text stringlengths 12 4.76M | timestamp stringlengths 26 26 | url stringlengths 32 32 |
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The principle goal of this project is to apply recombinant RNA techniques to the study of problems of current biological interest. Recombinant RNAs consist of a heterologous sequence inserted at a selected site within a natural template for QBeta replicase. Large amounts of recombinant RNA can be synthesized autocatalytically by QBeta replicase in vitro. Two techniques for constructing recombinants will be developed. The first involves the direct ligation of heterologous RNAs within a modified MDV-1 (+) RNA cloning vector. The second employs a plasmid that serves as a template for the synthesis of perfect copies of MDV-1 RNA by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase in vitro. We plan the construction of a series of bifunctional recombinant RNAs, each retaining the biological function of the heterologous sequence and the replicability of the MDV-1 sequence. Three projects are outlined: 1) the synthesis of recombinant RNAs that will serve as substrates for the isolation and characterization of the RNA processing enzyme ribonuclease E from E. coli; 2) the construction and synthesis of recombinant substrates for the isolation of a putative prokaryotic RNA splicing enzyme from the thermaoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus; and 3) the in vitro evolution and cloning of infectious recombinant potato spindle tuber viroid RNAs for use in determining mechanisms of viroid replication and pathogenesis. | 2024-05-28T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/9165 |
A city divided into two by the Danube river, Budapest, is truly a city of bridges. With eight major bridges spanning the Danube there are many different designs and architectural styles for bridge lovers. The most modern of these bridges is found at the most Northern point of the Capital city of Hungary and it is called the Megyeri Bridge, previously known as the Northern M0 Danube Bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge connecting Buda (the western side of the city) to Pest (the eastern side of the city) and is truly aesthetically breathtaking. It is Hungary’s fist cable-stayed bridge and is a big part of the M0 highway which is planned to go around Budapest.
The bridge is made up of five parts and has a width of 35 meters and a full length of 1862 meters. Construction on the bridge took approximately two and a half years and it was opened to the public on September 13th 2008 with its official inauguration being held on the 30th of September 2008. The name of the bridge is of special importance as it was the result of a two round internet voting announced by the Ministry of Economy and Traffic. The voting was closely followed by the media and soon became internationally noted. The voting took an American turn when Stephen Colbert, host of the popular American show “The Colbert Report” began to ask for votes in order to have the bridge named after him. After two rounds of voting the clear winner was Stephen Colbert, however, he did not meet the requirements of the committee in that he did not speak fluent Hungarian and that he was still alive. As a result, on September 28th 2006 the final name of the bridge was announced. It was named the Megyeri Bridge by the Hungarian Committee of Geographical names since the bridge connects Kaposztasmegyer and Bekasmegyer. | 2024-01-12T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3372 |
Templates & Instructions
Instructions for filling out the Full Proposal and Budget templates were provided in the “follow-up & instructions” e-mail we sent to you on February 8th
The proposal cover sheet and the full paper (text and graphics) must be submitted as a single PDF file.
The Budget must be submitted as a single Excel file only. Please note: it is not necessary to fill the Skoltech part of the budget at this time.
If your investigators have not changed, do not submit a bio for the Full Proposal. If one or more of your investigators has changed, then biographies of all investigators must also be submitted in a single PDF file. Each biography should include a list of ten relevant publications references. The Biographical Sketch may not exceed two pages for each investigator. The number of bios should be limited to 6 investigators (5 + Principal Investigator). | 2024-07-12T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1702 |
Q:
How to use setProgressDrawable() correctly?
I am having problem with setting a new Drawable to my ProgressBar.
If I use the setProgressDrawable() inside onCreate() method it works great. But when I try to call the same method inside a Handler post callback it doesn't work and the progressbar disapears.
Can someone explain this behaviour? How can I solve this problem?
A:
downloadingBar.setProgress(0);
Drawable progressDrawable = getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.download_progressbar_pause_bg);
progressDrawable.setBounds(downloadingBar.getProgressDrawable().getBounds());
downloadingBar.setProgressDrawable(progressDrawable);
downloadingBar.setProgress(mCurrentPercent);
First you should reset the progress to zero
Set the progress drawable bounds
Set new progress drawable
Set new progress
A:
Bumped into this problem myself and I managed to get it working :)
I used the AsyncTask to handle the background tasks/threads, but the idea should be the same as using Runnable/Handler (though AsyncTask does feel nicer imo).
So, this is what I did... put setContentView(R.layout.my_screen); in the onPostExecute method! (ie. instead of the onCreate method)
So the code looks something like this:
public class MyScreen extends Activity {
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
// setContentView(R.layout.my_screen); !!! Don't setContentView here... (see bottom)
new MySpecialTask().execute();
}
private int somethingThatTakesALongTime() {
int result;
// blah blah blah
return result;
}
private void updateTheUiWithResult(int result) {
// Some code that changes the UI
// For exampe:
TextView myTextView = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.result_text);
myTextView.setText("Result is: " + result);
ProgressBar anyProgressBar = (ProgressBar) findViewById(R.id.custom_progressbar);
anyProgressBar.setProgressDrawable(res.getDrawable(R.drawable.progressbar_style));
anyProgressBar.setMax(100);
anyProgressBar.setProgress(result);
}
private class MySpecialTask extends AsyncTask<String, Void, Integer> {
ProgressDialog mProgressDialog;
@Override
protected void onPreExecute() {
mProgressDialog = ProgressDialog.show(MyScreen.this, "", "Calculating...\nPlease wait...", true);
}
@Override
protected Integer doInBackground(String... strings) {
return somethingThatTakesALongTime();
}
@Override
protected void onPostExecute(Integer result) {
mProgressDialog.dismiss();
setContentView(R.layout.my_screen); // setContent view here... then it works...
updateTheUiWithResult(result);
}
}
}
To be honest, why you need to call setContentView in onPostExecute I have no idea... but doing so means you can set custom styles for your progress bars (and they don't disappear on you!)
| 2023-11-18T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5549 |
{#f1}
Introduction {#s001}
============
[The lack of]{.smallcaps} an easy-to-use, practical, and validated method that can comprehensively risk stratify patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) has led to exclusion of patients with serious comorbid conditions from randomized controlled trials directed at the treatment of DFUs, thus limiting the generalizability of the results.^[@B1]^ There is also a clear need to include such patients in clinical trials to simulate a more real-world environment.^[@B2]^ Moreover, new reimbursement systems focused on healthcare outcomes necessitate a patient risk stratification system to adjust for differences in health status among patients, making it possible to compare provider performance fairly. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) acknowledges benefit to analyzing real-world data,^[@B3]^ and the Institute of Medicine promotes the mining of electronic health record (EHR) data for clinical research.^[@B4]^ Wound care centers have joined a national clinical data research network (CDRN),^[@B5]^ in which data are submitted to the U.S. Wound Registry (USWR), which used them to develop and validate the Wound Healing Index (WHI™),^[@B6]^ to accomplish this latter goal in wound care.
Predictive factors of DFU healing have been studied mainly with simple logistic regression models using one predictor at a time; for example, the effect of wound size (depth, area, and diameter),^[@B7]^ initial treatment response,^[@B10]^ or the percentage of wound area reduction at 4 weeks.^[@B8]^ Other predictive factors include the severity of the ulcer grade,^[@B11],[@B12],[@B16]^ wound duration,^[@B12],[@B19]^ wound infection,^[@B15],[@B20]^ elevated serum creatinine levels,^[@B20]^ previous amputation,^[@B21]^ dialysis, and peripheral arterial disease.^[@B23]^ Previously developed wound scoring systems combine several factors and allocate points to each factor to allow the clinician to estimate healing or amputation likelihood based on an interpretation of the total score, including the lower extremity amputation (LEA) score,^[@B21]^ the DEPA score,^[@B22]^ the MAID score,^[@B14]^ and the American Diabetes Association\'s DFU risk stratification.^[@B26]^ However, all of these systems have limitations. Likewise, complex multivariable mathematical models can also be utilized to predict the likelihood of DFU healing,^[@B27]^ but as they are theoretical in nature they are not used in patient care.^[@B34]^
Clinical Problem Addressed {#s002}
==========================
A comprehensive and practical model is needed to be used in patient care settings to identify wounds most at risk for nonhealing, to be useful in Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) reporting, and to classify patients most likely to require costly therapeutic interventions. At the same time, it must have further capability to be utilized as a stratification variable in clinical trials and be used as a summary variable in statistical analysis of such trials or wound care outcome datasets.
Materials and Methods {#s003}
=====================
Settings and database description {#s004}
---------------------------------
We previously described the USWR, an aggregate national database used to create the WHI models.^[@B6]^ Data originate from a specialty-specific EHR which, at the time of analysis, met the standards for Stage 1 of "meaningful use" as defined by CMS and certified under the "HITECH" Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act) legislation by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.^[@B35]^ At the time of project initiation, the USWR comprised data from 56 clinics in 24 states.
This study was approved by the USWR-independent Institutional Review Board, The Woodlands IRB, which determined that this study was exempt from the requirement for patient consent because of the use of retrospective analysis of HIPAA--de-identified compliant data. This study complied with the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki.
Identification of DFUs {#s005}
----------------------
Within the EHR, wounds and ulcers were defined by the ICD-9-CM code, although diabetic foot ulcer does not have a specific code. DFUs are designated in the EHR as being "chronic ulcers" that are specifically "related to" the condition of diabetes. Only foot ulcers specifically indicated by the clinician as being related to the underlying disease of diabetes were included in the DFU dataset. Physicians and nurses performed point of care electronic charting with the patient in the examination room. They also provided free text data entries, which designated the wound\'s specific location on the body (*e.g.,* right first metatarsal head). Thus, text field searches were used to establish right vs. left and exact ulcer location.
Additional inclusion criteria in analyses included the following: each ulcer had ≤2 clinical encounters; ≤5 days between first and last encounter; no gap between any two clinic visits was not \>90 days; ≥1 wound area measurement or a clinician statement of ulcer outcome; ≥1 wound assessment with a wound area ≥t0.25 cm^2^; a date of onset for the ulcer; and the ulcer had a location on the body specified.
Dependent variable {#s006}
------------------
Previously, we published a detailed explanation of the way in which healing was defined.^[@B6]^ In those cases in which no outcome was assigned by the clinician at the final visit, longitudinal data analyses were performed to assess the change in ulcer size over time and the change in tissue type exposed over the course of care to establish which wounds had healed. Outcomes of amputation and cases of death before healing were considered not healed. Out of 13,266 DFUs from the original dataset, 6,440 were eligible for analysis. As a result of missing initial area (area at first visit before any debridement) for 646 wounds, the sample size was reduced to 5,794 for the regression analysis, of which 3,462 healed (66.1%). The development sample consisted of 90% of the dataset or 5,239 ulcers. The 10% validation sample utilized 555 ulcers, of which 377 healed (67.9%).
Independent variables {#s007}
---------------------
From prior research,^[@B6]^ we identified significant predictors of healing based on the following wound and patient characteristics: wound area at first encounter; wound age at first encounter; Wagner grade; patient chronological age at first treatment; malnutrition; peripheral vascular disease; number of past or concurrent ulcers or wounds; renal transplant or failure; indications of inflammation and/or infection in the wound; and prior amputation. Additional significant factors are shown in [Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}, along with a detailed definition of all factors.
######
*Independent variables of patient and wound characteristics significantly associated with healing predictions for diabetic foot ulcers, based on prior analyses* (6)
*Variable* *Definition*
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FirstWoundArea Beginning wound area in cm^2^
EpiEndHospER Caregiver encounter ending with patient sent to emergency department or hospital
PATC_Age_atFirstTreatment Patient chronological age at first encounter
WorstArrvScoreGrp3Bed^[a](#tf1){ref-type="table-fn"}^ Mobility of patient at arrival; patient bed bound at arrival
WorstArrvScoreGrp2WC^[a](#tf1){ref-type="table-fn"}^ Mobility of patient at arrival; patient in wheelchair
WorstArrvScoreGrp1Amb^[a](#tf1){ref-type="table-fn"}^ Mobility of patient at arrival; patient able to ambulate
PVD2Oct12 Peripheral vascular disease was present if after scanning eight different database tables containing initial and follow-up examination information, past medical history, surgery summaries, nursing assessments, and patient\'s problems, the following words or word segments were found: 440.2, 440.3, popliteal, claudication, gangrene, or rest pain, or ischemia and peripheral, or ischemia and leg
NumWounds_Strt_End Number of wounds or ulcers that started previous to or concurrent with the index wound, but exist on the patient during the time frame the index wound is being treated
InfectBioBurden2 Signs of inflammation and/or infection in the wound as indicated by the words milky, purulent, green, or malodorous describing wound exudates or the words indurated, edematous, tender to palpation, warm to touch, or erythematous describing the periwound area
CSI_Pat_RenalFailure_Transplant Renal failure or transplant drugs were present if after scanning five different database tables containing past medical history, surgery summaries, and patient\'s problems, the following words or word segments were found: ESRD, CHD, CRI, end-stage renal, dialysis, hemodialysis, kidney and failure, renal and failure, or renal and transplant.
Wagner2DeepUlcer, Wagner3DeepTissue, Wagner4LocalOr5Gagrene Wagner grade from Wagner classification at first encounter, as well as the worst during the wound episode. Each set was used in its respective model.
WoundAgeAtFirstEncounter The number of days from wound onset to the first encounter date.
The variables are mutually exclusive and are positive for the worst condition during the wound episode (whole course model). A second set of variables was created for use in the first encounter model based on mobility at first encounter arrival.
Data analysis {#s008}
-------------
Descriptive statistics were used in the first phase of analysis to analyze categorical patient, wound, and outcome measures frequencies. We calculated the average, median, quartiles, and amount of variation (standard deviation and range) for continuous measures. Next, the relationship between each candidate predictor and the healed outcome was tested by bivariate analyses. To determine the significance of bivariate associations among discrete variables, we developed contingency tables and used chi-squared tests, Fisher\'s exact tests, or (for ordered categories) Wilcoxon tests to determine significance of bivariate associations. We used correlation, two-sample *t*-tests, or analysis of variance for continuous variables. We considered a two-sided *p*-value \<0.05 statistically significant. Upon defining the dichotomous outcome of healed, 10% of the DFUs were randomly selected to be used for model validation. The unit of analysis used in this study is the wound.
On the remaining 90% of the DFUs, we carried out multivariable logistic regression for the dichotomous outcome of healed. In addition, with data from different time frames, we developed two healing likelihood models using the following: (1) data available at the first encounter for one model (suitcase model) or (2) data available from the whole course of care for the second model. For the development and validation samples, the time frames were identical and all patients overlapped between them.
On the basis of information available in the published literature and clinical experience, we allowed potential predictors to enter the models with stepwise selection, but only significant variables were retained. We used Spearman correlations to confirm that there were no collinear independent variables in the final models. All correlations between independent variables were \<0.75. We measured discrimination of the two models (the first visit and the all visits development models using the 90% sample) using the area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (c statistic) to analyze the ability of the model in distinguishing DFUs that did not heal from DFUs that did heal.
The DFU WHI provides the predicted healing probability of a specified DFU (without regard to any time constraint), which is based on the multiplication of the logistic regression parameter estimates with the values of the significant DFU variables. We used the 10% validation sample to validate the WHI. In the 10% validation model, we also used the Hosmer--Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test to determine the degree of correspondence between probabilities of achieving the outcome (healed) estimated by the WHI and the actual outcome proportion over groups spanning the entire range of probabilities (calibration). The USWR team directed the Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research (ICOR) team on their performance of the analyses, which were done with SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC).
In addition, all eligible DFUs used in the analysis (*n* = 5,794) were divided into two sets by number of wounds treated by an individual physician, using 30 as the cut point. This enabled us to examine complete wound healing according to the WHI score (breakpoints ≤33, \>33--67, and \>67).
Results {#s009}
=======
There were 13,226 DFUs in the original dataset spanning a time frame from July 2003 to July 2011. In addition to those ulcers not meeting the inclusion criteria, some additional ulcers were excluded because the clinicians determined that the patient was lost to follow up, leaving 6,440 DFUs for analysis (48.7% of the original DFU dataset) ([Table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}).
######
Data cleaning steps
*Step* *Cleaning Step* *Diabetic Foot Ulcers*
-------- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
1 Starting number of ulcers/wounds 13,226
2 Wound location not specified adequately for analysis −1,231
3 No encounter data −125
4 Delete when encounter date is after resolved date −0
5 Require more than one wound encounter −1,553
6 Require that first encounter date is not resolved date −0
7 Keep wounds where longest gap between encounters is \<90 days −936
8 Require days between first and last encounter ≥5 −211
9 Wound outcome group "Throw out" (lost to follow-up) −238
10 Require wound age −0
11 No areas, no evidence of outcome −71
12 Evidence status = none and MeasureStat2 = depth or no −1,423
13 Max wound area \<0.25 cm^2^ −998
14 Encounter date duplicates with nonidentical data---keep worst −0
15 Encounters after resolved date −0
End number of ulcers/wounds 6,440
[Table 3](#T3){ref-type="table"} shows all the variables that were examined to assess their bivariate association with a DFU being healed for the 6,440 DFUs that were eligible for analysis. Many were significantly associated with DFU healing likelihood. [Table 3](#T3){ref-type="table"} also shows which bivariate variables were significant in the final development regression model of DFU likelihood of being healed.
######
*Bivariate analyses of all variables studied in diabetic foot ulcer models (*n* = 6,440) with sign in parentheses indicating the direction of the bivariate association and bivariate significance probability for each predictor variable with outcome of healed*
*Variable* *Significant in Final DFU Regression Models* p*-Value*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------
Infection/bioburden Yes (−)\<0.001
Patient admitted for acute hospital stay or emergency department visit Yes (−)\<0.001
First wound area (healed wound associated with smaller area) Yes (−)\<0.001
Patient age at first treatment (healed wound associated with younger age) Yes (−)\<0.001
Renal transplant or dialysis Yes (−)\<0.001
Wagner grades^[a](#tf2){ref-type="table-fn"}^ Yes \<0.001
Number of previous or concurrent other wounds or ulcers (healed wound associated with fewer other wounds) Yes (−)\<0.001
Mobility of patients at arrival---bed bound vs. wheelchair or able to ambulate Yes (−)\<0.001
Peripheral vascular disease Yes (−)\<0.001
Wound age at first encounter Yes (−)\<0.001
Patient is on dialysis No (−)\<0.001
Insulin-dependent diabetes No (+)0.979
Patient takes pain medications No (−)0.377
Paralyzed No (−)0.448
Renal transplant No (−)0.382
Wound location^[a](#tf2){ref-type="table-fn"}^ No \<0.001
Days from first to last encounter (+: healed wound associated with longer time) No (+)\<0.001
Worst Braden score (+: healed wounds associated with higher score) No (+)\<0.001
Malnutrition No (−)0.001
Braden malnutrition subset (+: healed wounds associated with higher score) No (+)\<0.001
Autoimmune disease No (+)0.014
Patient on muscle relaxants No (+)0.005
Prior amputation No (−)\<0.001
Patient resides in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility No (−)0.001
Dementia and Alzheimer\'s No (−)0.002
Autoimmune disease and rheumatoid arthritis No (+)0.024
Incontinence No (−)\<0.001
Worst Braden subscore for mobility (+: healed wounds associated with higher score) No (+)\<0.001
Number of foot pulses obtained by Doppler rather than being palpable (+: healing associated with higher number) No (+)0.018
Patient is male No (−)0.265
Patient takes transplant anti-rejection drugs No (+)0.884
Any organ transplant No (−)0.528
Alcoholic liver disease No (+)0.496
Current smoker No (−)0.135
Sleep apnea No (+)0.872
Wound on left side No (−)0.559
BMI category of patient at first treatment^[a](#tf2){ref-type="table-fn"}^ No \<0.001
No direction of association provided since this variable has multiple categories.
BMI, body mass index; DFU, diabetic foot ulcer.
The suitcase model (the patient and wound factors present at initial assessment) was created using 90% of the data (5,794 ulcers) and retaining 10% of data for model validation. The variables that significantly predict likelihood of being healed for DFU in multivariable logistic regressions are presented in [Table 4](#T4){ref-type="table"}. All regression coefficients were negative---meaning that they were associated with less likelihood of being healed. The variables in [Table 4](#T4){ref-type="table"} are ordered from the strongest significant predictor to the weakest significant predictor for each model: whole course and first encounter.
######
Multivariable logistic regression model and fit statistics to predict healed (yes/no) for 90% development sample for diabetic foot ulcers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Number of Wounds = 5,239\ *Estimate Direction* *Wald Order*^[a](#tf4){ref-type="table-fn"}^ p*-Value* *c Statistic*^[b](#tf5){ref-type="table-fn"}^
Number Healed (%) = 3,462 (66.1%)*
------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------------
Whole course model 0.668
Wagner grades 4 or 5 (local or extensive gangrene) --- 1 \<0.0001
Wagner grade 3 (deep tissue) --- 2 \<0.0001
Wound age at first encounter --- 3 \<0.0001
Wagner grade 2 (deep ulcer) --- 4 \<0.0001
Renal transplant or dialysis --- 5 \<0.0001
First wound area --- 6 \<0.0001
Patient age at first treatment --- 7 \<0.0001
Infection/bioburden --- 8 \<0.0001
Mobility of patients at arrival---wheelchair --- 9 \<0.0001
Number of previous or concurrent other wounds or ulcers --- 10 0.0003
Mobility of patients at arrival---bed bound --- 11 0.0364
Patient admitted for acute hospital stay or emergency department visit --- 12 0.0443
Peripheral vascular disease --- 13 0.0840
First encounter model 0.648
Wagner grades 4 or 5 (local or extensive gangrene) --- 1 \<0.0001
Wound age at first encounter --- 2 \<0.0001
First wound area --- 3 \<0.0001
Renal transplant or dialysis --- 4 \<0.0001
Wagner grade 2 (deep ulcer) --- 5 \<0.0001
Wagner grade 3 (deep tissue) --- 6 \<0.0001
Patient age at first treatment --- 7 \<0.0001
Mobility of patients at arrival of first visit---wheelchair --- 8 \<0.0001
Peripheral vascular disease --- 9 0.007
Mobility of patients at arrival of first visit---bed bound --- 10 0.011
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most significant = 1 to least significant.
Performance metric of model discrimination equivalent to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.
[Table 5](#T5){ref-type="table"} shows the performance of each DFU model in the validation dataset. Both the "whole course of care" and "first encounter" models validated well. Both c statistics were \>0.65 and we did not find that the Hosmer--Lemeshow test was significant, indicating that both the DFU first encounter and all visit models fit the data in the independent validation sample very well. [Table 6](#T6){ref-type="table"} lists the 10 questions that are used to produce the WHI for diabetic ulcers.
######
Logistic regression model and fit statistics of the Wound Healing Index to predict healed (yes/no) for 10% validation sample for diabetic foot ulcers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Number of Wounds = 555*\ *Estimate Direction* p*-Value* *c Statistic*^[a](#tf6){ref-type="table-fn"}^ *Hosmer--Lemeshow* p*-Value*
*Number Healed (%) = 377 (67.9%)*
----------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Whole course model 0.662 0.489
Wound Healing Index \+ \<0.0001
First encounter model 0.659 0.157
Wound Healing Index \+ \<0.0001
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Performance metric of model discrimination equivalent to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.
######
Questions to produce diabetic foot ulcer Wound Healing Index (see [Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"} for more details)
*Number* *Question*
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Patient age in years (calculated from date of birth) at first treatment
2 Wound age (duration) in days (calculated from wound onset) at first encounter
3 Wound area in cm^2^ (calculated from length × width) at first encounter
4 What is the patient\'s primary ambulatory method? (walks unaided, cane, crutches, walker, roll about, scooter, wheelchair bound, bed bound)
5 Was the patient admitted to the hospital or the emergency department on the date of service?
6 How many total wounds or ulcers of any type does the patient have?
7 Does this wound have evidence of infection or bioburden? (evidenced by purulent, green, malodorous drainage, periwound induration, tenderness to palpation, warmth)
8 Is the patient on dialysis or status postrenal transplant?
9 What is the Wagner grade of the ulcer (1--5)?
10 Does the patient have peripheral vascular disease (claudication, rest pain, abnormal arterial vascular studies, loss of pulses)?
When DFUs were divided by the number of wounds treated by individual physicians, for physicians who had treated ≤30 wounds (*n* = 1,325), the percentages of wounds healed according to the WHI categories (≤33, \>33--67, \>67) were 35.3%, 50.1%, and 72.8%, respectively. The results for the first WHI category may have considerable imprecision as only 17 wounds were in the first category for the group of physicians treating ≤30 wounds. In contrast, for physicians treating 31 wounds or more, the corresponding figures were 30.2%, 57.2%, and 78.0% for the same WHI categories.
Discussion {#s010}
==========
The development of a composite score or parameter to predict healing chronic wounds has occupied the best minds in wound care research for many decades.^[@B15],[@B19],[@B21],[@B22],[@B26],[@B36],[@B37]^ Previously, the most comprehensive study to validate a risk score was carried out by Lipsky *et al.*^[@B21]^ on 3,018 patients hospitalized for diabetic foot infection, with a greater likelihood of having an LEA. There were 11 significant risk factors identified, among which the strongest predictors were the presence of infection and peripheral vascular disease. A simple LEA risk score was developed around five parameters that strongly correlated with LEA rates of 0% for patients of score 0 and ∼50% for those of score ≥21. However, the Lipsky study suffered from a potential selection bias and the inability to capture other potentially significant factors from the records, such as a history of previous lower extremity revascularization procedures. In one of the largest DFU cohort analyses to date (31,000 patients), Margolis *et al.* concluded from multivariate logistic regression that the initial wound size, wound duration, and Curative Health Services ulcer grade were predictors of failure to heal,^[@B11]^ but no composite score or risk algorithm was included in the publication of the results.
The DEPA score has also been validated in literature in terms of healing likelihood and risk of LEA.^[@B20]^ Of the 84 patients included in the study, those with DEPA scores ≤6 had excellent healing, and a score ≥10 indicated poorer healing rates (in 85% of the patients). The MAID score^[@B19]^ evaluates for the presence of multiple ulcerations (M), wound area (A), palpable pedal pulses (I), and ulcer duration (D). In this study, 2,019 patients with 4,004 wounds were divided into subgroups with the same score to validate the tool. Each one-point score increase reduces the chance for healing by 37%, but there were not as many variables taken into consideration as in our present study. Using the four data elements included in the MAID index, the c statistic was 0.60 for our DFUs compared to 0.67 for the DFU WHI.
The WHI has been embedded within a wound care-specific EHR allowing clinicians to identify patients with wounds that are unlikely to heal spontaneously so they can be prioritized for advanced therapeutics. It is already being used to stratify wounds into risk categories for reporting wound outcome data as part of the PQRS. It is also being used to create matched cohorts for both prospective and retrospective clinical research to enable real-world studies of product effectiveness. In addition, it could be used by third party payers to identify patients who are most likely to require additional healthcare resources to achieve positive outcomes.
The WHI has practical utility because it not only considers the parameters incorporated in other wound scoring systems, such as wound size, severity, duration, depth, but also numerous patient factors, some of which have not been previously identified as being significant predictors of outcome, including the usual method of transportation, which may be a surrogate for debility. This inclusive model was made possible by the fact that the entire EHR of all patients from all participating clinics was transmitted to the registry (*e.g.,* patient social history, patient medical history, patient surgical history, functional assessments, nutritional assessments, physical examination, medications, wound history, and interval hospitalizations) in a format structured to facilitate subsequent data analysis. On the clinical side, data capture occurred in a uniform manner since all clinics used the same EHR and, importantly, both advanced practitioners and nurses performed point of care charting (with the patient in the examination room) using an EHR that also internally calculated billed charges. As a result, numerous potential factors could be systematically explored. An advantage to the CDRN is that the registry includes the participation of every patient seen at each clinic. Therefore, patient enrollment has no selection bias. Another advantage of the CDRN is that it prevents the artificial inflation of patient outcomes to improve the clinic\'s reported "healing rate" because *post hoc* vetting of outcome information using these data is avoided, since the data are the actual medical record of each patient. We designed this study to identify inherent patient and wound characteristics that are associated with the likelihood of healing. This study was not meant to assess treatment impact; thus, we did not need to control for variations in care, which undoubtedly existed among the clinics.
There are significant limitations to this project. Only 48.7% of the original DFU dataset (*n* = 6,440) was analyzed in this study. The quality and consistency of clinical input into the EHR may affect the data. However, there is an incentive for charting completeness (without regard to motivation for research on part of the physician or the facility), because the EHR internally audits the chart to determine both the facility and the physician level of service. Unfortunately, important ancillary information likely related to healing outcome such as HbA1C was not consistently available. It is hoped that the progressive governmental requirements of "meaningful use" of certified EHRs (currently at stage 2) will expand the data available to the CDRN as clinicians and hospitals are incentivized to create interfaces to store electronic healthcare information. Finally, although the USWR data are national, this does not automatically generalize results to the U.S. population despite the fact that studies published using data from the USWR tend to agree with results in the literature.
These WHI predictive models are anticipated to be used in diverse ways, which is why we created two models. The first model may be used in clinical practice on the initial visit to identify hard-to-heal DFUs, perhaps to prioritize those most in need of advanced therapeutics. Or, in prospective trials, researchers could use this model for patient stratification to appropriately allocate enrolled patients to study and control groups. Models are more challenging to utilize in clinical practice than simple scoring tools since they involve more complex calculations. Our answer is to provide access to the model using the USWR website ([www.uswoundregistry.com/whi](www.uswoundregistry.com/whi)). Clinicians and researchers can access the predictive model by inputting the answers to the questions shown in [Table 6](#T6){ref-type="table"}. The initial visit WHI is now part of the EHR associated with the CDRN, and in the future, clinicians will have access to its predictions upon the completion of a DFU patient\'s first encounter. The second slightly more predictive model can be used in retrospective data analysis as part of comparative effectiveness research.
Innovation {#s011}
==========
Previous risk score algorithms published in the literature have significant limitations. The DFU version of the WHI is based on a reasonable sample size, validated, and its creation involved studying wide arrays of relevant variables. It can be used in clinical practice to identify patients who are most likely to require advanced therapeutics, as a means of risk stratification in clinical trials, as a factor in modeling of wound care research, and to risk stratify patients whose outcomes are now being reported under the PQRS.
1. • The DFU version of the WHI can be used as a validated stratification system in clinical trials, a score for use in clinical practice that reflects patient comorbidities and wound severity, or as a covariate in wound care research
2. • The DFU WHI predicts the healing likelihood of a given DFU
3. • Variables that significantly predicted healing included wound age (duration in days), wound size, number of concurrent wounds of any etiology, evidence of bioburden/infection, patient age, Wagner grade, being nonambulatory, renal dialysis, renal transplant, peripheral vascular disease, and patient hospitalization for any reason
4. • The DFU WHI score can be calculated using a portal on the USWR web page and will be used as a risk stratification method for PQRS reporting.
Acknowledgments and Funding Sources {#s012}
===================================
The authors would like to thank Kinetic Concepts, Inc. for their partial financial support of this study.
Author Disclosure and Ghostwriting {#s013}
==================================
C.E.F.: Chief Medical Officer of Intellicure and Executive Director of the USWR, which is a 501 (c)(3) organization; B.T.: Chief Information Officer of Intellicure. Kristen Eckert and Dr. Marissa J. Carter (Strategic Solutions, Inc., Cody, WY) assisted with preparation of the manuscript.
About the Authors {#s014}
=================
**Caroline E. Fife, MD,** did her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Texas, Southwestern in Dallas, followed by a 2-year Fellowship in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine at Duke University, where she was subspecialty board certified in UHM by Preventive Medicine. In 1990, she joined the University of Texas Health Science Center faculty in Houston, where she was a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology until 2013, and she initiated the Memorial Hermann Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine. She is now the Medical Director of the St. Luke\'s Wound Care Clinic in The Woodlands, Texas, and a Professor of Geriatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Since 1998, Dr. Fife has been a Certified Wound Specialist. She has participated on the boards of the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, American Academy of Wound Management, the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care, the American Professional Wound Care Association, and the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Dr. Fife is also the Chief Medical Officer of Intellicure, a Texas-based software company, and is the Executive Director of the USWR, a nonprofit company recognized by CMS as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry for PQRS reporting and measures development and which provides data for comparative effectiveness studies in wound care. **Susan D. Horn, PhD,** was an employee and stockholder of International Severity Information Systems and the ICOR in Salt Lake City, UT, when this research was conducted. She is now a Professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine. **Randall J. Smout, MS,** was an employee of International Severity Information Systems and the ICOR in Salt Lake City, UT, when this research was conducted. **Ryan S. Barrett, MStat,** was an employee of International Severity Information Systems and the ICOR in Salt Lake City, UT, when this research was conducted. **Brett Thomson, BS,** is the Chief Information Officer of Intellicure and a Director of the Chronic Disease Registry.
CDRN
: clinical data research network
CMS
: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
DFU
: diabetic foot ulcer
EHR
: electronic health record
ICOR
: Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research
LEA
: lower extremity amputation
PQRS
: Physician Quality Reporting System
USWR
: U.S. Wound Registry
UT
: University of Texas
WHI™
: Wound Healing Index
| 2024-01-26T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/8531 |
This is an absolutely gorgeous game. The art is so cute, and adorable, and the character designs are down pat! You've even gotten the little details, like the lights on Miku's armbands, and her skirt. Very beautiful job, very beautiful indeed.
It's very easy to find and pick outfits, and to customize it to make it exactly the character from many PVs, too! The amount of outfits you gave for Miku is wonderful, a great selection. I also like how you included Miki, even though she's not extremely popular like the rest of the Japanese Vocaloids.
My only complaint about this game is the fact that you forgot to add Haku's clothing. You have her hair, and her headset, but you forgot the entirety of her outfit! I think if you went back and added that in, then it would be much better than it is now!
Some things you could add, are some other outfits for the other characters too. We all know how popular Miku is, and how many songs and PVs she's in, but it's always a nice change to throw in a PV outfit for Rin, Meiko, or Luka.
Overall, I think this game was fantastic, and that you should keep up the great work on your dress up games!
This is a wonderful game, and I absolutely love that all the characters were included, and that you also let a little of BRS and Akita Neru in there too. The game itself is time-consuming and has tons of unique options that I've found not many games on DeviantArt have now. Lots of people just go to a site where they find all the different outfits and characters, but you've truly made it your own. You drew everything on here, and I can tell that you really put a lot of time and effort into making this game.
However, I noticed only 1 thing. In the headphones, you had the pink butterfly (Of Miku & Luka's "Magnet) but you did not have the opposite blue one in which Luka wears; this is the only thing I've noticed, and of all the games I've played of DeviantArt about & themed by Vocaloid, yours is by far the best in my opinion. | 2023-09-24T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2422 |
---
abstract: |
In this paper, we study the equation of state admissible for a flat FRW models filled with a bulk viscous fluid by using the Lie group method. It is found that the model admits scaling symmetries iff the bulk viscous parameter $\gamma =1/2$. In this case, it is found that the main quantities follow a power law solution and in particular the bulk viscous pressure $\Pi
$ has the same order of magnitude as the energy density $\rho ,$ in such a way, that it is possible to formulate the equation of state $\Pi =\varkappa
\rho ,$ where $\varkappa \in \mathbb{R}^{-}$ (i.e. is a negative numerical constant)$.$ If we assume such relationship we find again that the model is scale invariant iff $\gamma =1/2.$ We conclude that the model accepts a scaling symmetry iff $\gamma =1/2$ and that for this value of the viscous parameter, $\Pi =\varkappa \rho ,$ but the hypothesis $\Pi =\varkappa \rho $ does not imply $\gamma =1/2,$ and that the model is scale invariant.
author:
- 'J.A. Belinchón'
title: 'On the equation of state of a flat FRW model filled with a bulk viscous fluid.'
---
Introduction
============
As it is known in General Relativity (GR) there is a dualism between spacetime and matter. While the structure of the spacetime is governed by the field equations the physical properties of matter are introduced through the energy-momentum tensor attending to diverse physical considerations. Some of these considerations come from fields of the physic where gravity does not play any role and are assumed in GR. As the Einstein equations together Bianchi identities form an undetermined system of equations, it is necessary to introduce equation of state, some of them ad hoc, in such a way that the resulting system of equations may be integrated. Such system satisfy certain symmetries that form a group, the group of symmetries of the equations.
Collins ([@Collins]) and later on M. Szydlowsky ([@Polacos], we follow closely this work) have used the inverse way in order to determine the admissible equations of state for a system of equations under the restriction that this system admits a determined group of symmetries i.e. one could a priori assume a symmetry group of the Einstein equations and out of it deduce the condition of integrability which has the form of the equation of state. In this way the group of symmetries of the Einstein equations correctly select physical meaningful equation of state.
Since the bulk viscous theory is constructed assuming phenomenological (ad hoc) equations of state and therefore the equations depend on certain undetermined numerical constants, we are interested in determining the exact form of such equations of state imposing the condition that the field equations admit a concrete symmetry. Therefore, in this paper, we show that the field equations of a cosmological flat FRW model filled with a bulk viscous fluid together with a suitable equations of state admits a certain Lie group of symmetries or, vice versa, the invariance of the field equations with respect to a given symmetry group singles out the corresponding equation of state.
The paper is divided as follows. In section 2 we outline the general field equations of our model i.e. a flat FRW bulk viscous fluid and without the cosmological constant. In section 3 we deduce the second order ode that governs the model. This differential equation has been deduced without any assumption. One we have outlined the basic ode, using the Lie group technique we study this equation finding that only admits one symmetry but if we impose that the model admits the scaling symmetry then we find that this is only possible if the viscous parameter $\gamma =1/2$ (where the viscosity $\xi $ has been introduced into the field equations through the ad hoc law $\xi =k_{\gamma }\rho ^{\gamma },$ and in particular, we are interested in determining the possible value(s) of the parameter $\gamma $). Once we have established that the field equations are scale-invariant iff $\gamma =1/2$ we are interested in finding the relationship between $\Pi $ and $\rho $ (i.e. we are interesting in determining a new equation of state relating $\Pi $ and $\rho $). For this purpose we try to integrate the resulting ode under the restriction $\gamma =1/2,$ following the standard Lie procedure but unfortunately we had not been able of obtaining any explicit solution. Nevertheless we have obtained the invariant solution (a particular solution) that induces the scaling symmetry finding in this way a concrete power law solutions for the main quantities of the model. In this way we arrive to the conclusion that $\Pi $ and $\rho $ has the same order of magnitude and therefore we find that $\Pi =\varkappa \rho $ where $\varkappa $ is a negative numerical constant. These results are not new, they have already been obtained by several author using different methods and they will be commented in this section.
As we have been able to determine a concrete relationship between $\Pi $ and $\rho $ (under the scale-invariant condition $\gamma =1/2$) in section 4 we investigate if this condition implies $\gamma =1/2.$ For this purpose, under this hypothesis, we obtain a second order ode that describes all the model and when studying it with the Lie group method we find that such equation only admits scaling symmetries iff $\gamma =1/2.$ We study the resulting ode finding the same results than in the above section. Nevertheless, the assumption $\Pi =\varkappa \rho ,$ allows us to obtain a complete solution to the field equations, this possibility will be show in subsection 4.2.
In section 5 we again study the model as well as some of the odes that have been arising in the paper through a pedestrian method, Dimensional Analysis. In this section we shall show how this method works in order to obtain the same results but in a trivial way. We end by summarizing some results.
The model.
==========
For a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) Universe with a line element $$ds^{2}=c^{2}dt^{2}-f^{2}(t)\left( dx^{2}+dy^{2}+dz^{2}\right) ,$$ filled with a bulk viscous cosmological fluid the energy-momentum tensor is given by (see [@Maartens]) $$T_{i}^{k}=\left( \rho+p+\Pi\right) u_{i}u^{k}-\left( p+\Pi\right)
\delta_{i}^{k}, \label{1}$$ where $\rho$ is the energy density, $p$ the thermodynamic pressure, $\Pi$ the bulk viscous pressure (stress) and $u_{i}$ the four velocity satisfying the condition $u_{i}u^{i}=1$. The field equations yield: $$\begin{aligned}
2H^{\prime}+3H^{2} & =-\kappa\left( p+\Pi\right) , \label{field1} \\
3H^{2} & =\kappa\rho, \label{field2} \\
\rho^{\prime}+3\alpha\rho H & =-3H\Pi, \label{field3} \\
\Pi^{\prime}+\frac{\Pi}{k_{\gamma}\rho^{\gamma-1}} & =-3\rho H-\frac{1}{2}\Pi\left( 3H-W\frac{\rho^{\prime}}{\rho}\right) , \label{field4}\end{aligned}$$ where $$H=\frac{f^{\prime}}{f},\qquad W=\frac{2\omega+1}{\omega+1}=1+\frac{\omega }{\alpha},\qquad\alpha=\left( \omega+1\right) ,\qquad\kappa=\frac{8\pi G}{c^{2}},$$ and where we are assuming the following phenomenological (ad hoc) equation of state (laws) for $p$, $\xi,$ $T$ and $\tau$ (see [@Maartens]): $$p=\omega\rho,\quad\xi=k_{\gamma}\rho^{\gamma},\quad T=D_{\beta}\rho^{\beta
},\quad\tau=\xi\rho^{-1}=k_{\gamma}\rho^{\gamma-1}, \label{csi4}$$ where $0\leq\omega\leq1$, and $k_{\gamma}\geq0$, $D_{\beta}>0$ are dimensional constants, $\gamma\geq0$ and $\beta\geq0$ are numerical constants. Eq. $\left( p=\omega\rho\right) $ is standard in cosmological models whereas the equation for $\tau$ is a simple procedure to ensure that the speed of viscous pulses does not exceed the speed of light. These equations are introduced without sufficient thermodynamical motivation, but in absence of better alternatives we shall follow the practice adopting them in the hope that they will at least provide indication of the range of possibilities. For the temperature law $T=D_{\beta}\rho^{\beta}$ which is the simplest law guaranteeing positive heat capacity.
For a detailed deduction of this model see R. Maartens ([@Maartens])
The General equation.
=====================
Without any assumption the field eq. (\[field1\]-\[field4\]) may be expressed by a single one
$$H^{\prime\prime}-K_{0}H^{-1}\left( H^{\prime}\right) ^{2}+K_{1}HH^{\prime
}+K_{2}H^{\prime}H^{2-2\gamma}+K_{3}H^{3}+K_{4}H^{4-2\gamma}=0,$$
where $$\begin{aligned}
K_{0} & =W=\left( 1+\beta\right) ,\text{ \ \ \ \ }\beta=\frac{\omega }{\omega+1}, \\
K_{1} & =3\left( \alpha-\frac{\alpha W}{2}+\frac{1}{2}\right) =3, \\
K_{2} & =k_{\gamma}^{-1}\left( \frac{3}{\kappa}\right) ^{1-\gamma}=\frac{3^{1-\gamma}}{k_{\gamma}\kappa^{1-\gamma}},\qquad\left[ K_{2}\right]
=T^{1-2\gamma}, \\
K_{3} & =\frac{9}{2}\left( \frac{\alpha}{2}-1\right) =\frac{9}{4}\left(
\omega-1\right) , \\
K_{4} & =k_{\gamma}^{-1}\left( \frac{3}{\kappa}\right) ^{1-\gamma}\frac{3\alpha}{2}=3^{2-\gamma}\frac{\left( \omega+1\right) }{k_{\gamma
}\kappa^{1-\gamma}},\qquad\left[ K_{4}\right] =T^{1-2\gamma},\end{aligned}$$ since $\left[ k_{\gamma}\right] =L^{\gamma-1}M^{1-\gamma}T^{2\gamma -1},\left[ \kappa\right] =LM^{-1},$ hence: $\left[ K_{2}\right] =\frac {1}{T^{2\gamma-1}}.$
Taking into account the value of the constants $K_{i}$ this equations yields: $$H^{\prime\prime}-WH^{-1}\left( H^{\prime}\right)
^{2}+3HH^{\prime}+K_{2}H^{\prime}H^{2-2\gamma}+\frac{9}{4}\left(
\omega-1\right) H^{3}+K_{4}H^{4-2\gamma}=0, \label{H-eq}$$ and if we decide to make the following assumption $k_{\gamma}=\kappa=1$ then eq. (\[H-eq\]) yields: $$H^{\prime\prime}-\left( \frac{2\omega+1}{\omega+1}\right) H^{-1}\left(
H^{\prime}\right) ^{2}+3HH^{\prime}+3^{1-\gamma}H^{\prime}H^{2-2\gamma}+\frac{9}{4}\left( \omega-1\right) H^{3}+\frac{3^{2-\gamma}}{2}\left(
\omega+1\right) H^{4-2\gamma}=0. \label{DEF-H-eq}$$
We go next to study this equation under the Lie Group technique (see for example [@Ovsi], [@Ibragimov] and [@Blumann]). For simplicity we have rewrite it in the following form: $$H^{\prime\prime}-AH^{-1}\left( H^{\prime}\right) ^{2}+3HH^{\prime
}+CH^{\prime}H^{2-2\gamma}+MH^{3}+EH^{4-2\gamma}=0. \label{gc}$$
The standard Lie procedure brings us to obtain the next system of pdes: $$\begin{aligned}
\xi_{HH}H+A\xi_{H} & =0, \\
A\eta+6\xi_{H}H^{3}+\eta_{HH}H^{2}-2\xi_{tH}H^{2}-A\eta_{H}H+2C\xi
_{H}H^{4-2\gamma} & =0, \\
2\eta_{Ht}H-\xi_{tt}H+3\eta
H+3\xi_{t}H^{2}+3M\xi_{H}H^{4}+C\xi_{t}H^{3-2\gamma}+3E\xi_{H}H^{5-2\gamma}+\left( 2-2\gamma\right) C\eta H^{2-2\gamma}-2A\eta_{t} & =0, \\
3M\eta H+MH^{2}\left( 2\xi_{t}-\eta_{H}\right) +\left( 4-2\gamma\right)
E\eta H^{2-2\gamma}+C\eta_{t}H^{1-2\gamma}+\left( 2\xi_{t}-\eta_{H}\right)
EH^{3-2\gamma}+\eta_{tt}H^{-1}+3\eta_{t} & =0,\end{aligned}$$ this system admits the following symmetry $$\xi=1,\eta=0\Longrightarrow X_{1}=\partial_{t},$$ since $X_{1}$ span an algebra $L_{1}$ the equation cannot be completely integrated by the Lie group method.
But if we try to check if the system admits a scaling symmetry $$\xi=t,\eta=-H,$$ this is only possible iff $\gamma=1/2.$ Therefore $$\xi=at+b,\eta=-aH,$$ is a symmetry of the ode iff $\gamma=1/2,$ and where $a$ and $b$ are numerical constants i.e. $a,b\in\mathbb{R}.$ Hence $$X_{1}=\partial_{t},\qquad X_{2}=t\partial_{t}-H\partial_{H}\qquad\qquad\left[
X_{1},X_{2}\right] =X_{1},$$ which span a solvable Lie algebra $L_{2}$ of the type $III.$
At the same result have arrived for example A.A.Coley et al ([@Coley]), who study this model from a dynamical system approach. To apply this method they rewrite the field equations in a dimensionless way in such a form that this is only possible iff $\gamma=1/2$ and the viscous pressure and the energy density has the same order of magnitude as we will see in the next section. At similar conclusions R. A. Daishev and W. Zimdahl have arrived in ([@Zindal]), where these authors study this model from the homothetic (similarity) point of view i.e. they study when the field equations remain self-similar. As we will see below we have obtained the same results but using the Lie group method. Finally Belinchón et al ([@Tony1]) have obtained the same results using the renormalization group approach.
The canonical variables and the reduced ode that induces the symmetry $X_{1}$ are: $$y(x)=\frac{1}{H^{\prime }},\qquad x=H,$$$$y^{\prime }=\left( Mx^{3}+Ex^{4-2\gamma }\right) y^{3}+\left(
3x+Cx^{2-2\gamma }\right) y^{2}-A\frac{y}{x},$$which is an Abel ode (see [@Odes]). Without any assumption it is very difficult to find any explicit solution of this equation and therefore a solution of eq. (\[gc\])
The case with $\protect\gamma=1/2,$ scale invariant solution.
-------------------------------------------------------------
As we can see, the ode (\[gc\]) admits a scaling symmetry iff $\gamma=1/2$ and in this case such ode is reduced to: $$H^{\prime\prime}-WH^{-1}\left( H^{\prime}\right) ^{2}+\left( 3+\sqrt {3}\right) HH^{\prime}+\left( \frac{9}{4}\left( \omega-1\right) +\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}\left( \omega+1\right) \right) H^{3}=0, \label{SI}$$ or equivalently $$H^{\prime\prime}-AH^{-1}\left( H^{\prime}\right) ^{2}+BHH^{\prime}+CH^{3}=0,
\label{SI reduced}$$ where obviously it admits the symmetries $$X_{1}=\partial_{t},\qquad X_{2}=t\partial_{t}-H\partial_{H},\qquad \qquad
\left[ X_{1},X_{2}\right] =X_{1},$$ which form a $L_{2}$ algebra etc..
Symmetry $X_{1}$ brings us to the following ode through the reduction (canonical variables) $$y(x)=\frac{1}{H^{\prime}},\qquad x=H,$$ $$y^{\prime}=\left( \frac{9}{4}\left( \omega-1\right) +\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}\left( \omega+1\right) \right) x^{3}y^{3}+\left( 3+\sqrt{3}\right) xy^{2}-W\frac{y}{x},$$ $$y^{\prime}=Cx^{3}y^{3}+Bxy^{2}-A\frac{y}{x}, \label{abel1}$$ which is an Abel ode. This ode admits the following symmetry $$\tilde{X}=x\partial_{x}-2y\partial_{y}, \label{symabel1}$$ which is a scaling symmetry and it induces the following change of variables, $$r=x^{2}y,\quad s(r)=\ln(x),\quad\Longrightarrow\quad x=e^{s(r)},\quad y=\frac{r}{e^{2s(r)}},$$ which brings us to obtain the next ode in quadratures $$s^{\prime}=\frac{1}{r\left( Cr^{2}+Br+2-A\right) },$$ and which solution is: $$s(r)=-\frac{\ln r}{A-2}+\frac{1}{2}\frac{\ln\left( Cr^{2}+Br+2-A\right) }{A-2}-\frac{B\arctan h\left( \frac{2Cr+B}{\sqrt{B^{2}+4C(A-2)}}\right) }{\left(
A-2\right) \sqrt{B^{2}+4C(A-2)}}+C_{1},$$ and hence in the original variables $\left( x,y\right) $: $$\ln x=-\frac{\ln\left( x^{2}y\right) }{A-2}+\frac{1}{2}\frac{\ln\left(
Cx^{4}y^{2}+Bx^{2}y+2-A\right) }{A-2}-\frac{B\arctan h\left( \frac {2Cx^{2}y+B}{\sqrt{B^{2}+4C(A-2)}}\right) }{\left( A-2\right) \sqrt {B^{2}+4C(A-2)}}+C_{1},$$ therefore we have obtained the next ode in the $\left( H,t\right) $ variables: $$\ln H=-\frac{\ln\left( \frac{H^{2}}{H^{\prime}}\right) }{A-2}+\frac{1}{2}\frac{\ln\left( C\left( \frac{H^{2}}{H^{\prime}}\right) ^{2}+B\left( \frac{H^{2}}{H^{\prime}}\right) +2-A\right) }{A-2}-\frac{B\arctan h\left( \frac{2C\frac{H^{2}}{H^{\prime}}+B}{\sqrt{B^{2}+4C(A-2)}}\right) }{\left( A-2\right)
\sqrt{B^{2}+4C(A-2)}}+C_{1},$$ but we do not know how to obtain an “explicit” solution of this ode i.e. a solution of the form $H=H(t)$. Possibly the most general solution to this equation may result unphysical as we have pointed out in the case of a perfect fluid (see the appendix of ([@Tony4])).
### Invariant solution
In this case we can try to find a particular solution of eq. (\[SI\]) through the invariant solution that induces the scaling symmetry $X_{2}=\left[ at,-aH\right] .$ In such case we find that $$\frac{dt}{\xi}=\frac{dH}{\eta}\Longrightarrow H=\frac{a}{t},\qquad a\in\mathbb{R},$$ which satisfies the eq. (\[SI\]) iff $a=a(\omega),$ i.e. $$a=\frac{B\pm\sqrt{B^{2}+4C(A-2)}}{2C}\Longleftrightarrow a=\frac{\left( 3+\sqrt{3}\right) \pm\sqrt{12-9\frac{\omega-1}{\omega+1}}}{\frac{9}{2}\left(
\omega-1\right) +3\sqrt{3}\left( \omega+1\right) }, \label{a}$$
In this case, it is observed that $$\rho=\frac{3}{\kappa}H^{2},\qquad\Pi=-\frac{2}{\kappa}H^{\prime}-\frac {3\alpha}{\kappa}H^{2}=\left( \frac{2}{3}-\alpha\right) \rho,$$ therefore $$\Pi\thickapprox\rho\Longrightarrow\Pi=\varkappa\rho,\qquad\varkappa=\left(
\frac{2}{3}-\alpha\right) \in\mathbb{R}^{-},$$ i.e. we have found that the viscous pressure and the energy density have the same order of magnitude and hence we can define a new equation of sate $\Pi=\varkappa\rho$ where for physical reasons the numerical constants $\varkappa$ must be negative. Note that if $\omega=1,$ then $\varkappa =-\frac{4}{3}.$ At the same result R. A. Daishev and W. Zimdahl have arrived ( [@Zindal]) through a very different way. Nevertheless in our solution it is observed that $\varkappa$ can take other values.
Note that both quantities have the same dimensional equation i.e. $\left[ \Pi\right] =\left[ \rho\right] $ and that for this reason under a scaling transformation the dimensionless quantity $\frac{\Pi}{\rho}$ must be remain constant (see the pioneering work in this field of D. M. Eardly [Eardley]{}, and the latter of K. Rosquits and R. Jantzen [@Jantzen], and J. Wainwright [@Wainwrit]). Under the action of a similarity, each physical quantity $\phi$ transforms according to it dimension $q$ under scale transformations i.e. changes of the unit of length. Thus if unit of length $L$ transforms as $L\longrightarrow\lambda L$ then $\phi\longrightarrow\lambda ^{q}\phi.$ This means that dimensionless quantities are invariant under a similarity transformation. Dimensionless quantities are therefore spacetimes constants. This implies that two quantities with the same dimensions, for example $\Pi$ and $\rho$ or $p$ and $\rho$ are related through equations of state of the form $\Pi=\varkappa\rho$ or $p=\omega\rho$ since the ratios $\frac{\Pi}{\rho}$ or $\frac{p}{\rho}$ must be constants. Furthermore, as J. Wainwright have pointed out, spacetimes admitting transitively self-similarity groups correspond exactly to the exact power law solutions as we have found.
In the same way we can try to find a particular solution of eq.(\[abel1\]) that induces the symmetry $\tilde{X}=x\partial_{x}-2y\partial_{y}$. Therefore we find that $$\frac{dx}{x}=-\frac{dy}{2y}\Longrightarrow y=\frac{\tilde{a}}{x^{2}},$$ is a solution of eq. (\[abel1\]) iff $$\tilde{a}=\frac{-B\pm\sqrt{B^{2}+4C(A-2)}}{2C},$$ note that $\tilde{a}=-a.$ Now tanking into account the change of variables $\left( y(x)=\frac{1}{H^{\prime}},x=H\right) $ it is found that $$\frac{1}{H^{\prime}}=\frac{\tilde{a}}{H^{2}}\Longrightarrow H=\frac{a}{t},$$ where $a$ is given by eq. (\[a\]).
### The case with $\protect\gamma=1/2,$ scale invariant solution and $\protect\omega=1,$ stiff matter.
We shall study the equation $$H^{\prime\prime}-\frac{3}{2}H^{-1}\left( H^{\prime}\right) ^{2}+\left( 3+\sqrt{3}\right) HH^{\prime}+3\sqrt{3}H^{3}=0, \label{scaling}$$ which is a special case of eq. (\[SI\]). (canonical variables) $$y(x)=\frac{1}{H^{\prime}},\qquad x=H,$$ $$y^{\prime}=3\sqrt{3}x^{3}y^{3}+\left( 3+\sqrt{3}\right) xy^{2}-\frac{3}{2}\frac{y}{x},$$ which is an Abel ode. The following change of variables brings us to obtain the next new ode $$s(r)=-2\ln x,r=yx^{2}\quad\Longrightarrow\quad x=e^{-1/2s(r)},y=\frac {r}{e^{-1/s(r)}},$$ $$s^{\prime}=-\frac{4}{r\left( 1+3\sqrt{3}r^{2}+2\left( 3+\sqrt{3}\right)
r\right) },$$ and which solution is: $$s=\frac{2\sqrt{3}\ln\left( 6r+\sqrt{3}-1\right) }{\sqrt{3}-1}-\frac {8\sqrt{3}\ln r}{\left( \sqrt{3}-1\right) \left( \sqrt{3}+3\right) }-\frac{2\sqrt{3}\ln\left( 6r+\sqrt{3}+3\right) }{\sqrt{3}+3},$$ $$-2\ln x=\frac{2\sqrt{3}\ln\left( 6yx^{2}+\sqrt{3}-1\right) }{\sqrt{3}-1}-\frac{8\sqrt{3}\ln\left( yx^{2}\right) }{\left( \sqrt{3}-1\right) \left(
\sqrt{3}+3\right) }-\frac{2\sqrt{3}\ln\left( 6yx^{2}+\sqrt {3}+3\right) }{\sqrt{3}+3},$$ and hence $$-2\ln H=\frac{2\sqrt{3}\ln\left( 6\frac{H^{2}}{H^{\prime}}+\sqrt{3}-1\right)
}{\sqrt{3}-1}-\frac{8\sqrt{3}\ln\left( \frac{H^{2}}{H^{\prime}}\right) }{\left( \sqrt{3}-1\right) \left( \sqrt{3}+3\right) }-\frac{2\sqrt{3}\ln\left(
6\frac{H^{2}}{H^{\prime}}+\sqrt{3}+3\right) }{\sqrt{3}+3},$$
**The invariant solution** that we can find in this case is: $$H=\frac{a}{t},\qquad a\in\mathbb{R},$$ which satisfies the eq. (\[scaling\]) iff $$a=\frac{\left( 3+\sqrt{3}\right) \pm\sqrt{12}}{6\sqrt{3}}=\left\{
\begin{array}{c}
\frac{1}{2}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}=0.7886751351, \\
-\frac{1}{6}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}=0.122008468.\end{array}
\right.$$
The case $\Pi=\varkappa\protect\rho.$
=====================================
Since under a scale transformation we have found that the viscous parameter must be $\gamma=1/2,$ and that in such case $\Pi=\varkappa\rho,$ now we are interested in studying the inverse way i.e. if under the hypothesis $\Pi=\varkappa\rho,$ the resulting differential equation remains scale invariant. For this purpose we rewrite the field eq. (\[field1\]-[field4]{}) under the assumption $\Pi=\varkappa\rho.$ In this way the field equations may be expressed by the following ode:
$$\rho^{\prime\prime}=\frac{\rho^{\prime2}}{\rho}-A\beta\rho^{\beta}\rho
^{\prime}+B\rho^{2}, \label{neweq1}$$
with $\left( 1-\gamma\right) =\beta$ and $$\begin{aligned}
A & =D^{-1}k_{\gamma}^{-1}=\frac{2\left( \omega+1\right) }{k_{\gamma}},\qquad\left[ A\right] =\left[ k_{\gamma}\right] ^{-1}=L^{1-\gamma
}M^{\gamma-1}T^{1-2\gamma}, \\
B & =\frac{\kappa\varpi}{2\delta D}=\frac{\kappa\left( \omega+1+\varkappa
\right) \left( \omega+1\right) \left( 6+3\varkappa\right) }{2\varkappa },\qquad\left[ B\right] =\left[ \kappa\right] =LM^{-1},\end{aligned}$$ $$\varpi=(\alpha+\varkappa),\qquad\alpha=\left( \omega+1\right) ,\text{\ \ \ }\delta=\frac{2\varkappa}{6+3\varkappa},\text{ \qquad\ }D=\left( 1-\frac{W}{2}\right) =\frac{1}{2\left( \omega+1\right) }.$$
The Lie analysis of equation (\[neweq1\]) brings us to obtain the following system of pdes $$\begin{aligned}
\xi _{\rho \rho }+\rho ^{-1}\xi _{\rho }& =0, \label{cons1} \\
\eta \rho ^{-2}-\eta _{\rho }\rho ^{-1}+\left( \eta _{\rho \rho }-2\xi
_{t\rho }\right) +2\xi _{\rho }A\beta \rho ^{\beta }& =0, \label{cons2} \\
\left( 2\eta _{t\rho }-\xi _{tt}\right) +\xi _{t}A\beta \rho ^{\beta }-3\xi
_{\rho }B\rho ^{2}-\eta _{t}2\rho ^{-1}+\eta A\beta ^{2}\rho ^{\beta -1}& =0,
\label{cons3} \\
-\eta 2B\rho +\eta _{tt}+\eta _{\rho }B\rho ^{2}-2\xi _{t}B\rho ^{2}+\eta
_{t}A\beta \rho ^{\beta }& =0, \label{cons4}\end{aligned}$$we solve eqs. (\[cons1\]-\[cons4\]), finding that this system only admits the symmetry $$X_{1}=\partial _{t}.$$
Now, if we try to check if the system admits a scaling symmetry $$X_{2}=a\beta t\partial _{t}+a\rho \partial _{\rho },\qquad a\in \mathbb{R},$$we see with the help of eq. (\[cons4\]) that $$-2Aa\rho ^{2}+Aa\rho ^{2}+2a\beta A\rho ^{2}=0,$$finding in this way that $$-1+2\beta =0\Longleftrightarrow \beta =\frac{1}{2}, \label{beta}$$where $\beta =\left( 1-\gamma \right) ,$ that is to say $\gamma =\frac{1}{2}.
$ $$\xi (\rho ,t)=-\frac{a}{2}t+b,\text{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\eta (\rho
,t)=a\rho ,$$
Therefore as we can see the ode only admits a single symmetry $X_{1}=\partial_{t},$ but if we impose that the ode admits a scaling symmetry, we have seen that this is only possible if $\gamma=\frac{1}{2}.$ Therefore iff $\gamma=\frac{1}{2}$ the ode admits two symmetries: $$X_{1}=\partial_{t},\text{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }X_{2}=t\partial_{t}-2\rho
\partial_{\rho},\qquad\qquad\left[ X_{1},X_{2}\right] =X_{1},$$ where $X_{2}$ is the generator of the scaling group. Hence we can conclude that the assumption $\Pi=\varkappa\rho$ does not imply that the resulting field equations must be scale invariant, this is only possible if $\gamma=\frac{1}{2}.$
The symmetry $X_{1}$ brings us to obtain through the canonical variables the following Abel ode: $$y^{\prime}=-Bx^{2}y^{3}+A\beta x^{\beta}y^{2}-\frac{y}{x}, \label{abel}$$ where $$x=\rho,\qquad y=\frac{1}{\rho^{\prime}}.$$
Equation (\[neweq1\]) with $\protect\gamma=1/2.$
------------------------------------------------
The equation (\[neweq1\]) with $\gamma=1/2$ yields $$\rho^{\prime\prime}=\frac{\rho^{\prime2}}{\rho}-\frac{A}{2}\sqrt{\rho}\rho^{\prime}+B\rho^{2}, \label{newecu}$$ where $\left[ A^{2}\right] =\left[ B\right] .$
The symmetry $X_{1}$ brings us to obtain through the canonical variables the following Abel ode: $$y^{\prime}=-Bx^{2}y^{3}+\frac{A}{2}\sqrt{x}y^{2}-\frac{y}{x},
\label{newAbel}$$ where $$x=\rho,\qquad y=\frac{1}{\rho^{\prime}}, \label{ainoa}$$
We would like to point out that eq. (\[newAbel\]) admits the following scaling symmetry $$\tilde{X}=x\partial_{x}-\frac{3}{2}y\partial_{y}, \label{symnewAbel}$$ which induces the following change of variables $$r=yx^{3/2},\text{ \ \ }s(r)=\ln x\text{ \qquad}\Longrightarrow\qquad y=\frac{r}{e^{3s(r)/2}},\text{ \ }x=e^{s(r)},$$ in such a way that eq. (\[newAbel\]) yields $$s^{\prime}=\frac{2}{r\left( 1+rA-2r^{2}B\right) }, \label{quadrature}$$ where the solution of eq. (\[quadrature\]) is: $$s(r)=2\ln r-\ln\left( 1+rA-2r^{2}B\right) +\frac{2\arctan h\left( \frac{A-4rB}{\sqrt{A^{2}+8B}}\right) }{\sqrt{A^{2}+8B}}+C_{1},$$ hence $$\ln x=2\ln\left( yx^{3/2}\right) -\ln\left( 1+\left( yx^{3/2}\right)
A-2\left( y^{2}x^{3}\right) B\right) +\frac{2\arctan h\left( \frac{A-4\left(
yx^{3/2}\right) B}{\sqrt{A^{2}+8B}}\right) }{\sqrt {A^{2}+8B}}+C_{1},$$ and tanking into account the change of variables (\[ainoa\]) yields $$\ln\rho=2\ln\left( \frac{\rho^{3/2}}{\rho^{\prime}}\right) -\ln\left(
1+\left( \frac{\rho^{3/2}}{\rho^{\prime}}\right) A-2\left( \frac{\rho^{3}}{\rho^{\prime2}}\right) B\right) +\frac{2\arctan h\left( \frac{A-4\left(
\frac{\rho^{3/2}}{\rho^{\prime}}\right) B}{\sqrt{A^{2}+8B}}\right) }{\sqrt{A^{2}+8B}}+C_{1},$$ which is a quadrature, but unfortunately we do not know how to obtain an “explicit” solution for this ode as in the above case.
### Invariant solution
The invariant solution is obtained for $a\neq0$ For this value of $a$ eq. (\[newecu\]) admits a single symmetry $$\xi\left( t,\rho\right) =at\partial_{t},\qquad\eta\left( x,y\right)
=-2a\rho\partial_{\rho},$$ the knowledge of one symmetry $X$ might suggest the form of a particular solution as an invariant of the operator $X$ i.e. the solution of $$\frac{dt}{\xi\left( t,\rho\right) }=\frac{d\rho}{\eta\left( t,\rho\right) },
\label{ecu7}$$ this particular solution is known as an invariant solution (generalization of similarity solution). In this case $$\rho=\rho_{0}t^{-2},\text{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ / \ \ \ }\rho_{0}=\frac{1}{2}\frac{4B+A^{2}\pm A\sqrt{\left( 8B+A^{2}\right) }}{B^{2}},$$ where $$A=2\left( \omega+1\right) ,\qquad B=\frac{\left( \omega+1+\varkappa\right)
\left( \omega+1\right) \left( 6+3\varkappa\right) }{2\varkappa},$$ with $k_{\gamma}=\kappa=1$ and making $\omega=1$$$A=4,\qquad B=3\frac{\left( 2+\varkappa\right) ^{2}}{\varkappa},$$
A particular solution of eq. (\[newAbel\]) may be found by taking into account the symmetry $\tilde{X}=x\partial _{x}-\frac{3}{2}y\partial _{y}.$ In this case $$3\frac{dx}{x}=-2\frac{dy}{y}\Longrightarrow y=\frac{a}{x^{3/2}},$$and taking into account the change of variables $\left( x=\rho ,y=\frac{1}{\rho ^{\prime }}\right) $ it is founded the already known solution $\rho
=\rho _{0}t^{-2}.$
The General solution.
---------------------
In this case, the assumption $\Pi =\varkappa \rho $ allows us to obtain a complete solution to the field equations (\[field1\]-\[field4\]).
If we take into account eq. (\[field4\]) with the assumption $\Pi
=\varkappa \rho ,$ it yields:$$\varkappa \rho ^{\prime }+\varkappa k_{\gamma }^{-1}\rho ^{\gamma -2}=-\frac{1}{\left( \alpha +\varkappa \right) }\rho ^{\prime }+\frac{\varkappa }{2}\frac{1}{\left( \alpha +\varkappa \right) }\rho ^{\prime }+\frac{\varkappa W}{2}\rho ^{\prime }, \label{melissa}$$where $H$ has been obtained from eq. (\[field3\]) and follows the relationship $$H=-\frac{1}{3\left( \alpha +\varkappa \right) }\frac{\rho ^{\prime }}{\rho }.$$
Simplifying eq. (\[melissa\]) it yields$$\left( \varkappa +\frac{1}{\alpha +\varkappa }-\frac{\varkappa }{2\left(
\alpha +\varkappa \right) }-\frac{\varkappa W}{2}\right) \rho ^{\prime
}=-\varkappa k_{\gamma }^{-1}\rho ^{\gamma -2}, \label{china1}$$which trivial solution is:$$\rho =\rho _{0}t^{-\frac{1}{1-\gamma }}, \label{sol-mel}$$where $$\rho _{0}=\frac{-\varkappa k_{\gamma }^{-1}}{\left( \varkappa +\frac{1}{\alpha +\varkappa }-\frac{\varkappa }{2\left( \alpha +\varkappa \right) }-\frac{\varkappa W}{2}\right) }.$$
In this way we have obtained a complete solution for the field equations (\[field1\]-\[field4\]) and valid for all value of $\gamma .$ It is obvious that when $\gamma =1/2$ then we recover our previous solution $\rho
=\rho _{0}t^{-2}.$
A Pedestrian Method.
====================
In this section we would like to show how dimensional Analysis works in order to obtain the same results but in a trivial way (see for example [Blarenblat]{}, [@Kurt], [@Palacios], and [@Tony2]). In the first place we will show how by writing the field equations in a dimensionless way we can determine the exact value of the parameter $\gamma$ which remains the equations scale invariant. In second place we would like to show how to solve some of the different odes that have arisen in this paper.
Writing the field equations (\[field1\]-\[field4\]) in a dimensionless way and taken into account the following equations of state (\[csi4\]) it is obtained the following $\pi-monomia$ (see [@Castañs]): $$\begin{aligned}
\pi_{1} & =\frac{Gpt^{2}}{c^{2}},\text{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\pi_{2}=\frac{G\Pi
t^{2}}{c^{2}},\text{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\pi_{3}=\frac{G\rho t^{2}}{c^{2}},\text{ \ \ }\pi_{4}=\frac{\Pi}{p}\text{ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\pi_{5}=\frac{\xi}{\Pi t}, \label{pi2} \\
\pi_{6} & =\frac{\tau}{t}=\tau H\text{, \ \ \ \ }\pi_{7}=\frac{\xi}{k_{\gamma}\rho^{\gamma}},\text{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\pi_{8}=\frac{\xi}{\tau\rho
},\text{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\pi_{9}=\frac{T}{D_{\beta}\rho^{\beta}},\text{\ \ \ }\pi_{10}=\frac{\rho}{p}, \label{pi4}\end{aligned}$$ it is observed that from $\pi_{7}=\frac{\xi}{k_{\gamma}\rho^{\gamma}}$ and $\pi_{8}=\frac{\xi}{\tau\rho}$ we obtain $$\widetilde{\pi}_{8}=\frac{k_{\gamma}\rho^{\gamma-1}}{t},\text{ }$$ and from $\pi_{3}$ and $\widetilde{\pi}_{8}$$$\frac{G\rho t^{2}}{c^{2}}=\frac{k_{\gamma}\rho^{\gamma-1}}{t}\text{ \ \ \ }\Longrightarrow\qquad\rho=\left( \frac{t}{k_{\gamma}}\right) ^{1/\left(
\gamma-1\right) },$$ therefore $$\frac{c^{2}}{Gt}=\left( \frac{t}{k_{\gamma}}\right) ^{1/\left(
\gamma-1\right) }\Longrightarrow\qquad\frac{k_{\gamma}^{b}c^{2}}{G}=t^{b+2},$$ where $b=1/(\gamma-1)$, it is observed that the only case and only for this, $\gamma=1/2,$ we obtain the relationship $k_{\gamma}^{2}=c^{2}/G.$ If $\gamma\neq1/2$ the “constants” $G$ or $c$ must vary or we need to impose the condition $G/c^{2}=const.$ (if both constants vary) if we want our equations to remain scale invariant as we have showed in an earlier paper (see [@Tony3]) where we studied a viscous model with $G$ time-varying. In such work we arrived to the conclusion that if $\gamma=1/2, $ $G$ must be constant in spite of considering it as a function that vary on time $t,$ since we were only interested in the self-similar solution of that model.
Now we go next to solve some of the differential equations that have arisen in this paper through the Dimensional technique.
We begin studying eq. (\[SI reduced\]) i.e. $$H^{\prime\prime}-AH^{-1}\left( H^{\prime}\right) ^{2}+BHH^{\prime}+CH^{3}=0$$ which verifies the principle of dimensional homogeneity taking into account the dimensional base $B=\left\{ T\right\} .$ In this case we trivially arrive to the solution $H\propto t^{-1}$ since $\left[ H\right] =T^{-1}.$ Note that D.A. (Pi theorem) does not understand numerical constants only of orders of magnitude.
In second place we study eq. (\[abel1\]) $$y^{\prime}=Cx^{3}y^{3}+Bxy^{2}-A\frac{y}{x},$$ with respect to the dimensional base $B=\left\{ T\right\} .$ This ode verifies the principle of dimensional homogeneity with respect to this dimensional base. Note that $\left[ y\right] =\left[ \frac{1}{H^{\prime}}\right] =T^{2},$ and $\left[ x\right] =\left[ H\right] =T^{-1}$ hence $\left[
y^{\prime}\right] =T^{3}.$ Therefore rewriting the equation in a dimensionless way we find that $y\propto x^{-2}$
But if we study this equation with respect to the dimensional base $B=\left\{ X,Y\right\} ,$ we need to introduce new dimensional constants that make that the equation verifies the principle of dimensional homogeneity $$\label{tetas}
y^{\prime}=\alpha Cx^{3}y^{3}+\beta Bxy^{2}-A\frac{y}{x}$$ where $\left[ \alpha^{1/2}\right] =\left[ \beta\right] =X^{-2}Y^{-1},$ hence $$\begin{array}{r|rrr}
& y & \beta & x \\ \hline
X & 0 & -2 & 1 \\
Y & 1 & -1 & 0\end{array}
\Longrightarrow y\propto\frac{\beta}{x^{2}},$$
As we can see we have obtained the same solution than in the case of the invariant solution. This is because the invariant solution that induces a scaling symmetry is the same as the obtained one through the Pi theorem.
We would like to emphasize that D.A. brings us to obtain change of variables (c.v.) (see [@Tony; @odes] for more details) which allows us to obtain odes simplest than the original one. in this case, it is observed that $\left[ \beta\right] =X^{-2}Y^{-1}$ in such a way that we have the c.v. $$\left( t=x,\qquad u(t)=\beta x^{2}y\right) \Longrightarrow\left( x=t,\qquad
y=\frac{u}{\beta t^{2}}\right) ,$$ therefore eq. (\[tetas\]) yields: $$tu^{\prime}=u\left( u^{2}+u+1\right) ,$$ and hence $$\ln t+\frac{1}{2}\ln\left( u^{2}+u+1\right) +\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\arctan\left(
\left( \frac{3}{2}u+\frac{1}{3}\right) \sqrt{3}\right) -\ln u+C_{1}=0,$$ in the original variables it yields $$\ln x+\frac{1}{2}\ln\left( \left( ax^{2}y\right) ^{2}+ax^{2}y+1\right) +\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\arctan\left( \left( \frac{3}{2}\left( ax^{2}y\right) +\frac{1}{3}\right) \sqrt{3}\right) -\ln\left( ax^{2}y\right) +C_{1}=0.$$
In the same way we can study eq. (\[newecu\]) $.$ $$\rho^{\prime\prime}=\frac{\rho^{\prime2}}{\rho}-\frac{A}{2}\sqrt{\rho}\rho^{\prime}+B\rho^{2},$$ where $\left[ A^{2}\right] =\left[ B\right] =LM^{-1}$, with respect to the dimensional base $B=\left\{ L,M,T\right\} .$ Therefore it is found $$\begin{array}{r|rrr}
& \rho & B & t \\ \hline
L & -1 & 1 & 0 \\
M & 1 & -1 & 0 \\
T & -2 & 0 & 1\end{array}
\Longrightarrow\rho\propto\frac{1}{Bt^{2}}.$$
To end we study eq. (\[newAbel\]) $$y^{\prime}=-Bx^{2}y^{3}+\frac{A}{2}\sqrt{x}y^{2}-\frac{y}{x},$$ where $\left[ A^{2}\right] =\left[ B\right] =X^{-3}Y^{-2}$, with respect to the dimensional base $B=\left\{ X,Y\right\} .$ Therefore it is found $$\begin{array}{r|rrr}
& y & B & x \\ \hline
X & 0 & -2 & 1 \\
Y & 1 & -1 & 0\end{array}
\Longrightarrow y\propto\sqrt{\frac{1}{Bx^{3}}},$$ as already we know.
Conclusions
===========
In this paper we have studied the possible symmetries that admits a flat FRW model filled with a bulk viscous fluid. Using the Lie group method we have tried to find an adequate equation of state for the viscous parameter as well as for the viscous pressure. Therefore we conclude that the field equations remain scale invariant iff $\gamma =1/2$ and that for this parameter it is found that $\Pi =\varkappa \rho .$ But that the hypothesis $\Pi =\varkappa \rho $ does not imply that the field equations remain scale invariant, this only occurs if $\gamma =1/2.$Furthermore, the assumption $\Pi =\varkappa \rho $ brings us to obtain a complete solution to the field equations valid for all $\gamma .$
I would wish to express my gratitude to M. Szydlowsky, R. Jantzen and J. Wainwright for showing me their works and to Javier Aceves for his translation into English of this paper.
[99]{}
[C.B. Collins, *J. Math. Phys*. **18** (1977) 1374. ]{}
[M. Biesiada, M. Szydlowsky and J. Szczesny. *Acta Cosmologica* **16** (1989) 115. ]{}
[R. Maartens, astro-ph/9609119. ]{}
[N.H. Ibragimov. *Elementary Lie Group Analysis and ODEs*. John Wiey & Sons (1999). ]{}
[K. Rosquits and R. Jantzen, “*Transitively Self-Similarity Space-Times*”. Proc. Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity. Ed. Ruffini. Elsevier S.P. (1986). pg 1033. ]{}
[J. Wainwright, *Gen. Rel. Grav*. **16** (1984) 657.]{}
| 2024-02-27T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3859 |
Earlier this month, Carl's Jr. confirmed that UFC star Ronda Rousey would star in its next commercial. So August 31, Rousey's ad for this breakfast sandwich will debut, presumably with Rousey half-naked and getting doused with maple syrup inside the octagon ring. | 2023-12-22T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2182 |
Nondiabetic renal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The diagnosis of DN is mostly clinical. Kidney biopsy is indicated only if nondiabetic renal disease (NDRD) is suspected. This study is aimed to assess the prevalence of NDRD and to determine predictor and prognostic factors of DN, NDRD. It was a retrospective analytic study including T2DM patients in whom renal biopsies were performed at our department from 1988 to 2014. Seventy-five patients were included. Mean age was 52.7 years with sex ratio at 1.56. Renal biopsy findings were isolated NDRD in 33 cases, NDRD superimposed on DN in 24 cases, and isolated DN in 18 cases. Most common NDRD found were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (21%) and membranous nephropathy (19%). Multivariate analysis showed that the absence of ischemic heart disease [odds ratio (OR) = 0.178, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.041-0.762], absence of peripheral vascular disease (OR = 0.173, 95% CI = 0.045-0.669), and presence of hematuria (OR = 7.200, 95%CI = 0.886-58.531) were independent predictors of NDRD. 24 patients reached end-stage renal disease 55% in DN group, 16% in DN associated to NDRD group, and 30% in NDRD group. The prevalence of NDRD found in our study confirmed usefulness of renal biopsy in patients with T2DM, especially in those without degenerative complications, hypertension, and insulin therapy. | 2024-02-29T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1913 |
Details
Specialized's Fatboy Expert Carbon is a bantamweight in the plus-sized world. By incorporating carbon, they've elevated the fat bike platform to a higher level of performance, strength, and efficiency. This trail-eating champ is built around a svelte FACT 10m Carbon frame and vibration-quieting carbon fork. Tubeless 4-inch wide Ground Control tires are wrapped around lightweight HED Big Deal carbon wheels that provide trail-shredding stability while flying up climbs. While you're eyeing new and offbeat places to roll your Fatboy, you can count on the efficient 11-speed one-by SRAM X01 drivetrain powered by carbon Race Face Next SL cranks to get you there quickly. When it's time to slow it all down and take in the scenery, SRAM Guide R brakes are on the case. Sand? Snow? Mud? The Fatboy is one light fatty that backs it up with ability.
I initially bought this bike so I could ride all year long. After one lap at a trail I didn't really care for, I was smiling from ear to ear. This trail became fun, couldn't wait to ride the bike at my favorite trails. The bike is lightweight, wheels spin just as fast as my 29er. The only changes I made to the bike was narrower and higher rise handlebars (25mm rise, 710mm wide) and I did not like the rear shifter and brake on the same clamp. Shifter paddles felt like they were in the middle of the grip. After moving the shifter inside of the brake with a sram clamp that is available at your LBS the feel was more natural. All my buddies that saw my new bike warned me that the rims would crack, I am not a super aggressive rider and dismissed any such notion and at $700 per rim I expected the rims to hold up. Well it didn't take long and my rims were cracked. I laced up a new set of wheels built with DT Swiss 350 hubs, Sapim laser spokes and Nextie black eagle 65mm dual wall carbon rims. These rims are 20mm narrower and only 70 grams heavier than the H.E.D. Big Deal rims but are much stronger. I took the stock hubs and laced them up to a set of 29er rims I had laying around which I use on asphalt when the trails are to muddy from the spring thaw. I sold my 29er because this fat bike is faster, climbs better, incredible traction, and was actually lighter. My large bike with one full water bottle and a small frame bag and one handle bar light weighs in at 24lb 10oz. I will admit that I am the minority wanting to ride a fat bike all year long. What can I say, It suits me very well. $5000.00 is a lot of money. If this is out of your comfort level, choose the $1800.00 aluminum frame with internal cable routing and thru axles (15X150, 12X197). I am looking at one for a second bike. Someone gave some bad reviews on this bike but disregard them, they don't know what they are talking about.
I live in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and have been considering a snow bike for a couple years now. Lack of significant snow kept me from pulling the trigger on the purchase though. This winter has been very snowy (Yay!) so I purchased the Fatboy Carbon Expert because of its geometry, carbon frame/fork/wheels, and components.
I rode the bike for a few days and decided to make a few changes. I found the stock tires are not sufficiently wide for snow and the lack of studs is unsafe on ice. So I put on 4.8 inch studded tires and set them up tubeless. Next I found the bars to be too wide, 30.5 inches and aluminum, so I replaced them with Race Face Next carbon bars with less sweep and 1/2 inch more rise then cut them down to my preferred width of 26.5 inches. Those changes made the bike almost perfect!
By the way, my Fatboy, size large, weighted 27 lbs 6 oz stock, plus Shimano platform pedals. After the tire swap, going tubless, and changing the bars the bike now weighs in at 26 lbs 12 oz. What is not told just by the weight change is that the rotational weight has dropped so the bike is even more nimble and snappy.
Lately we have have a lot of warm rain and the snow around my house is mostly melted. I have kept riding the Fatboy rather than my hard tail mtb just because it is so much fun. I have discovered that the fat tires allow the bike to climb very steep and loose trails, and even rides easily across areas that have been logged and a lot slash is left behind. So, the last modification is the addition of a dropper post. I have gotten so accustomed to a dropper on my mountain bike that the lack of it on steep technical stuff is unacceptable. So I'm installing the Specialized Command Post IRcc as soon as Mike's ships it to me.
I love this bike. I am looking forward to taking it to Idaho, Utah, and Colorado to ride at popular fat bike areas in March. I'll switch back to the stock tires after the winter and mostly likely ride it a lot locally just because it is so darn fun.
The Specialized Carbon Expert is just an amazingly agile and fast bike....even as a "fat bike".
from climbing to all out descents, this bike will make you want to sell your full suspension bike.
So lightweight yet sturdy, I highly recommend this bike to anyone who is looking for a one bike quiver.
Simply a sweet, solid, lightweight fatbike. The spec includes everything you could ask for, nothing extraneous. It's geometry keeps it quick and nimble for a fatbike, but still stable at speed or in anything other than deep snow.
I added 45NRTH Dillinger 4 studded tires and a Lauf Carbonara short travel suspension fork to keep the strain off my wrists and shoulders without slogging it down with another 2+ pounds of Bluto-nous weight.
I RIDE THE BIKE AS MY NORMAL MTN BIKE ON ALL TRAILS IN THE NW OHIO SE MICHIGAN AREA, AND IN THE NORTHEN MICHGAN SANDY TRAILS. IT IS NIMBLE AND HANDLES GREAT, I ALSO LOVE THE CONFIDENCE I FEEL WHEN CORNERING OR ENCOUNTERING LOOSE TERRAIN. I REALLY ON CAN SAY THAT IT SLOWS DOWN PRETTY FAST IN HARD PACK STRAIGHTS BUT RUNNING 5PSI ON A 4.6 IN TIRE I THINK THAT IS EPXECTED.
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BikeSource is your resource for quality bicycles, gear, and bike services. We’re here to help everyone from beginners to advanced cyclists. Visit us today for exceptional customer service and an incredible selection. | 2024-03-20T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7774 |
Ask the Economist is an ongoing series in which DS News talks with an economist about the most pressing issues facing the nation's housing industry and the economy. This installment features Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist with Realtor.com.
It has enabled the industry to evolve its loss mitigation norms by helping to define a process that uses income to drive to a specific debt-to-income level, and it is likely that modifications beyond HAMP will continue to occur on this basis.
Counsel's Corner is an ongoing series in which DS News talks with default servicing attorneys around the country about the most pressing issues facing the default servicing industry. This installment features Angela Kleine, a partner in the San Francisco office of Morrison Foerster.
Ask the Economist is an ongoing series in which DS News talks with an economist about the most pressing issues facing the nation's housing industry and the economy. This installment features Amy Crews Cutts, SVP and Chief Economist with Equifax.
Counsel's Corner is an ongoing series in which DS News talks with attorneys around the country about the most pressing issues facing the default servicing and mortgage industries. This installment features Howard Knee, a partner in the Los Angeles office of Blank Rome.
Ask the Economist is an ongoing series in which DS News talks with an economist about the most pressing issues facing the nation's housing industry and the economy. This installment features Peter Muoio, Chief Economist with Auction.com.
Under the CFPB’s proposed rules, most borrowers in bankruptcy would receive periodic statements/coupons, unless the borrower requests that the servicer stop sending them; surrenders the property; the court avoids the lien; or the lien is relieved from stay.
Ask the Economist is an ongoing series in which DS News talks with an economist about the most pressing issues facing the nation's housing industry and the economy. This installment features Sean Becketti, Chief Economist with Freddie Mac.
Counsel's Corner is an ongoing series in which DS News talks with default servicing attorneys around the country about the most pressing issues facing the default servicing industry. This installment features Jon Patterson, a member of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP's Financial Services Litigation & Compliance team. | 2024-07-31T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7260 |
The Fifty Two Executed from Gumenichko
In May 1944 the German occupying armies began military operations against
the units of ELAS on Pajak mountain. The military operations were unsuccessful
and the German forces suffered about 10 fatalities, among whom was the
commander of the Greek Boemitsa. They then threw themselves with viciousness
against the peaceful population. They set fire to the village Livada,
plundered and looted other villages and arrested more than 100 patriots
- Macedonians and Greeks from the Gumendzha and surrounds. They were
all members of CPG and EAM, while Gono Maslinchev and Tanasis Aleksandropoulos
were cadres of CPG in Gumenichko. On 8 May they hanged one of the arrested
people, G Georgopulos, while the others were sent to the Solun camp
"Pavlos Melas."
After a month 52 of those arrested were transferred again to Gumendzha
and they were shot at the area known as "Chkrchishta", one kilometre
from the town. They shot them five at a time and dropped them into a
single unmarked grave. | 2023-10-09T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4030 |
Molded syringes are generally known in the art of medical science. These syringes may be used in both sterile and non-sterile environments. Typical uses include bladder irrigation, wound irrigation, as well as other body irrigation. Molded syringes may also be used for dispensing liquids including sterile water, saline, hydrogen peroxide, nutritive liquids, stool softeners (enemas), douche products and the like.
When used in sterile environments, it is essential that the sterility of the syringe and the fluid displaced within the syringe be maintained at all times, including during manufacture of the syringe, filling of the syringe, storage of the filled syringe, use of the syringe and even after use in the event it is reusable.
A one-piece disposable fluid-filled syringe is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,656 to Cornett. Cornett discloses a one-piece prefilled syringe. The syringe of Cornett also has a cap which can be removably placed over the tip of the syringe between uses to maintain the sterility of the contents of the syringe.
Caps are also used with hypodermic needles to prevent a needle from accidentally contacting a person and resulting in infection or puncture like wounds. Caps for hypodermic needles are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,883,469 to Glazier; 3,658,061 to Hall, 4,867,746 to Dufresne; 4,955,866 to Corey; and 4,610,667 and 4,623,336 to Pedicano et al.
It would be desirable to have a molded syringe which readily provides for closing the syringe and ensures the sterility of its contents during manufacture including filling, storage, use and between successive uses of the syringe. | 2024-05-25T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/9535 |
The use of chemical restraint in helicopter transport.
Helicopter transport of the combative patient is a major safety hazard facing air medical teams. Although physical restraints alone are helpful, the addition of chemical restraint (CR) often is necessary to control these patients while in flight. A survey was conducted to determine the current practices of using nonparalyzing CR in air medical transport programs nationwide. The survey consisted of 24 questions on the use of CR during transport. Each U.S. program belonging to the Association of Air Medical Services was contacted by telephone, and a flight nurse or paramedic provided answers based on personal experience and statistics compiled by his or her individual program. Of the 100 programs responding, benzodiazepines were used most commonly to control agitation with 51% using micazolam. Patients with a head injury required CR more frequently than any other condition (73%). Crews flying larger aircraft reported less need for CR. A physician order was required by only 30% of the programs, but delays infrequently endangered the patient (2%). Only 7% of the responding programs had a patient whose condition deteriorated because of CR. CR is necessary in air medical transport. Most programs use short-acting benzodiazepines. Crews in smaller aircraft use CR more frequently, and head injury is the most common condition requiring such restraint. | 2024-07-24T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4643 |
The hits keep on coming for Johnny Football. Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, the Texas A&M freshman quarterback who led the Aggies to an 11-2 season and an upset victory against national champion Alabama, has been named the Manning Award winner, presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Manziel was named the Manning winner while in Connecticut for the Walter Camp Award ceremony. He said he considers the Manning Award to be among the highlights of his 2012 trophy haul.
The Manning Award, in its ninth year, was created by the Sugar Bowl to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. Manziel is the first freshman and first unanimous selection to be selected.
“It’s something, you look at what the Mannings have done in football and all that they’ve accomplished over the years and it really sticks out,’’ Manziel said. “It’s a ‘Wow’ factor. This award is something incredibly high up on my totem poll and something I’ll definitely cherish for a long time.’’
In addition to the award, Manziel picked up an invitation to be a camp counselor at the Manning Passing Academy next summer.
“I can absolutely assure you we want to have Johnny Manziel as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy,’’ Archie Manning said. “As a matter of fact, I saw his coach (Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin), who is a good friend. He stopped me in New York and said we want Johnny at the Manning Passing Academy this summer and I said, ‘He’s there.’
“It’s incredible what he’s done. There wasn’t any doubt (about how good he was) and he followed that up with another great game in the Cotton Bowl.’’
Manziel’s bowl game performance figured into his winning the Manning Award. It is the only collegiate quarterback award that takes into account what a player does in a bowl game.
"Johnny Manziel is everything he was billed to be, expected him to be," Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops said after the game.
Manziel, who became the first freshman to win the Heisman, had an impressive season. He passed for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns as he completed 295 of 434 passes with nine interceptions. He also rushed for 1,410 yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards per carry.
His most notable regular season performance came when he led the Aggies to a 29-24 victory against Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s only loss of the season. He completed 24 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He rushed for 92 yards on 18 carries.
"The Allstate Sugar Bowl is honored to have the opportunity to recognize Johnny Manziel with this year's Manning Award," said Paul Hoolahan, the chief executive officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. "He jumped onto the national scene right from the start and then he capped things off with a truly remarkable bowl game performance. He proved himself all year and is very deserving to be our first unanimous selection for the honor."
The Aggies two losses this season came against Florida, Texas A&M and Manziel’s first game of the year, and LSU, which intercepted Manziel three times and held him to a season-low 27 yards rushing. Manziel said he was impressed with the defenses of Florida, Alabama and LSU but said the Tigers’ speed stuck out.
“That’s what kind of trumped us in that game,’’ Manziel said. “They were extremely fast, just flying around to the ball. They did some things that kind of mixed it up. And they had good pressure off the edge with Sam Montgomery and (Keke) Mingo. You have that speed and pass rushers like that, they’re really a dangerous team.’’ | 2023-09-21T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3749 |
This Week in Security Tokens #7
Stefan Perlebach
Oct 19, 2018
🔥 Top 5 - Most important news of the week
1. SEC expands Crackdown on ICOs
According to a joint investigation by Yahoo Finance and Decrypt Media, the SEC has expanded its crackdown on ICOs. It is reported that hundreds of projects that conducted an ICO have eventually found that they had violated securities laws despite their endeavors to comply with regulations. In response to SEC pressure, dozens of firms have reportedly “quietly agreed” to refund investors’ money and pay fines, rather than attempt to reach a legal compliance.
-> source
2. Nasdaq to build its own Security Token platform!?
According to crypto newsmagazine The Block, Nasdaq - the second-largest stock exchange in the world - is considering to launch its own Security Token platform.
-> source
3. tZERO issues preferred tZERO Security Tokens
Overstock.com’s blockchain based crypto platform tZERO announced that it had completed the issuance of the preferred tZERO Security Tokens. The company managed to get over $134 million during the STO from over 1000 investors globally.
-> source
4. Investment Giant Fidelity launches „Digital Assets Services“
Fidelity Investments - fourth largest asset manager with $7.2 trillion in assets under administration - announced the launch of a new company, Fidelity Digital Asset Services. This new entity will focus on providing a secure, compliant, and institutional-grade omnibus storage solution for bitcoin, ether and other digital assets
-> source
5. KoreConX partners up with Evoke Capital
KoreConX announced this week that Evoke Capital will become part of the KorePartners ecosystem. Evoke Capital is an online platform with broker-dealers in different jurisdictions to help companies raise capital and will be exclusively using the KoreConX Security Token protocol „KoreToken“.
-> source
🖊️ From the Blog
DESICO: How to issue and trade Security Tokens in the EU
Laimonas Noreika - CEO of Desico - talks with us about his mission to build an issuance and trading platform for Security Tokens under EU member state law.
-> source
Füchtenkordt & Perlebach GbR (https://www.stocheck.com) does not verify information provided by offerors/issuers of Security Token Offerings (STOs) on this site and makes no assurance as to the completeness, accuracy or timeliness of such information. The information provided is solely based on what the offerors/issuers of STOs provided to this site. All information and content available on this site is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of a financial instrument or securities and should not be viewed as, or relied upon as, an investment recommendation or advice.
Füchtenkordt & Perlebach GbR (https://www.stocheck.com) is not a registered broker-dealer or investment advisor in any jurisdiction and none of the information found on this site has been registered with any financial authority. You can not invest in any financial product or buy tokens through our website. | 2023-12-31T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2293 |
strongest
(This is Captain Marvel film review, which is a 2019 Marvel superhero movie that is also its first female superhero debut) Captain Marvel is becoming something akin to Wonder Woman, where it becomes the first female superhero debut from the Marvel studio itself. It’s also a film that has been filled with much controversy and … Read moreCaptain Marvel Film Review (2019) – Strongest Superhero Debut | 2024-03-21T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7558 |
Q:
ASP .NET MVC Core WEB API upload file showing error using Angular JS
Here is my client side html (I used ng file upload)
<button type="file" ngf-select="uploadFileToUrl($file)"
ngf-max-size="100MB">
<!--ngf-max-height="1000"-->
Photo
</button>
Here is my client side js
$scope.uploadFileToUrl = function (file) {
console.log(file) // Here console prints my file information
alert(file);
var data = new FormData();
data.append('photo', file)
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "http://localhost:22475/api/FileUpload",
contentType: false,
processData: false,
data: data,
success: function (message) {
alert(message);
},
error: function () {
alert("There was error uploading files!");
}
});
}
Here is my server side
private IHostingEnvironment hostingEnv ;
public FileUploadController(IHostingEnvironment env)
{
this.hostingEnv = env;
}
[HttpPost]
public async Task<IActionResult> PostProfilePicture(ICollection<IFormFile> files) // Here i get file count 0 on tool tip
{
var uploads = Path.Combine(hostingEnv.WebRootPath, "uploads");
foreach (var file in files)
{
if (file.Length > 0)
{
using (var fileStream = new FileStream(Path.Combine(uploads, file.FileName), FileMode.Create))
{
await file.CopyToAsync(fileStream);
}
}
}
return null;
}
Here i get file upload error i searched through net, all i got this code but its not working, can anyone help and point out what am i doing wrong here..
A:
Ya i got my answer
public async Task<IActionResult> Post(ICollection<IFormFile> files)
{
var v = Request.Form.Files[0];
var uploads = Path.Combine(hostingEnv.WebRootPath, "uploads");
using (var fileStream = new FileStream(Path.Combine(uploads, v.FileName), FileMode.Create))
{
await v.CopyToAsync(fileStream);
}
return null;
}
Take the file from request and upload it,Thanku
| 2023-11-16T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7530 |
Q:
Inline-block DIVs fill table cell in Chrome, but not other browsers?
I have a small issue. After figuring out how to get some DIVs nested inside of a table cell to all fit at 100%, depending on the height of the table row, I noticed it doesn't work in Firefox or IE. Instead of trying to explain, here's the page: http://www.faganarms.com/testcategory.aspx
I'm trying to get all of the cells in each row to expand to be the height of that row, depending on it's content. If one row has very small descriptions, it might be shorter in height than one with long descriptions. You'll notice in FF or IE the behavior I'm looking to correct.
The problem is, I can only edit some part of the HTML, others I can only style with CSS. I can edit the contents of td.product-list-item-container but I cannot edit the structure of that table. It's hard coded into the software.
Does anybody see what the issue is? I've tried some methods I found here on using display: table-row and display: table, but nothing has worked as successfully as this does, in Chrome at least. I couldn't find anything about the method that was Webkit compatible only, so I might be missing something.
A:
I removed display: inline-block and all padding from the table rows, added height: 100% to the table rows and div.product-list-item, and added the padding onto div.product-list-item and it worked fine in FF now.
| 2023-10-21T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7197 |
Expression of T-cell receptor Vbeta2, 6 and 8 gene families in chronic adult periodontal disease.
Substantial evidence exists to suggest a role for T-cells in periodontal disease. As yet, however, the T-cell receptors remain to be characterised at the molecular level. The expression and the nucleotide sequence of genes from the T-cell receptor beta variable (TCRBV) gene families 2, 6 and 8 were analyzed in periodontal tissue from 24 patients with chronic adult periodontal disease (CAPD) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 16 of these patients. A restriction in the expression of these TCRBV gene families was detected in periodontal tissue from 14/24 patients with CAPD, and the pattern of gene expression was often different between individual patients; however there was no restriction in TCRBV gene expression in matched PBL samples from 8 of these 14 patients. Quantitative RT PCR analysis of samples from 5 CAPD patients who expressed all 3 TCRBV gene families in their periodontal tissues did not reveal any significant differences in the levels of gene expression in periodontal tissue and PBL. In contrast to the findings with some CAPD patients, genes from all 3 TCRBV families were always expressed in periodontal tissue and PBL from disease-free control subjects. PCR products from both the PBL and periodontal tissue of CAPD patients were cloned and sequenced; analysis of the nucleotide sequence revealed diversity with respect to the expression of TCRB joining (TCRBJ) and TCRB diversity (TCRBD) genes and the sequence of the junctional region in all samples analysed. In conclusion, in CAPD, the pattern of TCRBV gene expression in periodontal tissue is often but not always different from that in PBL and healthy periodontal tissue, which may indicate, in some cases, a local influence on particular T-cell subsets which is relevant to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. However, the expressed TCRB genes are heterogeneous at the nucleotide level, emphasising the underlying complexity at the molecular level in the local T-cell response in CAPD. | 2024-01-11T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2114 |
In order to provide travelers or commuters with information related to a navigation route, traditional mapping services calculate routes using preset methods based on known mapping information, such as point-of-interest (POI) locations, road locations, and physical distances between locations and nearby connected roads. Typical mapping systems generate only walking, biking, or driving directions using that mapping information. Users generally have to rely on separate applications to view data related to third party operated modes of transportation, such as public transportation and application-initiated third-party transportation. To date, users have no way to easily compare multiple modes of transportation, at one time, in one screen and/or one client application, not to mention the various costs, times, estimated time of arrivals (ETAs), and many other factors associated with selecting between those multiple modes of transportation.
Accordingly, a need exists for systems and methods for generating and displaying information related to multiple, alternative modes of transportation from an origin to a destination. Moreover, with numerous modes of transportation available for a user to select, a user may be overwhelmed by a long list of transportation modes, many of which may be irrelevant or unsuitable for a given user, time, or trip. Accordingly, a need exists for systems and methods for determining acceptable modes of transportation to display to a user, and a sequence in which to display these modes of transportation. | 2024-07-09T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6649 |
Nutrition Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease.
Nutrition therapy is effective at controlling cardiovascular disease risk factors and therefore reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Physicians should play an active role in providing nutrition interventions for patients who would benefit from cardiovascular disease risk reduction or refer them to other professionals as needed. The evidence on nutrition interventions for blood pressure and lipid control, including overall dietary patterns, dietary fat and macronutrients, dietary cholesterol, sodium, and alcohol intake, is discussed. | 2024-02-18T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3668 |
Jan 1, 2010
As 2009 makes its exit, I wanted to put together a top 10 food list. As I started rounding up candidates, I got carried away and ran over. I think more is better. Enjoy.
And here's to a peaceful, healthy, and happy new year to all!
#1: By far, my biggest new food addiction of the year is Maine Root's Ginger Brew. It's not just a sugary ginger-flavored soda. It's full of real deal spicy ginger and made with organic evaporated cane juice. It's just the right balance of spicy and sweet. It's not just tasty, but it's also very soothing for a tummyache or headache. I can't stop drinking the stuff.
#2: Tacos, tacos, tacos...especially al pastor tacos. We've been trying some of the taco trailers around town and thanks to some tips from my friend and photographer, Matt, and the excellent local blog, Taco Journalism, we've narrowed down our favorite al pastors to these three: La Guera on South Lamar, Rosita's Al Pastor on Riverside, and Piedras Negras (which will forever be called "Not Dos Hermanos" because that's the name Matt introduced me to it with. It sits on the old site of Dos Hermanos) on Cesar Chavez at Pleasant Valley. I'm not sure I could pick a favorite at this point but I'll keep trying. Photo above is of al pastor tacos from Rosita's Al Pastor trailer on Riverside.
#4: Tam Deli's lemongrass pork banh mi sandwich. There are no words. I could eat this sandwich and drink their limeade every day. Really. Tangy lemongrass pork with fresh pickled carrots, cucumbers and jalapenos with cilantro on a crusty bun. I want one now.
We also love their shrimp and pork vermicelli bowl and the steamed rice noodle wraps filled with mushrooms and pork and topped with Tam's homemade pork pate and crunchy garlic on top. It's pure comfort food.
#5: Mighty Cone's avocado cone. Hot and steamy avocado with a crust of sesame, almonds, chile and cornflakes. Great street food. I spotted the recipe for their chicken cone in Food & Wine recently. Can't wait to try it at home.
#6: June Taylor's tayberry conserve. Tayberries are a cross between raspberries and blackberries. I've always been a blackberry jam girl, especially on steamy buttermilk biscuits. But June Taylor's tayberry conserve has usurped blackberry of it's highest position. Her pear vanilla butter is another favorite.
#7: Sesame mochi. I had one of these for the first time at 10,000 Waves — a Japanese bath house and spa in Santa Fe. It was the perfect snack after a soak in the hot water. I've been searching for them ever since. Finally found them locally at the Japanese market Asahi Imports. Mochi is wrapped around a sweet red bean paste and then covered in black sesame seeds. These are also considered a good luck treat at New Year's so it's the perfect time to indulge after a bowl of noodles.
#8: Speaking of noodles... Santa brought me this beautiful rustic donabe, a Japanese ceramic hot pot. Made of porous clay that is partially glazed, it can stand up to high heat and holds that heat evenly for a long time. This one came from Tortoise General Store. Find out more about donabe and hot pot recipes from Harris Salat of the blog, Japanese Food Report and co-author of Japanese Hot Pots.
#9: The first thing I saw as we walked into San Francisco's Ferry Market was Boccalone's pig sign. Tasty salted pig parts indeed. I've never really been a big fan of "cured meats" but now I'm a convert. Their orange and wild fennel salame is my favorite.
#10: All summer I kept a constant supply of coconut and mango Smooze Fruit Ices in the freezer. All natural and dairy free, these are great treats on their own or in a smoothie. They'll cool you right down after being out in the Texas heat.
#11: Frank hot dogs. From the "jackalope" (rabbit and antelope sausage with huckleberry compote, sriracha aioli and smoked cheddar) to the "Chicago" dog with day glow relish, they've got what you're craving. Take a look at their drink menu too.
#12: Bi-Rite Creamery's ice cream in San Francisco. It's a good thing I can't get this stuff regularly, I'd be in trouble. | 2023-08-02T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3015 |
Q:
Make a code square with your favorite word
Pick your favorite 6 letter common English word that has no repeated letters, such as wombat.
Write a program in an N×N grid of characters without comments such that each row and column contains all the letters of your word in lowercase in any order. The program must output a definition of your word in 36 characters or more.
Rules
Output to stdout. There is no input.
Your word must be on Dictionary.com and only contain a-z. No proper nouns, no acronyms, no abbreviations, no contractions.
Your program and output may only contain printable ASCII characters (hex codes 20 to 7E). (This isn't counting the necessary newlines in the program grid.)
Comments are anything that the compiler or interpreter traditionally ignores. You may use code that does not contribute to the output or doesn't officially get executed.
The output definition should be grammatical and accurate, but certainly may be funny or clever.
Any row or column that at least contains your word`s 6 unique letters in lowercase is valid. Diagonals do not matter.
Scoring
This is code golf but since all submissions must be in the same square format you can simply specify your score with N. The lowest N wins, and of course an N below 6 is impossible. In case of ties, the highest voted answer wins.
Example
If your word was wombat your program might look like this (N = 7):
wombatD
ombatEw
mbatFwo
bat(wom
atWwomb
tBwomba
)wombat
Notice that every row and every column has the characters w o m b a t.
The output might be: (40 chararacters)
Cute short-legged Australian marsupials.
A:
Javascript - action - 15x15
"Definetly not the shortest one, but PEW PEW PEW." - James Bond
ction="action "
ction+="means "
actionac="PEW "
ctionact="PEW "
tionacti="PEW "
ionactio="PEW "
onaction="PEW "
nactiona="PEW "
ction+=actionac
ction+=ctionact
ction+=tionacti
ction+=ionactio
ction+=onaction
ction+=nactiona
alert(""+ction)
Link to the jsfiddle
Output (37 chars):
action means PEW PEW PEW PEW PEW PEW
A:
Befunge 93, n=13
This works by redirecting the string with "v and >". This only works when the side-length and word-length are coprime and when the side-length is greater than 11. Right now, it works for the "word" vwombat, and therefore for wombat.
"laip"vwombat
wombat>"usr"v
"am "vwombat>
ombat>"nai"vw
lar"vwombat>"
mbat>"tsu"vwo
d"vwombat>"A
bat>"egg"vwom
-"vwombat>"el
at>"tro"vwomb
"vwombat>"hs
t>"tuC"vwomba
vwombat>:#,_@
Outputs Cute short-legged Australian marsupial
A:
C (word : "finder", N = 16)
main() finder{ f
printf(finder i
"it's defined "r
"as a t"finder d
"hing t"finder e
"hat ca"finder r
"n find other t"
"hings" finder);
finder finder f\
inder finder fi\
nder finder fin\
der finder find\
er finder finde\
r finder finder
finder finder n
return 0;finder}
Compiled with GCC, with the options -Dfinder="" -Df="" -Di="" -Dn="" -Dd="" -De="" -Dr="".
It outputs it's defined as a thing that can find other things (50 characters). I believe it follows all the rules, but feel free to tell me if there is any mistake !
| 2024-07-01T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1211 |
release: all
../psppacker/psppacker 352I recovery.prx
#release: all
# pack-pbp EBOOT.PBP PARAM.SFO ICON0.PNG NULL NULL NULL NULL recovery.prx NULL
TARGET = recovery
OBJS = main.o menu.o
CFLAGS = -O2 -Os -G0 -Wall -fno-pic
CXXFLAGS = $(CFLAGS) -fno-exceptions -fno-rtti
ASFLAGS = $(CFLAGS)
LIBS = -lpspusb -lpspusbstor -lpspreg -lpsppower -lpspvshbridge -lpspusbdevice -lpspsystemctrl_user
BUILD_PRX = 1
PSPSDK=$(shell psp-config --pspsdk-path)
include $(PSPSDK)/lib/build.mak
| 2024-04-28T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7213 |
My first interview with the Compensation Board
” If God is with me, who can be against me?”
My appointment with the Compensation Board for Victims of Violent Crimes was last Monday. I was scheduled to meet my interviewer at 10:00a.m. at the support unit in San Fernando, South Trinidad. The unit is located adjacent to the San Fernando Police Headquarters. I was instructed to walk with all the receipts for the surgeries, blood tests and any other procedures undertaken as a result of the injury. I was also asked to bring along any photographs which may be of assistance in determining the extent of injury.
So on Saturday I cleaned my room. I was able to sort through all of my documents, separating the ones which would prove most relevant to the case. I located all of my clinic cards, all receipts and photographs, as well as the camera with which my mother had captured images of me just after the surgeries. With all of these paraphernalia in hand, I left home at approximately 8:15a.m. on Monday morning. This was to ensure that I had sufficient time to copy all documents, print hard copies of photos from the camera and the flashdrive and to sort all information into two separate folders. I was through by about 9:00a.m. My mum then had to pay a few bills before we proceeded to the appointment.
I approached the area close to 9:50a.m. and because of the high traffic flow, I alighted from the car and walked to the unit. The appointment was estimated to be about one hour long. I was delighted yet a bit disappointed that I did not have to wait on the interviewer. She was already present. I was disappointed because I like to reach early to my appointments. I do not like to keep people waiting on me. However, the lady made it clear that she had also just arrived. We got straight into the interview.
Her first statement was one of apology for having to take me through the ordeal again. I however, had already done my crying at the photocopy center, so I was prepared to handle re-telling the story. She went into details of the evening of the incident using the police report as a guide. Her manner was empathetic, gentle and apologetic. Her voice was soft and angelic, yet confident and intelligent. I instantly felt at ease talking with her. To be honest it was therapeutic for me to be able to go through some of the details again and with an independent, impartial person.
Although she was so kind, she was so skilled as an interviewer that she did not allow emotions to get in the way of her understanding of the whole episode, including the event itself and all the follow up procedures. In fact I was impressed with the way she asked questions which clearly showed how well she grasped the sequence of events. She was able to get from me a clear picture from her perspective of my whole year. She needed to do this as she was the one who would have to prepare the report for presentation to the Board’s members.
I was given a form to take to the National Insurance Board indicating what benefits, if any, would be due to me and if any monies had been paid to date. I was asked to forward soft copies of all photographs to the interviewer for her use in compiling folders for the eight Board members. At the end of the interview, the interviewer took a few photographs of all the scars on my body. I was not embarrassed in any way. This is highly unusual for me but as I said this person made me feel comfortable and she was non-judgmental. It was so refreshing to meet someone who is so well suited for this type of position. To me she was the perfect fit for the job. She was so thorough that the interview lasted more than an hour. I then spoke to the counselor who is stationed at the unit and finally left close to 12 noon.
Some experiences are energy draining. Some are energy building. This was one of those energy builders. I left that office with a wonderfully relaxed feeling. Maybe it was being able to express so many thoughts which I usually leave unsaid. Perhaps it was the gentle spirit of the lady. I am inclined to think it was a combination of the two. The experience was reminiscent of a previous post about angels. Was she also an angel? I would like to think she was. | 2023-12-21T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2873 |
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The Ontario government has created an online portal aimed at matching skilled frontline health-care workers with employers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Health Workforce Matching Portal will allow skilled workers — including retired or non-active health-care professionals, internationally educated health-care workers, volunteers with experience and students — to apply to join the province’s fight against COVID-19.
“Our health-care heroes on the frontlines of this battle are doing extraordinary work, but they need reinforcements to step up and lend a hand to help defeat this virus,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.
“Whether you’re retired or in training, we can’t afford to have people with professional health care skills who want to help sitting on the sidelines during this crisis. This is a call to action and I encourage every available person with health-care experience to get involved.”
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The government said the online portal will match the availability and skills of workers to employers looking for more assistance, adding that positions will be paid.
LISTEN:
Earlier Tuesday, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called on the province to allow foreign-trained doctors to work during the pandemic.
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He later applauded the government’s decision on Twitter:
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People looking to register using the portal are able to do so here. If successful, they will receive an email.
Meanwhile, Ontario reported 379 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the provincial total to 4,726, including 153 deaths.
5:14 Coronavirus outbreak: Patrick Brown says foreign-trained doctors should be allowed to work in hospitals Coronavirus outbreak: Patrick Brown says foreign-trained doctors should be allowed to work in hospitals | 2024-01-10T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/8891 |
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Serving as the head of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige is one of the busiest men in Hollywood. From the release of the highly acclaimed Black Panther, promotion for Avengers: Infinity War, and planning new titles for the eer expanding MCU Feige has no shortage of work. And recently he has commented on the state of the MCU’s many female superheroes.
It’s no doubt that one of Marvel’s most appealing assets is its many well-written and beloved female heroes. From Black Widow, Gamora, and Okoye the MCU has no shortage of female star power. In fact fan’s love for these characters has grown so intense that Thor: Ragnarok star Tessa Thompson, approached Kevn Feige with an idea for an all female superhero movie in the MCU.
And while as of now there has been no updates on that project there is no doubt that these heroes will continue to play a huge role in the upcoming films. Recently in an interview with Vulture, Feige mentioned how fan response has caused the studio to include its female heroes on a larger scale than ever before,
“It is all about figuring out when and how. But by the way, many of them have already filmed additional scenes in upcoming movies, so some of that is gonna come sooner rather than later. All of them will be seen again.”
With the surprise announcement that a solo Black Widow movie is on the horizon we can only wait to see how these female stars will come to the front of the MCU. For now though we will just have to wait and see how involved the female heroes will be in the as yet unannounced Phase Four of the universe.
Which female heroes would you like to see in a future film? Let us know what you think at SuperBroMovies on Twitter! – Jacob Campbell
Source: Vulture
Advertisements | 2023-11-02T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3652 |
Not just because John Lee Dumas, host and founder of EntrepreneurOnFire, is a friend, or because the podcast he interviewed me for has been one of the highest ranked podcasts on iTunes for quite some time (even winning the Best of iTunes award in 2013)… | 2023-09-10T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/8890 |
Geostatistics as a tool to study mite dispersion in physic nut plantations.
Spatial distribution studies in pest management identify the locations where pest attacks on crops are most severe, enabling us to understand and predict the movement of such pests. Studies on the spatial distribution of two mite species, however, are rather scarce. The mites Polyphagotarsonemus latus and Tetranychus bastosi are the major pests affecting physic nut plantations (Jatropha curcas). Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the spatial distributions of P. latus and T. bastosi in the physic nut plantations. Mite densities were monitored over 2 years in two different plantations. Sample locations were georeferenced. The experimental data were analyzed using geostatistical analyses. The total mite density was found to be higher when only one species was present (T. bastosi). When both the mite species were found in the same plantation, their peak densities occurred at different times. These mites, however, exhibited uniform spatial distribution when found at extreme densities (low or high). However, the mites showed an aggregated distribution in intermediate densities. Mite spatial distribution models were isotropic. Mite colonization commenced at the periphery of the areas under study, whereas the high-density patches extended until they reached 30 m in diameter. This has not been reported for J. curcas plants before. | 2024-07-03T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2407 |
Abstract:
A voice recognition apparatus determines whether an input sound is a voice
segment or a non-voice segment in time series, generates a word model for
the voice segment, allocates a predetermined non-voice model for the
non-voice segment, connects the word model and the non-voice model in
sequence according to the time series of the segments of the input sound
corresponding to the respective models and generates a vocalization
model, and coordinates the vocalization model with a vocalization ID in
one-to-one correspondence, and stores the same.
Claims:
1. A voice recognition apparatus comprising:an input unit configured to
input a sound;a determining unit configured to determine whether an
inputted input sound is a voice segment or a non-voice segment in time
series;a generating unit configured to generate a vocalization model by
generating a word model for the voice segment, allocating a predetermined
non-voice model for the non-voice segment, and connecting the word model
and the non-voice model in sequence according to the time series of the
segments of the input sound corresponding to the respective models; anda
registering unit configured to store the vocalization model with a
vocalization ID in one-to-one correspondence.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:an editing unit
configured to replace a waveform signal of the non-voice segment with a
predetermined wave signal to generate an edited waveform signal;a second
registering unit configured to store the vocalization ID of the
vocalization model and the edited waveform signal in one-to-one
correspondence; anda regenerating unit configured to call the edited
waveform signal corresponding to the vocalization ID specified by a user
from the second registering unit and reproducing the same.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a non-voice segment
exists at a time before the voice segment whose starting time is the
earliest in the input sound, or when the non-voice segment exists at a
time after the voice segment whose starting time is the latest in the
input sound, the generating unit excludes these non-voice segments and
generates the vocalization model.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein even though a segment is
determined as the voice segment, if the length of the segment is shorter
than a given time length, the determining unit corrects the determination
of the segment as the non-voice segment.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein even though a segment is
determined as the voice segment, if the non-voice segments exist
adjacently before and after the segment, the determining unit connects
the segment and the non-voice segments before and after the segment and
corrects these segments to a block of the non-voice segment.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein even though a segment is
determined as the non-voice segment, if the length of the segment is
shorter than a given time length, the determination of the segment is
corrected to the voice segment.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein even though a segment is
determined as the non-voice segment, if the voice segments exist
adjacently before and after the segment, the determining unit connects
the segment and the voice segments before and after the segment and
corrects these segments a block of the voice segment.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-voice model is a
sub word indicating the non-voice, and is a sub word which expresses a
repetition by at least zero time.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registering unit stores
a predetermined object recognition vocabulary, and further includes a
voice recognition unit configured to perform voice recognition with the
stored vocabulary and the vocalization model as the object recognition
vocabularies.
10. A method of voice processing comprising:inputting a sound;determining
whether an inputted input sound is a voice segment or a non-voice segment
in time series;generating a vocalization model by generating a word model
for the voice segment, allocating a predetermined non-voice model for the
non-voice segment, and connecting the word model and the non-voice model
in sequence according to the time series of the segments of the input
sound corresponding to the respective models; andstoring the vocalization
model with a vocalization ID in one-to-one correspondence.
11. A voice processing program stored in a computer readable medium, the
program realizing functions of;inputting a sound;determining whether an
inputted input sound is a voice segment or a non-voice segment in time
series;generating a vocalization model by generating a word model for the
voice segment, allocating a predetermined non-voice model for the
non-voice segment, and connecting the word model and the non-voice model
in time series of the segments of the input sound corresponding to the
respective models; andstoring the vocalization model with a vocalization
ID in one-to-one correspondence.
Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001]This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-140944, filed on May
29, 2008; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002]The present invention relates to a voice recognition apparatus that
is able to generate a word model from an input voice from a user and
register the model as an object recognition vocabulary, and a method
thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND
[0003]As an example which enables generation of a word model from an input
voice from a user and registration of the model as an object recognition
vocabulary, for example, a voice recognition apparatus disclosed in
Japanese Patent No. 3790038 is exemplified. In this voice recognition
apparatus, a sub word string is calculated for an input voice, and the
sub word string is registered as a word model. The term "subword" means a
partial word as shown in Japanese Patent No. 3790038.
[0004]In this method in the related art, there arise following problems
when registering a series of word string vocalized with a pause
therebetween specifically under an environment with noise.
[0005]For example, when registering a personal name as a full name, the
user vocalizes the full name often with a pause (by interspacing) between
a family name and a first name unconsciously like "family
name/pause/first name". The sign "/" represents a segmentation between
words inserted for the sake of convenience in notation, and "/" does not
exist in the vocalized voice.
[0006]In the method in the related art, ideally, "a sub word string
indicating the family name+a non-voice string+a sub word string
indicating the first name" is outputted for the input voice having the
pause inserted therebetween as descried above. The term "non-voice
string" in this specification means a sub word string which indicates a
non-voice model learned by a sound other than the voice. In general, the
voice recognition apparatus possesses one or more non-voice models Na,
Nb, . . . , and outputs strings such as "Nb, Na, Na, Nc, Nb" as the
non-voice string.
[0007]However, realistically, there may arise erroneous recognition such
that the pause portion matches better a voice model than the non-voice
model. When such the erroneous recognition occurs, an outputted sub word
string will be "a sub word string which indicates the family name+a sub
word string which indicates some voice+a sub word string which indicates
the first name", and the sub word string which indicates a voice (voice
sub ward string) is disadvantageously generated at a portion which should
be a non-voice.
[0008]Furthermore, the voice sub word string which matches the non-voice
portion as described above differs significantly depending on the type of
noise which exists in the non-voice portion. Therefore, even though a
vocalization of "family name/pause/first name" is registered under a
certain environment with noise, and then the completely same vocalization
is recognized under another environment with noise, matching between the
sub word string at the time of registration and that at the time of
recognition at the pause portion cannot be achieved properly, so that
there arises a problem of occurrence of erroneous recognition.
[0009]As described thus far, there is a problem of occurrence of the
erroneous recognition due to the matching of the voice sub word string
with the non-voice portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010]In view of such problems as described above, the invention provides
a voice recognition apparatus in which probabilities of erroneous
recognition due to mismatching of a sub word string in a pause segment is
reduced, and a method thereof.
[0011]According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a voice
recognition apparatus including: an input unit configured to input a
sound; a determining unit configured to determine whether an inputted
input sound is a voice segment or a non-voice segment in time series; a
generating unit configured to generate a vocalization model by generating
a word model for the voice segment, allocating a predetermined non-voice
model for the non-voice segment, and connecting the word model and the
non-voice model in sequence according to the time series of the segments
of the input sound corresponding to the respective models, and a
registering unit configured to store the vocalization model with a
vocalization ID in one-to-one coordination.
[0012]According to the invention, since the non-voice model is forcedly
allocated for the segments determined as the non-voice when generating
the vocalization model, the sub word string is not generated in the pause
segment. Accordingly, erroneous recognition by mismatching of the sub
word strings in the pause segment described in the description of the
background is reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013]FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a configuration of a voice recognition
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0014]FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the voice recognition apparatus
according to a second embodiment.
[0015]FIG. 3 is a first flowchart according to a third embodiment.
[0016]FIG. 4 is a second flowchart according to the third embodiment.
[0017]FIGS. 5A and 5B are drawings of a left-to-right type HMM in a first
output state from among three output states.
[0018]FIGS. 6A and 6B are drawings of the left-to-right type HMM in a
second output state from among the three output states.
[0019]FIGS. 7 A and 7B are drawings of the left-to-right type HMM in a
third output state from among the three output states.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020]Referring now to the drawings, a voice recognition apparatus 10
according to a first embodiment of the invention will be described.
First Embodiment
[0021]Referring now to FIG. 1, the voice recognition apparatus 10
according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described.
[0022]An example of the configuration of the voice recognition apparatus
10 according to the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 1.
[0024]The respective components from 12 to 20 may also be implemented by a
program transmitted to or stored in a computer.
[0025]The switch 12 is configured to switch an operation between normal
voice recognition when being connected to the voice recognition unit 20
and vocabulary registration when being connected to the determining unit
14 for an input sound, and the connection is specified by a user.
[0026]The determining unit 14 determines the input sound whether it is a
voice or a non-voice. A method of determination therefor will be
described in sequence.
[0027]First of all, a time to start the input sound is assumed to be
"t=1". Voice segment detection is started from the time 1, and whether or
not a voice segment is detected is confirmed at respective times t. A
detailed method of detecting the voice segment may be employed from a
method disclosed in JP-A-2007-114413 KOKAI, for example. For example,
segments having at least a reference volume are determined as a voice
segment, and segments having volumes less than the reference volume are
determined as a non-voice segment. It is also possible to determine
sounds within a specific frequency band as the voice segment, and sounds
in other bands as the non-voice segment.
[0028]Subsequently, under a condition of "time t=T1", it is assumed that a
voice segment S1=[s1, e1] (where 1<=s1<e1<=T1) is detected. At
this time, if a segment N1=[1, s1-1] which is a segment before the voice
segment S1 exists, that is, if s1>1 is satisfied, the segment N1 is
determined as the non-voice segment.
[0029]Subsequently, going back to the next time "t=e1"+1 of the voice
segment which is detected now, the voice segment detection is started
again.
[0030]Subsequently, it is assumed that a voice segment S2=[s2, e2] (where
s2>e1) is detected under the condition of "time T2 (T2>T1). It is
also assumed that a segment N2=[e1+1, s2-1] between the previously
detected voice segment and the current segment is a non-voice segment.
[0031]If s2=e1+1 is satisfied, the segment of a combination of the voice
segments S1 and S2 is a continuous single segment [s1, e2], and if it is
considered as S1 anew, it may be considered to be a segment immediately
after having detected s1. Therefore, in order to avoid an unnecessary
complication, it is assumed that a non-voice segment always exists
between two different voice segments in the following description.
[0032]In the manner as described above, every time when the voice segment
is detected, a process to repeat the voice detection to return back to
the next time "t=e1+1" next to the voice segment detected now is repeated
until no more voice segment is detected at the time "t=T".
[0033]If the segment exists after a voice segment Sn=[sn, en] which is
detected lastly, that is, if en<T, Nn+1=[en+1, T] is determined as a
non-voice segment.
[0041]The registering unit 18 issues a vocalization ID of "Sx" labeled by
"series numbers x" in sequence of registration for the vocalization model
generated in this manner, and stores the same as a word ID of the
vocalization model generated now in one-to-one correspondence.
[0042]The registering unit 18 includes definitions of sub word strings
with respect to predetermined vocabularies stored therein, so that a sub
word string Px1, Px2, . . . . Pxax with respect to Vx of
the word ID is acquired.
[0043]In addition, if there is an instruction from the user, the
registering unit 18 deletes the specified vocalization model.
[0045]The voice recognition unit 20 reads object recognition vocabularies
and sub word strings of registered vocalization models in sequence from
the registering unit 18, and generates words HMMs corresponding to the
respective sub words in the same manner as the description in Japanese
Patent No. 3790038, Paragraph [0032].
[0046]When the switch 12 is connected to the voice recognition unit 20,
the input voice is recognized using the words HMMs obtained in this
manner and outputs the result of recognition.
[0047]According to the first embodiment, by generating the vocalization
models, even thought it is a vocalization model generated from the
vocalization including a pause, an unnecessary sub word string is not
generated in the non-voice segment, so that erroneous recognition is
alleviated during the voice recognition.
[0048]Although the voice recognition unit 20 is provided in the first
embodiment, it is also possible to omit the voice recognition unit 20 and
the switch 12 in FIG. 1, and realize the determining unit 14 as an
apparatus for simply generating and registering the vocalization models
by inputting input sounds directly thereto.
[0049]In the case of the apparatus of this type, the registering unit 18
is connected to the external voice recognition apparatus 10, and the
registered models are used practically, for example, as a voice
recognition vocabulary.
Second Embodiment
[0050]Referring now to FIG. 2, the voice recognition apparatus 10
according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described. In
the second embodiment, the voice recognition apparatus 10 having a
function to reproduce a voice generated when generating the voice model,
and a function to allow the user to confirm his or her own vocalization
later will be described.
[0051]An example of the configuration of the voice recognition apparatus
10 according to the second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.
2.
[0052]As shown in FIG. 2, the voice recognition apparatus 10 in the second
embodiment includes the switch 12, the determining unit 14, the
generating unit 16, an editing unit 22, the registering unit 18, a
regenerating unit 24, and the voice recognition unit 20.
[0053]Since the switch 12, the determining unit 14, the generating unit
16, and the voice recognition unit 20 are the same as in the first
embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and different
configurations will be described.
[0054]The editing unit 22 generates signals obtained by replacing waveform
signals in the respective segments, which are determined to be the
non-voice by the determining unit 14 with predetermined edited waveform
signals.
[0055]Therefore, the signals generated here include the waveform signals
of the input sounds remained without being changed for the voice
segments, and those changed to the replaced edited waveform signals for
the non-voice segments. The waveforms of the non-voice segments may be of
any type, such as replacing the waveform with those whose waveform power
(amplitude) is reduced to 1/10, as long as the difference from the input
sound is apparent.
[0056]The vocalization models are stored in the registering unit 18 by
coordinating the word IDs issued as in the first embodiment with one or
both of the waveform signals generated by the editing unit 22 and the
input signals in one-to-one correspondence. The vocabularies stored in
the registering unit 18 each have a model flag for discriminating the
vocalization models and the vocabularies registered in advance, and "1"
is set to the vocalization models and "0" is set to the vocabularies
registered in advance.
[0057]The registering unit 18 allows the user to set which one of the
corresponding registered waveform and the waveform signal of the input
sound is to be coordinated with the vocalization model, or whether both
of them are to be coordinated therewith.
[0058]Then, the registering unit 18 determines the coordination with the
waveform signals according to the user setting.
[0059]When deleting the registered vocalization model from the registering
unit 18 on the basis of the instruction from the user, the waveform
coordinated therewith is also deleted completely.
[0060]The regenerating unit 24 retains data required for generating
synthesized sounds of the vocabularies registered in advance in the
registering unit 18 and, when a word to be reproduced is specified,
extracts the corresponding word from the registering unit 18. If its
model flag is "0", the word is read by a voice synthesis, and if this
model flag is "1", the waveform signal which is coordinated with the
corresponding word is reproduced.
[0061]The regenerating unit 24 allows the user to set the priority of
reproduction between the edited waveform signal and the waveform signal
of the input sound before edition when both of them are coordinated, and
reproduces the signal having the higher priority according to the user
setting.
[0062]According to the second embodiment, the user is able to conform the
vocalization generated at the time of registration and, in addition,
which part of the input sound is determined as the non-voice can be
confirmed by setting the registered waveform to be reproduced.
[0063]Therefore, if the determination in the determining unit 14 is not
correct, registration may be tried again after having deleted the model
in which the error occurs.
Third Embodiment
[0064]Referring now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the voice recognition apparatus
10 according to a third embodiment will be described.
[0065]The configuration of the voice recognition apparatus 10 in the third
embodiment is the same as that of the voice recognition apparatus 10 in
the first embodiment.
[0066]For the sake of easy understanding, a scene in which the third
embodiment is applied will be described. In the actual scenes, the
following event may occur by hearing the user's vocalization wrong.
[0067]For example, if the user fumbles for the right word such as
"Toushiba-Tatt-,Tarou" when the user registers a vocabulary, the
determining unit 14 determines the tree segments of "Toshiba", "Tatt",
and "Tarou" as the voice segment.
[0068]Here, if the relatively short voice segment such as "Tatt" is
treated as a non-voice segment, normal registration of the words is
achieved for such the vocalization as a result of fumbling for the right
word in the same manner as a case of being vocalized as
"Toshiba/pause/Tarou", which is convenient for the user.
[0069]In contrast, even though it is a non-voice segment, if the segment
is extremely short segment, the non-voice segment might be better to be
ignored and treated as a large voice segment connected to an adjacent
voice segment.
[0070]Therefore, in the third embodiment, the above-descried process is
realized.
[0071]A flowchart of a process for the voice segments is shown in FIG. 3.
[0072]In Step 1, assuming that the determining unit 14 has detected the
set of all voice segments is S={S1, S2, . . . Sn} and the set of all
non-voice segments is N={N1, N2, . . . Nn, Nn+1}, the determining unit 14
applies a process on Sk in chronological order, that is, in sequence from
k=1. The entire input sound is a segment represented by connecting Nk and
Sk alternately, that is, a segment represented as N1+S1+N2+S2+ . . .
Sn+Nn+1.
[0073]In Step 2, assuming that a start time of the segment Sk is sk, an
end time is ek, the determining unit 14 recognizes the segment Sk as a
non-voice segment when a segment length Dk=ek-sk+1 is shorter than a
predetermined threshold value Ts. Then, the segments Nk, Sk, Nk+1 are all
non-voice segments, and are continued segments, the determining unit 14
combines Sk with noise segments Nk, Nk+1 adjacent thereto, and renews the
same as a single continuous segment. In other words, the determining unit
14 renews the segment into a segment from a start time of Nk to an end
time of Nk+1, and deletes Sk from the set S and Nk from the set N.
[0074]In Steps 3 and 4, the determining unit 14 repeats the
above-described procedure until k=n. Then, the set S and the set N are
renumbered with series numbers from 1 in chronological order again for
those remained after the process as described above.
[0075]The determining unit 14 performs the process on the voice segments
as descried above, and then performs the same process for the non-voice
segments. A flowchart of a process for the non-voice segments is shown in
FIG. 4. Although there is a small difference in process, it is
essentially the same process as for the voice segment, so that the
description will be omitted.
[0076]Although the process for the set of the voice segments is performed
first and then the process for the set of the non-voice segments is
performed in the description above, it is possible to carry out the
process for the set of the non-voice segments first and then the process
for the set of the voice segments after, or it is also possible to carry
the process only for one of the set of the non-voice segments and the set
of the voice segments.
Fourth Embodiment
[0077]Referring now to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the voice recognition apparatus
10 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described.
[0078]The configuration of the voice recognition apparatus 10 in the
fourth embodiment is the same as that of the voice recognition apparatus
10 in the first embodiment.
[0079]The vocalization model (sub word string) registered in the
registering unit 18 generates word models corresponding to the sub word
string at the time of voice recognition. In the fourth embodiment, since
the word model in the first embodiment is the word HMM, the HMM is taken
as an example in the fourth embodiment as well.
[0080]In the first embodiment, the non-voice segment is represented by the
single sub word φ which represents the non-voice. Therefore, assuming
that the HMM corresponding to φ is the left-to-right type HMM with
three output states (hollow circles in the drawing) as shown in FIG. 5A,
in the word model, it is connected as a part of the word HMM as shown in
FIG. 5B without the initial state and the final state. In FIG. 5B, a
state in which sub words A and B which represent the voices respectively
are connected to the front and back of the φ portion is shown.
[0081]The HMM which represents the non-voice must not be the left-to-right
type as described above, and may be an HMM of a given topology (the
connected relation between the states of the HMM) such as so-called
Ergodic HMM.
[0082]In the fourth embodiment, a sub word string other than this type
will be described.
[0083]Assuming that a sub word which indicates a repetition of the sub
word φ by zero or one time is [φ], and the sub word string to be
allocated to the non-voice segment by the generating unit 16 is one sub
word [φ].
[0084]For example, when there is one non-voice segment existing between
two voice segments (the sub word strings corresponding respectively
thereto are represented by W1 and W2), a sub word string "W1 [φ] W2"
is obtained.
[0085]An HMM corresponding to [φ] is shown in FIG. 6A. When
integrating this into the word HMM, it is integrated as shown in FIG. 6B.
This HMM includes a path which makes a transition in the three output
states and an alternative path, which corresponds to the one φ and
the zero φ, respectively.
[0086]In addition, a sub word φ* which indicates the repetition of the
sub word φ by at least zero time may be used. The HMM which realizes
the sub word φ* may be configured as shown in FIG. 7A. In FIGS. 7A
and 7B, since there is a path returning from the third state to the first
state, the φ can be repeated by a given number of times by following
this path. When integrating this into the word HMM, it is integrated as
shown in FIG. 7B.
[0087]In the fourth embodiment, by using the HMM in which the φ can be
omitted or which can be repeated, even though the user registers "family
name/pause/first name" with a pause inserted in-between at the time of
registration and vocalizes only "family name/first name" by omitting the
pause at the time of recognition, or even though a long pause is inserted
at the time of vocalization, correct recognition is enabled.
MODIFICATIONS
[0088]The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and
may be modified variously without departing the scope of the invention. | 2024-06-09T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5807 |
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The Waist-Slimming, Lower Ab Workout
Get an amazing ab rehab stat. This lower ab workout from better-belly specialist Elisabeth Halfpapp, a founder of Exhale Mind Body Spa in New York City, combines seven exercises that will work your midsection, including the transversus abdominis, 360 degrees — "which is the key for slimming your waist." Both our testers experienced roomier waistbands (our apple-shaped tester lost an inch; our new mom lost two) after a month by doing three-times-a-week sessions. Now it's your turn to be firm, flat, fab!
Side Plank-Up
Lie on left side on floor with legs stacked and a rolled-up towel between thighs, propping torso on left elbow so that left forearm is perpendicular to torso. Make it easier: Stagger feet so that side of right foot is on floor in front of left foot for a wider base of support.
Lift hips so that body forms a straight line from head to toe and squeeze towel between thighs. Hold for 1 count, then lower.
Round Back
Sit on a folded towel on floor with shoulder blades against a wall and knees bent, feet flat; make sure back is rounded. Place hands on floor near hips, fingertips pressed into floor.
Squeeze abs and lift feet off floor, bring knees toward chest, then straighten legs so toes point toward ceiling. Do 10 pulses: Bring legs 1 inch closer to wall, then move them back 1 inch. Make it easier: Keep left foot on floor and bring extended right leg toward you by grasping right calf with both hands. Hold for 30 seconds; switch legs and repeat.
Fly Up
Target: Rectus abdominis
Sit on a folded towel on floor, lean back to rest on elbows and place feet together on a wall in front of you so that knees are bent about 90 degrees.
Extend legs up, keeping feet against wall, then press rounded lower back into floor and squeeze abs as you lift arms to reach toward feet, elbows soft. Make it harder: Press feet into wall as you reach.
Pelvic Scoop
Lie faceup on floor with back resting on folded towel, knees bent and feet flat on floor, arms by sides.
Cross right ankle onto left thigh just above knee so bent right knee points out to side; flex left foot so only heel rests on floor.
Rounding lower back and squeezing abs, lift hips off floor so pelvis tilts up toward ribs. Curl pelvis as far as you can without arching back; pull abs in to lift rather than press through left heel. Lower to floor.
Do 10 reps, holding the lift for 10 seconds on the final one. Switch sides and repeat. Do 3 sets.
C-Curve
With knees slightly bent, hinge forward at hips to place palms on wall, arms extended, so that back is nearly parallel to floor.
Squeeze abs and towel as you rise onto toes, then do 20 pulses: Lower hips 1 inch, then raise them 1 inch. Make it harder: Start with knees bent 90 degrees so that hips are closer to knee level, then pulse.
Twisted Curl
Sit on a folded towel on floor with knees bent and feet flat on floor, then lean back to rest on elbows.
Press rounded lower back into floor, squeeze abs and curl torso up toward left, lifting arms so that both hands grasp outside of left thigh.
Maintaining curl, release hands so that both hover to outside of thigh and do 20 pulses: Curl torso up toward left by 1 inch, then lower 1 inch. Make it easier: Keep hands on thigh for pulses. Make it harder: Raise arms overhead for pulses. | 2023-09-03T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5438 |
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#include <vcl.h>
#include <IdHashMessageDigest.hpp>
#include <IdHashSHA1.hpp>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <locale.h>
#include "md5.h"
#include "sha1.h"
#define BUF_SIZE 20480
#pragma hdrstop
#include <tchar.h>
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// ファイルからMD5を算出して文字列で返す
String __fastcall GetMD5FromFile(String FilePath);
// ファイルからSHA1を算出して文字列で返す
String __fastcall GetSHA1FromFile(String FilePath);
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#pragma argsused
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
setlocale(LC_CTYPE, ""); //これがないと文字化けする
int i;
String DirPath, FilePath, FileName;
TStringList *FileList = new TStringList;
int ret;
TSearchRec sr;
String OutFilePathMD5, OutFilePathSHA1;
TStringList *SaveFileList;
String MD5String, SHA1String;
TFileStream *fs;
TIdHashMessageDigest5 *md5;
TIdHashSHA1 *sha1;
for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
FilePath = ExpandUNCFileName(argv[i]);
DirPath = ExtractFileDir(FilePath);
FileName = ExtractFileName(FilePath);
ret = FindFirst(IncludeTrailingPathDelimiter(DirPath)+FileName, faAnyFile, sr);
while (ret == 0) {
if (sr.Name != "." && sr.Name != "..") {
if (sr.Attr & faDirectory) {
}
else{
FileList->Add(IncludeTrailingPathDelimiter(DirPath)+sr.Name);
}
}
ret = FindNext(sr);
}
FindClose(sr);
}
if (FileList->Count == 0) {
wprintf(L"指定のファイルが見つかりませんでした。\n");
delete FileList;
return 1;
}
for (i = 0; i < FileList->Count; i++) {
FilePath = FileList->Strings[i];
wprintf(L"%s\n", FilePath);
//-----------------------------------
wprintf(L"MD5ハッシュを計算中...\n");
MD5String = LowerCase(GetMD5FromFile(FilePath)); //小文字で
if (MD5String == "") {
wprintf(L"%s\nMD5ハッシュの取得に失敗しました。\n", FilePath);
break;
}
else{
wprintf(L"%s\n", MD5String.c_str());
}
//テキストファイルに保存する
OutFilePathMD5 = FilePath + ".md5";
SaveFileList = new TStringList;
SaveFileList->Add(MD5String);
SaveFileList->SaveToFile(OutFilePathMD5);
delete SaveFileList;
//-----------------------------------
wprintf(L"SHA-1ハッシュを計算中...\n");
SHA1String = LowerCase(GetSHA1FromFile(FilePath)); //小文字で
if (SHA1String == "") {
wprintf(L"%s\nSHA-1ハッシュの取得に失敗しました。\n", FilePath);
break;
}
else{
wprintf(L"%s\n", SHA1String.c_str());
}
//テキストファイルに保存する
OutFilePathSHA1 = FilePath + ".sha1";
SaveFileList = new TStringList;
SaveFileList->Add(SHA1String);
SaveFileList->SaveToFile(OutFilePathSHA1);
delete SaveFileList;
}
//system("pause");
delete FileList;
return 0;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// ファイルからMD5を算出して文字列で返す
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
String __fastcall GetMD5FromFile(String FilePath)
{
int i;
String ReturnText;
__int64 TotalSize = 0;
__int64 FileSize;
float percent;
int PercentNum;
int bytes;
unsigned char buffer[BUF_SIZE];
char textbuffer[BUF_SIZE];
String result;
if ( !FileExists(FilePath)) return("");
int fh = FileOpen(FilePath, fmOpenRead);
if (fh < 0) {
//オープンに失敗
wprintf(L"ファイルオープンに失敗しました。\n", FilePath);
return("");
}
FileSize = FileSeek(fh, (__int64)0, 2);
FileSeek(fh, 0, 0);
MD5_CTX mdContext;
//MD5 - 初期化
MD5Init(&mdContext);
//ファイル読み出し
while ((bytes = FileRead (fh, buffer, BUF_SIZE)) != 0){
MD5Update (&mdContext, buffer, bytes);
TotalSize+=bytes;
percent = (float)TotalSize/FileSize;
PercentNum = int(percent*100);
wprintf(L"MD5 計算中 - %d%%\r", PercentNum);
}
wprintf(L"MD5 計算完了 - 100%%\n");
MD5Final(&mdContext);
FileClose(fh);
for (i = 0; i < BUF_SIZE; i++)
textbuffer[i] = NULL;
for (i = 0; i < 16; i++)
buffer[i] = mdContext.digest[i];
BinToHex( buffer, textbuffer, 16);
return((String)textbuffer);
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// ファイルからSHA1を算出して文字列で返す
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
String __fastcall GetSHA1FromFile(String FilePath)
{
int i;
String ReturnText;
__int64 TotalSize = 0;
__int64 FileSize;
float percent;
int PercentNum;
SHA1Context sha;
unsigned char Message_Digest[20];
int bytes;
unsigned char buffer[BUF_SIZE];
char textbuffer[BUF_SIZE];
String result;
if ( !FileExists(FilePath)) return("");
int fh = FileOpen(FilePath, fmOpenRead);
if (fh < 0) {
//オープンに失敗
wprintf(L"ファイルオープンに失敗しました。\n", FilePath);
return("");
}
FileSize = FileSeek(fh, (__int64)0, 2);
FileSeek(fh, 0, 0);
//初期化（リセット）
if ( SHA1Reset(&sha))return("");
//ファイル読み出し
while ((bytes = FileRead (fh, buffer, BUF_SIZE)) != 0){
if ( SHA1Input(&sha, (const unsigned char *)buffer, bytes) ){
return("");
}
TotalSize+=bytes;
percent = (float)TotalSize/FileSize;
PercentNum = int(percent*100);
wprintf(L"SHA-1 計算中 - %d%%\r", PercentNum);
}
wprintf(L"SHA-1 計算完了 - 100%%\n");
//出力
if ( SHA1Result(&sha, Message_Digest) ) return("");
FileClose(fh);
for (i = 0; i < BUF_SIZE; i++)
textbuffer[i] = NULL;
for (i = 0; i < 20; i++)
buffer[i] = Message_Digest[i];
BinToHex( buffer, textbuffer, 20);
return((String)textbuffer);
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2024-04-15T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6937 |
Q:
Why an option has sometimes and implied volatility greater than 100%?
Sometimes, in an option chain, the implied volatility of an option is greater than 100% .
How is this possible? I mean, it is possible for 100$ stock to increase more than 100%, but not decrease more than 100%.
So, how to interpret this number when it is greater than 100%?
A:
It seems that you are thinking of the volatility as some sort of standard deviation of your stock price. It is not.
In the BS model, $\sigma\sqrt{T}$ is the standard deviation of the log-return $\log(\frac{S_T}{S_0})$. There is no mathematical upper bound to its standard deviation. There is also no mathematical problem with returns being negative either. Quoting volatility as a percentage is common practice but does not necessarily make sense (in stochastic volatility models, vol of vol parameters can often be calibrated to $\sim 300\%$).
Note that even a positive random variable's standard deviation can be much larger than its mean if its right tail is fat enough. Consider the family of lognormal distributions for example, the standard deviation can be arbitrary large for a given mean.
A:
The answer of AFK is very good and accurate in a BS setting.
Thinking of jumps I would add the following:
If we assume that stocks sometimes move in jumps (usually downwards) then it is clear that ATM or OTM options shortly before expiration with a price that accounts for the possibility of a jump - which is therfore quite high - only fit in the BS framework with large implied volatilities.
| 2023-12-02T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7749 |
Wilson Betemit to start at third base, bat ninth in debut with Tigers vs. Twins
AP File PhotoWilson Betemit will bat ninth in his debut with the Tigers.
MINNEAPOLIS -- New Detroit Tigers third baseman Wilson Betemit will bat ninth tonight as the Tigers try to extend their winning streak against the Minnesota Twins to 10 games.
The Tigers acquired Betemit in a trade Wednesday with the Kansas City Royals for a pair of Single-A players.
The Tigers carry a nine-game winning streak against the Twins into this weekend's four-game series. The Tigers completed a sweep of Minnesota at Comerica Park on June 1.
At that point, the Twins were just 17-37, but they have bounced back to get back into the division race in the American League Central Division. They are in fourth place, just five games behind the Tigers and Indians. | 2024-05-29T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5279 |
The present invention relates generally to the attachment of one object within a cavity of another object. Specifically, the present invention relates to locking the two objects together when one of the objects may be threaded. More specifically, the present invention permits flexibility in alignment of one object with the other regardless of a particular thread crest position.
One technique for attaching a first object within a second object having a cavity is to incorporate a flange on the first object which is too large to fit through the opening to the cavity. A substantial portion of the first object engages the cavity, but the flange overlaps the opening to the cavity and remains outside the second object. Any number of suitable fasteners may then affix the first object's flange to the outside of the second object. However, this technique is limited to applications where sufficient room exists outside the second object to accommodate the flange portion of the first object.
Another technique for attaching a first object within a cavity in a second object concerns threading. Mated screw threads are formed on the first object and on a cavity wall of the second object. The two objects are attached together by screwing the first object into the second object until the first object is sufficiently locked in place.
This technique may be effective where insufficient room exists outside the second object to accommodate a flange, but is still limited to applications where the cavity is circular in cross sectional area and where the screw threads on the first and second objects are in good shape. Furthermore, controlling the precise angular beginning and depth of threads formed on either the first or second objects may be difficult. Thus, the threading technique is further limited to applications which can tolerate a certain amount of variation in the relative angular orientation of the first object within the cavity of the second object, and the depth to which the first object is displaced within the second object.
Still another technique for attaching a first object within a cavity of a second object uses a suitable adhesive. However, attachment with adhesives is limited to applications where suitable adhesives exist and where removal of the first object from the cavity is not anticipated.
Yet another technique for attaching a first object within a second object having a cavity uses a combination of threading and various inserts. An insert placed inside the cavity may expand as the first object is screwed into it causing attachment of the first object by clamping forces exerted through the deformed insert and against the cavity walls. Alternatively, a slip ring surrounding the first object may be screwed into a threaded cavity also causing attachment through clamping. Since clamping forces are used to attach the two objects together, this technique provides more flexibility in alignment. However, special tools permitting the exertion of great forces on the first and second objects are often required, inserts may not be reusable, and the additional required slip rings and inserts are easily lost.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an attachment apparatus that permits the attachment of a first object within a cavity of a second object without the use of flanges, inserts, or adhesives. Thus, the present invention allows the first object to be mounted entirely within the cavity, does not require the use of components which may be wasted or lost, and permits a multiplicity of removals and re-attachments.
The present invention addresses concerns about the ease of attachment of the first object within the cavity of the second object. Accordingly, the present invention allows mounting the first object within the cavity of the second object without the use of special tools or the application of large forces.
Another facet relates to permitting flexibility in both the angular alignment of the first object relative to the second object and the depth the first object is displaced within the second object. Thus, the present invention may be adapted for use with threading techniques, but it compensates for alignment problems which are characteristic of threading techniques.
The present invention additionally places minimum requirements on the shape of the first object or the cavity in the second object. Consequently, the present invention may be employed with cavities which are not circular in cross-section. Further, if the present invention is used with a threading technique, it remains operative in spite of rusty or damaged threads.
Moreover, the present invention need not damage threads which may exist on either the first or second objects. For example, the present invention may be installed on a first object which substitutes for a plug-like object where the plug-like object screws into a cavity in a second object. The first object which incorporates the present invention may attach within the cavity without damaging the cavity threads and limiting future use of the plug-like object.
Further the present invention indicates by a simple inspection whether the first object is locked within the second object. Unlike adhesive and insert techniques, an installer of an object incorporating the present invention may ascertain that the object is in fact attached without testing the object's resistance to being removed. | 2024-04-15T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2088 |
"Previously on Awkward..." "One a day keeps the baby away." "Oh, yes." "No one wants to be around me." "At school, everyone hates me." "I'm crazy about you." "There were certain things in my life" "I always wanted to keep to myself." "For example, my secret for shiny hair, my ridiculous superstitions... and my birth control pills." "[Ominous music]" "[Whispering] How did he find them?" "I think I left them in the guest bath." "Don't worry." "I got this." "[Yelling] What are these?" "You know what those are." "I can explain." "Ha ha, Jenna, I know how birth control works." "Why didn't you tell me you were on the pill?" "It's a surprise." "Actually, for your birthday..." "[Giggles] three months ago." "But we shouldn't be having this conversation in front of Jenna." "I agree." "Gonna take my breakfast on the go." "Lace?" "Why are we still using condoms?" "Jenna!" "In that moment, my dad went through all five stages of grief for the loss of his only daughter's virginity." "Denial." "Anger." "Bargaining." "Depression." "Acceptance." " [Types on keypad]" " What are you doing?" "Looking up Matty's parents' number in the online directory." "He added one more..." "Broadcasting." "Mom, don't let him do this." "Kevin... don't do this." "Really?" "That's the best you can do?" "Dad, please think before you act." "I am thinking before I act." "Because if I were to act before thinking" "Matty would be dead." "I'm calling." "They need to know that their son is having sex." " I agree with your father." " What?" "Well, it's just good parenting, Jenna." "I don't understand why you guys are making such a big deal of this." "You bought me condoms." "You knew what could happen!" "I can see how that is a confusing message to send her." "The condoms were a preemptive strike to make sure that you'd be safe when the time came, which I hoped was well into your 20s." "That makes no sense." "It doesn't have to make sense to you!" "It only has to make sense to me!" " I'm your father!" " He's right." "Even though it really doesn't make sense to me." "Dad, please don't do-- mom, help me, help me." " Kevin..." " Hang up, hang up, hang up..." " Just put down the phone." " Hang up, hang up." "Please, I am begging you, hang up the phone!" "Hello, this is Kevin Hamilton," "Jenna's dad." "I think that you should know our children are having sex." "Call me back if you want to talk about this." "You left a voice mail?" "[Overlapping chattering]" "Follow the sound of the clapping noise, monkeys." "Since we had to skip lunch to squeeze in this extra practice," "I'll keep my notes short." "Katie, you're hyper-extending your Russians." "No one wants to see your flying "V."" "Tobin, yell from your diaphragm." "You know, that place that's located directly under your itty-bitties?" "And Jessica, you need to skip a few more lunches." "[Overlapping chattering]" "Shut the fuck up and let's start with partner stunts!" "Lissa!" "[Peppy] Ready, okay." "[Whistle blows]" "What the hell is everyone gossiping about?" "Is the the Ricky Schwartz bullshit again?" "Like, I murdered him?" "'Cause if it is, this shit is getting really old." "Uh, no, no." "[Laughs]" "That's not it." "One, two." "Then what the hell is it?" "Nothing." "You want me to walk into a low branch?" "Everyone's talking about how your parents are broke." "[Screams, thud]" "It was an accident." "I left my pills in the guest bath." "Ooh, that reminds me, I really need to get on the pill." " Are you guys having sex?" " Not yet." "But soon, and then Jake-ara will finally have something over Jake-enna." "There's just one thing keeping me from being the first lady of hump city." "I'm waiting for him to say "I love you."" "What are you talking about?" "He says "je t'aime" all the time." "Not the same thing." "He said "je t'aime" when we were abroad." "And he was in a France-trance." "And he only says it now because he already said it, and it's stronger than an "I like you,"" "but not quite an "I love you,"" "which is as high as you can go love-wise." "I'm sure he'll say it soon." "[Shutter clicks]" "My last pre-sex selfie." "You know it's a myth that you look different after." "Um, you looked different." "I call shenanigans." "I didn't tell you until weeks later." "But I knew something changed, and it wasn't your bangs, because those have been the same since 1998." "Well, I hope, when you do have sex, your dad doesn't call his dad to announce it." "How am I gonna warn Matty?" "Just blurt it out, and then bolt." "That's how I told my mom I broke her vibrator." "I thought it was a neck massager." "Anyway, good luck, gotta run." "[Laughs]" "See, just like that." "[Tense music]" "♪ ♪" "Hey." "Hey, so my dad called your parents and told them we're having sex." "Gotta go, bye." "What?" "All this extra practice was for nothing." " It was an accident." " We have to call the alternate." "No way Lissa's going to recover." "She'll be out the whole season." "We're not calling the alternate." "That is the final word." "Actually, it's not the final word, because I have something to say." "The PHHS cheer bylaws do allow for an alternate substitute in case of injury, failing grades, or polio." "They were written in the '50s." "Guys, I'm sure I'll be fine." "I just need to get on my feet." "Could somebody help me up?" "[Indistinct radio chatter]" "Listen to me." "Lissa cheered at nationals the day after a bird flew into her face on a roller coaster." "We do not need the alternate." "I'll be fine!" "[Class bell rings] All right, listen up." "I want to congratulate all of you for inspiring me... to come up with a whole new grading system." "That's right, letters would not suffice." "I had to use words." ""Cancerous."" ""Nauseating."" "Uh, "debilitating."" "Uh, nice one." ""Self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head."" "I know it's more than one word, but it was earned." "Are you my "hopeless"?" "[Paper rustling]" "Let's go." "[Slam]" "Okay, there you go." "My essay is..." ""plodden-tory"?" " Is that even a word?" " I had to create a word." "To describe your piece of shit." "Because "piece of shit" just sounds mean." "Now this one, this is "illuminating."" "Would you care to regale us with a bit of your essay?" "[Thinking] Given my recent private humiliation, it was nice to have some public recognition." "Actually, you know what?" "Do me a favor." "Don't read it." "I can't hear it aloud." "It hurts me too much." "But you said it was illuminating." "Yes, because it opened my eyes to how bad your writing can be." "The reason you're a terrible writer is because you belong to "generation whatever."" "You only know how to express yourself with abbreviations, misspellings." "You've turned punctuation into picture books." "Miss Hamilton, it's time you make me feel something." "You have to dig deeper." "Tell me something that's not easy." "With words, not emoticons." "Mr. Jennings, "promising."" ""Promising" as in you want me to promise never to put pen to paper again?" "No, "promising" as in" ""I wanted to read more about what you had to say."" "And I have to say, not to sound like a creeper, but I really felt like I was in that hotel room with you." "When your mother's friend was seducing you... it was titillating." "Ugh." "[Class bell rings]" "So your dad called my parents and said we were having sex." " He's so transparent." " What?" "Your dad?" "No, this guy in my class, Collin." "My dad, he's gonna kill me." "I don't understand what the big deal is." "So he slept with an older woman." "Whose dad are we talking about?" "No, still Collin." "Mr. Hart liked his paper and not mine." "What exactly did he say?" "He said it was "illuminating."" "You went into detail about our sex to your dad?" "No, I meant my paper." "And, no, I didn't." "And my dad didn't speak to anyone." "He..." "left a message." "What number did he call?" "The one from the student directory." "Nice." "[Claps hands together]" "It's a landline." "They never use it, and I can delete it from here." "I was grateful that Matty could erase my dad's message and put the whole thing to bed, so to speak." "Do you know what this is?" "Or this?" "These are photos of warts and lesions on a vagina." "Dad, our food will be here soon." "Can we, um, put away the infected... genitalia?" "I wish we could." "But you need to be aware of what could happen now that you and Matty are engaging in sexual intercourse." "And, you know, the more intercourse that you have..." "Please stop saying "intercourse."" "The higher your chances are to have a vagina that looks like this." "[Doorbell rings]" "Dad, got the message." "And apparently, so did Matty's parents." "What do you have to say to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton?" "I'm sorry I-I took your daughter's virginity." "Thank you." "Jenna?" "What?" "[Softly] Apologize." "[Softly] For what?" "I am sorry for... letting him... take it?" "Okay." "I think that about takes care of that, hmm?" "We appreciate the phone call." "[Doorbell rings]" "Oh, uh, sorry." "Chinese." "[Laughs nervously]" "Hi!" "Thank you very much." "[Sighs]" " Okay, let's go." " Yes." "You're welcome to stay for dinner." "No, we can't." "My mom has..." " salmon thawing at home." " Oh." "Thank you for the invitation." "We couldn't impose." "[Scoffs] It's not an imposition." "I do like Chinese." " Okay." " All right." "Okay." "What... is... happening?" "This is what's gonna happen." "For the next few games..." "[Overlapping chattering] we do mostly chants, but not lame ones." "And when we build, we do three turtle tubs with one dragon roll in front of it." "Can everyone calm the fuck down now?" "I should be back by this weekend." "Does anyone have some food?" "[Whimpers]" "You know, I'm about Lissa's size." "If you want me to step in..." "I don't think teachers can be on the squad." "Cheerleader law is fluid in some areas." "And, yes, faculty can step in in cases of injury, pregnancy, or bear fever." "I think we should put it to a vote." "All those in favor of an alternate..." "No vote." "I am the captain." "You're not going to be able to buy your way out of this one, Sadie." "All those in favor of calling the alternate?" "Opposed?" "I'm raising my hand." "Come on." "How bad can this alternate be?" "[Screams]" "I'm a cheerleader!" "[Line rings]" "Hey, it's Jenna." "Leave a message." "[Beep]" "I got the call." "And now you're getting the call-call." "[Screams]" "[Line rings]" "Hey, babe." "So I was totally ready to do it with you." "But I was waiting on something." "But that was before I was made a cheerleader." "And right now, I am too excited to wait." " What?" " I am a cheerleader!" "I'm ready." "Okay?" "Okay!" "So when y-- when you got Kevin's message," "I guess it was quite a shock, huh?" "Well, ahem, yes and no." "I mean, I've found things." "And by "things," I mean "condom wrappers."" " Mom." " Well, on the one hand, you know it's gonna happen eventually." "On the other-- "wrappers"?" "That sounds like a lot of condoms." "Have you had multiple partners?" "Yeah." "How many partners have you had?" "[Thinking] Maybe some things were meant to go public." " Yeah, how many?" " Ah, a few." " Two?" " Three." "[Mouths]" "[Sighs, clears throat]" ""Something private... will become public."" "Well, that's dead on." "You know what fortune cookies mean?" "Dinner's over." "[All muttering]" " [Clears throat]" " Thank you." "Yeah." "We sure are glad to meet you." "Thank you for sharing your dinner." "We will do it again sometime." " Almost over." " Homestretch." "And next time we'll have better dinner conversation than our kids' sex lives." "[All laugh nervously]" "Hey, we all want the same thing, and that is to not be grandparents for at least ten more years." "[Nervous chuckles]" "Don't worry, Jenna won't get pregnant." "I put her on the pill." "[Laughs]" "[Door slams]" "Oh, my God!" "We're gonna do it!" "I've totally been waiting for this moment for, like, at least a year." "In minutes, I'm not gonna be a virgin anymore." "This blindfold, is this part of it?" "Are you kinky?" "Maybe I'm gonna be kinky." "Oh, my God!" "I'm so excited!" "[Upbeat rock music]" "♪ ♪" "[Crying]" "Let me get this straight." "So you took your teenage daughter to get birth control pills?" "Well... yes." "And here I was thinking you were concerned about our children having sex." " Matty has condoms." " I didn't buy them." "No..." "I did." "So you put your daughter on the pill, and you bought my son condoms." "You're encouraging our kids to be promiscuous." "No, to be safe." "Nothing good can come from teenagers having sex." "Actually, I did." "They had Jenna when they were teenagers, mom." "Let it go." "Matthew don't speak to me that way." " I'm your mother." " We need to go." "Our kids are having sex." "It's not like they're doing drugs." "[Softly] Matty's brother went to rehab!" "Why would you violate our family's privacy?" " Mom, everyone knows." " Thanks to you, because you can't ever keep your mouth shut." "Hey, Matty's a good kid." "Don't take this out on him." "Who the hell are you to talk to me about my son?" " I'm just trying to help." " Listen, honey." "I'm glad you're all loosey-goosey and hippie-dippie in this house, but we don't condone risky behavior." "I am lucky that my daughter came to me and said that she was having sex, that she felt comfortable enough to seek my guidance." "Clearly, your son can't do the same." "Clearly, we're different kinds of people." "How about you worry about your family," "I'll worry about mine." "And thank you for the Chinese." " Come on." " You're welcome." "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Hamilton." "I am" "Oh, honey, this is not your fault." "[Sighs]" "And I am not a hippie." "What hippie do you know has fake boobs?" "[Sobbing]" "Your mom said that I could come in, and that it'd be okay to shut the door." "Go away, and take your sex van with you." "I'm not going anywhere." "Just tell me what's wrong." "The blankets, the rose petals, the freaking moonlight romance." "The air freshener." "Oh, I'm sorry." "Is that what you wanted?" " I used calypso paradise." " Yeah!" "And that's the only thing that's different!" "I'm really lost." "From Jenna's experience with you." "I'm always second best." "I'm the alternate cheerleader and the alternate girlfriend." "What are you talking about?" "Everyone knows that minivan thing is what you had planned when you were gonna have sex with Jenna." "It was in her blog!" " But Jenna and I didn't do it." " I know." "But you rehashed." "You didn't plan anything special for me." "Uh, look." "I'm a guy." "And so..." "I had this whole fantasy of my first time." "I just thought it would be so cool." "Really?" "A minivan?" "Tamara, I want you and only you to be my first." "So whatever you want, that's what we'll do." "Well, I've always wanted it to be in a hotel." "Oh, yes." "Yes, great!" "And then we can be as loud as we want, and no one will walk in on us, and we can put soft music on the TV." "And how about a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket?" "Yes, and then we can do that thing where we intertwine our arms and drink the champagne." "And then we go out on the balcony, and we yell down at people, because we're a little bit drunk." "And we'll wear those big, white, terry cloth robes when we open the door to our room service strawberries." "And then I could just pick you up, like this, [straining] And you're surprisingly light, even with the robe on." "[Laughs nervously]" " And I" " And you say nothing." "Because I shut you up like this." "♪ Hard to empty ♪" "♪ hard to carry ♪" "♪ up another flight ♪" "♪ all the time it takes... ♪" "Jenna?" "Can we just not talk about anything personal right now?" "I just wanted to tell you that I've been in your shoes." "When I was your age..." "This sounds personal." "I had a dinner like that with your dad's parents." "They greeted me at the door with big hugs." "And they were so nice to me." "When we all sat down, that's when I told them I was pregnant." "Then what happened?" "They started yelling at me and calling me horrible things." "They said that I had ruined Kevin's life." "And then I threw up... which just made it worse." "[Chuckles]" "I was humiliated." "I am so glad we have the relationship we do." "It's the thing about my life I'm most proud of." "I'm glad you're you." "I'm so glad you're you." "And I'm glad you didn't forget to take your pill!" "[Sighs]" " [Laughs]" " Did you?" "[Upbeat rock music]" "Can I get you some water?" "No, thanks." "I'm okay." " Just okay?" " No." "No, no, no." "I mean, that was" " I'm still vagingling." " [Laughs] Yeah." "It was everything they say it is, you know, in movies and songs." "Okay, I call shenanigans." "That was not fun." " Did that totally emasculate you?" " Oh, no, no." "That's-- that's what I thought too." "It was uncomfortable." "And your mom started coughing." "[Both laugh]" "We can try again, I mean, if you want to, of course." "Yeah, of course." "All I need is 18 minutes and a sandwich." "Ooh, a sandwich." "That actually does sound good." "Yeah." "I'm looking forward to figuring out this whole sex thing with you." "I love you, Tamara." "I love you too." "♪ So hold my hand ♪" "♪ 'cause talking is the source of misunderstanding ♪" "♪ hold my hand ♪" "Apparently I don't need that sandwich." "♪ 'Cause talking is the source of misunderstanding ♪" "♪ hold my... ♪" "[Chime]" "[Rock music]" "[Cell phone vibrates]" "Congratulations." "Is that a post-sex pic?" "Nope, it's a post "I love you" one." "But we had sex too." " You had sex too?" " Yeah." "But the "I love you" felt much better." "Now I'm gonna go sit on some ice." "I'm sore." "[Click]" "It wasn't easy for me to write about something that hit a little closer to home." "But I was finally ready to dig deeper." ""My Mother's Greatest Humiliation" " Me." "By Jenna Hamilton."" "[Doorbell rings]" "My mom was right about one thing." "You guys are different kinds of people." "And I'm your kind." "Can I crash here for the night?" " Next on Awkward..." " Morning." "It's been fun, having Matty here and all, but I need my space back." "Matty gets the cow, the milk, and to live in the barn for free." "You haven't worn out your welcome?" " Jenna's cool with it." " I am so not cool with it." "I'm going to that party." "Sleepovers are gamechangers!" "Ricky, if you can hear me, set the record straight." "Was your death an accident?" "[Gasping]" | 2024-06-16T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6849 |
Fatty tumor of the liver in a patient with Cushing's syndrome.
Cushing's syndrome is occasionally associated with unusual deposition of fat. A case is reported of fatty mass of the liver in a patient with nodular adrenal hyperplasia. | 2023-09-10T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/9560 |
Dark Fate, which director Tim Miller confirmed will be rated-R, also sees Linda Hamilton return for the first time since 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and is billed as a direct followup to that film, ignoring the three Terminator movies that have hit since. Cameron noted that he wrote Hamilton a long email, "rambling" detailing both pros and cons for why she should join the project.
"I think the key point in the pro column was people love you in this character," said Cameron. "It was so iconic and I think the fans just want to know what's she like now? What's her life been like in the meantime?"
Cameron produces with Deadpool filmmaker Tim Miller directing a cast that also includes Natalia Reyes, Mackenzie Davis, Gabriel Luna and Diego Boneta.
The panel showed off an extended scene with a Terminator (Luna) hunting down a young woman named Dani (Reyes) under the protection of an enhanced human from the future named Grace (Davis). Sarah Connor saves the day at the last minute, coming in with guns blazing.
They don't know who she is, and later in a safe house she explains her backstory in a bit of dialogue that reveals this is not the first Terminator Connor has fought since her T2 days.
"My name is Sarah Connor. Aug. 29, 1997 was supposed to be judgment day. My son and I stopped that. We changed the future. Saved 3 billion lives. You're welcome," she says. "Since then, I hunt Terminators. Enough of a resume for you?"
Other revelations from the footage, which has not been made available online, include that Schwarzenegger's T-800 goes by the name Carl. He appears to be fitting into human society, living in a cabin and even owning a dog. Sarah Connor is ever suspicious of him, saying, "I'm never going to fucking call you Carl," and later telling him, "When this is all over, I'm going to kill you."
Though Terminator: Salvation (2009) and Terminator: Genisys (2015) were rated PG-13, Miller said the Dark Fate will be R-rated, because the fans demanded it. But there were discussions about it being PG-13.
"I had a whole other plan in case it didn’t go R. The thing is the DNA of Terminator is an R-rated fucking movie," said Miller, who added part of that plan just included shooting lots of takes of Hamilton saying the F-word.
Miller teased that the crux of the film deals with the consequences of Sarah Connor's T2 choice to try to destroy CyberDyne and thus prevent judgment day.
"In the Terminator universe, there is only one timeline. If you change something in the past, the time wave moves forward and changes the future," Miller noted.
Hamilton spoke about training hard for to get back into the action franchise shape.
"I worked really hard for a good year, diet and all of that to sort of get trim and get as far into the character as I could physically," said Hamilton. "But one day I woke up and I go you know what, I can no longer worry about trying to be what I was, because I am so much more than I was."
1984's The Terminator launched the career of Cameron, who would go on to become one of the biggest filmmakers in the world with films such as Titanic and Avatar. In addition to Judgment Day, films that followed included non-Cameron movies such as Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), Terminator: Salvation (2009) and Terminator: Genisys (2015). A TV series, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, ran from 2008-09.
A running joke at the panel — which featured plenty of F-bombs, was that Miller would say the word at least five times. Schwarzenegger collected $20 from co-star Luna, who lost his bet that Miller would keep it to under five.
"Tim loves talking about it. I love doing it," Schwarzenegger said, who added a joke about keeping that $20 considering how well the economy is doing under President Donald Trump.
Terminator: Dark Fate opens Nov. 1 from Paramount and Skydance. | 2024-05-25T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6781 |
What to expect from Rafa's Chelsea side?
Rafa Benitez has been appointed as our new manager, I'm afraid this is just something we are all going to have to get used to. Now that the initial boiling over of anger has ever so slightly died down, I think it would be useful to take a look at ...
Rafa Benitez has been appointed as our new manager, and I’m afraid this is just something we all are going to have to get used to. Now that the initial boiling over of anger has ever so slightly died down, I think it would be useful to take a look at how Rafa sets up his team, in order to get a better idea of what to expect for the rest of the season.
His 2008/2009 Liverpool team will be a good reference point to illustrate his preferred tactics;
(4-2-3-1)
Reina
Arbeloa-Carragher-Skrtel-Aurelio
Mascerano-Alonso
Kuyt-Gerrard-Riera
Torres
I’m sure you are fully aware of how terrible Rafa is in the transfer market (Robbie Keane anyone), so it is fortunate that he already has pretty much a full squad at his disposal – excluding another striker and possibly a deep midfielder. I highly doubt he will get any authority in regards to the players acquired in January, and let us thank the heavens for that!
Team tactics
Rafa has often been described as a pragmatic manager, even labelled as outright negative on more than one occasion. What is clear with all his teams is that he prefers defensive structure over fluid attacking movement, he builds teams that are hard to beat and are good on the counter. He is definitely a manager who builds from the back, which was shown when his 01/02 Valencia side won La Liga, having scored just 51 goals in 38 games. The team was labelled as a negative side who let the opposition impose their playing style onto the game, rather than the other way around.
There is no doubt that Rafa prefers a defensive approach, which begs the question – why would Abramovic see him as the right man for the job? It is no secret that our owner wants “sexy football”, but the problem is he will definitely not be getting that from Benitez. The Spaniard structures his teams into a very rigid 4-2-3-1 system which is hard to beat, his teams have never had the “wow” factor and aren’t always the most attractive to watch.
Out wide, he prefers a high work ethic over ability, he wants the wide players to keep their defensive positions and protect the full backs at all times. Dirk Kuyt was bought from Feyenoord as an out and out striker, he had netted 71 goals in 101 games for the Dutch club before moving to Liverpool. Benitez moved the natural goalscorer out wide because of his Ramires like work rate; he would run all day for the good of the team, always tracking back and helping out his full back. Riera, who was not the most gifted attacking player by any means, was deployed on the left, again because of his work rate over all else. So expect this to happen at Chelsea, flair and attacking talent will take a back seat whilst industry come to the fore.
With his deeper midfield duo, he always promotes restricting and reducing space between the lines so that it is harder for the opposition’s creative players to operate effectively and pull the strings. He drills the defensive responsibilities into his players so much so that they always know what they should be doing in any situation. Essentially, when defending, he will want his 4-2-3-1 turn into 2 banks of 4, with the wide attacking players dropping back into a rigid defensive shape, looking a lot like a 4-4-2 or a 4-4-1-1, depending on how he wants the counter attacks to progress. Xabi Alonso was perfect for his system, because the Spanish international’s long passing is pretty much immaculate, making setting up counter attacks a fast and precise action, benefiting Torres hugely.
When Rafa thinks his sides are defending to his liking, he then lets them become increasingly more expansive. This usually comes in the 2nd to 3rd season under his management, but I highly doubt he will be here that long, with both Jose and Pep casting huge shadows over the bridge.
What really worries me is his confidence in the zonal marking system. Rafa implements this style of corner defending at all the clubs he manages. We have heard time and time again from pundits such as Gary Neville about how ineffective zonal marking is, due to the fact that the opposition can always jump higher than you with a running start (which I fully agree with). Regardless of what we think of Neville, there is no doubt that he is an excellent pundit and definitely knows what he is talking about. I have to say this is a genuine concern. It didn’t work under Scolari 4 years ago and I cannot see it working now.
Now onto his treatment of the players, and who would know about this better than someone who formerly played under him? This morning, former Liverpool man Stephane Henchoz talked about the way Rafa dealt with his squad on Soccer AM. He said that the 16 players in his immediate plans were well taken care of, they were given an arm around their shoulder and mentored, however the players falling outside of that were treated more unfavourably. He used the words “sat in the corner” to describe the segregation of the first team regulars and the more fringe players. Hopefully, this is an expurgation. If not, this is slightly worrying and we may be seeing players speaking out again like they did when AVB was manager!
Inevitably, we come to Torres.
The former Liverpool striker was definitely a deciding factor in the appointment of Rafa, due to their well documented relationship during their Merseyside days. Looking back at Torres’ time at Liverpool, a big reason he got so much space in the side was because they always played on the counter and the wingers in the 4-2-3-1 were a lot further back – because of the way Rafa set them up. This meant that the opposition full backs had a choice to make – either stay in their positions, or move forward, get closer to the wingers and occupy the space in front of them. Obviously, if there is empty space in front of a full back, they will always occupy it – this gave Torres more space to run into and helped him to split the CBs for the through balls that he loved to run onto. Unfortunately, that burst of pace he once had, that terrified defences, has deserted him now. Over the first 10 yards he isn’t lightning quick as he once was. He now lacks conviction and ability to create a yard and get his shot off (which he used to be so good at).
I’m sorry to say that I honestly cannot see Rafa revitalizing Torres’ career. He will more likely be out of the door by the end of the season, if not in January.
The Positives
- Rafa will give us back that defensive resilience that we were once renowned for .
- He will give us more structure when we defend and also when we attack.
- He will sort out our defensive midfield and issue strict positioning instructions, which is good because the positional awareness has severely lacked in the last month.
- I have no doubt that he will prevent us from leaking goals at the rate we have been during our annual horror November.
- Possibility of improving Torres (however slim it may be).
- He is much better at working with a squad than actually building one himself, and like I said above, he pretty much has a full new squad assembled to tinker with.
- It definitely looks like he will only be here short term.
The Negatives
- Judging by Rafa’s ‘set in stone’ tactics, don’t count on seeing the 3 headed mythological beast MAZACAR for a while, unless of course he feels they have the work-rate and defensive qualities he is looking for.
- It is fairly likely that Ramires, Bertrand and Azpilicueta will be featuring on the wings (square pegs scenario for the umpteenth time).
- Do not expect to see attractive football and big scorelines; we will be grinding out results from now to the end of the season (could be seen as a positive in some respects).
- Zonal marking!
- Torres will be given even more time as first choice, just when we thought he would finally be benched for Sturridge.
- Our creative players’ movement will be restricted somewhat due to the strict structure he gives his teams.
- He never sways from his tactics, or at least he hasn’t in the past. He lives or dies by them and is known for being stubborn when it comes to different tactical approaches, which was perfectly illustrated by his brief stint at Inter Milan.
- All in all, this seems like a step in the wrong direction to what Roman actually wants – “sexy football”.
There are also some potential off-field negative consequences to his appointment:
- No Plastic flags to be given out at the Bridge ever again (I joke guys, I joke).
- In all seriousness, there is a high risk that the fans as a whole will not take to the Spaniard at all. This could cause a big rift between club and fans if not handled perfectly by the club, even more so if Rafa is unsuccessful during his brief tenure.
- Added to the fact that we will have to put up with his fits and constant petty arguments with other coaches, it’s safe to say controversy is rife at the moment as far as CFC are concerned!
Of course, this is only a prediction, judging on all his previous managerial exploits up to now.
Who knows, he may prove me wrong, surprise us all and go for the full on attack!
So Chelsea fans, what is your opinion on this?
- Do you want to see the defensive strategies that Rafa employs?
- Do you not care as long as we win games?
- Do you think he will try something new to “wow” Roman into giving him the job?
We shall get a indication of things to come after the Man City game, that’s for sure! | 2024-05-21T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2042 |
Pennsylvania delegate Cherelle Parker, center, cheers for Michelle Obama on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
PHILADELPHIA — As anyone who has caught the DNC on television knows, this, even more than the RNC in Cleveland, has already been one unconventional nominating convention, with some boos for the nominee and a couple of “Knock it off!” remonstrations from the podium.
Some of the early speeches soared , like Michelle Obama’s when she said, “Don’t let anyone tell you this country isn’t great.” (And thanks, Mrs. O, for inspiring my 20-year-old daughter to notice that you refrained from being “mean about Melania” Trump’s speech that borrowed from your own, when that would have been so easy but so unnecessary: “I’m going to remember,” my daughter said, ‘When they go low, we go high .'")
Other addresses on Night One were so larded with high-cholesterol hyperbole that they had the opposite of the desired effect on me. (No, Hillary Clinton has not been fighting all her life for every issue in the platform.)
It was three of the less remarked-upon, non-prime-time speakers, though, who highlighted some of the themes that I think will be crucial to a Hillary Clinton victory in November.
Among them, direct from San Antonio, Texas, where she heads the local chapter of Gold Star Wives, was Cheryl Lankford , a war widow who said she was bilked by Trump University out of $35,000 of the insurance money the Army gave her after her husband was killed in Baghdad in 2007.
She was embarrassed to stand up there on the stage and admit she got taken, she said, in what to me was the single most effective moment of the night in terms of its potential to sway voters. But she’s willing to be embarrassed, she said, because she doesn’t want the country to fall for empty promises the same way she did.
After her husband, Jonathan M. Lankford, a command sergeant major in the Army, died, she said, she put a lot of thought into how to spend the insurance money in a way that would put her back on her feet and make her husband proud of her. So in 2009, she signed up for Trump U classes hoping to learn some of the tips that had made Donald Trump so successful in business, but almost immediately realized that the course would do no such thing.
“They broke their promises … stopped taking my calls … the whole thing was a lie. … Donald Trump made big promises about Trump University. And I was fooled into believing him. Now he’s making big promises about America. Please don’t make the same mistake.”
Another potential ka-boom theme for the fall was laid out by home state Sen. Bob Casey , who pointed out just where the products manufactured by the candidate who talks so much about bringing jobs back to America are actually produced.
“Donald Trump says he stands for workers and that he’ll put America first," Casey said, “but that’s not how he conducted himself in business. Where are his “tremendous” Trump products made? Dress shirts? Bangladesh. Furniture? Turkey. Picture frames? India. Wine glasses? Slovenia. Neck ties? China. Why would Donald Trump make his products in every corner of the globe but not in Altoona, Erie or here in Philadelphia?”
Answering his own question, Casey continued, “Well, this is what he said: ‘Outsourcing is not always a terrible thing. Wages in America are too high.’ And then he complained about companies moving jobs overseas because, ‘We don’t make things anymore.’ Really?”
Another gut-punch of a speech came from disability rights activist Anastasia Somoza , who has cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia and uses a wheelchair. She has interned for Hillary Clinton, and worked on her Senate campaign, and she quite effectively answered Trump’s jaw-droppingly cruel imitation of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski , who has arthrogryposis, which limits the functioning of his joints.
“Now the poor guy, you ought to see this guy,” Mr. Trump said last November, imitating Kovaleski in a way that Sister Mary Edna warned us against in the first grade, with the story of a boy who made fun of a disabled classmate but wasn’t laughing it up at all after God froze him in that position. Trump’s Kovaleski impersonation, which he has said was no such thing, was shown in the hall, along with shocked commentary from Fox News hosts, before Somoza spoke.
"I fear the day we elect a president who defines being an American in the narrowest possible of terms, who shouts, bullies and profits off of the vulnerable Americans," Somoza told the crowd. In mocking the reporter, she said, "Donald Trump has shown us who he really he is. I honestly feel bad for anyone with that much hate in their heart." | 2024-07-07T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3159 |
Mike Kilen
The Des Moines Register
Roger Blew faces 28 charges of animal neglect
Officials say incidents of animal hoarding growing
Experts uncertain about what causes hoarding
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The calls came in shortly after Tom Colvin had cleared entire rooms at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa for 353 critters in the latest animal hoarding case.
They came from concerned animal lovers, rescue groups and families who wanted a rabbit, mouse or duck, taken from the ramshackle residence of Roger Blew in Drakesville last month.
"But we also had a number of people calling us — people who knew him or had bought from him — that wanted to be clear that this guy is not a hoarder, he's a swapper," Colvin said. "Tomato, to-mah-toe. From our view, it went beyond the ability of this guy to care for the animals."
Blew's arrest has prompted questions about animal hoarding in a state with huge volumes of confined animals, a steady schedule of animal swap meets and numerous online postings from Iowans selling everything from zebras to woodchucks.
Blew, 45, faces 28 charges of animal neglect after a team of law enforcement and animal rescue officials found more than 300 dead or neglected animals, including rats, mice, raccoons, fox, chipmunks, roosters, potbellied pigs, goats, rabbits, skunks and many other species, caged or running around in outbuildings and 6 inches of feces.
They even hauled out a cockatiel, a Chilean degu (a big rodent with a long tail) and a confounding group of cockroaches, not your household variety. First thought to be imported hissing cockroaches, the 2-inch creatures were later labeled dubia cockroaches from Central and South America, often used to feed reptiles, said Ginny Morgal of Iowa State University's Insect Zoo, which took possession of the crawlers.
"He probably saw them on Craigslist. I get stuff off Craigslist all the time, probably once a week," Morgal said.
The case may highlight the ease in critter commerce fueled by the Internet, but authorities say it went beyond that into neglect.
"It was really a horrendous situation. Sanitation was very poor. The worst part of it was we had dead animals with live animals," said Josh Colvin, animal control services manager for Des Moines, who took part in the effort to extract animals from the premises. "We had all stages of decay, everything from bones to freshly buried."
The boiled-down definition of an animal hoarder, experts say, is a person having more than a typical number of animals and failing to provide minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation or shelter.
Blew had one of the largest number of species that the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines has seen.
Officials say the incidence of animal hoarding is growing. The ARL typically handles three hoarding cases a year, but nationwide, the number has doubled in the past four years, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
The growth is driven by television shows on hoarding that bring attention to the issue, an economic downturn that left hoarders with fewer resources to take care of their animals, and the growing availability of creatures for sale online, said Randal Lockwood of the American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty.
But when does the collection of animals grow from a widow with too many cats to animal hoarding?
Lockwood said hoarders have no insight into the signs of animal sickness or injury and may even have dead animals on their premises. They ignore their own safety and health and sit in squalor — urine, feces and clutter. They frequently see themselves as rescuers, although often in secret.
Some residents of Drakesville say privately that they knew that Blew had animals, just not that number of animals.
But they could not help but notice his home, which sits just a block off the main street in this tiny town southwest of Ottumwa.
Blew's home sits next to the Drakesville Fire Department and is surrounded by heaping piles of garbage, plastic tubs, wagons, tillers, milk cans, lawn ornaments, tires, an old wood stove, a mobile home and a van with its hood up.
Inside a broken screen door last week, piles of junk were visible in the front entrance. Knocks on the door were unanswered, and Blew could not be reached by telephone.
Why does anyone collect so many things, so many animals?
"There's no great answer. Experts are still trying to figure it out," said Nathaniel Wade, associate professor of psychology at Iowa State University. "There's some suggestion it might be related to traumatic experiences, perhaps as kids or young adults, which create an attachment problem."
The impetus also could be related to obsessive disorders or irregular cognitive functioning, such as people keeping things out and stacked to know where they can find them.
Adding living creatures to the problem brings a whole new set of concerns.
The stereotype is an older woman with a house full of cats. There is some truth to it — most animal hoarding cases involve a single species, either cats or dogs (75 percent), Lockwood said. And women make up 72 percent of the cases.
"The hoarder has a mental illness. It's not about the animal, it's about having," said Bianca Zaffarano, a clinician with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University.
Because Blew had several species, it led some animal rescue officials to think this could be a case of excessive swapping, perhaps leading to hoarding.
Department of Natural Resources records show Blew had both bought and sold creatures such as skunks and raccoons.
"One form of animal hoarding we see is what we call an overwhelmed caregiver," said Roger Frost, an animal hoarding expert at Smith College. "This is someone who would otherwise be able to handle a reasonable number of animals, but they get overwhelmed by a change in circumstances — illness, loss of job. They do not ask for help, and assume they can somehow catch up but don't."
Animals are a big part of Iowa, which likely has the largest combined number of livestock raised among all states, said agriculture officials. Iowa is No. 1 in hogs and laying hens, sixth in cattle inventory, ninth in turkey production and 10th in sheep and lamb inventory.
"Because Iowa is an agrarian economy with production, you would think we have more compassion to animals. It may be the other way, that animals are something to use," Zaffarano said.
She resists saying that mindset leads to hoarding or neglect.
"There's a big difference between people collecting them because, gee whiz, it's cool to have them, and those who have too many animals to take care of. I think that people get in over their heads. We see it all the time. I think sometimes it's more curiosity and ignorance."
She gets calls from people in over their heads with potbellied pigs, monkeys and lemurs, even turtles that require a special diet. She suggests researching anything before you buy it. First, find out if it's legal.
"The illegal pet trade is alive and well all over the world," she said.
It will cost the ARL in Des Moines an estimated $7,000 to handle the critters taken from Blew's residence.
They fed and cleaned them, treated them for mites and minor injuries, and housed them in stacks of crates. By early this week, only about 100 creatures were left to place, mostly mice and hamsters but also seven pot-bellied pigs and a cockatiel. Two critters died in transport.
A pregnant rabbit went to a school, where it gave birth. Families took hamsters. Rescue organizations kicked into gear to take everything from pigeons to ducks.
"With about any species, you are going to find enthusiasts," Tom Colvin said.
They are people like Jeff and Natalie Harding, who run a turkey farm near Baxter. They took in roosters that keep the insect population down in the farm yard. They took in pigeons because they are a hobby. They took ducks and geese and pheasant for her father, who lives on a nearby acreage and likes to feed them.
"We just enjoy animals. When you have a place for them and can help out, it's worthwhile," Natalie Harding said. "I've even got two baby goats living in my kitchen." | 2024-04-29T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1175 |
Differential sensitivities of the subunits of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase to proteases, sulfhydryl reagents, and heat.
Ribonucleotide reductase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the formation of 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates. It consists of two nonidentical protein subunits, the nonheme iron subunit, and the effector-binding subunit. It has previously been shown that these two components making up the active enzyme species are not coordinately synthesized or degraded. It was found that the effector-binding subunit was more sensitive to proteolysis by chymotrypsin, to heating at 55 degrees C, and to the sulfhydryl reagents, pCMB and NEM. The nonheme iron subunit was more sensitive to trypsin treatment. ATP and dATP protected the effector-binding subunit from proteolytic inactivation. Neither ATP nor CDP protected the effector-binding subunit from inactivation by the sulfhydryl reagents. These data indicate that the protein properties of the two subunits of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase are significantly different. | 2023-08-28T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2373 |
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| 2024-05-10T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/9029 |
HOPE Volunteers in Peru
The first Project HOPE – New Horizons partnership in Peru kicked off recently, beginning a six-week land-based mission in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force in the Pisco region of southwestern Peru. Although Project HOPE has participated in four missions with the Air Force, this is the first with U.S. Southern Command/New Horizons.
In 2007 a devastating 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck central Peru, with the epicenter located in the Pisco area. Over 500 people were killed, with thousands injured. The disaster response was chaotic, and several years later, the effects can still be seen. Many buildings still lie in ruin, rubble still lines the streets in places, and the communities are still slowly rebuilding.
New Horizon’s goal is to provide much needed clinical services to the local population, but also to help prepare for future disaster response. Establishing a positive relationship with the people is a crucial element to achieving this goal, and providing the clinics is a first and important step in this process.
The first rotation of seven volunteers began work in June, at the outreach site in San Clemente, which offers pediatrics, OB/GYN, general medicine, optical and dental services. Project HOPE volunteers for this rotation are being utilized in pediatrics and general medicine, as well as providing much needed interpreter support. A contingent site has also been set up in Pisco’s local hospital for ophthalmology, offering free surgery for referrals from the outreach site.
In the first two days, the volunteers and military medical team cared for more than 1300 patients in the San Clemente site alone, and a steady flow of patients is expected to continue through the week. The response from the local community has been overwhelmingly positive.
One HOPE volunteer, Dr. Lee Morris, is joining Project HOPE after having worked in several global health environments including Haiti and Cameroon. A pediatrician specializing in pediatric infectious disease, she previously completed a medical Spanish course in Cusco, Peru, as a medical student and chose to return to Peru with Project HOPE to give back to the community.
Dr. Morris commented, “This is my first time with Project HOPE, and I have had a really good experience collaborating with the Air Force. It’s also been wonderful to work with the families here. They are so appreciative and really wonderful people.”
Being land-based, the New Horizons mission offers the benefit of allowing volunteers to live and work in the communities they serve. The New Horizons mission plans to set up several outreach sites throughout the six-week time span, which will allow the volunteers to see many parts of the area and work with different populations throughout the region. | 2023-08-24T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6465 |
Trans-Asia events
Trans-Asia as method is an academic seminar series that aims to facilitate trans-Asian and cross-disciplinary dialogue by comparatively and collaboratively examining how globally shared issues are similarly, differently, and/or inter-connectedly articulated in various local contexts of Asian regions.
Scholars working in Australian contexts, and scholars working in Asian Australian experiences are also constitutive of trans-Asian dialogue. Such discussion will lead to developing new conceptualisation and theorisation from Asian experiences and de-Westernising the production of knowledge. | 2024-05-12T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4463 |
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| 2023-10-07T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/8045 |
Q:
How to check condition and print a value using views-view-field--viewname.tpl.php?
I'm having a view and I've created a template file for the row style output.
I'm able to access the fields using the below code:
$fields: An array of $field objects. Each one contains:
$field->content: The output of the field.
$field->raw: The raw data for the field, if it exists. This is NOT output safe.
I'm getting output for the below code:
<?php print $fields['field_some_field_name']->content; ?>
But when I'm trying to print the fields nothing is getting returned:
<?php print_r($fields); ?>
I'm also unable to check the condition for the fields:
<?php if($fields['field_some_field_name']->content == 'Test') { } ?>
A:
I'm also unable to check the condition for the fields:
<?php if($fields['field_some_field_name']->content == 'Test') { } ?>
That is probably because in actuality:
$fields['field_some_field_name']->content = <div>Test</div>
Therefore, <div>Test</div> is not equal to Test
So what you could do is use raw instead, as raw has no html/markup around the value.
<?php if($fields['field_some_field_name']->raw == 'Test') { } ?>
else, you could still use content with the PHP striptags() function
<?php if(striptags($fields['field_some_field_name']->content) == 'Test') { } ?>
Or else, you could still use your original <?php print $fields['field_some_field_name']->content; ?> but as long as you strip all the markup added by views as shown in my answer to "Is there a more performant alternative than overriding template files?".
| 2024-03-08T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6356 |
Lebanese stage sit-ins at ministries, banks and state-affiliated companies in a bid to force ruling elite to step down.
Lebanese demonstrators have begun surrounding government institutions in the capital, Beirut, and other cities, as a mass protest movement demanding an overhaul of the country’s political system approaches its fourth week.
The move on Wednesday suggests a shift in the focus of protesters from blocking roads and setting up barricades to holding sit-ins at state-affiliated sites as they seek to maintain pressure on the political establishment until their demands for the departure of the ruling elite and an end to chronic economic mismanagement and corruption are met.
Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Beirut, said a group of protesters had arrived and gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice to call for accountability.
“They want to see the next step happening, which is the president announcing a date for consultations … for a new prime minister and a new government to be formed,” she said.
Protesters have moved to key government institutions today- this in front of the judiciary this morning. One protester told me “this is not a sprint- it’s going to be a marathon” #Lebanonprotests pic.twitter.com/cl1qPT7URg — Stefanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker) November 6, 2019
Saad Hariri last week resigned as Lebanon’s prime minister, satisfying one of the protesters’ main demands, but President Michel Aoun’s has yet to set a date – as he is obliged to – for formal consultations with legislators to pick a replacement.
Besides the justice ministry, other protest points where large sit-ins are expected on Wednesday include the ministries of energy, foreign affairs, finance, tourism, communication and labour, as well as the offices of Electricite Du Liban, the main Lebanese electricity provider.
Other state-affiliated institutions include Zaitunay Bay, a controversial marine development at the heart of Beirut’s central area and telecommunication operators.
Simultaneously, a march to “reclaim coastal public property” is also planned, according to Lara Bitar, a media worker and organiser.
https://twitter.com/technicallyrare/status/1191310660128432128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Three weeks of protests
Blocking highways, main roads and intersections in Lebanon’s major cities have been the main tactic used by the leaderless protest movement, which transcends Lebanon’s traditional religious and political divides, since the demonstrations began 21 days ago.
The country had come to a standstill for about two weeks until the cabinet resigned on Tuesday, which later led to the lifting of some roadblocks and the reopening of banks.
Lebanese troops deploying in different parts of country reopening roads & highways closed by protesters. In many areas, protesters withdrew peacefully as troops moved in. But in others scuffles erupted when demonstrators refused to leave & forcefully removed; Several detained — Zeina Khodr (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) November 5, 2019
The demonstrators, however, have not backed down, drawing criticism mainly from government supporters who accuse them of disrupting social life.
Protesters want Hariri’s government, now in a caretaker role, to be replaced with a cabinet of independent experts who can lead Lebanon out of a deepening economic and financial crisis, secure basic services such as water and electricity and create a new, non-sectarian electoral law.
While Aoun has yet to set a date for the consultations to begin, saying he had been making the “necessary calls” to lay the ground for their launch, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its allies who dominate the government have so far held their ground.
By resigning without any agreement in place, Hariri defied Aoun and Hezbollah, which had flat-out opposed any change in government – and analysts believe this may complicate the formation of a new government. | 2024-04-01T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6197 |
Photovoltaic power station
A photovoltaic power station, also known as a solar park or solar farm, is a large-scale photovoltaic system (PV system) designed for the supply of merchant power into the electricity grid. They are differentiated from most building-mounted and other decentralised solar power applications because they supply power at the utility level, rather than to a local user or users. The generic expression utility-scale solar is sometimes used to describe this type of project.
The solar power source is via photovoltaic modules that convert light directly to electricity. However, this differs from, and should not be confused with concentrated solar power, the other large-scale solar generation technology, which uses heat to drive a variety of conventional generator systems. Both approaches have their own advantages and disadvantages, but to date, for a variety of reasons, photovoltaic technology has seen much wider use in the field. , PV systems outnumber concentrators by about 40 to 1.
In some countries, the nameplate capacity of a photovoltaic power stations is rated in megawatt-peak (MWp), which refers to the solar array's theoretical maximum DC power output. In other countries, the manufacturer gives the surface and the efficiency. However, Canada, Japan, Spain and the United States often specify using the converted lower nominal power output in MWAC, a measure directly comparable to other forms of power generation. A third and less common rating is the megavolt-amperes (MVA). Most solar parks are developed at a scale of at least 1 MWp. As of 2018, the world's largest operating photovoltaic power stations surpass 1 gigawatt. As at the end of 2018, about 7,300 plants with a combined capacity of almost 180 GWAC were solar farms larger than 4 MWAC (utility scale).
Most of the existing large-scale photovoltaic power stations are owned and operated by independent power producers, but the involvement of community- and utility-owned projects is increasing. To date, almost all have been supported at least in part by regulatory incentives such as feed-in tariffs or tax credits, but as levelized costs have fallen significantly in the last decade and grid parity has been reached in an increasing number of markets, it may not be long before external incentives cease to exist.
History
The first 1 MWp solar park was built by Arco Solar at Lugo near Hesperia, California at the end of 1982, followed in 1984 by a 5.2 MWp installation in Carrizo Plain. Both have since been decommissioned, though Carrizo Plain is the site for several large plants now being constructed or planned. The next stage followed the 2004 revisions to the feed-in tariffs in Germany when a substantial volume of solar parks were constructed.
Several hundred installations over 1 MWp have been since installed in Germany, of which more than 50 are over 10 MWp. With its introduction of feed-in tariffs in 2008, Spain became briefly the largest market, with some 60 solar parks over 10 MW, but these incentives have since been withdrawn. The USA, China India, France, Canada, Australia, and Italy, among others, have also become major markets as shown on the list of photovoltaic power stations.
The largest sites under construction have capacities of hundreds of MWp and some more than 1 GWp.
Siting and land use
The land area required for a desired power output, varies depending on the location, and on the efficiency of the solar modules, the slope of the site and the type of mounting used. Fixed tilt solar arrays using typical modules of about 15% efficiency on horizontal sites, need about 1 hectare/MW in the tropics and this figure rises to over 2 hectares in northern Europe.
Because of the longer shadow the array casts when tilted at a steeper angle, this area is typically about 10% higher for an adjustable tilt array or a single axis tracker, and 20% higher for a 2-axis tracker, though these figures will vary depending on the latitude and topography.
The best locations for solar parks in terms of land use are held to be brown field sites, or where there is no other valuable land use. Even in cultivated areas, a significant proportion of the site of a solar farm can also be devoted to other productive uses, such as crop growing or biodiversity.
Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaics is co-developing the same area of land for both solar photovoltaic power as well as for conventional agriculture. A recent study found that the value of solar generated electricity coupled to shade-tolerant crop production created an over 30% increase in economic value from farms deploying agrivoltaic systems instead of conventional agriculture.
Co-location
In some cases several different solar power stations, with separate owners and contractors, are developed on adjacent sites. This can offer the advantage of the projects sharing the cost and risks of project infrastructure such as grid connections and planning approval. Solar farms can also be co-located with wind farms.
Sometimes the title solar park is used to describe a set of individual solar power stations. Some examples of such solar clusters are the Charanka Solar Park, where there are 17 different generation projects; Neuhardenberg, with eleven plants, and the Golmud solar parks with total reported capacity over 500MW. An extreme example is calling all of the solar farms in the Gujarat state of India a single solar park, the Gujarat Solar Park.
Technology
Most Solar parks are ground mounted PV systems, also known as free-field solar power plants. They can either be fixed tilt or use a single axis or dual axis solar tracker. While tracking improves the overall performance, it also increases the system's installation and maintenance cost. A solar inverter converts the array's power output from DC to AC, and connection to the utility grid is made through a high voltage, three phase step up transformer of typically 10 kV and above.
Solar array arrangements
The solar arrays are the subsystems which convert incoming light into electrical energy. They comprise a multitude of solar modules, mounted on support structures and interconnected to deliver a power output to electronic power conditioning subsystems.
A minority of utility-scale solar parks are configured on buildings and so use building-mounted solar arrays. The majority are 'free field' systems using ground-mounted structures, usually of one of the following types:
Fixed arrays
Many projects use mounting structures where the solar modules are mounted at a fixed inclination calculated to provide the optimum annual output profile. The modules are normally oriented towards the Equator, at a tilt angle slightly less than the latitude of the site. In some cases, depending on local climatic, topographical or electricity pricing regimes, different tilt angles can be used, or the arrays might be offset from the normal east–west axis to favour morning or evening output.
A variant on this design is the use of arrays, whose tilt angle can be adjusted twice or four times annually to optimise seasonal output. They also require more land area to reduce internal shading at the steeper winter tilt angle. Because the increased output is typically only a few percent, it seldom justifies the increased cost and complexity of this design.
Dual axis trackers
To maximise the intensity of incoming direct radiation, solar panels should be orientated normal to the sun's rays. To achieve this, arrays can be designed using two-axis trackers, capable of tracking the sun in its daily orbit across the sky, and as its elevation changes throughout the year.
These arrays need to be spaced out to reduce inter-shading as the sun moves and the array orientations change, so need more land area. They also require more complex mechanisms to maintain the array surface at the required angle. The increased output can be of the order of 30% in locations with high levels of direct radiation, but the increase is lower in temperate climates or those with more significant diffuse radiation, due to overcast conditions. For this reason, dual axis trackers are most commonly used in subtropical regions, and were first deployed at utility scale at the Lugo plant.
Single axis trackers
A third approach achieves some of the output benefits of tracking, with a lesser penalty in terms of land area, capital and operating cost. This involves tracking the sun in one dimension – in its daily journey across the sky – but not adjusting for the seasons. The angle of the axis is normally horizontal, though some, such as the solar park at Nellis Air Force Base, which has a 20° tilt, incline the axis towards the equator in a north–south orientation – effectively a hybrid between tracking and fixed tilt.
Single axis tracking systems are aligned along axes roughly north–south. Some use linkages between rows so that the same actuator can adjust the angle of several rows at once.
Power conversion
Solar panels produce direct current (DC) electricity, so solar parks need conversion equipment to convert this to alternating current (AC), which is the form transmitted by the electricity grid. This conversion is done by inverters. To maximise their efficiency, solar power plants also incorporate maximum power point trackers, either within the inverters or as separate units. These devices keep each solar array string close to its peak power point.
There are two primary alternatives for configuring this conversion equipment; centralised and string inverters, although in some cases individual, or micro-inverters are used. Single inverters allows optimizing the output of each panel, and multiple inverters increases the reliability by limiting the loss of output when an inverter fails.
Centralised inverters
These units have relatively high capacity, typically of the order of 1 MW, so they condition the output of a substantial block of solar arrays, up to perhaps in area. Solar parks using centralised inverters are often configured in discrete rectangular blocks, with the related inverter in one corner, or the centre of the block.
String inverters
String inverters are substantially lower in capacity, of the order of 10 kW, and condition the output of a single array string. This is normally a whole, or part of, a row of solar arrays within the overall plant. String inverters can enhance the efficiency of solar parks, where different parts of the array are experiencing different levels of insolation, for example where arranged at different orientations, or closely packed to minimise site area.
Transformers
The system inverters typically provide power output at voltages of the order of 480 VAC. Electricity grids operate at much higher voltages of the order of tens or hundreds of thousands of volts, so transformers are incorporated to deliver the required output to the grid. Due to the long lead time, the Long Island Solar Farm chose to keep a spare transformer onsite, as transformer failure would have kept the solar farm offline for a long period. Transformers typically have a life of 25 to 75 years, and normally do not require replacement during the life of a photovoltaic power station.
System performance
The performance of a solar park is a function of the climatic conditions, the equipment used and the system configuration. The primary energy input is the global light irradiance in the plane of the solar arrays, and this in turn is a combination of the direct and the diffuse radiation.
A key determinant of the output of the system is the conversion efficiency of the solar modules, which will depend in particular on the type of solar cell used.
There will be losses between the DC output of the solar modules and the AC power delivered to the grid, due to a wide range of factors such as light absorption losses, mismatch, cable voltage drop, conversion efficiencies, and other parasitic losses. A parameter called the 'performance ratio' has been developed to evaluate the total value of these losses. The performance ratio gives a measure of the output AC power delivered as a proportion of the total DC power which the solar modules should be able to deliver under the ambient climatic conditions. In modern solar parks the performance ratio should typically be in excess of 80%.
System degradation
Early photovoltaic systems output decreased as much as 10%/year, but as of 2010 the median degradation rate was 0.5%/year, with modules made after 2000 having a significantly lower degradation rate, so that a system would lose only 12% of its output performance in 25 years. A system using modules which degrade 4%/year will lose 64% of its output during the same period. Many panel makers offer a performance guarantee, typically 90% in ten years and 80% over 25 years. The output of all panels is typically warranted at plus or minus 3% during the first year of operation.
The business of developing solar parks
Solar power plants are developed to deliver merchant electricity into the grid as an alternative to other renewable, fossil or nuclear generating stations.
The plant owner is an electricity generator. Most solar power plants today are owned by independent power producers (IPP's), though some are held by investor- or community-owned utilities.
Some of these power producers develop their own portfolio of power plants, but most solar parks are initially designed and constructed by specialist project developers. Typically the developer will plan the project, obtain planning and connection consents, and arrange financing for the capital required. The actual construction work is normally contracted to one or more EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors.
Major milestones in the development of a new photovoltaic power plant are planning consent, grid connection approval, financial close, construction, connection and commissioning. At each stage in the process, the developer will be able to update estimates of the anticipated performance and costs of the plant and the financial returns it should be able to deliver.
Planning approval
Photovoltaic power stations occupy at least one hectare for each megawatt of rated output, so require a substantial land area; which is subject to planning approval. The chances of obtaining consent, and the related time, cost and conditions, varying from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and location to location. Many planning approvals will also apply conditions on the treatment of the site after the station has been decommissioned in the future. A professional health, safety and environment assessment is usually undertaken during the design of a PV power station in order to ensure the facility is designed and planned in accordance with all HSE regulations.
Grid connection
The availability, locality and capacity of the connection to the grid is a major consideration in planning a new solar park, and can be a significant contributor to the cost.
Most stations are sited within a few kilometres of a suitable grid connection point. This network needs to be capable of absorbing the output of the solar park when operating at its maximum capacity. The project developer will normally have to absorb the cost of providing power lines to this point and making the connection; in addition often to any costs associated with upgrading the grid, so it can accommodate the output from the plant.
Operation and maintenance
Once the solar park has been commissioned, the owner usually enters into a contract with a suitable counterparty to undertake operation and maintenance (O&M). In many cases this may be fulfilled by the original EPC contractor.
Solar plants' reliable solid-state systems require minimal maintenance, compared to rotating machinery for example. A major aspect of the O&M contract will be continuous monitoring of the performance of the plant and all of its primary subsystems, which is normally undertaken remotely. This enables performance to be compared with the anticipated output under the climatic conditions actually experienced. It also provides data to enable the scheduling of both rectification and preventive maintenance. A small number of large solar farms use a separate inverter or maximizer for each solar panel, which provide individual performance data that can be monitored. For other solar farms, thermal imaging is a tool that is used to identify non-performing panels for replacement.
Power delivery
A solar park's income derives from the sales of electricity to the grid, and so its output is metered in real-time with readings of its energy output provided, typically on a half-hourly basis, for balancing and settlement within the electricity market.
Income is affected by the reliability of equipment within the plant and also by the availability of the grid network to which it is exporting. Some connection contracts allow the transmission system operator to constrain the output of a solar park, for example at times of low demand or high availability of other generators. Some countries make statutory provision for priority access to the grid for renewable generators, such as that under the European Renewable Energy Directive.
Economics and finance
In recent years, PV technology has improved its electricity generating efficiency, reduced the installation cost per watt as well as its energy payback time (EPBT), and has reached grid parity in at least 19 different markets by 2014. Photovoltaics is increasingly becoming a viable source of mainstream power. However, prices for PV systems show strong regional variations, much more than solar cells and panels, which tend to be global commodities. In 2013, utility-scale system prices in highly penetrated markets such as China and Germany were significantly lower ($1.40/W) than in the United States ($3.30/W). The IEA explains these discrepancies due to differences in "soft costs", which include customer acquisition, permitting, inspection and interconnection, installation labor and financing costs.
Grid parity
Solar generating stations have become progressively cheaper in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue. Meanwhile, traditional electricity generation is becoming progressively more expensive. These trends are expected to lead to a crossover point when the levelised cost of energy from solar parks, historically more expensive, matches the cost of traditional electricity generation. This point is commonly referred to as grid parity.
For merchant solar power stations, where the electricity is being sold into the electricity transmission network, the levelised cost of solar energy will need to match the wholesale electricity price. This point is sometimes called 'wholesale grid parity' or 'busbar parity'.
Some photovoltaic systems, such as rooftop installations, can supply power directly to an electricity user. In these cases, the installation can be competitive when the output cost matches the price at which the user pays for his electricity consumption. This situation is sometimes called 'retail grid parity', 'socket parity' or 'dynamic grid parity'. Research carried out by UN-Energy in 2012 suggests areas of sunny countries with high electricity prices, such as Italy, Spain and Australia, and areas using diesel generators, have reached retail grid parity.
Incentive mechanisms
Because the point of grid parity has not yet been reached in many parts of the world, solar generating stations need some form of financial incentive to compete for the supply of electricity. Many legislatures around the world have introduced such incentives to support the deployment of solar power stations.
Feed-in tariffs
Feed-in tariffs are designated prices which must be paid by utility companies for each kilowatt hour of renewable electricity produced by qualifying generators and fed into the grid. These tariffs normally represent a premium on wholesale electricity prices and offer a guaranteed revenue stream to help the power producer finance the project.
Renewable portfolio standards and supplier obligations
These standards are obligations on utility companies to source a proportion of their electricity from renewable generators. In most cases, they do not prescribe which technology should be used and the utility is free to select the most appropriate renewable sources.
There are some exceptions where solar technologies are allocated a proportion of the RPS in what is sometimes referred to as a 'solar set aside'.
Loan guarantees and other capital incentives
Some countries and states adopt less targeted financial incentives, available for a wide range of infrastructure investment, such as the US Department of Energy loan guarantee scheme, which stimulated a number of investments in the solar power plant in 2010 and 2011.
Tax credits and other fiscal incentives
Another form of indirect incentive which has been used to stimulate investment in solar power plant was tax credits available to investors. In some cases the credits were linked to the energy produced by the installations, such as the Production Tax Credits. In other cases the credits were related to the capital investment such as the Investment Tax Credits
International, national and regional programmes
In addition to free market commercial incentives, some countries and regions have specific programs to support the deployment of solar energy installations.
The European Union's Renewables Directive sets targets for increasing levels of deployment of renewable energy in all member states. Each has been required to develop a National Renewable Energy Action Plan showing how these targets would be met, and many of these have specific support measures for solar energy deployment. The directive also allows states to develop projects outside their national boundaries, and this may lead to bilateral programs such as the Helios project.
The Clean Development Mechanism of the UNFCCC is an international programme under which solar generating stations in certain qualifying countries can be supported.
Additionally many other countries have specific solar energy development programmes. Some examples are India's JNNSM, the Flagship Program in Australia, and similar projects in South Africa and Israel.
Financial performance
The financial performance of the solar power plant is a function of its income and its costs.
The electrical output of a solar park will be related to the solar radiation, the capacity of the plant and its performance ratio. The income derived from this electrical output will come primarily from the sale of the electricity, and any incentive payments such as those under Feed-in Tariffs or other support mechanisms.
Electricity prices may vary at different times of day, giving a higher price at times of high demand. This may influence the design of the plant to increase its output at such times.
The dominant costs of solar power plants are the capital cost, and therefore any associated financing and depreciation. Though operating costs are typically relatively low, especially as no fuel is required, most operators will want to ensure that adequate operation and maintenance cover is available to maximise the availability of the plant and thereby optimise the income to cost ratio.
Geography
The first places to reach grid parity were those with high traditional electricity prices and high levels of solar radiation. Currently, more capacity is being installed in the rooftop than in the utility-scale segment. However, the worldwide distribution of solar parks is expected to change as different regions achieve grid parity. This transition also includes a shift from rooftop towards utility-scale plants, since the focus of new PV deployment has changed from Europe towards the Sunbelt markets where ground-mounted PV systems are favored.
Because of the economic background, large-scale systems are presently distributed where the support regimes have been the most consistent, or the most advantageous. Total capacity of worldwide PV plants above 4 MWAC was assessed by Wiki-Solar as c. 180 GW in c. 7,300 installations at the end of 2018 and represents about 35 percent of total global PV capacity of 512 GW, up from 25 percent in 2014. The countries which had the most capacity, in descending order, were the China, United States, India, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Japan and France. Activities in the key markets are reviewed individually below.
China
China was reported in early 2013 to have overtaken Germany as the nation with the most utility-scale solar capacity. Much of this has been supported by the Clean Development Mechanism.
The distribution of power plants around the country is quite broad, with the highest concentration in the Gobi desert and connected to the Northwest China Power Grid.
Germany
The first multi-megawatt plant in Europe was the 4.2 MW community-owned project at Hemau, commissioned in 2003. But it was the revisions to the German feed-in tariffs in 2004, which gave the strongest impetus to the establishment of utility-scale solar power plants. The first to be completed under this programme was the Leipziger Land solar park developed by Geosol. Several dozen plants were built between 2004 and 2011, several of which were at the time the largest in the world. The EEG, the law which establishes Germany's feed-in tariffs, provides the legislative basis not just for the compensation levels, but other regulatory factors, such as priority access to the grid. The law was amended in 2010 to restrict the use of agricultural land, since which time most solar parks have been built on so-called ‘development land’, such as former military sites. Partly for this reason, the geographic distribution of photovoltaic power plants in Germany is biased towards the former Eastern Germany.
As of February 2012, Germany had 1.1 million photovoltaic power plants (most are small kW roof mounted).
India
India has been rising up the leading nations for the installation of utility-scale solar capacity. The Charanka Solar Park in Gujarat was opened officially in April 2012 and was at the time the largest group of solar power plants in the world.
Geographically the states with the largest installed capacity are Telangana, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh with over 2 GW of installed solar power capacity each. Rajasthan and Gujarat share the Thar Desert, along with Pakistan. On May 2018, the Pavagada Solar Park became functional and had a production capacity of 2GW. As of February 2020, it is the largest Solar Park in the world.In September 2018 Acme Solar announced that it had commissioned India's cheapest solar power plant, the 200 MW Rajasthan Bhadla solar power park
.
Italy
Italy has a very large number of photovoltaic power plants, the largest of which is the 84 MW Montalto di Castro project.
Jordan
By the end of 2017, it was reported that more than 732 MW of solar energy projects had been completed, which contributed to 7% of Jordan's electricity. After having initially set the percentage of renewable energy Jordan aimed to generate by 2020 at 10%, the government announced in 2018 that it sought to beat that figure and aim for 20%.
Spain
The majority of the deployment of solar power stations in Spain to date occurred during the boom market of 2007–8.
The stations are well distributed around the country, with some concentration in Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha and Murcia.
United Kingdom
The introduction of Feed-in tariffs in the United Kingdom in 2010 stimulated the first wave of utility-scale projects, with c. 20 plants being completed before tariffs were reduced on 1 August 2011 following the 'Fast Track Review'. A second wave of installations was undertaken under the UK's Renewables Obligation, with the total number of plants connected by the end of March 2013 reaching 86. This is reported to have made the UK Europe's best market in the first quarter of 2013.
UK projects were originally concentrated in the South West, but have more recently spread across the South of England and into East Anglia and the Midlands. The first solar park in Wales came on stream in 2011 at Rhosygilwen, north Pembrokeshire. As of June 2014 there were 18 schemes generating more than 5 MW and 34 in planning or construction in Wales.
United States
The US deployment of photovoltaic power stations is largely concentrated in southwestern states. The Renewable Portfolio Standards in California and surrounding states provide a particular incentive.
Noteworthy solar parks
The following solar parks were, at the time they became operational, the largest in the world or their continent, or are notable for the reasons given:
Solar power plants under development are not included here, but may be on this list.
See also
Growth of photovoltaics
List of solar thermal power stations
List of photovoltaic power stations
List of photovoltaics companies
List of solar cell manufacturers
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaic system
Solar energy
Solar power by country
Theory of solar cell
References
External links
Interactive mapping of worldwide projects over 10MW
Solar Energy Industry Association - Large Solar Projects in the US
The top 10 PV Solar power stations in the world (2014)
List of 1000 largest photovoltaic power plants (as of 2011)
Category:Solar energy
Category:Photovoltaics | 2023-11-02T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5825 |
Premiership ruckman Ben McEvoy has agreed to terms to keep him at Hawthorn until the end of 2019.
The former Saint is enjoying a career-best season averaging 32.5 hit-outs, which tops his previous best season average (2012) by more than seven taps.
Hawthorn Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright says the 28-year-old ruckman is an integral member of Hawthorn’s playing group and both parties are delighted to have reached an agreement.
“Ben plays an important role for the side and we’re really pleased that he’ll remain in the brown and gold for a further two years,” said Wright.
“He’s had to shoulder the majority of the ruck work this season, which he has done in emphatic fashion, and he provides a strong marking target when resting up forward.
“As a seasoned campaigner, Ben offers great leadership to the young guys coming through the ranks, so he’s a really important figure to have around the club.”
Read: Young Hawk signs on | 2023-12-04T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5658 |
Jimmy Fallon Welcomes a Baby Girl with Wife Nancy Juvonen
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Jimmy Fallon and his wife Nancy Juvonen have welcomed a baby girl, a rep for the host of NBC's "Late Night" told People magazine.
Jimmy Fallon had a later night than usual--in the maternity ward!
The "Late Night" host and wife Nancy Juvonen welcomed a baby girl early Tuesday morning, their first child together, People reports. (And in secondary news: Jimmy Fallon and his wife were expecting a baby.)
Somewhat hot on the heels of the royal birth (not to mention Fallon's jokes about it), their child arrived at 6:21 a.m. in New York and the new parents "are overjoyed about the arrival of their beautiful daughter."
Meanwhile, Fallon was on the air last night — which is reasonable, considering his 12:35 a.m. show actually tapes at around 5 p.m. — but NBC will be airing a repeat tonight.
The 38-year-old funnyman, who will take over as host of "The Tonight Show" next year, married Juvonen, 46, in December 2007 after meeting through mutual friend Drew Barrymore. She runs Flower Films with Juvonen and starred in "Fever Pitch" with Fallon.
And to think, Fallon was just making all those royal baby jokes without giving any indication that he was about to become a dad! | 2024-07-27T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6499 |
Common characteristics of jejunal heterotopic gastric tissue in children: a case report with review of the literature.
An 11-year-old boy underwent laparotomy for intermittent intussusceptions because of a polypoid lesion located in the proximal jejunum. The polypoid lesion was diagnosed as heterotopic gastric mucosa (HGM). Jejunal HGM is a very rare entity, and review of the literature revealed common characteristics in children with this pathologic condition. The usual presenting age is about 14 years, and the common clinical picture is intermittent intussusceptions. Jejunal HGM is usually polypoid and predominantly located within a few centimeters distal to ligament of Treitz. The aforementioned characteristics should suggest jejunal HGM be included in the differential diagnosis of jejunal polypoid lesions in children. | 2023-10-07T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7733 |
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Melissa and I spent a day up in mystic Waialeale, the wettest spot on earth, offering prayers and visions of health and strength for this new light being entering in.
Mellow Mama. Just ten minutes before Stellar arrived. Staying calm, clear and connected for her baby.
Caught by both Mama and Papa, a second crowning as Stellar takes her first breath. The most beautiful moment a mother can experience. There are no words.
Wow! What a week it has been! Stellar arrived a week before her "due date" catching us all by surprise. She was born outdoors Friday morning under the sunny Hawaiian sky at 11:39 am weighing 7lbs, 8 ozs. Healthy and glowing in all ways. Agustin, Naia and I were present at the birth. I shot photos, Agustin ran around for the midwives and Naia sat as calm as can be picking flowers and placing them around the tub. She knew exactly what was happening as just two years prior she herself took her first breath in the same exact tub.
I may have to start photographing more home births as I have had some serious birth buzz goin' on since this surreal event took place. Its hard to write about as us Mamas know, and for those who are not yet mamas, can only imagine. It brings tears to my eyes writing these words.
Home births are not for everyone, though I believe deep down every woman is capable of one, with a few exceptions of course. The surroundings of a home birth do not even compare to those of a hospital birth. It's your birth and you choose exactly the way you would like your baby to come in. Your voice is heard in every way. The baby comes through on its own divine timing. That hint of fear of a lawsuit, better protect myself and the rush to move to the next patient just does not exist. That's not to say there aren't hospitals, doctors and nurses doing amazing things for Woman!
We are extremely fortunate to have the team of midwifes we do on this island. Though I know there are thousands of woman who have had there babies here in the hospital, I have yet to meet one. Home birth Kauai are busy little bees! Claudia, Chloe, Sharon and Colleen are doing some serious shamanic service! I like to think of all midwifes as Shamans. They are working on all levels with all energies while maintaining their peaceful presence. Many of my sisters on the mainland have shared that they cannot afford a home birth. From what I know home births on the mainland start at around 5,000. Home birth Kauai charges 2500.00 for all prenatal care, the actual birth and postnatal care as well. Why not spend the other 2500.00 to get here, live here for a few months and have your baby in Paradise?!
If your thinking about having a home birth and don't know where to begin Home Birth Kauai is a great place to start!!
Endless gratitude to our dear family Jackson and Melissa for allowing us to share these magical intimate photos and for the gift of witnessing the miracle of a child's first breath.
❦Aloha Nui Loa❦
~We would have loved to share the beauty of nudity but, blogger asks that we not allow such things! : ) Flower nipples courtesy of PS.
We first met Jackson and Melissa several years back when we teamed up with them to start a permaculture exploration on a piece of land here on Kauai known as Zero One. Together we created a community of a dozen or so people who were all working on simplifying their lives and healing their bodies. This meant lots of yoga, raw food and creative communal projects on the land. It was such a sacred time for us all and we were truly deepening our beings with every moment. The rug was quickly swept out from under our feet of bliss when the land owner came in and decided he had another vision in mind. This is a common occurrence when you yourself are not legally tied to the land you are living on. It was of course a blessing for us all as four of us moved to another amazing desert community in Baja Mexico, some left the island to travel and some stayed on the island to do it all over again. Except for this time... the land is being sold to them!
Jackson and Melissa Nash are some of the islands finest folk! Jackson was raised here on Kauai and Melissa arrived when she decided she had had enough of the every day 9-5. They first arrived on this 5 acre plot of soil and wild bush just eight months ago. Since then, they along with a handful of other folks have planted over six giant food gardens, converted their bus into a home and are now completely off the grid AND they are doing it all in Paradise! Though they left their 9-5 jobs, they traded them in for a 24-7 labor of love. It's not easy starting from scratch but with dedication and a new baby on the way, for them, it's worth every moment! Jack and Melissa will welcome their first child Stellar in just under two weeks. Melissa will have a home birth and will soon be raising this beautiful keiki in tune with the Mama's magic! Looks like Jackson's Papa really knew what he was talking about when he wrote the lyrics to the CSNY hit song "Teach your children well."
Check out Jackson's amazing website Super Forest!9/14 UPDATE: Melissa and Jackson welcomed Baby Stellar Nash today! A beautiful, smooth and surreal natural water birth. Our family was there to share in the gorgeous celebration of life! What an amazing morning! WOW. | 2024-07-04T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/9675 |
This has been a long way of saying that we must be united on this war or we will be equated in the history books to the self-inflicted fall of the Roman Empire. If, that is the Muslim leaders will allow history books to be written to be written or read.
If we don't win this war right now, keep a close eye on how the Muslims take over France in the next 5 years or less. They will continue to increase the Muslim population of France and continue to encroach little by little on the established French traditions. The French will be fighting among themselves over what should or should not be done, which will continue to weaken them and keep them from any united resolve. Doesn't that sound eerily familiar?
Democracies don't have their freedoms taken away from them by some external military force. Instead, they give their freedoms away, politically correct piece by politically correct piece. And they are giving those have shown, worldwide, themselves, once they are in power. They have universally show that when they have taken over, they then start brutally killing each other over who will be the few who control the masses. Will we ever stop hearing from the politically correct, about the 'peaceful Muslims'? | 2023-11-30T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/8648 |
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| 2024-03-13T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2837 |
Popular Mission sandwich spot closed 'due to a rodent infestation'
Duc Loi Supermarket at 2200 Mission St. was forced to close temporarily due to major health code violations. Duc Loi Supermarket at 2200 Mission St. was forced to close temporarily due to major health code violations. Photo: Tuan T. / Yelp Photo: Tuan T. / Yelp Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Popular Mission sandwich spot closed 'due to a rodent infestation' 1 / 7 Back to Gallery
Duc Loi Supermarket at 2200 Mission St. was forced to close temporarily due to major health code violations.
Its license was suspended Monday "due to a rodent infestation, food contamination, unsanitary conditions and recurring violations," according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
The market, especially popular for its inexpensive banh mi sandwiches, has a history of health code violations. During its last inspection on March 20, it was cited for unsanitary food surfaces, contaminated food, unclean hands or improper use of gloves, and high-risk vermin infestation, among other violations. The inspection resulted in a food safety score of 63, considered "poor" by the SFDPH.
Four other inspections since 2016 have resulted in scores between 70 and 73.
ALSO: Most notable and shocking Bay Area restaurant closures of 2018
Food establishments are required by the city's health code to post their scores in the window for the public to see.
A notice to the public posted on the business's storefront states Duc Loi will remain closed until its permit to operate is reinstated.
It's not clear when the next opportunity to pass a health inspection will be.
Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at alix.martichoux@sfgate.com. | 2024-01-18T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6978 |
Girls Tennis
Top teams set for first OCC title showdown
Even before this season, knowing his team would have to win the OCC-Capital Division, New Albany High School girls tennis coach Marc Thomas couldn't contain his anticipation for the conference's new postseason setup.
For the first time, the first-place teams in the OCC's four divisions will square off to determine the conference champion. The teams will meet Saturday, Sept. 21, on one of their home courts.
That same day, the second-place teams from each division will compete against each other, the third-place teams will face each other and so on, at separate sites.
"Last year, it would have been (Dublin) Jerome, (Upper) Arlington, us and (Pickerington) Central. That's four of the top six or seven teams in the state. How can you not like that?" Thomas said. "Those four teams were the top teams in the area and four of the top 10 in the state, all right here. The talent that will be there (this year) is incredible."
In one respect, the power hasn't shifted. New Albany won the Capital Division and will be joined by Jerome (Cardinal Division), Pickerington Central (Ohio Division) and UA (Central Division) in the OCC championship showdown.
New Albany was ranked No. 1 in the first Ohio Tennis Coaches Association state poll last week. UA was third and Central was seventh.
Dan Witteman, who is in his 28th season as Grove City's coach, has been part of an exploratory committee researching the feasibility and benefits of a new tournament format the past few years. He believes pitting teams of similar talent against one another adds intrigue.
"If it's a league tournament like before and you've finished sixth, seventh or eighth in your division, you'll go to the tournaments and just play those same teams again. You wonder, what's the point? Why again?" said Witteman, who also serves as manager of the Division I girls district tournament. "I really think this is going to be a more meaningful experience for all players and teams. Your sixth, seventh and eighth (-place) teams have something to play for."
Divisional champions were determined solely by seven league matches. Teams earned a maximum of 42 points -- one point for each court won in a match, plus one point for each match won. In the past, the league champions were determined by the combination of points earned in dual matches and the league tournament.
The new format will be followed in boys tennis starting next spring.
Because some league matches scheduled for Sept. 12 were postponed because of bad weather, the brackets and sites for all eight OCC events were not expected to be finalized until Sept. 17. Each event will be played at the home site of one of the participating teams.
All singles players and doubles teams are guaranteed two matches.
The OCC is not referring to the new event as a team tournament because under Ohio High School Athletic Association rules, such a designation would make the event count as two matches against the regular-season limit of 20.
"We'll see how it goes," UA coach Shawn Stamps said. "The first-place teams are pretty much the four who usually qualify for (the OTCA Division I state tournament) and they're playing each other in the (semifinals). In that sense, I'm thinking this (new format) will be great. I get to see more of what's out there and it'll help us in the long run. It'll help everyone as far as the high level of competition." | 2024-02-15T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7087 |
YouTube is preparing a premium on-demand music service -- akin to a Spotify, but with video -- to launch later this year, according to several sources familiar with the plans.
The service, designed with mobile listening in mind, will have a free component and a premium tier that offers unlimited access to a full catalog of tracks similar to what's already available via YouTube's parent company, Google Inc., via its All Access subscription music service. Premium features would include the ability to cache music for offline listening and removing ads.
The free tier is likely to be unlimited, on-demand access to full tracks on all platforms, including mobile, said several people who have been briefed on the proposed service. In that sense, the paid tier is more of a "soft sell" as YouTube's primary goal is to continue to amass ears and eyes to its mobile platform to sell ads.
Five Ways to Make Money From YouTube
But having a paid tier, with all the required licenses for a premium on-demand product, gives YouTube more flexibility in packaging and selling music with fewer restrictions on what it can do with the music, multiple sources pointed out. In addition, there are strategic reasons for developing a premium music video service that could be paired up with other Google products in the future, including Google Glass.
YouTube declined to comment on its plans.
"We’re always working on new and better ways for people to enjoy YouTube content across all screens, and on giving partners more opportunities to reach their fans," YouTube said in a statement. "However, we have nothing to announce at this time."
Google Play Music All Access Dials Up Verizon for Mobile Music to Rival AT&T's's Push for Two-Tier Plan
While the timing of the service's launch has not been determined, YouTube has said it is hoping to release a product this year. If it succeeds, YouTube could come out ahead of Beats Music, which is supposed to launch later this year, but could be delayed until early next year, according to several people knowledgeable with Beats.
YouTube, through its parent company Google, already secured most of the licenses it needs to launch a music service earlier this year, beginning with Warner Music Group in March, followed by Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group. The licenses obtained were for both Google's All Access service, which launched in May, and for a YouTube music service.
Many younger listeners already use YouTube as a free, on-demand jukebox -- searching for, and finding, official music videos of major releases. The challenge for YouTube has been to create a service that would be better than what it currently offers its audience in order to justify a monthly fee of around $10.
Warner Music Inks Deal With Google for Music Subscription Services
One big added feature could be the ability to stream full albums. Currently, not all songs in an album are available on YouTube because artists generally select one or two tracks from any single album to feature in a music video. A second potential premium feature would be offline cacheing of songs and videos so users can listen on their mobile devices even when they're not connected or when they're trying to save on bandwidth costs or battery consumption. Finally, the removal of ads would almost certainly be a feature in the premium offering, sources said.
The introduction of a premium music tier is likely to coincide with a larger redesign of the YouTube mobile app that would give users a simple, clean interface in which to listen to music, create custom playlists and watch videos at the same time.
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Breaking News, Morning Fix, Touring, Top 40, Country Update and many more | 2023-08-26T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5712 |
Never in doubt
Despite cries of “oh, no…here we go again” as Armando Benitez took to the mound to try and preserve a 3-2 Giants win over the Angels on Tuesday night, the closer looked like the man the Giants are paying $21.5 million to do just that job.
Benitiz, who has a running feud going with Giants fans, mowed the Angels down in the ninth, getting the always dangerous Vladimir Guerrero to flail away at a low-and-away slider to strike out and end the game.
It marked the second save in two nights for the much-maligned reliever and kept the Giants right where they want to be — in the middle of the wacky NL chase: the Padres (37-33) one game ahead of the Dodgers (36-34) and 1 1/2 ahead of the Giants, Diamondbacks and Rockies, all of whom have 36-35 records.
In today’s series finale at the local ballyard, here’s hoping that if Noah Lowry can’t go all the way or the Giants can’t get a big lead, Benitez will once again be called upon to try and silence his critics. And, oh yes, preserve another victory. | 2024-06-02T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7636 |
IC Dual Engine Design and Study
We designed a Dual Cylinder IC Engine according to client requirement from UAE for engineering study and feasibility, The project extended to priliminary design, functional design , FEA and Thermal Analysis. Project was handed over to the client with source file and project report. | 2024-06-25T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/8041 |
Humoral factors in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension.
In 42 spontaneously hypertensive rats of the Münster strain either parabiosis or cross circulation with normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats was performed. Cross circulation was made through the common carotid arteries and external jugular veins using a peristaltic pump. In parabiosis and in cross circulation experiments hypertension was transmitted from the spontaneously hypertensive rats to normotensive rats. Nephrectomy or adrenalectomy in the spontaneously hypertensive rat before cross circulation abolished this effect. After volume depletion in the hypertensive animals hypertension was not transmitted either. It is concluded that humoral factors causing vasoconstriction play an essential role in the development of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. | 2024-07-10T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4966 |
Introduction
============
*Citrus aurantium* extract and its primary protoalkaloidal constituent *p*-synephrine (Figure [1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}) are extensively used in weight management products and as thermogenic agents. They are also used in sports performance products to enhance stamina. *C. aurantium* extract is widely known as bitter orange extract, a product that is derived from the immature (green) fruits of the Seville orange. It is also known as "*Chih-shi*" or "*Zhi shi*" in traditional Chinese medicine [@B1]. Bitter orange extract is used in weight management products due to its purported effects on metabolic processes, including an increase in basal metabolic rate and lipolysis as well as mild appetite suppression [@B2].
Uncertainty has existed concerning the safety of bitter orange extract and *p*-synephrine. In general, both the lay public and scientific communities have failed to differentiate between *p-*synephrine which is a phenylethylamine derivative that has the hydroxy group in the *para* position on the benzene ring and the synthetic *m*-synephrine (phenylephrine) which has a hydroxyl group in the *meta*position on the benzene ring) (Figure [2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). *m*-Synephrine exhibits cardiovascular effects but is not a constituent of bitter orange [@B3]-[@B5]. Properties possessed by *m*-synephrine are inappropriately attributed to bitter orange extract and *p-*synephrine, and clinical case study reports and reviews involving bitter orange extract frequently make inappropriate references to *m*-synpephrine (see for example [@B6]-[@B9]).
A limited number of studies have been conducted with *p*-synephrine and bitter orange extracts without the addition of various other ingredients and herbal products. The issue of safety and efficacy is further clouded and complicated by the structural similarity of *p*-synephrine to ephedrine (Figure [3](#F3){ref-type="fig"}) and other biogenic amines, in spite of the fact that the pharmacokinetics of the these compounds and their receptor binding specificities are vastly different due to significant structural and stereochemical differences [@B10], [@B11]. As a consequence, markedly different pharmacological properties should be anticipated.
Other issues have also obfuscated the picture with respect to the safety and efficacy of bitter orange extract. Some of the extracts that are used are either non-standardized or poorly standardized, making it difficult if not impossible to establish reproducibility. In some cases, lack of knowledge of the chemical composition of the extracts being used precludes useful comparisons. Products containing bitter orange extract in most cases contain a variety of other herbal extracts, many of which are caffeine containing.
A final issue that has added to the overall confusion regarding bitter orange has been the release of erroneous adverse events information by governmental agencies. Statements implying that large numbers of adverse events and even deaths due to the use of products containing bitter orange extract have clearly been shown to be incorrect and misleading [@B12], but are still widely reported.
Several reviews have addressed the safety of bitter orange extract based on animal, *in vitro* and receptor binding studies as well as some human studies [@B2], [@B10], [@B13]. This review addresses data associated with published human studies, clinical case reports, and unpublished clinical studies. Several recent studies have been conducted with *p*-synephrine/bitter orange extract alone and will be reviewed. Information with respect to unpublished studies is derived from final research reports available on the internet, presentations at national meetings of professional organizations, and presentations and research reports from the investigators directly involved. References are cited based on the origin of the information.
Human Studies
=============
A limited number of well-designed and controlled human studies have been conducted with bitter orange extracts assessing efficacy and safety. The majority of studies have been conducted using products that contain not only an extract of *C. aurantium*, but other ingredients such as caffeine, green tea, ginkgo, ginseng, guarana, and yerba mate\'. The incorporation of bitter orange extract into products containing other potentially active ingredients makes comparative analyses difficult. However, several human safety and efficacy studies have been conducted on bitter orange extract (*p*-synephrine) alone. The 16 studies published in refereed journals involving bitter orange extract/*p*-synephrine are reviewed in chronological sequence, and are summarized in Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}, while 7 studies unpublished to date are summarized in Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}.
Colker et al. [@B15] conducted the first study on the effects of a bitter orange extract-containing product on body fat loss, lipid levels, safety and mood in 20 overweight adult subjects (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The product which was consumed on a daily basis contained 975 mg *C. aurantium* extract (6% synephrine alkaloids), 528 mg caffeine, and 900 mg St. John\'s wort. The total daily intake of phenylethylamine-related protoalkaloids was approximately 58.5 mg. All subjects in the study followed an 1800 kcal/day American Heart Association Step One diet, and performed a circuit training exercise program three days per week.
After six weeks, the treated group lost small but significant amounts of body weight (1.4 kg) and body fat (2.9%). No significant changes in blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiographic findings, serum chemistry or urinalysis were noted and no significant changes were observed in the results of the Profile of Mood States Questionnaire for fatigue or vigor. The treated group also experienced a significant increase in basal metabolic rate as compared to the placebo group.
The amount of caffeine consumed daily in the product (528 mg) is equivalent to approximately four cups of coffee or over five cups of tea, and is a well-known thermogenic agent [@B16]. It is not clear whether the weight loss and increase in basal metabolic rate were due to the caffeine, the bitter orange extract, exercise, caloric restriction or a combination thereof. This combination of ingredients and protocol appeared to be effective and safe for promoting modest fat and body weight loss in healthy, overweight adults, although the number of subjects in the study was small [@B15].
Kendall-Reed [@B17] conducted a 10 week unpublished study on a system (Ultra Slim Down^®^) that consisted of two products (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). The final report of the study is available on line. One product contained 125 mg hydroxycitric acid (Citrimax^TM^), 125 mg bitter orange extract (Advantra Z^®^) and 50 mg kola nut extract, while the second product contained 344 mg chitosan. Thirty-two overweight subjects were divided into three groups and either given the two products (one capsule of each in conjunction with each meal), a diet and exercise program, or the products in conjunction with the diet and exercise program. At the end of the study no adverse side effects were observed or reported. The group consuming the product-only lost an average of 4.63 kg, the group on the diet and exercise regime lost 3.45 kg, and the group taking the product plus diet and exercise lost 6.59 kg. In summary, consumption of the products alone was more effective than diet and exercise, while consuming the products in combination with diet and exercise was most effective. No adverse effects were reported. This study was not published and subjected to peer review.
Possible cardiovascular effects of Seville (sour) orange juice in normotensive adults were assessed by Penzak et al. [@B6] (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The synephrine concentration in the orange juice was approximately 57 mcg/ml, while octopamine was not detected. Twelve subjects consumed 8 ounces of orange juice (approximately 13 mg *p*-synephrine) and water in a crossover design followed by repeat ingestion 8 hours later. Hemodynamic parameters including heart rate and blood pressure did not significantly differ between control and treated groups. In spite of the lack of evidence, the authors concluded that individuals with tachyarrhythmias, severe hypertension and narrow angle glaucoma as well as monoamine oxidase inhibitor receptors should avoid Seville orange juice. The warning was based on the erroneous assumption that the form of synephrine present in the orange juice was *m*-synephrine [@B6].
Kalman and associates have conducted three unpublished studies using a commercial weight loss product (Xenadrine EFX^®^) (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). The product contained a proprietary blend of extracts from *C. aurantium*(bitter orange), yerba mate, grape seed, green tea and ginger root in addition to several vitamins and amino acids. The product contained 6 mg *p*-synephrine, 150 mg caffeine and 150 mg catechin polyphenols in capsule form. The results of these studies were presented at various scientific meetings, but were never published in a scientific journal and subjected to peer review. In each of these studies it is not possible to determine the role of *p*-synephrine in the observed effects.
A double blind cross-over study involving 6 healthy human subjects who received two capsules of Xenadrine EFX^®^ (12 mg *p*-synephrine) (Kalman et al.[@B18]). A significant increase (2.41%) in resting metabolic rate was observed one hour after ingestion of the product relative to the placebo control. No effects on heart rate or blood pressure were observed, and no subjective complaints or adverse events were reported.
Kalman et al. [@B19] conducted a second double blind cross-over study involving 10 healthy human subjects. Basal metabolic rates were determined at baseline, four hours after a standardized meal at which time two capsules of Xenadrine EFX^®^or the placebo were ingested, and hourly for the next five hours. At the two and three hour time points after ingestion of the product relative to the control, 13.4 % and 8.9% increases, respectively, were observed in the basal metabolic rate. No significant differences in heart rate or blood pressure were observed in response to the product relative to baseline and control values.
Kalman et al. [@B20] reported the results of a 14-day clinical trial using Xenadrine EFX® in combination with exercise involving 16 healthy subjects who were either overweight or obese. Two capsules of the product were consumed twice daily, containing a total of 24 mg *p*-synephrine/day. No significant effects of the product were noted as compared to the placebo group with respect to blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiographic data, fasting blood glucose, renal function, hepatic function or complete blood count with differentials over the 14 days of the study. The treated group experienced a significant reduction in fatigue levels, while sleep quality was negatively impacted. At the end of the study, the treated group experienced a reduction in diastolic blood pressure as compared to the placebo group (-8.0 vs ±4.2 mm Hg). The authors concluded that the product was safe over the course of the study [@B20]. No weight loss was observed over the two weeks of the study.
The weight loss effects of a product (Xenadrine™) containing 20 mg ephedrine, 5 mg *p*-synephrine, 200 mg caffeine and 15 mg salicin given twice daily were examined by Kalman et al.[@B21] involving 30 healthy but overweight subjects in a placebo-controlled double-blinded protocol (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Half of the subjects were randomly assigned to either the treatment or control group. All subjects performed a cross-training exercise program three days per week with a 22 kcal/kg per day diet. After 8 weeks the experimental group had lost a significantly greater amount of weight than the control group (3.14 kg vs 2.05 kg), and no significant changes in systolic or diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, serial electrocardiograms, serum chemistry or calorie intake were observed between the two groups. The daily intake of *p*-synephrine (10 mg) was small, and its relative contribution to the overall weight loss cannot be determined.
Kalman et al. [@B22] also examined the cardiovascular effects of Xenadrine RFA-1™ that contained 20 mg ephedrine, 5 mg *p*-synephrine and 200 mg caffeine in two capsules in 27 healthy, overweight individuals (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The study was a 14 day, placebo-controlled double-blinded crossover protocol where subjects received two capsules of the product or placebo for the first seven days and four capsules per day for the next seven days. Analyses were conducted at baseline, and days seven and 14. No significant differences were observed at any time point between treated and placebo control with respect to systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, or heart valve function and left ventricular ejection fraction as determined by serial echocardiograms or Doppler echocardiograms. The maximum amount of *p*-synephrine (10 mg per day) was small compared to the maximum amounts of ephedrine (40 mg per day) and caffeine (400 mg per day).
Kalman et al. [@B23] published a subsequent commentary on this study [@B22] where they reassessed the incidence of adverse effects. A statistically larger proportion of subjects taking the product reported minor adverse effects as dry mouth, increased activity, and sleep disorders, but there were no serious adverse events and no significant difference with regard to cardiovascular measurements (heart rate, blood pressures, serial echocardiograms and Doppler echocardiograms) between the treated and placebo groups.
Gurley et al. [@B24] conducted a study in 12 human subjects who were given a bitter orange extract for 28 days (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The daily consumption of*p*-synephrine was 30.6 mg. The authors concluded that a supplement containing *C. aurantium*extract did not appear to significantly modulate cytochrome P450 enzyme activities in human subjects, and therefore posed minimal risk for cytochrome P450-mediated, herb-drug interactions. The bitter orange extract had no significant effect on CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 or CYP3A4, the major drug-metabolizing cytochrome enzymes. No adverse effects were observed. The authors did not assess the possible effects on body weight or blood chemistry.
Zenk and Kuskowski [@B25] conducted a randomized double-blind 8 week study to evaluate the effect of a proprietary weight management product (Lean Source™) on body composition of overweight men and women. The study was not published (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}), but a copy of the final report is available on line. Of the 65 adults enrolled, 54 completed the study with 6 dropouts from the placebo group and 5 subjects from the product treatment group. The product contained extracts of bitter orange, guarana and green tea as well as 7-oxo-dehydroandrostenedione (DHEA), conjugated linoleic acid and chromium picolinate. The daily consumption of bitter orange extract was 200 mg but the *p*-synephrine content was not noted.
At the completion of the 8 week study, the treated group lost an average of 2.9 kg body weight, while the placebo group lost 1.5 kg body weight. No significant differences occurred between the treatment and placebo groups with respect to systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate or temperature. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in serum chemistry profiles and complete blood counts between the two groups. There was also no difference in the reported incidence of adverse events between the two groups and no serious adverse events were reported [@B25]. It is not possible to determine the role of *p-*synephrine and the bitter orange extract in the observed effects.
A study involving the use of another commercial weight loss product (Lean System 7™) on various parameters was assessed by Zenk et al. [@B26] (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). This was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study involving healthy, overweight adults. A total of 35 subjects completed the 8 week study. Each adult received three capsules of the weight-loss product twice daily or a placebo in conjunction with a calorie-restricted diet and an exercise program. The product contained 6 mg *p*-synephrine/capsule (36 mg/day). The product also contained 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone (17 mg), *Coleus forskohlli* extract (50 mg extract, 10 mg forskolin), yerba mate extract (167 mg), guarana extract (233 mg extract, 51 mg caffeine), piperine (1.67 mg from *Piper nigrum*) and dandelion leaf and root powder (83 mg). The most significant finding of the study was a 7.2% increase in resting metabolic rate in the treated subjects relative to the control group. No significant differences were noted between the treated and the placebo-controlled groups with respect to body weight, body fat, or lean tissue [@B26]. No changes in heart rate or blood pressure were observed and no serious adverse events were reported. The relative role of each of the ingredients cannot be determined.
Min et al. [@B27] assessed the QTc-prolonging and hemodynamic effects of a single dose of a bitter orange extract (Nature\'s Way) containing 27 mg *p*-synephrine (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). This randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind and crossover study involved 18 healthy subjects. The rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval and blood pressure were measured before dosing and at 1, 3, 5 and 8 hrs after dosing. The bitter orange extract did not significantly alter the QTc interval or the systolic or diastolic blood pressures at any time point.
Haller et al. [@B28] have examined potential cardiovascular changes associated with a single oral dose of a bitter orange extract (Advantra Z^®^) (46.9 mg *p*-synephrine) and a multiple component dietary supplement (Xenedrine EFX®) which contained 5.5 mg *p*-synephrine, caffeine and other ingredients (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The protocol consisted of a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled crossover design involving 10 subjects with a one-week washout between treatments. The results showed that the dietary supplement but not the *p-*synephrine-containing bitter orange extract increased both systolic and diastolic blood pressures at two hours post-treatment, while heart rate increased at six hours by 16.7 beats/min with the complex dietary supplement and 11.4 beats/min with the bitter orange (*p*-synephrine) extract. The authors concluded that the pressure effects were not likely caused by the *C. aurantium* alone since no blood pressure effect was observed with an 8-fold higher dose of *p*-synephrine. The authors also concluded that the increase in blood pressure may be attributable to caffeine and other stimulants in the dietary supplement. The increase in heart rate reported for *p*-synephrine at 6 hours is not consistent with the pharmacokinetics of *p-*synephrine or a number of other studies, and is discussed in detail below. The amounts of the ingredients in the products were verified by analytical analysis.
Bui et al. [@B29] conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study involving 15 healthy subjects who received a single dose of 900 mg bitter orange extract (Nature\'s Way) standardized to 6 % synephrine (54 mg *p*-synephrine) or the placebo (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Heart rate and blood pressure were measured every hour for six hours. These investigators reported small but clinically insignificant increases in heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures for up to five hours. The difference in the results between this study and the study of Min et al. [@B24] which involved the same product and may be related to the dose which was twice as large in this study by Bui et al. [@B29]. However, these effects on heart rate and blood pressure were small and have not been observed in other studies.
Sale et al. [@B30] conducted a double blind study on the physiological and metabolic effects of Xenadrine EFX^®^ in 20 overweight individuals at rest and during treadmill walking (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). As noted above, this product contained bitter orange, guarana and green tea extracts. Subjects received either the placebo or the product and were followed for seven hours or exercised on a treadmill for 60 min. The product had no effect on ATP utilization under resting or exercise conditions relative to control. However, a 30 % increase in carbohydrate oxidation was observed. Fatty acid oxidation to ATP decreased while plasma levels of fatty acids increased in response to the product. The product had no effect on resting heart rate or blood pressure.
Gougeon et al. [@B31] investigated the thermic effect of food in conjunction with the phenylethylamine protoalkaloids extracted from *C. aurantium* in 30 healthy but mostly overweight (average BMI≈27) male and female subjects (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). No other ingredients were present in the product. The thermic effect of food on a 1.7 MJ, 30 gram protein meal was determined intermittently for 300 min by indirect calorimetry. Five capsules of the *C. aurantium*extract provided 26 mg *p*-synephrine, and 4 mg or less each of other phenethylamines (Advantra Z^®^). The thermic effect of food was determined on an initial 30 subjects. A subset of 11 men and 11 women were additionally studied after ingestion of the bitter orange extract in conjunction with the protein meal, while a another subset of 12 women and 8 men were studied a third time following ingestion of the *C. aurantium*-containing capsules alone.
This study [@B31] demonstrated that the thermic effect of food was 20% lower in women than men following a meal. An increase in the thermic effect of food was seen only in women, increasing by 29%, when the bitter orange extract was used in conjunction with the protein meal. The thermic effect of the bitter orange extract was greater in men than women in the absence of a meal. A significant increase in the respiratory quotient occurred in both sexes in response to the bitter orange extract alone. No significant changes occurred in systolic and diastolic blood pressures or pulse rates when compared with base line values following exposure to the bitter orange extract.
Hoffman et al. [@B32] examined the thermogenic effect of a coffee which contained added *C. aurantium*extract,*Garcinia cambogia*and chromium (JavaFit^TM^) over a three hour period of time in a randomized, double blind study which involved 10 healthy, physically active subjects (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The enriched coffee product contained 450 mg caffeine, 21.6 mg *p-*synephrine, 600 mg hydroxycitric acid and 225 mcg chromium polynicotinate. Significant increases were observed in responders with respect to resting metabolic rate and respiratory exchange ratio. No significant differences were observed in average heart rate or diastolic blood pressure while a 3 mm Hg increase was observed in the systolic blood pressure. The modest effect on blood pressure is not surprising based on the amount of caffeine in the product.
Talbott et al. [@B33] conducted a six week study involving 30 healthy subjects, half of whom consumed 80 mg *p-*synephrine/day in the form of the patented *C. aurantium* extract product Advantra Z^®^ while the other half of the subjects received the placebo (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). Heart rate and blood pressures were determined at the start of the study and after six weeks. No significant differences were observed between the treated and placebo control groups at the conclusion of the study with respect to these cardiovascular parameters. No effects on body weight were reported. This study represents the highest dose of *p*-synephrine for the longest period of time that has been reported. The study was presented at a scientific meeting but never published.
Haller et al. [@B34] examined the effects of a performance-enhancing dietary supplement under resting and exercise conditions involving 10 subjects. The product (Ripped Fuel Extreme Cut^TM^) contained 21 mg *p*-synephrine and 304 mg caffeine, as well as other ingredients including herbal extracts of green tea, ginger root, cocoa seed, willow bark, and wasabi. The product or placebo was taken one hour prior to 30 min of moderately intense exercise. No significant treatment-related differences in systolic blood pressure, heart rate or body temperature were observed. Product-related increases in diastolic blood pressure (8.7 mmHg) and blood glucose levels were observed. Exercise was perceived as being less strenuous after consumption of the product. Due to the poly-alkaloidal and protoalkaloidal nature of this product, the factor or factors responsible for the effects on blood glucose and diastolic blood pressure cannot be determined.
Seifert et al. [@B35] conducted a study on the effects of an herbal blend on energy expenditure in mildly obese subjects (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The product contained 13 mg *p*-synephrine (as Advantra Z^®^), 176 mg caffeine (as guarana), and 55.5 mg of a green tea extract per capsule. The study involved 14 females and 9 males in a placebo-controlled, crossover design. Subjects ingested one capsule with each of three meals on day one of treatment, and one more capsule on the morning of the second day. Data were collected 60 min after the last administration of the product. The results demonstrated that from pre-test on day one to post-test on day two, caloric expenditure increased by approximately 8% following ingestion of the product. Oxygen uptake increased from 230 to 250 ml/minute following treatment. No differences were observed in heart rate or blood pressure following treatment. This was an acute study which did not provide information on long-term effects, but did demonstrate an increase in energy expenditure.
Stohs et al. [@B36] examined the effect of 50 mg *p*-synephrine (Advantra Z^®^, 60 % *p*-synephrine) alone or in combination with selected flavonoids in 40 human subjects on resting metabolic rate (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind design with the vehicle for the *p*-synephrine being one ounce of tomato juice. The amount of *p*-synephrine in the product was verified by independent analysis. Measurements were taken at baseline prior to consuming the product and at 75 min. At this time point, a 6.9 % increase in resting metabolic rate was observed in response to the *p*-synephrine relative to the placebo-control group. No significant effects were observed with respect to blood pressure or heart rate, nor were there any significant differences in responses to a 10 item self-report questionnaire which addressed such issues as nervousness, tension, anxiety, hunger, energy, headache, general discomfort, and sleepiness. The results of this study using *p*-synephrine/bitter orange alone support the previous thermic calorie expenditure studies [@B18]-[@B20], [@B26], [@B30]-[@B32], [@B35], indicating that *p-*synephrine increases the metabolic rate. Longer term safety and efficacy studies involving*p*-synephrine alone are warranted.
In an as yet unpublished randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind crossover study that was presented at a scientific meeting, 16 healthy subjects consumed a capsule containing 49 mg *p*-synephrine (Advantra Z^®^, 30 % *p*-synephrine) or the placebo daily for 15 days [@B37] (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). The amount of *p-*synephrine in the capsules was determined by high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis. Electrocardiograms, blood pressures, heart rates, blood chemistries and blood cell counts with differentials were determined at baseline, 30 min, 60 min, 90 min, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours and 8 hours, as well as after 5, 10 and 15 days. Blood samples were drawn after 2 hours after the first dose as well as at 5, 10 and 15 days to measure *p*-synephrine levels to ensure compliance. *p*-Synephrine had no significant effect on heart rate, blood pressure, blood chemistries, or blood cell counts, and caused no cardiovascular abnormalities. This is the most detailed investigation on the safety of bitter orange/*p*-synephrine alone.
Bloomer et al. [@B38], [@B39] have reported on the effects of a multi-component product (Meltdown®) that contains neither *p*-synephrine nor bitter orange extract but does contain methyl-synephrine HCl and several other synthetic phenethylamine derivatives as well as yohimbine. Methyl-synephrine is purported to occur in nature, does not occur in bitter orange extract, and is of synthetic origin in this product and other products that have been marketed. For the sake of completeness, the results of these studies will be summarized, but these results will not be incorporated into the general discussion of bitter orange extract and*p*-synephrine provided below.
Both studies examined the effects of the product on metabolic rate, and plasma free fatty acids, glycerol, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels. The initial study [@B38] measured changes over a 90 min time frame in 10 healthy male subjects. The second study [@B39] measured the same parameters over a six hour time frame in 10 healthy male and 10 healthy female subjects. Increases in each of the parameters were observed, with a 13.5 % increase in caloric expenditure over the six hours. It is also important to note that significant increases in heart rate as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure occurred in both studies in response to the consumption of the product. The authors note that the product may be useful in healthy, normotensive, closely monitored individuals. However, it is not a product that should be recommended to the general public. Furthermore, methyl-synephrine should not be confused or equated with*p*-synephrine/bitter orange, does not occur in significant amounts in nature if at all, and exhibits cardiovascular effects.
In a study similar to those reported by Bloomer et al. [@B38], [@B39], Hoffman et al. [@B40] conducted a double blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over study involving the methyl-synephrine-containing product Meltdown®. Over a three hour time period following ingestion of the product significant increases in resting oxygen uptake and caloric expenditure were occurred. However, increases in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, tension and confusion were also observed, confirming the highly undesirable properties of this synthetic product.
Clinical Case Reports
=====================
Stohs [@B41] has reviewed and assessed the 22 FDA adverse event reports (AERs) from April 2004 through October 2009 associated with bitter orange (*C. aurantium*)-containing products, as well as 10 clinical case reports published during this time interval regarding the possible involvement of bitter orange-containing weight management products with cardiovascular incidents and other adverse events. Bitter orange extract and/or *p*-synephrine were implicated as the possible causative agent in the case reports by all of the authors. In all reported AERs and case cases, the products involved were poly-herbal, poly-alkaloidal and poly-protoalkaloidal.
Adverse events that have been purported in conjunction with the published clinical case reports included: acute lateral-wall myocardial infarction, exercise-induced syncope associated with QT prolongation, ischemic stroke, ischemic colitis, vasospasm and stroke, variant angina, coronary vasospasm and thrombosis, exercise induced rhabdomyolysis, ST segment myocardial infarction, and ventricular fibrillation [@B41]. In one case report it was suggested that a bitter orange-containing dietary supplement may have masked bradycardia and hypotension while exacerbating weight loss in an individual with anorexia nervosa, although no evidence was provided that an adverse event had actually occurred.
Although the products consumed were all multi-ingredient, in each case reference was specifically made to *C. aurantium,* bitter orange or *p*-synephrine as the most likely causative agent. Unfortunately, a wide range of confounding factors also existed among the published case reports including: heart murmur, pre-existing heart disease, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity, a history of smoking, gastroesophageal disease, physical inactivity, sickle cell trait, dehydration, pneumonia, possible use of anabolic steroids and/or performance enhancing drugs, high caffeine intake, and high alcohol consumption. Furthermore, products were not always being taken as recommended, and it was not always clear if the subjects were using other unreported dietary supplements and/or drugs [@B41]. A more probable culprit for at least some of these effects may have been the high caffeine intake associated with the products in question.
Another factor to be considered is the occurrence of up to 25-40 mg *p*-synephrine per quarter liter of various *Citrus* juices [@B42], [@B43] which are widely consumed without the report of adverse events. Millions of individuals ingest *p*-synephrine and bitter orange-containing food products as orange juices and marmalades as well as dietary supplements on a daily basis. Therefore, although these case reports should raise the level of awareness with regard to the use of complex weight management products, it is not possible to extrapolate the cause of these adverse effects to the*p*-synephrine which may have been present in the products. No evidence showing a direct link between bitter orange extract and the adverse events is provided [@B41]. Furthermore, it should be remembered that "case reports are incomplete, uncontrolled, retrospective, lack operational criteria for identifying when an adverse event has actually occurred, and resemble nothing so much as hearsay evidence, a type of evidence that is prohibited in all courts of industrialized societies" [@B44].
Discussion
==========
A total of 23 published and unpublished studies involving a total of approximately 450 total human subjects were reviewed. Of these total subjects, approximately 360 consumed bitter orange/*p-*synephrine containing products, with 247 subjects involved in published studies and 113 subjects involved in studies that have not been published to date. The authors located information regarding the unpublished studies through presentations at scientific meetings and availability of research reports on the internet, as well as information from the investigators involved in the studies.
In the 23 studies, over 50 % of the subjects were overweight/obese, and about two-thirds of these overweight/obese subjects who consumed *p*-synephrine (10-53 mg/day) did so in combination with caffeine. No increase in heart rate or blood pressure was reported for any of the over-weight/obese subjects, with various studies lasting for two to 12 weeks.
Seven of the studies were not published in peer reviewed journals [@B17]-[@B20], [@B25], [@B33], [@B37] (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). However, six of these studies were presented at national meetings [@B18]-[@B20], [@B25], [@B33], [@B37], and one of these six studies is in the process of being submitted for consideration for publication [@B37]. As noted in the references, information including presentations and final reports are available on the internet regarding these unpublished studies. The results associated with these unpublished studies (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}) in general are consistent with the results of the published studies (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}).
Of the total subjects associated with all of the studies that consumed bitter orange extract*/p-*synephrine, 149 were male, 211 were female, and the gender of the remainder was not reported. Of the *p-*synephrine consuming subjects, about 35 % of the subjects consumed products containing caffeine in combination with *p-*synephrine. The remaining subjects consumed only a *p*-synephrine/bitter orange extract-containing product or a *p*-synephrine containing multi-ingredient product devoid of caffeine, but may have consumed unknown amounts of caffeine through ingestion of coffee, tea or cola beverages.
Five published studies [@B6], [@B24], [@B27], [@B31], [@B36] and two unpublished studies [@B33], [@B37] reported no cardiovascular effects when using *p*-synephrine (bitter orange) only containing products. The published studies involved a total of 104 subjects with a total of 31 subjects in the two unpublished studies. However, in one of these studies [@B24] consisting of 12 subjects it is not clear that effects on heart rate and blood pressure were specifically examined, with the authors simply reporting that no adverse effects were observed. Five published studies [@B15], [@B21], [@B22], [@B26], [@B30], [@B35] using*p*-synephrine in combination with other ingredients reported no cardiovascular effects. A total of 88 subjects were involved in these studies.
Small cardiovascular effects were reported by Bui et al. [@B29] (15 subjects) using a 50 mg dose of *p*-synephrine which was not replicated by others [@B33], [@B36], [@B37] (total of 71 subjects) using a similar dose. Small cardiovascular effects were reported for three studies that involved subjects consuming *p*-synephrine plus caffeine [@B28], [@B32], [@B34]. Haller et al. reported an increase in heart rate [@B28] and diastolic blood pressure [@B34] (10 subjects). Hoffman et al. [@B32] observed a small increase (3 mm Hg) in the systolic blood pressure of seven subjects considered to be responders with no significant increase relative to all subjects.
Upon careful review, the study of Haller et al. [@B28] involving a small number (10) of subjects has a number of issues in terms of design and conclusions. *p*-Synephrine (Advantra Z^®^) alone had no effect on systolic or diastolic blood pressure. The authors reported an increase in heart rate six hours after treatment. The half-life of *p*-synephrine is two to three hours [@B28], [@B34], [@B45]. As a consequence, an increase in heart rate after two to three half-lives when the *p-*synephrine blood levels will have dropped to one-fourth to one-eighth the peak blood levels would not be expected. Furthermore, a major complicating factor is that all subjects consumed a meal three hours after ingesting the *p*-synephrine (46.9 mg) or a product containing *p-*synephrine (5.5 mg), octopamine (5.7 mg) and caffeine (239 mg). The cardiovascular and thermic effects of food are well known [@B31], and an increase in heart rate in the control group was also observed. Thus, it is not plausible to attribute the increase in heart rate to *p*-synephrine, or an increase in heart rate and blood pressure to a product that contained very little *p*-synephrine (5.5 mg) in combination with caffeine under these experimental conditions. This study did show that the commercial product Xenadrine EFX® which contained only 5.5 mg *p*-synephrine produced a significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure at two hours. This product was reported to also contain 5.7 mg octopamine. *C. aurantium* extracts are either devoid of octopamine or contain only trace amounts [@B3], thus the product being used [@B28] appears to have been adulterated.
Hansen et al. [@B46] examined the cardiovascular effects of *p*-synephrine at 10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg orally for 28 days given to rats in the form of 95% *p*-synephrine or as a 6% *p*-synephrine containing bitter orange extract. Caffeine (25 mg/kg) was added to some of these doses. Using the standard metabolic equivalency factor of 6 based on body surface area in converting doses in rats to doses in humans [@B47], a 50 mg/kg dose of *p*-synephrine and a 25 mg/kg dose of caffeine given to rats translate into 667 mg *p*-synephrine and 333 mg caffeine per day for an 80 kg (176 lb) human. These doses represent over 13 times the usual daily dose for *p*-synephrine and the equivalent of the caffeine in about three cups of coffee given together as a single bolus dose to these animals.
Animals treated with the 95% *p*-synephrine alone demonstrated no significant effects on heart rate or blood pressure, even at the high 50 mg/kg dose. When caffeine was added, increases in heart rate and blood pressure were observed [@B46]. These studies indicate that in rats at very high doses of *p*-synephrine the combination with caffeine may result in cardiovascular effects. However, due to the highly inequivalent dosing between this study in rats and typical dosing in humans, the results of this study in rats cannot be directly extrapolated to humans. A dose of 3.0-3.75 mg/kg *p*-synephrine given to rats would have been more representative of a typical human dose.
Various studies indicate that the lipolytic activity of *p*-synephrine is due to binding to β-3 adrenergic receptors in adipose tissues [@B10]. These same β-3 adrenergic receptors are also associated with cardiovascular tissues, and their activation results in a down-regulation of cardiovascular stimulation [@B48], [@B49]. Thus, *p*-synephrine stimulation of β-3 adrenoreceptors in the cardiovascular system does not result in an increase in blood pressure or heart rate but may exhibit a modulating rather than a stimulatory effect. This cardiovascular receptor response may explain why an increase in heart rate or blood pressure is not seen in most cases when *p*-synephrine is used alone or in combination with caffeine in dietary supplements, in spite of the fact that caffeine alone may produce modest increases in these parameters under some conditions [@B50], [@B51].
Approximately half of the clinical studies involved the use of commercial products. In only one case [@B28] was the actual amount of *p*-synephrine and other protoalkaloids determined, while in the remaining studies involving commercial products the reported amounts of *p*-synephrine and caffeine were simply based on label claim. The amount of *p*-synephrine was independently determined in two studies in which bitter orange extract was used as a single ingredient product [@B36], [@B37]. Various studies have shown that there are not always good correlations between the label claim of marketed products or the product data sheet and the amount of *p*-synephrine shown to be present by independent analysis [@B52]-[@B56]. Therefore, the actual amount of *p*-synephrine consumed in the majority of the studies was not verified.
Finally, nine studies involving the administration of bitter orange extract alone or in combination with other constituents have demonstrated an increase in metabolic rate without an increase in heart rate or blood pressure [@B18]-[@B20], [@B26], [@B30]-[@B32], [@B35], [@B36]. These results suggest that bitter orange extract and *p*-synephrine may be beneficial in weight management. However, a need exists for longer term studies involving bitter orange extract*/p*-synephrine alone to assess the effects on body weight and verify the safety data.
Summary and Conclusions
=======================
The results involving both published and unpublished clinical studies indicate that *p*-synephrine alone or in combination with caffeine does not appear to produce significant adverse cardiovascular effects or pose a risk to human health at doses commonly ingested orally. No adverse effects have been directly attributable to bitter orange extract or *p-*synephrine. *p*-Synephrine/bitter orange extract alone as well as in combination with other ingredients results in significant increases in resting metabolic rate, and when taken for periods of time up to 12 weeks may result in modest weight loss.
The results indicate that bitter orange extract and*p*-synephrine increase metabolism and energy expenditure. The data accumulated to date do not support hypothesized concerns regarding potential adverse effects of *p*-synephrine particularly with respect to the cardiovascular system due to a paucity of binding to α-, β-1 and β-2 adrenergic receptors while exhibiting modest binding to β-3 adrenergic receptors. However, a need exists for additional well controlled, long term human efficacy and safety studies involving *p*-synephrine/bitter orange extract.
All authors have served as consultants for Nutratech, Inc., a company that markets bitter orange extracts. Nutratech Inc. provided some of the unpublished research reports.
{#F1}
{#F2}
{#F3}
######
Summary of published human studies involving bitter orange extract and *p*-synephrine
Product Treated Subjects overwt/ obese Duration *p-*Synephrine dose (mg) Caffeine dose (mg) End Point Adverse events Reference
----------------------- ------------------ --------------- ---------- -------------------------- -------------------- ------------------- ---------------- --------------------------
Complex 9 9 42 days 58.5 528 Wt. loss, ↑BMR No Colker et al., 1999^15^
Bitter orange juice 12 \-- 1 day 27 \-\-- CV No Penzak et al., 2001^6^
Complex 15 15 56 days 10 400 Wt. loss Multiple No Kalman et al., 2000^21^
Complex 13 13 14 days 10 400 CV No Kalman et al., 2002^22^
Bitter orange extract 12 \-- 28 days 30.6 \-- Cyt.P450 enzymes No Gurley et al., 2004^24^
Complex 18 18 56 days 36 132 No wt. loss ↑RMR No Zenk et al., 2005^26^
Bitter orange extract 18 \-- 8 hrs 27 \-\-- CV No Min et al., 2005^27^
Complex 10 \-- 6 hrs 5.5 239 CV ↑HR, ↑BP Haller et al., 2005^28^
Bitter orange extract 10 \-- 6 hrs 46.9 \-\-- CV ↑HR Haller et al., 2005^28^
Bitter orange extract 15 \-- 6 hrs 54 \-\-- CV ↑HR, ↑BP Bui et al., 2006^29^
Complex 10 10 7 hrs 12 150 ↑ RMR, ↑ Kcal use No Sale et al., 2006^30^
Bitter orange extract 22 22 8 hrs 30 \-\-- ↑RQ No Gougeon et al., 2006^31^
Complex 10 \-- 3 hrs 21.6 450 ↑RQ, ↑RMR ↑BP Hoffman et al., 2007^32^
Complex 10 \-- 2 hrs 21 304 CV ↑↑DBP Haller et al., 2008^34^
Complex 23 23 25 hrs 52 704 ↑ kcal use, ↓RER No Seifert et al., 2011^35^
Bitter orange extract 40 \-- 2 hrs 50 \-\-- ↑RMR No Stohs et al., 2011^36^
BMR=basal metabolic rate; RMR=resting metabolic rate; CV=cardiovascular; RQ=respiratory quotient; RER=respiratory exchange ratio.
######
Summary of unpublished human studies involving bitter orange extract and *p*-synephrine.
Product Treated subjects overwt/ obese Duration *p*-Synephrine dose (mg) Caffeine dose (mg) End Point Adverse events Reference
----------------------- ------------------ --------------- ---------- -------------------------- -------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ----------------------------
Complex 22 22 70 days 21.5 15 Wt. loss No Kendall-Reed, 2000^17^
Complex 6 3 6 hrs 12 239 ↑RMR No Kalman et al., 2002^18^
Complex 10 5 5 hrs 12 239 ↑RMR No Kalman et al., 2002^19^
Complex extract 16 16 14 days 24 300 Multiple enzymes No Kalman et al., 2003^20^
Complex 28 28 56days ? 10 Multiple No Zenk & Kuskowski, 2005^25^
Bitter orange extract 15 ? 42days 80 \-\-- CV No Talbott et al., 2007^33^
Bitter orange 16 \-- 15 days 49 \-\-- Multiple No Shara et al., 2012^37^
BMR=basal metabolic rate; RMR=resting metabolic rate; CV=cardiovascular; RQ=respiratory quotient; RER=respiratory exchange ratio.
[^1]: Competing Interests: See Acknowledgements. Authors declare they have no other competing interest.
| 2023-12-17T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6734 |
Update: This post was republished to coincide with the release of Beat Saber on PSVR.
XRDC is a very tiny event. It takes place near the end of the year in San Francisco (formerly it was called VRDC, but the industry is expanding and they wanted it all under one roof) and a few dozen industry executives, developers, luminaries, and press all gather together to network, try out a few demos, and attend talks. Mostly it’s for networking and talks though. The “show floor” had maybe six or seven booths total.
As a result, the best part of XRDC for me this year was the Beat Saber talk hosted by Beat Games CEO and co-founder, Jaroslav Beck. He discussed the project’s origins, where the concept came from, how they’ve found so much success, and what’s next for the studio.
Humble Beginnings
Beck began his talk by explaining that Beat Saber owes a lot of its creation to a critically acclaimed and massively popular mobile phone game named Chameleon Run by Hyperbolic Magnetism. It’s a simple little game in which you control a small character that is constantly running at high speeds while you make him jump and change colors to match platforms. That’s about it.
Now if you extrapolate on that idea of color switching and contact, it makes sense that the premise could lead to what we now know as Beat Saber. Albeit just a way cooler, more polished, and impressive version. Beck mentioned that the neon aesthetic inspiration comes from Tron, which should come as no surprise at all.
In the image above, you can see the first initial prototype for Beat Saber (compared to the final version of the Early Access release pictured below). Beck said the initial prototype with all of the core designs and gameplay mechanics was completed in just a single week.
“We worked for the next year and a half just on polishing the last 10% of the game, which made all the difference,” Beck said.
Prior to working on Beat Saber, Beck mostly contributed his musical talents to AAA game studios for properties such as Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Star Wars, Call of Duty, Starcraft, and more.
“We agreed I’d make a soundtrack of 10 songs to be included and customized for the game,” Beck said. And $100 Bills, one of the most popular tracks in the game today, was that first test. Beck and developer Jan Ilavsky collaborated back and forth between crafting new tracks and mapping the beats, iterating and polishing along the way.
Organic Viral
According to Beck, the team at Hyperbolic Magnetism and Beat Games did not spend a single dollar on marketing. Instead, they got lucky. By partnering up with LIV, a mixed reality capture and software studio, they crafted videos like the one you see above to not only sell people on Beat Saber, but to sell people on VR in general. And it worked.
“Suddenly we thought, ‘What are we going to do about this?'” Beck said. “The game isn’t even finished yet! But there is a chance that this could help the industry as a whole become more successful.”
At the start of his talk, Beck said that videos of Beat Saber had, collectively across the internet, been viewed over one billion times. That’s “billion” with a “b”. Fueled by that hype, Beat Saber sold over 100,000 units in just a single month. Most VR developers would love to reach that milestone over the entire life of their release.
“We weren’t ready for that at all,” Beck said. “And we were even more nervous about what would happen next.”
Somehow, Beat Saber seems to have done the impossible thus far. Despite the odds, it’s become an immediately recognizable viral sensation that everyone loves. The secret sauce? In addition to being simple and intuitive in a way that anyway can play it, Beck says it’s all about passion.
In a follow-up interview with me after his talk, Beck explained that they simply made the game they wanted to play. “We didn’t make something for other people,” he said. “We made what we wanted to play and what we were passionate about. As a result, the quality shined through. Focusing most of our time on polishing the final 10% of the game is the best decision we made.”
PSVR, Oculus Quest, and Beyond
Beat Saber first launched into Early Access back in May of this year with only 10 songs — that’s been about six months ago now and only one new track has been added since. Luckily the community has picked up the torch with modding tools to create custom beat maps for a wide variety of songs, but none of them are as fine-tuned as the original selection of hand-crafted music by Beck.
“I’m still working on the music,” Beck said in our interview. “I don’t have that much time, as I am trying to do all these deals just because we are all sharing roles on the team. I spend my time working on contracts all day long, which is not the best thing, but I still try to find time to do music. But in the future there will definitely be some music from me and the community.”
Going beyond new tracks, Beat Saber is coming to PSVR by the end of this year as well (clock’s ticking!) and there is planned multiplayer support shortly after that. Then, there’s the tantalizing prospect of the Oculus Quest.
Beck could neither confirm nor deny plans for a Quest port, but he did say during the talk that they intend to bring Beat Saber to as many platforms as it makes sense as long as the experience can be perfect. All signs are pointing towards a Quest version being available when the headset launches in Spring 2019.
What do you like best about Beat Saber? Let us know what you think of the game and what you want to see out of a full release when the time comes down in the comments below! | 2023-08-21T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3435 |
451 F.Supp. 346 (1978)
James Mark WOODWARD, Plaintiff,
v.
Commander J. A. MOORE et al., Defendants.
Civ. A. No. 76-1199.
United States District Court, District of Columbia.
May 31, 1978.
*347 David Gespass, Gespass & Johnson, Washington, D.C., for plaintiff.
Patricia J. Kenney, Special Asst. U.S. Atty., Washington, D.C., for defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
BARRINGTON D. PARKER, District Judge.
James M. Woodward, a former United States Naval Air Reservist, brings this action against several defendants including his former immediate commanding officer, the Secretary of the Navy and other Navy officials, seeking reinstatement to active duty in the United States Navy, back pay and other relief.
Cross motions for summary judgment have been filed by the parties. After a consideration of the administrative record, memoranda of points and authorities, and argument of counsel, the Court determines that the defendants are entitled to summary judgment and the complaint should be dismissed.
I.
The uncontroverted material facts may be briefly stated. Plaintiff Woodward was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Naval Reserve in October, 1972. He was assigned to active duty status, received additional training as a naval flight officer, and served in that capacity through the summer of 1974. In September, 1974, after Woodward was seen in an officers' club associating with an enlisted man who was being separated from duty for homosexual activities, he admitted to his commanding officer that he had homosexual tendencies. Because of these matters plaintiff was requested to resign. He refused to do so, explaining that he wanted to finish his term of obligated service. His commanding officer, Commander Moore, then advised him that he would be administratively separated. On September 27, 1974, a recommendation was submitted to the Chief of Naval Personnel that plaintiff be administratively processed for discharge under favorable conditions.
That recommendation was not accepted and on October 4, 1974, the Chief of Naval Personnel ordered plaintiff to report for separation processing. Thereafter, on October 22, he was released from active duty and assigned to a reserve position in California, where he served until February, 1975. Later, at plaintiff's request, he was released from further active reserve duty. He applied for relief before the Board of Correction of Naval Records, claiming error in the action by the Chief of Naval Personnel. The application was denied. Woodward remains an Ensign in the Naval Air Reserve and he has not been discharged from the Navy.
II.
It is a well-established proposition that officers in the armed forces of the United States have no constitutional right to be promoted or retained and their services may be terminated at any time with or *348 without reason. Pauls v. Secretary of Air Force, 457 F.2d 294, 297 (1st Cir. 1972). As a reserve officer, the plaintiff's change in status was a matter committed to the sole discretion of the Secretary of the Navy or the President of the United States. As the Supreme Court noted in commenting on the 1916 statute that created the Naval Reserve Force:[1]
[I]t is quite evident . . . that members of this force occupied two statuses, one that of inactive duty, and the other of active service. It is further clear that it was within the power of the President, and of the Secretary of the Navy acting for him, to change the members of the Reserve Force from one status to the other. . . . Orders releasing individuals from active service and putting them on inactive duty were clearly within the power of the President and of the Secretary of the Navy acting for him in the administration of the act.
Denby v. Berry, 263 U.S. 29, 33, 44 S.Ct. 74, 75, 68 L.Ed. 148 (1923).
Title 10 U.S.C. § 681, the current statute relative to the service and assignment of reservists, provides in part:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the Secretary concerned may at any time release a Reserve under his jurisdiction from active duty.
This statute has been recognized as clear authority for the release of a reservist from active duty with the determination of the conditions and circumstances governing such release remaining within the sound discretion of the Secretary of the Navy. Abruzzo v. United States, 513 F.2d 608 (Ct. Cl.1975); Denton v. United States, 204 Ct.Cl. 188 (1974), cert. denied, 421 U.S. 963, 95 S.Ct. 1949, 44 L.Ed.2d 449 (1975); Mercereau v. United States, 155 Ct.Cl. 157 (1961). The use of Woodward's admission of homosexual tendencies and his association with homosexuals as a basis for the exercise of that discretion did not result in invidious discrimination in violation of due process, nor in a violation of his right to freedom of association. Berg v. Claytor, 436 F.Supp. 76 (D.D.C.1977), appeal docketed, No. 77-1785 (D.C.Cir. Aug. 29, 1977). Woodward's claims that his status was changed for unlawful reasons must therefore be rejected.
Woodward also claims procedural flaws in his release from active status. He claims that his discharge was precluded by the "national emergency" exception of § 681(b), which provides:
(b) In time of war or of national emergency declared by Congress or the President after January 1, 1953, a member of a reserve component may be released from active duty (other than for training) only if
(1) a board of officers convened at his request by an authority designated by the Secretary concerned recommends the release and the recommendation is approved;
(2) the member does not request that a board be convened; or
(3) his release is otherwise authorized by law.
While such procedural guarantees do limit the exercise of the Secretary's discretion, see Roberts v. Vance, 119 U.S.App.D.C. 367, 343 F.2d 236 (1964), it does not appear that § 681(b) applies to the present situation.
Two national emergencies were in effect at the time of Woodward's assignment to inactive status and would appear to call § 681(b) into play.[2] The first declaration related to a work stoppage by United States Postal Service employees in early 1970,[3] and the other concerned an unfavorable balance of payments position of the United States in 1971 which threatened the country's trade and international competitive *349 position.[4] The first of these, dealing with the postal strike, is the only one of the two relevant to Woodward's situation, since it alone involved the call-up of reserve forces due to the declared emergency.[5] That strike, however, was short-lived and its effects long over by the time of Woodward's reassignment; there was no requirement that his request for a board of officers under § 681(b) be granted.[6]
Woodward also contends that the procedures set out in Article 3830160(6), Bureau of Naval Personnel Manual, governed his release from active duty and were not followed. Specifically, he argues that a recommendation for release and submission of a special fitness report from his commanding officer were required. He also contends that he was denied a hearing.
His reliance on Article 3830160(6) is misplaced. The Article provides safeguards for officers who are being permanently separated from service and whose appointment is being revoked. No punitive action is reflected in the plaintiff's personnel folder nor does his release from active duty status stigmatize him in any way or reflect that his service was other than honorable. See Sims v. Fox, 505 F.2d 857 (5th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 421 U.S. 1011, 95 S.Ct. 2415, 44 L.Ed.2d 678 (1975); Knehans v. Callaway, 403 F.Supp. 290 (D.D.C.1975); see also Kennedy v. Secretary of Navy, 131 U.S.App. D.C. 39, 401 F.2d 990 (1968). While Commander Moore did originally recommend an administrative discharge, the Secretary of the Navy elected only to release the plaintiff from active duty as a reservist. The Secretary's action was permissible and pursuant to statutory authority, 10 U.S.C. § 681(a), and regulations, 32 C.F.R. § 714.6(c)(3). Woodward's commission has not been revoked, his appointment as a reserve officer has not been terminated and he retains his status as an Ensign in the United States Naval Reserve; his obligation to render service has not been terminated.[7]
On basis of the foregoing it is this 31st day of May, 1978,
ORDERED that the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment is denied; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED that the defendant's motion for summary judgment is granted and the complaint of James Mark Woodward is dismissed.
NOTES
[1] Naval Appropriation Act of Aug. 29, 1916, ch. 417, 39 Stat. 556, 587.
[2] Section 681(b) refers only to national emergencies occurring after January 1, 1953. National emergencies declared prior to that date do not provide a basis for the procedural rights contained in the statutory provision.
[3] Proclamation 3972, March 23, 1970.
[4] Proclamation 4074, August 15, 1971.
[5] The legislative history of § 681(b) indicates that it was enacted to provide a right of review to a reservist who was being involuntarily released when other reservists were being involuntarily called to active duty. 1952 U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News at 2036. In limited national emergencies, such as the two applicable here, § 681(b) would be logically applicable only if reserves were called to meet the emergency.
[6] There are other exceptions to the Secretary's discretion under § 681, none of which are applicable to Woodward. See, e.g., 10 U.S.C. §§ 679 and 680 (Active Duty Agreements); 10 U.S.C. § 1163(d) (Limitations on Separation).
[7] See 32 C.F.R. § 714.3(j), (m).
| 2024-06-25T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4641 |
Q:
Set the build name and description from a Jenkins Declarative Pipeline
I would like to set the build name and description from a Jenkins Declarative Pipeline, but can't find the proper way of doing it. I tried using an environment bracket after the pipeline, using a node bracket in an agent bracket, etc. I always get syntax error.
The last version of my Jenkinsfile goes like so:
pipeline {
stages {
stage("Build") {
steps {
echo "Building application..."
bat "%ANT_HOME%/bin/ant.bat clean compile"
currentBuild.name = "MY_VERSION_NUMBER"
currentBuild.description = "MY_PROJECT MY_VERSION_NUMBER"
}
}
stage("Unit Tests") {
steps {
echo "Testing (JUnit)..."
echo "Testing (pitest)..."
bat "%ANT_HOME%/bin/ant.bat run-unit-tests"
}
}
stage("Functional Test") {
steps {
echo "Selenium..."
}
}
stage("Performance Test") {
steps {
echo "JMeter.."
}
}
stage("Quality Analysis") {
steps {
echo "Running SonarQube..."
bat "%ANT_HOME%/bin/ant.bat run-sonarqube-analysis"
}
}
stage("Security Assessment") {
steps {
echo "ZAP..."
}
}
stage("Approval") {
steps {
echo "Approval by a CS03"
}
}
stage("Deploy") {
steps {
echo "Deploying..."
}
}
}
post {
always {
junit '/test/reports/*.xml'
}
failure {
emailext attachLog: true, body: '', compressLog: true, recipientProviders: [[$class: 'CulpritsRecipientProvider'], [$class: 'DevelopersRecipientProvider']], subject: '[JENKINS] MY_PROJECT build failed', to: '...recipients...'
}
success {
emailext attachLog: false, body: '', compressLog: false, recipientProviders: [[$class: 'DevelopersRecipientProvider']], subject: '[JENKINS] MY_PROJECT build succeeded', to: '...recipients...'
}
}
}
Error is:
org.codehaus.groovy.control.MultipleCompilationErrorsException: startup failed:
WorkflowScript: 11: Expected a step @ line 11, column 5.
currentBuild.name = "MY_VERSION_NUMBER"
^
WorkflowScript: 12: Expected a step @ line 12, column 5.
currentBuild.description = "MY_PROJECT MY_VERSION_NUMBER"
^
Ideally, I'd like to be able to read MY_PROJECT and MY_VERSION_NUMBER from the build.properties file, or from the Jenkins build log. Any guidance about that requirement would be appreciated as well.
UPDATE
Based on the answer I had below, the following worked:
stage("Build") {
steps {
echo "Building application..."
bat "%ANT_HOME%/bin/ant.bat clean compile"
script {
def props = readProperties file: 'build.properties'
currentBuild.displayName = "v" + props['application.version']
}
}
Now the build version is automatically set during the pipeline by reading the build.properties file.
A:
I think this will do what you want. I was able to do it inside a script block:
pipeline {
stages {
stage("Build"){
steps {
script {
currentBuild.displayName = "The name."
currentBuild.description = "The best description."
}
... do whatever.
}
}
}
}
The script is kind of an escape hatch to get out of a declarative pipeline. There is probably a declarative way to do it but i couldn't find it. And one more note. I think you want currentBuild.displayName instead of currentBuild.name In the documentation for Jenkins globals I didn't see a name property under currentBuild.
A:
If you want to set build name to a job from a parameter, you can use
currentBuild.displayName = "${nameOfYourParameter}".
Make sure you use double quotes instead of single quotes.
Job Configuration
Build job with parameter
Build History
REFERENCE: How to set build name in Pipeline job?
| 2024-06-29T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5185 |
Update June 7, 2018 - Hall of Shame
This article is a Hall of Shamer ™ for irrelevance. I have migrated from r.js to Webpack.
One of the great principles of Require.js is that you shouldn't need a build step during development, you should simply be able to refresh the browser and see your changes reflected. This does not mean, however, that you should also have to compromise on performance. Often times it makes sense to modify your application's source at build time for performance reasons. This includes minification, annotation, inlining of text dependencies, or even transpiling one source format to another. Require.js offers the r.js build tool to optimize your code for production as well as a robust plugin system. This article will focus on the former, using Angular.js dependency injection annotations and ngmin as an example.
The Problem
In Angular.js a dependency injection system is used to resolve dependencies and provide them at run time. Dependencies use constructor function argument names to match dependencies and provide them at run time. For example:
angular . module ( "people" ) . controller ( "MyCtrl" , function ( $scope , $http ) { } ) ;
Please see the JavaScript Dependency Injection article for a more detailed explanation.
This approach becomes problematic at the minification phase of a project because when the argument names are mangled they can no longer be properly mapped to dependencies.
angular . module ( "people" ) . controller ( "MyCtrl" , function ( a , b ) { } ) ;
For the above reason Angular.js provides a build safe approach for declaring dependencies which involves using strings to annotate dependencies.
angular . module ( "people" ) . controller ( "MyCtrl" , [ "$scope" , "$http" , function ( a , b ) { } , ] ) ;
This certainly works and is more akin to how we declare AMD dependencies, but doing these annotations means we duplicate our dependency declarations once in the array annotations and again in the function arguments. Worse, since we don't have the ability to use something like the excellent CommonJS sugar Require.js provides, we are forced to maintain two disparate lists of dependencies and match them up using order instead of variable declarations.
Wouldn't it be great if we could use a tool to perform these annotations for us? Enter ngmin.
ngmin
ngmin is a preprocessor which parses your code for injectable constructor functions and annotates them automatically making your Angular.js code "build safe".
ngmin somefile.js somefile.annotate.js
This command would output "somefile.annotate.js" which would be an annotated version of some file.
As a side note, ngmin also offers a grunt task and a Rails Asset Pipeline plugin.
Using ngmin is well and good and all but we now have an additional step of added complexity for every build we perform. A developer needs to run a concatenator (or dependency tracer), ngmin, and then the minifier. All of this before or after other application specific build tools. To make things worse order matters in many of these cases so running different tasks in parallel becomes difficult.
Enter r.js.
r.js
r.js is the defacto build tool for AMD driven projects and thanks to its extensible callbacks we can perform source modification using things like ngmin. This way developers will run "r.js" causing concatenation, annotation and minification to be taken care of by a single system. This helps reduce complexity in a build system by decreasing the number of cognitive steps to one instead of three.
Solution
r.js offers an excellent build hook "onBuildRead" which is invoked for each module, the return value of this hook will be used for the built file prior to minification. For performance reasons r.js will only invoke this on your bundled modules by default. I recommend setting "normalizeDirDefines" to "all" which means these modifications will be run on all files, not just your bundled modules. The reason I make this recommendation is because I believe you should run your unit tests after the build process and since unit tests are executed against individual modules you will need your source modifications to run against those as well. It is important to remember that tools like UglifyJS, r.js or ngmin aren't flawless.
( { dir : "javascripts-built" , baseUrl : "javascripts" , modules : [ { name : "MyApplication" , } , ] , normalizeDirDefines : "all" , onBuildRead : function ( moduleName , path , contents ) { return require ( "ngmin" ) . annotate ( contents ) ; } , } ) ;
Now all of "MyApplication" and its child modules will be run through ngmin, and minified afterwards. This means we can unit test those children as well. The combination of "onBuildRead" and "normalizeDirDefines" empowers us to perform testable source modification at build time. | 2024-04-24T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2392 |
Q:
How can I define the function used in a function template?
I started to study template in C++ today and I've tried to write a simple code. Then I want to write another function(display) inside the original function(function) using the template parameter(a), but I couldn't find a way to define the "display" function correctly. Is there any solution to pass the compile? Or should I use class template(which I haven't studied yet, but if it's needed, I'll read related materials at once)? By the way, my mother tongue is not English so I used a little translator. Some of my description might seem weird and I'm sorry about that.
I learned that template has its variable scope so I tried to add{}, but it doesn't work. What's more, I don't want to copy the code into the "function" so I have no idea what to do.
template <typename T>
void function(T a[],int n)
{
cout<< "now you are in function." <<endl;
for(int i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
display(a,i);//Here I have to use "a"
cout << a[i] << " ";
}
cout << endl;
}
void display(T a[],int n)
{
cout << "now you are in display." << endl;
for(int i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
cout << a[n-i] << " ";
}
cout << endl;
}
Here's what compiler says:
error: variable or field ‘display’ declared void
void display(T a[],int n)
error: ‘T’ was not declared in this scope
But I can't use another typename before the "display" function.
A:
There are two problems with your code:
display is defined after function, and therefore cannot be used within function; and
display should be a template function in order to use the typename T.
Since display is defined after function, the compiler will not be able to find display when you try to call it within function. You can either declare display before defining function, which basically tells the compiler that the function is defined somewhere else, or you can just move the definition of display above `function.
In addition, you need to make display a template as well so that it can use the type T.
You can fix both problems the easiest way by doing this:
template <typename T>
void display(T a[],int n)
{
// your code here
}
template<typename T>
void function(T a[],int n)
{
// your code here
}
If you really wanted the definition for display to come after that of function, you could declare display before function is defined:
template<typename T>
void display(T a[], int n);
template<typename T>
void function(T a[], int n)
{
// your code here
}
template<typename T>
void display(T a[], int n)
{
// your code here
}
Edit: After you update display to be a template, you'll need to update your code to call it accordingly:
template<typename T>
void function(T a[], int n)
{
// ... beginning of the function ...
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
display<T>(a, i); // Note the addition of the template parameter
cout << a[i] << " ";
}
// ... rest of the function ...
}
| 2024-02-20T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5763 |
Monday, September 29, 2014
David Cronenberg's Hollywood-centered family melodrama Maps to the Stars marks the veteran director's second straight film with Twilight alum Robert Pattinson after 2012's Cosmopolis.
Although many still see Pattinson as vampire heartthrob Edward Cullen, Cronenberg told The Hollywood Reporter he could easily look past that.
"I have no problem ignoring that," the director said of Pattinson's Twilight past. "Of course I watched the first Twilight movie just to see what he was like and get a feel for his screen presence and so on and so on…by the time you're on the set, it's just the two of you making movies. You forget your own movies too.'"
Speaking to THR ahead of Saturday night's New York Film Festival screening of Maps, Cronenberg explained that he wanted to work with Pattinson (who wasn't in attendance at the New York event) on this movie not only because the director thinks of him as "a wonderful actor" and they "had a good time on Cosmopolis" but also because it provided the opportunity for Pattinson to participate in the sort of ensemble film he'd told Cronenberg he wanted to do.
"He told me that he was scared about Cosmopolis because he had not really wanted to do a movie where he was the lead and had the whole movie on his shoulders," the director explained. "And of course in that movie he's in almost every scene. He said, 'One day I'd love to do an ensemble piece where there are a lot of good actors and [he's] just one of them.'"
When Cronenberg was putting together Maps, he thought of his Cosmopolis star. | 2023-11-14T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4512 |
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Many attempts have been made at developing artificial vision systems otherwise known as pattern recognition systems for automatic target recognition (ATR). Currently artificial vision systems are limited to fixed viewing aspects and carefully controlled and lighting conditions. Real world artificial vision problems such as ATR exhibit a great degree of variability and are beyond the scope of conventional artificial vision systems. Incorporating aspects of biological visions systems may be the key to developing truly effective artificial vision systems for real world problems. One biologically influenced approach to ATR involves performing a decomposition of an image into its constituent features. It is believed by scientists who study the brain that there are "feature detector" neurons operating in the human vision system. It is further believed by these scientists that edge features are the most likely type of feature used by brains since most of the information in an image is contained within the edges in a manner more fully described in the book Vision authored by D. Marr and published by Freeman, San Francisco, 1982, with the applicable sections thereof being incorporated by reference. However, the recognition of edge features or combinations thereof does not solve the computer vision problem. It imposes a requirement to "bind" the recognized edges into a coherent pattern.
Observations of coherent oscillatory behavior in the brains of test animals have been reported in recent years (see C. M. Gray et al, "Oscillatory Responses in Cat Visual Cortex Exhibit Inter-Columnar Synchronization which Reflects Stimulus Properties," Nature, v. 338, p.334, 1989, which is herein incorporated by reference). Currently many brain scientists are of the view that complex nonlinear dynamics across many neurons implement feature binding (see W. J. Freeman, "The Physiology of Perception," Scientific American, February, 1991 and R. Eckhorn et al, "Feature Linking via Synchronization Among Distributed Assemblies: Simulations of Results from Cat Cortex," Neural Comput. 2, 293-307, 1990; both of which techniholds that coherence is the outward manifestation of feature binding caused by nonlinear dynamics, the teaching behind the present invention holds that coherence is the very process by how binding occurs. The teaching behind the present invention posits that local processing elements (implemented by small groups of neurons) transform the detections of simple relationships among small numbers of features into representative signals of which the coherence relation with respect to other representative signals may be detected. Unlike the present invention, the popular theory would not be implementable in conventional computer architecture. It would require a massive array of analog electronic circuits to implement. Making this work would involve overcoming formidable engineering challenges. Conversely, the teaching behind the present invention, as will be shown, is very amenable to conventional computer architecture.
A method of performing an edge feature decomposition, generating an invariant representation of edge features, detecting the invariant feature relations in an input image of an unknown object and binding the associated edge features by a noise coding process is described in the cross-referenced patent application Ser. No. 08/833,482 having Attorney Docket No. 77387. Also disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/920,289 having Attorney Docket No. 78226 is a hardware implementation to accommodate the edge feature decomposition. In the above referenced inventions, following the edge feature decomposition, the decomposed image is further transformed into digital quantities representing relations between the features which are compared against prestored digital quantities so that the transformed representation of the unknown image captured by an optical subsystem is matched against prestored quantities, thereby, identifying the invariant edge feature relations within the unknown object. The process of the above referenced inventions only matches feature relations of the input with those represented by the prestored digital quantities. To recognize the unknown object, it is necessary to establish the universal relationships among all the edge features associated with the recognized invariant digital quantities. The process of relating or binding the associated edge features into a complete pattern is in an underlying sense related to coherence measurement. In the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/833,482 having Attorney Docket No. 77387, a process of generating pseudo-random sequences associated with specific edge features is described as a means of characterizing the coherence of the edge features. It would be beneficial if a dedicated processor could be provided optimized for the noise coding processing so as to reduce the computational time to a manageable level. As it will be shown, the nature of the noise coding lends itself well to implementation on pipeline type architecture. The present invention provides noise coding to be implemented on a system that utilizes practices and techniques of conventional computer architecture. | 2023-11-11T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4471 |
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DR. K. P. BOYEV WAS NOT SYMPATHETIC WHEN I ADDRESSED HIM MY SYMPTOMS, HAD VERY ARROGANT ATTITUTE. DURING MY EXAMINATION HIS FOCUS WAS TO EXPLAIN TO ANOTHER DOCTOR HOW COULD HYPERACUSIS BE RESOLVED VIA SURGERY . THANK GOD I DID NOT RETURN BACK BECAUSE MEDICAL LITERATURES AND OTHER ENT SURGEONS STATES SO FAR, THAT MY CONDITION IS NOT SURGICALLY TREATED .
I have a balance problem with dizziness.I went through the hearing test which I understand was needed for my hearing evaluation. I can hear perfectly. It was not the reason of my visit. Dr. Boyev spent 5 minutes with me to tell me that my symptoms will come and go. I woke up this morning with the same symptoms, nothing change and no help. I am very disapointed.
Dr Boyev performed a stapendectomy on my right ear. He clearly informed me of what was involved in the surgery and warned me of all the possible outcomes. He is a caring Dr with great skill. After 4 years my hearing in that ear remains the same.
If you are a child this doctor will most likely be a decent choice for you, however if you are an adult most likely he will treat you like a problem and dictate to you how everything will be happening even if he doesn't have a clue whats happening with you. The messages left for him concerning thing like infections after surgery don't get returned, they even forget to call you after major surgery for your follow up to remove packing... I am going to go to someone else who has a better reputation, this guy is rapidly falling off the dock into the sea, He is of course too arrogant to recognize the errors of his ways, in short he has made things worse not better, and I hope that he learns about these reports so he can get help.
This guy boyev is a quack. Iwent to him with total deafness left ear and about 95% deafness right ear.He immediately went for cochlea implant. After implant surgery I was having problems and could not contact him because he had left on vacation and his staff was not any help. After the 5 weeks healing period, he put me with audiologist for activating and tuning implant. After several 100 mile one way) trips, the audiologist gave up and said it would not work. Then I was told the quack said there was scar tissue in my cochlea and implant would not go in far enough. I finally went to a real doctor and had cat scan. The quack had totally missed the cochlea and almost got it into a major blood vein. My next venture was to Silverstein Institute in Sarasota where Dr. Jack Wazin redid this for me and implanted another implant correctly and it works fantastically. Anyone going to this jerk Boyev does so at their own risk.
I had surgery with Dr. Boyev. Here are things that they could have warned me about:-I would wakeup with a long piece of my hair on my lap. (They shaved 1-inch of hair surrounding my whole ear. It would have been nice if they had told me that before the surgery. I had to go to work and school looking like that.)-I would not be able to fly for 3 months. I found out after the surgery and after I had bought tickets for my interview in Boston.-I met the doctor right before my surgery and he talked to me for less than a minute. After the surgery, I saw him for 5 minutes. I wish he would have spent more time in the office with me.-Every time I call his office (during business hours), it goes to the answering machine. I left a few messages with my name, phone, question,etc and have yet to hear from his office. Overall, it is hard to get a hold of him. I would like to ask him a few questions about my hearing but I cannot reach him in his office. When I go for my 3rd follow-up, I hope I can see him (instead of his residents) so that I can ask him questions. I do not know if I should address his lack of interest in me as patient and my concerns. I do not want to sound unprofessional or rude to him. All in all, if you have a chance, choose a doctor that has time to spend with you and is personable.
I had seen most of the specialist in the Tampa Bay area and this one was the first to accurately diagnoise my daughters problem. He truly has a gift at explaining things that are complacated and has a very funny sense of humor. Happy to report my daughter is doing very well now.
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As more fully set forth in this website's terms of use. (1) nothing contained on or offered by or through this website should be construed as medical advice and should not be relied upon for medical diagnosis or treatment. MDX Medical, Inc. ("MDX"). the provider of this website, does not recommend or endorse any particular healthcare provider whose information or ratings appear on this website; and (2) MDX has granted you a limited license to access and use this website for your own noncommercial use. You are not permitted to copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, mirror, frame, scrape, extract, wrap, create derivative works of, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any part or aspect of this website. | 2024-06-17T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4381 |
21 candidates vying for Ilion-Mohawk school board
With 21 candidates running for the new Ilion-Mohawk Central School District Board of Education, voters have their choice from candidates with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
By BRYON ACKERMAN
The Times
By BRYON ACKERMAN
Posted Mar. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 24, 2013 at 1:24 PM
By BRYON ACKERMAN
Posted Mar. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 24, 2013 at 1:24 PM
Herkimer, N.Y.
With 21 candidates running for the new Ilion-Mohawk Central School District Board of Education, voters have their choice from candidates with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
Board candidates were welcomed to submit profile information to Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES in order to get the information out to the public. The candidates’ information and their responses to two questions are listed below.
The Board of Education election will take place from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Ilion Junior-Senior High School. Absentee ballots are available at the Mohawk and Ilion district offices.
The candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will serve the longest terms. Three board members will serve for three-year terms expiring June 30, 2016; two members will serve for two-year terms expiring June 30, 2015; and two members will serve one-year terms expiring June 30, 2014.
Here is a look at the candidates – listed in the order they were randomly selected to appear on the ballot:
Jeffrey Sperl
Residence: Mohawk
Family: Married to Sara (VanWormer) for 10 years. Two children: Daughter, Jordan, is in third grade, and son, Nathan, is in second grade.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Mohawk in 1991. Received an associate degree in criminal justice from Herkimer County Community College. Attended SUNY Brockport from 1994-1995. Served nine years in the New York state Army National Guard, earning the rank of sergeant. Employed with Fiberdyne Labs since 1995 – currently serving as the contract administrator and managing shipping/receiving and inventory.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Coach of his children’s American Youth Soccer Organization teams for the past five years. Member of the Herkimer Elks. Member of the Mohawk Board of Education and the School Board Institute Committee.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: My interest in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District stems from the desire to ensure that this new district is able to provide the highest quality education in a fiscally responsible manner for all children.
After I was elected to the Mohawk Board of Education in July 2012, I completed trainings that include fiscal oversight, as well as the required six hours of new school board training mandated by the New York State Education Department. I have also participated in several board workshops and have met with area legislators and policy makers in regards to current state regulations, curriculum requirements and state aid equity issues. I would like to take the knowledge and experience I have gained and apply it to the Ilion-Mohawk Board of Education for the benefit of all.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Page 2 of 17 -
Answer 2: This new District was voted for by the people to give their children the best possible and fiscally sound education that we could provide. There will be many important issues that the new board will face. The board will need to ensure that the district policies encompass the beliefs and values of both villages as well as keep our children safe. There will be issues regarding transitioning both teachers and students whom are going to be displaced from the closing of Remington Elementary, as well as those with special needs, to feel comfortable in a new environment. This new board will need to map out a new road map of our children’s educational needs. There will be a need to create new courses and activities that will certainly raise financial questions about how to deliver this in a fiscally responsible manner. This new district will be faced with multiple decisions about how to provide our children the tools needed to keep up with advancing technology and be prepared to succeed in the future.
William Lennox
Residence: Ilion
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Ilion and graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston with a Bachelor of Science degree. Was a partner and pharmacist in Lennox Bros. Pharmacy for 36 years and a partner in the Lennox/Day Construction Co. for 22 years.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Former board member of the Mohawk Valley YMCA, past president of the Ilion Central School Foundation, past president for the American Youth Soccer Organization, coached AYSO teams, coached weightlifting at Ilion for 13 years, past president of the Ilion Community Club, member of the Ilion Elks and member of the MV Firebirds flying club.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: I decided to run for the Board of Education after attending most of the merger meetings and being chairman of the Board of Canvass. I felt that I still wanted to be part of the process. It is a very exciting time for the valley. I have a strong business background, which is essential for being fiscally responsible. Over the years, I have hired many high-school students and have seen a decline in the basics skills they possess. I would like to be involved in improving their education to meet the demands of the business world.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The most important issues for me are: Fiscal responsibility; improving discipline and respect; improving graduation rates by offering more tech and vocational classes, classes to improve young women’s self esteem and life study courses; expanding the music and art programs; expanding the advanced placement courses (very important in college applications); and using student hall monitors and student mentors to help stop bullying.
Page 3 of 17 - M. Bridget McKinley
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married to Kevin McKinley. Two children: Marc and Erin McKinley.
Education and employment experience: Registered nurse from Crouse-Irving Memorial Hospital, BSN from SUNY IT, major in nursing MSN from SUNY IT, ANCC - certified ddult and family nurse practitioner for 16 years, health care provider for 31 years. Experience as an adjunct professor at Utica College and SUNY IT. Employed at SUNY Oneonta providing primary care to Students at the College Health Center. Past employment in urgent care/emergency care, primary care, occupational health, rheumatology and education.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Member of the Herkimer County Democratic Committee and the Diabetes Performance Team with Faxton-St. Luke’s Heath Care. Volunteer at Herkimer Humane Society, American Red Cross, Relay for Life, Great American Irish Festival and Boilermaker Road Race. Active Participant in America’s Greatest Heart Run and Walk, Sitrin Stars and Stripes Walk; Race for a Cure and Wiggle-Waggle Walk a Thon.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: I am interested in becoming a board member because I feel I can bring enthusiasm and new ideas to this new school and merger. Having lived in Ilion for most of my life, I have seen the school go through many changes. I am a graduate of Ilion, as are my two children. Over the past several years, I have watched as the surrounding valley schools have struggled as they faced the financial crisis that has plagued both the state of New York and our country. Our schools have endured drastic cuts in state funding, while the burden of that shortfall has been placed on the taxpayers. I am confident that I can be a valuable part of a team effort to develop sound strategies regarding the funding that will be made available as a result of this merger – with the end result being an even brighter future for our children.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: Over the course of the first several years, there will be a sharp learning curve for everyone involved – Board of Education, administration and teachers – but mostly the students. That being the case, I do think, however, that the merger should be seen as an opportunity to bring back the hope and faith of the community in public education. I have heard from many parents in our community that they have lost trust and faith in public education. This ought to be a priority with the goal of making people proud of their schools again and encouraging them to be active in and support school activities. It takes a community to raise a child, and bringing back the public trust in our education system and working together as a team is critical for this merger to succeed and is in the best interest of our children.
Page 4 of 17 - James Vitale
Residence: Ilion
Family: Wife, Kimberly. Four daughters.
Education and employment experience: Master’s degree from Syracuse University. BFA degree from University at Buffalo. AAS degree from Mohawk Valley Community College. Leadership Institute, ILR School Cornell University. National Special Leadership Conference. Employed as a professor at MVCC.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Academic Program Review Committee at MVCC. Chair of the Learning Communities Design Team at MVCC. Serves on the Visual Communications Craft Committee for Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES. Past member of the Ilion Central School District Foundation. Assistant coach for MVCC women’s soccer team. Coliseum Soccer Club girls coach and trainer. Ilion American Youth Soccer Organization coach. National Coaches Soccer Association of America level five diploma.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: In 2009, I was elected to the Ilion Central School District’s Board of Education. I have served to promote student success and academic excellence while remaining fiscally responsible.
As a college professor, I am able to see what tools are necessary for success after high school, especially for those students who intend to further their education. I consider the acquisition of these skills an important goal even for those students who may not be planning to attend college immediately after they graduate from high school.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The new board and newly formed district will face many hurdles and may experience growing pains. A focus of the board is to maintain and create opportunity for all students while managing limited resources.
As we come together as one district, the new board must support an alignment of goals. We must lead by example and demonstrate respect for all students, teachers, staff, administrators and community members. We have a great opportunity to accentuate the best features from both Mohawk and Ilion, while making improvements in areas where necessary. This will allow us to emerge as a “super school,” providing the best for our students and bringing our communities together.
This is an exciting time for all stakeholders. Every decision must reflect unity among communities as we prepare to transition. The board members will need to keep the focus on the great benefits this merger will provide. Board members serve at the pleasure of the voters. The voters recognize the value in combining districts, and it will be the responsibility of the new board to ensure that the voters’ agenda is executed as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Matthew Shedd
Residence: Ilion
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Family: Married for 15 years with three children ranging in age from 5 to 13.
Education and employment experience: Has worked in the insurance industry for 18 years. Currently a corporate officer for a local insurance company. Has served in various capacities including employee management, corporate portfolio management, finance, cash management, policy and claims administration, purchasing and managing corporate banking relationships. Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from SUNY IT and an AAS degree in accounting from Herkimer County Community College.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Former Mohawk Central School District PTO treasurer and audit committee member. Coach for girls ASA softball, Mohawk Little League, and Mohawk Youth Basketball and served as an assistant American Youth Soccer Organization coach. Member of Annunciation Church in Ilion, serving various capacities including Parish Council, “Called to Be Church” Merger Committee and Marriage Prep Team. Member of Baileys Karate School in Herkimer.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: Ensuring a quality education and providing opportunities for all students of the new district motivates me to become a board member. Putting our children first will help us provide a brighter future for them. I will be instrumental in providing leadership for the new district. I am prepared to undertake this responsibility as I provide leadership on a corporate level every day. I ensure the efficient operation of each department under my direction. I provide cost effective solutions to problems and issues and operate within budget constraints to ensure appropriate allocation of resources from a staffing and operational standpoint. I take the time to understand how administrative processes work to make effective decisions that improve the quality of workflow for my employer. I will take the time to understand both sides of any issue and help establish a workable solution. I will put children first.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The newly formed district faces many challenges, but the largest issue surrounds establishing a sense of community among the students, parents and residents of both villages. This can only be achieved by remaining focused on what is important – focusing on our children and improving the education opportunities for them to succeed.
The second challenge will surround balancing the wants and needs of the students, administration and staff given the constraints of the resources the newly formed district has available. Focusing on operating within those constraints will lead to the long term viability of the district.
The third challenge will surround the allocation of staff to ensure all programs promised in the merger study can become a reality while meeting state guidelines.
Page 6 of 17 - Jennifer Pedersen
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married, with five children.
Education and employment experience: Served in the U.S. Air Force from 1996 to 2000. Had management responsibilities in the Air Force and has held other management positions since. Has attended seminars regarding special needs in all classroom settings. Has been a substitute teacher of all grade levels in the local schools for more than two years. Parent Member for CSE meetings since 2009.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Treasurer of the S. Fifth Ave. Fundraising Committee in Ilion. Held a fundraiser in Russell Park for autism awareness in 2010.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: I’m interested because I want to serve and support the district as a team member. I have strong personal interests and experience in special education, but most importantly, I have children in the district and want to have a direct impact on their education. I volunteer as a parent member during CSE meetings to help advocate for families and their children. I am fortunate enough to work with many of our students as a substitute teacher and have developed a strong bond with them as well as a huge desire to give them what they deserve.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The important issues are making strategic choices for the well-being of the district, the ability to see the long-term implications of an action, encouraging the community’s trust in its school system and most importantly making the children’s future our only real agenda.
Lori Sementilli
Residence: Mohawk
Family: Husband, Dave Sementilli, and son, Joel.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Mohawk in 1980. Graduated from Utica College in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and gerontology. Completed 18 hours towards a master’s degree in social work administration.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Belongs to the New York State Probation Officer Association. Member of the VFW Auxiliary. Volunteer with the Herkimer County Humane Society. Certified pharmacy technician.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: Merging two districts is a major undertaking, and I believe that I have the knowledge and the skills to facilitate the transition with the students and staff. I have been on the Mohawk school board for 10 years, during which time I have chaired the Policy Committee and the Audit Committee. I have also sat on the Building and Grounds Committee and the Bus Garage Committee. I actively negotiated contracts for the administrators, teachers and non-teaching staff. I am knowledgeable in the areas of Civil Service law and union regulations. I was the board president for two terms and vice president for two terms.
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Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The most important issues the newly formed district will face are remaining fiscally solvent, providing the maximum educational and extracurricular opportunities to the children and becoming a cohesive unit. Other major issues will be building and classroom configurations, contract negotiations and various other secondary issues.
Stephen Coupe
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married to Kendra (Burdick) Coupe for 22 years. Children: Kayleigh Coupe and Courtney Coupe.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Ilion in 1984. Herkimer County Community College associate in applied science, business administration in 1988. SUNY IT Bachelor of Science in finance in 1992. Syracuse University Whitman School of Management MBA in strategic management in 1995. Has held various positions with the Carbone Auto Group dating back to 1985 – including assistant parts manager, administrator of central administrative operations, chief operating officer and general manager of Utica/Adirondack Harley Davidson.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Ilion Board of Education member since 1997 and the current vice president. Member of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Audit Committee. Served as chairman of the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Occupational Education Advisory Board from 1994 to 1999. Mohark Valley Community College Foundation member since 1996, past vice president and current board treasurer and chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee. Member of Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: I was first elected to the Ilion Board of Education in 1997 at age 30. I felt I was too young to run at the time but was encouraged to do so by the then-superintendent of schools who had observed my contributions on the original Ilion-Mohawk merger study a few years earlier. Fortunately, I was successful, and that decision to run has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my life.
Fifteen years as a board member has certainly cured my feelings of being too young for the job. At the same time, it has also given me a thorough understanding of the complexities of education in today’s world and the challenges our young people face. My experience as a board member and my background in business and finance uniquely position me as a person who can help make sure the Ilion-Mohawk merger is done smoothly and done correctly.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The most important issue facing the new district is how to organize quickly and be ready for business when school opens in September 2013. It is critical that our students are able to attend school with as smooth a transition as possible.
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But achieving that objective only means we are as good as we used to be. That is a significant first step. But the second step is accepting the challenge of being as good as we are capable of being. One of the most important hallmarks of a good education is helping students find their place in this world and then preparing them for it. Every employee of our district needs to be focused on the task of preparing students for meaningful careers or for entrance to the college that will prepare them for those careers. Only after that goal is achieved can we move our sights elsewhere.
Fred Schell
Residence: Mohawk
Family: Married to Anne Schell for more than 18 years. Two sons, ages 14 and 15.
Education and employment experience: Owner of Better Homes & Transport lnc. Started the business from scratch and has helped almost 500 families into new homes. Graduated from Mohawk in 1985 and from Herkimer County Community College in 1987.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Member of the Mohawk Audit Committee for the school district and the Mohawk Community Club, which supports youth in the community.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: My love and loyalty of our community and children are the main reasons l am interested in becoming a school board member. I became interested in a school board position once l heard discussions of the merger studies. My wife and I started attending board meetings to familiarize ourselves with all of the options that were put onto the table. Most of which we agreed with, but much of it we did not. I realized passion and emotion drove many people to the decisions on whether or not we should or should not merge. I feel my ability to look at things objectively, my willingness to understand multiple views and my experience meeting strict deadlines will be strong assets. I own and operate a successful business built on integrity and hard work ethic. These qualities will enable me to make fair and correct decisions needed at this critical time.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The important issues for the board to team with the administration on are: preparing classes to make sure no child gets lost in the transition and will be able to take full advantage of this new opportunity; child placement for the elementary schools; making sure we have the right teacher in place teaching the right classes; formulating a budget to keep the teachers that are so valuable to us; giving the children the best education, advanced placement classes, extracurricular activities and sports while planning, saving, reducing debt and preparing the district for the years ahead once the incentive aid runs out; transportation; safety and security; incorporating the policies of both schools along with new policies that will suit the best interest of the students; educating the students, teachers and parents of these new policies and procedure; and working with the transition teams to accomplish the team’s objectives.
Page 9 of 17 - Daniel LaLonde
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married to the former Carole [Katovich] Binney, with three children.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Ilion in 1975. Received an accounting degree from Herkimer County Community College. Worked for several years as an assistant manager at the Ilion Big M. Hired as a professional firefighter/cardiac care technician with the Ilion Fire Department. In 1992, injured fighting a fire that ended his career.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Member of the Association of Professional Police and Fire Retirees of Upstate New York. Member of the Knights of Columbus.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: The question of a merger came up about four years ago. I was president of the Ilion board, and we felt it was worth exploring. The Citizen Advisory Committee was selected and did a wonderful job investigating all the issues. The voters overwhelming accepted the proposition. Now, I want to see the merger through to fruition. This is a new beginning, with new traditions and most of all, better opportunities for all students.
I feel that my 14 years on the Ilion board, currently the president, and serving nine years on the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES board, currently the vice-president, has prepared me to handle any situation that might arise and to continue to help the board function properly.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The main two issues that face any board are finances and setting policy. State issues that plague the board are unfunded mandates. Federal issues that have surfaced are due to the sequestration. Federal funding cuts will cause major issues with special education. As long as the new board members don’t have any agenda, they can work together to solve any issue.
Melissa Reed
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married to Shannon Reed since June 2006. One son, Cooper, 5. Brother, Zakk Zuranski, 17.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Mohawk and attended Herkimer County Community College for paralegal. After college, moved to Florida and worked at Disney World for a year. Returned to Mohawk, worked at the Wilber Wenner Insurance Agency and has worked in the insurance industry since. Currently employed at the Belfield Insurance Agency in Waterville and is a licensed insurance agent and a notary public.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Volunteer at the Barringer Road Elementary School since her son started going there. Member of the Barringer Road PTO. Volunteer for the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Family has been members of the Ilion Elks Club for more than 70 years, starting with her late grandfather John B Morris.
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Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: I am interested in becoming part of the school board to help build the framework for the district that my son and all the other area kids will depend on to be there and to be strong with every opportunity available to them. I was raised here, I attended the schools here and I live here with a child who will be in this district for many years to come. I have also lived in other areas and have seen what they are doing to provide the most for their students. I work in Waterville, which has a merged school district blending Waterville, Oriskany Falls and Deansboro kids into one central district in Waterville. They are providing a top notch education for all of the students with AP and special education classes.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: I think that the new school board will need to work hard to create a blended district. They will need to manage the funds that the district is receiving to ensure that the district will be sustainable. We need to ensure that the kids truly benefit from this merger and are offered the courses that are going to make them well-educated and well-rounded as they are applying for colleges and going out into the world.
Deborah Schoff
Residence: Ilion
Family: Husband, Richard, and two children who are 10 and 12 years old.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Ilion. BS/MS in education from Oneonta State University. Employed as a teacher in the Herkimer Central School District for 24 years.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Little League volunteer and concession stand coordinator. American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life participant. Miles For Missy volunteer. PTA member/volunteer. Hunger Coalition Annual School Food Drive organizer. Interview committees for teachers and administrators. School crisis team leader. Knowledge and experience with APPR, state- funded and unfunded mandates. Contract negotiations team member. Knowledge of labor contracts and school budget process.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: Being a lifelong resident of Ilion, I have a vested interest in the success of all children. My experience in education gives me a well-rounded perspective that will assist when making decisions regarding how to support curriculum and instruction. Having the ability to think globally and consider what is in the best interest of students, staff and the communities prepares me to undertake this responsibility.
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Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The Board of Education must work together to create both a short and long term financial plan that manages our funds wisely. This would include planned savings to prepare and maintain our school now, as well as in the future. We will need to create an integrated administration and faculty, which will maximize the resources of administration and staff and provide ample opportunities for our students to become career and college ready. The board will need to ensure a smooth transition, which includes merging contracts, district policies and procedures.
Walt Roginski
Residence: Mohawk
Family: Married to Shar for 40 years. Four children: Jon, Steven, A.J. and Kristin.
Education and employment experience: Earned his AAS from Herkimer County Community College in 1973. In the last 15 of his 37 years with the Otis Elevator company (retired in 2011), he was responsible for all aspects of the business including financial and field performance. Promoted to service quality engineer for Otis-North American Operations (including the United States and Canada). As an SQE, he was responsible for consulting on process and operational improvement, helping struggling offices meet their goals.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: His community involvement includes Boy Scouts Troop No. 26, Mohawk Little League and the Mohawk Board of Education (for 13 years, including president of the board for several years). I was honored to serve on the Mohawk Board of Education for 13 years (leaving due to time demands resulting from a promotion at Otis). Was board president in 1994, when the school burned, and the district turned to Ilion Central School District, which shared its facilities.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: I would like to see our district be financially sound and offer a superior academic experience for all our students. I believe our students must feel safe, secure and comfortable regardless of such factors as religion, race, sex or sexual orientation. Our students should also have opportunities for enrichment through a wide variety of responsibly executed extracurricular activities.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: All of our children in this district deserve the opportunities that a merged district can offer. Our advanced students need the course structure that will allow them to excel in their continuing education. Our special needs students deserve all the services that enable them to be productive citizens. In addition, classes that teach life skills to young adults must be offered to all students, easing their transition into society.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: As a parent of two Mohawk students, I wanted to be involved in the future of their educations. I am also interested in being involved with the newly established district to help lay the ground work for setting Ilion-Mohawk on a successful path for the betterment of both communities. I have been a self-employed business owner and entrepreneur for most of my life. It’s my belief the experience I have acquired and practical business sense will be a great asset to the newly formed board.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: The most important issues are: ensuring that the newly merged school district will be able to remain viable and expand educational, athletic and arts programs to meet the demands of future students; properly appropriating incentive monies to retain and acquire qualified educators, administration and support staff; and setting fiscally responsible and realistic goals to fulfill the needs of the newly formed district.
Robert Berger
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married for 28 years to Sharon, and they have no children.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Ilion in 1976. Graduated from Herkimer County Community College with an associate degree in psychology in 1984. Retired from the Navy in 2002 with 24 years of service. Currently employed as lead electrician at the F.X. Matt Brewing Co. and has been three for 21 years.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Current president of the Ilion Winter Club. Former secretary treasurer of the Ilion Winter Club for 10 years. Former chief union steward at the F.X. Matt Brewing Co.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: With the formation of a new school district, I am interested in the challenge of developing a new administration. I believe that new people would give a different prospective on solving the problems of a new district. I believe I am prepared because of my experiences with balancing budgets, negotiating two union contracts and I have learned problem solving skills through my trade and my Navy experience.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
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Answer 2: The most important issues that the new school board will face are as follows: Ensure that every student is given the opportunity to achieve their potential and be prepared for the new challenges after graduation; be fiscally responsible, so in the long term the financial health of the district is secure; and have an inclusive process when merging the two school districts into one school district.
Vicki Judd
Residence: Mohawk
Family: Married to James, for 10 years. Three children: Ava, 8; Deacon, 7; and Reese.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Ilion in 1988. Received an A.S. in communications in 1990 from Sage Jr. College of Albany and Bachelor of Science in communications and technical writing from RPI in 1992. Worked for Anderson Consulting, developed software for Dun & Bradstreet Software and developed policies and online training for a holding company, KeyCorp. Has worked at IBM since 1996 – currently managing multiple IBM resources, corporate budgets and project work plans. Is a cross-industry certified ERP project manager and IT services subject matter expert.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Current Mohawk Board of Education member for two years. Fisher Elementary PTO member (vice president in 2009). Former Mohawk Community Advisory Committee member (four-school merger only). Race Coordinator and founder of Mohawk’s Turkey Trot for the past three years. American Youth Soccer Organization referee for Mohawk and current Mohawk AYSO coach. Mohawk Pop Warner Football communications liaison for two years. Mohawk Youth Sports One Call Now administrator for two years. Former youth softball coach for two seasons. Gram Lorraine & Uncle Franks Back to School program volunteer. Co-founder of The Ilion Project nonprofit. Fiscal responsibility for more than 22 years of various corporate project budgets.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: My interest lies in preparing our kids to do well in the world, no matter what they choose to be. I’m interested in utilizing staff, programs and curriculum to support all needs of our kids. To provide education for those needing more support to those needing more enhancements and in-between. I build fiscally responsible budgets and develop roadmaps/plans as my job. I’m willing to speak up in order to represent students, taxpayers, parents and staff, as well as bring as much transparency as legally possible. In addition to my drive and business experience, my time as a Board of Education member has provided me experience in unions, the importance of a solid administration, educational law, sensible policies that support our students, the New York State Department of Education system and the need for additional communications.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
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Answer 2: Many topics will be addressed by great transition committees with oversight from the Board of Education. In regards to issues, first we must have the right administrators. They make the everyday decisions and are the touch points for our community, parents, staff, Department of Education and most importantly our kids. Second, ensuring we are fiscally responsible with our budget. Third, policies that support our kids. Some can be leveraged but revisions are in order to support the newly merged district. New policies will be needed, such as: details around security, communication expectations for urgent situations and new situations based our new environment. And fourth, contract negotiations. We will do this right and in time be a success. We will be the district to teach in, to move to and to be the best support system for our families.
Orlo Burch
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married to Julie for 14 years. Two children: Orlo N. Burch and Alyssa M. Burch.
Education and employment experience: Attended Mohawk Valley Community College and Herkimer County Community College. Has worked for Steet-Ponte Ford Lincoln Mazda (formerly Ed Blask Ford) for the past 19 years.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Has served on the Board of Commissioners for the Ilion Housing Authority for the past 11 years. Has coached in the Ilion Little League, Pop Warner football and Ilion youth basketball for the past few years. Helped with Boy Scouts.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: My interests are to see that the Board of Education can bring the best educational opportunities for all students. I would also like to see that the disbursement of funds is managed and controlled. As a board member of the Ilion Housing Authority since 2001, I have held the titles of president, vice president and treasurer. I have experience with working with limitations and guidelines set forth by the state and federal governments. I also have experience with collective bargaining negotiations.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: One of the most important issues that the Board of Education will face is making sure the new Ilion-Mohawk Central School District will have all transitions set and in place prior to the start of the new school year – such as bus runs, teachers and administration. We must make sure that all transitions are as smooth as possible with such a short timeframe.
Bonnie Coffin
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married to Bill Coffin Jr. Three children: Lindsay, Abby and Andrew Coffin.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Ilion in 1984. Associate degree in liberal arts from Mohawk Valley Community College and bachelor’s degree in sociology from SUNY Oneonta. Was a 22-year employee of the Herkimer County Department of Social Services. Accepted a position in 2012 with the New York State Unified Court System.
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Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Ilion Board of Education member for seven years. Participates in community activities and parent clubs. The Ilion and Mohawk football parents clubs have met and joined forces.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: I believe my Board of Education experience makes me a worthy candidate. I am very involved in board activities and attend as many functions outside of meetings as I can. I take advantage of many training seminars offered by the School Board Institute to stay informed and educated to the many needs of our district. I strive to offer the best educational experience for our children that we can provide.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: Serving the needs of our children while being a good steward of the taxpayers’ money is and has been the biggest priority as a board member. This is an exciting time for our new district, and I look forward to being involved in this transition process regardless of the results of this election. I plan on being involved, and I have volunteered to be on the transition teams.
A solid financial plan has to be developed first, along with a solid educational plan. Currently, both districts have excellent, forward-thinking employees whose input and opinions will be crucial to our transition to the strongest school district in our area.
Thomas Goldin
Residence: Ilion
Family: Married to Diane for 33 years. Three children: Rebecca, Elaine and Gregory.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Ilion. Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from SUNY College at Buffalo. Currently employed at Remington Arms as the supervisor of security and firearms compliance.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: A 12-year member of the Ilion Board of Education. Member of the Board of Directors for the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce. Member of the Ilion Community Club.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: As a member of the Ilion Board of Education, I have been supportive of the combined district and find myself increasingly anxious to see the fulfillment of this vision for the education of our children. My 12 years of experience as a board member has prepared me to undertake this responsibility. The time I have been on the board has allowed me to learn the workings of a school district. As a board member, I always have felt I have asked the appropriate questions for the community – fulfilling my role as a liaison to the district for the taxpayers.
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Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: First and foremost, we must achieve cohesiveness within the two communities. Clearly, not everyone was in favor of the venture to combine the two school districts. This presents a goal of the new board to work to unite all the students and their families of the new district to achieve a successful education experience. The school board members need to continue to be good stewards of the finances of the district for the taxpayers. Sound financial decisions will allow the district to achieve the best educational opportunities available for the students.
The board must also allow the educational professionals to continue to challenge our children to achieve success. We are now on the threshold of new beginnings and opportunities for the new district. As a member of the new Board of Education, it’s important not to be satisfied until without question one can say I have done the very best for the students.
Robert Bronner
Residence: Mohawk
Family: Married to Beth for 37 years. Three children: Kyleen, Janelle and Ryan.
Education and employment experience: Graduated from Owen D. Young in 1971. Associate degree from Mohawk Valley Community College. Has worked for the Van Hornesville Co-op for 41 years as a truck driver and fleet manager for the family-run business.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: Member of the Mohawk Board of Education from 1993 until 2002.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: After considerable encouragement from friends and family, I decided I wanted to use the experience I have acquired as a nine year board member. During those nine years, the Jarvis fire occurred. With the help of the Ilion school district, we were able to continue to educate while recovering from the fire. Ilion residents proved their commitment to educating not just their students, but all students. I look forward to partnering with them to make this a smooth transition from two schools to one.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: A. Develop a curriculum that serves the needs of every student at the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District. B. Efficient use of incentive money to protect against future state aid shortfalls. C. Develop an atmosphere of ownership for Mohawk and Ilion as equal partners in this new school district.
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Education and employment experience: A.A.S. in mechanical engineering from Mohawk Valley Community College. Bachelor of Arts in organizational management from Ashford University. Vice president/operation manager at Revival Industries in Herkimer from 1998 to 2007. Has been an engineer at Remington Arms since 2007.
Organizational affiliations or other relevant experience: At Revival Industries, managed daily operations of a 43-person, two-location manufacturing company. Also, directed all production and technical staff to include manufacturing and facilities engineering groups. At Remington Arms, has managed several projects relocating operations to the Ilion facility from sister companies – resulting in new jobs in Ilion.
Question 1: Why are you interested in becoming a Board of Education member of the Ilion-Mohawk Central School District and what do you believe prepares you to undertake this responsibility?
Answer 1: I am very excited about the challenges and opportunities that the newly merged Ilion-Mohawk Central School District has. I want to help ensure that the transition is a success and put into place a plan that promotes long term sustainability. My combination of education and experience provide me with an excellent skill set to help launch this fledgling district in a positive direction.
Question 2: What are the most important issues you believe face the Board of Education of the newly formed Ilion-Mohawk Central School District?
Answer 2: There are many topics that can be argued as the most important. Whether it is the teachers’ contract or placement, the school budget or what programs should or should not be offered, all of these decisions should be made with keeping the children’s needs in mind.
We must be mindful that change, even for the betterment of all, comes with challenges and struggles. Not everything will go smoothly, and it is our responsibility as a school board that these challenges do not detract from the quality of education, care and opportunities that the kids receive. | 2024-03-11T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4621 |
327 F.2d 590
UNITED STATES of America, for the Use and Benefit of MILLER& BENTLEY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, Inc., Appellant,v.James H. KELLEY, (Kelly), United Pacific Insurance Company,Maurice Ramage and Fred Ayala, Appellees.
No. 18825.
United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit.
Jan. 24, 1964.
Charles E. Cole, Fairbanks, Alaska, for appellant.
Kobin & Meyer and Paul R. Meyer, Portland, Or., and McNealy & Merdes, Fairbanks, Alaska, for appellees.
Before JERTBERG, MERRILL and KOELSCH, Circuit Judges.
MERRILL, Circuit Judge:
1
Miller & Bentley (use plaintiff), as supplier of equipment to a subcontractor on a Government project in Alaska, has brought this action under the Miller Act, 40 U.S.C. 270a, 270b, against the general contractor and his surety for unpaid rental of the equipment supplied. Judgment for the defendants was rendered upon the ground that the use plaintiff had not given notice of its claim to the contractor within the 90-day period prescribed by the Miller Act.1 Upon appeal the sole issue is whether the district court erred in so ruling.
2
The equipment involved was rented to the subcontractor by the use plaintiff, and the district court properly concluded that under such circumstances the notice period ordinarily runs from the time the equipment was last available for use on the project. United States ex rel. Carter-Schneider-Nelson, Inc. v. Campbell (9 Cir. 1961), 293 F.2d 816, cert. denied (1962)368 U.S. 987, 82 S.Ct. 601, 7 L.Ed.2d 524.
3
The subcontract upon which the furnished equipment was used was terminated January 13, 1959. Use plaintiff was not notified of this fact. The district court, however, found that as a reasonably prudent supplier it should have learned of it by February 15th. The use plaintiff gave its Miller Act notice to appellees on April 28, 1959. The question here presented is as to the date from which the 90-day notice period starts to run. The district court held that it started to run January 13th, and that notice accordingly came too late. The use plaintiff contends it should not have started to run until February 15th, and that its notice accordingly was timely.
4
We agree with the district court. After the termination of the subcontract equipment supplied to the subcontractor was not available for use on the project.
5
The use plaintiff relies on United States for use of Westinghouse Electric Supply Co. v. Endebrock-White Company (4 Cir. 1960), 275 F.2d 57, for the proposition that proof of actual use on the project is not necessary if the materials were furnished for such use and if the supplier, in good faith, reasonably believed that such use was intended by the subcontractor to whom the materials were supplied.
6
Accepting, arguendo, that application of this rule to the facts of this case would have justified the recovery of rental beyond January 13th, if any recovery at all were permitted, we do not see how it can serve to extend the notice period.
7
It is clear that an important purpose of the 90-day notice provision is to protect the general contractor and his surety, and to encourage and reassure the general contractor in the prompt payment of the subcontractor after 90 days have elapsed. As this court pointed out in Bowden v. United States for use of Malloy (9 Cir. 1956), 239 F.2d 572, 577-578, cert. denied (1957) 353 U.S. 957, 77 S.Ct. 864, 1 L.Ed.2d 909:
8
'It cannot be doubted that one purpose of Congress in enacting the Miller Act was the protection of laborers and materialmen. But it is clear, too, we think, from the mechanics provided in the Act for its operation and the accomplishment of its purpose, that it was the intent of Congress to fix a time limit after which the prime contractor could make payment to the subcontractor with certainty that he would not thereafter be faced by claims of those who had supplied labor and materials to the subcontractor.'2
9
Here the district court took notice of the general proposition that the Miller Act is to be liberally construed in favor of those furnishing labor and materials. Apache Powder Co. v. Ashton Co. (9 Cir. 1959), 264 F.2d 417.3 Accepting, arguendo, that extreme circumstances might be found equitably to excuse a failure to give notice strictly within the time provided, the district court held that such circumstances did not exist here. We agree. As the district court pointed out, had the use plaintiff acted diligently it would have had ample warning that its 90-day notice period had commenced to run on January 13th and ample time to give its notice within that period.
10
Under such circumstances to hold timely the notice filed after that 90-day period would be to disregard unjustifiably the statutory purpose of protecting the general contractor.
11
Judgment affirmed.
1
40 U.S.C. 270b(a) provides in part
'Any person having direct contractual relationship with a subcontractor but no contractual relationship express or implied with the contractor furnishing said payment bond shall have a right of action upon the said payment bond upon giving written notice to said contractor within ninety days from the date on which such person did or performed the last of the labor or furnished or supplied the last of the material for which such claim is made * * *.'
2
See also Noland Co. v. Allied Contractors, Inc. (4 Cir. 1959), 273 F.2d 917, 921; McWaters & Bartlett v. United States for use of Wilson (10 Cir. 1959), 272 F.2d 291, 295; United States for use of McGregor Architectural Iron Co. v. Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corp. (M.D.Pa.1960), 185 F.Supp. 381, 383
3
See also Noland Co. v. Allied Contractors, Inc., supra. It has been recognized, however, that this desirability of liberal construction cannot justify ignoring the plainly expressed statutory prerequisites-- including the notice of claim requirement-- to a valid claim against the general contractor. Bowden v. United States for use of Malloy, supra; United States for use of J. A. Edwards & Co. v. Peter Reiss Construction Co. (E.D.N.Y.1959) 174 F.Supp. 264, 266, aff'd (2 Cir. 1959) 273 F.2d 880, 78 A.L.R.2d 409, cert. denied (1960) 362 U.S. 951, 80 S.Ct. 864, 4 L.Ed.2d 869; cf. Clifford F. MacEvoy Co. v. United States for use of Calvin Tomkins Co. (1944) 322 U.S. 102, 107, 64 S.Ct. 890, 88 L.Ed. 1163
| 2024-02-07T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2948 |
Q:
what does Check sum TLE mean?
I am doing a report on TLE's and I was looking up what the numbers mean. I found a very helpful site. See here:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/SSapplications/Post/JavaSSOP/SSOP_Help/tle_def.html
However I do not understand what the checksum is.
Can anybody help me?
A:
A checksum is a way to verify the contents of a message. Basically, a checksum value is transmitted with the message, and you can calculate the checksum yourself when you receive the message. If the transmitted checksum and the calculated checksum don't match, there is an error in the message you received.
TLE data uses a very simple checksum algorithm - basically the sum of all the digits in the line mod 10, with minus signs counting as 1, letters and whitespace as 0, Here's the python code I use for calculating the TLE checksum:
def checksum(line):
L = string.strip(line)
cksum = 0
for i in range(68):
c = L[i]
if c == ' ' or c == '.' or c == '+' or c in string.letters:
continue
elif c == '-':
cksum = cksum + 1
else:
cksum = cksum + string.atoi(c)
cksum %= 10
return cksum
Here's some more info on checksums in general:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checksum
| 2023-12-25T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1897 |
Abstract
The extrusion experiments were carried out under various temperatures to study the formation of longitudinal weld seams (L-seams) during porthole die extrusion process of AZ31 alloy. Moreover, 3D transient numerical modeling was established to verify the experimental findings. The results indicated that the cross section of profile can be divided into three distinct zones, namely, welding zone, transition zone, and matrix zone, and the fraction of dynamic recrystallization varied in these zones. The average grain size in welding zone increased with increasing temperature, and the profile front had coarser grains in comparison with the other parts. The profile extruded at 380 °C exhibited the highest tensile strength and elongation. Moreover, the profile front always had poor tensile properties in comparison with the other parts. Q criterion is inadequate to describe the welding quality of L-seams, while J criterion shows higher prediction accuracy. Finally, it was demonstrated that the mechanical properties of profile containing L-seams were determined not only by the welding quality but also by the microstructure near L-seams. | 2023-10-04T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3815 |
GIF via Supercars
Australian Supercars driver Scott McLaughlin nearly ate the wall at the Gold Coast 600, but he somehow turned a screeching, tire-smoking lock-up into a pass on the inside of Mark Winterbottom.
The pass gave McLaughlin in his Volvo a third-place finish for the race. McLaughlin explained how he salvaged the pass in a Garry Rogers Motorsport YouTube video after the race:
It...probably looked worse because I felt he moved under brakes on me. ... I sort of had to adjust my line of sight, line of entry, and then that sort of locked up one wheel, locked up the other and then I eventually gathered it all up and then managed to make a pretty clean pass.
Winterbottom was actually okay with it, owning up to Supercars that he’d been bested by McLaughlin’s faster car:
I was sixth-tenths a lap slower, so you get what you deserve, really. It was alright. If I had’ve turned in I would’ve collected him but he’s having a crack – If I’m quick enough I want to race them the same way.
Man, I love Supercars. This epic save/pass would’ve been Verstappen’d in the face with a penalty in F1, but nah, everyone’s chill in Supercars. It’s alright, mate. That’s how it goes.
So, is this the pass of the year, or the save of the year? Honestly, we can’t decide.
| 2024-04-26T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2985 |
Campus News
Annual Golf Classic benefits Laker Club, Fund for LSSU
Posted: June 12th, 2013
BENEFIT APPETITE – Golfers enjoy lunch after a day on the links during the Lake Superior State University’s 24th annual Greater Peninsula Orthopedics Lake State Golf Classic, held June 1-2 at Boyne Mountain Resort. Registration, sponsorships, and proceeds from auctions held in conjunction with event receptions raised money for the Laker Club and the Fund for LSSU in support of academic and athletic programs and initiatives at Lake State. (LSSU/John Shibley)
A print-resolution photo that runs with the caption above can be found by clicking here.
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University’s 24th annual Greater Peninsula Orthopedics Lake State Golf Classic in support of the Laker Club and the Fund for LSSU was held June 1-2 for the first time at Boyne Mountain Resort. The event attracted more than 115 alumni and friends of Lake Superior State.
Highlights included a live auction featuring a Green Bay Packer team-autographed football, a Red wing Pavel Datsyuk hockey stick, Kyle Jean (now with the New York Rangers organization) Laker jersey, and many other items, held at the Saturday night Classic Bash. About 75 items were sold during the live auction and throughout the weekend during a silent auction, and when combined with the proceeds from a raffle, set a new record for funds raised during that portion of the weekend. Raffle prizes were a $1,500 travel voucher, 50-inch flat-screen TV, and an iPad mini.
Sunday's golf scramble took place on Boyne Mountain's Monument course. Taking first place with a score of 56, in the A Flight were David Jahn, Dale Immel, Kevin Kalchik and Richard Bowerman. Second place A Flight was the foursome of Gary Sharp, Steve Hettinga, Tim Christian, and Doug Laprade with a 59.
In the B Flight, Rick Fitzpatrick, Chuck Cliff, Pete Schmidt, and Dave Drzewiecki took first-place with a score of 65, while the team of Mark Savoie, John Allison, Bill Goldenbogen, and Henry Guzzo placed second with a 66.
The Mixed team winners were Sandra Collins, Dan Dasho, Ernie Maas, and Jim Mackie with a score of 63 followed by Keith Laabs, Megan Manninen, Kevin Manninen, and Ronda Manninen. The Women’s winners were Susan Fitzpatrick, Joan Killips, Danielle Lindloff, and Luanne Webb.
Winners in the inaugural Soo Shooters Flight were Bill Crawford, Bill Eichstaedt, Tom Ewing, and Don Wilson with a score of 66, followed by the team known as “The Firm” consisting of Dan Parker, Greg Potter, Larry Potter, and Randy Potter.
Special event winners were Brad Ward for longest drive, and Tim Christian for closest to the pin. The Women’s special event winners were Ronda Manninen for longest drive and Sandra Collins for closest to the pin.
Next year’s 25th Lake State Golf Classic is slated for the same weekend in June 2013. Call the LSSU Foundation at 906/635-6670 for information and sponsorship opportunities. | 2023-08-25T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2516 |
This invention relates to a fuel injection system for externally ignited internal combustion engines which preferably have one fuel injection located in the air induction tube (manifold) of an internal combustion engine. The invention relates, more particularly, to a fuel injection system for externally ignited internal combustion engines having preferably one injection location in the air induction tube (manifold). The metering of the fuel occurs independently of the conditions of the air prevailing immediately at the injection location.
In known fuel injection systems of the type with which the present invention is concerned, the preparation of the fuel-air mixture in the induction tube is satisfactory only within a certain, limited rpm or load range. Only in these ranges, in which there occurs an intensive admixture of air and fuel and where the fuel is very finely atomized by the admitted air, is a substantially homogeneous mixture guaranteed for all engine cylinders. In the other ranges, however, the engine cylinders receive a mixture which is either too rich or too lean. This has the effect of rough running or results in a particularly high concentration of toxic and undesirable components in the exhaust gas. The known technique for solving this problem is to inject the fuel separately in several locations which are disposed in the vicinity of the injection valves. Aside from the fact that, in spite of a satisfactory metering of fuel quantity for the air quantity, there is not sufficient volume within the induction tube for assuring a good admixture. Moreover, fuel injection systems using this known technique are expensive. | 2023-10-15T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5864 |
Q:
A method can't read array elements from main method. Why?
public static void main(String[] args) {
Cars[] cars = new Cars[5];
cars[0] = new Cars("BMW", 318, "SomeText");
carDetails(0);
}
private static void carDetails( int index ) {
System.out.println( cars[index].getName() + " "
+ cars[index].getModel() + " "
+ cars[index].getSomeText());
}
I got a seperated Car class with a constructor(String, int, String)
and fields and accessors. I cant compile this because I got error
in carDetails method. (cars[index]....) It says:
cannot find symbol
symbol: variable car
location: clas Main
Whhy I can't see cars elements in carDetails method?
Thank you in advance!
A:
Code in one method can't see variables in another method. If you need the variables accessible elsewhere, make them static members of your class.
class Foo {
private static Car[] cars;
public static void main(String[] args) {
cars = new Car[5];
cars[0] = new Car("BMW", 318, "SomeText");
carDetails(0);
}
private static void carDetails( int index ) {
System.out.println( cars[index].getName() + " "
+ cars[index].getModel() + " "
+ cars[index].getSomeText());
}
}
| 2024-07-10T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2757 |
The invention relates to a windshield which prevents fogging and to a method of treating a windsheild to prevent fogging.
Fogging is a clouding of windshields of vehicles that is not caused by water vapor condensation, but is a result of the precipitation of droplets of an oily organic material on the inside of the windshield. This condensation of organic material on the windshield is caused by vapors of organic material that are released by the plastic parts (such as softeners) or by the textile materials (such as brightening agents) of the passenger compartment. Particularly in the summer, when the passenger compartment is heated extensively by the sun, fogging has a particularly annoying effect.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a windshield made of glass having an anti-fogging effect.
A further object of the present invention is to provide compounds for a method of treating vehicle windows in order to achieve an anti-fogging effect.
These objects are achieved by providing a window including silicon-organic groups of the following formulas that, via oxygen atoms, are bonded to the silicon atoms of the window surface: ##STR1## where b=0 or 1; c+1 or 2; and b+c=1 or 2; R.sup.3 is a group of the formula ##STR2## where m=0 to 30; n=1 to 8; p=0 to 9; R.sup.4 is H,CH.sub.3 or CH.sub.2 OH;
X is O,NH, ##STR3## or S; and R.sup.5 is an alkyl group with up to 18 carbon atoms (C-atoms); and alkenyl group with up to 18 C-atoms; a hydroaxyl group with up to 18 C-atoms; an aryl group or H; or XR.sup.5 is a cyanide or an imidazoline group, and if XR.sup.5 =SH and m=0, then n=1 to 3 and if XR.sup.5 =NH.sub.2 and m=0, then n=1 to 6.
According to other advantageous features of certain preferred embodiment of the invention, the silicon-organic groups of the following general formula are bonded to the glass surface silicon atoms:
Si(--CH.sub.2).sub.n --XR.sup.5, wherein n=2 or 3 and XR.sup.5 =CN, NH.sub.2 or OH. In certain preferred embodiments, the silicon-organic groups have the formulas SiCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CN or SiCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH.
According to other advantageous features of certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the silicon-organic groups have one of the following formulas: EQU SiCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 OH, EQU SiCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2, EQU SiCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH or
SiCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --OCH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH.
For achieving the object of providing a method for the treatment of windshields to achieve an anti-fogging effect, compounds of the followig formula are contacted to the glass surface in an amount effective to impart fog resistant properties to the windshields: ##STR4## where a is 2 or 3; b is 0 or 1; c is 1 or 2; b+c is 1 or 2 and a +b +c is 4; R.degree. is Cl, Br, J or OR.sup.1, where R.sup.1 is an alkyl group with up to 4 C-atoms, an acyl group with up to 4 C-atoms, an alkoxy group with up to 6 C-atoms or H or another separating group that can be split off while forming an Si--O--Si bond; R.sup.2 is an organic group with up to 8 C-atoms; and R.sup.3 is a group of the formula ##STR5## where m=0 to 30; n=1 to 8; p=0 to 9; R.sup.4 is H, CH.sub.3 or CH.sub.2 OH; X is O, NH, ##STR6## or S; and R.sup.5 is an alkyl group with up to 18 C-atoms; an alkenyl group with up to 18 C-atoms; a hydroxyalkyl group with up to 18 C-atoms; an aryl group or H; or XR.sup.5 is a cyanide or imidazoline group or a group that can be hydrolized to OH; and if XR.sup.5 =SH and m=0, then n=1 to 3; and if XR.sup.5 =NH.sub.2 and m=0, then n=1 to 6.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention. | 2024-03-22T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/9917 |
BLAKE2b512
BLAKE2s256
MD4
md4WithRSAEncryption
MD5
MD5-SHA1
md5WithRSAEncryption
MDC2
mdc2WithRSA
ripemd
RIPEMD160
ripemd160WithRSA
rmd160
RSA-MD4
RSA-MD5
RSA-MDC2
RSA-RIPEMD160
RSA-SHA1
RSA-SHA1-2
RSA-SHA224
RSA-SHA256
RSA-SHA384
RSA-SHA512
SHA1
sha1WithRSAEncryption
SHA224
sha224WithRSAEncryption
SHA256
sha256WithRSAEncryption
SHA384
sha384WithRSAEncryption
SHA512
sha512WithRSAEncryption
ssl3-md5
ssl3-sha1
whirlpool
| 2024-02-26T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/6043 |
Q:
Reading in Huge Text Files
I would like to read in really large text files (about 2GB) into Mathematica. The structure of the file is such that the first row and the first column are text i.e strings. Rest is all numbers. Is it possible to take advantage of this and make the Import faster? Currently I do Import["file.txt","Table"]. It takes a long time. I would like the output list to be same as that returned by the previously mentioned Import command.
Thanks for your help.
A:
ReadList and streams using OpenRead are your friends (also OpenAppend if you want to append to it). OpenRead with streams uses very low-level native i/o methods, which is about the fastest you can possibly get. Also ReadList is much faster than Import, which has to load a Java package internally upon its first invocation, before it can do something.
| 2024-07-07T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1010 |
// Wild Magic Source Code
// David Eberly
// http://www.geometrictools.com
// Copyright (c) 1998-2007
//
// This library 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. The license is available for reading at
// either of the locations:
// http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/lgpl.html
// http://www.geometrictools.com/License/WildMagicLicense.pdf
// The license applies to versions 0 through 4 of Wild Magic.
//
// Version: 4.0.0 (2006/06/28)
#include "Wm4FoundationPCH.h"
#include "Wm4DistLine3Segment3.h"
namespace Wm4
{
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
DistLine3Segment3<Real>::DistLine3Segment3 (const Line3<Real>& rkLine,
const Segment3<Real>& rkSegment)
:
m_rkLine(rkLine),
m_rkSegment(rkSegment)
{
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
const Line3<Real>& DistLine3Segment3<Real>::GetLine () const
{
return m_rkLine;
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
const Segment3<Real>& DistLine3Segment3<Real>::GetSegment () const
{
return m_rkSegment;
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
Real DistLine3Segment3<Real>::Get ()
{
Real fSqrDist = GetSquared();
return Math<Real>::Sqrt(fSqrDist);
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
Real DistLine3Segment3<Real>::GetSquared ()
{
Vector3<Real> kDiff = m_rkLine.Origin - m_rkSegment.Origin;
Real fA01 = -m_rkLine.Direction.Dot(m_rkSegment.Direction);
Real fB0 = kDiff.Dot(m_rkLine.Direction);
Real fC = kDiff.SquaredLength();
Real fDet = Math<Real>::FAbs((Real)1.0 - fA01*fA01);
Real fB1, fS0, fS1, fSqrDist, fExtDet;
if (fDet >= Math<Real>::ZERO_TOLERANCE)
{
// The line and segment are not parallel.
fB1 = -kDiff.Dot(m_rkSegment.Direction);
fS1 = fA01*fB0-fB1;
fExtDet = m_rkSegment.Extent*fDet;
if (fS1 >= -fExtDet)
{
if (fS1 <= fExtDet)
{
// Two interior points are closest, one on the line and one
// on the segment.
Real fInvDet = ((Real)1.0)/fDet;
fS0 = (fA01*fB1-fB0)*fInvDet;
fS1 *= fInvDet;
fSqrDist = fS0*(fS0+fA01*fS1+((Real)2.0)*fB0) +
fS1*(fA01*fS0+fS1+((Real)2.0)*fB1)+fC;
}
else
{
// The end point e1 of the segment and an interior point of
// the line are closest.
fS1 = m_rkSegment.Extent;
fS0 = -(fA01*fS1+fB0);
fSqrDist = -fS0*fS0+fS1*(fS1+((Real)2.0)*fB1)+fC;
}
}
else
{
// The end point e0 of the segment and an interior point of the
// line are closest.
fS1 = -m_rkSegment.Extent;
fS0 = -(fA01*fS1+fB0);
fSqrDist = -fS0*fS0+fS1*(fS1+((Real)2.0)*fB1)+fC;
}
}
else
{
// The line and segment are parallel. Choose the closest pair so that
// one point is at segment origin.
fS1 = (Real)0.0;
fS0 = -fB0;
fSqrDist = fB0*fS0+fC;
}
m_kClosestPoint0 = m_rkLine.Origin + fS0*m_rkLine.Direction;
m_kClosestPoint1 = m_rkSegment.Origin + fS1*m_rkSegment.Direction;
m_fLineParameter = fS0;
m_fSegmentParameter = fS1;
return Math<Real>::FAbs(fSqrDist);
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
Real DistLine3Segment3<Real>::Get (Real fT, const Vector3<Real>& rkVelocity0,
const Vector3<Real>& rkVelocity1)
{
Vector3<Real> kMOrigin0 = m_rkLine.Origin + fT*rkVelocity0;
Vector3<Real> kMOrigin1 = m_rkSegment.Origin + fT*rkVelocity1;
Line3<Real> kMLine(kMOrigin0,m_rkLine.Direction);
Segment3<Real> kMSegment(kMOrigin1,m_rkSegment.Direction,
m_rkSegment.Extent);
return DistLine3Segment3<Real>(kMLine,kMSegment).Get();
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
Real DistLine3Segment3<Real>::GetSquared (Real fT,
const Vector3<Real>& rkVelocity0, const Vector3<Real>& rkVelocity1)
{
Vector3<Real> kMOrigin0 = m_rkLine.Origin + fT*rkVelocity0;
Vector3<Real> kMOrigin1 = m_rkSegment.Origin + fT*rkVelocity1;
Line3<Real> kMLine(kMOrigin0,m_rkLine.Direction);
Segment3<Real> kMSegment(kMOrigin1,m_rkSegment.Direction,
m_rkSegment.Extent);
return DistLine3Segment3<Real>(kMLine,kMSegment).GetSquared();
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
Real DistLine3Segment3<Real>::GetLineParameter () const
{
return m_fLineParameter;
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <class Real>
Real DistLine3Segment3<Real>::GetSegmentParameter () const
{
return m_fSegmentParameter;
}
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// explicit instantiation
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
template WM4_FOUNDATION_ITEM
class DistLine3Segment3<float>;
template WM4_FOUNDATION_ITEM
class DistLine3Segment3<double>;
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
}
| 2024-06-02T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/4941 |
Q:
MS Chart Control Exploded Pie Does Not
I have a pie chart and I want to "explode" a highlighted slice.
Using the following:
var qCounts = (from request in qCategory
group request by new { request.Category, request.Subcategory } into g
orderby g.Count() descending
select new {
g.Key.Category,
g.Key.Subcategory,
CategoryCouplet = g.Key.Category + " - " + g.Key.Subcategory,
Count = g.Count() }).Take(10);
mscPain.DataSource = qCounts;
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"].XValueMember = "CategoryCouplet";
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"].YValueMembers = "Count";
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"]["PieLabelStyle"] = "Disabled";
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"].Points[0]["Exploded"] = "True";
mscPain.DataBind();
However, I get an "Index out of range" error when it hits the line:
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"].Points[0]["Exploded"] = "True";
The examples I have seen have discretely plotted DataPoints, so I don't know if this is the issue.
A:
I'm an idiot.
mscPain.DataSource = qCounts;
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"].XValueMember = "CategoryCouplet";
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"].YValueMembers = "Count";
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"]["PieLabelStyle"] = "Disabled";
mscPain.DataBind();
mscPain.Series["Pain Areas"].Points[0]["Exploded"] = "True";
Works - because I have now bound the data to the Chart.
| 2024-06-22T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5388 |
---
address: |
$^{\rm a}$Instituut-Lorentz, Universiteit Leiden, P.O. Box 9506, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands\
$^{\rm b}$Institute of Theoretical Physics, Warsaw University, Hoza 69, 00-681 Warszawa, Poland
author:
- 'J. TWORZYDŁO$^{\rm a,b}$ & C. W. J. BEENAKKER$^{\rm a}$'
title: |
Hierarchical model for the scale-dependent velocity\
of seismic waves
---
[**Elastic waves of short wavelength propagating through the upper layer of the Earth appear to move faster at large separations of source and receiver than at short separations. This scale dependent velocity is a manifestation of Fermat’s principle of least time in a medium with random velocity fluctuations. Existing perturbation theories predict a linear increase of the velocity shift with increasing separation, and cannot describe the saturation of the velocity shift at large separations that is seen in computer simulations. Here we show that this long-standing problem in seismology can be solved using a model developed originally in the context of polymer physics. We find that the saturation velocity scales with the four-third power of the root-mean-square amplitude of the velocity fluctuations, in good agreement with the computer simulations.** ]{}\
Seismologists probe the internal structure of the Earth by recording the arrival times of waves created by a distant earthquake or explosion[@Cla85]. Systematic differences between studies based on long and short wavelengths $\lambda$ have been explained[@Nol93] in terms of a [*scale dependence*]{} of the velocity at short wavelengths. The velocity obtained by dividing the separation $L$ of source and receiver by the travel time $T$ increases with increasing $L$, because — following Fermat’s principle — the wave seeks out the fastest path through the medium (see Fig. \[fermat\_plot\]). This search for an optimal path is more effective for large separations, hence the apparent increase in velocity on long length scales. It is a short-wavelength effect, since Fermat’s principle breaks down if the width $\sqrt{L\lambda}$ of the first Fresnel zone becomes comparable to the size $a$ of the heterogeneities. The scale-dependent velocity of seismic waves was noted by Wielandt more than a decade ago[@Wie87], and has been studied extensively by geophysicists[@Pet90; @Mul92; @Rot93; @Ave94; @Muk95; @Wit96; @Sha96; @Rot97; @Bri97; @Ton98; @Sam98; @Sam98b].
A rather complete solution of the problem for small $L$ was given by Roth, Müller, and Snieder[@Rot93], by means of a perturbation expansion around the straight path. The velocity shift $\delta
v=v_0(1- v_{0} T/L)$ (with $v_{0}$ the velocity along the straight path) was averaged over spatially fluctuating velocity perturbations with a Gaussian correlation function (having correlation length $a$ and variance $\varepsilon^{2}v_{0}^{2}$, with $\varepsilon\ll 1$). It was found that $\langle \delta v\rangle\simeq v_{0}\varepsilon^{2}L/a$ increases linearly with $L$. Clearly, this increase in velocity can not continue indefinitely. The perturbation theory should break down when the root-mean-square deviation $\delta x\simeq\varepsilon a(L/a)^{3/2}$ of the fastest path from the straight path becomes comparable to $a$. Numerical simulations[@Rot93; @Wit96; @Sam98] show that the velocity shift saturates on length scales greater than the critical length $L_{\rm
c}\simeq a\varepsilon^{-2/3}$ for the validity of perturbation theory. A theory for this saturation does not exist.
It is the purpose of this article to present a [*non-perturbative*]{} theory for this seismological problem, by making the analogy with a problem from polymer physics. The problem of the velocity shift in a random medium belongs to the class of optimal path problems that has a formal equivalence to the directed polymer problem[@Hal95]. The mapping between these two problems relates a wave propagating through a medium with velocity fluctuations to a polymer moving in a medium with fluctuations in pinning energy. The travel time of the wave between source and receiver corresponds to the energy of the polymer with fixed end points. At zero temperature the configuration of the polymer corresponds to the path selected by Fermat’s principle. (The restriction to directed polymers, those which do not turn backwards, becomes important for higher temperatures.) There exists a simple solvable model for directed polymers, due to Derrida and Griffiths[@Der89], that has remained unnoticed in the seismological context. Using that model we can go beyond the breakdown of perturbation theory and describe the saturation of the velocity shift on large length scales.
[**Hierarchical model**]{}\
We follow a recursive procedure, by which the probability distribution of travel times is constructed at larger and larger distances, starting from the perturbative result at short distances. At each iteration we compare travel times from source to receiver along two branches, choosing the smallest time. A branch consists of two bonds, each bond representing the length scale of the previous step. This recursive procedure produces the lattice of Fig. \[lattice\], called a hierarchical lattice[@Der89]. The lattice in this example represents a two-dimensional system, since at each step the length is doubled while the number of bonds is increased by a factor of four. For the three-dimensional version one would compare four branches at each step (each branch containing two bonds), so that the total number of bonds would grow as the third power of the length. Since most of the simulations have been done for two-dimensional systems, we will consider that case in what follows.
To cast this procedure in the form of a recursion relation, we denote by $p_{k}(T)$ the distribution of travel times at step $k$. One branch, consisting of two bonds in series, has travel time distribution $$q_{k}(T)=\int_{0}^{\infty}dT'\,p_{k}(T')p_{k}(T-T'),\label{qkdef}$$ assuming that different bonds have uncorrelated distributions. To get the probability distribution at step $k+1$ we compare travel times of two branches, $$\begin{aligned}
p_{k+1}(T)&=& \int_{0}^{\infty}dT'\int_{0}^{\infty}dT''\,
\delta\biglb(T-{\rm min}(T',T'')\bigrb) q_k(T')
q_k(T'')\nonumber\\
&=&2q_{k}(T)\int_{T}^{\infty}dT'\,q_{k}(T').\label{pkdef}\end{aligned}$$ We start the recursion relation at step $0$ with the distribution $p_{0}(T)$ calculated from perturbation theory at length $L_{c}$. Iteration of eq. (\[pkdef\]) then produces the travel time distribution $p_{k}(T)$ at length $L=2^{k}L_{c}$.
Equation (\[pkdef\]) is a rather complicated non-linear integral equation. Fortunately, it has several simplifying properties[@Der89; @Rou91]. One can separate out the mean $\left<
T \right>_0$ and standard deviation $\sigma_0\neq 0$ of the starting probability distribution, by means of the $k$-dependent rescaling $\tau = (T-2^k \left< T\right>_0)/\sigma_0$. The recursion relation (\[pkdef\]) is invariant under this rescaling, which means that we can restrict ourselves to starting distributions $\tilde{p}_0(\tau)=\sigma_0p_0(\sigma_0 \tau+\left< T \right>_0)$ having zero mean and unit variance. This is the first simplification. After $k$ iterations the mean $\tilde{m}_k$ and standard deviation $\tilde{\sigma}_k$ of the rescaled distribution $\tilde{p}_k(\tau)$ yield the mean $\left<T\right>_k$ and standard deviation $\sigma_k$ of the original $p_k(T)$ by means of $$\left<T\right>_k = \sigma_0 \tilde{m}_k + 2^k\left<T\right>_0,\
\sigma_k = \sigma_0 \tilde{\sigma}_k. \label{mk2tk}$$ The second simplification is that for large $k$, the recursion relation for $\tilde{p}_k(\tau)$ reduces to[@Der89; @Rou91] $$\tilde{p}_{k+1}(\tau)= \textstyle{\frac{1}{2}}\alpha
\tilde{p}_k\left( \textstyle{\frac{1}{2}} \alpha \tau
+ \beta \tilde{\sigma}_k
+ (1-\alpha)\tilde{m}_k \right),
\label{map}$$ with universal constants $\alpha=1.627$ and $\beta=0.647$. Under the mapping (\[map\]), the mean and standard deviation evolve according to $$\tilde{m}_{k+1} = 2 \tilde{m}_{k} - 2 \beta \tilde{\sigma}_k/\alpha ,\
\tilde{\sigma}_{k+1} = 2 \tilde{\sigma}_k/\alpha.
\label{rec}$$ The solution of this simplified recursion relation is $$\tilde{m}_{k} = \frac{2^k \beta}{\alpha-1}
( A \alpha^{-k} - B),\
\tilde{\sigma}_{k} = 2^k A \alpha^{-k}.
\label{mksol}$$ The coefficients $A$ and $B$ are non-universal, depending on the shape of the starting distribution $\tilde{p}_0$. For a Gaussian $\tilde{p}_0$ we find $A=0.90$, $B=0.95$, close to the values $A=1$, $B=1$ that would apply if eq. (\[rec\]) holds down to $k=0$. For a highly distorted bimodal $\tilde{p}_0$ we find $A=0.71$, $B=0.88$. We conclude that $A$ and $B$ depend only weakly on the shape of the starting distribution.
[**Scaling laws**]{}\
Given the result (\[mksol\]) we return to the mean and standard deviation of $p_k(T)$ using eq. (\[mk2tk\]). Substituting $k={\rm log}_{2}(L/L_c)$ one finds the large-$L$ scaling laws $$\begin{aligned}
\frac{\left< T \right>}{L} &= & \frac{\left< T \right>_0}{L_c} -
\frac{\beta}{\alpha-1} \frac{\sigma_0}{L_c}
\left[B-A\left(\frac{L_c}{L}\right)^{p}\right],
\label{sol1}\\
\frac{\sigma}{L} &=& \frac{\sigma_0}{L_c} A
\left(\frac{L_c}{L}\right)^{p}.
\label{sol2}\end{aligned}$$ The mean travel time $\left<T\right>$ and standard deviation $\sigma$ scale with $L$ with an exponent $p={\rm log}_{2}\alpha=0.702$. This scaling exponent has been studied intensively for the directed polymer problem[@Hal95].
For the seismic problem the primary interest is not the scaling with $L$, but the scaling with the strength $\varepsilon$ of the fluctuations. Perturbation theory[@Rot93] gives the $\varepsilon$-dependence at length $L_c$, $$1-v_0 \left< T \right>_0/L_c \simeq \varepsilon^2 L_c/a,\
v_0 \sigma_0/L_c \simeq \varepsilon \sqrt{a/L_c},
\label{per1}$$ where $\simeq$ indicates that coefficients of order unity have been omitted. (We will fill these in later.) Since $L_c\simeq a \varepsilon^{-2/3}$ (as mentioned in the introduction), we find upon substitution into eq. (\[sol1\]) the scaling of the mean velocity shift at length $L\gg L_c$: $$\left< \delta v \right>/v_0 \equiv
1-v_0 \left<T\right>/ L \simeq \varepsilon^{4/3} \left[1+{\cal O}(L_c/L)^p\right].$$ The mean velocity shift saturates at a value of order $v_0 \varepsilon^{4/3}$. The exponent $\frac{4}{3}$ was anticipated in ref. and is close to the value $1.33\pm 0.01$ resulting from simulations[@Rot93].
[**Comparison with simulations**]{}\
For a more quantitative description we need to know the coefficients omitted in eq. (\[per1\]). These are model dependent[@Rot93; @Muk95; @Sha96]. To make contact with the simulations[@Rot93; @Wit96] we consider the case of an incoming plane wave instead of a point source. The perturbation theory for the mean velocity shift at length $L_c$ gives $$\left< \delta v \right>_0= v_0 \varepsilon^2\frac{L_c}{a}
\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}
\left(1-\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\frac{a}{L_c}\right).
\label{vper}$$ The variance at length $L_c$ is $$\left< \delta v^2 \right>_0= v_0^2 \varepsilon^2\frac{a}{L_c}
\sqrt{\pi}
\left(1 -\sqrt{\pi}\varepsilon^2\frac{L_c^3}{a^3}\right).
\label{dvper}$$ We quantify the criterion for the breakdown of perturbation theory by $L_c=\kappa a \varepsilon^{-2/3}$, with $\kappa=0.765$ our single fit parameter. For the non-universal constants $A$ and $B$ we can use in good approximation $A=1$, $B=1$. The mean velocity shift in the non-perturbative regime ($L>L_c$) is then expressed as: $$\left<\delta v\right> = \frac{\beta}{\alpha-1}
\sqrt{\left< \delta v^2\right>_0}
\left[ 1-\left( \frac{L_c}{L} \right)^p \right]
+ \left< \delta v \right>_0.
\label{vnonper}$$ For $L<L_c$ we use the perturbative result (\[vper\]) (with $L_c$ replaced by $L$). As shown in Fig. 3, the agreement with the computer simulations is quite satisfactory, in particular in view of the fact that there is a single fit parameter $\kappa$ for all curves.
[**Conclusion**]{}\
We have presented a non-perturbative theory of the scale-dependent seismic velocity in heterogeneous media. The saturation of the velocity shift at large length scales, observed in computer simulations, is well described by the hierarchical model — including the $\varepsilon^{4/3}$ scaling of the saturation velocity. We have concentrated on the case of two-dimensional propagation (for comparison with the simulations), but the $\varepsilon^{4/3}$ scaling holds in three dimensions as well. (The coefficients $\alpha=1.74$, $\beta=1.30$ are different in 3D.)
Our solution of the seismic problem relies on the mapping onto the problem of directed polymers. This mapping holds in the short-wavelength limit, $\lambda\lesssim a^{2}/L$. To observe the saturation at $L\simeq
L_{c}$ thus requires $\lambda\lesssim a\varepsilon^{2/3}$. For $L\gtrsim
a^{2}/\lambda$ the velocity shift will decrease because the velocity fluctuations are averaged out over a Fresnel zone. There exists a perturbation theory[@Sam98b] for the velocity shift that includes the effects of a finite wavelength. It is a challenging problem to see if these effects can be included into the non-perturbative hierarchical model as well.
[**Acknowledgements.**]{} We are indebted to R. Snieder for suggesting this problem to us, and to X. Leyronas for valuable discussions throughout this work. We acknowledge the support of the Dutch Science Foundation NWO/FOM.
Claerbout, J. F. [*Imaging the Earth’s Interior*]{} (Blackwell, Oxford, 1985). Nolet, G. & Moser, T. J. Teleseismic delay times in a 3-D Earth and a new look at the $S$ discrepancy [*Geophys. J. Int.*]{} [**114**]{}, 185–195 (1993). Wielandt, E. On the validity of the ray approximation for interpreting delay times. In [*Seismic Tomography*]{} (ed. Nolet, G.) 85–98 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1987). Petersen, N. V. Inverse kinematic problem for a random gradient medium in geometric optics approximation. [*Pure Appl. Geophys.*]{} [**132**]{}, 417–437 (1990). Müller, G., Roth, M. & Korn, M. Seismic-wave traveltimes in random media. [*Geophys.J. Int.*]{} [**110**]{}, 29–41 (1992). Roth, M., Müller, G. & Snieder, R. Velocity shift in random media. [*Geophys.J. Int.*]{} [**115**]{}, 552–563 (1993). Van Avendonk, H. & Snieder, R. A new mechanism for shape induced seismic anisotropy. [*Wave Motion*]{} [**20**]{}, 89–98 (1994). Mukerji, T., Mavko, G., Mujica, D. & Lucet, N. Scale-dependent seismic velocity in heterogeneous media. [*Geophys.*]{} [**60**]{}, 1222–1233 (1995). Witte, O., Roth, M. & Müller, G. Ray tracing in random media. [*Geophys.J. Int.*]{} [**124**]{}, 159–169 (1996). Shapiro, S. A., Schwarz, R. & Gold, N. The effect of random isotropic inhomogeneities on the phase velocity of seismic waves. [*Geophys.J. Int.*]{} [**127**]{}, 783–794 (1996). Roth, M. Statistical interpretation of traveltime fluctuations. [*Phys. Earth Planet. Inter.*]{} [**104**]{}, 213–228 (1997). Brittan, J. & Warner, M. Wide-angle seismic velocities in heterogeneous crust. [*Geophys. J. Int.*]{} [**129**]{}, 269–280 (1997). Tong, J., Dahlen, F. A., Nolet, G. & Marquering, H. Diffraction effects upon finite-frequency travel times: a simple 2-D example. [*Geophys. Res. Lett.*]{} [**25**]{}, 1983–1986 (1998). Samuelides, Y. & Mukerji, T. Velocity shift in heterogeneous media with anisotropic spatial correlation. [*Geophys. J. Int.*]{} [**134**]{}, 778–786 (1998). Samuelides, Y. Velocity shift using the Rytov approximation. [*J. Acoust. Soc. Am.*]{} [**104**]{}, 2596–2603 (1998). Halpin-Healy, T. & Zhang, Y. C. Kinetic roughening phenomena, stochastic growth, directed polymers and all that. [*Phys. Rep.*]{} [**254**]{}, 215–415 (1995). Derrida, B. & Griffiths, R. B. Directed polymers on disordered hierarchical lattices. [*Europhys. Lett.*]{} [**8**]{}, 111–116 (1989). Roux, S., Hansen, A., Da Silva, L. R., Lucena, L. S. & Pandey, R. B. Minimal path on the hierarchical diamond lattice. [*J. Stat. Phys.*]{} [**65**]{}, 183–204 (1991).
| 2024-04-18T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/9831 |
---
abstract: 'We evaluate the Green’s function of the D-dimensional relativistic Coulomb system via sum over perturbation series which is obtained by expanding the exponential containing the potential term $V({\bf x)}$ in the path integral into a power series. The energy spectra and wave functions are extracted from the resulting amplitude.'
address: |
Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University\
Hsinchu 30043, Taiwan
author:
- 'De-Hone Lin [^1]'
title: 'Green’s function for the Relativistic Coulomb System via Sum Over Perturbation Series'
---
=10000
Introduction
============
Most physical problems cannot be solved exactly. It is therefore necessary to develop approximation procedures which allow us to approach the exact result with appropriate accuracy. An important approximation method for solving problems in quantum mechanics (QM) is the Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory. It provides us an effective method to calculate the approximate solutions of many problems which can not be exactly solved by using the Schrödinger equation. Similar to the standard QM, the perturbation method can be developed in the path integral framework of QM [@1]. Historically of utmost importance was the application of the perturbation expansion of path integral to the quantum electrodynamics by Feynman [@2], from which he derived for the first time the “Feynman’s rules”, which provide an extremely effective method to calculate the perturbation series and a clear, neat interpretation of the interaction picture.
In the past 10 years, perturbation expansion of the path integral has been used to obtain the exact Green’s functions for $\delta $-function potential problems [@3; @3.5; @4; @4.5], non-relativistic Coulomb system [@5], and to yield the Dirichlet boundary conditions in Refs. [@6; @6.5] for the non-relativistic problems and in Ref. [@7] for the relativistic problems by summing the $\delta $-function perturbation series.
In this paper, we would like to add a further application of the perturbation method of the path integral. We calculate the Green’s function of a D-dimensional relativistic Coulomb system via summing over the perturbation series. The energy spectra and wave functions are extracted from the resulting amplitude.
Path integral for the relativistic Coulomb system via sum over the perturbation series
======================================================================================
Let us first consider a point particle of mass $M$ moving at a relativistic velocity in a $(D+1)$-dimensional Minkowski space with a given electromagnetic field. By using $t=-i\tau =-ix^{4}/c$, the path integral representation of the Green’s function is conveniently formulated in a $(D+1)
$-Euclidean spacetime with the Euclidean metric, $$(g_{\mu \nu })={\rm diag}\;\,(1,\cdots ,1,c^{2}), \label{1.1}$$ and it is given by [@8; @9] $$G({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};E)=\frac{i\hbar }{2Mc}\int_{0}^{\infty }dS\int
D\rho \Phi \left[ \rho \right] \int D^{D}xe^{-A_{E}/\hbar }.\qquad \qquad
\label{1.2}$$ The action integral $$A_{E}=\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \left[ \frac{M}{2\rho
\left( \lambda \right) }{\bf {x}}^{\prime ^{2}}\left( \lambda \right) -i%
\frac{e}{c}{\bf A(x)\cdot x^{\prime }(}\lambda {\bf )}-\rho \left( \lambda
\right) \frac{(E-V({\bf x}))^{2}}{2Mc^{2}}+\rho \left( \lambda \right) \frac{%
Mc^{2}}{2}\right] , \label{1.3}$$ where $S$ is defined by $$S=\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \rho (\lambda ), \label{1.4}$$ in which $\rho (\lambda )$ is an arbitrary dimensionless fluctuating scale variable, and $\Phi \lbrack \rho ]$ is some convenient gauge-fixing functional, such as $\Phi \left[ \rho \right] =\delta \left[ \rho -1\right] $, to fix the value of $\rho (\lambda )$ to unity [@8; @9]. $\hbar /Mc$ is the well-known Compton wave length of a particle of mass $M$, ${\bf A(x)}$ is the vector potential, $V({\bf x})$ is the scalar potential, $E$ is the system energy, and ${\bf {x}}$ is the spatial part of the ($D+1$) vector $x=(%
{\bf {x}},\tau )$. This path integral forms the basis for studying relativistic potential problems.
Expanding the potential term $V({\bf x})$ into a power series and interchanging the order of integration and summation, we obtain the result $$G({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};E)=\frac{i\hbar }{2Mc}\int_{0}^{\infty }dS\int
D\rho \Phi \left[ \rho \right] e^{-\frac{1}{\hbar }\int_{\lambda
_{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \rho (\lambda ){\cal E}}K({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}%
}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a}) \label{1.5}$$ with the series expansion of the pseudotime propagator $$K({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a})=\left\{
\vbox to
24pt{}K_{0}+\sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{1}{n!}\left( -\frac{\beta }{\hbar }%
\right) ^{n}\right.$$ $$\times \int D^{D}xe^{-\frac{1}{\hbar }\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda
_{b}}d\lambda \left[ \frac{M}{2\rho \left( \lambda \right) }{\bf {x}}%
^{\prime ^{2}}\left( \lambda \right) -i\frac{e}{c}{\bf A(x)\cdot x^{\prime }(%
}\lambda {\bf )}-\rho \left( \lambda \right) \frac{V({\bf x})^{2}}{2Mc^{2}}%
\right] }$$ $$\times \left. \int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda _{1}\rho {\bf (}%
\lambda _{1})V({\bf x(}\lambda _{1}))\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda
_{b}}d\lambda _{2}\rho {\bf (}\lambda _{2})V({\bf x(}\lambda _{2}))\cdots
\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda _{n}\rho {\bf (}\lambda _{n})V(%
{\bf x(}\lambda _{n}))\vbox to 24pt{}\right\} , \label{1.6}$$ where we have defined the quantities $\beta =E/Mc^{2},$ ${\cal E}=($ $%
M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2})/2Mc^{2}$, and $$K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a})=\int D^{D}xe^{-%
\frac{1}{\hbar }\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \left[ \frac{M}{%
2\rho \left( \lambda \right) }{\bf {x}}^{\prime ^{2}}\left( \lambda \right)
-i\frac{e}{c}{\bf A(x)\cdot x^{\prime }(}\lambda {\bf )}-\rho \left( \lambda
\right) \frac{V({\bf x})^{2}}{2Mc^{2}}\right] }. \label{1.7}$$ Ordering the $\lambda $ as $\lambda _{1}<\lambda _{2}<\cdots <\lambda
_{n}<\lambda _{b}$ and denoting ${\bf x(}\lambda _{k})={\bf x}_{k},$ the perturbative series in Eq. (\[1.6\]) turns into [@1] $$K({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a})=K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{b},%
{\bf {x}}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a})+\sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\left( -\frac{%
\beta }{\hbar }\right) ^{n}\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda
_{n}\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{n}}d\lambda _{n-1}\cdots \int_{\lambda
_{a}}^{\lambda _{2}}d\lambda _{1}$$ $$\times \int \left[ \prod_{j=0}^{n}K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{j+1},{\bf {x}}%
_{j};\lambda _{j+1}-\lambda _{j})\right] \prod_{k=1}^{n}\rho _{k}V({\bf x}%
_{k})d{\bf x}_{k}, \label{1.8}$$ where $\lambda _{0}=\lambda _{a},\lambda _{n+1}=\lambda _{b},{\bf x}_{n+1}=%
{\bf x}_{b},$ and ${\bf x}_{0}={\bf x}_{a}.$ In the case of an attractive Coulomb potential, we have $${\bf A(x)=}0,\quad V(r)=-\frac{e^{2}}{r}. \label{1.9}$$ The perturbative expansion in Eq. (\[1.8\]) becomes $$K({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a})=K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{b},%
{\bf {x}}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a})+\sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\left( \frac{%
\beta e^{2}}{\hbar }\right) ^{n}\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda
_{n}\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{n}}d\lambda _{n-1}\cdots \int_{\lambda
_{a}}^{\lambda _{2}}d\lambda _{1}$$ $$\times \int \left[ \prod_{j=0}^{n}K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{j+1},{\bf {x}}%
_{j};\lambda _{j+1}-\lambda _{j})\right] \prod_{k=1}^{n}\rho _{k}\frac{d{\bf %
x}_{k}}{r_{k}}. \label{1.10}$$ The corresponding amplitude $K_{0}$ takes the form $$K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a})=\int D^{D}xe^{-%
\frac{1}{\hbar }\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \left[ \frac{M}{%
2\rho \left( \lambda \right) }{\bf {x}}^{\prime ^{2}}\left( \lambda \right)
-\rho \left( \lambda \right) \frac{\hbar ^{2}}{2M}\frac{\alpha ^{2}}{r^{2}}%
\right] }, \label{1.11}$$ where $\alpha =e^{2}/\hbar c$ is the fine structure constant. We now choose $%
\Phi \left[ \rho \right] =\delta \left[ \rho -1\right] $ to fix the value of $\rho (\lambda )$ to unity. The Green’s function in Eq. (\[1.5\]) becomes $$G({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};E)=\frac{i\hbar }{2Mc}\int_{0}^{\infty }dSe^{-%
\frac{{\cal E}}{\hbar }S}\left\{ \vbox to 24pt{}K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}%
_{a};S)\right.$$ $$+\left. \sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\left( \frac{\beta e^{2}}{\hbar }\right)
^{n}\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda _{n}\int_{\lambda
_{a}}^{\lambda _{n}}d\lambda _{n-1}\cdots \int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda
_{2}}d\lambda _{1}\int \left[ \prod_{j=0}^{n}K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{j+1},{\bf {x}}%
_{j};\lambda _{j+1}-\lambda _{j})\right] \prod_{k=1}^{n}\frac{d{\bf x}_{k}}{%
r_{k}}\vbox to 24pt{}\right\} . \label{1.12}$$ We observe that the integration over $S$ is a Laplace transformation. Because of the convolution property of the Laplace transformation, we obtain $$G({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};E)=\frac{i\hbar }{2Mc}$$ $$\times \left\{ G_{0}({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};{\cal E})+\sum_{n=1}^{%
\infty }\left( \frac{\beta e^{2}}{\hbar }\right) ^{n}\int \left[
\prod_{j=0}^{n}G_{0}({\bf {x}}_{j+1},{\bf {x}}_{j};{\cal E})\right]
\prod_{k=1}^{n}\frac{d{\bf x}_{k}}{r_{k}}\right\} . \label{1.13}$$ We now perform the angular decomposition of Eq. (\[1.13\]) [@9; @10; @11]. This can be reached by inserting in Eq. (\[1.13\]) the expansion of $G_{0}$ in term of the D-dimensional hyperspherical harmonics $Y_{l{\bf m}}({\bf
\hat{x}})$ [@12]: $$G_{0}({\bf {x}}_{j+1},{\bf {x}}_{j};{\cal E})=\frac{M}{\hbar
(r_{j+1}r_{j})^{D/2-1}}\sum_{l=0}^{\infty }g_{l}^{0}(r_{j+1},r_{j};{\cal E}%
)\sum_{{\bf m}}Y_{l{\bf m}}({\bf \hat{x}}_{j+1})Y_{l{\bf m}}^{\ast }({\bf
\hat{x}}_{j}), \label{1.14}$$ where the $g_{l}^{0}$ is given by [@11] $$\int_{0}^{\infty }\frac{dS}{S}e^{-\frac{{\cal E}}{\hbar }%
S}e^{-M(r_{j+1}^{2}+r_{j}^{2})/2\hbar S}I_{\sqrt{(l+D/2-1)^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}%
}\left( \frac{M}{\hbar }\frac{r_{j+1}r_{j}}{S}\right) . \label{1.15}$$ The notation $I$ denotes the modified Bessel function. Integrating over the intermediate angular part of Eq. (\[1.13\]), we arrive at $$G({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};E)=\frac{i\hbar }{2Mc}\sum_{l=0}^{\infty
}G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E})\sum_{{\bf m}}Y_{l{\bf m}}({\bf \hat{x}}_{b})Y_{l%
{\bf m}}^{\ast }({\bf \hat{x}}_{a}). \label{1.16}$$ The pure radial amplitude $G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E})$ has the form $$G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E})=\frac{M}{\hbar }\frac{1}{(r_{b}r_{a})^{D/2-1}}%
\sum_{n=0}^{\infty }\left( \frac{M\beta e^{2}}{\hbar ^{2}}\right)
^{n}g_{l}^{(n)}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E}) \label{1.17}$$ with $g_{l}^{(n)}$ is given by $$g_{l}^{(n)}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E})=\int_{0}^{\infty }\cdots \int_{0}^{\infty }%
\left[ \prod_{j=0}^{n}g_{l}^{(0)}(r_{j+1},r_{j};{\cal E})\right]
\prod_{k=1}^{n}dr_{k}. \label{17.5}$$ To obtain the explicit result of $g_{l}^{(n)}$, we note that $$\int_{0}^{\infty }\frac{dS}{S}e^{-\frac{{\cal E}}{\hbar }%
S}e^{-M(r_{b}^{2}+r_{a}^{2})/2\hbar S}I_{\sqrt{(l+D/2-1)^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}%
}\left( \frac{M}{\hbar }\frac{r_{b}r_{a}}{S}\right)$$ $$=2\int_{0}^{\infty }dz\frac{1}{\sinh z}e^{-\kappa (r_{b}+r_{a})\coth z}I_{2%
\sqrt{(l+D/2-1)^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}}\left( \frac{2\kappa \sqrt{r_{b}r_{a}}}{%
\sinh z}\right) \label{1.18}$$ with $\kappa =\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}}/\hbar c$. The equality in Eq. (\[1.18\]) can be easily proved by the formulas $$\int_{0}^{\infty }dy\frac{e^{2\nu y}}{\sinh y}\exp \left[ -\frac{t}{2}\left(
\zeta _{a}+\zeta _{b}\right) \coth y\right] I_{\mu }\left( \frac{t\sqrt{%
\zeta _{b}\zeta _{a}}}{\sinh y}\right)$$ $$=\frac{\Gamma \left( \left( 1+\mu \right) /2-\nu \right) }{t\sqrt{\zeta
_{b}\zeta _{a}}\Gamma \left( \mu +1\right) }W_{\nu ,\mu /2}\left( t\zeta
_{b}\right) M_{\nu ,\mu /2}\left( t\zeta _{a}\right) , \label{1.20}$$ with the range of validity $$\begin{array}{l}
\zeta _{b}>\zeta _{a}>0, \\
{Re}[(1+\mu )/2-\nu ]>0, \\
{Re}(t)>0,\mid \arg t\mid <\pi ,
\end{array}$$ where $M_{\mu ,\nu }$ and $W_{\mu ,\nu }$ are the Whittaker functions, and $$\int_{0}^{\infty }\frac{dy}{y}e^{-zy}e^{-(a^{2}+b^{2})/y}I_{\nu }(\frac{2ab}{%
y})=2I_{\nu }(2a\sqrt{z})K_{\nu }(2b\sqrt{z}), \label{1.21}$$ with the range of validity $$a<b,\quad {Re}z>0.$$ From Eq. (\[1.18\]), we get, by using the formula $$\int_{0}^{\infty }drre^{-r^{2}/a}I_{\nu }(\varsigma r)I_{\nu }(\xi r)=\frac{a%
}{2}e^{a(\xi ^{2}+\varsigma ^{2})/4}I_{\nu }\left( \frac{a\xi \varsigma }{2}%
\right) , \label{21.5}$$ the result $$g_{l}^{(1)}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E})=\int_{0}^{\infty }g_{l}^{(0)}(r_{b},r;%
{\cal E})g_{l}^{(0)}(r,r_{a};{\cal E})dr$$ $$=\frac{2^{2}}{\kappa }\int_{0}^{\infty }zh(z)dz, \label{1.22}$$ where the function $h(z)$ is defined as $$h(z)=\frac{1}{\sinh z}e^{-\kappa (r_{b}+r_{a})\coth z}I_{2\sqrt{%
(l+D/2-1)^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}}\left( \frac{2\kappa \sqrt{r_{b}r_{a}}}{\sinh z}%
\right) . \label{1.23}$$ The expression for $g_{l}^{(n)}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E})$ can be obtained by induction with respect to $n$, and is given by $$g_{l}^{(n)}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E})=\frac{2^{n+1}}{n!}\frac{1}{\kappa ^{n}}%
\int_{0}^{\infty }z^{n}h(z)dz. \label{1.25}$$ Inserting the expression in Eq. (\[1.17\]), we obtain $$G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};{\cal E})=\frac{M}{\hbar }\frac{2}{(r_{b}r_{a})^{D/2-1}}$$ $$\times \int_{0}^{\infty }dze^{\left( \frac{2M\beta e^{2}}{\hbar ^{2}\kappa }%
\right) z}\frac{1}{\sinh z}e^{-\kappa (r_{b}+r_{a})\coth z}I_{2\sqrt{%
(l+D/2-1)^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}}\left( \frac{2\kappa \sqrt{r_{b}r_{a}}}{\sinh z}%
\right) . \label{1.26}$$ With help of the formula in Eq. (\[1.20\]), we complete the integration of Eq. (\[1.26\]), and find the radial Green’s function for $r_{b}>r_{a}$ in the closed form, $$G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E)=\frac{1}{(r_{b}r_{a})^{(D-1)/2}}\frac{Mc}{\sqrt{%
M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}}}\qquad \qquad \qquad$$ $$\times \frac{\Gamma \left( 1/2+\sqrt{(l+D/2-1)^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}-\frac{%
E\alpha }{\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}}}\right) }{\Gamma \left( 1+2\sqrt{%
(l+D/2-1)^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}\right) }$$ $$\times W_{\frac{E\alpha }{\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}}},\sqrt{(l+D/2-1)^{2}-%
\alpha ^{2}}}\left( \frac{2}{\hbar c}\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}}r_{b}\right)$$ $$\times M_{\frac{E\alpha }{\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}}},\sqrt{(l+D/2-1)^{2}-%
\alpha ^{2}}}\left( \frac{2}{\hbar c}\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}}r_{a}\right)
\label{1.27}$$
The energy spectra and wave functions can be extracted from the poles of Eq. (\[1.27\]). For convenience, we define the following variables $$\left\{
\begin{array}{l}
\begin{array}{rcl}
\kappa & = & \frac{1}{\hbar c}\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}},
\end{array}
\\
\begin{array}{rcl}
\nu & = & \frac{\alpha E}{\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}-E^{2}}},
\end{array}
\\
\begin{array}{rcl}
\tilde{l} & = & \sqrt{(l+D/2-1)^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}-1/2,
\end{array}
\end{array}
\right. \label{1.28}$$ From the poles of $G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E)$, we find that the energy levels must satisfy the equality $$-\nu +\tilde{l}+1=-n_{r},\quad n_{r}=0,1,2,3,\cdots . \label{1.29}$$ Expanding this equation into powers of $\alpha $, we get $$E_{nl}\approx \pm Mc^{2}\left\{ 1-\frac{1}{2}\left[ \frac{\alpha }{n+1/2(D-3)%
}\right] ^{2}-\frac{\alpha ^{4}}{\left[ n+1/2(D-3)\right] ^{3}}\right.$$ $$\left. \times \left[ \frac{1}{2\left[ l+1/2(D-2)\right] }-\frac{3}{8}\frac{1%
}{\left[ n+1/2(D-3)\right] }\right] +O(\alpha ^{6})\right\} . \label{1.30}$$ Here $n$ is defined by $n_{r}=n-l-1$. We point out that by setting D=3, the energy levels reduce to the well-known form $$E_{nl}\approx \pm Mc^{2}\left\{ 1-\frac{1}{2}\left( \frac{\alpha }{n}\right)
^{2}-\frac{\alpha ^{4}}{n^{3}}\left[ \frac{1}{2l+1}-\frac{3}{8n}\right]
+O(\alpha ^{6})\right\} . \label{1.31}$$
The pole positions, which satisfy $\nu =\tilde{n}_{l}\equiv n+\tilde{l}-l$ ($%
n=l+1,l+2,l+3,\cdots $), correspond to the bound states of the D-dimensional relativistic Coulomb system. Near the positive-energy poles, we use the behavior for $\nu \approx \tilde{n}_{l}$, $$-\Gamma (-\nu +\tilde{l}+1)\frac{M}{\hbar \kappa }\approx \frac{(-)^{n_{r}}}{%
\tilde{n}_{l}^{2}n_{r}!}\frac{1}{\tilde{a}_{H}}\left( \frac{E}{Mc^{2}}%
\right) ^{2}\frac{2\hbar Mc^{2}}{E^{2}-E_{nl}^{2}} \label{1.32}$$ with $\tilde{a}_{H}\equiv a_{H}\frac{Mc^{2}}{E}$ being the modified energy-dependent Bohr radius and $n_{r}=n-l-1$ the radial quantum number, to extract the wave functions of the D-dimensional Coulomb system $$G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E)=-\frac{i}{(r_{b}r_{a})^{(D-1)/2}}\sum_{n=l+1}^{\infty
}\left( \frac{E}{Mc^{2}}\right) ^{2}\frac{2\hbar Mc^{2}}{E^{2}-E_{nl}^{2}}%
\qquad \qquad$$ $$\times \frac{1}{\left[ (2\tilde{l}+1)!\right] ^{2}}\frac{1}{\tilde{n}_{l}^{2}%
\tilde{a}_{H}}\frac{(\tilde{n}_{l}+\tilde{l})!}{(n-l-1)!}e^{-(r_{b}+r_{a})/%
\tilde{a}_{H}\tilde{n}_{l}}\left( \frac{2r_{b}}{\tilde{a}_{H}\tilde{n}_{l}}%
\frac{2r_{a}}{\tilde{a}_{H}\tilde{n}_{l}}\right) ^{\tilde{l}+1}$$ $$\times M(-n+l+1,2\tilde{l}+2;\frac{2r_{b}}{\tilde{a}_{H}\tilde{n}_{l}}%
)M(-n+l+1,2\tilde{l}+2;\frac{2r_{a}}{\tilde{a}_{H}\tilde{n}_{l}})\label{1.33}$$ $$=-\frac{i}{(r_{b}r_{a})^{(D-1)/2}}\sum_{n=l+1}^{\infty }(\frac{E}{Mc^{2}}%
)^{2}\frac{2\hbar Mc^{2}}{E^{2}-E_{nl}^{2}}R_{nl}(r_{b})R_{nl}^{*}(r_{a})+%
\cdots , \label{1.34}$$ where we have expressed the Whittaker function $M_{\lambda ,\mu }(z)$ in terms of the Kummer functions $M(a,b;z)$, $$M_{\lambda ,\mu }(z)=z^{\mu +1/2}e^{-z/2}M(\mu -\lambda +1/2,2\mu +1;z).
\label{1.35}$$ From this we obtain the radial wave functions $$R_{nl}(r)=\frac{1}{\tilde{n}_{l}\tilde{a}_{H}^{1/2}}\frac{1}{(2\tilde{l}+1)!}%
\sqrt{\frac{(\tilde{n}_{l}+\tilde{l})!}{(n-l-1)!}}\qquad \qquad \qquad
\qquad$$ $$\times \left( \frac{2r}{\tilde{a}_{H}\tilde{n}_{l}}\right) ^{^{\tilde{l}%
+1}}e^{-r/\tilde{a}_{H}\tilde{n}_{l}}M(-n+l+1,2\tilde{l}+2;\frac{2r}{\tilde{a%
}_{H}\tilde{n}_{l}}).\qquad \qquad \label{1.36}$$ The normalized wave functions are given by $$\Psi _{nl{\bf m}}({\bf x})=\frac{1}{r^{(D-1)/2}}R_{nl}(r)Y_{l{\bf m}}({\bf
\hat{x}}). \label{1.37}$$
Before extracting the continuous wave function we note that the parameter $%
\kappa $ is real for $\mid E\mid <Mc^{2}$. For $\mid E\mid >Mc^{2}$, the square root in Eq. (\[1.28\]) has two imaginary solutions $$\kappa =\mp i\tilde{k},\quad \tilde{k}=\frac{1}{\hbar c}\sqrt{%
E^{2}-M^{2}c^{4}}, \label{1.38}$$ corresponding to $$\nu =\pm i\tilde{\nu},\quad \tilde{\nu}=\frac{E\alpha }{\hbar c\tilde{k}}%
.\quad \qquad \qquad \label{1.39}$$ Therefore the amplitude has a right-handed cut for $E>Mc^{2}$ and $E<-Mc^{2}$. For simplicity, we will only consider the positive energy cut.
The continuous wave function are recovered from the discontinuity of the amplitudes $G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E)$ across the cut in the complex $E$ plane. Hence we have $${\rm disc}G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E>Mc^{2})=G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E+i\eta
)-G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E-i\eta )=-\frac{i}{(r_{b}r_{a})^{(D-1)/2}}$$ $$\times \frac{M}{\hbar \tilde{k}}\left[ \frac{\Gamma (-i\tilde{\nu}+\tilde{l}%
+1)}{(2\tilde{l}+1)!}W_{i\tilde{\nu},\tilde{l}+1/2}(-2i\tilde{k}r_{b})M_{i%
\tilde{\nu},\tilde{l}+1/2}(-2i\tilde{k}r_{a})+(\tilde{\nu}\rightarrow -%
\tilde{\nu})\right] . \label{1.40}$$ Using the relations $$M_{\kappa ,\mu }(z)=e^{\pm i\pi (2\mu +1)/2}M_{-\kappa ,\mu }(-z),
\label{1.41}$$ where the sign is positive or negative depending on whether Im$z>0$ or Im$%
z<0 $, and $$W_{\lambda ,\mu }(z)=e^{i\pi \lambda }e^{-i\pi (\mu +1/2)}\frac{\Gamma (\mu
+\lambda +1/2)}{\Gamma (2\mu +1)}$$ $$\times \left[ M_{\lambda ,\mu }(z)-\frac{\Gamma (2\mu +1)}{\Gamma (\mu
-\lambda +1/2)}e^{-i\pi \lambda }W_{-\lambda ,\mu }(e^{-i\pi }z)\right] ,
\label{1.42}$$ which is valid only for arg $(z)\in (-\pi /2,3\pi /2)$ and $\quad 2\mu \neq
-1,-2,-3,\cdots $. The discontinuity of the amplitude is found to be $${\rm disc}G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E>Mc^{2})=-\frac{i}{(r_{b}r_{a})^{(D-1)/2}}\frac{%
M}{\hbar \tilde{k}}\frac{\mid \Gamma (-i\tilde{\nu}+\tilde{l}+1)\mid ^{2}}{%
\mid \Gamma (2\tilde{l}+2)\mid ^{2}}$$ $$\times e^{\pi \tilde{\nu}}M_{-i\tilde{\nu},\tilde{l}+1/2}(2i\tilde{k}%
r_{b})M_{i\tilde{\nu},\tilde{l}+1/2}(-2i\tilde{k}r_{a}). \label{1.43}$$ Thus we have $$\int_{Mc^{2}}^{\infty }\frac{dE}{2\pi \hbar }{\rm disc}%
G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E>Mc^{2})\qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad$$ $$=\frac{1}{2\pi \hbar }\int_{-\infty }^{\infty }\frac{(\hbar c)^{2}\tilde{k}d%
\tilde{k}}{\sqrt{M^{2}c^{4}+(\hbar c\tilde{k})^{2}}}{\rm disc}%
G_{l}(r_{b},r_{a};E>Mc^{2})$$ $$=-\frac{i}{(r_{b}r_{a})^{(D-1)/2}}\int_{-\infty }^{\infty }d\tilde{k}(\frac{E%
}{Mc^{2}})R_{\tilde{k}l}(r_{b})R_{\tilde{k}l}^{*}(r_{a}).\qquad \qquad
\label{1.44}$$ From this, we obtain the continuous radial wave function of the D-dimensional relativistic Coulomb system $$R_{\tilde{k}l}(r)=\sqrt{\frac{1}{2\pi }}\frac{1}{\left[ 1+(\frac{c\hbar
\tilde{k}}{Mc^{2}})^{2}\right] ^{1/2}}\frac{\mid \Gamma (-i\tilde{\nu}+%
\tilde{l}+1)\mid }{(2\tilde{l}+1)!}e^{\pi \tilde{\nu}/2}M_{i\tilde{\nu},%
\tilde{l}+1/2}(-2i\tilde{k}r)$$ $$=\sqrt{\frac{1}{2\pi }}\frac{1}{\left[ 1+(\frac{c\hbar \tilde{k}}{Mc^{2}}%
)^{2}\right] ^{1/2}}\frac{\mid \Gamma (-i\tilde{\nu}+\tilde{l}+1)\mid }{(2%
\tilde{l}+1)!}\qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad$$ $$\times e^{\pi \tilde{\nu}/2}e^{i\tilde{k}r}(-2i\tilde{k}r)^{\tilde{l}%
+1}\times M(-i\tilde{\nu}+\tilde{l}+1,2\tilde{l}+2;-2i\tilde{k}r).\qquad
\qquad \qquad \label{1.45}$$ It is easy to check the result is in accordance with the non-relativistic wave function when we take the non-relativistic limit.
Concluding remarks
==================
In this paper we have calculated the Green’s function of the relativistic Coulomb system via sum over perturbation series. From the resulting amplitude, the energy levels and wave functions are given. Different from the conventional treatment in path integral using the space-time and Kustaanheimo-Stiefel transformation techniques (e.g. [@9; @11]), the method presented here just involves the computation of the expectation value of the moments $Q^{n}$ $(Q=\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda
_{b}}d\lambda \rho {\bf (}\lambda )V({\bf x(}\lambda )))$ over the measure $$K_{0}({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};\lambda _{b}-\lambda _{a})=\int D^{D}xe^{-%
\frac{1}{\hbar }\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \left[ \frac{M}{%
2\rho \left( \lambda \right) }{\bf {x}}^{\prime ^{2}}\left( \lambda \right)
-\rho \left( \lambda \right) \frac{V({\bf x})^{2}}{2Mc^{2}}\right] }$$ and summing them in accordance with the Feynman-Kac formula [@14] $$G({\bf {x}}_{b},{\bf {x}}_{a};E)=\frac{i\hbar }{2Mc}\int_{0}^{\infty }dS\int
D\rho \Phi \left[ \rho \right] e^{-\frac{1}{\hbar }\int_{\lambda
_{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \rho (\lambda ){\cal E}}$$ $$\times E\left[ \exp \left\{ -\frac{1}{\hbar }\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda
_{b}}d\lambda \rho {\bf (}\lambda )V({\bf x(}\lambda ))\right\} \right]$$ $$=\frac{i\hbar }{2Mc}\int_{0}^{\infty }dS\int D\rho \Phi \left[ \rho \right]
e^{-\frac{1}{\hbar }\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \rho (\lambda
){\cal E}}$$ $$\times \sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{(-\beta /\hbar )}{n!}^{n}E\left[ \left(
\int_{\lambda _{a}}^{\lambda _{b}}d\lambda \rho {\bf (}\lambda )V({\bf x(}%
\lambda ))\right) ^{n}\right] , \label{1.46}$$ where the notation $E\left[ \star \right] $ stands for the expectation value of the moment $\star $.
We hope that the procedure presented in this article may help us to obtain the results of other interesting relativistic systems.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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[^1]: e-mail:d793314@phys.nthu.edu.tw
| 2023-12-30T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1839 |
Symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis without exogenous steroid intake. Report of a case with magnetic resonance imaging.
Epidural lipomatosis may be unassociated with steroid use and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy. This may cause widening of the spinal canal on plain film and complete block on myelography. CT or MRI is diagnostic. | 2023-12-30T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1072 |
Cooperative effects, strengths of hydrogen bonds, and intermolecular interactions in circular cis, trans-cyclotriazane clusters (n = 3-8).
Based on Becke's three parameter functional [J. Chem. Phys. 98, 5648 (1993)] of density functional theory (DFT) with the correlation of Lee-Yang-Parr [Phys. Rev. B 37, 785 (1988)] (DFT/B3LYP), the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, the Bader's theory of atoms in molecule (AIM), our calculations indicate that as cluster size (n) increases, the n-dependent cooperative changes in the lengths of the N...H H bonds (HBs) and N-H bonds, the N-H stretching frequencies and intensities, and the n(N)-->sigma*(N-H) charge transfers are observed to be pervasive in the circular cis, trans-cyclotriazane clusters (n = 3-8), which is very different from the linear cis, trans-cyclotriazane clusters reported in previous work. According to the NBO and AIM theories, the cooperativity of the intermolecular n(N)-->sigma*(N-H) interaction leads to the n-dependent N...H contractions. In this way, the stronger N...H bond is formed, as reflected in the increase in their rho(r(cp)) values. This increased electron density is translated into the improved capacity to concentrate electrons at the HB bond critical point (BCP), i.e., a higher potential energy V(r(cp)). On the other hand, stronger repulsion is also activated to counteract the contraction, which is reflected in the increased G(r(cp)) value that gives the tendency of the system to dilute electrons at the HB BCP. In terms of the three-body symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (three-body SAPT), the induction nonadditivity accounts for up to 97% of the nonadditive energy in the circular trimer. It can believed that the marked cooperativity of the n(N)-->sigma*(N-H) interactions is of nonadditive induction in nature. The N...H formation and nature of cooperativity in the circular clusters differ from those in the linear clusters that have been reported previously. According to the SAPT(DFT) method which is a combination of SAPT with the asymptotically corrected DFT, the cis, trans-cyclotriazane systems should contain remarkable dispersion interactions. However, the short-range dispersion cannot be reproduced thoroughly by DFT/B3LYP. A quantum cluster equilibrium model illustrates the neglected dispersion energies and the nonadditive energies can affect markedly the properties of the liquid consisting of the circular clusters. | 2024-05-14T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2883 |
Google Fakes a YouTube Shut Down in Early April Fools' Gag
Google, which owns Youtube, is considering a plan to sell cablelike services via the Internet.
Google, getting a headstart on the annual tradition of April Fools' pranks, released a YouTube clip on Sunday declaring that the world's most popular video website will shut down at the stroke of midnight.
The three-minute video intended as a gag - a montage of clips and cameos from viral video stars like David Devore from "David after the dentist" - describes how the website will wind down as some 30,000 technicians begin to trawl through 150,000 clips, to select the world's best video.
"Gangnam Style has the same chance of winning as a video with 40 views of a man feeding bread to a duck," YouTube CEO Salar Kamangar pronounced, referring to the viral sensation from Korean pop artist PSY that's now the most-viewed video on the site.
Google's video also features intense discussions between judges, who hotly debate the merits of everything from Citizen Kane to "epic skateboard fail". | 2024-01-21T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/7446 |
Celechair Ua hAirmedaig
Celechair Ua hAirmedaig, Bishop of Clonfert, died 1186.
References
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005C/
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G105007/index.html
The Surnames of Ireland, Edward MacLysaght, 1978.
A New History of Ireland: Volume IX - Maps, Genealogies, Lists, ed. T.W. Moody, F.X. Martin, F.J. Byrne.
Category:People from County Galway
Category:Medieval Gaels from Ireland
Category:12th-century Irish people
Category:Pre-Reformation bishops in Ireland
Category:12th-century Roman Catholic bishops
Category:Bishops of Clonfert | 2024-05-08T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2841 |
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Chapter XXII
BEOWULF, SON OF Ecgtheow, spoke: “Keep in mind, honorable son of Healfdene, gold-friend to men, and wise sovereign, what you once said: that if I should lose my life for your cause, you would be loyal to me for the sake of my father, though I fall! Be then the guardian of my group of thanes, my warrior friends, if I am taken by War; beloved Hrothgar, send to Hygelac the gifts you have given me! So will Geatland's king understand, and Hrethel's son will see, when he gazes upon the treasure, that I had won a friend famed for generosity, and took joy while I could in my bestower of jewels. And allow Unferth, thane of far-flung fame, to wield the ancient heirloom, the wondrous hard-edged sword; with Hrunting I now seek glory for myself, or death shall take me.”
After these words, the lord of the Weder-Geats hastened off, not waiting for any answer. The eddying floods engulfed the hero. It took most of the day before he could reach the land at the bottom.
That grim and greedy goblin who had held the watery domain for a hundred winters soon found that one from among mankind had come from above and was exploring her realm of monsters. She reached out for him with grisly talons and seized the warrior, but she did not wound his healthy body—the breastplate prevented this, and she tried to shatter that war-cuirass of well-knit links with her loathsome fingers. Then this wolf of the waves, upon reaching the bottom, bore the ring-covered prince to her lair. Though his valor held, he struggled in vain to wield weapons against the terrifying monsters that set upon him while he swam. Many sea-beasts tried to tear his mail with fierce tusks when they swarmed upon this stranger.
He soon noticed that he was now in some strange cavern where no water could harm him and the fangs of the depths could never reach him through the roof. He saw firelight flung in beams from a bright blaze. The warrior saw that wolf of the deep, the monstrous lake-hag. He swung his blade with a mighty stroke, and did not hold back. Then the fair blade sang its wild warsong upon her head. But the warrior found that Hrunting would not bite and take life: its edge failed its noble master in time of need, even though it had known strife in many hands of old, had split helmets and war-gear of the doomed. This was the first time that the glory of the gleaming blade fell. Hygelac's kinsman stood firm and his courage did not quail, as he had exploits in mind. The wrathful warrior flung away that decorated, jewel-studded blade; steel-edged and stark, it lay upon the earth. He trusted in his strength and the grip of his mighty hand.
So should a man do whenever he thinks of earning lasting fame in battle—he will not fear for his life!
Then the lord of the war-like Geats who did not shrink from combat seized Grendel's mother by the shoulder; that fierce one filled with rage then flung his deadly foe, and she fell to the ground. She swiftly paid him back with her grisly grasp, and grappled with him. Spent with struggle, the warrior stumbled—that fiercest of fighters fell. She hurled herself on the hall's visitor, and drew her broad, brown-edged knife to avenge her only son. The braided mail about his breast prevented death, and barred point and blade from entering.
The life of the son of Ecgtheow, prince of the Geats, would have ended there underneath the wide earth if his armor of war, hard net of battle, had not aided him; and the Holy God, wisest Maker, wielded the victory. The heavenly Ruler championed his cause, and he soon stood on his feet again. | 2023-12-26T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/8299 |
Alternative medicine and common errors of reasoning.
Why do so many otherwise intelligent patients and therapists pay considerable sums for products and therapies of alternative medicine, even though most of these either are known to be useless or dangerous or have not been subjected to rigorous scientific testing? The author proposes a number of reasons this occurs: (1) Social and cultural reasons (e.g., many citizens' inability to make an informed choice about a health care product; anti-scientific attitudes meshed with New Age mysticism; vigorous marketing and extravagant claims; dislike of the delivery of scientific biomedicine; belief in the superiority of "natural" products); (2) psychological reasons (e.g., the will to believe; logical errors of judgment; wishful thinking, and "demand characteristics"); (3) the illusion that an ineffective therapy works, when actually other factors were at work (e.g., the natural course or cyclic nature of the disease; the placebo effect; spontaneous remission; misdiagnosis). The author concludes by acknowledging that when people become sick, any promise of a cure is beguiling. But he cautions potential clients of alternative treatments to be suspicious if those treatments are not supported by reliable scientific research (criteria are listed), if the "evidence" for a treatment's worth consists of anecdotes, testimonials, or self-published literature, and if the practitioner has a pseudoscientific or conspiracy-laden approach, or promotes cures that sound "too good to be true." | 2024-01-05T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/9427 |
Q:
How to best author a Apple Helpbook for a macOS app?
macOS apps, e.g. Photos.app, provide a help panel to the user
Is there a way to author such a Help Book in your own macOS app?
Is there a way to at least provide a toolbar to be used for a table of contents?
I am asking specifically about the UI and all the user interactions. Not how to generally create and register a helpbook.
Update
Here is what I’ve been able to find/gather/learn from others. A Help Book appears to run on a separate app/process called “HelpViewer”. Any Apple macOS app displaying a help makes use of a DDMViewerController that isn’t public.
There is an “app.css” and an “app.js” being used by the Apple macOS app “index.html” of the Apple Help Book. The Javascript one manipulates the DOM to create the “show-hide” link that toggles the Sidebar. Haven’t been able to find how to instruct HelpViewer to use a sidebar.
There is a WWDC talk from back in 2014, “Introducing the Modern WebKit API” that talks about “User Scripts” and “Script Messages” which allow communication between a Webview and Cocoa. https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2014/206/
AFAICS, there is no way to have HelpViewer display a custom view or have a sidebar. My guess is that you would have to implement everything yourself. That is an NSSplitViewController, NSToolbar, NSOutlineView, any Javascript alongside the “app.css” to get the look and feel.
A:
Currently it's not possible to implement the sidebar as shown in the Maps and other built-in macOS applications from 10.13 onward.
Versions of macOS from 10.10 (built-in applications) implement sidebar navigation with HTML and JavaScript, and Apple Help Viewer itself offers a window.HelpViewer object with some hooks that enable/disable the Help Viewer's table of contents button. Once enabled, it will callback into your own JavaScript where you can show/hide TOC via CSS or JS.
From approximately 10.10, Apple's non-built-in applications have also been using this technique. For example, iTunes and Xcode help both do this.
From 10.13, macOS has a newer version of Help Viewer that provides an actual Cocoa-native table of contents and windows splitter, as well as some new properties on window.HelpViewer; presumably these can be used to enable/disable the Cocoa sidebar and populate the TOC, but these are undocumented and I'm not sure anyone outside of Apple has been able to reverse-engineer this functionality yet.
And in any case, it wouldn't work if you offer Help Books to pre-10.13 users, and the use of undocumented API's restricts applications from the App Store (although, I'm not certain that Apple scans Help Book JavaScripts for API usage as part of their review).
(There are also a lot of other changes to how Apple's built-in application Help works now, too, but that's another topic entirely.)
Thus the answer for now is we can't, or shouldn't, or just don't know how. Alternatives include using something like using jekyll-apple-help (no affiliation) or Middlemac 3 (my project), or just rolling your own.
For those interested in knowing how Apple does it, I've documented a lot of it here (disclosure: link to my own website).
| 2024-06-23T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/5123 |
Q:
json from a server wont sort in jqgrid using "sorttype:'int'"
gud day all. i have this maybe simple problem for you. i have a program that will display my data to a jqgrid., it was interpreted as json. Now, the sorting is okay but there's just this little prob that i still haven't fix.
when i click the column header code number, it sorts as 1, 10, 11, 12....2, 20, 21...and so on. what i want to display in the grid is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.....
i already used this code {name:'code', index:'code', sorttype :'int'} but still it doesn't show what i want. can please anybody help me with this? please.
EDIT
i think maybe it was because, json is a string. don't we have any option to convert it or make it something like integer type just to sort?
A:
The sorttype option is used only when you have datatype set to local, which means you have data defined at client side (array data). If you are providing data form server in JSON format, the actual sorting is also happening on the server and this is were you need to modify your sorting routine.
| 2023-10-01T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3139 |
Authorities around the world know about the website, but closing it is another matter – partly because it uses Bitcoins
Mark Johnson* rifles through his mail as he gets home from work. Among the usual bills is a small padded envelope. Though it doesn't have his name on, it's the package he's most interested in: inside lie two grams of, he hopes, relatively pure MDMA.
Johnson has no idea who has sent him the envelope: he has never met his dealer, and never will. The delivery was facilitated through a website called Silk Road, an underground eBay-like site which has become the core marketplace for buying and selling drugs online – and despite law enforcement authorities across the world being fully aware of its operation they have, so far, been powerless to stop it.
The site has been shrouded in secrecy even since it was founded in February 2011, but research due to be formally published later this year tracked its growth during six months of last year. Over those months, sales on the site doubled, hitting $1.7m a month.
Johnson, a TV executive, is one of those contributing to those monthly takings. Describing himself as "not excited or impressed by drugs per se", but "interested" in them, he explains how he came to the Silk Road.
"I heard about it at a party, from the type of guy you only ever meet at parties," he said. "I missed the last train. I might as well go hard. His brown envelope proved to be a veritable party bag, reminiscent of Hunter S Thompson. Where had he found all this? The Silk Road."
Johnson said his view was that Silk Road was a site for connoisseurs: an easy way to track down better quality – not cheap – drugs. The site "isn't easy to use", but doesn't require particular expertise: "If you can set up a direct debit and follow a recipe for risotto then you'll work it out."
Once you're in, it works much like eBay: sellers' reputations are verified through feedback, building trust. Money is typically held in an escrow (a trusted middleman) until delivery, with missing packages qualifying for partial refunds.
In all, he concludes, the quality is more consistent, the sale is safer, and the experience better than trying to find a street dealer. Johnson even claims the site helps combat addiction.
"There are some highly addictive and dangerous substances available on Silk Road, so instant access wouldn't be advisable," he concludes. "You must undertake the purchase soberly, with plenty of occasions to confirm your intentions."
Silk Road today lists more than 10,000 items, 7,000 of which are drugs, with erotica, books and fake IDs among the rest. Notably missing are weapons of any sort (a sister site selling weapons shut due to lack of demand last year) and child pornography, both of which are banned.
Dr Nicolas Christin, who researched the site, believes Silk Road is far bigger today than it was in July 2012 when his fieldwork ended. "It's not a matter of the police locking a few guys up to end this," he said. "It is very distributed: we are looking at more than 600 sellers each month."
How has a marketplace with millions of pounds of revenue survived the long arm of the law? The answer, according to its users, lies in the way it is structured.
Silk Road is no secret to law enforcement, who know where to find it online – indeed, shortly after the site's existence was first reported in 2011, the senior US senator Chuck Schumer vowed to shut it down.
"It's a certifiable one-stop shop for illegal drugs that represents the most brazen attempt to peddle drugs online that we have ever seen," he said.
The site continued uninterrupted, thanks to two technological innovations that make it all but impregnable.
The first is that Silk Road runs as a "hidden service" on a popular internet anonymising tool known as Tor. This makes identifying the physical location of the computers operating the marketplace – or anyone visiting it – all but impossible.
The legitimate uses of Tor make disrupting the service morally difficult: it is a staple of activists avoiding internet censorship or government crackdowns the world over, including in China, Iran and Syria. Indeed, a large proportion of Tor's funding comes – albeit indirectly – from the US state department's internet freedom budget.
In his paper, Christin raised the possibility that authorities might instead try to disrupt Silk Road's other protection: its use of the anonymous, stateless, encrypted online currency known as Bitcoin. But that's a task that's only getting harder.
Bitcoins are a currency controlled by no government, no company, and no group, but rather by maths: a series of complex cryptographic calculations rule how many Bitcoins are in existence and how many are traded.
Silk Road is probably the biggest use of the currency, followed by an unregulated online gambling site known as Satoshidice.
But more mainstream services are adopting the currency: the blogging platform Wordpress accepts Bitcoins, as does the social news site Reddit. WikiLeaks opened up to Bitcoin when the mainstream banking system blockaded the site.
At the currency's birth, Bitcoins were almost worthless – five cents each. Today, a single Bitcoin trades at $70 (£46) – and the total value of all the world's Bitcoins has topped $800m (£500m). On the face of it, this makes Bitcoin the fastest-growing currency in the world.
Mihai Alisie, editor of Bitcoin Magazine, and Amir Taaki, a Bitcoin developer and activist, in a squat in London. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian
Despite the present value of what they have created, several of the key players in the currency's community can be found occupying a "political squat" in central London, mere minutes away from the financiers they intend to disrupt.
Walking through a corridor of conference rooms rearranged into makeshift lounges, Amir Taaki – a Bitcoin developer and activist, and convenor of Bitcoin conferences – rejects concerns that Bitcoins' biggest use is unethical.
"People want drugs. The drugs war is probably a failed war," he says. "I want to get rid of cartels. The way to do that is for people to buy their drugs straight from the producer. That's what's cool about things like Silk Road – you can bypass gangs."
Taaki claims freedom to purchase is freedom of speech – and illustrates his argument by raising a service which allows Bitcoins to exist purely as a passphrase in a user's head, 'spent' by typing (or saying) the key phrase.
"Can you imagine if we had restrictions of speech, or the surveillance state, 400 years ago? We wouldn't have had the Reformation, or the Enlightenment, or the scientific revolution. Those would have been stopped – and we're having other kinds of revolutions now."
Bitcoin Photograph: Graphic
For many of those involved, Bitcoins are far more than a handy way to buy drugs. Instead, they are a challenge to the orthodoxies of mainstream finance: "extortionate" fees to transfer money, real-time customer tracking of every credit card foundation, even government oversight of banks.
Bitcoins' value might be a bubble caused by people trying to cash in on soaring value, or a result of panicked savers in Cyprus and Spain looking for somewhere to move their money, or the result of people looking to buy drugs. To Mihai Alisie, editor of Bitcoin magazine, it hardly matters.
"At this point there's no penalty for politicians saying 'yeah, let's ban Bitcoin, you can buy drugs online, so let's ban it'. But if politicians would ban Bitcoin for that, it is like burning an entire village to roast a pig. It's like shutting down the internet because someone's posting pornography," he says.
"Bitcoin is definitely more than a get-rich scheme. I think it's the next big technology that will revolutionise our society. It's as big as the internet – or maybe bigger."
Interviews concluded, Taaki and Alisie climb to the roof of the office block that is their current home. Taaki walks to the edge, looks over to the clustered skyscrapers that make up the City of London, and raises his middle finger.
Miles across London, Mark Johnson slips his MDMA into his back pocket, getting ready to sample his latest delivery over the weekend.
*Names have been changed. | 2024-04-20T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/8691 |
10 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles for Outdoor Dining
We have a right to be smug: it's almost always outdoor dining season in L.A. As a result, we have perhaps the best selection in the country of places to dine al fresco. But amidst this wealth, some patios, decks and gardens truly stand out. To help you navigate, here's our list of the prettiest, most convivial, and some downright stunning places to dine in the fresh air.
Gracias Madre
Anne Fishbein
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10. Gracias Madre Located near the end (or beginning) of Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, Mexican vegan restaurant Gracias Madre is a gorgeous space. Previously an antique store, the room is awash with clean white paint, making its high, vaulted ceilings and light wood floors feel sleek but inviting. The outdoor patio, anchored by a roaring fireplace, more than doubles the restaurant's seating capacity, and colorful cushions, stylish tilework and cascading, potted plants make the whole place feel like something out of a high-design Mexican home-decor magazine. When the evenings get chilly a blazing fireplace in the center of the patio warms things up, and pretty details such as shrines to the Virgin make it feel like more than just a garden. What to order: Organic margaritas and sweet potato flautas. 8905 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood; (323) 978-2170. — B.R.
Photo: Anne Fishbein
Mare courtyard
9. MaréYou enter Maré by walking through Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese — all the way through it, along the counter and back through the office/storage area. There’s a kind of trespasser’s glee in this, the same nerve that’s tickled by convoluted speakeasy entrances, and there is a magic to traipsing through a drab and cluttered restaurant backside, pushing open a door that looks as if it leads to a walk-in cooler, and finding yourself in a wonderland of twinkling lights and greenery, a kind of perpetual garden party. The dining room is a small enclosed patio, bifurcated by a line of potted lime trees. The surrounding walls drip with jasmine vines, and lights are strung overhead. It’s a beautiful setting. 7465 Melrose Ave., Fairfax; (323) 592-3226, maremelrose.com —B.R.
8. Chateau Marmont: Believe the hype. Lounging on the vintage furniture arranged around Chateau Marmont's garden terrace will make a person feel like a 1930s-era Hollywood movie star. On any given day, movie producers, break-out young screenwriters and gorgeous starlets are likely dining — and schmoozing — at this noted establishment. And, most regular folk want in on the action: the two French girls vacationing in L.A. and eating ice cream, the mother-and-daughter duo asking the waiter a string of questions and the lady sitting alone wearing sunglasses at a table for two. Although the lively Bar Marmont is down the hill, the restaurant's bar has its own spirited following for those who like a little nosh with their late-night cocktails. What to order: spaghetti Bolognese. 8221 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood; (323) 656-1010. — J.K.
7. Spago Spago remains one of the best spots in town for power dining and celebrity sightings, and no place is more convivial for Beverly Hills revelry than the front brick-floored patio, where you can dine on white tablecloths under trees festooned with twinkling lights. The year-round patio is covered when necessary, and heat lamps are always on hand in case you're chilly. Service is about as formal as L.A. gets, but you'll find patrons here in everything from flip flops to fur coats. What to order: Veal filet mignon tartar with smoked mascarpone. 176 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills; (310) 385-0880. — B.R.
Malibu Pier Restaurant and Bar
Anne Fishbein
6. Malibu Farm Restaurant and Bar What better view could you ask for than the Pacific ocean in all its glory, a swarm of surfers riding the waves, and a vintage pier? Because that's what you see from Malibu Farm Restaurant and Bar's deck, a view that's blinding in its glory. The whole restaurant sports a nautical-chic, gorgeous, whitewashed vintage vibe punctuated by modern elements that you often have to look at twice to notice. Watch tourists take selfies and feel the ocean breeze whip through your hair. What to order: a rum swizzle and a Santa Barbara spot prawn corn dog. 23000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu; (310) 456-8820. — B.R.
Eveleigh
Courtesy Eveleigh
5. Eveleigh The Eveleigh is like a garden party oasis in the midst of West Hollywood, and the barn-like back room, which is actually a patio, is one of the loveliest parties in town. Owners were smart enough to install two bars, and one of them is at the back of the patio, where you can order stellar cocktails and look out over a stunning view of the city sprawled out in all its jewel-like magic. What to order: house-made charcuterie. 8752 W. Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood; (424) 239-1630.— B.R.
4. Cliff's Edge Standing on traffic-y, twisty Sunset Boulevard, you might not suspect that Cliff's Edge offers a hidden oasis of calm on its back, two-level patio. In the center, a massive Ficus tree holds court, surrounded by oversized, empty clam shells and candelabras, of all things. The tables form a horseshoe around the tree, and the second level of seats looks like a long hut perched above, with bamboo shooting up and a pond in the back. In the far corner, the chefs work behind a window into the kitchen, and toward the front is a little service bar, which transforms into an oyster station every Thursday night, when from 6-7 p.m., the bivalves are $1. Buckets of champagne, piles of lemons and platters of crushed ice and oysters appear alongside specially created oyster-friendly cocktails. What to order: oysters. 3626 W Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake; (323) 666-6116. — J.K.
A.O.C.
Courtesy A.O.C./AACK Studio
3. AOC Step inside AOC and out its wide-open side doors for a little taste of California Wine Country or maybe the European countryside. The restaurant spills out into the patio, an adjoining room with three walls and no roof. There are two family-style booths set back into tiled walls on each end and cute country-style windows all around. But the best view is up — at the restaurant's balcony, its foliage creeping along the edges of the roof or just straight above at the expansive sky. Serving both lunch and dinner, Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne's wine bar also, unsurprisingly, boasts an extensive wine list of several pages, which arrives on a clipboard. What to order: clams in sherry and garlic with toast. 8700 W. 3rd Street, Beverly Grove; (310) 859-9859. — J.K.
2. Terrine Terrine's white-walled, burnished mirror–bedecked interior would be outshone by the gorgeous patio if it weren't for the fact that the patio's light-spangled beauty is visible from everywhere in the restaurant, and its central Javanese bishopwood tree is basically the main design component of the whole space. The tree looms like a benevolent giant, making Terrine feel like an elegant brasserie that has been transplanted into some kind of magical forest. The tables under twinkling lights are a delight, and a lounge area off to one side provides a spot where you might sit with friends and nibble on charcuterie and partake in the drinks of barman Ryan Wainwright. What to order: charcuterie. 8265 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Grove; (323) 746-5130. — B.R.
Anne Fishbein
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1. Nobu Malibu The view from Nobu Malibu is magnificent. Tables run along the front balcony of the restaurant, which rises above the sandy beach and lapping waves. Every view is an ocean view — to the north, south and west — and every hour is the right hour for a visit. At lunch, the light blue sky rests on the brilliant blue sea. People stand and sit on the edge of the Japanese garden, listening to soulful samba, waiting for the doors to open at noon. Come for dinner and catch one of the world's most beautiful sunsets. What to order: Tai sweet shiso with red snapper and crispy shiitake mushrooms. 22706 E. Pacific Coast Highay, Malibu; 310-317-9140. — J.K.
Editor's Note: This list has been revised to replace Bucato with Mare; the former closed and the latter opened after this list was published. | 2024-04-10T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/3694 |
One of my favorite beers, very fully-tasted, a great wheat taste, not yet (that) strong. A nice 'wheaty' smell, great mouth feel. Darker with a stronger taste than 'whiter' wheat beers, recommended to follow after drinking whiter/clearer one(s) or not to follow this one with on of those. Like a lot the simpleness of the presentation, with a drunken brewer monk and the golden, black and white colors. | 2023-12-11T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/1489 |
/*
* Copyright 2015-present Open Networking Foundation
*
* Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
* you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
* You may obtain a copy of the License at
*
* http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
*
* Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
* distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
* WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
* See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
* limitations under the License.
*/
package org.onosproject.common;
import org.onlab.graph.AdjacencyListsGraph;
import org.onosproject.net.topology.TopologyEdge;
import org.onosproject.net.topology.TopologyGraph;
import org.onosproject.net.topology.TopologyVertex;
import java.util.Set;
/**
* Default implementation of an immutable topology graph based on a generic
* implementation of adjacency lists graph.
*/
public class DefaultTopologyGraph
extends AdjacencyListsGraph<TopologyVertex, TopologyEdge>
implements TopologyGraph {
/**
* Creates a topology graph comprising of the specified vertexes and edges.
*
* @param vertexes set of graph vertexes
* @param edges set of graph edges
*/
public DefaultTopologyGraph(Set<TopologyVertex> vertexes, Set<TopologyEdge> edges) {
super(vertexes, edges);
}
}
| 2024-05-21T01:26:35.434368 | https://example.com/article/2597 |
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