels "Osairah", a group of 12 beings of PURE SPIRIT from beyond the 3rd dimension, in other words, hyperspace.Ian interviews Grace Cavanaugh on her fascinating…Ian interviews Grace Cavanaugh on her fascinating and inspiring story of spiritual awakening, consciousness expanding and her discovery that she was a "clear channel". She then channels "Osairah", a group of 12 beings of PURE SPIRIT from beyond the 3rd dimension, in other words, hyperspace.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/284917217Episode 12 - Medium between the Living and the Dead - Messages from the MultiverseTue, 27 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-12-medium-between-the-living-and-the-dead-messages-from-the-multiverse 00:59:49Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noInterview with Lizzy Gillam a.k.a. Lizzy Star, International Medium, on topics such as Communicating with the Dead, Spirit Guides, Parallel Lives, Alternate Realities, the Spirit World and God or Source. Lizzy Gillam has been in service to others through her work as a medium for over 35 years and has appeared on dozens of radio shows and other forms of media.Interview with Lizzy Gillam a.k.a. Lizzy Star, In…Interview with Lizzy Gillam a.k.a. Lizzy Star, International Medium, on topics such as Communicating with the Dead, Spirit Guides, Parallel Lives, Alternate Realities, the Spirit World and God or Source. Lizzy Gillam has been in service to others through her work as a medium for over 35 years and has appeared on dozens of radio shows and other forms of media.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/282675274Episode 11 - Shifting your Energy and Vibration - Messages from the MultiverseMon, 12 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-11-shifting-your-energy-and-vibration 01:00:56Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noInterview with Diana Cason, author of "Game Changers: Simple East Tools to Shift your Energy, your Attitude, and your Vibration in Minutes". Topics discussed include Vibration Mastery, Manifesting Desired Outcomes, Spiritual Awakenings, Mindfulness, Connecting to Source/Spirit, and how to Shift your Attention toward Good/God.Interview with Diana Cason, author of "Game Chang…Interview with Diana Cason, author of "Game Changers: Simple East Tools to Shift your Energy, your Attitude, and your Vibration in Minutes". Topics discussed include Vibration Mastery, Manifesting Desired Outcomes, Spiritual Awakenings, Mindfulness, Connecting to Source/Spirit, and how to Shift your Attention toward Good/God.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/265785753Episode 10 - After Death Communication - Messages from the MultiverseSun, 22 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-10-after-death-communication-messages-from-the-multiverse 00:46:49Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan Interviews Maureen McGill, MA, BFA about her new book "Baby It's You: Messages from Deceased Heroes". Maureen McGill is on the board of the Seattle Institute of Near Death Studies and is also the co-author of a book titled "Live from the Other Side"Ian Interviews Maureen McGill, MA, BFA about her …Ian Interviews Maureen McGill, MA, BFA about her new book "Baby It's You: Messages from Deceased Heroes". Maureen McGill is on the board of the Seattle Institute of Near Death Studies and is also the co-author of a book titled "Live from the Other Side"tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/263495303Episode 9 - Alien Abduction and Inter-Dimensional VisitationTue, 10 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-9-alien-abduction-and-inter-dimensional-visitation 01:24:07Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan interviews author, artist and alien abductee, Byron W. Lacy, about his 61 year history as an Alien Abductee, Contactee and Inter-Dimensional Volunteer. Topics covered include Alien Agendas, the Greys, Reptilians, the Mantis race and what identifying marks and signs people can look for that might indicate they are being abducted as well. Byron W. Lacy's book is 'Chosen: Chronicles of and Alien Abductee'.Ian interviews author, artist and alien abductee,…Ian interviews author, artist and alien abductee, Byron W. Lacy, about his 61 year history as an Alien Abductee, Contactee and Inter-Dimensional Volunteer. Topics covered include Alien Agendas, the Greys, Reptilians, the Mantis race and what identifying marks and signs people can look for that might indicate they are being abducted as well. Byron W. Lacy's book is 'Chosen: Chronicles of and Alien Abductee'.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/261076259Episode 8 - Hermetics And Spiritual Alchemy - Messages from the MultiverseMon, 25 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/multiverse-podcast-episode-8-hermetics-and-spiritual-alchemy 01:33:27Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan interviews Alanna Starr Shimel, Certified Hypnotherapist and Hermetist, on Hermetic Wisdom and Spiritual Alchemy to examine the universal laws of Hermetics and how they can be applied in your life. There is real power and potential in these teachings!Ian interviews Alanna Starr Shimel, Certified Hyp…Ian interviews Alanna Starr Shimel, Certified Hypnotherapist and Hermetist, on Hermetic Wisdom and Spiritual Alchemy to examine the universal laws of Hermetics and how they can be applied in your life. There is real power and potential in these teachings!tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/258678543Episode 7 - Clairvoyant Angel Healing - Messages from the MultiverseMon, 11 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/multiverse-podcast-episode-7-clairvoyant-angel-healing 01:10:12Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan Interviews Anthony Torres, Clairvoyant Angelic Healer and Clinical Hypnotherapist, regarding his practice in which he helps people heal and resolve their errors in the use of consciousness and energy which have led to the problems and issues in the life. The discuss many topics related to Angels, such as the true nature of Angels, negative entities like demons, arcons and reptilian entities, the Love of the Creator, the responsibilities of the Angels and their place in the Cosmos. Ian Interviews Anthony Torres, Clairvoyant Angeli…Ian Interviews Anthony Torres, Clairvoyant Angelic Healer and Clinical Hypnotherapist, regarding his practice in which he helps people heal and resolve their errors in the use of consciousness and energy which have led to the problems and issues in the life. The discuss many topics related to Angels, such as the true nature of Angels, negative entities like demons, arcons and reptilian entities, the Love of the Creator, the responsibilities of the Angels and their place in the Cosmos. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/255886418Episode 6 - Propaganda And Suggestibility - Part 2 - Messages from the MultiverseTue, 29 Mar 2016 19:57:19 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-6-propaganda-and-suggestibility-part-2 00:39:33Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIn his second edition in the series on Propaganda and Suggestibility, Ian discusses the use of Propaganda throughout history, in the modern world, against our children and activism movements. He also names the most freedom destroying emotional response which all of us have been programmed to react with anytime we don't like another person's ideas, speech, or way of life. Thank you for listening to Messages from the Multiverse!In his second edition in the series on Propaganda…In his second edition in the series on Propaganda and Suggestibility, Ian discusses the use of Propaganda throughout history, in the modern world, against our children and activism movements. He also names the most freedom destroying emotional response which all of us have been programmed to react with anytime we don't like another person's ideas, speech, or way of life. Thank you for listening to Messages from the Multiverse!tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/252034996Episode 5 - UFOs, E.T. and Angelic Light Ships - Messages from the MultiverseSat, 12 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-5-ufos-et-and-angelic-light-ships 01:09:05Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan interviews Todd Bryson who bravely shares his story of years of visitations by what he calls Alien and Angelic Lightships - UFOs of pure energy and consciousness which are here watching over the human race out of love and the desire to see us evolve as a race. Todd discusses how these visitations have changed his life, made him more spiritual and given him a burning desire to know more and ask questions.Ian interviews Todd Bryson who bravely shares his…Ian interviews Todd Bryson who bravely shares his story of years of visitations by what he calls Alien and Angelic Lightships - UFOs of pure energy and consciousness which are here watching over the human race out of love and the desire to see us evolve as a race. Todd discusses how these visitations have changed his life, made him more spiritual and given him a burning desire to know more and ask questions.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/249778265Episode 4 - Past Life Regression - Messages from the MultiverseSun, 28 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/episode-4-past-life-regression 01:17:57Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan Interviews Michele Guzy, C.Ht., NLP - Internationally recognized expert on Past Life Regression. Topics of discussion include: Past, Future, Parallel Lives and the Time between Lives, the Multiverse as Information, Quantum and Multiverse Consciousness.Ian Interviews Michele Guzy, C.Ht., NLP - Interna…Ian Interviews Michele Guzy, C.Ht., NLP - Internationally recognized expert on Past Life Regression. Topics of discussion include: Past, Future, Parallel Lives and the Time between Lives, the Multiverse as Information, Quantum and Multiverse Consciousness.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/247313293Episode 3 - Sound, Vibration, And Consciousness - Messages from the MultiverseSun, 14 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/messages-from-the-multiverse-ep-3-sound-vibration-and-consciousness 01:34:59Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noIan R. Anderson, C.Ht. interviews Leigh Spusta - sound engineer, Hypnotherapist and creator of PsimatiX Hypnotic and Meditative Soundscapes. The discussion ranges from harmonious resonances, altered states of consciousness and intention to quantum physics, frequency entrainment, and the history of the use of sound in healing. Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht. interviews Leigh Spusta - …Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht. interviews Leigh Spusta - sound engineer, Hypnotherapist and creator of PsimatiX Hypnotic and Meditative Soundscapes. The discussion ranges from harmonious resonances, altered states of consciousness and intention to quantum physics, frequency entrainment, and the history of the use of sound in healing. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/245097429Episode 2 -Visionary Cranial Sacral Therapy - Messages from the MultiverseSun, 31 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/messages-from-the-multiverse-episode-2 01:13:11Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noFrom Hypnotropia in Encino, CA - Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht., C.H.A. interviews Todd Simon, Visionary Cranial Sacral Therapist and Certified Hypnotherapist, about his Full Body Hypnosis technique for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Todd Simon is the author of a book titled "A Little Infinity".From Hypnotropia in Encino, CA - Ian R. Anderson,…From Hypnotropia in Encino, CA - Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht., C.H.A. interviews Todd Simon, Visionary Cranial Sacral Therapist and Certified Hypnotherapist, about his Full Body Hypnosis technique for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Todd Simon is the author of a book titled "A Little Infinity".tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/242716226Episode 1 - Propaganda and Suggestibility - Messages from the MultiverseTue, 19 Jan 2016 12:00:15 +0000https://soundcloud.com/messagesfromthemultiverse/messages-from-the-multiverse-episode-1-propaganda-and-suggestibility 00:39:52Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht.noMessages from the Multiverse - Episode 1 - Propaganda and Suggestibility. Introducing the new podcast and the host - Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht, C.H.A.Messages from the Multiverse - Episode 1 - Propag…Messages from the Multiverse - Episode 1 - Propaganda and Suggestibility. Introducing the new podcast and the host - Ian R. Anderson, C.Ht, C.H.A.
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Memories The God stopped by the wayside. Bending, he plucked the little weed. It had grown in the sun, taking root in a very short while. Yet, it came out of the ground and into his hand rather easily. Life was far too fragile at times. He twirled the plant in his hand, his eyes intent. The tall woman next to him merely watched, saying nothing but waiting for him to finish. “Their memories reached those who mattered,” he said, as the plant withered away in his hands. “It has seen plenty,” the woman agreed, taking the plant from him and putting it back into the ground. It looked as though it had never left. They looked out towards the sunset, across the river. In their mind, they could see what had happened quite a long time ago, but time passes much faster for a plant that’s so short-lived. Two friends had hid under the ledge from the sun, until they came to a stop in front of the plant. There, they had reassured each other, and took the last step to ending their lives. They had disappeared in a blaze of green fire. “And still,” the man said, “You insist this place is not a mistake.” “There is life here. Much to appreciate, and much to be appreciated. They experience what they need to here, even if it is different.” “One world, many different realities.” “No,” she corrected him gently, “One world, different possibilities. It’s the only one like that.” “Possibilities, realities, what’s the difference?” “Realities are fixed. Possibilities are fluid. Each time a choice is made, possibilities disappear. Realities will not.” “And you left them here.” “It is a good place as any. They will only grow stronger, never weaker.”
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Lakshmi Kantam Mannepalli Lakshmi Kantam is an Indian scientist. She is the Director of CSIR-IICT and has obtained her PhD degree from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India under the guidance of Prof. V. Yatirajam in 1982. She joined as a Scientist B in Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad in the year 1984. In 2005, she has been elevated as Head of the Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Division, consisting of 30 scientists and 150 Ph.D students. She has guided 27 PhD students and 15 students are presently working under her guidance for their Ph.D. She has more than 260 research publications and 43 US patents to her credit. Kantam has made outstanding contributions towards the development of specially designed homogeneous/heterogeneous catalysts for chemical reactions with innovative scientific inputs to achieve highest possible atom economy. In particular, utilization of nanomaterials, hydrotalcites and hydroxyapatites as supports and catalysts for asymmetric catalysis and C-C / C-N coupling reactions is noteworthy. Development of ligand-free heterogeneous layered double hydroxide supported nanopalladium catalyst using basic LDH in place of basic ligands exhibiting higher activity and selectivity in the Heck olefination chloroarenes is a success story. Asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones to chiral secondary alcohols with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities using Cu-Al hydrotalcite and BINAP has opened up a new perspective. Innovative design of catalysts for the conversion of waste plastics into oil is another success story. She has designed and developed recyclable heterogeneous catalysts, copper-exchanged fluorapatite and tert-butoxyapatite by incorporating basic species F-/tBuO- in apatite for N-arylation of imidazoles with chloroarenes and fluoroarenes for the first time. She has also carried out development of phosphine free homogeneous catalysts, palladium(II) complexes of tetradentate dicarboxyamide/dipyridyl ligands for Heck reaction aryl halides, the first report on the use of purely N-donor ligands. Nanomaterials as catalysts and supports is another area which she has systematically exploited for the advancement of science. She has received many academic awards viz., Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, 2008, BD Tilak Visiting Fellow, 2008, UICT, Mumbai; AP Akademi Fellow 2006 and RMIT Foundation Fellowship, RMIT university, Melbourne, Australia. She is an adjunct professor at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. She is the Chairperson, Subject Expert Committee, Women Scientists Scheme, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. She is a member of several committees, Expert Committee Nano-Agri. Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India., Member, International Advisory Board (CAFC-9), 9th Congress on Catalysis Applied to Fine Chemicals, Spain, 2010; Editorial Board Member, The Chemical Record (TCR), Wiley-VCH; Editorial Board Member, The Open Catalysis Journal; Editorial Board Member, Bulletin of the Catalysis Society of India; President, Catalysis Society of India (CSI); Member, Board of Studies, JNTU Hyderabad and Board of studies, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam; Member, Selection Committee, JNTU Hyderabad. Awards 2010 Platinum Jubilee award Lecture, ISC-2010 Vepachedu Endowment Lecture Award 2010 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Highest external cash flow award- 2010 - All Sources, First Prize, I&PC Division, Project Leader, Best Project Performance filing patents. 2008 RMIT Foundation Fellowship award, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia - 2008 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 2008, First Prize, I&PC Division, Project Leader, Best Project Performance Filing Patents. 2006 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 2006, First Prize, I&PC Division, Project Leader, Best Project Performance Filing Patents. 2005 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 2005, First Prize, I&PC Division, Project leader, Best project Performance in filing Patents. 2002 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 2001–2002, First Prize, Homogeneous and Molecular Catalysis, Project leader, Best project performance in filing Patents. 2002 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 2001–2002, First Prize, Homogeneous Catalysis, Inorganics and Allied Chemicals, Project leader, Best overall Performance (ECF, Technology development, Basic research publications and Patents). 2001 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 2000–2001, Second Prize, Homogeneous Catalysis, Inorganics and Allied Chemicals, Project leader, Best overall Performance (ECF, Technology development, Basic research publications and Patents). 2001 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 2000–2001, Homogeneous and Molecular Catalysis, Project leader, Highest ECF Productivity. 2000 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 1999–2000, First Prize, Homogeneous and Molecular Catalysis, Project leader, Highest ECF productivity. 2000 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 1999–2000, First Prize, Homogeneous and Molecular Catalysis, Project leader, Best project Performance in filing Patents. 2000 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 1999–2000, First Prize, Homogeneous and Molecular Catalysis, Project leader, Best project performance in Technology development. 2000 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 1999–2000, First Prize, Homogeneous and Molecular Catalysis, Project leader, Best overall Performance (ECF, Technology Transfer, Patents and Publications). 1999 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 1998–1999, First Prize, Homogeneous and Molecular Catalysis, Project leader, Highest ECF productivity 1999 CSIR Foundation Day, IICT, Best performance award for 1998–1999, First Prize, Homogeneous and Molecular Catalysis, Project leader, Best overall Performance (ECF, Technology Transfer, Patents and Publications ). Honours 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, Indian Chemical Society, 2011 2010 Plenary Speaker , TOCAT/APCAT, Sapporo, Japan, 2010. 2008 Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, 2008 Joint Director of the IICT-RMIT Research Center. IICT, Hyderabad 2008 BD Tilak Visiting Fellow, 2008, UICT, Mumbai. 2008 Invited Speaker, ICC14 Pre-Symposium Kyoto 2008, 50th Anniversary of Catalysis Society of Japan, Kyoto, Japan, 2008. 2007 Invited Speaker, Indo-China Symposium on Designing Materials through Nano-technology, Beijing, China, 2007. 2006 AP Akademi Fellow 2006. 2005 Invited Speaker, Indo-Japan workshop on principle and catalysis application of Nonmaterials decorated surfaces, Tokyo, Japan, 2005. 2005 Invited Speaker, Givaudan, Zurich, Switzerland, 2005. 1996 JSPS Visiting Scientist, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, 1995 -1996. Chairperson, Subject Expert Committee, Women Scientists Scheme, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Member, Expert Committee Nano-Agri. Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. 2010 Member, International Advisory Board,(CAFC-9), 9th Congress on Catalysis Applied to Fine Chemicals, Spain, 2Editorial Board Member, The Chemical Record (TCR), Wiley-VCH Editorial Board Member, The Open Catalysis Journal. Editorial Board Member, Bulletin of the Catalysis Society of India. President, Catalysis Society of India (CSI). Member, Board of Studies, JNTU Hyderabad. Member, Selection Committee, JNTU Hyderabad. References LAXMI KANTHAM PROFILE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY Category:Living people Category:Indian nanotechnologists Category:20th-century Indian chemists Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Indian women chemists
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Q: Why does opening a connection throw a distributed transactions error in MySQL? (.NET Connector) I'm opening a connection to a local MySQL server and on the connection.Open() method it throws this error: System.NotSupportedException: MySQL Connector/Net does not currently support distributed transactions. at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection.EnlistTransaction(Transaction> transaction) at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection.Open() All I'm doing is this: var connection = new MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["Connection"].ConnectionString); connection.Open(); The connection string in the app.config is <add name="Connection" connectionString="server=localhost;user id=userid;Password=password;database=dbname" providerName="MySql.Data.MySqlClient" /> I don't know why it's trying to enlist the transaction, I haven't specified any transactions & I only have one MySQL server I'm connecting to A: Try adding Enlist=false to your connection string: EDIT: from the MySQL Connector/.NET documentation, if you set AutoEnlist=false in the connection string it should work. <add name="Connection" connectionString="server=localhost;user id=userid;Password=password;database=dbname;AutoEnlist=false" providerName="MySql.Data.MySqlClient" /> It appears that certain versions of ADO.NET can default to automatically enlisting a connection into an existing transaction. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms254973.aspx for more detail, but I expect somehow somewhere ADO is confused into thinking that there's an existing transaction going on to some other db.
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This is a colorscheme based on the Macintosh System 8 and 9 Platinum theme. This version has the alternate highlight color (called lavender there) as the main highlight color. See my other theme QPlatinum (https://www.opendesktop.org/p/1287747/) for more details.
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A model has shared a close-up photo of the back of her legs to tell women everywhere that cellulite is nothing to feel embarrassed about. British model Charli Howard posted the image on Tuesday to make a stand against the unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by some of the media. “They say do something each day that scares you, so re-posting this is mine for the day. Despite the fact I speed walk everywhere, squat, run and occasionally do Pure Barre, I’m still left with cellulite,” she said. “I went to an all-girls’ boarding school and really used to envy the girls in my class who seemingly had none, and whose bodies looked, to me, nothing less than perfect. “Whenever I opened magazines, the models and celebrities I saw didn’t have cellulite either - and if they did, they were shamed in the tabloids because of it, or knocked off their perch by nasty journalists who probably have it themselves.”
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Sydney’s eastern suburbs have emerged as the weakest market in the city with house prices falling 6 per cent in the three months to September, new data shows. In fact, all but two regions recorded price falls over the September, with the south-west the next worst performer (-4 per cent), followed by the once-red hot inner west, which fell 3.9 per cent, according to the Domain Group State of the Market report. The most resilient markets were the northern beaches, where the median house price increased 0.4 per cent to $1,907,000, and the south – with no price change at $1.3 million. Domain Group chief economist Andrew Wilson said the results showed the downturn was widespread across Sydney, with affordability starting to bite even in the higher-priced city and east where the median was $2.17 million. “More than $2 million is expensive in anyone’s language – clearly buyers are thinking twice,” Dr Wilson said. Good Deeds buyer’s agency principal Veronica Morgan, who actively buys eastern suburbs real estate, wasn’t convinced the market had slowed across the board. “We have noticed a softening but it’s sporadic,” Ms Morgan said. She’d also noticed more substandard homes coming onto the market, which she described as a market in transition. Brad Caldwell-Eyles, managing director of 1st City, said there had been a “slight cooling in enthusiasm and a decrease in that sense of urgency for existing residential property” in the city and eastern areas. But he said it was likely a softer period due to the increase in homes for sale over spring. “Bottom line, recent history shows that we can expect this spring cooling in established residential enthusiasm however come Australia Day, that fire will be stoked back into life.” Richard Baini director of Richard Matthews Real Estate, located in Strathfield, was not convinced the inner west had moved into a downturn, despite the data showing a 3.9 per cent decline for houses and an even steeper 4.9 per cent drop for apartments. Instead, he described it as an “adjustment quarter” with more realistic pricing from vendors and reasonable expectations across the board. He put the softness in the apartment market down to a decline in off-the-plan sales that had the effect of changing the mix of properties on the market to secondhand stock, which is typically more affordable, thus skewing the median price. Apartment prices fell in all areas except the south west, west, Central Coast and northern beaches. But the worst performer for apartments, outside of the Blue Mountains, was the lower north where prices had declined 6.7 per cent over the quarter to a median of $900,000. They were up 0.1 per cent over the year. House prices in the lower north fell 2.6 per cent over the quarter to $2.41 million, but were up 2 per cent over the year. Richardson & Wrench Mosman director Robert Simeon said this was an inevitable outcome after such a run in the market. “At the moment the market is fatiguing and we’re going to see a self-correction and then a line-ball market,” Mr Simeon said. He said without “significant economic bad news like another GFC” it would be unlikely prices would drop significantly. “There are fewer and fewer buyers at auction, but this is what happens after a boom.” The western suburbs had also been seeing signs of a slowdown, Raine & Horne Blacktown’s Edwin Almeida said. “We’re in for a rude shock and the cracks are starting to show,” Mr Almeida said. He’d already seen some homes selling for less than they would have achieved six months ago. Starr Partners chief executive Doug Driscoll said it was “simple economics” that the market was slowing down. “For a long time, we were seeing an influx of investors from across Sydney looking to buy in the west and south-west and this volume applied extra pressure on the market,” Mr Driscoll said. “External influences we wouldn’t normally experience in these parts of Sydney meant prices grew at an exaggerated rate. “Now that there are fewer investors, and lenders are becoming increasingly prudent, I think it’s a case of the market now starting to find its natural level.”
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Cruise downtown Okotoks, on foot, for its annual Show ‘n’ Shine to view hundreds of cars and trucks from vintage to hot rods. The festivities kick off Aug. 17 with a burn out in the Southbank area followed by a poker rally and an auction at The George Traditional House. The main attraction is on Sunday. For more details go to okotoksshowandshine.ca Where: Downtown Okotoks When: Aug. 18 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. TIME TO RALLY Rev those engines for the annual Rally for Hospice and Gala, the Foothills Country Hospice Society’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Rally tickets cost $1,000 and include registration or one vehicle, lunch for the driver and navigator and two complimentary tickets to an evening gala at Spruce Meadows. Rally participants are given clues to collect at various checkpoints with the winner taking home a trophy, prize package and bragging rights. Tickets for the gala without participating in the rally, cost $175 or $1,200 for a table of eight. For more details go to countryhospice.org Where: Okotoks When: Aug. 17 BUSY BEES If you have a love for bees, Chinook Honey Company has the event for you. The local honey and meadery farm west of Okotoks is joining in the province-wide Alberta Open Farm Days with honey and mead tasting in the store. Where: Chinook Honey Farm, west of Okotoks When: Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. FAIR PLAY Head to the country for the 112th Priddis & Millarville Fair featuring down-home events from rooster-crowing to pie eating contests. Learn about the local agricultural history, meet some animals and visit with local artisans who make, bake and grow their products locally. New this year is the inaugural Millarville Grill Master cooking competition, which will be judged by April Lee Baker. For more details go to millarvilleracetrack.com Where: Millarville Race Track When: Aug. 17-18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. MUSIC TO MY EARS Pull up a lawn chair and enjoy a weekend of local music and art in the park. Longview’s Longstock Music and Arts Festival kick off Saturday at 11 a.m. with a vendors market followed by bands playing every hour on the hour from noon to 9:30 p.m. The festivities continue into Sunday from noon until 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 or $30 for the weekend. Children ages 12 and under are free. Where: Smith-Fuller Park in Longview When: Aug. 17-18 ROLLING FOR VETERANS Be at the ready this Saturday to watch The Rolling Barrage cruise down Veterans Way before heading to The George Traditional House for dinner and a meet and greet with the public at 6:30 p.m. The Rolling Barrage is a coast-to-coast motorbike rally supported by Military Minds Inc. This 11-day rally supports veterans, military members and first responder while demonstrating strength and unity to conquer the stigma of PTSD. Cash donations are welcome. For more details go to therollingbarrage.com or okotoks.ca Where: Veterans Way When: Aug. 18 at 5:30 p.m. A DAY OF YOGA Give your body the mental and physical nourishment it needs in the third annual Yogatoks Festival, Okotoks’ largest health and fitness festival in the park. Festivities includes yoga classes for adults, Reiki, intuitive readers, massage, hip hop dance classes, karate class, drumming circles, live speakers and health and wellness vendors. Tickets cost $10.50 and can be purchased at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07egg63im76334872f&oseq=&c=&ch= Where: Ethel Tucker Park When: Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This has been shared 0times Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines.
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Q: C++ operator overloads and destructors struct Node { int value Node* next; } typedef List Node* const Set operator +(const Set& a, const Set& b) { Set aSet; List newList = mergeListsCopy(a.list, b.list); aSet.list = newList; return aSet; } class Set { public: //method decs private: List list; }; Set::~Set() { list = deleteList(list); } The internals of this code work perfectly fine, mergeListsCopy creates a new list from two singly linked lists and assignes the pointer to the list which is a private variable of aSet. The problem is when aSet is returned, aSet.list is some strange poison address( in this case 0xf). When I ran it through the debugger a Set was created in the scope of the operator overload and but two references to this set were also created locally both using the symbol aSet, before the return occurred, the program jumped to the destructor, presumably for the extraneous Set, but since there is only one Set it gets destroyed. When I comment out my destructor this problem goes away. What did I do wrong? A: You need to follow the Rule of Three. If you need to explicitly declare either the destructor, copy constructor or copy assignment operator yourself, you probably need to explicitly declare all three of them. It is most likely that temporary nameless objects get created(by calling the implicit compiler generated copy constructor) during the course of execution of your program and when those temporary objects get destroyed by call to destructor it ends up messing your linked list.
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"Almost." ""Almost."" "Sir, with all due respect, are you sure this is our best option?" "I mean, why can't we just correct the problem?" "Because my fuckin' nephew killed a dog." "And he stole a car." "A car, which currently is among our inventory." "So we're giving everything up for a car?" "It's not just a car." "It is John Wick's car." "Oh." "Sir, why don't we just give it back?" "He killed my nephew." "My brother." "And a dozen of my men." "Over his car." "And a puppy." "And you..." "You think he will stop now?" "Hmm?" "Sir, he's one man." "Why don't we just eliminate him?" "John Wick is a man of focus..." "Commitment..." "And sheer fuckin' will!" "He once killed three men in a bar..." "With a pencil." "I know." "I've heard the story." "With a fucking pencil!" "Who the fuck can do that?" "I can assure you that the stories you hear about this man, if nothing else, has been watered down." "Mr. Wick." "Hey, buddy." "Hey." "Good dog." "What are you doing, John?" "Looking at you." "What are you doing?" "I'm waiting for you." "Come here." "Hey, boy." "Nice peaceful place you got here." "Hey, Aurelio." "Hey." "John, what the hell?" "I thought you loved this car." "What do you think?" "Well, your motor's about to fall out and the chassis's all bent up, the Driveshaft is all destroyed." "And I don't know if you noticed, but you got a crack in your windshield." "I mean..." "What do I think?" "I could fix this." "Thanks for finding her." "Not a problem, man." "I just made a few calls." "No big deal." "Let me know when it's fixed." "All right." "It'll be ready Christmas... 2030." "Ciao, John." "Santino." "Good to see you." "Good to see you." "I was sorry to hear about your wife, John." "Thank you." "Hi." "And the dog, does he have a name?" "No." "Listen, John, with all sincerity..." "I don't want to be here." "Please, don't." "I'm asking you not to do this." "I'm sorry." "No one gets out and comes back without repercussions." "I do this with a heavy heart, John." "But remember, if not for what I did on the night of your impossible task, you wouldn't be here right now, like this." "This is because of me." "This, in part, is mine." "Take it back." ""Take it back"?" "Take it back." "A marker is no small thing, John." "For a man to Grant a marker to another, is to bind a soul to a blood oath." "Find someone else." "Listen to me." "What is this?" "Hmm?" "Do you remember?" "This is your blood." "You came to me." "I helped you." "And if you don't do this, you know the consequences." "I'm not that guy anymore." "You are always that guy, John." "I can't help you." "I'm sorry." "Yes." "You're right." "You can't." "But he can." "I'll see you soon, John." "You have a beautiful home, John." "Well, good evenin', John." "Hey, Jimmy." "Gas leak?" "Yeah, gas leak." "You workin' again?" "I'll see you, Jimmy." "Come on, boy." "Good night, John." "Oh, shit." "I'd like to see the manager." "How good to see you again so soon, Mr. Wick." "Shall I announce you?" "Yes, please." "Stay." "Mr. Wick is on his way to see you, sir." "Impeccable." "Put these into circulation." "Where is he?" "Thank you, my friend." "Beautiful work." "Beautiful." "What are you doing, Jonathan?" "He burned my house down." "You rejected his marker." "You're lucky he stopped there." "What the hell were you thinking, giving a marker to a man like Santino D'Antonio?" "It was the only way I could get out." "Oh." "You call this "out"?" "What did you think was gonna happen?" "What did you expect?" "Huh?" "Did you really think this day was never going to come?" "Hmm?" "What does he want you to do?" "I didn't ask." "I just said no." "Two rules that cannot be broken, Jonathan." "No blood on continental grounds, and every marker must be honored." "Now, while my judgment comes in the form of excommunicado, the high table demand a more severe outcome if their traditions are refused." "I have no choice?" "You dishonor the marker, you die." "You kill the holder of the marker, you die." "You run, you die." "This is what you agreed to, Jonathan." "Do what the man asks." "Be free." "Then, if you want to go after him, burn his house down, be my guest." "But until then..." "Rules." "Exactly." "Rules." "Without them, we'd live with the animals." "Do you board?" "I'm sorry to say, sir, but this facility does not." "I, however, would be willing to accept the responsibility, should you wish." "Appreciate that." "Does he have a name, sir?" "No." "Good dog." "Stay." "This was my father's collection." "I see little more than just paint on canvas, of course." "But I do find myself here." "Please." "I didn't want to do this, John." "Had you stayed retired, I would have respected it." "Look at you." "You're thinkin' about it, aren't you?" "You're counting exits, guards..." "Could you get to me in time?" "How would you do it, I wonder?" "That woman's pen?" "His cane?" "Maybe his glasses?" "My hands." "Ah." "How exciting." "Yet, you know you cannot, can you?" "I told you I needed that guy, the way you are looking at me right now." "I needed the boogeyman." "I needed John Wick." "Just tell me what you want." "I want you to kill my sister." "Why?" "There are 12 seats at the high table." "Camorra, mafia, and Ndrangheta." "The Chinese, the Russian." "When my father died..." "He willed his seat to her." "She represents Camorra now." "And I can't help but wonder what I might accomplish in her stead." "You want me to kill Gianna D'Antonio?" "I could never do it." "She is my blood." "I still love her." "It can't be done." "She's in Rome for her coronation." "You will take the catacombs in..." "It doesn't matter where she is." "That's why I need the ghost, lo Spettro, John Wick." "That's why I need you." "Do this for me, and your marker is honored." "What say you?" "Never one to waste words." "Fifty-nine, zero, 3.5." "Jonathan!" "Julius." "Ciao." "Nice to see you." "I fail to recall the last time you were in Rome." "And here I'd heard you had retired." "I had." "Then humor me with but one question." "No." "All right, then." "One of our finest rooms." "And enjoy your stay." "Mr. Wick." "Is the Sommelier in?" "I have never known him not to be." "Good afternoon, Mr. Wick." "It's been a long time." "I'd like a tasting." "I am quite excited to show you something." "First..." "Buongiorno, signor Wick." "Ciao, Angelo." "Welcome back to Rome." "I am." "I know of your past fondness for the German varietals, but I can wholeheartedly endorse the new breed of Austrians." "Glock .34 and .26." "This is the original map of the D'Antonio estate." "Here, you have all the ancient ruins." "Tell me, Mr. Wick, is this a formal event or a social affair?" "Social." "And is this for day or evening?" "I need one for day and one for night." "Recontoured grips." "Flared Magwell for easier reloads." "And I know you'll appreciate the custom porting." "What's next?" "I need something robust." "Precise." ""Robust." "Precise."" "This is the map of the temple and catacombs underneath." "In what style?" "Italian." "How many buttons?" "Two." "Trousers?" "Tapered." "How about the lining?" "Tactical." "Ar-15, 11.5-inch." "Compensated with an ion-bonded bolt carrier." "Trijicon Accupoint with one-six magnification." "And this is the modern blueprint." "There are one, two, three gates." "Silicon carbide discs." "Ceramic matrices." "Accompanying laminates." "Cutting-edge body armor." "We just sew it between the fabric and the lining." "Zero penetration." "However..." "Quite painful, I'm afraid." "Could you recommend anything for the end of the night?" "Something big, bold." "May I suggest the Benelli m4?" "Custom bolt carrier release and charging handle." "Textured grips, should your hands get wet." "An Italian classic." "Dessert?" "Dessert." "The finest cutlery." "All freshly stoned." "Well done." "Could you do a rush order?" "I sure can." "Where would you like to have it sent?" "The hotel." "Shall I have everything sent to your room?" "Yes." "Thank you." "Excellent." "Mr. Wick?" "Do enjoy your party." "Good evening." "Are you enjoying the party?" "Mr. Akoni." "Are you enjoying the festivities?" "Please." "Sit." "Ms. D'Antonio, you can't just take what is rightfully mine." "Nothing was taken." "Those among your own came to us with these territories." "A knife was pressed to their throats." "Semantics." "Besides..." "That blade you speak of was meant for their children." "They were only meant to watch." "What is yours is now ours, Mr. Akoni." "Now go." "Enjoy the party." "Have some fun." "John." "Gianna." "There was a time not so long ago in which I considered us as friends." "I still do." "Yet here you are." "What brought you back, John?" "A marker." "Held by?" "Your brother." "Tell me, John." "This marker..." "Is it how you got out?" "And what was her name, this woman whose life has ended my own?" "Helen." ""Helen."" "This Helen..." "Was she worth the price that you now seek to pay?" "Now, let me tell you what happens when I die." "Santino will lay claim to my seat at the table." "He will take New York." "And you will have been the one who gifted it to him." "What would your Helen think about that, John?" "What would your Helen think about you?" "Hmm?" "Why?" "Because I lived my life my way." "And I will die my way." "Do you fear damnation, John?" "Yes." "You know," "I always thought I could escape it." "That I'd see it coming." "That I'd see you." "John?" "Cassian." "You working?" "Yeah." "You?" "Yeah." "Good night?" "Afraid so." "I'm sorry to hear that." "Loose ends?" "Yeah..." "You're not havin' a good night, are you, John?" "Gentlemen!" "Gentlemen!" "Do I need to remind you that there will be no business conducted on the continental grounds?" "No, signore." "No, sir." "Now, may I suggest a visit to the bar, so you can calm yourselves." "Gin, wasn't it?" "Yes." "Bourbon, right?" "Yeah." "I had a marker." "Whose?" "Her brother." "I see." "You had no choice." "He wants her seat at the table." "He'll get it now." "Yeah." "Yeah." "So you're free." "Am I?" "No." "Not at all." "You killed my ward." "Someone I was close to." "An eye for an eye, John." "You know how it goes." "Yeah." "I'll make it quick." "I promise." "I appreciate that." "I'll try and do the same." "This round's on me." "Consider it a professional courtesy." "No." "Thanks." "Hello, John." "I understand if you are upset." "And I know it might feel personal." "But what kind of man would I be if I didn't avenge my sister's murder?" "John?" "Could you let management know" "I'll be checking out in the morning." "Operator." "How may I direct your call?" " Accounts payable." " One moment, please." "Accounts payable." "How may I help you?" "I'd like to open an account." "Name on the account?" "John Wick." "Verification?" "9305-05." "State of contract?" "Open." "Denomination?" "Seven million." "Processing." "Please hold." "I appreciate the service." "My pleasure." "You will find safe passage below." "Transportation is waiting for you." "May you have a safe journey, Mr. Wick." "Order confirmed." "What is this?" "He completed the task." "The marker is over." "Mark it." "If Mr. Wick isn't dead already, he soon will be." "Will you mark it, sir?" "You have no idea what's coming, do you?" "I have everyone in New York looking for him." "I doubt we will see him again." "Do you now?" "You stabbed the devil in the back and forced him back into the life that he had just left." "You incinerated the priest's temple." "Burned it to the ground." "Now he's free of the marker, what do you think he'll do?" "He had a glimpse of the other side and he embraced it." "But you, signor D'Antonio... took it away from him." "He was already back." "Oh, he came back for love, not for you." "He owed me." "I had every right." "And now he's coming again." "He did tell you not to do this." "He did warn you." "Please notify MTA personnel of any suspicious activity." "Your attention, please." "The broad street bound c train is now arriving." "Your attention, please." "The broad street bound c train is now arriving." "Next stop, canal street." "This is canal street." "This is the broad street bound c train." "The next stop is rector street." "This is rector street." "This is the broad street bound c train." "The next stop is broad street." "This is broad street." "This is the last stop on the southbound c train." "The blade is in your aorta." "You pull it out, you'll bleed, and you will die." "This is the end of the line." "Consider this a professional courtesy." "This is broad street." "This is the last stop on the southbound c train." "This is the end of the line." "We say things, we see things." "The things you see are nightmares, man." "Like this one time..." "Take me to him." "Tell him it's John Wick." "You know, they just..." "They put it in everything!" "Hey, man." "You got a quarter?" "As I live and breathe!" "John Wick." "The man." "The myth." "The legend." "You're not very good at retiring." "I'm workin' on it." "Mr. Wick doesn't remember, but we met many years ago, before my ascension..." "When I was just a pawn in the game." "We met and you gave me a gift, the gift that would make me a king." "You don't remember, but there I was, standing in an alleyway." "I didn't even hear you comin'." "You gave me this." "Gift from the boogeyman." "Perfect for every occasion." "But you also gave me a choice." "Pull my gun, shoot you in the back, and die." "Or keep the pressure on my neck... and live." "And so you see, I survived." "No one sneaks up on me anymore, thanks to you." "I am all-seeing and all-knowing." "Then you know why I'm here." "Santino D'Antonio, yes." "Your contract went wide, John." "That's bad for your health." "What's the number up to now, Earl?" "$7 million!" "Damn!" "It's Christmas." "We're going to Applebee's after this." "I need your help." "You have eyes begging for change on every corner in the city." "I'm thinkin' you can find Santino." "I need you to move me." "Underground." "Get me to him." "How sweet it is!" "The boogeyman begging me for help." "Well, of course, John." "Yes, John." "Whatever you'd like, John." "Would you like a back rub with that, John?" "You're going to help me." "Why the fuck would I do that?" "Because I'm the only one that can help you." "You're gonna help me out?" "That's downright upright of you, Mr. Wick." "You sound positively magnanimous." "But look around you." "How much help does it look like I need?" "It seems to me that the real question, Mr. Wick, is who in this cruel world of ours is going to help you?" "There's a storm coming." "Not just for me." "For all of us." "For everyone under the table." "Yes, killing someone who has a seat at the high table does create a problem." "But it's your problem, baby." "After all, none of my people sent Gianna D'Antonio to the hereafter." "That being said, Santino has her seat now." "And he wants the city." "When he's done uptown, you think he's gonna stop at 14th street?" "We'll just have to take care of ourselves." "Oh, yeah?" "For how long?" "And how much blood?" "You kill Santino, the Camorra, and the high table come for you." "I kill Santino, they come for me." "He's offered $7 million for your life." "$7 million is a lot of money, Mr. Wick." "So I guess you have a choice." "You want a war?" "Or do you wanna just give me a gun?" "Somebody, please!" "Get this man a gun!" "Kimber 1911, .45" "ACP." "Seven-round capacity." "Seven rounds?" "$7 million gets you seven rounds." "That's a million dollars a round, baby." "Let's go." "Your descent into hell begins here, Mr. Wick." "He's at the museum." "Earl will guide you." "Do be careful on your way down." "Oh, and remember, you owe me." "You don't want me owing you." "Welcome, everyone." "Let us toast to the future of the high table and of course, to the memory of my dear sister." "Nice to see you." "Mr. Akoni, how are you?" "Wick is here." "Yeah." "You and you, with me." "You, go." "Welcome to "reflections of the soul" at the new modern NYC." "Within this exhibition, the interplay of light and the nature of self-images coalesce to provide an experience which will highlight the fragility of our perception of space and our place within it." "We hope through this exhibit we can provide new insights into your understanding of the world, and just possibly lead you to deeper reflection into the nature of self." "The marker is complete, John." "You should have just run away." "You know what the Camorra will do to you." "You think you're old testament?" "No, John." "No." "Killing me won't stop the contract." "Killing me will make it so much worse." "John, you know what I think?" "I think you are addicted to it." "To the vengeance." "Welcome to "reflections of the soul" at the new modern NYC." "No wife." "No life." "No home." "Vengeance, it's all you have." "You wanted me back." "I'm back." "You are now exiting "reflections of the soul" at the new modern NYC." "We hope that your journey through the exhibit has been one of reflective contemplation allowing for a new perspective and insight." "You are now exiting "reflections of the soul..."" "You are now exiting "reflections of the soul..."" "Good evening." "Is the manager in?" "The manager is always in." "Winston." "Mr. D'Antonio." "Your evening has been colorful, I see." "Seeking safe harbor, I presume?" "I want his membership revoked." "Now." "In the eyes of this institution," "Mr. Wick has breached no legalities." "Then you know that I have the right to demand of you..." "Nothing." "You demand nothing of me, Mr. D'Antonio." "This kingdom is mine and mine alone." "All right." "Then enjoy your kingdom, Winston, while you still can." "And you its privileges, sir." "I'm here to see Santino D'Antonio." "He's waiting for you in the lounge, sir." "Duck fat." "Makes all the difference." "Jonathan..." "Have you seen the menu here?" "Lot of options." "Jonathan, listen to me..." "A man can stay here a long time and never eat the same meal twice." "Jonathan, just walk away." "Yeah, Jonathan." "Walk..." "What have you done?" "Finished it." "How was he?" "He was a good dog." "I have enjoyed his company." "Let's go home." "Mr. Wick?" "If you would be so inclined." "Come on, boy." "It has been a pleasure, Mr. Wick." "Goodbye." "Jonathan." "Winston." "What am I lookin' at?" "The Camorra's doubled Santino's open contract." "It's gone international." "High table?" "Mmm-hmm." "And the continental?" "You killed a man on company grounds, Jonathan." "You leave me no choice but to declare you excommunicado." "The doors to any service or provider in connection with the continental are now closed to you." "I am so sorry." "Your life is now forfeit." "Then why am I not dead?" "Because I deemed it not to be." "Now." "You have one hour." "I can't delay it any longer." "You might need this..." "Down the road." "Winston..." "Tell them." "Tell them all." "Whoever comes, whoever it is," "I'll kill them." "I'll kill them all." "'Course you will." "Jonathan." "Winston." "Accounts payable." "One-one-one-one-one." "In one hour." "John Wick." "Excommunicado." "Order 11111 confirmed."
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Q: Ingredients for cleaning optical elements I have recently purchased a cleaning solution for precision optics which has the following ingredients (amounts were not specified): Ethyl Alcohol Methylethylketon Aqua Diethyl Ether Isopropyl Typically reagent grade isopropyl alcohol alone is used for cleaning optical elements. So, does the mixture above provide any advantages over using pure isopropyl? (Possible advantages may include a faster dry time, better removal of oils/smudges, and less toxicity) Any explanations would be greatly appreciated. A: It might possibly be intended to dissolve an adherent organic film, such as that left by evaporation of plasticizers from foam packaging. However, it also might well partially dissolve paints and cements used in the lens assembly, leaving yet harder-to-remove dirt on the lens. Unless you have a specific need for those solvents, use distilled water and/or isopropanol, according to B&H.
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thewronggrape Love the dog and the ball but not the white blotch of a background. It's a bit too jarring for me and distracts from the design. I would prefer to see a background that fades into the shirt more at the edges. mardigraw Lagbert As soon as the derby was announced, I was wondering if you were going to do something similar to your arctic circle design. Very nicely done! The fire hydrant does a great job of tying everything together and making the idea crystal clear. lucky1988 epicfal I love the concept, and the art, too, but I have two issues with the design: 1) the dog's tounge blends in with the sky behind it, and 2) the dog's feet blend in with the skyline, and get kind of lost. Woot.com is operated by Woot Services LLC. Products on Woot.com are sold by Woot, Inc., other than items on Wine.Woot which are sold by the seller specified on the product detail page. Product narratives are for entertainment purposes and frequently employ literary point of view; the narratives do not express Woot's editorial opinion. Aside from literary abuse, your use of this site also subjects you to Woot's terms of use and privacy policy. Woot may designate a user comment as a Quality Post, but that doesn't mean we agree with or guarantee anything said or linked to in that post.
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The Quality Assurance Laboratory (QAL) in the Comparative Medicine Branch at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS)performs testing on the microbiological and/or chemical contamination of critical aspects of the overall NIEHS research program. Our primary task is monitoring the animal research program for microbiological and/or chemical contamination that may affect animal health and welfare, as well as, the physiological responses of animals used in research studies. Our research focuses on the physiological effects of natural or contaminating compounds in the micro-environment (e.g., animal feed, caging, bedding, water, etc.)of the research animals. Our goal is to assure that we minimize exposure to environmental compounds that may effect animal health and welfare or alter physiological responses of the animals resulting in unacceptable variability. Historically, QAL studies have focused on the potential for endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) being present in the micro-environment of the research animals and the impact these compounds may have on study outcomes, especially reproductive development. For these studies, pre-pubertal CD-1 mice are weaned at post-natal day (PND) 15 and given test compounds orally (via diet, water or gavage) from PND 15 to PND 35 or until vaginal opening (VO) occurs which is a developmental milestone affected by hormones. We have shown that natural phytoestrogens (e.g., daidzein and genistein) present in commercially available rodent diets or added to diets free of these compounds can significantly (P less than 0.01) accelerate the time of VO in CD-1 mice. We have also shown that the total metabolizable energy (ME) in the diet can significantly affect these hormone-sensitive endpoints, although the predictability of this variable was less powerful than the phytoestrogen content. We have shown that the estrogenic mycotoxin zearalenone is ubiquitious in commercially available corn-cob bedding. 154 of 189 (84%) of the samples were naturally contaminated with zearalenone at levels ranging from 100 to 7,000 ppb (mean 500 ppb). We have shown that levels of 5-10 ppm can significantly advance the time of VO in immature CD-1 haired and SKH-1 hairless mice. We are currently performing studies looking at the effects of autoclave sterilization of rodent feed on the physical and chemical properties of the feed. Sterilization of rodent feed is important to prevent the introduction of microorganisms that may alter animal health or physiological response, and autoclave sterilization is a widely used method. Previous studies found that autoclaving rodent feed resulted in the production of acrylamide, as does any high starch containing food (e.g., potatoes, breads, etc.). These studies also determined that the levels of acrylamide produced by autoclaving the feed were high enough to cause measurable genotoxic effects (DNA adducts). Our study determined that increasing the sterilization temperature used resulted in an increase in the harness of the pelleted feed, as well as, the concentration of acrylamide. We are currently measuring the in-vivo effects of these levels of acrylamide.
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Vanka the Steward Vanka the Steward () is a 1909 Russian short drama film directed by Vasili Goncharov. Plot The film is based on Russian folk song «Vanka the Steward». Cast Vasili Stepanov as Prince Lyubov Varyagina as Princess Andrej Gromov as Vanka Aleksandra Goncharova as Girl References External links «Vanka the Steward» on kinopoisk.ru «Vanka the Steward» on kino-teatr.ru «Vanka the Steward» on Encyclopedia of Russian Cinema Category:1909 films Category:Russian films Category:Russian-language films Category:Russian silent films Category:Russian black-and-white films Category:Russian short films Category:Films directed by Vasily Goncharov Category:Films of the Russian Empire Category:Russian drama films Category:1900s drama films
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Q: How do I view the database that EntityFramework created for me? Just starting off with MVC 4 and Entity Framework 5 (4.4 for .net 4). I've defined a couple models and saved something to database. I want to see what's going on behind the scenes, but I can't figure out how to connect to this database. How do I do it? I assume I can connect to it via the Server Explorer somehow, but I'm not sure what options to pick. A: You can get the connection string using DbContext.Database.Connection.ConnectionString - it will tell you everything since it is used to connect to the database. Then in server explorer you should know whether to pick SqlExpress or one of the SqlCompact options.
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“Una piedra, otra piedra, otra piedra, otra, otra, otra... ¡Ahí va, un muro!” Esta broma típica entre arqueólogos dice mucho de lo lento que puede ser el trabajo en una excavación y de que los descubrimientos espectaculares no son frecuentes, hay que tener en cuenta que pequeños restos pueden estar llenos de significado. Pero la exposición que se inaugura este martes en el Museo Arqueológico Nacional (Madrid), El poder del pasado, celebra, como dice su subtítulo, 150 años de arqueología en España y para ello ha reunido piezas excepcionales procedentes de unos setenta museos de todo el país. Una muestra que se puede recorrer como una selección de 150 joyas o como un paseo por el desarrollo de la arqueología. Desde el solitario anticuario que iba con un equipo poco profesional y decía “picad aquí o picad allí”, a las sofisticadas tecnologías de prospección y de excavación actuales. La evolución del “mucho campo, poco estudio”, al “mucho estudio, poco campo”. Es decir, antes primaba la acumulación de objetos y actualmente el tiempo de trabajo en los yacimientos es muy inferior al que los profesionales pasan estudiando y documentando lo encontrado. Esta doble lectura la ha tenido en cuenta Juan Pablo Rodríguez Frade, el arquitecto que ha diseñado la muestra y en manos de quien estuvo la renovación del museo para su reapertura en 2014, que ha querido dar entidad a las piezas en sí mismas, pero sin que eso las desconecte del discurso. Un hilo conductor que se ha dividido en tres momentos: los pioneros (desde mediados del siglo XIX a 1912, cuando surge la primera ley de excavaciones); la de consolidación (1912-1960, en estos años ya está consolidada esta materia tanto en museos como en universidades) y, por último, la configuración de la arqueología contemporánea. El comisario, Gonzalo Ruiz Zapatero, tiene claro que la exposición está hecha desde un punto de vista sesgado, el suyo. Cualquier otro profesional hubiera elegido otra manera y otras piezas y aunque hubieran podido elegir el doble siempre faltarían. Carmen Marcos, subdirectora del museo, explicó que se quedaron con 150 por el simbolismo del número en este año en que se cumple siglo y medio desde que Isabel II firmara el real decreto de fundación del Arqueológico, el 20 de marzo de 1867, una ley que va más allá de esta institución, ya que fue el germen de la creación de la red de museos públicos y de la formación del cuerpo de museos que los “atienden”. Ruiz Zapatero quiere que el visitante tenga una experiencia del pasado. En el catálogo escribe que lo pretérito “refleja el presente” y eso tan manido, pero cierto, de que para construir el futuro hay que conocer lo que ha ocurrido en épocas anteriores. Ayer sostuvo que las piezas son conectores de experiencias, a través de ellas —ya sean fósiles, obras de arte, leyes, objetos de la vida cotidiana o tesoros de personajes importantes— se entiende la historia, las civilizaciones construidas gracias a la diversidad y la mezcla de factores. Qué mejor vivencia de la Hispania romana que encontrarse al entrar en la exposición con una imponente y colosal estatua de Trajano en actitud heroica. Esta pieza fue descubierta en 1788 en Itálica, lugar natal del emperador, y es el hallazgo más antiguo de los que se exponen. Evidentemente, no es la pieza más antigua, esa puede ser el pie Prometeo, encontrado en Atapuerca y que data de 500.000 años antes de Cristo, unos restos insólitos ya que reconstruyen casi al completo el pie de un homo heidelbergensis y ofrece datos sobre la anatomía y la forma de caminar de esta especie. ampliar foto Ídolo de Tara, pieza emblemática del arte aborigen canario. Museo Canario De este calibre son las piezas que se pueden ver en El poder del pasado. “Trozos de historia que nos pertenecen a todos”, dice de manera coloquial el comisario. Una oportunidad única por la calidad de las obras y porque difícilmente se podrá volver a juntar ese conjunto. Excepcional es que se vean dos piezas de oro del tesoro del Carambolo, un collar y un pectoral tartésicos del Museo Arqueológico de Sevilla, donde no se expone por motivos de seguridad. Tales son los rigurosísimos requerimientos que se han solicitado para estas piezas que se ha firmado un contrato de préstamo diferente del resto de las obras, debido a la cantidad de especificaciones. Significativa es la escultura que cierra el recorrido: una figura mutilada del siglo XII, hallada el pasado año en la torre Sur de la fachada del Obradoiro de la catedral de Santiago de Compostela, usada hasta su descubrimiento como material de relleno de la edificación. Es la primera vez que se expone y es un elemento clave que muestra que la arqueología no es un asunto del pasado, si no que tiene futuro y que aún hay muchos hallazgos que esperan ver la luz.
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CHRUBY_VERSION="0.3.9" RUBIES=() for dir in "$PREFIX/opt/rubies" "$HOME/.rubies"; do [[ -d "$dir" && -n "$(ls -A "$dir")" ]] && RUBIES+=("$dir"/*) done unset dir function chruby_reset() { [[ -z "$RUBY_ROOT" ]] && return PATH=":$PATH:"; PATH="${PATH//:$RUBY_ROOT\/bin:/:}" [[ -n "$GEM_ROOT" ]] && PATH="${PATH//:$GEM_ROOT\/bin:/:}" if (( UID != 0 )); then [[ -n "$GEM_HOME" ]] && PATH="${PATH//:$GEM_HOME\/bin:/:}" GEM_PATH=":$GEM_PATH:" [[ -n "$GEM_HOME" ]] && GEM_PATH="${GEM_PATH//:$GEM_HOME:/:}" [[ -n "$GEM_ROOT" ]] && GEM_PATH="${GEM_PATH//:$GEM_ROOT:/:}" GEM_PATH="${GEM_PATH#:}"; GEM_PATH="${GEM_PATH%:}" unset GEM_HOME [[ -z "$GEM_PATH" ]] && unset GEM_PATH fi PATH="${PATH#:}"; PATH="${PATH%:}" unset RUBY_ROOT RUBY_ENGINE RUBY_VERSION RUBYOPT GEM_ROOT hash -r } function chruby_use() { if [[ ! -x "$1/bin/ruby" ]]; then echo "chruby: $1/bin/ruby not executable" >&2 return 1 fi [[ -n "$RUBY_ROOT" ]] && chruby_reset export RUBY_ROOT="$1" export RUBYOPT="$2" export PATH="$RUBY_ROOT/bin:$PATH" eval "$(RUBYGEMS_GEMDEPS="" "$RUBY_ROOT/bin/ruby" - <<EOF puts "export RUBY_ENGINE=#{Object.const_defined?(:RUBY_ENGINE) ? RUBY_ENGINE : 'ruby'};" puts "export RUBY_VERSION=#{RUBY_VERSION};" begin; require 'rubygems'; puts "export GEM_ROOT=#{Gem.default_dir.inspect};"; rescue LoadError; end EOF )" export PATH="${GEM_ROOT:+$GEM_ROOT/bin:}$PATH" if (( UID != 0 )); then export GEM_HOME="$HOME/.gem/$RUBY_ENGINE/$RUBY_VERSION" export GEM_PATH="$GEM_HOME${GEM_ROOT:+:$GEM_ROOT}${GEM_PATH:+:$GEM_PATH}" export PATH="$GEM_HOME/bin:$PATH" fi hash -r } function chruby() { case "$1" in -h|--help) echo "usage: chruby [RUBY|VERSION|system] [RUBYOPT...]" ;; -V|--version) echo "chruby: $CHRUBY_VERSION" ;; "") local dir ruby for dir in "${RUBIES[@]}"; do dir="${dir%%/}"; ruby="${dir##*/}" if [[ "$dir" == "$RUBY_ROOT" ]]; then echo " * ${ruby} ${RUBYOPT}" else echo " ${ruby}" fi done ;; system) chruby_reset ;; *) local dir ruby match for dir in "${RUBIES[@]}"; do dir="${dir%%/}"; ruby="${dir##*/}" case "$ruby" in "$1") match="$dir" && break ;; *"$1"*) match="$dir" ;; esac done if [[ -z "$match" ]]; then echo "chruby: unknown Ruby: $1" >&2 return 1 fi shift chruby_use "$match" "$*" ;; esac }
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NAPAS -- Protection and AdvocacyDo you need help NOW?? Does your child need help and you are getting NOWHERE with your medical or educational system?? Is NO ONE giving you information?? Then go to this site FIRST, find your state, and CALL. Disability Information and AdvocacyAdvocating for your child, how to get help if you are fighting with your school district, employer, medical insurance, health care provider, or other similar issues. Autism Organizations Live Autism NewsThe #1 site for comprehensive information on autism, Asperger syndrome, and other spectrum issues. Includes sections on her family's "life on a spectrum", links to the homepages of AS adults [including mine!!] and the parents of AS children, "more autism links than you can shake a stick at", books, and just about anything else you would ever want or need to know about autism. Autism One RadioFrom the site: "Autism One Radio presents knowledgeable, caring hosts providing answers to many of the most important questions. We cover a wide range of topics, including the most effective treatments and therapies, school concerns, legal issues, government policies, family dynamics and more." Jypsy -- OOPS Wrong Planet SyndromeThe #1 site for comprehensive information on autism, Asperger syndrome, and other spectrum issues. Includes sections on her family's "life on a spectrum", links to the homepages of AS adults [including mine!!] and the parents of AS children, "more autism links than you can shake a stick at", books, and just about anything else you would ever want or need to know about autism. National Autism AssociationFrom the site: "The mission of the National Autism Association is to advocate, educate, and empower. We will advocate on behalf of those who cannot fight for their own rights. We will raise public and professional awareness of autism spectrum disorders. We will empower those in the autism community to never give up in their search to help their loved ones reach their full potential." This organization has a contact phone number, see site for information. Autism NetworksFrom the site: "Good Evening! Welcome to the Autism Networks website, the world's first and largest autism related website available in multiple languages. We offer a wide variety of services from parent and professional training workshops to consultation and supervision for school districts and service provider agencies. Our organization's services are always expanding, Please join our email list to stay up to date." Autism InfoFrom the site: "Our goal is to provide parents, particularly those with newly diagnosed kids, a good source of information. We believe that there are many treatments and therapies available and all have helped some kids. However none have helped every kid. Treating autism can produce tangible results. Through diet, medical intervention, behavioral therapies, and nutritional supplementation, these kids are making remarkable progress, and many are now "indistinguishable" among their peers. If kids are feeling better physically, it is reasonable to think their therapies will be more effective." Generation RescueFrom the site: "The incidence of autism has increased from 1 in 10,000 in the 1970s to 1 in 150 today, an increase of over 6,000%. Many more children have been diagnosed with other neurodevelopmental disorders all considered to be on the same spectrum including Asperger's, ADHD/ADD, speech delay, and many other developmental delays and learning disabilities. "During these investigations, numerous scientists from around the globe have testified before the committee, and have presented credible peer-reviewed research studies that indicated a direct link between the exposure of Mercury, a widely known neurotoxin, and the increasing incidences of autism."" Unlocking AutismFrom the site: "The incidence of autism is increasing at an alarming rate. Only 10 years ago, it was estimated that autism affected one out of 10,000 children. Two years ago, it was estimated that autism affected one out of 500 children. Current estimates are that autism affects one out of 300 children nationwide and in some areas of the country the rate is as much as one out of 150 children. Unlocking Autism was founded primarily for the purpose of increasing awareness about the disorder." This organization has a toll free hotline and call center, see site for information. Autism Society of AmericaFrom the site: "The mission of the Autism Society of America is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum, and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their community. Education, advocacy at state and federal levels, active public awareness and the promotion of research form the cornerstones of ASA's efforts to carry forth its mission." AutismLinkFrom the site: "Our mission is to provide opportunities for inclusion, information, and support; to keep parents, family members of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and autistic individuals apprised of news and information, help them in their quest for services, and also in their quest for camaraderie with others in the autism community. We seek to directly help parents by providing opportunities for support, inclusion and information, free of charge." FEAT -- Families for Early Autism TreatmentFrom the site: "FEAT (Families for Early Autism Treatment) is a non-profit organization of parents and professionals, designed to help families with children who have received the diagnosis of Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD NOS). It offers a network of support where families can meet each other and discuss issues surrounding autism and treatment options. FEAT has a Board of Directors that meets monthly to discuss issues, establish priorities, and vote on the direction of the organization. Every other month, a newsletter is published which contains current news and events. FEAT has a Lending Library, where families can get information about Autism and check out teaching materials for their therapy programs for free. FEAT also offers Support Meetings on the third Wednesday of each month which are designed to provide information to families whose children have been diagnosed with Autism and to provide emotional support to those who need it. Throughout the year, FEAT has parties, field trips and fundraising events. These activities are the most fun for the parents because this is when many friendships are formed." CAN -- Cure Autism NowFrom the site: "The Cure Autism Now (CAN) foundation is an organization of parents, clinicians and scientists dedicated to finding effective biological treatments, prevention and a cure for autism and related disorders." BBB AutismFrom the site: "We initially created the BBB Autism Online club in order to provide support and share strategies for dealing with everyday life. As the club grew, it evolved into a place to find information via tips, sites and recommended reading on a variety of subjects pertaining to raising an autistic child. We began to research certain topics for club members and to present them in a chat format, followed by “information posts”. Our files grew and grew as we amassed fantastic sites. Our membership grew, and we developed a desire to provide a more permanent place to gather knowledge that could reach a much larger audience. We wanted to develop the very site that we wish we’d had access to back in the early days." Moms On A Mission For AutismFrom the site: "A Non-Profit Organization Incorporated In Florida Whose Goal Is To Help All Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Our Mission Is To Bring Vaccine Injury Issues To The Forefront Of National Dialogue And To Advocate For Scientific Research Into The Suspected Link Of Vaccine Injury To Autism Spectrum Disorders." Autism Network Resources for PhysiciansFrom the site: "Autism Network Resources for Physicians is a resource website listing links to autism research and related sites that will be of interest to physicians. The goal of this site is to assist the medical community in their efforts to understand autism and study the treatment options available in the hopes that someday, the treatment protocol that proves to be the most beneficial for certain populations with autism are going to be accepted or recommended by the medical community. By taking part in the study of autism and its causes, we hope that the medical community will be able to identify at-risk children and will be able to follow or recommend certain measures to prevent autism." OASIS -- Online Asperger Syndrome Information and SupportFrom the site: "As parents of children who are diagnosed with AS, we understand how essential is it that families of children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, educators who teach children with AS, professionals working with individuals diagnosed with AS, and individuals with AS who are seeking support, have access to information. Although recently reminded that there is no oasis or paradise for those with Asperger Syndrome, we sincerely hope that they, along with parents and professionals, will find a bit of shade and support via the information presented and links available at this site." NICHCY -- Natl Information Center for Children and Youth with DisabilitiesFrom the site: "NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. Our special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22). NICHCY provides information and makes referrals in areas related to: [1] Specific disabilities, [2] Early intervention, [3] Special education and related services, [4] Individualized education programs, [5] Family issues, [6] Disability organizations, [7] Professional associations, [8] Education rights, [9] Transition to adult life, [10] and much, much more!" National Military Family AssociationFrom the site: "Serving the Families of Those Who Serve: We are the only national organization dedicated to identifying and resolving issues of concern to military families. Our mission: To serve the families of the seven uniformed services through education, information and advocacy." STOMP: Specialized Training of Military ParentsFrom the site: "With a population of 1.5 million active duty military members, each day around the globe, there are an estimated 540,000 active duty sponsors each caring for a family member with special medical or educational needs. STOMP is the only National Parent Training and Information Center for military families providing support and advice to military parents without regard of the type of medical condition their child has." Geneva Centre for Autism -- CanadaFrom the site: "Since 1974, the Geneva Centre for Autism has been the leader in developing and teaching the most effective techniques for those affected by Autism/PDD. The Centre delivers services to enhance the lives of people affected by Autism/PDD. Founded on principles of partnership and skill building, the Geneva Centre for Autism is committed to collaborative partnerships with families and professionals to ensure services meet individual needs. The Geneva Centre has become the most extensive resource and clinical centre in Canada. Mission: Geneva Centre empowers individuals with autism and other related disorders, and their families, to fully participate in their communities." Coping with life's stressors, including special needs issuesThis site includes very good information on a variety of life stressors. Parent/child issues including raising responsible children, study skills, children with disabilities, etc. Adult issues include self-esteem, 12-step guide, handling loss, personal growth, relationships, communication, anger, control, and other self-understanding and improvement. Father's NetworkFrom the site: "Greetings and a warm welcome to the Fathers Network web page. Our mission is to celebrate and support fathers and families raising children with special health care needs and developmental disabilities." DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for AutismFrom the site: "To be diagnosed with autistic disorder at least one sign (each) from parts A, B, and C must be present plus at least six overall. Those meeting fewer criteria are diagnosable as PDD NOS." ** My Comments on the Diagnostic CriteriaThese are my notes from a two-hour presentation I did for a local support group in my area. These are my own personal comments from my personal experiences and the experiences which have been related to me by others. They do not necessarily apply to your own child Autism Symptom ChecklistFrom the site: "Autism, which affects thought, perception and attention, is not just one disorder with a well defined set of symptoms; autism is a broad spectrum of disorders that ranges from mild to severe. In addition, the behavior usually occurs across many different situations and is consistently inappropriate for their age." Autism Research Institute -- ATEC Internet Scoring ProcedureAutism Treatment Evaluation Checklist, designed to evaluate different treatment/therapy methods to gauge progress of individual autistic children. The test is designed to evaluate the progress made by an individual child, altho general scores also give a comparison of the individual child with other children. Autism Research Institute -- Diagnostic Checklist Form E-2 and Research Questionnaire Form E-3From the site: "A high-priority goal of the Autism Research Institute (ARI) is the development of improved methods of diagnosing children with severe behavior disorders, since most medical research is highly dependent upon accurate diagnostic methods. Our Diagnostic Checklist, Form E-2, has been designed for this purpose. In addition, the Form E-2 checklist asks parents to rate the effectiveness of various interventions they have tried on their son/daughter. Information on the effectiveness of interventions is compiled on a regular basis and is shared with families and professionals throughout the world." DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Asperger SyndromeFrom the site: "For your information, I've included below a copy of the DSM IV Description. In addition, I've also added a more down-to-earth description that was originally posted to the autism listserv." Signs of AutismFrom the site: "The signs and symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Autism. This medical information about signs and symptoms for Autism has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Autism signs or Autism symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Autism may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Autism symptoms." To Diagnose or Not to DiagnoseFrom the site: "Although in my heart of hearts I know that a child or adult has Aspergers Syndrome, I ask myself whether it is helpful, in the long run, to identify the disorder." ** My Comments on the Diagnostic CriteriaThese are my notes from a two-hour presentation I did for a local support group in my area. These are my own personal comments from my personal experiences and the experiences which have been related to me by others. They do not necessarily apply to your own child ** AS Social SkillsMy thoughts, and comments by several others, regarding AS social skills, or lack thereof. Face BlindnessFrom the site: "This is the world's first (and to date only) book about face blindness. It has been published on the Internet so people in all lands can have access to it readily, and so it can be continuously updated." ** Talking to YourselfQuestion: Did there come a time in your life when your realized it was not socially acceptable to talk to yourself? ** Getting to Sleep and Staying AsleepQuestion: My son has trouble falling asleep, he is awake for hours after bedtime, and wants to play. Sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night for several hours also. Any ideas for helping him get to sleep and stay asleep? ** Removing ClothesQuestion: My son is removing his clothes and shoes in the car and at school. How can I get him to stop? Stereotypic (Self-Stimulatory) BehaviorFrom the site: "Stereotypy or self-stimulatory behavior refers to repetitive body movements or repetitive movement of objects. This behavior is common in many individuals with developmental disabilities; however, it appears to be more common in autism. In fact, if a person with another developmental disability exhibits a form of self-stimulatory behavior, often the person is also labelled as having autistic characteristics. Stereotypy can involve any one or all senses. We have listed the five major senses and some examples of stereotypy. Self-stimulation -- I'm Okay, You Have a MannerismThis is from a deaf/blind site, but it is a really good description of what are self-stimulation activities and how all people do them, just for some people they look different from the "normal" self-stimulation activities of the majority of the population. Discusses ways to use self-stimulation activities to learn how each of us as individuals best deal with stressful situations, idleness/boredom, how we learn best, etc. Very good descriptions of what is self-stimulation activity and how to put it to good use. ** Stimming in New Classroom SituationQuestion: My son recently started in a new classroom situation, and his stims have increased when they were practically non-existent before. Does anyone know why this is, and what I can do to help him? We are considering OT and AIT. ** Self Injury Behavior -- CuttingQuestion: My son likes to cut himself with sharp objects like razors, knives, and scissors. Why does he do this and how can I get him to stop? Self Injury Behavior [ARI]This is written by Stephen Edelson. From the site: "Self-injurious behavior often refers to any behavior that can cause tissue damage, such as bruises, redness, and open wounds. The most common forms of these behaviors include head-banging, hand-biting, and excessive scratching or rubbing. There are two major sets of theories on why people engage in self-injury -- physiological and social." The article includes these theories and suggested treatments. Managing Grief: People with Developmental DisabilitiesFrom the site: "People with disabilities have a right to participate fully in the grief and mourning process and in all of society's support systems and rituals associated with these losses. Concerted effort is needed to offer death education to professionals and to parent organizations so that they may become familiar with normal grief reactions and provide proper supports. Death education can be introduced into the school and adult education curriculum for people with developmental disabilities. Advice is needed to construct guidelines for special agencies to follow when a death does occur. This might include helping professional caregivers rehearse breaking the news of a death. Practical plans to avoid immediate admission to residential care are required. The importance of ensuring that the bereaved person has some mementos of their deceased relative must be remembered and advice on the importance of nonverbal rituals at the funeral may be helpful. Bereavement counseling for persons with a developmental disability should be made available routinely and not just when a maladaptive reaction has been recognized as grief. Both individual and group work with bereaved individuals may be helpful, particularly if nonverbal approaches, such as the use of counseling picture books, are available." Planet Amber global disability resource linksFrom the site: "[A] global information source for people with health impairments, their families and for those who provide services and support." Site includes information on living care, therapy and counselling, bereavement, children, assistive equipment, clothing, pharmaceuticals, rights, employment, education, technology, transportation, leisure activities, and more. Handling Feelings of Grief and LossFrom the site: "Parents of children with disabilities experience grief or loss feelings over the entire life time of their children. This grief is felt more acutely at the points of transitions in their children's lives. It is imperative that parents recognize that this is a normal phenomenon and that it is best for them to prepare themselves in advance when such transitions are to occur." Project LifesaverFrom the site: "Project Lifesaver has completed over 1,000 Successful Search & Rescue Missions for Wandering Victims Of Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Down syndrome and related dementia type Disorders. All persons were found using Project Lifesaver at a 100% recovery rate. All persons were found alive and returned home. Project Lifesaver uses electronic tracking systems to locate the patient during a wandering incident. Project Lifesaver is not a passive bracelet with a toll free number. Such bracelets do not locate the patient, they provide information about the patient once they are located and someone calls the number. Many times, wandering incidents end tragically because the individual is not found quickly enough. Project Lifesaver has been successful because it actually locates the person quickly , before it is too late. The difference between a passive ID bracelet and an active tracking device is paramount to locating the person fast enough to save a life." Ion KidsFrom the site: "Sometimes even the best parents need help keeping track of their children. The stress and panic associated with this can be tremendous-but it can be alleviated using technology and education. ionKids™ is a safe, easy-to-use system that enables parents and guardians to monitor and locate their children or dependents when they're at a neighborhood park, theme park, mall, airport or even when they're just playing in the backyard." Global GPS and Tracking SolutionsFrom the site: "The Kid Safety System was developed to allow parents to know when their children leave a pre-specified range or fall into water." Whereify WirelessFrom the site: "Wherify Wireless has developed products and services to compete in the Wireless Location Service markets. Our current technology is patented and covers any locking, cut-resistant band device. Our initial product line consists of a lockable Personal Locator that functions as a GPS location device, pager, watch, and wireless telephone transceiver. There will be hundreds of future products in many form factors using both identical and enhanced technologies." NAMI Special Needs Estate PlanningFrom the site: "This information provided in the Special Needs Estate Planning Guidance System is intended to provide some of the missing pieces in understanding Special Needs Planning, but NAMI is not providing a do-it-yourself kit for Special Needs Trusts. This information is provided to educate in a general way and is not intended to provide specific legal or professional advice." CAPD -- diagnostic criteriaThis is an article by an audiologist, describing the common symptoms of Central Auditory Processing Disorder [CAPD]. CAPD Site IndexThis is a site index including links for sites on adults with CAPD, children with CAPD, remedial programs, accommodations, audiologists, insurance billing, and other learning disabilities and advocacy, including other speech/language disabilities, dyslexia, hyperlexia, autism, attention deficit, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Apraxia and Verbal DyspraxiaFrom the site: "Apraxia-kids - the Internet's most comprehensive site for information on developmental apraxia of speech (verbal dyspraxia) and children's speech and language topics, including evaluation, therapy and other childhood communication topics. Invaluable for parents, speech language pathologists, teachers and all those who care about a child with apraxia." American Hyperlexia AssociationFrom the site: "The American Hyperlexia Association is a non-profit organization comprised of parents and relatives of children with hyperlexia, speech and language professionals, education professionals, and other concerned individuals with the common goal of identifying hyperlexia, promoting and facilitating effective teaching techniques both at home and at school, and educating the general public as to the existence of the syndrome called hyperlexia. AHA is dedicated to the advancement of the education and general welfare of children with hyperlexia. We advocate and encourage research related to hyperlexia and seek to assist families of children with hyperlexia in accessing appropriate services." Siblings of AutismFrom the site: "Being a sibling of someone with Autism has made me realize that many things in life require hard work, patience and understanding. I thought up the idea for siblingsofautism.com when I was thirteen almost fourteen. Our Family was going through some stressful times and I looked, in vain, for a place to vent my feelings and a place just to chat with someone who knew what I was going through. This page is made not only for a support group for siblings of children with these disorders, but also as a page to help people who have not been exposed to Autism, learn more about it." Siblings of Children with Autism, A Guide for FamiliesA book review. From the review: "This book describes the challenges that families face and has many useful strategies to help us take care of each other better.... This book is useful because it gives specific steps about what to do. For instance, siblings need appropriate information and facts about autism and why their sibling acts the way he does. The information needs to be delivered at the level of the sibling hearing it. Not too much too early." BBB AutismGood sibling section on the right side about half-way down the front page. The ARC Sibling Support ProjectFrom the site: "The Sibling Support Project, believing that disabilities, illness, and mental health issues affect the lives of all family members, seeks to increase the peer support and information opportunities for brothers and sisters of people with special needs and to increase parents' and providers' understanding of sibling issues." Disney World and Disneyland -- Guests with Disabilities InformationFrom the site: "Welcome to the Disney Vacations home page for Guests with disabilities. This site establishes links to specific information related to the services and resources available at the Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort for Guests with disabilities. Please choose your vacation destination to begin. This page can be accessed from the "Attractions Listing" pages within each section by selecting "Symbols Page." Social Security Administration Office of Disability - Disability ProgramsFrom the site: "Did You Know... Social Security has two programs that pay benefits to people with disabilities? Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured" meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need. When you apply for either program, we will collect medical and other information from you and make a decision about whether or not you meet Social Security's definition of disability." The Managed Care Clearinghouse Home PageFrom the site: "MCARE is the National Clearinghouse on Managed Care and Long-Term Services and Support for Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families, which is funded through a grant from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The MCARE website seeks to provide the most current information available on managed care, long-term services and supports, self-determination, and other related areas. MCARE will provide the latest news articles, upcoming conferences and events, government documents, research and policy papers, and individual perspectives." Resources on Managed Care for People with DisabilitiesUnderstanding Managed Care, How to Pick a Plan, How to Evaluate Your Current Plan, Strategies for Managing Your Health Care, What to Look for in Health Care Providers, Resources for Choosing Health Care Providers, Medicare and Medicaid, Medication, Disability-related Issues, Advocacy Issues, Advocacy Resources, Medical Information, Research Projects, and Other Resources. National Academy of Social Insurance [Social Security, Medicare, Disability, etc]From the site: "The National Academy of Social Insurance is America's only private, non-profit, non-partisan resource center made up of the nation's leading experts on social insurance. Both in the United States and abroad, social insurance encompasses broad-based public systems for insuring workers and their families against economic insecurity caused by loss of income from work and the cost of health care. The Academy's scope includes such social insurance systems as Social Security, Medicare, workers' compensation and unemployment insurance, and related social assistance and private employee benefits. Our mission is to conduct research and enhance public understanding of social insurance, to develop new leaders, and to provide a nonpartisan forum for exchange of ideas on important issues in the field." Disability LawyersFrom the site: "Disability Lawyers is the only exclusive Disability Law directory online. Not only do we offer this unique service as an exclusive listing for disability law firms across the country, we also provide current daily and weekly disability news articles from around the nation." CIBRA -- Children Injured by Restraint and AversivesFrom the site: "CIBRA is a fledgling organization in the first stages of development. Founded by families whose autistic children were severely traumatized in well known programs of discrete trial (ABA)and other various settings utilizing dangerous behavior modification techniques, we are an integral part of the fast growing civil rights movement in the autism community. Our central mission is to provide a national/international support network for parents whose children (including adult children) have been traumatized, injured or killed by abusive behavior modification (ABA) and restraint . This mission includes raising public awareness of the abuses taking place in the treatment community. We will provide a national/international forum for public testimony of victims of these abuses. Following on the heels of the 60 Minutes (TV program ) expose' of the Charter Hospital chain, FOX News expose' entitled "Deadly Restraint" and Hard Copy's expose' on these same type of dangerous practices being used with autistic children (frequently without informed consent from parents), our goal is to arrest the growing use of this type of abusive , dangerous, and unethical treatment of children taking place in behavioral treatment systems and school districts." Family & Advocates Partnership for EducationFrom the site: "Welcome to the Family & Advocates Partnership in Education (FAPE) Web site. The Partnership is a new project which aims to inform and educate families and advocates about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 (IDEA 97). The new law supports the achievement of high standards for the 5.8 million children eligible for special education in the U.S, but for this shift to actually result in positive educational outcomes, families and advocates need to understand IDEA and their roles in improving results. The Partnership helps to ensure that the changes made in IDEA are understood by families and advocates and are put into practice at local and state levels." Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA) -- UKThis is a UK advocacy group. From the site: "IPSEA is a volunteer-based organisation and many of the volunteers providing telephone advice and support at Tribunals are themselves parents of children with special educational needs who have been helped by IPSEA in the past. Volunteers providing a second professional opinion service are trained and experienced professionals working in special education, as educational psychologists, speech therapists, teachers, etc. Currently, IPSEA is trying to get information to low-income families through an ongoing national targeting programme. IPSEA offers free and independent advice on Local Education Authorities' legal duties to assess and provide for children with special educational needs. These include children with physical disabilities, sensory impairment, emotional and behavioural difficulties, general and specific learning difficulties (including those arising from specific conditions such as Down's Syndrome, autism and dyslexia)." Disability Resources on the InternetFrom the site: "What We Are... Disability Resources, inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established to promote and improve awareness, availability and accessibility of information that can help people with disabilities live, learn, love, work and play independently. Who We Serve... We serve thousands of individuals with disabilities through a multidisciplinary network of service providers and consumers. In order to reach as many people with disabilities as cost effectively as possible, we target our services and publications to libraries, disability organizations, independent living centers, rehabilitation facilities, educational institutions, and health and social service providers. What We Do... We disseminate information about books, pamphlets, magazines, newsletters, videos, databases, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, telephone hotlines and on-line services that provide free, inexpensive or hard-to-find information to help people with disabilities live independently." World Association of Persons with DisabilitiesFrom the site: "Voices of Positive Ability -- Whether the term is disability, disabled, disabilities, handicapped or whatever the popular "categorizing" label.... WAPD is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association under God, that represents huge portions of the one in five residents of earth that are being... ALIVE!... INVOLVED!... and EFFECTIVE!... in their daily living. WAPD advances the interests of persons with disAbilities at national, state, local and home levels. We believe that all are entitled to high quality of life. Over fifteen years of "grassroots" planning and growth have catapulted the association to a world leadership position, advancing the soundness and empowerment of the so called "disAbled" everywhere. WAPD links the "disAbled" and supporters to current "leading edge" disAbility information via the various mediums of communication." CARF The Rehabilitation Accreditation CommissionFrom the site: "What is CARF? CARF is a private, not-for-profit organization that accredits programs and services in Adult Day Services, Assisted Living, Behavioral Health, Employment and Community Services, and Medical Rehabilitation. CARF develops and maintains practical and relevant standards of quality for such programs. The standards are developed by the field, which consists of the persons receiving services, rehabilitation professionals, and purchasers of services, and are applied through a peer review process to determine how well an organization is serving its consumers. Every year the standards are reviewed and new ones are developed to keep pace with changing conditions and current consumer needs. In addition to information about CARF's accreditation divisions on this web site, you can find information about the work of two other important CARF divisions, Education and Training and Research and Quality Improvement. To obtain a list of organizations in your area with accredited programs or services or to comment about an organization that is accredited by CARF, please contact CARF." National Special Needs NetworkFrom the site: "A Full Range of Services for the Individual with Special Needs and Professionals Serving the Special Needs Populations those Individuals and Families with Developmental and Acquired Disabilities, Mental Illnesses and Chronic Medical Conditions. The National Special Needs Network is a coast-to-coast affiliation of Special Needs Professionals dedicated to providing the finest and most complete special needs support services in America." The Council for Exceptional Children [CEC & ERIC]From the site: "The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice." Through the Looking GlassFrom the site: "Through the Looking Glass (TLG) is a community non-profit organization which emerged from the disability independent living movement in 1982. TLG has pioneered clinical and supportive services, training and research serving families in which one or more members--whether parent or child--has a disability or medical issue. TLG's mission has been to create, demonstrate and encourage resources and model early intervention services which are non-pathological and empowering." ADA Technical AssistanceFrom the site: "The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the most comprehensive federal civil-rights statute protecting the rights of people with disabilities. It affects access to employment; state and local government programs and services; access to places of public accommodation such as businesses, transportation, and non-profit service providers; and telecommunications. The ADA Technical Assistance Program has been in existence since 1992, shortly after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since its inception, the Program has consisted of a diverse array of projects to further the understanding and implementation of the Act. The program has created a vast infrastructure of resources, including numerous ADA publications and videos, materials targeted to specific audiences, training packages and an unparalleled knowledge of the ADA. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has established ten regional centers to provide information, training, and technical assistance to employers, people with disabilities, and other entities with responsibilities under the ADA. The centers act as a "one-stop" central, comprehensive resource on ADA issues in employment, public services, public accommodations, and communications."
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A 20-year-old University of Minnesota student clearing snow off her car near campus was ambushed from behind and raped in a parking lot late at night, authorities said. The suspect remains at large. The attack occurred in a residential lot about 12:45 a.m. Monday near 8th Street and 13th Avenue SE., about two blocks northwest of various university athletic buildings and facilities, according to campus police. As the woman was clearing her car of freshly fallen snow, a man sneaked up from behind and sprayed a chemical irritant in her face, university police said in a campus crime alert sent to students, staff members and others. The man then forced the woman to the ground and raped her before fleeing down an alley, U police added. The woman was treated at Hennepin County Medical Center, according to the Minneapolis Police Department, which is handling the investigation. The alert said an image of the suspect was caught on university surveillance video. Campus police released a description of the suspect that included few specifics.
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Miss Universe 1994 Miss Universe 1994, the 43rd Miss Universe pageant, was held on 21 May 1994 at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay, Philippines. The winner, Bollywood moviestar Sushmita Sen of India was crowned by Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico at the end of the event. This marks the first time that India won the pageant wherein 77 contestants competed during this year. Results Final Competition Special Awards List of contestants - Solange Magnano - Alexandra Ochoa - Michelle van Eimeren - Meka Knowles - Christelle Roelandts —(Ivory Ultra Mild beauty care & soap award) - Cecilia O'Connor-d'Arlach - Valeria Melo Peris - Delia Jon Baptiste - Nevena Marinova - Susanne Rothfos - Audrey Elizabeth Ebanks - Constanza Barbieri - Carolina Gómez Correa - Leilani Brown - Yasmin Camacho - Jasmin Clifton - Maria Vasiliou - Gitte Andersen - Vielka Valenzuela - Mafalda Arboleda - Ghada El-Salem - Claudia Méndez - Eva-Maria Laan - Henna Meriläinen - Valerie Claisse - Tanja Wild - Michaela Pyke - Rea Toutounzi - Christina Perez - Katya Schoenstedt - Jem Haylock - Mok Hoi-Yan - Szilvia Forian - Svala Björk Arnardóttir - Sushmita Sen - Pamela Flood - Ravit Yarkoni - Arianna David - Angelie Martin - Chiaki Kawahito - Goong Sun-young - Sandy Wagner - Liza Koh - Paola Camilleri - Viveka Babajee - Fabiola Pérez Rovirosa — (2nd Runner up for Best in Philippine Terno gown) - Barbara Kahatjipara - Irene van der Laar - Nicola Brighty - Suzan Hart - Elizabeth Tomokane - Caroline Saetre - María Sofía Velásquez - Liliana González - Karina Calmet - Charlene Bonnin —(Ivory Ultra Mild beauty care & soap award) - Joanna Brykczynska - Monica Pereira - Brenda Robles - Joanne Wu - Mihaela Ciolacu - Inna Zobova - Alien Sun - Silvia Lakatošová (1st Runner up for Best in Philippine Terno gown) - Raquel Rodríguez - Nushara Pramali - Nicola Smith - Domenique Forsberg - Patricia Fässler - Areeya Chumsai - Lorca Gatcliffe - Banu Usluer - Eulease Walkin - Leonora Dibueno - Lu Parker — Minorka Mercado — (Winner for Best in Philippine Terno gown) - Yvette D'Almeida-Chakras Order of Introduction The following table is the order of introduction in the Parade of Nations segment in the regional groups, randomly-ordered. Contestants Notes Debuts attended for the first time, after separating from Czechoslovakia. Lakatošova was the winner of Miss Czech and Slovak Republic in 1993, which was the national pageant together with the Czech Republic. Returns Last competed in 1992: — Joanne Wu was allowed to wear Republic of China sash while she was off-staged. There were two sashes for her, one was written (Taiwan) R.O.C., and the other was written Republic of China as stated above. Replacements - Eleonora Carrillo, Miss El Salvador 1994 couldn't take part due she was underage before February 1. Her 1st Runner up, Claudia Méndez replaced it for the event, although Carrillo competed the following year at the Miss Universe 1995 finishing in the Top 10. Withdrawals — Bianca Engel — Lara Badawi — Karen Celebertti — Jessalyn Pearsall Did not compete — Loreta Brusokaitė Observations - Venna Melinda was not allowed to compete in the pageant because of her country's conservative Islamic prejudice towards the swimsuit competition, though she eventually traveled to Manila to watch the pageant instead. Host country Manila was announced as host city for the pageant in October 1993. It was the second time the pageant was held in the Philippines, after it was staged in Manila in 1974. It was staged at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, at approximately 8:00 in the morning (Philippine local time), to allow CBS in the United States to televise the pageant live in prime time. Areas of competition The delegates started arriving in Manila by mid-April and were involved in nearly four weeks of events and competitions. They also visited different locations and attractions throughout the Philippines. Prior to the final telecast, all contestants competed in swimsuit and evening gown during the preliminary competition. They also participated in interviews with the judges. During the final competition, the top 10 contestants (based on their preliminary scores) competed in the swimsuit, evening gown and interview. The top six contestants participated in a final round of on-stage interviews, and cut to the final top three before the runners-up were announced and the new Miss Universe named. Notable controversies The country expected to make 10 million PHP ($357,000 USD) profit out of the pageant, as well as the accompanying media exposure. The 150 million pesos ($5.3 million) spent on hosting the pageant was funded from the private sectors, with sponsors such as Nestlé, Kodak and Hertz. Some of the expected sponsorship money did not materialize, leading the shortfall to be covered by the government. By mid May, as the contestants were already in Manila, organizers confirmed that they were short of money and were unsure whether a profit would be made from the event. In the midst of power shortages around the time of the pageant, the Philippine government promised to ensure that the weekend of the pageant's coronation night would be "blackout-free". The pageant came under public attack from the Nationalist Movement of New Women, a branch of the National Democratic Front, which claimed that it was being used to promote sex tourism. The cost of the event was also criticised by the Philippine Congress, despite it being endorsed by President Fidel Ramos. A social function attended by the delegates held prior to the final broadcast was picketed by the women's group, who opposed the nature of the pageant and the lavish spending. During rehearsal on the day prior to the pageant, a small homemade bomb exploded outside the pageant venue where the contestants had earlier been rehearsing, though it caused minimal damage and there were no injuries were taken. As a result, more than 3000 Filipino police officers were involved in protecting the delegates, as well as dozens of policewomen assigned as personal or group bodyguards. During May there was also a probe by the Commission on Human Rights as to whether a police round-up of street children was intended to improve Manila's international image during the pageant events. This was also criticised by Miss Thailand, Areeya Sirisopha Chumsai, even though the same incident occurred in Thailand in the Miss Universe 1992 pageant. Miss Russia Inna Zobova was detained for 15 hours in a windowless room at an airport in Bangkok, Thailand en route to Manila due to a lack of transit visa. Miss Malaysia, Liza Koh, made a public apology on behalf of her country about the arrest of 1200 Filipina domestic helpers in Kuala Lumpur. As a result, the Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admonished her not to make any further political remarks. Miss Mauritius Viveka Babajee became a controversial figure due to her involvement in the 1994 Metro Manila Film Festival scandal where she was a presenter for the Best Actress award together with actress Gretchen Barretto, an award which was highly disputed among the Philippine media. Miss Philippines Charlene Gonzales, gained criticism for winning the Best National Costume award, as the judges were also criticized for allegedly favouring the host nation's delegate. Miss British Virgin Islands, Delia Jon Baptiste, publicly declared that Gonzales won the award, because of Filipino favouritism, and that the other delegates disagreed with the choice. Miss Venezuela Minorka Mercado, won the Philippine costume Terno award, followed by Slovakia, who was also celebrating her birthday, and Miss Mexico by their respective placements. Notes General references References External links Miss Universe official website 1994 Category:1994 in the Philippines Category:1994 beauty pageants Category:Beauty pageants in the Philippines Category:Events in Metro Manila Category:Pasay Category:May 1994 events in Asia
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Q: Fitness Function - What to do, if value of one Chromosome features is much higher than other ones I am trying to write a Fitness Function for my Genetic Algorithm. I have got three features (F1,F2,F3 - All are numeric variables), which are taken into consideration for rating the chromosome. If all of them are equally important I can write such equation: If their importance would be different, I can multiply features by different constants. It will all work, if values of all three features would have the same interval. But what if F1 and F2 could have a value from (0,10) and F3 for example(0,49)? How could I approximately scale it? Or should I approach it differently? A: Scale all your values to [0..1] Assign a weight / importance to every value Multiply every scaled value with its weight Divide the sum of all values from step 3 by the sum of all weights I don't know which language you are using, so here is some C# code: Feature Class public class Feature { public double Importance { get; set; } public double Value { get; set; } public double LowValue { get; set; } public double HighValue { get; set; } public double ScaledValue { get { // Make sure value is within bounds double intermediate = Math.Max(Math.Min(LowValue, HighValue), Math.Min(Math.Max(LowValue, HighValue), Value)); // Scale from 0 to 1 within defined bounds double scaledValue = (intermediate - LowValue)/(HighValue - LowValue); return scaledValue; } } } Example Calculation // low importance (1), values from [20..-10] (less is better) var f1 = new Feature { Importance = 1, Value = 0, LowValue = 20, HighValue = -10 }; // low importance (1), values from [0..10] (more is better) var f2 = new Feature { Importance = 1, Value = 1, LowValue = 0, HighValue = 10 }; // high importance (5), values from [0..49] var f3 = new Feature { Importance = 5, Value = 25, LowValue = 0, HighValue = 49 }; var features = new[] {f1, f2, f3}; var score = features.Sum(f => f.ScaledValue*f.Importance)/features.Sum(f => f.Importance); Debug.WriteLine(score);
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A need exists for a device that can prevent the uncontrolled discharge of melt, such as plastic melt, from nozzle apertures. A further need exists for a device that can be used to ensure that melt does not enter a process chamber of an underwater granulator until the desired molten conditions, such as the necessary degree of plastication or melting of melt, are reached. A further need exists for a device that controls the uncontrolled discharge of melt, is compact in design, and reduces thermal problems associated with the control of melt out of a nozzle. The present embodiments meet these needs. The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.
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The smart speakers market has seen a constant one-on-one between Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home. For a while, Amazon had a US$50 alternative, the Echo Dot to the relatively expensive Echo. On 4th October, Google unveiled a smaller and cheaper alternative to the Google Home, called the Home Mini for a price of US$50. In April of 2017, the Google Home got the ability to recognise different voices in the home and have personalised responses. Amazon has announced that Alexa can do the same thing. This basically means that if there are three people in the house and you ask Alexa to call a friend, Alexa will look through your profile your contacts by recognising the voice. Same thing will happen with calendars and even the playlists. You can set up voice recognition using the Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Show. Users are asked to read aloud 10 phrases, and Alexa will then use that data to create a voice profile. After that’s done, voice profiles work across other Echo devices and most of the Alexa-powered third party apps. Amazon says: Once you set up the feature, Alexa will learn your voice (versus your spouse/partner/roommate’s voice) and be able to deliver a more personalised experience. Today the feature is available for calling/messaging, flash briefing, shopping, and the Amazon Music Unlimited Family Plan, and it’ll be rolling out to additional Alexa features in the future. Amazon recently announced the entry of the Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Plus in India. The purchase can be done via an invite only as of now. The cheapest of the three is the Echo Dot priced at Rs 4499.
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Artificial aggregate made from waste stone sludge and waste silt. In this research, waste stone sludge obtained from slab stone processing and waste silt from aggregate washing plants were recycled to manufacture artificial aggregate. Fine-powdered stone sludge was mixed with waste silt of larger particle size; vibratory compaction was applied for good water permeability, resulting in a smaller amount of solidifying agent being used. For the densified packing used in this study, the mix proportion of waste stone sludge to waste silt was 35:50, which produced artificial aggregate of more compact structure with water absorption rate below 0.1%. In addition, applying vibratory compaction of 33.3 Hz to the artificial aggregate and curing for 28 days doubled the compressive strength to above 29.4 MPa. Hence, recycling of waste stone sludge and waste silt for the production of artificial aggregate not only offers a feasible substitute for sand and stone, but also an ecological alternative to waste management of sludge and silt.
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Q: Post increment on set iterator Possible Duplicate: iterator validity ,after erase() call in std::set When I iterate over a set and want to delete certain items the iterators are changed. This results in segfaults as the iteration fails after deletion. How can I overcome this problem? std::set< std::pair<double,unsigned>, comparisonFunction> candidates;' [...] for( auto it = candidates.begin(); it != candidates.end(); ++it) { [...] if ( some constraint satisfied) { candidates.erase(it); } } I encounter a segfault when I use this code. My guess is that this is either due to the corrupted iterators or due to the fact, that the element to be deleted is the last element in some cases. Does a post increment on the iterator overcome this problem? Like this: candidate.erase(it++); A: Use the return value of erase: it = candidates.erase(it); Note that you must not increment it if you erase an element, otherwise your iterator could be invalidated. for( auto it = candidates.begin(); it != candidates.end();) { if ( some constraint satisfied) { it = candidates.erase(it); } else ++it; } Also note that this wasn't possible in C++03, since erase didn't return any iterator. However, since you're using C++11 it shouldn't be a problem. References std::set::erase
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The following is offered as background information only and is not admitted to be prior art to the present invention. PKs are enzymes that catalyze the phosphorylation of hydroxy groups on tyrosine, serine and threonine residues of proteins. The consequences of this seemingly simple activity are staggering; cell growth, differentiation and proliferation; i.e., virtually all aspects of cell life in one way or another depend on PK activity. Furthermore, abnormal PK activity has been related to a host of disorders, ranging from relatively non-life threatening diseases such as psorisasis to extremely virulent diseases such as glioblastoma (brain cancer). The PKs can conveniently be broken down into two classes, the protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and the serine-threonine kinases (STKs). One of the prime aspects of PTK activity is its involvement with growth factor receptors. Growth factor receptors are cell-surface proteins. When bound by a growth factor ligand, growth factor receptors are converted to an active form which interacts with proteins on the inner surface of a cell membrane. This leads to phosphorylation on tyrosine residues of the receptor and other proteins and to the formation inside the cell of complexes with a variety of cytoplasmic signaling molecules that, in turn, affect numerous cellular responses such as cell division (proliferation), cell differentiation, cell growth, expression of metabolic effects to the extracellular microenvironment, etc. For a more complete discussion, see Schlessinger and Ullrich, Neuron, 9:303-391 (1992) which is incorporated by reference, including any drawings, as if fully set forth herein. Growth factor receptors with PK activity are known as Can receptor tyrosine kinases ("RTKs"). They comprise a large family of transmembrane receptors with diverse biological activity. At present, at least nineteen (19) distinct subfamilies of RTKs have been identified. An example of these is the subfamily designated the "HER" RTKs, which include EGFR (epithelial growth factor receptor), HER2, HER3 and HER4. These RTKs consist of an extracellular glycosylated ligand binding domain, a transmembrane domain and an intracellular cytoplasmic catalytic domain that can phosphorylate tyrosine residues on proteins. Another RTK subfamily consists of insulin receptor (IR), insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-1R) and the insulin receptor related receptor (IRR). IR and IGF-1R interact with insulin, IGF-I and IGF-II to form a heterotetramer of two entirely extracellular glycosylated a subunits and two .beta. subunits which cross the cell membrane and which contain the tyrosine kinase domain. A third RTK subfamily is referred to as the platelet derived growth factor receptor ("PDGFR") group, which includes PDGFR.alpha., PDGFR.beta., CSFIR, c-kit and c-fms. These receptors consist of glycosylated extracellular domains composed of variable numbers of immunoglobin-like loops and an intracellular domain wherein the tyrosine kinase domains is interrupted by unrelated amino acid sequences. Another group which, because of its similarity to the PDGFR subfamily, is sometimes subsumed in the later group is the fetus liver kinase ("flk") receptor subfamily. This group is believed to be made of up of kinase insert domain-receptor fetal liver kinase-1 (KDR/FLK-1), flk-1R, flk-4 and fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (flt-1). One further member of the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor family is the fibroblast growth factor ("FGF")receptor group. This groups consists of four receptors, FGFR1-4, and seven ligands, FGF1-7. While not yet well defined, it appears that the receptors consist of a glycosylated extracellular domain containing a variable number of immunoglobin-like loops and an intracellular domain in which the PTK sequence is interrupted by regions of unrelated amino acid sequences. A more complete listing of the known RTK subfamilies is described in Plowman et al., DN&P, 7(6):334-339 (1994) which is incorporated by reference, including any drawings, as if fully set forth herein. In addition to the RTKs, there also exists a family of entirely intracellular PTKs called "non-receptor tyrosine kinases" or "cellular tyrosine kinases". This latter designation, abbreviated "CTK", will be used herein. CTKs do not contain extracellular and transmembrane domains. At present, over 24 CTKs in 11 subfamilies (Src, Frk, Btk, Csk, Abl, Zap70, Fes/Fps, Fak, Jak and Ack) have been identified. The Src subfamily appear so far to be the largest group of CTKs and includes Src, Yes, Fyn, Lyn, Lck, Blk, Hck, Fgr and Yrk. For a more detailed discussion of CTKs, see Bolen, Oncogene, 8:2025-2031 (1993), which is incorporated by reference, including any drawings, as if fully set forth herein. The serine-threonine kinases or STKs, like the CTKs, are predominantly intracellular although there are a few receptor kinases of the STK type. STKs are the most common of the cytosolic kinases; i.e., kinases which perform their function in that part of the cytoplasm other than the cytoplasmic organelles and cytoskelton. The cytosol is the region within the cell where much of the cell's intermediary metabolic and biosynthetic activity occurs; e.g., it is in the cytosol that proteins are synthesized on ribosomes. RTKs, CTKs and STKs have all been implicated in a host of pathogenic conditions including, significantly, large number of diverse cancers. Others pathogenic conditions which have been associated with PTKs include, without limitation, psoriasis, hepatic cirrhosis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, restinosis, ocular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders, autoimmune disease and a variety of renal disorders. With regard to cancer, two of the major hypotheses advanced to explain the excessive cellular proliferation that drives tumor development relate to functions known to be PK regulated. That is, it has been suggested that malignant cell growth results from a breakdown in the mechanisms that control cell division and/or HY differentiation. It has been shown that the protein products of a number of proto-oncogenes are involved in the signal transduction pathways that regulate cell growth and differentiation. These protein products of proto-oncogenes include the extracellular growth factors, transmembrane growth factor PTK receptors (RTKs), cytoplasmic PTKs (CTKs) and cytosolic STKs, discussed above. In view of the apparent link between PK-related cellular activities and a number of human disorders, it is no surprise that a great deal of effort is being expended in an attempt to identify ways to modulate PK activity. Some of these have involved biomimetic approaches using large molecules patterned on those involved in the actual cellular processes (e.g., mutant ligands (U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,849); soluble receptors and antibodies (App. No. WO 94/10202, Kendall and Thomas, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci., 90:10705-09 (1994), Kim, et al., Nature, 362:841-844 (1993)); RNA ligands (Jelinek, et al., Biochemistry, 33:10450-56); Takano, et al., Mol. Bio. Cell 4:358A (1993); Kinsella, et al., Exp. Cell Res. 199:56-62 (1992); Wright, et al., J. Cellular Phys., 152:448-57) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (WO 94/03427; WO 92/21660; WO 91/15495; WO 94/14808; U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,992; Mariani, et al., Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res., 35:2268 (1994)). More recently, attempts have been made to identify small molecules which act as PK inhibitors. For example, bismonocylic, bicyclic and heterocyclic aryl compounds (PCT WO 92/20642), vinylene-azaindole derivatives (PCT WO 94/14808) and 1-cyclopropyl-4-pyridylquinolones (U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,992) have been described as PTK inhibitors. Styryl compounds (U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,999), styryl-substituted pyridyl compounds (U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,606), quinazoline derivatives (EP App. No. 0 566 266 A1), selenaindoles and selenides (PCT WO 94/03427), tricyclic polyhydroxylic compounds (PCT WO 92/21660) and benzylphosphonic acid compounds (PCT WO 91/15495) have all been described as PTK inhibitors useful in the treatment of cancer. Our own efforts to identify small organic molecules which modulate PK activity and which, therefore, should be useful in the treatment and prevention of disorders driven by abnormal PK activity, has led us to the discovery of a family of novel 3-idene-2-indolinone derivatives which exhibit excellent PK modulating ability and which are the subject of this invention.
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Imaging fingerprinting of excitation emission matrices. The spectral fingerprinting of the excitation emission matrix (EEM) of fluorescent substances is demonstrated using polychromatic light sources and tri-chromatic image detectors. A model of the measured fingerprints explaining their features and classification performance, based on the polychromatic excitation of the indicators is proposed. Substantial amount of spectral information is retained in the fingerprints as corroborated by multivariate analysis and experimental conditions that favor such situation are identified. In average, for five different substances, the model shows a fitting goodness measured by the Pearson's r coefficient and the root mean square deviation of 0.8541 and 0.0247 respectively, while principal component classification patterns satisfactorily compare with the EEM spectroscopy classification and respectively explain 96% and 93% of the information in the fist two principal components. The measurements can be performed using regular computer screens as illumination and web cameras as detectors, which constitute ubiquitous and affordable platforms compatible with distributed evaluations, in contrast to regular instrumentation for EEM measurements.
{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
You've had it with your job. You're ready for a more fulfilling career. Now the hard part: Telling your spouse that you'll have to live on less. Here's what to say. You’re ready to quit your miserable job and do something that you know will make you happier. But there’s a catch. You’ll need to take a major pay cut, and you haven’t talked to your spouse about it yet. “Assume that it’ll be a very anxiety inducing conversation,” says financial psychologist Brad Klontz. “Money conversations are critically important for the health of a relationship, but they’re minefields.” To avoid a bruising argument over your lower-paid gig, approach the topic this way: YOU SAY: “I’m stressed out and unfulfilled at work, and I’m worried I’ve been taking it out on the family. I’m seriously considering switching careers, and I want your input.” First things first: If you’ve been coming home from work cranky every evening, your spouse may have realized long ago that you hate your job. “This may be a more welcome conversation than you think,” says financial therapist Amanda Clayman. “If you’re not happy in a job, this may not come out of the blue.” Make sure your spouse understands you’re opening a negotiation, not simply making a declaration that you’re going to quit. This is a decision that affects your whole family, so emphasize that you want to hear your spouse’s thoughts. “You need a collaborative attitude,” says Maggie Baker, a financial therapist and author of Crazy About Money. “Make your partner feel like they’re part of the solution.” YOU SAY: “I’ve looked at our budget, and I’ve noticed some costs I think we could cut to make up for the shortfall.” Come prepared. Before talking to your spouse, take an honest look at your budget and assess where you (or the family) can afford to cut back. “The best thing to do is to think through the solution beforehand,” says Klontz. Could you spend less on meals out, for instance? Could your next car be a two-year-old certified preowned vehicle, not a new model? Spell out the sacrifices you’re willing to make, like taking on part-time work or slashing your personal spending. “If there are ways this can have more of an impact on you, you’ll probably get less resistance,” adds Klontz. YOU SAY: “Before I leave my job, let’s test out these cutbacks for a few months.” Before you quit, create this stricter budget. Then give your thriftier lifestyle a test drive and see if you can stick to it. “If you have this discussion well before you change jobs, you can practice a less affluent lifestyle,” says Baker. “By play acting it in that way, you can see if it’s doable.” YOU SAY: “This might be a tough adjustment now, but once I switch careers I’ll have a good chance at earning more down the road.” Taking a short-term pay cut for a new job can be a smart long-term financial decision, especially if you’ve topped out in what you’re doing. “Sometimes it’s good professionally to make less money,” says Neal Frankle, a certified financial planner and author of Why Smart People Lose a Fortune. That’s especially true if you have many more earning years ahead of you (and fewer big-ticket financial obligations, like kids in college). “Strategically, the younger you are, the more it could make sense to make less money.” In your new career, you might find it easier to move up the leadership ladder, or perhaps you have the chance to join a startup with high growth potential. Alternatively, look into whether the lower-paying job might have better benefits. If you can argue that your drop in pay will be temporary—or evened out by other factors—make that part of your case for quitting. YOU SAY: “I’m sure no one in the family will mind if I’m less grouchy around the house.” Play up the positive. Leaving a job that makes you miserable will probably rub off on the rest of your family. You might have more free time to spend with them, or at least you could be more relaxed and happy after you get home from work. Figure out what’s in it for them, and mention that too. Keep in mind that seeing you happier in your career will probably make your spouse happy too. “In a healthy relationship, one partner’s happiness and well-being has value in the family,” says Clayman. “It’s not all about the money.”
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President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France. Both leaders strongly condemned the horrific chemical weapons attacks in Syria and agreed that the Assad regime must be held accountable for its continued human rights abuses. They agreed to exchange information on the nature of the attacks and coordinate a strong, joint response.
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obj-y += prom.o setup.o irq.o
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